UniversalBinary
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Real Player goes universal
Real Player 10.1 has been made available, and it's a universal binary! Hooray, now I can stare at "Buffering..." without relying on Rosetta! Forgive me if I rate this one a big "yawn."Real Player 10.1 requires Mac OS 10.3.9 or later.[Via Cult of Mac]
Stuffit 10.1 finally goes Universal, loses installer
Allume Systems has finally cranked out a (beta) Universal Binary of their 'hate it but gotta have it lying around' free Stuffit Expander. It seems they were going for bonus points with this release, as they removed some of the 'hate it' factor by finally doing away with an installer; it is now a DnD .app from a mounted disk image.This version is also localized into Japanese, French and German, and is available from either VersionTracker or Stuffit.com, though as of this writing that page still says the latest release is 10.0.
Universal Binary Shake 4.1 to be Released in May
Macworld UK is reporting today that a universal binary of Shake 4.1--Apple's professional compositing and rendering software--will be released in May. This is another sign that we'll likely see Intel-powered towers sooner rather than later, perhaps even as early as June.
Sims 2 goes Universal, Apple posts University trailer
These must've slipped past our radar, but last week Aspyr Media gave Universal Binary powers to The Sims 2. A patch has been released that will update any previous version to 1.0 Rev D. Along with UB support in this patch is also a list of fixes that I found over at Inside Mac Games, like zooming with the Mighty Mouse scroll ball and fixing a crash when running the game on 10.4 with some NVIDIA video cards. You can grab the update at Macgamefiles.com.Also on the Sims 2 topic is a trailer Apple posted for University, a new pack that brings the college years to your Sims characters complete with a college town, partying and the obligatory pranks. The Sims 2 University Expansion Pack can be had at the Apple Store.
Someone finally tests Adobe apps on Rosetta vs. PPC
Bare Feats has been busy with their Mac OS X vs XP tests earlier today and now this. From what I can tell, they are probably the first site to post some benchmarks of non-Intel native Adobe apps, specifically Photoshop CS2 and After Effects 7.0. Check out the machines they used, and note the equality of RAM: MacBook Pro CD/2.0 -- Apple Intel MacBook Pro with 2.0GHz Core Duo and 2GB of memory PowerMac G5/2.0 -- Apple Dual Single-Core G5/2.0GHz Power Mac with 2GB of memory PowerBook G4/1.67 -- Apple PowerBook G4/1.67GHz with 2GB of memory Not surprisingly, the PowerMac swept the floor with the MacBook Pro, but to my delight: the PowerBook didn't perform that much better. In fact, in the After Effects render test, the MacBook actually beat out the PowerBook.The SP (Single Processor) Actions test is where you can really see the performance void of Rosetta apps on the MacBook Pro, as the PowerMac and PowerBook clearly are going home with the prom queen.Still, I'm glad to see that the MacBook Pro will perform more or less like my PowerBook G4 when running these pro apps, especially since I'm living in After Effects these days. Unfortunately, I now must curse Bare Feats for ever performing these tests, as they got my 'hmm, maybe I could upgrade' gears grinding again. Thanks guys.
Dragthing updated to version 5.6.4
Dragthing, the popular utility by TLA systems, has been updated to version 5.6.4. Dragthing can be used as an alternative to Mac OS X's dock, with more features. In fact, it allows you create several docks that you can organize and arrange as you wish, and access via the tabbed interface or user-defined hotkeys. It's very useful, and I loved it in the Mac OS 9 days.Version 5.6.4 fixes several bugs, including: An issue with Intel Macs incorrectly displaying the number of unread messages on application icons A problem on Intel Macs with the highlighting of running applications Issues with moving dock files containing text clippings between Intel and PowerPC Macs Version 5.6.4 requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, is universal and a free upgrade for registered users. A single license of Dragthing will cost you $29US.
Create universal games with Unity
Unity is the game development platform for the Mac that really does make the job of building games (and Dashboard widgets) kind of fun. Today, Unity announces the availability of version 1.2.2, which will allow you to make sure that all of your projects are universal binaries. So go out and build the next best thing, and then run it on your Mactel.Unity requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later, and features two pricing options: $250US for the "indie" edition, and $1,000US for the Pro version.Incidentally, we posted our interview with Unity's David Helgason back in October.[Via MacNN]
Roundup: what you are (or will be) doing with Windows on your Mac
While I'm sure the results will come as no surprise, I still wanted to do a roundup of our TUAW reader survey: What will you do with Windows on your Mac, as there were some interesting comments outside of the norm. Obviously, most of you are planning on using Windows solely to play games (which says something in and of itself about the utility of Windows), but I was more interested by the other uses you had in store, which include: AutoCAD/3D design .NET programming web development, testing IE sites those workplace-specific apps that simply don't have OS X counterparts - yet One commenter, Yaknowho, also brought up the idea of using Windows on a Mac to run some of the larger apps that haven't gone Universal yet, like Photoshop. I actually just touched on this topic over at The Unofficial Photoshop Weblog, where I found a few tests that show the MacBook Pro (ironically) not only runs Windows faster than most Core Duo PC notebooks, it also runs Photoshop - under Windows - faster than the competition as well.We live in a strange world when a Mac can run Windows faster than machines designed to run Windows.
Adobe engineer explains delay in Adobe universal binaries
Adobe has taken some heat for delaying universal binary versions of Photoshop and other Creative Suite software until the next scheduled release of those apps. If you're interested in a view of this controversy from the trenches, take a look at this post by Photoshop engineer Scott Byer. Byer starts out: "'But, c'mon', I hear people saying, 'Steve said it was just a recompile!' Or, 'Back during the PowerPC transition, you guys released a patch?'Well, this time is different. And I really wish it weren't. But let me tell you how..." He goes on to explain why Adobe can't perform the same kind of midcycle shortcut for the Intel platform that it could for the PowerPC. His explanation is worth a read. This kind of communication from the trenches is a very good thing IMHO.
Close brackets and braces easily with AutoPairs
If you're the type that spends the day staring at a display and typing code, we'd bet you'd appreciate any utility that will make the process easier. Check out AutoPairs. It's a Mac OS X preference pane that closes your brackets, braces and quotes for you. Type a left bracket, for instance, and a right bracket and left arrow appear. Pretty spiffy, especially when you consider that BBEdit doesn't do this out of the box.Note that, since AutoPairs is a preference pane plug-in, it won't work under Rosetta, though the developer promises that a universal version is in the works. AutoPairs requires Panther or better and is free.[Via ...on a long piece of string]
Chart of Universal Binary Mac games, get your Intel on
The new Intel Core Duo iMac features an ATI Radeon X1600 with up to 256MB of RAM; it ain't Quad SLI but it makes for a pretty nice gaming machine... if only there was some easy way to figure out what games ran properly on the new architecture. Enter MacRumors' handy chart of Universal Binary games (for those not in the know, a Universal Binary is "an executable file that runs natively on both PowerPC and x86 (Intel)-based Macintosh computers.")The chart lists the Universal Binary status of many Mac games as: Yes, No, or Announced. For those that don't have a Universal Binary, they list the performance under Rosetta, the emulation layer that allows x86 Macs to still run PowerPC code, with some games achieving impressive results regardless--Medal of Honor: Allied Assault hits 20-70 fps under emulation!Sure, there aren't a lot of Mac gamers, but for the ones that do exist (all 5 of you! ROFL! There, I got it out of the way, eliminating the need for platform wars in the comments), the switch to Intel promises faster systems and a closer code base to their PC counterparts. [Via TUAW]
MacGourmet goes universal
MacGourmet, the recipe manager that behaves much like iTunes and iPhoto, has gone universal with version 1.2 (version 1.2 also includes a variety of bug fixes). We took a look at MacGourmet back in August. It's terrifically handy, and lets you organize your recipes and ingredients, generate shopping lists, rate recipes, create smartlists and more. You can even generate relationships between wines you've tried and dishes they compliment. MacGourmet 1.2 requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later and is priced at US$24.95 for the Download Edition and US$29.95 for the CD Edition. This is a free upgrade for registered users.
Macjournal goes universal
Macjournal, the popular note taking and organizational tool, has gone universal with the release of version 3.3. I have a friend who works as a teacher and uses Macjournal religiously to keep track of students, meetings with parents, etc. It really is pretty handy. Changes in version 3.3 include: Universal support for the new Intel-based Macs (as well as the existing PowerPC machines). When the drawer has focus, choosing "Stats" from the View menu will get stats for whatever is selected only. Fixed problem with the journals drawer (sometimes preventing it from opening only on Jaguar). There are several other bug fixes. Macjournal requires 10.2.7 or 10.2 with Safari installed, and features a three-tiered pricing system: The boxed edition is $29.95US, the download is $24.92US and a family five pack is $99.95US.
Path Finder goes universal
Path Finder, everyone's favorite Mac file browser on steroids, went universal today with the release of version 4.02. Other changes include: A new crash reporter Plugged memory leaks (yay) Fixed an issue where you could accidentally arrow into the preview column and not get out Transparency and float state now saved for text editor and image editor window Version 4.02 is a free update for registered users. A full license costs $34.95 and upgrades to version 4 cost $17.95 (although, if you bought Path Finder 3 after Sept. 29th, 2004, you can upgrade to the current version for free).
Camino goes universal
Camino gets the distinction of being the first non-Apple browser to go universal. I just downloaded the latest nightly build (1.0rc1) as I'm addicted to this browser. It's very fast and nice looking to boot (but you knew that already). Check it out.
Is World of Warcraft now Intel Mac Compatible?
Our own C.K. Sample III posted this morning on WOW Insider hinting at the fact that World of Warcraft as of today may be Intel Mac compatible and no longer require Rosetta. When he logged in this morning, WOW launched an updater to version 1.9.3.5059. Now the comment at the bottom of his login screen which used to mention Rosetta, now notes GCC Intel.This news comes a few days too late for Blizzard's end-of-January World of Warcraft Intel Mac compatibility predictions. Though I'm sure those of you who play WOW and own an Intel iMac are jumping for joy at this announcement.All realms of WOW are currently down for maintenance so we will have to wait with bated breath until 11AM PST for someone to actually test WOW on an Intel Mac.
Unreal Tournament 2004 goes universal
Ryan Gordon, who converted Unreal Tournament 2004, has written the universal update for UT 04 that you can download here (it's a 199MB bitrottent file). According to MacSoft general manager Al Schilling, UT 04 is twice as fast on an Intel Mac that it was on its older G5 siblings.Now go get it. w00t!Update: Post edited for accuracy. I don't play Unreal in any of its incarnations, so forgive my ignorance.
Transmit goes universal
Transmit, Panic's great FTP client, has been updated to version 3.5. This release is a universal binary, and other changes include: The ability to edit any remote file, in any application Improved synchronization The ability to create your own droplets You can read the full change log here. I use Transmit all the time and really love it (iDisk is way faster via Transmit than OS X's Finder). Transmit requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later and is priced at $29.95US.
RoboNuts: An Intel-compatible diversion
If you're looking for a bit of a time waster for your Wednesday afternoon, look no further than Wouldja Software's RoboNuts. A bit of a cross between mine sweeper and, um, pacman, RoboNuts will keep you occupied for those 20 minute teleconference calls with your boss.RoboNuts is available as a trial download and works on Intel machines as well as PowerMac's. Have fun and let your boss know that your company's recent purchase of an CoreDuo iMac for home use was much appreciated.[via MacNN]
Pixadex goes universal
One of my all-time favorite pieces of shareware, The Iconfactory's Pixadex, has gone universal with the release of version 2.0.2. Pixadex lets your store, sort and search your desktop icon collection with ease. Create smart collections, export to a variety of file formats and more. Check out our review of Pixadex 2.0 from last October for more info.A single license costs $18.95US ($9.95US for registered users of Pixadex 1.0). Pixadex requires Mac OS 10.2 or greater (10.4 or greater for Spotlight integration). Version 2.0.2 is free for registered users.
