My job title says I’m a systems analyst, but in reality, I’m just a point man; when something goes wrong I’m the man everyone points at to blame or to make it right. It’s not as bad as it sounds; I get to play with a variety of systems, plan networks, and develop infrastructures, and…
News
Alias Buys 3D Developer Kaydara, Mac Products To Continue
< A href="http://www.alias.com">Alias and 3D developer Kaydara announced today an agreement for Kaydara to be acquired by the Maya maker. Kaydarais products include MotionBuilder and FBX for QuickTime, both available for the Mac platform. Kaydara also offers some platform independent technologies. Kaydarais products will be offered under the Alias brand name, and Alias says that…
Immersion, Digital Element Announce Maya 3D Plug-In
MicroScribe digitizing products let users construct detailed computer models by tracing over the contours of a physical object. The new plug-in from Digital Element provides seamless data flow from the MicroScribe system to Maya. “For years Maya users on the PC have had great success with our MicroScribe digitizer, used in the creation of feature…
MOTU Ships MX4 Hybrid Synthesis Virtual Instrument
MX4 – at US$300 – is a new instrument plug-in application that combines several core synthesis techniques in a unified, hybrid synthesis engine. MX4 includes several additional features not previously announced, such as built-in effects, more LFOs, external audio input, a unison multiplier and parameter randomization options for creative programming. MOTU says that built-in chorus…
VA Tech's Improved System X Assembly Complete, Photos Posted
The only thing that could make System X better would be to replace the G5 Power Macs with the latest and greatest G5 based Xserves; doing so would reduce the floor space require to host System X, reduce the power needed to run the supercomputer, and it might possibly allow the newly revitalize Big Mac…
August 1-7: Newton Introduced, Big Brother Bill
This week in Apple history, we have yet more Newton history, for it was this week in 1993 that the first Newton was officially introduced by Apple. The MessagePad was a remarkable piece of computing technology (see the specs below), but ended up being hammered by the press (especially by Gary Trudeau in the popular…
Apple Lays Off 74, Unit Sales Up, Reported Profits Threatened
Apple’s 10-Q SEC filing for the fiscal 3rd quarter of 2004 was released today. The 10-Q filing offers the most comprehensive look at Apple’s financial and operational health available to the public. Included in the filing is the news that Apple laid off 74 employees during the quarter, saw the best Mac unit sales in…
The Back Page - French Virgin Mega Whines About iPod/iTunes/Apple: Let Them Eat Bits
The French arm of Virgin Mega’s online store has filed a complaint against Apple relating to its online music store dominance. According to Virgin Mega, Apple’s refusal to license its DRM scheme, FairPlay, to other online music stores makes it difficult to compete. At issue is the fact that the iPod will only play downloads…
Toshiba 60GB iPod-Ready Drive to Ship by Year's End
The new 60GB, dual platter drive (see photo below) is larger in capacity than its current drives, but no larger in physical size than the 40GB drive currently being used in Apple top-line fourth-generation iPod. It weighs 2.187 ounces and is 2.12 inches wide, 3.09 inches deep, 0.315 inches high. The breakthrough making it possible…
Analyst: Apple's Stock "Riding On Vapors, a Lot of Promise, and Hope"
A n analyst with Wall Street firm Morningstar says that Appleis stock is "riding on vapors, a lot of promise and hope." The comments from analyst Rod Bare come in an article from CNN that looks at how Apple CEO Steve Jobsi cancer surgery might affect the companyis valuation. At issue, of course, is what…
Expert: Jobs Cancer Treatable, Diabetes Possible
The pancreatic cancer Apple and Pixar Animation CEO Steve Jobs is suffering from is rare and treatable, but often leads to diabetes later in life, a cancer expert told The Mac Observer, Sunday. Mr. Jobs told fellow employees Sunday by e-mail that he underwent surgery over the weekend for the removal of a pancreatic, cancerous…
July 25-31: Lisa, Apple Setback in Microsoft Lawsuit
This week in Apple History (July 25-31), the Lisa project officially got under way. The Lisa would be Apple’s first GUI-based computer, but it would take the Mac to get it right. Funny enough, it was this week in1979 that the project started, and it was the same week in 1982 that the project’s team…
Apple Offers Free Downloads Of DNC Speeches On iTMS [UPDATED]
[ Update 3:35 PM: An Apple spokesperson has confirmed for TMO that the iTMS will be carrying speeches from next monthis Republican National Convention.] Our friends at MacMinute noted that Apple is offering free downloads of speeches from the 2004 Democratic National Convention through the iTunes Music Store (iTMS). The iTMS currently has speeches from…
Apple Calls Real iPod "Hacker"; Cautions Harmony Users
In a brief statement, Apple said, “we are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod, and we are investigating the implications of their actions under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and other laws. We strongly caution Real and their customers that when we update…
DEVONtech Updadtes PhotoStickies And Releases ThumbsUp 5.0
DEVONtechnologies Ltd. updates its shareware web cam and image viewer PhotoStickies and its free thumbnail generator ThumbsUp. The new version 5.1 of PhotoStickies displays images with full opacity when the user moves the mouse pointer over it, features "Copy/Paste Filters" commands and introduces handy shortcuts to switch between the four areas of the Inspector panel.…
Mobile Operators Could Stop Motorola-iTunes Deal, Experts Warn
Jupiter Research analyst Ian Fogg and John Strand, CEO of mobile research firm Strand Consult, told London-based NewMediaAge magazine they believe cellular operators will refuse to stock and sell Motorola handsets featuring the ability to play MP3 files if they arenit included in the financial rewards, thereby putting a halt to similiar deals with other…
Report: Apple Planning Second iTunes Super Bowl Promo
TBWAChiatDay and its southern California office has already been given the assignment, according to Adweek.com, five months after BBDO launched the Pepsi iTunes promotion on Super Bowl XXXVIII last Feburary 1. The contract is worth an estimated US$15-20 million and the campaign is expected to launch during Super Bowl XXXIX, set for Sunday, February 6,…
Iomega Ships New 12X Double-Layer DVD Drive
DVD+R double layering is a iwrite-oncei recording standard. A double-layer DVD+R DL disc contains two recording layers of organic dye film. The top layer is semi-transparent, allowing the recording laser to focus on either the top layer or the bottom layer. When the laser heats microscopic regions on one of the recording layers, it creates…
Macromedia Updates Flash MX 2004
Flash MX 2004 version 7.2 is available for download from the companyis Web site. The upgrade to the companyis multimedia authoring tool offers more than 120 bug fixes and improvements, including more efficient use of system resources, better performance and stability, improved help documentation and more, the company said. Macromedia said the update also increases…
1,500 Line Up To Buy iPod mini in Japan
The iPod mini brought as many as 1,500 people to wait in line in Japan the first day the units went on sale, according to a report at MacCentral Saturday. The iPod mini went on sale in Japan this Saturday after a delay of many months. The delay was due to demand in the US…
Just a Thought - iPod and Me
"You are the Sunshine of My Life" Stevie Wonder, Talking Book I finally bought an iPod. The stars aligned just so, Fate smiled, Luck was a lady, and Apple put some 10 GB refurbished iPods up for sale on it’s Hot Deals Web site. So, now I have an iPod, and I have to say…
Contour Design Perfit Mouse Optical
Ever since 1984 we have used input devices (like) mice to directly interact with our computers. Weive been through one button, two buttons, three buttons and beyond. Weive endured a dizzying array of sizes and button placements as the years passed. And still, to this day, many of us remain on the search for the…
Computing with Bifocals - Back to School, New Software, & a New Apple Store
Back To School In the middle of May, I spent the better part of three days at a local public middle school. The term "public" school in the US refers to the educational system supported by taxpayers that is available to all children. We call schools "private" if parents pay a fee to send their…
Apple & TIBCO Reportedly Settle Over Rendezvous; Welcome To OpenTalk
Apple has reportedly settled a lawsuit with TIBCO over the use of the name “Rendezvous” for Apple’s implementation of the ZeroConf networking protocol. The lawsuit was filed in August of 2003, with TIBCO accusing Apple of knowing that the name was already in use for a networking-related product. In a statement from TIBCO at the…