Macworld articles from June 2004

Macworld archives from June 2004

Sound and vision.(Apple Computer Inc.'s strategy)(Editorial)
June 1, 2004... AS APPLE RIDES A WAVE OF SUCCESS WITH THE iPOD AND iTunes, numerous industry pundits are questioning the company's loyalty to its Mac product line. After all, the thinking goes, if the iPod and iTunes are so popular with Windows users, why...

About Macworld.com.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Since I picked up a copy of MacSoft's Halo (OUTSTANDING; February 2004) a few months ago, I've been spending too much time playing the game with other people via the Internet. It's taken me back to my days at MacUser, when a few of us would...

Dispensers of wisdom.(Macworld Exposition)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... With a March 2004 issue devoted to the new hardware and software announced at Macworld Expo, Macworld readers saw plenty of contenders for the title of coolest new product at the Mac trade show. Reader Jon Spangler's choice: the optical-sensor...

Office politics.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... DEREK COLLINS # Since Mac OS X came out, I've been working hard to avoid Microsoft products. My main problem is organizing all the e-mails, documents, and to-do lists that come with editing a quarterly newsletter. I have not found a good...

Apple's expo examined.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... STEVE KOHLMAN # Too bad that Apple was so shortsighted on the price of the new iPod mini ("Center of Attention," March 2004). Why would I pay $250 for a device that holds only 1,000 songs when, for another $50, I can buy the 15GB iPod,...

Wireless mouse tales.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... NANCY NANGERONI * While I was pleased to see a roundup of wireless input devices (Reviews, March 2004), I was disappointed that it didn't address make-or-break battery issues more fully. Unanswered questions include battery life and ease...

Here's to the hub.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... BARRY JAY LEVINE # Jim Heid states that you need Quick-Time Player Pro to remove extra audio from an iTunes file ("Record Streaming Audio," Digital Hub, March 2004). Actually, once you've set the start and stop times in the Info box, just...

Mystifying Mythology.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... DAVID KATSAROS # Peter Cohen's calling Age of Mythology a "flawless Mac conversion" (The Game Room, March 2004) is a bit of a stretch. There's misinformation in the system requirements printed on the box, which say it will run on a 450MHz...

Book 'em, Macworld.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... PAUL CALAMAI # In "Develop Safari's Power" (Geek Factor, March 2004), Dori Smith recommends using BBEdit or TextEdit to write bookmarklets code, copy the code, and paste it into Safari's address bar, and then dragging the corresponding...

Hotspot insecurities.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... KURT WIMMER # "Hop on a Hotspot" (Mobile Mac, March 2004) spotted--sorry--a number of important issues, but I was disappointed by its lax attitude toward security. Sure, if a stranger shares music files using your AirPort, you're unlikely...

Hewlett-packard responds.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... HUGH AMICK (VICE PRESIDENT, MAC-CONNECT MARKETING, HEWLETT-PACKARD) # A Macworld reader expressed concern about the HP Designjet 120nr's Mac OS X support (Feedback, January 2004). We would like an opportunity to shed some light on the...

Regarding RagTime.(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... BOB HORST (PRESIDENT, COMGRAFIX) # We appreciate Galen Gruman's review of RagTime 5.6 (April 2004); however, there are some errors and omissions that should be pointed out. The review claims there was no printed documentation; two copies...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2004... "Wireless Input Devices," (Reviews, March 2004) mistakenly included Logitech's MX700 cordless optical mouse in a list of ambidextrous mice. It is designed only for right-handed use.

How antipiracy features affect you: activation nation.(macbeat)
June 1, 2004... When the hard drive on Edward Coles's Power Mac G4 failed in February, the Ohio designer decided to upgrade to a Power Mac G5. Switching over the software from his old machine, Coles went to install QuarkXPress 6. The program displayed a...

Adobe unveils After Effects 6.5: still in the picture.
June 1, 2004... Video may have killed the radio star, as the Buggles once sang, but on the Mac, the success of Apple's digital-video apps has helped kill Mac versions of Adobe's video software. In a little more than a year, Adobe (www.adobe.com) has dropped...

Macromedia update promises improvements: sweeter dreams.(release of Dreamweaver 7.0.1)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Nobody likes hearing criticism--especially software makers when it comes to the usability of their products. But that's largely what Macromedia (www.macromedia.com) heard last fall after it released Dreamweaver MX 2004 (GOOD 1/2; January 2004)....

Creative beat.(BabelColor of The BabelColor Company)(Amapi 7 Pro of Eovia)(GraphicConverter 5.0, from Lemke Software)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Amapi 7 Pro, from Eovia (www.eovia.com): 3-D--modeling software adds OpenGL-based real-time 3-D display ($799; upgrade from Amapi Designer 7, $329; from Amapi 6, $429). BabelColor, from The BabelColor Company (www.babelcolor.com): Software...

Productivity beat.(XTension 5.0 from Sand Hill Engineering )(QuicKeys X2 2.1 from CE Software )(Final Draft 7 from Final Draft )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Final Draft 7, from Final Draft (www.finaldraft.com): Word processor for screenwriting adds Panels System, for splitting the screen into separate panels ($229; upgrade, $89). QuicKeys X2 2.1, from CE Software (www.cesoft.com): Automation...

Dotphoto helps pros, amateurs sell their images: every photo has its price.(macbeat)
June 1, 2004... eBay has made the Web one of the easiest way for individuals to sell items--from bric-a-brac to automobiles--to buyers far and wide. For photographers, dotPhoto (www.dotphoto.com) makes it just as easy to connect with potential purchasers. For...

Apple adds Spoken Interface technology to OS X: speaking of access.(Apple Computer Inc.)
June 1, 2004... Mac users have never enjoyed many options when it comes to screen readers--applications that attempt to speak what's happening on screen so that users with visual impairments can navigate a computer's interface. And when Alva Access Group...

Adobe drops Mac support for FrameMaker: out of frame.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Move over, PageMaker. Make way, Premiere. Another Adobe application is headed for the Mac graveyard, which is filled with programs that either weren't updated for OS X, no longer run on Macs, or have been Windows-only from the start. ...

Examining 1984's other landmarks: class of '84.(macbeat)
June 1, 2004... Sure, Apple made big news in 1984 when it launched the Macintosh. That doesn't mean everything else stood still as the first Macs began rolling out of Cupertino. Plenty of other products, programs, and people got their start 20 years ago. But...

Rock band takes its Macs on the road: Macs are instrumental.(Sune Wagner speaks about his PowerBook G4)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... When Sune Wagner hits the road with his band, The Raveonettes, one piece of equipment needs to accompany him everywhere--and it's not necessarily his guitar. Instead, Wagner's 15-inch PowerBook G4 is the most important thing he takes on the...

Kitchen designs come to life on G4: cooking with Macs.(Apple Power Mac G4)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Mark Stech-Novak feels most comfortable when he's whipping up a plate of wild salmon cured in Lapsang souchong tea. But when the 52-year-old former chef isn't actually in the kitchen, he's most likely designing one--on his Mac. Stech-Novak...

Storage beat.(macbeat)
June 1, 2004... 400GB SimpleDrive, from SimpleTech (www.simpletech.com): External drive with USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 interfaces features a 7,200-rpm mechanism compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems ($500; USB 2.0--only $470). Alchemy FW...

Multimedia beat.(macbeat)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2004... CineWave 4.5, from Pinnacle Systems (www.pinnaclesys.com): Digital-video-editing and -compositing system adds new real-time high-definition capabilities optimized for the Power Mac G5 and full support for RT Extreme (contact Pinnacle for...

Slam-dunk: richer Web publishing, an advanced new security system, and ease-of-use breakthroughs make FileMaker Pro 7 a must-buy upgrade.(Advertising Supplement)
June 1, 2004... To the basketball fan, a slam-dunk is a sure thing. In the database world, a slam-dunk product is one brimming with so many useful, accessible productivity features that buying it is just about a no-brainer. That neatly sums up the new...

Flash-memory MP3 players: portable audio players offer music to go, on the cheap.(REVIEWS)
June 1, 2004... When Apple's iPod burst onto the scene, many people who previously hadn't thought about buying an MP3 player snapped to attention. Flash-memory-based players had been fairly inexpensive but very frustrating to use with Macs. Now the...

Timbuktu Pro 7.0: Panther update brings few new features.(REVIEWS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... Your friends, family, or coworkers are asking you for Mac help. They're snowbound and you're sipping a mai tai in Miami Beach, so you can't just swing by their home or office. Worse, they don't know an application menu from a folder, so you're...

Color laser printers: six models in the $1,000 range feature enhanced speed and print quality.(REVIEWS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... Adding color to your work documents has always come at a price in terms of time, money, or both. Color ink-jet printers are inexpensive and great for printing photos from your digital camera, but the paper and ink can cost an arm and a leg, the...

Dual-1.8GHz Power Mac G5: the middle desktop configuration is a surprisingly good value.(REVIEWS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... When Apple brings out a new Mac model, it typically offers three standard configurations: "good," "better," and "best." In the case of the first Power Mac G5s, the "best" model--the dual-2GHz configuration--was clearly the standout: the...

Retrospect 6.0: powerful backup program adds Panther compatibility and enterprise features.(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... Everyone has a mission-critical application--that one program they can't work without (Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Excel, or Apple's Final Cut Pro, for example). But backup programs are mission critical for all users, no matter how they earn a...

Adobe PageMaker Plug-in Pack: basic add-ons to InDesign CS enhance its functionality for diverse users.(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... InDesign long ago overtook PageMaker as Adobe's publishing flagship, but the company has let the OS 9-only PageMaker 7 languish on life support. Even with the new InDesign CS, Adobe is not quite ready to let go. PageMaker lives on, sort of, via...

Digital-video converters: analog-to-digital hardware bridges the video generation gap.(ADS Technologies Pyro A/V Link, Canopus ADVC-100, Datavideo DAC-100, Miglia Technology Director Cut Take 2)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... You can't remember the last time you bought or rented a video, but you still have shelves full of your well-worn favorites. And then there's that shopping bag filled with old Hi8 tapes of birthday parties and vacations gathering dust in the...

Epson Stylus Pro 4000: large-format ink-jet printer achieves new levels of print quality.(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... In its never-ending quest to stay ahead of Hewlett-Packard and Canon in the photo-printer market, Epson has released the Stylus Pro 4000, a large-format ink-jet printer that improves upon a tradition of excellence most recently found in the...

Font Doctor 6: font-organization and -repair software gets better and faster.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... Font Doctor is a utility you don't ever want to have to use. But when your fonts act funky or when they're in disarray, then Font Doctor 6 becomes your best friend. It not only repairs corrupt fonts and organizes them into neat folders, but...

Wacom Graphire3 6x8: redesigned tablet-mouse combo provides great graphics value.(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... For the graphics user who doesn't have a tablet, the $200 Graphire3 6x8, the latest update to Wacom's consumer line of tablets, is too good a deal to pass up. Bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements 1.0 (for Mac OS 9) and Corel Painter Classic...

LaCie Bigger Disk: four drives in one enclosure equals massive capacity.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... Even if you can't quite conceptualize how you could ever fill 1 terabyte (1,000GB) of disk space, the LaCie Bigger Disk will put that much capacity on your desktop in seconds. If you happen to know that you need 1TB to back up your network or...

The Print Shop Mac OS X Edition 1.0: design and desktop-publishing package debuts in Mac OS X.(REVIEWS)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... Over the years, The Print Shop, a popular design and desktop-publishing package for creating greeting cards, calendars, labels, and similar projects, has come and gone. Now, thanks to its new developer, Software MacKiev, this long-missed...

Unreal timing.(Macsoft's Unreal Tournament 2004 computer game)(Product/Service Evaluation)
June 1, 2004... MACSOFT RELEASED UNREAL TOURNAMENT 2003--A POPular first-person shooter that lets players square off in futuristic gladiatorial combat--roughly six months after its PC counterpart was released. Needless to say, Mac users were a bit miffed. ...

Safari supplement.(Ricardo Batista introduces Safari Extender web browser)
June 1, 2004... ALTHOUGH I TRY EVERY NEW BROWSER, I KEEP COMING back to Safari. But that doesn't mean I'm completely satisfied with it--I wish it had a few more features. With the help of Ricardo Batista's $10 Safari Extender v1.19 (VERY GOOD;...

Digital music superguide: everything you need to know about using your Mac, iPod, and stereo to play your music throughout the house.
June 1, 2004... THANKS TO iTUNES AND THE iPOD, music has become an integral part of the Mac life. Those two products have helped displace the stacks of CDs most of us have been amassing for the past 15 years. The benefits are clear. Digital music files...

From VHS to DVD: give new life to old movies.
June 1, 2004... SOMEWHERE IN YOUR HOUSE IS A DRAWER FULL OF VIDEOTAPES--aging home movies shot with a big, bulky camcorder that may not even work anymore. You haven't watched these movies in years, but all this talk about the digital hub and iLife has got you...

Protect data in Panther.(WORKING MAC)
June 1, 2004... YOU MAY NOT BE A SECRET AGENT OR AN INVENTOR OF A product that will change the world, but you surely have documents and data on your Mac that you don't want others to see. Whether it's sensitive reports, budgets, and production plans, or...

Shoot action like a Pro.(camcorders and their usage in different situations)
June 1, 2004... WHEN YOU SHOOT VIDEO, YOU'RE MOST OFTEN RECORDing action--a sporting event, actors moving through a scene, and so on. But if motion is the essence of video, why do so many home movies make viewers queasy? The answer is camcorder movement. ...

Web-site lockdown.(Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004)
June 1, 2004... AS A WEB-SITE DESIGNER, YOU'D RATHER SPEND YOUR TIME creating new sites. But because existing sites need maintenance, niggling tasks such as changing an address or adding a press release keep you from your creative pursuits. And you're afraid...

Highway fidelity.(ipods installation in cars)
June 1, 2004... WHETHER YOU'RE COMMUTING TO WORK OR HEADING across country, nothing beats music for passing the time. Until a few years ago, audio CDs were the only way to get digital sound in your car. But now, thanks to portable audio players, satellite...

iChat with your TV.(introduced by Apple Computer Inc.)
June 1, 2004... WHEN APPLE INTRODUCED iCHAT AV, I FELT CHEATED. Apple and I had a deal: I would devote my free time to mastering technology rather than relating to my fellow human beings, and Apple would keep churning out cool new technologies for me to use....

Mac OS X Hints.(HELP DESK)
June 1, 2004... LEARN HOW TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL WINDOW CLOsures, see who belongs to which Address Book groups, change iCal's displays, use iChat emoticons in new ways, skip disk-image verification, and more. Find Group Memberships Fast in Address Book ...

Mac 911.(by Apple Computer Inc.)
June 1, 2004... FEW WOULD ACCUSE ME OF FOLLOWING NED LUDD, BUT there are times when technology drives me to distraction. In the spirit of the Luddites, this month's Mac 911 offers ways to defeat the technological turmoil of corrupted AOL attachments, DVD-less...

Picturemate.(from Epson America Inc. )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... It might look like a small boom box, but the output of the PictureMate--the latest photo printer from Epson (www.epson.com)--is what really rocks. The $199 six-color printer produces 4-by-6-inch glossy prints that look and feel just like the...

Topo State Series.(from National Geographic Society)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Mac users in need of mapping software may have felt as if they've been wandering around aimlessly for the past few years. Fortunately, National Geographic (www.nationalgeographic.com) is offering a way out of the wilderness; it has added...

PocketMac iPod Edition.(Information Appliance Associates's PocketMac iPod Edition)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Information Appliance Associates (www.pocketmac.net) has expanded the power of the iPod beyond simply storing iCal calendar and Address Book contact information. With the latest version of its $23 data-synchronization tool, PocketMac iPod...

San Francisco Apple Store.(Apple Computer Inc.'s Apple Store opening attracted Steve Jobs and Gavin Newsom)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Not every Apple Store opening attracts Steve Jobs and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. Then again, with its two stories, 14-seat Genius Bar, 39-seat theater, and Internet cafe, the new San Francisco outlet is different from most other Apple...

Apple's lucky bag.(marketing at San Francisco's Apple Store opening)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... At San Francisco's Apple Store opening, grab bags of merchandise--containing AirPort Extreme Base Stations, the iLife suite, and many other goodies--were sold to the first 200 folks willing to pay $249 for them. A few hours later, a handful of...

What's hot.(European Commission's fine on Microsoft Corp.)(Apple Computer Inc.'s Power Mac G5 advertising pointed out by Dell Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... 1 The European Commission slaps Microsoft with a record $610 million fine. A defiant Microsoft retaliates by purchasing Belgium. 2 Dell complains to the Better Business Bureau about the claims in Apple's Power Mac G5 advertising. Michael...

Mini's many colors.(Apple iPod mini)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... We can tell you all about the iPod mini's compact size and modified scroll wheel, as we did in our recent review (VERY GOOD 1/2; May 2004). But all people seem to care about are the colors that the miniature music player's anodized aluminum...