Macworld articles from June 2003

Macworld archives from June 2003

Quark of fate: XPress for OS X arrives, and we've got the details. (From the Editor's Desk).(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... WHEN APPLE ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR THAT ALL MACS introduced in 2003 would start up only in Mac OS X, the loudest cries came from the professional publishing community, who had been waiting for an OS X-native update to their tool of choice,...

Feedback.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2003... Jaguar's Cat Scan Scan the pages of our March 2003 issue, and you'll find plenty of Macworld Expo news, which yielded PowerBook plaudits, Keynote critiques, and Safari suggestions from readers. But the article that generated the strongest...

Evolution endgame: after many years, it's the beginning of the end of the OS X transition. (Mac Beat).
June 1, 2003... A little more than two years ago, Steve Jobs stood before a group of reporters at Apple's Cupertino headquarters to show off the finalized version of Mac OS X, predicting it would be the Mac's operating system for the next 15 years. Two days...

No adobe, no problem? New photo, DVD programs are windows only, but MAC users shouldn't worry. (Mac Beat).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... A few years ago, the news chat Adobe was bypassing the Mac platform with two Windows-only programs would have been met by howls of outrage. But the releases of Adobe Photoshop Album and Adobe Encore DVD for Windows have met with very little...

Hardware. (Multimedia Beat).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Input Devices A multimedia controller from Contour Design (800/462-6678, www.contourdesign.com): The ShuttleXPress ($60) is built for audio and video editors. It offers one-hand access to five programmable buttons and a jog-shuttle knob....

Software. (Multimedia Beat).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Audio Digital Performer 4, from Mark of the Unicorn (617/576-2760, www.motu.com):The digital-audio and MIDI-sequencing production system adds OS X compatibility. Other additions include CoreAudio, CoreMIDI, and ReWire 2.0 support ($795;...

Apple carries a tune: new music service offers 99-cent downloads for Mac users. (Mac Beat).
June 1, 2003... Apple hopes to hit a high note where several online services have fallen flat--selling music to computer users who have gotten used to downloading songs for free. But Apple believes that its iTunes Music Store will thrive, thanks to an...

The iPod puts its best face forward. (Mac Beat).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... As Apple attempts to put a new face on online music delivery, the company has also altered the look of its top-selling MP3 player. The redesigned, slimmer iPod sports a new solid-state navigation wheel on its front and can store even more...

Video double features: apple adds new capabilities in final cut, DVD studio pro updates. (Mac Beat).
June 1, 2003... The professional video-editing market has become a vital part of Apple's business, as important to its future as desktop publishing was to the Mac's early days. So it wasn't surprising that Apple chose the biggest event for video pros--the...

Text support: Q&A with Rich Siegel. (Profile).(CEO of Bare Bones )
June 1, 2003... Try telling Rich Siegel that TextWrangler--the general-purpose and programming text editor recently released by Bare Bones Software--is just a repackaged version of BBEdit Lite with a new name and a $49 price. The founder, president, and CEO of...

Software. (Productivity Beat).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Fax Page Sender 3.0, from Smile Software (www.smilesoftware.com); The new version of the OS X fax software adds a folder hierarchy including user-defined archive folders, a printable fax history, and a Sent Faxes tracking feature ($30;...

Software. (Creative Beat).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... 3-D Animation Amorphium 3, from Electric Image (800/736-3371, www.electricimage.com): The 3-D--modeling and--animation software now features subdivision-surface modeling tools and support for OS X ($139; upgrade, $89). Maya 5, from...

Acrobat does the splits: adobe turns PDF program into four distinct products.
June 1, 2003... There may be no other product in the Mac universe with a more appropriate name than Acrobat. After all, since Adobe (888/ 7244507, www.adobe.com) introduced the program a decade ago, Acrobat's purpose has flipped around so many times, it's...

What's hot. (Mac Beat).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... A Quick Look at the World of Macs 1. The next major version of OS X is code-named Panther. Apple chase that code name over the other finalist. Sleepy Kitty. 2. Apple unveils Final Cut Pro 4. Confident Apple executives proclaim, "This...

Mac OS X updates.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... Apple QuickTime 6.1.1 Enhancements to multimedia player and authoring solution Apple Remote Desktop 1.2 Remote control for managing Macs Basilisk II 12 680X0 Mac emulator Blizzard Starcraft Brood War 1.1.0 Add-on...

Hardware beat. (Mac Beat).
June 1, 2003... Displays A 20-inch LCD monitor from Formac Electronic (877/436-7622, www.formac.com): The Gallery 2010 Oxygen ($1,149) has a native resolution of 1,600 by 1,200 pixels and a 600:1 contrast ratio. It features the same industrial design as...

Rolling away from pain: contour design offers ergonomic alternative with rollermouse. (Mac Beat).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... If you're trying to pinpoint one of the major culprits for repetitive strain injuries, look no further than the awkward way computer users reach for and grip their mice. Those movements can contribute to wrist, forearm, or shoulder pain, so...

1GHZ 17-inch powerbook G4: big screen and big performance add up to professional-level portability. (Reviews).
June 1, 2003... Apple's Year of the Notebook started quite impressively, with the release of the 12-inch PowerBook (****; April 2003), a compact laptop that combined extreme portability with the performance of the G4 processor. Following quickly on that...

Dual-1.42 GHZ power Mac G4: latest version of the fastest Mac money can buy provides attractive extras, good value. (Reviews).
June 1, 2003... A little more than a month after Apple shipped the low-end and mid-level systems in its latest Power Mac line--the 1GHz (####) and dual-1.25 GHz (#### 1/2), respectively (May 2003)--the company released its new top-of-the-line machine: the...

Pro tools LE 6: digital-audio software makes comfortable transition to OS X and adds file-management features. (Reviews).(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... Digidesign's software upgrades are intentionally conservative because the company's high-end Pro Tools digital-audio workstation (DAW) is the standard environment for professional sound editing. Consequently, songs or sessions have to work...

Director MX: multimedia-authoring package combines flexibility and accessibility for users with disabilities. (Reviews).(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... Almost a year after Macromedia relaunched and rebranded many of its main products as the MX line, its multimedia-authoring application, Director, has joined the fold. But with most of the MX flock already so well integrated, will Director MX be...

SPSS 11: dazzling Mac version of statistics-industry standard. (Reviews).(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... In 2001, SPSS brought its eponymous statistical-analysis software package back to the Mac after a five-year absence, with SPSS 10 (####1/2; March 2001). Fortunately, we didn't have to wait another five years for the follow-up: SPSS 11 is a...

This month in printers.
June 1, 2003... This month we cover a wide range of monochrome laser printers--from personal or small-office desktop printers to blazingly fast workgroup printers, including the first two printers we've received that support Apple's new zero-configuration...

Cleaner 6.0: video-encoding App is faster and supports new codecs. (Reviews).
June 1, 2003... Discreet's Cleaner is a staple for people who require a video-encoding utility that allows them to extensively tweak encoding settings and save files in a variety of formats. The latest iteration of the program, Cleaner 6.0.1, not only runs...

USB instant DVD: combination hardware-software DVD-authoring package offers speed edge to Mac users. (Reviews).
June 1, 2003... For DVD enthusiasts who can't use Apple's iDVD because they don't have an internal Super-Drive, and who don't want to shell out $999 for Apple's DVD Studio Pro, there's now a hardware-and-software DVD-authoring package for the Mac: USE Instant...

Photoshop Camera Raw: plug-in adds support for raw digital-camera image data to Adobe Photoshop 7.0.(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... Adobe's new Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in is an ambitious effort on Adobe's part to add support for raw image data captured by a number of popular pro-level digital cameras to Photoshop 7.0. The plug-in's advantage over other formats is its...

Sketchup 2.2: fun, inspiring program makes 3-D available to the rest of us. (Reviews).(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... Typically, 3-D modeling has been a tool for architects and engineers with access to expensive CAD programs and many hours of training. However, SketchUp 2.2, from @Last Software, puts 3-D modeling into the hands of the masses. As its name...

X-Plane 6.5: simulator lets you fly--courtesy of your desktop. (Reviews).
June 1, 2003... Flight simulators are few and far between on the Mac, but that doesn't mean flight simulation is a dead genre--Laminar Research's X-Plane is a veritable industry unto itself, and while it may be a bit unconventional for some gainers, it's...

Traktor DJ Studio 2.0 : pro DJ software comes to the Mac, mixes great sound. (Reviews).
June 1, 2003... If you want to DJ your next party using just your portable Mac, check our Native Instruments' Traktor DJ Studio 2.03. Designed with professional DJs in mind, the program has now made its way to the Mac; it provides you with an entire DJ...

Pocketmac Pro 2.0: software opens PocketPCs to Mac market. (Reviews).
June 1, 2003... The biggest disadvantage of being a Mac person with a PocketPC is all the static you get from some of your Mac kin. But catcalls of "Quisling! Apostate! Traitor!" are quickly silenced by a quick demo of the hardware and software. Palm OS-based...

Spell Catcher X: flexible spelling checker for busy writers comes to Mac OSX. (Reviews).(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... Casady & Greene's Spell Catcher is a respected writing tool beloved by many writers--and now it's available for Mac OS X. If you often type too fast for your own good, or if you use OS X programs that don't have spelling checkers, this program...

Page Sender 3.0. (Reviews in Brief).(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... X ####; Smile Software, info@smilesoftware.com, www.smilesoftware.com; $30 There wasn't much this top-notch fax application lacked when we looked at it last (####; May 2003), but we did want confirmation pages, fax history logs, and a...

Quickeys X 1.5.4. (Reviews in Brief).(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... X ####; CE Software, 800/523-7638, www.cesoft.com; $80; upgrade from QuicKeys X 1.0, $16 QuicKeys X 1.0 brought OS X compatibility to the popular macro utility at the expense of a leaner feature set (###1/2; February 2002). Version...

Timeliner 5.0. (Reviews in Brief).
June 1, 2003... 9X ####; Tom Snyder Productions, 800/342-0236, www.timeliner.com; single-user license, $80; site license, $900 Memorizing a series of events is often an ineffective way for kids to learn and almost ensures that information will be...

Copypaste-X 1.5. (Reviews in Brief).(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... X ####; Script Software, julian@scriptsoftware.com, www.copypaste-x.com; $20 CopyPaste-X is a multi-Clipboard utility but goes well beyond the basics of just providing multiple Clipboard items. Within the program itself, you can...

Macworld's top 5. (Hot Products).
June 1, 2003... 1 #### 867MHz PowerBook G4, 12-inch ($1,799), from Apple Computer (www.apple.com): Speedier than the iBook but smaller than the Titanium PowerBook, this portable will answer the prayers of mobile professionals who need a small, light laptop...

Griffin strikes again. (Mac Gems).
June 1, 2003... MOST OF THE LOW-COST MAC STUFF I SEE IS SOFTWARE, but there are plenty of companies that sell great hardware products for $100 or less. One of the most innovative companies is Griffin Technology, which has been producing neat Mac gadgets since...

Simple pleasures. (The Game Room).
June 1, 2003... SOMETIMES WHEN I PLAY A GAME, I WANT A CHALLENGE--a game that takes time to master, that kills me off repeatedly before I finally build up the skills required to take my rightful place as a champion player. Behind the Eight Ball But...

Quark enters the land of OSX: get an early look at the new features in QuarkXPress 6.0.(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... QUARK HAS MOVED CAUTIOUSLY DOWN THE ROAD TO OS X, but its journey will be over when QuarkXpress 6.0 debuts (800/676-4575, www.quark.com). The company won't comment on a release date, but I expect that you'll able to buy the new version of...

Graduate to Final Cut Express: we help you take the next step in your video-editing career.
June 1, 2003... You've put in your time and mastered iMovie. You're finally ready to graduate to the next level. But instead of going directly to Apple's Ivy League video editor, Final Cut Pro, you can now get a professional video-editing program-- Final Cut...

Extreme revolution: what does Apple's new wireless technology mean for the future of networking?
June 1, 2003... WITH A NAME LIKE AIRPORT EXTREME, Apple's new networking technology might seem to be aimed at the X Games crowd, not business professionals. Nevertheless, the company's latest foray into the wireless world promises to change the way some small...

Macworld CreativePro Conference & Expo.
June 1, 2003... New York's most important and largest event for Design, Publishing, Video & Audio Professionals and Prosumers. It's time for a change. And it's time for an event that addresses the increasingly tech-savvy community of artists, designers,...

Magic word. (Secrets: Productivity).
June 1, 2003... There's no need to trudge through the same steps in Microsoft Word again and again. Macros can automate a wide range of tasks, from inserting and formatting text to changing program preferences. You may have dabbled with simple macros, but...

Share well with others. (Secrets: Mac OS X).(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2003... Mac OS X 10.2 lets you share files--over a local network or the Internet-- with Windows computers. But customizinq OS X's Windows File Sharing (Samba) server to share specific directories, or to restrict access to read-only, requires that you...

Print hints. (Secrets: Mac 911).
June 1, 2003... Until the Apple Computer of the twenty-second century devises a way to cram our craniums with data via tiny AirPort implants, we must continue to rely on the printed word. Given the importance of text and the devices designed to edit and print...

Spring backward: a user-interface revolution? Users beware.
June 1, 2003... STEADY, ANDY, STEADY. YOU'LL WORK YOUR WAY OUT OF this. Remember your Boy Scout training (at least the bits you learned before the camping trips became too long to avoid having to do your business in a ditch behind a tree, at which point you...

Transition anxiety: If the OS X Revolution is really over, then everyone has lost. (The Big Picture).
June 1, 2003... I'M NO THEOLOGIAN, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE MUST BE a special level of hell reserved for Apple executives who think the only thing the Next operating system needed to succeed was a larger group of people forced to use it. So far, the Mac market...