[4:40 PM] Mega MultiMode Makes Your Mac Make Signals
by Staff
Black Cat Systems has released another update to MultiMode, their tool for Ham radio operators. The new version adds new features and other enhancements. according to Black Cat Systems:
Black Cat Systems has released version 2.7.0 of MultiMode, a program for amateur radio operators and radio hobbyists that allows the transmission and reception of morse code, slow scan TV, and other modes.
The latest version of MultiMode adds the ability to transmit MCW (Modulated CW, where the morse code is transmitted by feeding audio into your radio's microphone jack). It also fixed a small bug in morse code receive mode, where the last character received would not be displayed.
MultiMode is a shareware application which allows your Macintosh to decode and transmit several different modes of non-voice communication often heard on shortwave and ham radio. It is the only program of its kind for the Macintosh, rivaling commercial packages for the PC platform costing hundreds of dollars. It is ideal for amateur radio operators, shortwave radio listeners, and other radio enthusiasts. MultiMode is localized for Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, in addition to English.
MultiMode allows you to decode and display morse code, RTTY, FAX, SSTV, ACARS, and many other modes on your Mac, without any extra hardware. MultiMode now also allows you to transmit in most of the modes of operation.
In the past, dedicated hardware, often costing hundreds or thousands of dollars, was necessary to demodulate and decode this transmissions. Today, you can use the processing power of your Macintosh to decode and display these modes, without any hardware. Just connect your radio's speaker output to your Mac's microphone input, and you're ready to go.
MultiMode supports the following modes:
Morse Code (CW)
RTTY (Baudot)
ASCII
SITOR-A
SITOR-B / FEC / NAVTEX
SSTV (Slow Scan TV)
WEATHER / SATELLITE FAX
ACARS (Aircraft Communications)
PSK31
DTMF, CCIR, EIA Tone Modes
Hellschreiber
Audio Spectrum Display / FFT Mode
You can find more information and download links at the company's web site. The update is free to registered owners of version 2.x. The full version is priced at US$45.
[4:00 PM] Apple Stock Watch: Markets Continue Rally, Apple Slides
by Wes George
The never-ending rally on the Nasdaq forged ahead again today, but the winner's circle narrowed as the NYSE advance-decline line showed only one stock advancing for every two losers.
The Dow advanced 85.63 (0.78%) to close at 11089.5. Volume was heavier than expected for the Monday of Thanksgiving week at 854 millions shares traded. Oil price soared $1.00 a barrel to $27 after Iraq announced that it was going halt oil exports. Oil related stocks generally gained on this news. Coca Cola was up over 8.0% as investors anticipate strong sales overseas due to the booming global economy.
The Dow is now 240 points from its all time high of 11326.04 set on August 25th of this year.
The Nasdaq continued its winning streak, up 23.28, (0.69%) to close at 3392.53 on heavy volume of 1.4 billion shares traded. Today was the 14th record closing high for the Nasdaq in 17 sessions. Internet stocks were strong while semiconductors gave back some recent gains. The online brokers weakened as the SEC plans stiffer regulations for online trading.
The S&P 500 lost 1.06 points (0.07%) to close at 1420.9.
The 30-year US Treasury bond was down 13/32 to close at 99 2/32, while the yield rose to 6.19% from 6.16% on Friday.
Apple shares slid 1 13/16 (1.96%) to close at 90 5/8 on only 1,755,000 shares traded. Apple averages 5.8 million shares traded daily, although recently the volume has been consistently low.
In Apple related stocks today, Macromedia soared 4 1/4 to close at 66 7/8. Symantec had a great day, up 1 1/2 to close at 47 3/8. While Adobe rose fractional to 76 1/16. Akamai closed down to 184 7/8. Arm Holdings managed a gain of 1 1/8 to 121.
Apple's Power PC partners went in different directions today. Motorola lost 4 5/8 to close at 120 3/4, while IBM gained 3 15/16 to close at 107 7/8 after gaining 6 1/2 points on friday.
In other PC stocks today. Microsoft closed up 3 13/16 to end at 89 13/16 on hopes that a settlement with the DOJ can be reached through mediation. Dell, Gateway and Hewlett Packard all gained fractionally, only Compaq closed off 5/16 to end at 25 15/16 after their recent run-up from the teens.
For full quotes on all the companies mentioned in this article, we have assembled this set of quotes at Yahoo! for your reference. We also have many of these same quotes reported live (20 minute delay) on our home page. For other stories regarding Apple's stock activity, visit our Apple Stock Watch Special Report.
Carrot Software has released a beta version of a new game called Shapes. Shapes is a modern day rework of the addictive Tetris, and is currently available in prerelease form. While the designers at Carrot Software put the finishing touches on the final, you can satisfy your gaming desire with this fully functional version. According to Carrot:
Carrot Software is releasing an old project that has never before been released. Called Shapes, it is a Tetris clone with several (optional) added difficulties.
This is an OLD version. It is being completely rewritten. Do NOT submit bug reports, and be sure to read the included "Read Me" file.
This version of Shapes is free. You can find more information at the Carrot Software web site.
The Mac Observer Spin:Carrot Software is doing all fans of classic gaming a favor by introducing Shapes. Tetris has long been one the most popular arcade games of all time.
[3:40 PM] iRemind You That You'll Get Your Mac News Here From Now On...
by Staff
Nigrin Software has released iRemind 1.5.6, and application that allows your Mac to remind you of important dates, times, and appointments. Version 1.5.6 includes appearance and interface enhancements, as well as extending how the window of available reminder dates. According to Nigrin Software:
Nigrin Software is pleased to announce the release of iRemind version 1.5.6. This update to our custom reminder improves user choice flexibility, allowing for more date, day and time options over the next five years, along with sporting new, futuristic window designs.
iRemind is a reminder program for Macintosh/Windows that allows you to configure the date, day of the week and time frequency of your custom reminder. To reconfigure the iRemind preferences on days that you had previously chosen not to be reminded, hold down the "option key" (shift key for Windows) when starting the application, to open the program. iRemind runs only on the day that it's been pre-configured to. Customize your preferences, and viola!, you have scheduled a reminder that doesn't take up RAM space when you don't need it to. Forgot to take out the garbage again? Forgot your anniversary? Over absorbed with your work on the computer? If so, this program will certainly help you out.
iRemind is available as shareware for US$5. You can find more information at the Nigrin Software web site.
[8:30 AM] G3 and G4 Price Drops from Sonnet and Newer
by Staff
Sonnet Technologies and Newer Technology each announced price cuts across their lines of G3/G4 upgrade cards. Increased availability of G4 chips, and the continued manufacturing of G3 chips has led to some relatively significant price drops. New product pricing from each company is as follows:
Sonnet:
Encore G4 400/1M $799.95 (was $999.95)
The Encore is compatible with the following Macintosh models:
G3 Desktop, Mini Tower, Server, All-In-One
Blue and White G3
Charcoal G4 (Yikes motherboard)
The Encore G4 plugs into the ZIF socket of any of the compatible models without needing switches, jumpers or control panels. The unique Encore G4 hardware will automatically configure itself to run at 400MHz whether plugged into a 66 MHz bus Desktop G3 or a 100 MHz Blue & White G3.
Crescendo G4/PCI 400/1M $799.95 (was $999.95)
Crescendo G4/PCI 350/1M $599.95 (was $699.95)
The above cards are compatible with the following Macintosh models:
Power Mac 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8515, 8600, 9500, 9515, 9600
Workgroup Server 7350, 8550, 9650
Power Computing PowerTower Pro, PowerWave
UMAX J700/S900
DayStar Genesis Series, Millennium
Mactell XB Pro
Altivec Enabling Software
The Sonnet Crescendo and Encore G4 upgrades ship with Altivec Enabling software, giving all applications access to the Altivec processing engine in the G4 processor. The unique Sonnet Enabler extends Altivec support to even MacsBug, which is an important distinction for software developers and sophisticated users.
Mac OS 9 Velocity Engine and Adobe Photoshop Altivec Compatibility Sonnet G4 Enabler fully supports the Apple Velocity Engine libraries included in Mac OS 9. The Adobe Photoshop 5.5 Altivec Plug-ins, Altivec Core, Lighting Effects, as well as future Altivec plug-ins are also enabled with the Sonnet software. Adobe Photoshop 5.5 users can expect a specialized boost out of the Sonnet G4 processors. Scientific and audio/video authoring applications will also benefit significantly from a Sonnet G4 upgrade.
Newer:
Upgrade
Old
New
Savings
MAXpowr G3 300/1MB/200
$399
$359
$40
MAXpowr G3 400/1MB/200
$549
$499
$50
MAXpowr G3 500/1MB/250
$949
$849
$100
MAXpowr G3-G3 500/1MB/250
$899
$849
$50
MAXpowr G3-L2 300/512K/150
$349
$299
$50
MAXpowr G3-L2 300/1MB/200
$399
$359
$40
MAXpowr G4 350/1MB/175
$699
MAXpowr G4 400/1MB/200
$799
Additional changes to Newer Technology's product line are the
discontinuation of the MAXpowr G3-CC "Carrier Card" product. Since market demand was almost non-existant, Newer has recommitted efforts to its original line of award-winning processor upgrades. The standard MAXpowr G3 product line offers PowerMac customers the most compatible easy-to-install and Apple-like computing experience possible.
Compatibility
MAXpowr G3:
PowerMac 7300 - 9600, UMAX J700 and S900 as well as the upgradeable Power
Computing models.
MAXpowr G3-G3:
beige and blue/white PowerMac G3 systems.
MAXpowr G3-L2:
Apple PowerMac 4400, 5400, 6400, 6500; Apple Performa 5400, 5410, 5420, 5430, 5440, 6360, 6400, 6410, 6420; UMAX C500 and C600 series; Power Computing PowerBase; Motorola StarMax systems as well as the APS M*PowerMac clones.
MAXpowr G4:
Apple PowerMac 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, 9600; UMAX J700 and S900 series; Power Computing PowerTower Pro and PowerWave; Daystar Genesis
MAXpowr G4 ZIF:
PowerMac G3 systems (beige and blue/white)
You can find more information at each company's respective web site.
The Mac Observer Spin:Of course it's inevitable to see this happen, but it is great for the industry to see the price for high power computing come down into the budgets of the masses.
DssW has released Power Manager 1.0. Power Manager enhances the scheduled start up and shut down functions available via the Mac OS Energy Saver panel. According to DssW:
Power Manager is a new system addition for the Macintosh. Power Manager enables your Macintosh to switch on and off automatically to a schedule!
The fully configurable Scheduler enables multiple start ups and shut downs per day. Each day of the week can be independently controlled!
Power Manager provides greater control over the Energy Saving features of the Macintosh.
Combining Power Manager with our template AppleScripts and tutorials enables you to set up fully automated tasks through out the whole week.
Features
Supports multiple start ups and shut downs per day
Independent schedules for each day of the week
Configure your System, display and hard drive sleeping timings to the minute
Control the notification period before scheduled shut downs
Adjust the idle time required before scheduled shut downs occur
Easy User Interface
Extensive Balloon Help
Template and Example AppleScripts
Complete documentation and tutorials (including Internet editions)
Free technical support
Power Manager is available for US$25. You can find more information at the DssW web site.
Macworld Magazine last week announced the finalists for the 15th Annual Editors Choice Award, or Eddys. The Eddys honor the best of the best in various categories of the Macintosh universe. This years finalists represent an outstanding array of hardware and software, and serve as further evidence the Mac platform has outstanding support key industry players.
This year's Eddy Award Finalists are listed below:
