Macworld articles from March 2003

Macworld archives from March 2003

Melting pot: Apple wasn't the only newsmaker at a lively Macworld Expo. (From the Editor's Desk).(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... THE JANUARY MACWORLD CONFERENCE & EXPO, HELD annually in San Francisco, is a bellwether of the mood and vibrancy of the Mac market, and its spirit hangs over us all through the winter and into the spring. At last year's show, Apple introduced...

Feedback.(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... Look Out! OI' .Mac Is Back. In our December 2002 issue, we asked, "What's .Mac worth?" As it turns out, it's worth an avalanche of letters. Readers seemed to think that our article--which concluded that .Mac was "a solid value" for many...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2003... In our review of Sciral's Consistency 1.0 (Reviews in Brief, January 2003), we printed an incorrect price. The product costs $25. In "Director Takes Action" (Mac Beat, January 2003), we incorrectly reported on a Director MX feature. Content...

More sizes fit all: Apple adds 17-inch and 12-inch models to its PowerBook G4 line. (Macbeat).(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Compared side by side, the two newest PowerBooks don't appear to have much in common, apart from a brand name and a metallic shell. One sports a wide-screen 17-inch display like the one found on Apple's flat-panel iMac. The other is the...

iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iTunes evolve into ilife. (Updated Digital-HUB Apps Bundled into one Integrated Package).
March 1, 2003... There's really no point in a digital hub if all its parts don't work together. So after rolling out a series of free applications that have helped Mac users connect their computers to digital devices such as cameras and DVD players, Apple has...

It's all in the presentation. (Keynote did the Job for Jobs; Now it's Ready for other MAC users).(Apple's presentation software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... No matter what you think of Keynote, Apple's new presentation software, there's one thing that no one will dispute--the application was tested by a pretty demanding user. As Apple developed Keynote, CEO Steve Jobs put the application to...

Macworld Conference & Expo: Best of Show.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... During each Macworld Conference & Expo trade show, the editors of Macworld and MacCentral.com evaluate the new hardware and software products that debut at the event, selecting the most exciting ones to receive Best of Show honors. These awards...

Creative beat.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Mac FlipAlbum 3, from E-Book Systems (866/532-8080, www.flipalbum.com): The Mac version of the Windows application lets users organize and display photos in a digital photo album complete with turning pages and music. It's expected to ship in...

Hardware beat.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Two monitors from LaCie (503/844-4500, www.lacie.com): The photon20vision ($1,500 to $2,000. final pricing yet to be determined) is a 20-inch LCD monitor with a native resolution of 1,600 by 1,200 pixels. It supports VGA, DVI, and ADC...

Multimedia beat.(audio equipment and software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Audio Hardware A 4.1-channel multimedia speaker system from Harman Multimedia (877/266-6202. www.harman-multimedia.com): The JBL Invader ($180) has a 32-watt subwoofer and four 12-watt speakers for gaming, music, and movies (when used...

Storage beat.(MCE Technologies SuperDrive Upgrade DVD-R/RW drive for PowerBook G4s )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Optical Drives Hardware Optical-drive upgrades from MCE Technologies (949/458-0800, www.mcetech.com): The MCE SuperDrive Upgrade ($449) is a user-installed internal DVD-R/RW drive for PowerBook G4s that can burn DVDs at 2x, DVD-RWs at...

Game beat.(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2003... Software Conquest of Elysium II, from Illwinter Game Design (www.illwintercom): The fantasy strategy game for OS X supports as many as eight players, who take roles as warlords and wizards in a struggle against one another and various...

Education beat.(Neural Networks, from Wolfram Research; World Book 2003 Mac OS X--Jaguar Edition, from World Book)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Software Data Analysis Neural Networks, from Wolfram Research (800/965-3726, www.wolfram.com):This program uses the computational prowess of Wolfram's Mathematica to let users test and explore neural-network models for use in...

Exploring Apple's Safari. (New web browser has open-source roots-and comes from Cupertino).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... As Web browsers Chimera, Opera, and OmniWeb threaten to seriously challenge Internet Explorer's dominance (see "Battle of the Browsers, December 2002), a new player is poised to become the de facto standard for Mac OS X Web browsing--and it's...

Final Cut for the rest of us. (Apple pares down pro version, for more-affordable video-editing APP).(Final Cut Express)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... For digital-video enthusiasts who want a more powerful editing program than iMovie but something less expensive than the $999 Final Cut Pro, there's been a serious gap in Apple's offerings. To fill it, Apple rolled out Final Cut Express. The...

Publishing pro. (Profile: Q&A with Gene Gable).(president of Seybold Seminars and Publications)(Interview)
March 1, 2003... As president of Seybold Seminars and Publications, Gene Gable had the job of introducing keynote speakers such as Apple's Steve Jobs and Adobe's John Warnock. But Gable is more than just a master of ceremonies--he's a knowledgeable observer of...

Macs get ready to rumble. (Force feedback adds sense of touch to computing).
March 1, 2003... Pretty soon, Mac garners will be able to feel the rumble of an explosion, the bumps in a road, and the jarring impact of a collision. Force feedback--a favorite request of Mac game enthusiasts over the years--has come to the Mac, courtesy of...

Productivity beat.
March 1, 2003... Software Business Management eArtist 2.0, from Artscope.net (www.artscope.net): The business-management tool aims to help artists control mailing lists and contacts, track exhibition schedules, document exhibition histories and...

Old Dock, New tricks. (Developers turn to OS X's Dock to expand software's capabilities).
March 1, 2003... The Dock in OS X's Aqua interface is like a pair of khaki pants--useful and versatile, if not exactly flashy. A combination of launchpad and storage silo, the Dock lacks sophisticated options found in tools such as MaxMenus or DragThing. ...

A double-feature duplicator. (Cyclone device combines duplicator and external burner).(DVD One-2-One device)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Directors are always looking for versatility in their on-screen talent. Why shouldn't they expect the same from their off-screen equipment? Yet most DV pros are content to use a stand-alone DVD duplicator when it's time to reproduce their...

Mac OS X updates.(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2003... Powered by versiontracker.com ATI Radeon 7000 v208 Firmware update for video card Apple Script Editor 2.0 AppleScript-editing tool BIAS Peak 3.2 Audio-editing, -processing, and -mastering program Codec Calculator...

Running for cover. (ACME made iCovers protect LCDs in style).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... After you've spent $3,499 on a 23-inch LCD monitor, a couple of specks of dust can ruin your entire outlook. A display cover can provide protection against dirt, smudges, scratches, sun discoloration, and other sorts of wear and tear. But for...

Input-device beat.
March 1, 2003... Hardware Controllers An audio and video controller from Contour A/V Solutions (866/894-1127, www.countouravs.com): The SpaceShuttle A/V ($50) is a five-button jog-and-shuttle controller based on Contour's ShuttlePro device. Each...

Cubase SX 1.0: OS X-native version of venerable music-production application needs minor tune-up.(Steinberg)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... If you bemoan the absence of a Mac OS X-native version of QuarkXPress within earshot of a Mac musician, be prepared for a chorus of abuse. Such Mac users have waited nearly two years for the tools they primarily rely on--software-based...

Whiteboard capture devices: eBeam and mimio let you digitize your dry-erase brainstorming sessions. (Reviews).(Electronics for Imaging's eBeam System 3 and Virtual Ink's mimio)
March 1, 2003... It's amazing that whiteboards are sold without one crucial feature: a preprinted area that reads, "Do not erase!" Most whiteboards we see include this determined scrawl somewhere, or else the ghostly residue of those words. If you simply can't...

Universe 5.0: venerable 3-D-animation software adds match moving, multiprocessor support to its galaxy of features. .(Electric Image)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Electric Image's 3-D-animation software has been used to produce realistic 3-D animation and special effects for countless films, television shows, and commercials during the past decade, and it's renowned for its rendering quality and speed....

This month in ink-jet printers.(Canon i850, Canon S530D, Epson Stylus C82, HP DeskJet 5550, Lexmark Z65 Color Jetprinter)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Ink-jet printers made specifically for photo printing are getting plenty of attention these days, but why buy such a spiffy machine to print Web pages or e-mail? In these cases, a general-purpose ink-jet printer will suffice, and some even...

HP color LaserJet 2500L: inexpensive color laser printer turns out great documents quickly. .(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... If you do moderate- to high-volume printing, you should know that, in the long run, a laser printer costs much less than an ink-jet. Even though a laser printer costs more initially, and despite the higher price of toner cartridges, ink-jets...

Maxtor Personal Storage 5000: one-button backup solution combines ease of use and flexibility. .(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... No one expects to lose data because of a fire, burglary, or hard-drive failure. But disasters do happen, and backing up your data is the best way to protect at. Maxtor's Personal Storage 5000 hard drives simplify this daunting task with Maxtor...

Inspiration 7: accessible diagramming program helps you organize your thoughts and realize your ideas. .(Inspiration Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... For most of us, the act of brainstorming involves hastily written words on whiteboards and paper stickies, which require tedious transcribing and photocopying before we can share our ideas with others. There is a better way: Inspiration...

FontAgent Pro: strong new font-management program goes up against proven rivals. .(Insider Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Managing fonts is not something most people look at with eyes twinkling and heart a-racing. But Insider Software's new FontAgent Pro is one of those tools that makes managing fonts as appealing as it may ever get. Insider Software has...

Reunion 8: genealogy program evolves beautifully, charts flexibly. (.(Leister Productions)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Whether you're looking for your family's black sheep so you can blame your misdeeds on some genetic flaw, or just want to know where you came from and why, researching your roots can be both entertaining and enlightening. On the Mac, there's no...

BBEdit 7.0: excellent tool for text specialists gets even better.(Bare Bones Software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... BBEdit is unabashedly a geek's tool. Rather than narrow the text editor's appeal to Web-coding geeks, JavaScript geeks, Unix geeks, and programmer geeks, Bare Bones Software has always kept its flagship program blissfully unfocused, con-...

Swift 3D 3: poky performance mars flash exporter. .(Electric Rain design program)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Flash animations have become ubiquitous on the Web, so we liked the idea behind Electric Rain's Swift 3D, an easy-to-use, stand-alone design program that lets you easily create and render 3-D animations [ and graphics in Flash format (SWF). We...

Visualroute 7.0: utility brings clarity to internet security and performance. .(Visualware's visual traceroute utility)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Tracking down a hacker who's twisting the door handles on your servers from halfway across the world is a formidable task. One way to do it is to enter the questionable address into a text-based traceroute tool, such as OS X's Network Utility,...

XPert tools pro: package filled with winners adds new Xtensions for QuarkXPress 5.(A Lowly Apprentice Productions XPert Tools Pro DTP extension)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Choosing the best package of QuarkXPress XTensions is tricky; and sometimes you get only one or two useful features in an entire set. Fortunately, A Lowly Apprentice Production's newest collection of XTensions, XPert Tools Pro, provides more...

Webmerge 2.1. .(Fourth World Media Web authoring software)(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... **** 1/2; Fourth World Media, 8001288-5825 www.fourthworld.com; $79 You don't need an expensive, complicated database system to generate a Web site populated with massive amounts of data--especially if the site doesn't need to be linked to...

Art Directors Toolkit 3. .(Code Line Communications)(Software Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... **** 1/2; Code Line Communications, 818/884-8379, www.code-line.com; $40 Art Directors Toolkit (ADT) 3 combines eight of the most practical production utilities for print or Web artists--including a direct numerical converter, color...

Dragthing 4.5. .(Software Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... **** 1/2; TLA Systems, james.t@kagi.com www.dragthing.com; $25 We've long promoted Drag Thing as a fantastic Finder enhancement that gives users a way to organize their desktops via floating "docks" full of icons that represent programs,...

Six Degrees 1.5. .(Creo)(Software Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... ****; Creo, 604/451-2700, www.creo.com; $99; upgrades from version 1.0, free In our November 2002 review of Six Degrees, we noted that Creo's innovative new program that finds relationships between e-mail messages, documents, and...

Bullets are forever: military action, spy intrigue, and a classic arcade revival. (The Game Room).(Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, The Operative: No One Lives Forever; Zoombinis Island Odyssey, Mutant Storm, )(Software Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... NOT EVERYONE CAN BE A SECRET AGENT, NO MATTER WHAT you might think if you watch 24 or Alias. But Mac garners can put themselves into the heat of battle, thanks to two new games that take very different approaches--although they both end up...

Scanners work in OS X at last. We put them to the test. (Welcome Back).(Canon CanoScan 5000F, the Epson Perfection 2400 Photo, and the HP Scanjet 5500c, Canon CanoScan LiDE 30, the Epson Perfection 1260, and the HP Scanjet 3500c)(Hardware Review)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... Together with Macs and laser printers, flatbed scanners helped herald the desktop-publishing revolution of the 1980s. By the mid-1990s, flatbed scanners had shrunk in size and plummeted in price (some cost less than the average toaster oven),...

The way to wireless: everything you need to know to join the wireless life.(Apple's AirPort )
March 1, 2003... Part of the appeal of new technology is that it promises to allow you to do things you'd never before dreamed possible. And anyone who has sat outside with a Power Book, checking e-mail and surfing the Web without being connected to any wires...

Power Mac power boost: the right upgrade can turn your antique into a modern OS X machine.
March 1, 2003... OS X IS A FACT OF MAC LIFE. Every month, Mac developers release new software--and every month, more of this software works only in OS X. That's not a problem for newer computers, which run OS X flawlessly, but on systems more than two years...

Data-driven publishing. (Print Publishing).(using the Xdata XTension (for QuarkXPress) and the InData plug-in (for Adobe InDesign))
March 1, 2003... Most designers entered the profession to express their creativity, but who has time to be creative when saddled with thousands of pieces of data that have to be formatted for a catalog, directory, price list, or schedule? Fortunately, you can...

Error-free Excel. (Productivity).
March 1, 2003... If you base important decisions on calculations you get from Microsoft Excel worksheets, errors can be costly. Unlike a simple typo in another type of document, an incorrect cell reference in a worksheet can send a ripple of mistakes throughout...

XPress time-savers. (Print Publishing).(QuarkXPress 5.0)
March 1, 2003... QuarkXPress 5 ($899; 800/676-4575, www.quarkxpress.com) has several features designed to make your life easier. Take XPress libraries: in these files, you can store items you use frequently, including picture boxes, text boxes, lines, and...

Roundtable disc-ussion. (MAC 911).
March 1, 2003... To give you the dope on the dish, the fate of the plate, and the chatter about the platter, this month's Mac 911 focuses primarily on discs- CD-R and DVD-R media. Specifically, I look at ways to back up application files to disc with Apple's...

Stages of grief: forget HyperCard--the future is AppleScript Studio.(Column)
March 1, 2003... HYPERCARD IS DEAD. PLEASE BELIEVE ME. HONEST, I HATE to be the delivery system for heavy disturbing facts. And I think it's a danged shame--I'll go even further and describe it as a gosh-danged shame-that Apple killed a simple,...