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Why wait for RE4 with Wiimote controls? Do it now!
Reader Tiger, who we all know loves working with GlovePIE (as evidenced by his work with Rez, Panzer Dragoon and House of the Dead 3), has made another script, implementing Wiimote controls into the PC port of Biohazard 4 (Resident Evil 4). Tiger's even gone ahead and matched the button mapping we reported on a few days ago, making his controls almost perfect to that of the Wii version due out (except for one flaw due to the limitations of the PC port of the game). Tiger has the script available for download via his site and also assures us he is working on adding sensor bar support.Check past the post break for the videos of this in action.
New releases for the week of March 12th
Sure, it's been a couple weeks since we last got a new game, but doesn't it go something like "absence makes the heart grow fonder?" We know some of you out there are looking forward to this week's release and we don't blame you; the title's smart advertising campaign and promised controls create one appealing title. This week's release is: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 So, do you plan on picking this up? Maybe renting it for a few days?
New Mac OS X 10.4.9 client and Server builds seeded to developers
A little TUAW birdie has informed us that a new series of Mac OS X 10.4.9 client and server builds have been seeded to developers. The build versions are as follows: Mac OS X v10.4.9 (Intel) Build 8P2132, Mac OS X v10.4.9 (PowerPC) Build 8P132, Mac OS X Server v10.4.9 (Universal) Build 8P2132 Manual Updater, Mac OS X Server v10.4.9 (PowerPC) Build 8P132 Manual Updater. While the client build has a significant list of changes (104 to be exact), the Server build reportedly has absolutely zero. This isn't necessarily indicative of an imminent release, but a lack of changes for at least one build could offer some hope. Unfortunately, we don't have a list of what these changes are right now, so we might wind up knowing just as soon as you do.
On the fairway: new Tiger Woods screens
We know quite a few of you out there in Reader Land are looking forward to Tiger's latest outing on the Wii (which releases 3/13), which is why we've brought forth these trio of new screens to you. They show most of what you would expect pre-release golf screenshots to show: people about to hit a ball with a club. We've gone ahead and included them past the post break, all in the name of convenience for you.[Via Codename Revolution]
Tiger Electronics' Power Tour guitar rocks out with lights and sensors
While your teenage daughter might prefer something a bit more sophisticated, and your male child is probably rippin' it up right now on Guitar Hero, Hasbro's Tiger Electronics is coming out with an axe designed to let little tykes learn their favorite tunes without all the complicated (and pricey) lessons. The Power Tour electric guitar will come with 12 pre-loaded songs, and the string-free instrument will rock a bevy of sensors on the fretboard and body, which will allow youngsters to play along as they follow the light patterns with the music. Additionally, it's slated to have an aux input, allowing users to plug in any song they choose and jam along, but there's no word on whether or not that sweet pictured amp comes along in the bundle. Nevertheless, this kid-friendly guitar could actually find its way into quite a few musically-challenged adult hands as well when it lands in August for a currently undisclosed price.[Via Yahoo, thanks Adam]
Apple planning to charge Tiger users for Boot Camp?
It was perhaps one of the most significant events the PC industry has seen in the last decade: Apple opening up its hardware to Windows operating systems through its proprietary Boot Camp software. Not only did it allow Mac owners running Intel-powered machines to dual boot XP at will, it did so completely gratis (well, save for the cost of a Windows license). Unfortunately, the honeymoon may soon be over for Tiger users accustomed to the free boot loader: according to a report on MacScoop, Steve and friends plan to begin charging about $30 for the software once OS X Leopard is released and Boot Camp leaves beta for the greener pastures of commercial. For those Macheads planning to upgrade to Leopard, this wouldn't be an issue, of course -- the new OS will offer Boot Camp as one of its standard features. Still, if you're planning on keeping the old Tiger and your draft-N router around for awhile longer, it sounds like there's a good chance you'll need to squirrel away about $32 for the future: $30 for Boot Camp, and two bucks for the privilege of unlocking your wireless card's dormant 802.11n functionality.[Via Slashdot]
Mac Pro sales waiting on Adobe
During Wednesday's Financial Results conference call, some insights came to light regarding the sales of Apple's Mac Pro. Were potential purchasers waiting on the release of Leopard before buying, in what they call a "Leopard related pause"? Apple said no. It wasn't a factor now and it didn't happen when Tiger was about to be released either. So why have Mac Pro sales have been under-performing? Apple thinks there is a major factor keeping people from hopping onto the Mac Pro bandwagon: Adobe. The lack of an Intel-happy Creative Suite, whose release is due during the 2nd quarter of the year (calendar year, that is), will probably open up a new stream of Mac Pro sales that have been delayed because of software incompatibility. I personally cannot begin to count the amount of money I have sent towards both Adobe and Microsoft for their software, particularly for Photoshop, Word, and Excel. And I can't imagine a time where we ever see Apple software displace these software essentials. So for me, having Intel-friendly Adobe and Microsoft Universal Binaries is totally a precondition before laying out the cash for a major Mac upgrade.
Behind the scenes with FileVault
FileVault is the Home directory encryption feature of OS X (introduced in Pather) which Apple bills as offering, 'Eternal Protection.' Apple hasn't produced much documentation on FileVault, I suppose in hopes that no one would find an easy way to hack it. A presentation at the 23rd Chaos Computing Congress focused on FileVault, how it works, and possible vulnerabilities.Luckily for us, the general conclusion is that FileVault is a good way to secure your drive, if used correctly. FileVault does not encrypt the contents of system memory by default in Tiger (It doesn't do it at all in Panther) and it does not, by design, encrypt anything outside of a user's home directory.There are a few possible attack vectors, but the easiest seems to be a good old brute force Dictionary attack on the 'Master Password' that you must set when enabling FileVault. Remember, if your password is weak all the encryption in the world won't help you.[via MacSlash]
Lotus Notes 7.02 brings full Mac support
We first blogged about Lotus Note's Mac support in January of this year, and now it would seem IBM has fully delivered on the promise. As eWEEK reports Lotus Notes 7.02 offers full OS X support (10.4.2 or higher is required) and it is Universal so both PPC Macs and Intel Macs can share in the love. As you can see from the screenshot above Lotus Note's UI still looks like IBM software, but it looks like that on Windows, Linux, and OS X which is important. Not only is the client supported on the Mac, but Lotus Notes Web Access now works on the Mac as well, which I am sure is good news for people who use Macs at home.Check out IBM's website for more details and screenshots of Lotus Notes running on Tiger.
PA disses Tiger's matchmaking skills
Today, Tycho at Penny Arcade briefly goes over the unnecessarily complicated matchmaking process in Tiger Woods 07. The steps include:"1. Consent To Be InvitedIn any other Goddamn Live game, you're done. In Tiger, one must then2. Endorse The Invitation3. Yield Wholly To The Concept Of Inviting4. Surrender To The Invitation Beam.And then, finally,5. Lift Your Voice In Supplication To Raoul Invitatio, 'He Who Maketh The Match'"Most of our readers probably know that EA maintains its own servers. This was required by them years ago before they would allow their games on Xbox Live. Why do they need their own servers? It makes it easier to spy on you of course. Personally, I don't deal with EA's matchmaking very often, as I don't really own any of their games -- and probably won't until Burnout 5, or possibly Army of Two. So, X360F asks you, is matchmaking in Tiger really that bad?
Apple seeds Mac OS X 10.4.8 to developers
Amidst all this Leopard broohaha, it's good to know Apple can still remember 'the rest of us' still using the now old 'n busted Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. MacRumors and AppleInsider are reporting that Apple has seeded a Mac OS X 10.4.8 update to developers for their ninja code skills to scrutinize. The fairly hefty list of changes, fixes and improvements includes: AFP Server, WebCore, LoginWindow, CUPS and CDSASSL, and ImageCapture, AFP, DVD Player, Graphics and Graphics applications, iCal, iPhoto, Mail (thank you!), Microsoft Word & OpenType fonts, Modem usage, Networking, Printing, Safari and USB. Also on the checklist are double reboots, long reboots and improving localization in various areas.MacRumors also notes that this early build tips the scales at 305MB for Intel, and 147MB for PowerPC (10.4.7, by comparison, was 133MB and 64MB), though developer seeds like this typically go on a pretty strict diet before going public.For now, there's no word or even an ETA on when 10.4.8 might land for the rest of us, so give Apple a break and stop furiously refreshing Software Update, couldya?[via InsanelyMac News]
Widget Watch: add this - a social bookmarking widget
The add this widget is a lightweight and customizable tool that will help you bookmark every TUAW post websites to some of your favorite social bookmarking and news sites (I think it might also be the smallest widget ever, too). Upon installing, you need to chose a background color and one of three social services (with more on the way): del.icio.us, digg or Shadows. It currently only works with Safari (with more browsers also on the way), but it unfortunately doesn't pass any selected text to the bookmark submission (like many of the available bookmarklets), so I hope that's on the todo list as well.For now, add this shows a lot of promise, and it's probably one of the handiest and out-of-your-way tools for getting your social groove on. Grab it over at DashboardWidgets.
Liquifile
Using the Finder to browse your files is so last year. The latest addition to the third party add-ons that hope to replace the Finder in your heart (and on your Mac) is Liquifile. This program presents a fairly basis outline of your files, however, it also graphically represents the size of the files in a folder (but not the size of the folder itself) with grey 'bubbles.' Liquifile also has built in filtering to help making that file you're looking for a breeze.A 30 day demo is available and the full version will cost you $9.90.
Mac OS X update adds regular check-ins with Apple servers
Well, it looks like Windows isn't the only operating system that thinks your computer needs a daily check up. According to Mac developer Daniel Jakult, the most recent update to Mac OS X not only fixes a few security holes, but adds a three times a day check-in with Apple's servers, apparently to ensure that your Dashboard Widgets are up-to-date. A useful feature to some no doubt, but an invasion of privacy to others, especially since the "feature" doesn't exactly make itself known and apparently can't be disabled. For its part, Apple has said that the tool doesn't transmit any personal information back to them, but given Microsoft's recent troubles with its over-eager connectivity, we wouldn't be surprised if Apple added an off switch in their next update.
10.4.7 v. 2 for Intel
AppleInsider brings news that Apple will soon release an updated version of the 10.4.7 software update for Intel machines. According to the company, certain files pertaining to OpenGL performance are missing from the 10.4.6 to 10.4.7 updater package; all other packages including combo updates shipped with the files the first time around. The revised update is not yet available on the Apple website or through Software Update, but it is safe to assume that MacOSXUpd10.4.7Intel.dmg will show up sometime later today. No word yet on whether or not users who already applied the first updater will have to re-run the installer, or if they will receive a patch with the missing files.
Widget Watch: Earthlink Shopping
One of my favorite things about the web is how it enables anyone, with even the slightest bit of effort, to become an educated consumer. Whenever I make a significant purchase (new camera, phone, etc), my first stops are sites like PriceGrabber, which allow you to search for things using specific criteria such as megapixels for cameras, carrier availability for phones, or speed for computers. This helps me get an idea of what my options are. The added benefit of these sites is the fact that they provide pricing quotes from hundreds of stores around the web, as well as ratings and customer reviews for those stores. While on the topic of smart internet shopping, lets take a peek at the new Earthlink Shopping widget. While it doesn't allow for the refined searching interface that I enjoy so very much, it does make it quick and easy to check prices on things. The widget searches eBay, shopping.com, and amazon.com for your search term, and displays the results in familiar search engine form. Earthlink Shopping also displays store and product ratings when available.
MacBook Pro sits in 'fridge for Tiger install
Jon at rentzsch.com was having trouble getting Tiger installed on his MacBook Pro. Specifically, the DVD wouldn't mount in his MBP, though it did work in other machines (CDs mounted without a problem, too). With his machine's temperature issues in mind, he stuck the MBP and DVD in the refrigerator, let them sit for 45 minutes and then, presto! It worked.Thanks, Guillermo!
Why Path Finder 4 is Tiger only
We've mentioned Path Finder, the full featured Finder alternative from Cocoatech, a number of times here on TUAW. I am sure there are a few of you that were upset because the latest version of Path Finder only works with OS X 10.4. The MacDevCenter sat down with Steve Gehrman and Neil Lee, the men behind the app, to talk about the decision to only support Tiger with Pathfinder 4.They both make compelling arguments for Tiger only support (mostly they wanted to include the latest and greatest Cocoa features, and since there is only one guy coding it didn't seem sensible to support two different versions of Path Fider, a Tiger specific version and a pre-Tiger version). Well worth a read, if you are interested in Mac development.
Changing Mail.app's icons
I'm a pretty boring guy when it comes to my OS UI. I don't change the default icons, I don't change the sounds, heck I hardly even change the desktop picture. Now, I know some other folks like to go crazy and if Mail.app's defaults are too bland for you, this tutorial is the cure.
Security Update 2006-003
Apple also released Security Update 2006-003 today (which, if you're counting, is the third such security update for this year). This update includes files for both server and client editions of OS X, as well as files for OS X 10.3.9 through OS X 10.4.6.This fixes a host of security issues, so I won't list them here but if you are interested check out the tech note.Update: Brent points out, correctly, that there have been 9 security updates so far this year, however, I was correct in that this is the third OS specific update of the year. Don't you just like it when everyone is right?
