Macworld articles from September 2004

Macworld archives from September 2004

Typing tiger.(From the Editor's Desk)(Editorial)
September 1, 2004... Ten years ago, if you had asked me what the biggest differences between Macs and PCs were, I would've praised the Mac's point-and-click mouse-driven interface and blasted the DOS command line lurking below Windows. These days, I'm not only...

Center of attention.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Apple's Digital Hub stood front and center in Macworld's June 2004 issue, in which we offered a comprehensive guide to digital music, tips on transferring videotapes to DVD, and more. The response we've gotten from readers indicates that the...

Can't stop the music.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... GARY QUIRING * The "Release the Sounds" section of your "Digital Music Superguide" (June 2004) failed to mention a downside to using Slim Device's Squeezebox. Due to legal restrictions on music available from the iTunes Music Store, Slim...

iMovie reconsidered.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... ROBERT TOOMBS * I'd never paid much attention to iMovie. I tinkered a little with the demo clips in the first version and found the program so rudimentary that I never bothered looking at it again. But after reading Jim Heid's "From VHS to...

Here comes the sunshade.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... KILPATRICK WILL * "Improve Outdoor Lighting" (in Digital Hub, June 2004) offered an inexpensive alternative--white poster board--to professional light reflectors. I was expecting to see my favorite solution described: the sunshades sold...

Active opposition.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... MARK BARNHART * I have used QuarkXPress since version 3; I had decided to wait for Quark to move to Mac OS X. But after reading "Activation Nation" (Mac Beat, June 2004), I have changed my mind and will switch from Quark as soon as I...

We've been framed.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... DRU VINTON * Leave it to Adobe to shoot longtime customers in the foot by killing FrameMaker on the Mac ("Out of Frame," Mac Beat, June 2004). Our company has been using FrameMaker for years because it's truly a cross-platform application....

Bookmarklets reloaded.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... SEAN CHANDLER * Reader Paul Calamai and Dori Smith offered a Safari bookmarklet for sending a URL and selected text from a Web page to an e-mail recipient (Feedback, June 2004). In all of a minute, I had typed the script into the Safari...

Cats got your tongue?(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... PETER KEENE * Microsoft's software engineers must be sweating after Apple's announcement that Tiger will be the last annual upgrade of OS X. Now Microsoft will have to think for itself about what should go into Longhorn. On the other hand,...

Apple's flat-panel lineup expands: cinema's scope.(Mac Beat)
September 1, 2004... No matter how you look at it, the latest addition to Apple's line of Cinema Displays is big news--all 30 diagonal inches of it. But as eye popping as the 30-inch Apple Cinema Display HD is, it's only part of the new look unveiled for Apple's...

OS X update isn't just any cat: tiger tales.(Mac Beat)
September 1, 2004... Apple may have given Mac users a first glance at all the features in Tiger (see "10 Things to Know about Tiger," page 50). But this major update to OS X remains shrouded in mystery. Nobody knows just what Tiger will look like once Apple is...

Apple's advice: stay updated and stay calm; Security's X factor.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Faced with a report critical of how safe its operating system is from online attacks, Apple first came out with a software update it hoped would quash potential threats. Then it came out with a response it hoped would reassure users about OS...

Creative beat.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Create 12.0, from Stone Design (www.stone.com): Drawing, pagelayout, and Web-page--creation tool adds a customizable toolbar and a new Table tool for creating and editing data tables and exporting the results to HTML ($149; upgrade, free). ...

Input device beat.(Mac Beat)(MacMice)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... BT-500 Mouse, from Radtech (ww.radtech.us): Bluetooth mouse offers two buttons and a scroll wheel ($55). IntelliScanner Cordless Collector, from Intelli Innovations (www.intellisw.com): Barcode reader uses Bluetooth technology ($299). ...

Powerbook runs explosive act: all fired up.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... During a recent performance by Circus Orange, Tom Comet was riding his 12-foot unicycle across the stage when a large flame shot out from his posterior, setting him on fire. Comet was perfectly all right--such stunts are par for the course with...

Composer uses Mac-based studio for soundtracks: the Mac scores again.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Tune in to one of the History Channel's epics, and pay close attention to the accompanying musical soundtrack. Chances are, it came to life on Gary Pozner's Mac. The New York-based composer--whose credits include The Quest for King Arthur,...

Multimedia beat.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... iDive, from Aquafadas (www.aquafadas.com): Digital-video media-management program offers visualization, tagging, and retrieval features ($70). iDrum, from Glaresoft (www.glaresoft.com): Drum machine plug-in features more than 500 unique...

Internet beat.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... ChatBarrier X3, from Intego (www.intego.com): Security tool encrypts text messages sent using Apple's iChat instant-messaging software ($40; 10-user site license, $100). Internet Cleanup 2.0, from Aladdin Systems (www.aladdinsys.com):...

Software makers mark 20 years on the Mac: first to the party.(Mac Beat)
September 1, 2004... When James Rea saw the Macintosh's graphical user interface back in 1984, he knew the database software his company was developing for Alpha Micro minicomputers would be perfect for the new Apple computer. But there was a problem: Rea's...

Drivers expand wireless options beyond airport: shuffling the cards.(Mac Beat)
September 1, 2004... Going wireless may be freeing, but it's a long way from free. Even after a recent price cut, Apple's AirPort Extreme card, which adds wireless networking capabilities to your Mac, costs $79. An older AirPort card will run you $59. But Mac...

Utility beat.(Mac Beat)(Gideon Softworks)(TLA Systems)(Ben Rister )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Dock-It 2.0, from Gideon Softworks (www.gideonsoftworks.com): Multifunctional launcher adds support of OS X docklings and changes the label size ($10; upgrade, $6). DragThing 5.2, from TLA Systems (www.dragthing.com): Updated Dock utility...

Storage beat.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... DiscBlaze 4, from Radical Breeze (www.radicalbreeze.com): Updated CD- and DVD-burning software now supports additional discimage formats ($25; upgrade, $10). Dragon Burn 4.0, from NewTech Infosystems (www.ntius.com): CD- and DVD-burning...

iBook G4s: latest update frees memory slot and boosts CPU speed.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... When we reviewed the overhauled iBooks Apple introduced last fall (March 2004), we liked what we saw, with just a couple of reservations. We welcomed Apple's decision to double the machines' standard memory to 256MB but regretted that it had...

8-megapixel digital cameras: high-resolution cameras set out to win the megapixel competition.(Reviews)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2004... The latest trend in digital photography is ultra-high-resolution fixed-lens cameras. The digital-camera manufacturers are constantly trying to outdo one another, in much the same way that CPU manufacturers compete--but in this case, the race is...

Studio Artist 3.0: graphics program explodes with new tools.(Reviews)
September 1, 2004... Synthetik Software's Studio Artist has been a capable and impressive painting and graphics application since its debut several years ago. With version 3.0, the developers finally address some outstanding workflow issues, so Studio Artist can...

DVD Studio Pro 3.0: update adds enhanced effects, workflow improvements.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... The ability to produce more eye candy with less work--that just about sums up what's new in DVD Studio Pro 3.0. The latest version of Apple's high-end DVD-authoring program provides gorgeous new design options for DVD developers, and it adds...

Music recognition programs: SmartScore 3.2 professional and PhotoScore professional 3 tackle scanned scores.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... People who've worked with a scanner and an optical character recognition (OCR) program know how difficult it can be for computers to accurately recognize the printed word. That problem is compounded in OCR applications for scores (musical...

FontAgent Pro 2.1: font manager gives small studios a boost.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... While OS X may have reignited the font wars, those battles are now fought in small skirmishes. The three big font managers on the market--Insider Software's FontAgent Pro, and Extensis's Suitcase (VERY GOOD; February 2004) and (formerly owned...

Combustion 3: 3-D-compositing program features new effects and editing capabilities.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... Though the Mac-based compositing market is dominated by Adobe After Effects and Apple's own Shake, Discreet's Combustion has earned a loyal following, thanks to its unusual interface and powerful features. Version 3 offers many...

Epson PictureMate: little photo printer offers computer-free snapshots.(Reviews)
September 1, 2004... With its compact design and handle, the Epson PictureMate looks like a portable CD player or a lunch box. But it's actually a $199 photo printer that uses six pigment-based inks to print on 4-by-6-inch glossy photo paper--with or without the...

iModeller 3D Professional 2.0: create 3-D models without special skills.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... If you need to make custom 3-D models but can't spare the time or expense, VR Interactive's iModeller 3D Professional 2.0 can help. Instead of learning complex traditional 3-D tools, you can create 3-D models in iModeller simply by taking a...

Interiors 3.4: 3-D decorating program helps you avoid surprises.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... Judging by the popularity of current interior-design TV shows such as Trading Spaces and Surprise by Design, the do-it-yourselfer market is growing. Microspot Interiors 3.4, a 3-D interior-design application, provides a quick way of rendering...

Design Intuition 1.3: 3-D CAD software makes wood-working and design projects easy.(Reviews)(GizmoLab)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... GizmoLab's Design Intuition 1.3, a 3-D CAD software package for woodworkers and hobbyists, can quickly produce accurate, scaled drawings of 3-D models. Design professionals and home owners can use it to design projects such as decks, kitchen...

iPod Voice Recorders: Griffin iTalk takes the lead in sound-quality race with Belkin Voice Recorder.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... Until recently, iPods could receive information only from a computer--contacts, calendars, and MP3 files all had to be imported. Now the iPod can be used as a recording device, too, for directly storing and playing back audio. You're not going...

Isadora 1.0: interactive programming tool assists creative performances.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... Troika Tronix's Isadora, a graphical programming tool that facilitates real-time control of digital audio and video, MIDI, images, and Studio Max 3DS files, has found a following among performers, video artists (VJs), and people looking for a...

The game room.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... Team-based tactical games typically require as much strategy as reflex: you have to think about where your team is and what each member is doing while keeping the enemy at bay. But while Aspyr Media bills its new Delta Force: Black Hawk Down as...

Mac gems.(Reviews)(Product/Service Evaluation)
September 1, 2004... One of my favorite features in OS X 10.3 is Fast User Switching, which lets you quickly switch between user accounts via a menu-bar menu. Unfortunately, the menu's title is the current user's full user name, which can take up a significant...

10 things to know about Tiger: Apple's major OS update won't arrive until 2005--here's what you need to know now.
September 1, 2004... THERE'S A TIGER LURKING OUT THERE. And although it will be some time before the beast finally pounces, it has started to show off some of its stripes. The next major update to OS X, Tiger, has a lot in common with its predecessors, Jaguar...

Beat the clock: 66 time-saving tips show you how.(Cover Story)
September 1, 2004... TICK. TICK. TICK. SURE, YOU LOVE USING YOUR MAC--BUT EVERY MOMENT YOU WASTE COAXING A PROGRAM TO DO YOUR BIDDING IS A MOMENT YOU NEVER GET BACK. WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER TO SPEND THAT TIME DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE? SO DON'T THINK OF OUR...

Save time with shortcuts.(Working Mac)
September 1, 2004... It may seem cliche, but there are two types of people: those who use keyboard shortcuts, and those who don't. On the one hand (pardon the pun), some people waste time putting hand to mouse, cursor to menu, and hand back to keyboard. Others...

iTunes encoding strategies.(Digital Hub)
September 1, 2004... Building a digital music library used to be a simple matter of inserting a CD into your Mac and encoding the songs as MP3 files. Today the process is a little more complicated. iTunes 4.5 not only supports the popular MP3 format but also gives...

Easy 3-D in Illustrator.(Create)(Adobe Illustrator)
September 1, 2004... Successful graphic design grabs your attention and conveys a message--and nothing grabs attention like 3-D graphics that seem to pop off the page. But most 3-D programs are expensive and difficult to learn. That's where the new 3-D and...

Travel survival tips.(Mobile Mac)
September 1, 2004... If you own a PowerBook, you probably like to travel (or at least roam around your home or apartment). PowerBook ownership implies that you're independent, mobile, and always on the move. That may not always be the case--but let's face it,...

Hack the iPod's notes.(Geek Factor)
September 1, 2004... You're in love, and you're looking for the perfect present for your sweet-potato pie. You've already bestowed red roses, vintage wine, and trips to exotic lands. Why not give a more personal gift--one that expresses your amorous emotions with...

Mac OS X Hints.(Help Desk)
September 1, 2004... Mute the startup sound, scale fonts in relation to one another, fix a problem with iChat's image attachment, take advantage of Mail's threading functions without enabling threading, work with Terminal's shopt command, and speed up sheet...

Mac 911.(Help Desk)
September 1, 2004... As easy as the Mac is to use, there are times when you get so frustrated by seemingly arbitrary limitations--a cable modem that won't work with your network, Internet Explorer cookies that refuse to be deleted, or a beloved keyboard command...

iMIX.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... iTunes' iMix feature, part of the version 4.5 update, lets you publish playlists at the iTunes Music Store, so you can expose other online music shoppers to your eclectic tastes. And Macworld is getting into the iMix act, with our very own...

Kensington Noise Canceling Headphones.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(Kensington Technology Group)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Nothing is more annoying than background noise when you're trying to concentrate on your work (and the music blasting out of your Mac). Kensington's Noise Canceling Headphones help silence chattering colleagues. The adjustable, foldable headset...

AirPort Express.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Whether it's sharing printers, streaming music, or serving as an Internet bridge, Apple's miniature wireless base station boasts the flexibility of a contortionist--it bends over backward to meet your needs, for only $129. On-the-go Mac users...

What's hot: a quick look at the world of Macs.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 1 BMW inks a deal with Apple to equip its cars with integrated iPod connectors. Because, really, haven't BMW owners deprived themselves of enough of life's luxuries? 2 The iTunes Music Store makes a successful debut in three European...

A closer look: casual games.(The Month's Coolest Developments)
September 1, 2004... If you want to know how deep the Mac gaming world is, check out casual games, which don't have A-list-game system requirements but also don't skimp on the fun. Our current faves are Varmintz (left), from Skunk Studios (www.skunkstudios.com);...

GBoard5.(The Month's Coolest Developments)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... What's faster than a dual-processor Power Mac G5? A dual-processor Power Mac G5 on wheels. Plop your G5 on this $130 Plexiglas platform from AstroAge (www.astro-age.com), and you'll enjoy rollaway access to the tower under your desk--ideal for...