Weekend review: this week's software for 8-13-06

This was quite a week for software updates, especially since Apple finally released some details and demos of the upcoming Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. While the OS hasn't technically been released for consumer consumption, we figured we'd include our coverage of this week's Leopard-related events in today's software review since it's a big part of Apple's bread and butter.

So here we go boys and girls; I hope you brought a big cup of coffee, as this week's review is a doozie:

Mac OS X Leopard

• WWDC Keynote Coverage – our play-by-play coverage of Monday's big event
• Steve previews the big 10 – major new features coming in the next Mac OS X installment. Remember: each version thus far has boasted 150 'major' new features, so we have a lot more to see come Spring
• The real Leopard show-stopppers – developer goodies that weren't on stage
• WWDC 2006 tidbits roundup – interesting details they didn't exactly show us on stage
• WWDC 2006 tidbit roundup part 2 – more juicy details tracked down from you readers and around the web
• Xcode 3.0 – major update to Apple's coding utility
• Leopard Server – it wasn't in the spotlight on stage, but Apple couldn't leave the server folk hanging
• Leopard server monitor – keep an eye (next spring) on your server from the Dashboard

Shareware and Commercial

• SyncBridge – Why wait for Leopard? Sync, share and collaboratively edit iCal calendars
• HistoryHound – full-text search of virtually every Mac OS X browser's history, as well as RSS apps like Pulp Fiction and NetNewsWire
• Parallels Desktop beta – more better USB, improved performance and integration
• Voice Candy 1.1 – voice altering program gets voice memo management and real-time effects
• Virtual PC gets the axe from Microsoft – yet another 3rd party beat them to doing something better on their own home turf
• VMware announces pre-registration for Mac client – like we were saying...
• NetNewsWire 3.0 pre-beta – definitely a pre-beta, but a solid preview of what's to come

Freeware

• Hey Folders! – extend the Finder's color labels to the folder icons themselves

Donationware

• Yasu – maintenance utility for groups of systems
• Quicksilver alpha build B50 – we couldn't find much new (though the QS team often works in mysterious ways)
• VirtueDesktops – Why wait for Leopard? Get a full-featured and highly customizable virtual desktop manager (Spaces) now
• PicturePopPro – powerful Finder plugin for viewing, managing images

Open Source

• Apple releases the Intel Mac OS X kernel
• Shiira 2.0 beta – killer browser built on WebKit with a lot of unique and creative features

Universal Binary

• Flash Player 9 – Macromedia Adobe releases an Intel Mac-friendly Flash player
• Soundflower – free inter-app audio routing utility
• Quark 7.1

Widgets

• MultiDash – virtual workspaces meets Dashboard
• Dash Clippings – Why wait for Leopard? Get a web clipping widget now

Software Update

• ExpressCard Update 1.0 – for MacBook Pros (15 and 17-inch)

Also of note are the ADAs (Apple Design Awards) released this week at WWDC.