ub
Latest
Blue Notes: European transfers and Ghaz'an hotfix
Two bits of news for you this brunchtime. First, there's some new transfers for European realms. From Thundy: The below migrations are currently active. They're scheduled to close on Monday January 22nd, at 12:00 (noon) CET. However, again, please note that this may change at any time. Bloodhoof to Bronze Dragonflight Emerald Dream to Bronze Dragonflight Thunderhorn to Bronze Dragonflight Azjol-Nerub to Anachronos Doomhammer to Anachronos Turalyon to Anachronos Ravencrest to Agamaggan Ravencrest to Vek'nilash Neptulon to Vek'nilash Neptulon to Jaedenar Outland to Jaedenar Outland to Spinebreaker And second, Ghaz'an, a boss in The Underbog (one of the Coilfang Reservoir instances in Zangarmarsh), has been hotfixed. Apparently he was spitting poison as if he was at heroic setting; he will no longer be doing so. I've not gotten to any of the Coilfang dungeons myself, being mostly content with Ramparts and Blood Furnace, but I'm glad I won't get spit on quite so much when I do make it there. From Tseric: A hotfix has recently been applied that adjusted Ghaz'an's attack rate. The acid spit rate was occurring at Heroic mode rates, not normal mode rates. The spit should be going off at a more reasonable frequency.
Microsoft Office 2008 screenshots
I managed to swing by the Microsoft Office booth just in time for a demo of Office 2008, and I snapped a few screenshots. The presentation was made with Word since, as the demo folk pointed out, it is the app they have completed the most code on. As Scott mentioned, the words "page layout" were used quite often while emphasizing many of Word's new features, but of course the two big show-stoppers are Universal Binary status and a revamped UI that melds the Mac way of doing things with the impressive new 'Ribbon' UI in Office 2007 for Windows. My 425-px screen shot in this post doesn't really do it justice, but my pics in the gallery should offer a few more details for prying eyes. It sounds like we'll still have to wait for demos or a peek at any of the other Office components, however, as I couldn't squeeze anything else out of the booth attendants.
QTAmateur does full-screen playback, batch exporting, more
QTAmateur brings a lot of the handy QuickTime Pro features to the table without having to pay the $30 upgrade. Full screen video playback (with a more streamlined, iTunes 7-like video window) and batch exporting of any format QuickTime can read and write make for a handy little app.QTAmateur is free, Universal and available from Mike Ash, a Rogue Amoeba programmer.
Keyword Assistant for iPhoto goes Universal
Keyword Assistant is a stellar iPhoto plugin that dramatically simplifies the chore of adding keywords to images. In fact, one could go so far as to say Keyword Assistant brings tagging to iPhoto, but we'll let you judge for yourself. As you can see, it adds a menu item to iPhoto, as well as a simple, smart popup window that allows for comma-separated tags. We call this keyword entry utility 'smart' because it can auto-fill tags keywords from your existing set, (optionally) warn you when creating new keywords, and even auto-fill names from Address Book. It also brings a desperately needed option to iPhoto's preferences: alphabetizing the keyword list. All things considered, this is a utility we can easily refer to as a missing link from iPhoto's current abilities.This can't-iPhoto-without-it plugin just went Universal, and it is still provided as freeware from Ken Ferry's .Mac homepage. KA requires 4.0.3 or 4.0.4 and Mac OS X 10.4.7, and is localized for English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish.
Hazel - automated file management
Hazel is one of those rare pieces of software (with a strange name) that feels like it's filling a gaping feature void I didn't even know Apple left in Mac OS X: it's a powerful, rule-based file and folder management app that brings a little bit of Automator, AppleScript and Folder Actions to the table in a way that none of those apps and features do well on their own. Hazel installs as a System Preferences Pane and, as you can see, allows you to build a list of folders on the left with a list of toggle-able rules on the right. The on/off switch on these rules is key, as they make it easy to switch between running certain kinds of rules on a folder for different workflows, jobs, times of the day or week.
Universal Binary of Flash Player 9 released
Adobe has cranked out a Universal Binary of Flash Player 9 for Intel Mac consumption. Strangely, a PowerPC-only build is still available on the download page, though Insanely Mac is reporting that it's an earlier build.If you're interested in what's actually new in this latest version, check out Adobe's page with the full details.
Weekend review: this week's software for 8-06-06
I hope you've cleaned out your downloads directory, because we have another roundup of software for the week of 7-30-06 to 8-5-06:Shareware Pukka 1.3 - del.icio.us bookmarking utility gets private 'mark and AppleScript support Packrat 0.87 - killer offline Backpack client (probably the only) receives page link editing and creation TubeSock - Rip, mix, save and convert YouTube videos for your iPod WiLMa - automatically change default network, printer, SMTP servers, desktop wallpaper, system volume and more based on Mac OS X Locations Audio Hijack Pro 2.7 - big podcast recording update to an already killer audio app Freeware Apple Security Update 2006-004 - many bugs and security holes were put to rest kip - iPhoto for your documents (digital or otherwise) Afloat - killer Mac OS X plugin/utility that brings transparency and 'always on top' options to all Cocoa apps Quake 4 demo - Aspyr finally gets a clue, releases demo of $50, hardware-hungry game Picasa Web Album Uploaders - Google releases standalone uploader and iPhoto plugin for their Picasa web photo sharing service Doodim - darken background apps (a la Exposé) for better concentration Open Source Back/Center Stage 0.6 - open source media center project receives Apple Remote support, new UI and Intel-friendliness NeoOffice 2.0 Aqua Beta - major update to the non-X11 OpenOffice client Donationware ShapeOnYou - handy and integrated basic 3D drawing app Photoshop Automator Actions v3 - major update to rocking set of around 50 actions for automation with and without Photoshop Widgets DashMail (formerly QuickMail) - quick email widget, works with addresses from Gmail, AOL, AIM, Yahoo! , .Mac and custom servers. Remembers addresses and subjects, with Address Book support in the works iPick - magic card trick widget Reuters Yahoo! Widget - 10-line Reuters news widget for Yahoo! Widgets (formerly Konfabulator) Telescope - Basecamp widget Universal Camino (Intel-optimized) - Mac OS X-friendly Mozilla browser receives an Intel-only optimized build
Weekend Review: this week's software for 7-30-06
It was another packed week for software premieres and updates, so here is a roundup in case you missed them the first time around:Shareware Groupcal 3 - manage your Exchange calendar from iCal EyeTV 2.3 - Front Row-like menu and speed boosts OmniPlan (beta) - OmniGroup's brand new project management app BurnAgain - powerful and standards-compliant multi-session 'smart' CDR/RW burning utility Rax 2 - virtual rack software for musicians Übercaster (beta) - all-in-one podcasting application NewsFire 1.4 - feature update for popular RSS reader mira 1.1 - make your Apple Remote control more than just Front Row Freeware Automator action to change wallpaper Fenêtres Volantes (Flying Windows) - gorgeous 3D screensaver that gives your open windows something to do Suggest-a-ZOT - be the first to suggest a new macZOT app, get a free copy Skype 1.5 beta and video preview - more Mac OS X integration and a 'preview' version with video support Donationware iStat Pro 3.0 - powerful system monitoring widget gets a major upgrade and a new UI Widgets bpiDash - finally, a second widget for Backpack Basecamp - widget for 37Signals' much-loved online project management service Universal Flip4Mac - QuickTime codec for playing Windows Media files ShapeShifter (beta) - Unsanity's Mac OS X skinning utility gets a speed boost (thanks Intel!) Now Up to Date and Contact 5.3 - contact management software MaxMenus - application launcher LiteSwitch X - application switcher Democracy Player - popular and powerful IPTV player gets the Intel treatment
Unsanity releases beta of Universal ShapeShifter
In a post aptly titled 'At Long Last!', Unsanity announced a beta of a Universal version of ShapeShifter, their UI haxie for skinning Mac OS X. As the post states, your Intel Mac can finally "get its spank on" (what on Earth are those guys at Unsanity selling??). Obviously, as their post states, this is a beta so things could very well go wrong with it. On the upside this Universal version should work just fine with any guiKit (skin) that you throw at it.This ShapeShifter 2.4 beta version is a free upgrade for registered 2.x owners and is available from this Unsanity blog post.
Weekend review: this week's software
In case you missed them the first time, here is this week's review of software releases, updates, thrills and spills:Shareware Call Recorder plugin for Skype - don't blackmail without it Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.2.5 - vulnerability and bug fixes Mouseposé 2 - new features for the premier mouse highlighting app Freeware CamiScript 4.0 - AppleScript menu plugin for Camino Boot Camp 1.0.2 beta - detail-less update to Apple's Windows-on-a-Mac utility Open Source Firefox 2.0 beta 1 - pile of new features, including (finally) spell checking, to the flagship Mozilla browser Widgets newTunes - check new releases by artists in your iTunes library Universal FileMaker 8.5 - impressive 100% speed boost for both Intel and PPC-based Macs
Google Earth goes Universal
Google has not only released a beta (of course) version of Google Earth with loads of juicy new features and enhancements, but it has also gone Universal. I can't find any official information at the Google Earth site about the Universal update, but MacUpdate has a link with all the pertinent info. Also in this Intel-friendly release is: SketchUp integration embedded Navigator interface (top-right, overlaying the 3D view) Localized client to French, German, Italian, Spanish Textured 3D Model files can be loaded (Collada XML file format) Layers: new Core/All/"Now Enabled" views Full screen mode now allows searching (use F-11 on the PC) Press the '/' key to access Search from full screen mode Scale Legend Full resolution imagery across entire screen Terrain quality preference setting Improved Garmin GPS device support Toolbar (replaces navigation panel previously shown below the 3dview) Diagonal arrow-key navigation (up arrow + left arrow simultaneously) Tristate checkboxes in Places/Layers folders With all these new goodies, what are you still here for? Go grab a copy! (But be sure to come back here for more news!)[thanks kisstheirng!]
Weird software: Lonesome Electric Chicken
I wish I had a more insightful or enlightening explanation for what the Lonesome Electric Chicken is, but I'm afraid there really isn't one. As its author, John Schilling, states on his site, it's a: "time and life wasting application that spews forth a gathering of quotations. That's it. Don't look any farther into it than that".Killer app? Or scourge of cyberspace? Either way, John has made the source code available with this Universal Binary app, and he is accepting donations for his most interesting work.[via Hawk Wings]
Pointing out the obvious regarding the MacBook and gaming
The MacBook will play many of your really old games at an acceptable level, but you can forget about playing any recently released intensive 3D games (i.e. the ones you want to play). That's the conclusion MacWorld has reached in its first look at the MacBook as a gaming machine. The article suggests maxing out the RAM in the machine if you want to play games: the writer saw a 50fps increase in Quake 3 Arena when he upgraded the machine from 512MB to 2GB. A nice finding for owners of MacBooks interested in a bit of retro gaming.However, lets get something straight here, the MacBook is not a gaming machine. It has an integrated graphics card. No computing hardware that lacks a dedicated graphics card should be even mentioned in the same sentence as "gaming." We understand that some Mac owners may need to be persuaded to overlook this machine's blatant Achilles heel but it isn't MacWorld's job to do this. The site is doing a disservice to its readers by pointing to the poor gaming performance of the MacBook and then suggesting that people "understand [the MacBook's] limitations" and go "buy an XBox360 or Playstation2 for [their] gaming needs." It's this sort of advice that gives Apple free reign to charge $149 for a paint job (um, can I have a graphics card instead?) and allows the mainstream media to say things like "Mac users aren't into games."[Via TUAW]
Surprise - Thunderbird 1.5.0.4 released with Universal goodness
Right alongside Firefox's update today, Mozilla has also brought Thunderbird up to the 1.5.0.4 (.3.2.1.12) version with a big improvement for Intel Mac owners: Universal Binary super-powers. Also in this update are security and bug fixes. Let us all take a moment of silence in remembrance of the bugs who lost their lives in the making of this update.One thing I am not sure of, however, is if that GmailUI extension we blogged earlier will work after this update. Does anyone know?
DivX 6.5 offers Universal Binary player, encoder
DivX has released what Macworld is calling their first official player for Mac OS X (though I could have sworn I've used DivX software in the past in a pinch). In case you aren't familiar: DivX is an independent video codec that has quite a strong following, and it isn't just for computers; many portable devices and even some DVD players support the DivX codec, offering a useful alternative to the sometimes difficult and clunky DVD burning standard.The company didn't short us on options either - this 6.5 Universal Binary release includes a stand-alone Converter application, as well as DivX 6 codec software for QuickTime so users can convert their video from within any QuickTime-compatible video software. A 15-day free trial of DivX 6.5 is available, at which point you must register for $19.99 to continue using the conversion software; the player, as always, remains free.
Delibar goes Universal
Delibar, what I consider to be the missing link of social bookmarking, has been updated as a Universal Binary. No other major new features have been added, but this is a welcome update to my favorite tool for accessing del.icio.us bookmarks from the menubar.Delibar is donationware and available from Matteo Rattotti's site.
EazyDraw 2.0 - illustration and drawing for Mac OS X
EazyDraw dubs itself as a "balanced vector drawing application," and from browsing its feature list, that sounds just about right. It looks like it has a nice array of illustration tools and abilities including some CAD-related features like wall and window tools, as well as drawing on a grid. EazyDraw can even import and edit old school files from Claris Draw, Mac Draw II and Mac Draw Pro.EazyDraw is a Universal Binary, and a demo is available. Licensing the app, however, is a little strange: a full download license can be had for $95 (CD in the mail is $115), but you can also purchase a nine month license for a mere $20. Take that as you will, but if you've been looking for a solid and feature-rich illustration app, EazyDraw probably has you covered.
Quake II X goes Universal
Thanks to an independent developer, Quake II has perhaps become the oldest game to have been updated as a Universal Binary on Mac OS X. In order to use this software to play Quake II, you will still need a full copy of the game to grab some of the core game files, and I think the full source from id Software themselves (scroll down about two thirds of the way) might do the trick. While the source code there is listed as a PC version, I think the core game files you need to use this UB enabler for Mac OS X will work just fine. If anyone else knows better, feel free to sound off and list a link, if you could be so kind.Either way, it sounds like setting up this software is pretty simple, and in no time you too could be fragging aliens circa 1997!
