Macworld articles from November 2004

Macworld archives from November 2004

The once and future iMac.(From the Editor's Desk)
November 1, 2004... Ever since the iMac helped reverse Apple's slipping fortunes back in 1998, it has been viewed as a symbol of the company's health. But I don't think that's the case anymore. For one thing, the iPod has usurped the iMac's position as company...

Do-it-yourself Feedback.(Feedback)
November 1, 2004... Inspired by our August 2004 issue, we wanted to give you a step-by-step guide for assembling your own Feedback section. Step 1: Publish an issue packed with do-it-yourself tips, a challenge to build the ideal Mac-based home office, and an...

How-to help.(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... VINCENT GREEN * I'm a little bothered by the instructions you gave, in "The Next Do-It-Yourself Mac" (August 2004), for removing the original drive from a PowerBook G4 and installing a SuperDrive. I'm an Apple-certified technician; I make...

A six-grand old time.(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... LARRY BARROWS # I thought that "Macworld's $6,000 Challenge" (August 2004) was very useful and informative. I liked the counterpoint of the two types of systems and the two writers' approaches to spending the same amount of money. I'd also...

Office space.(Feedback)
November 1, 2004... STEVEN R. SCHMID # I obtained my copy of Microsoft Office 2004 after reading about the nice improvements in PowerPoint and Word (Reviews, August 2004). Unfortunately, there's still a major feature missing from these programs: integration...

KDE OK?(Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... LISA FAHRMEYER * I was excited about "Hasta La Vista, Aqua" (Geek Factor, August 2004). With a bit of fiddling, I got my newbie head around it and got KDE set up without a hitch. Well, except maybe one: Everything runs smoothly with the...

Blocked off.(Feedback)
November 1, 2004... JEFF GRIFFIN # "Web Mail Supersizes" (Mac Beat, August 2004) lists free e-mail providers. But Mailblocks.com doesn't seem to be free after all. On its Web site, Mailblocks.com advertises only for-pay service. Mailblocks.com stopped...

Nothing lasts forever.(Feedback)
November 1, 2004... JOHN M. LUCAS # I read "Offer of a Lifetime" (Mac Beat, August 2004) and can't help but wonder how long Mariner Software's offer of free upgrades for the rest of a program's lifetime will exist. Or how long a "lifetime" is. I once had...

iPhoto fan.(Feedback)
November 1, 2004... RANDY A. MAYNARD # I'm not sure what features reader Jedediah Leachman expects from a "serious photo manager" (Feedback, August 2004), but I am sure that iPhoto 4 lets me easily and effectively organize my 2,457 family photos. Maybe...

Pocket full of troubles?(Feedback)
November 1, 2004... JORAM SAWADY # I was surprised by Andy Ihnatko's VERY GOOD rating of PocketMac Pro 3.3 (Reviews, August 2004). Since installing the program more than a month ago, I've never gotten it to synchronize my Hewlett-Packard iPAQ 5555 and...

Do-it-yourself 3-D.(Feedback)
November 1, 2004... CHRIS SYRIA * I noticed that "Illustration in Three Dimensions" (Create, August 2004) didn't mention that you can do what Rob Magiera does yourself. You can download the Personal Learning Version of Maya Complete for free from...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... Our review of the iBook G4 (September 2004) listed the wrong price for the optional AirPort Extreme card. Apple has cut its price to $79. "Save Time with Shortcuts" (Working Mac, September 2004) included an incorrect key command. To open a...

Apple and RealNetworks face off over the iPod: music battle gets real.(Mac Beat)
November 1, 2004... When RealNetworks announced, in July, that the next version of its RealPlayer software would allow users to play music purchased from the company's PC-only online music store--which employs its own digital rights management (DRM) system--on an...

Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... There's little doubt in the graphics world that Adobe Photoshop is the tool for photographers, Web designers, and graphics pros. But at $649, it's a bit out of the price range of most hobbyists. For the past few years, Adobe Photoshop Elements...

Filemaker turns 20: data for the ages.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... It's an Apple-owned product that revolutionized computing. It helped ordinary people perform complicated tasks usually reserved for the most sophisticated users. And it's celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The Mac? Not this...

Original Mac team member talks about past and present: photo meister.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Bill Atkinson (www.billatkinson.com) was one of Apple's original software superstars--responsible for MacPaint, HyperCard, and much of QuickDraw and the Mac's user interface. His name was even engraved inside every first-generation Mac. But...

Storage beat.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Boa FireWire 16X DVD+/-RW, from EZQuest (www.ezq.com): External optical drive writes to CDs and DVDs, including dual-layer DVDs, and comes in two versions--one with Toast Lite and Dantz Retrospect, and one with Toast Titanium 6 and Dantz...

Multimedia beat.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... DrumCore, from Submersible Music (www.drumcore.com): Software collection helps composers and musicians who want to create drum tracks in many different styles ($249). inMotion iM3, from Altec Lansing Technologies (www.alteclansing.com):...

Indie film relies on PowerBook: beam me up.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Director Helmut Kobler had a hand in nearly every aspect of his science-fiction film Radius, which was released on the Internet a few years ago. But the release, earlier this year, of Radius on DVD--as well as the making of the movie...

Creative beat.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Cinema 4D Release 9, from Maxon Computer (www.maxon.net): 3-D-animation tool adds more than 100 features, including a Heads-Up Display that shows modifiable information in the editor (contact Maxon for pricing). form-Z 4.5, from autodessys...

High Definition video takes off: meeting HD.(Mac Beat)
November 1, 2004... Imagine being able to pick out individual fans in the crowd during a wide-screen baseball-game broadcast, or to see the intricate crosshatching of Martin Sheen's tie as he addresses the nation during an episode of The West Wing. High Definition...

Service puts CDs on your iPod: fill'er up.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Bill Palmer kept hearing the same thing from visitors to his iPod Garage Web site (www.ipodgarage.com). They loved the fact that they could store thousands of songs on Apple's harddrive-based music player. But they despised the time-consuming...

Mac products make big splash at Siggraph show: pro product power.(Mac Beatrusa )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Siggraph's mission is to promote information about computer graphics and interactive techniques--two concepts dear to Mac users' hearts. The group's annual conference and exhibition in July saw several noteworthy Mac product announcements. ...

Networking beat.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ADmit Mac 2.0, from Thursby Software (www.thursby.com): Upgraded software for integrating Mac clients into a Windows Active Directory Network or a Windows NT Domain adds compatibility with Apple's Workgroup Manager, and the ability to add...

Productivity beat.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Britannica 2005 Ultimate Reference Suite, from Encyclopedia Britannica (www.britannica.com): Software reference suite includes the 32-volume Encyclopedia Britannica, Britannica Student Encyclopedia, and Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia ($70)....

AirPort Express: compact base station touches down in the living room.(Reviews)
November 1, 2004... In Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the alien ships arrive in a variety of shapes--there are wedges, spheres, and even a vessel that looks like an ice-cream cone. Apple apparently got the interstellar memo: the saucer-shaped AirPort Extreme...

Phone answering and automation systems: Phlink 1.4 and PhoneValet Message Center 2.0 can answer your calls.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2004... Without a doubt, e-mail is an efficient and indispensable tool for doing business. But much communication is still conducted the old-fashioned way: by telephone. Two new products--Ovolab's Phlink 1.4.2 and Parliant's PhoneValet Message Center...

Webstractor 1.0: research tool lets you capture and edit Web pages.(Reviews)(Softchaos)
November 1, 2004... If you use the Web for any kind of research, you'll want to check out Softchaos's Webstractor 1.0.1, an outstanding utility that lets you collect whole Web pages--including images, tables, and formatting--for viewing and editing, online or off....

MiniDV camcorders: budget camcorders offer professional features.(Reviews)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... If you've been hesitant about retiring your antiquated VHS or Hi8 camcorder and springing for a DV model, now may be a good time to take the leap. We looked at a host of recent offerings that cost less than $1,000: the Canon Optura 40, the...

NoteBook 1.2: powerful information manager in a virtual spiral notebook.(Reviews)(Circus Ponies Software)
November 1, 2004... There are many applications designed to help you cope with a flood of information, from simple notepads to sophisticated personal information managers. Most are either too lightweight to keep up or so complex that they make the task even more...

After Effects 6.5 Professional: Adobe packs a punch in upgrade.(Reviews)
November 1, 2004... It has been a year since Adobe last revised After Effects, the market-leading compositing application. And although the latest release is not a full-version upgrade, Adobe has packed a lot of value into the package. After Effects remains at the...

SoundSoap Pro 1.0: affordable plug-in professionally scrubs audio.(Reviews)
November 1, 2004... Multimedia files can be full of superfluous sound--hum, rumble, hiss, crackles, and pops. Until recently, effectively removing this unwanted audio required professional tools that could cost thousands of dollars. But BIAS's SoundSoap Pro offers...

Interarchy 7.2: Internet file-transfer program aids power users.(Reviews)
November 1, 2004... We live in an Internet world, and occasionally that means moving files over the ether. Web developers need to upload their work to Web servers, authors and graphic designers need to keep synchronized with far-flung collaborators, and sometimes...

Toast with Jam 6.0: elegant upgrade simplifies CD and DVD burning.(Reviews)
November 1, 2004... Toast with Jam 6.0.2, the gourmet version of Roxio's Toast 6 Titanium (VERY GOOD 1/2; December 2003), has a feast of new features for burning music, photos, and movies to CD or DVD. In addition to Toast 6 (which includes the Toast burning...

ChatBarrier X3 10.3: instant-message--encryption program guards against casual eavesdroppers.(Reviews)
November 1, 2004... When you send an instant message via Apple's iChat, your words are transmitted in the clear--anyone can use packet-sniffing software to read them, either on your local network or over AOL's instant-messaging network (which is used to transmit...

VueScan 8.0: scanner package offers alternative to generic software.(Reviews)(Hamrick Software)
November 1, 2004... Problem: your scanner's software is too simplistic, too hard to use, or outdated. Solution: Hamrick's VueScan 8.0.11. VueScan opens the door to professional-quality scanner control, and while it won't make you a pro overnight, it will give you...

BumperCar 1.0: kids' browser makes the Web safer.(Reviews)
November 1, 2004... Like many other ubiquitous applications, Web browsers suffer from a one-size-fits-all approach that can leave specific audiences out in the cold. This is especially true for young Web surfers, whose needs are very different from those of...

MacDraft PE 5.5: powerful CAD program reaches out to consumers.(Reviews)
November 1, 2004... MacDraft PE (Personal Edition) 5.5 is a slightly scaled-down version of Microspot's well-known MacDraft, a 2-D CAD (computer-aided design) application for creating floor plans, architectural and landscape drawings, technical illustrations, and...

Midrange flatbed scanner.(Scanners)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VERY GOOD CanoScan 9900F ($400), from Canon (www.canon.com) Inexpensive for its class, this flatbed scanner has 3;200-ppi optical resolution, produces all-around good image quality, and includes hassle-free software (August 2004),...

8-megapixel digital camera.(Digital Cameras)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VERY GOOD C-8080 Wide Zoom ($999), from Olympus (www.olympusamerica.com) Good photo quality, durable design, and in-camera image editing, among other nice traits, make this camera an excellent choice if you need to make very large prints...

Color laser printer, $1,000 range.(Printers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VERY GOOD 1/2 C510n ($1,019), from Lexmark (www.lexmark.com) The C510n provides very good image quality at a low cost per page. And the printer ships with toner cartridges installed. Generous RAM and preinstalled toner just add to the...

Portable for general consumers.(Macs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VERY GOOD 1/2 12-inch iBook G4/1GHz ($1,099), from Apple Computer (www.apple.com) This diminutive Mac's combination of performance, features, and affordability makes it a winner. You can pack it with up to 1.25GB of RAM and add an AirPort...

Portable Mac for pros.(Macs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VERY GOOD 1/2 12-inch PowerBook G4/1.33GHz with SuperDrive ($1,799), from Apple Computer (www.apple.com) Our favorite out of the four we reviewed, the 12-inch PowerBook G4 packs a lot of power into a compact and elegant case (July 2004)....

Desktop Mac for general consumers.(Macs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VERY GOOD 1/2 1.25GHz eMac ($999), from Apple Computer (www.apple.com) This eMac may have received only a tiny speed increase, but its performance is impressive, due to a better graphics card and a fast SuperDrive. At this price, it's...

Midsize flat-panel display.(New: Displays)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VERY GOOD 1/2 MultiSync LCD1960NXi ($729), from NEC (www.necmitsubishi.com) This 19-inch LCD has rich color, a wide viewing angle, and a competitive price. It can also adjust up and down, as well as tilt (October 2004)....

Hardware products we tested this month.(In the Macworld Lab)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VERY GOOD LaserJet 2550Ln ($599), from Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com) This inexpensive, networkable color laser printer offers crisp text and very good color fidelity, and it supports Apple's Rendezvous. But with a paper capacity of only 125...

The game room.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2004... Let's face it--most real-time strategy (RTS) games are relatively two-dimensional. Despite their contoured landscapes, you're ultimately still playing on a flat map. But Aspyr Media's Homeworld 2, a new RTS game set in outer space, changes all...

iMac G5: get the skinny on Apple's superslim all-in-one.(Illustration)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2004... IF YOU WERE TO RANK ALL THE REASONS FOR APPLE'S MID-NINETIES REVIVAL, YOU'D HAVE TO PUT THE SUCCESS OF THE ORIGINAL iMAC (ALONG WITH THE RETURN OF A GUY NAMED STEVE) RIGHT at the top of the list. The brightly colored plastic all-in-one not only...

Even more software bargains: 60 must-have utilities for next to nothing (or nothing at all).(Macintosh utilities)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to get software that'll help you do your job, keep your system in shape, or just have more fun. Mac developers keep on pumping out cool programs that don't cost a mint--some are even free! For the...

The Keychain's hidden powers.(Working Mac)(using Mac OS security features)
November 1, 2004... Passwords, serial numbers, ATM codes--we're all swimming in a sea of information that's secret (or should be). Make it easy to remember, and someone may swipe it. Make it hard to guess, and you may forget it yourself. Mac OS X has the answer:...

Create CD inserts in iTunes.(Digital Hub)
November 1, 2004... The iPod and iTunes are great, but sometimes you still need a CD. Maybe you want to listen to music compilations on a long car trip. Or maybe you're backing up the albums you bought from the iTunes Music Store (a good idea, by the way). The...

Photoshop top tips.(Create)(Adobe Photoshop CS tips)
November 1, 2004... Creative professionals in almost every field use Adobe Photoshop CS. The program owes its popularity to a long, diverse list of features, but this complexity also makes Photoshop difficult to master. No matter what kind of work you do, the...

Laptop battery smarts.(Mobile Mac)
November 1, 2004... According to Apple, a 15-inch aluminum PowerBook G4 will operate for nearly four and a half hours before putting itself to sleep. But that's like saying that a four-person tent can hold four people--it's technically possible but not usually...

Killer Mac robots.(Geek Factor)(using MacNQC)
November 1, 2004... Maybe you've always wanted to make C-3PO or R2-D2, or wondered whether you could create a Roomba Robotic Floorvac yourself. Whatever your motivation, the Lego MindStorms Robotics Invention System has everything you need in order to build...

Mac OS X Hints.(Help Desk)
November 1, 2004... Use Font Book to compare several fonts, modify an iMovie clip's speed more dramatically, delete iTunes artwork, make OS X move in slow motion, change the behavior of OS X's crash reporter, create an icon-only sidebar, and control a file's sort...

Mac 911.(Help Desk)
November 1, 2004... Are you perplexed by duplicate events on your Palm and Mac? Desirous of a Print button in Safari? Seeking an empty iDVD theme? Then this month's Mac 911 is for you. We'll also look at ways to capture iMovie stills, play full-screen movies in...

Tech focus: ATI's Versavision.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(monitor-pivoting software introduced for Mac)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Mac users were left out in the cold when Portrait Display Labs decided not to update its monitor-pivoting software for OS X. Now, thanks to ATI's Versavision-enabled cards with hardware-accelerated display rotation and scaling, Mac graphic...

Kid Pix Deluxe 3 for Mac OS X.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(graphics software for children introduced by Software MacKiev)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... For years, kids have been enjoying Kid Pix painting, drawing, and animation software on the Mac. Now, after two years of work by Software MacKiev, OS X users can join the party. But the $40 Kid Pix Deluxe 3 for Mac OS X adds much more than OS X...

pPod.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(iPod add-on gives public toilet info)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The next time you find yourself wandering the streets of London after a few pints too many, avoid the improper urge toward public urination and consult your trusty iPod instead. The free pPod uses the iPod's Notes feature to help you find...

What's hot: a quick look at the world of Macs.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... 1 Apple unveils the iMac G5, which features components nestled behind the display, in a thin case. The creators of the Etch A Sketch responded by immediately filing a copyright-infringement suit. 2 Apple marketing promotes the new iMac as...

Tactic video controller.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(Livid introduces video mixing instrument)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VJs--people using multiple video sources for live performances--looking for a way to stand out from the crowd might want to check out Livid's Tactic. This $2,999 handcrafted wooden device, which the company dubs a "real-time video mixing...

Revolution 5.1.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(PCI audio card for Macs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... One enduring Mac gamer's lament: Macs don't support 3-D positional audio, as most PCs do. Those days are over, thanks to M-Audio's Revolution 5.1, a PCI card that supports OpenAL, an open standard for 3-D audio that's seeing increasing support...