Today's News On One Page
October 8th, 1999
| [5:15 PM] Latest OS 9-compatible applications from VersionMaster: SoundJam MP, Keys Off, Epson Share, and more! All these software updates and more are listed, detailed, and constantly updated at The Mac Observer's Version Master! Go see for yourself at http://www.macobserve r.com/versionmaster/. |
| [4:25 PM] VideoScript Receives Several New Features
The makers of VideoScript have released another update to the product. VideoScript is a scripting language that is designed to make video editing easier and faster. The new release, despite its incremental version number of 1.8 to 1.8.1, includes several new features. According to VideoScript:
VideoScript is available in two versions, Professional which is priced at US$295 and Lite, which is a free download. You can find more information on the procut at the company's web site. |
| [3:45 PM] Apple Stock Watch: Apple Closes Lower Again
In another negative day of trading, Apple had yet another dip as tech traders continued to show concern over IBM and its personal computer business. While computer stocks closed mixed, Apple started off in the red and never recovered. Apple closed at 65 9/16, a loss of 13/16 or 1.22%. Volume was moderate for the first time in two weeks with 3,417,900 shares trading hands. On the Mac software side, Adobe and Symantec shared in Apple's misery as both closed lower. Macromedia closed higher. Apple's PowerPC partners closed mixed as Motorola closed higher and IBM closed lower. Apple's PC competitors were also mixed as Dell, Microsoft, Intel, and Gateway 2000 all closed higher. Compaq and Hewlett-Packard joined Apple in the losers column. Despite the losses in the computer sector, both the Dow and the Nasdaq closed in positive territory. The Dow closed at 10649.76, a gain of 112.71, and the Nasdaq closed at 2886.57, a gain of 25.87. 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 these same quotes reported live (20 minute delay) on our home page [Editor's Note: As of this writing, the home page stock quotes are down for maintenance.] For other stories regarding Apple's stock activity, visit our Apple Stock Watch Special Report. |
| [Column] The Back Page - Uh-oh, Steve Jobs May Be Finished |
| [3:15 PM] Programmable X-Keys For USB Coming To The Mac
P.I. Engineering has announced they are bringing their USB powered X-Keys product to the Mac. X-Keys is a stand alone keypad that is full programmable for use with macros, keyboard shortcuts, or any other commonly used key combinations. According to P.I. Engineering:
USB X-Keys comes in a 20-key which is priced at US$99.95, and 58-key version which is priced at US$149.95. You can find more information on X-Keys at the comapny's web site. |
| [12:40 PM] Mac OS 9 NOT shipping from Apple Store... yet Contrary to our report that the Apple Store was to begin shipping OS 9 this week, it appears as though shipments will not happen until October 23rd. Vanessa Rios at Apple's PR department told The Mac Observer: "Everything is still on track for an October 23rd release date, both from the Apple Store and dealers around the country." The Apple Store is still reporting ship dates prior to October 23rd, but we have been assured by Apple that this is not the case. Check back here for more information as the release date approaches. |
| [12:30 PM] URL Manager Update Aimed At New Mac/Internet Users
Alco Blom has updated URL Manager Pro to version 2.6. URL manager does just what its name implies, it helps you manage your bookmarks from a central location. New in this version is support for the iCab web browser and OS 9. According to Alco Blom:
URL Manager Pro is available as shareware for US$30. You can find more information at the URL Manager Pro web site. |
| [12:30 PM] New MP3 App Offers Several Features
Chaotic Software has released a new MP3 organization tool, MP3 Rage. With the growing popularity of the MP3 format, the number of MP3 players and encoders have also been growing at an alarming rate. MP3 Rage serves as a companion program to help simplify the organization and management of large MP3 collections. According to Chaotic Software:
MP3 Rage is priced at US$20 for a single-user license. Site licenses are priced at US$200 and a multi-site license is priced at US$500 multi-site license You can find more information at the Chaotic Software web site. |
| [12:30 PM] Window Control Utility Updated WIth Major New Features
Hyo Ahn has released OmegaWindow+ 1.2. OmegaWindow+ allows easy management and control over window view and placement on the desktop, without ever needing to use the mouse. As keystroke commands become more prominent and commonly used in today's applications, having control over the desktop's behavior from the keyboard becomes a major concern. According to Hyo Ahn:
OmegaWindows+ is availabe as shareware for US$25, with a discounted price for students which is US$15. You can find more information at OmegaWindows+ web site. |
| [11:30 AM] Jesse Berst Poll To Help Decide If He Switches To iMac
As posted yesterday evening in our MacOS News Around the Web section, Jesse Berst has stunned us with a story and a poll that asks whether he should switch the entire Anchor Desk team to iMacs. That's right, the famed Windows/Microsoft user is contemplating having his office staff run their operation on the Mac. According to Mr. Berst:
The Mac Observer Spin: Included in the story is a poll asking his readers to decide for him, and so far the Mac is winning hands down. While this is the second poll to which we have linked in the last three days, we hate most Net polls at The Mac Observer. They are usually, though not always, gratuitous attempts to garner extra page views by preying on people's desire to have their voice heard. The problem is that without a scientific survey methodology applied to these polls, they are worthless as a means of gauging actual public opinion. In this case, if Mr. Berst is being genuine in his offer of allowing the poll decide for him, the poll could change the course of one of the most influential technology writers on the planet. Mr. Berst's coverage may be sensational in nature most of the time, but he garners lots of eyeballs. With a public switch to iMac for AnchorDesk, this could actually offer more legitimacy for Apple in a largely anti-Mac constituency. This, in turn, could help Apple sell a few more boxes. Our point? Go read the article and vote for Anchor Desk to switch to the iMac! You'll find the poll at the bottom of the page to which we linked. Let's play Devil's Advocate to our own arguments. This could be another cheap stunt by Anchor Desk to raise a few hackles in the ongoing Platform Wars and garner a few more hits in the process. If so, then it is a sad and pathetic event. However, we got the feeling that Mr. Berst may be genuine in this story and we would love to see him switch to the Mac, and not from an "I told you so" stand point. We just want for Mr. Berst to be happier when he works with his computer, honest! :-) Go Vote! |
| [Special Feature] How The Mac Changed The World: Making It Look Easy |
| [8:30 AM] Disk Charmer Updated With Numerous Changes
Fabrizio Oddone has updated the disk management utility, Disk Charmer, to version 3.1.5. Managing non-Mac OS native disks can sometimes be problematic, and the built in management utilities in the Mac OS are somewhat limited in scope and power. Disk Charmer allows greater flexibility and control over disk volumes. Version 3.1.5 adds support for OS 8.5's Navigation Services. According to Fabrizio Oddone:
Disk Charmer is available as shareware for US$10. You can find more information at the Disk Charmer web site. |
| [8:30 AM] Video Software, BTV, Updated With Performance Enhancements
Ben Bird has released version 3.2.2 of the video editing utility, BTV. BTV allows users to view video from a number of different sources. The new version includes bug fixes and performance enhancements. According to Mr. Bird:
BTV is available as shareware for US$15. You can find more information at the BTV web site. |