Mac News Review

What the Next Mac mini Needs, FireWire Alive and Well, Parallels 4.0 for Mac, and More

This Week's Apple and Desktop Mac News

Compiled by Charles Moore and edited by Dan Knight - 2008.11.14

PowerBook, iBook, MacBook, and other portable computing is covered in The 'Book Review. iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV news is covered in The iNews Review.

All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

News & Opinion

Products

Software

Desktop Mac Deals

News & Opinion

5 Things Apple Needs in the Next Mac mini

Electricpig's Ben Sillis says:

"Apple may have squashed all the speculation fun by confirming there won't be any new Macs before Christmas, but they've just set the rumours mill turning again today by confirming a new Mac mini is on the way! With that in mind, we've brainstormed and come up with five things Apple needs to put in its unsung hero if it wants our cash....

  • Blu-ray
  • DisplayPort
  • Back Row software
  • Wireless keyboard/trackpad
  • Nvidia chips"

Should the Mac mini Die?

ZD Net's Christopher Dawson says:

"I caught a quick article on AppleInsider this morning about the Mac mini. We have a few of these hanging around our school, but it turns out they were pretty underpowered (I made the mistake of trying to set up a mini-journalism lab on serious budget constraints).

"However, the idea of a Mac mini has always appealed to me. Reuse hardware like monitors, keyboards, and mice and get into the Mac OS X on the cheap, right? They're incredibly tiny and use less power than the average laptop, so they can be thin clients, kiosks, web servers, file servers, print servers, media servers, etc. They even have built-in wireless, so they are easy to locate.

"They have, however, largely become Apple's redheaded stepchildren, left to linger in a little corner of the Apple store with no real hope of updates...."

Why iMacs Will Not Be Updated Before 2009

Hardmac's Eric reports:

"The buzz was ignited by Apple spokesman Bill Evans who told Macworld: 'Our holiday line-up is set'. In summary, do not expect new products before the next Macworld in January in San Francisco. If this was expected for the Mac Pro, as Intel did not release any Xeon Nehalem yet, many Mac-dedicated websites were expecting to get the current iMac models updated.

"However, when thinking twice, and looking at the current and future hardware evolutions and mobile architectures, it perfectly makes sense of not updating now the iMacs. Yes, Apple could install the same Nvidia chipset used in new MacBook models. However, it would not be interesting performance wise, despite bringing Nvidia 9600 GT GPU in our iMac. Indeed, the current Centrino architecture in our iMac does not require as a desktop to be improved for offering enhanced power management.

"Below are some reasons why apple will wait longer before updating the iMac...."

Apple Will Weather Consumer Spending 'Breakdown' Better Than Rivals

Computerworld's Gregg Keizer reports:

"Consumer spending plans suffered a 'massive breakdown' when the economy tanked last month, but Apple Inc. will come out of the downturn in much better shape than its competitors, a market research firm said today.

"The new MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks that Apple unveiled in mid-October look like a hit, according to Paul Carton, ChangeWave's research director. 'The MacBooks are off to a good start,' said Carlton, noting that of the nearly 3,700 US consumers polled in late October and early November, 7% said they were 'somewhat likely' or 'very likely' to buy one of the aluminum-cased laptops over the holidays."

1394 Trade Association Says FireWire Is Doing Just Fine

Macsimum News's Dennis Sellers reports:

"Apple may have ditched FireWire on its new 'unibody' MacBook, but, otherwise, growth in the computer notebook, storage, peripherals, and industrial market sectors continues to propel the FireWire (IEEE 1394) standard to another strong year of growth, according to the 1394 Trade Association (of which Apple is a member). Now in its 14th year, the 1394 Trade Association is a worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement and enhancement of the FireWire standard."

Ferrari Formula 1 Team Uses Apple Keyboards and Mice

setteB.IT's Fabio M. Zambelli reports (Italian to English translation by Google):

"The sponsors of the team of Maranello Acer and AMD would seem unbeatable but Ferrari's World Manufacturers Championship winning 2008 Formula 1 motor racing team employed thin aluminum keyboards from Apple on its way to victory....

"During the last race on Sunday, Nov. 2, the Ferrari team had the unmistakable mouse and keyboard of Apple connected with the USB socket of the many LCD monitors on the timing board from which the Maranello team to monitor the progress of the race."

Products

Belkin Switch-to-Mac Cable Makes Migration from PC to Mac Easy

Belkin Switch-to-Mac CablePR: The new Belkin Switch-to-Mac Cable provides a simple way to transfer files, settings, preferences, and more from your PC to a new Mac computer. Unlike existing products where you have to drag and drop specific files you want to transfer, the Switch-to-Mac Cable with its easy-to-use Migration Assistant automatically moves your music, movies, photos, files, and Internet preferences, making the transition from PC to Mac as seamless as possible.

Now that Mac computers support Windows applications, a growing number of PC owners are switching to them, making the ability to work with existing PC files a necessity. The Switch-to-Mac Cable ensures a hassle-free experience when transitioning to your new Mac.

Statistics

A 2008 Needham report shows that after a decade of stagnation, Macintosh unit sales have almost tripled in the past three years.

Needham goes on to say that the most significant barrier to switching from PC to Mac was the Mac computer's inability to run Windows applications.

Needham forecasts that in the next 10 years, Mac unit sales will grow dramatically to almost 40 million units by 2017.

Mac unit sales by quarter, 1998 to 2008
Quarterly Macintosh sales, Q3 1998 to Q2 2008 (Low End Mac graphic)

Available now in the US. February 2009 in Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

  • Switch-to-Mac Cable (F4U001) US: $49.99
  • Transfers at USB 2.0 speeds
  • Migration Assistant moves files and settings from default PC folders and applications to default Mac folders and applications, then gives summary of transferred content
  • Compatible with Windows XP or Windows Vista
  • Compatible with Mac OS X v10.4 and v10.5

You can view and purchase them at belkin.com, as well as through a network of major distributors, resellers, and superstores.

Logitech Unveils Elegant diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition

diNovo Keyboard, Mac EditionPR: Logitech has unveiled the newest addition to its line of award-winning diNovo keyboards the Logitech diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition. In addition to offering the exceptionally comfortable typing experience of the Logitech PerfectStroke key system, the cordless diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition provides the convenience of a 3-year battery life and an integrated number pad.

"With the recently released diNovo Edge, Mac Edition, and now this diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition, Logitech is giving people more options when it comes to choosing a keyboard that perfectly complements the Mac design," said Denis Pavillard, vice president of product marketing for Logitech's keyboards and desktops. "While the diNovo Edge keyboard is rechargeable and includes a TouchDisc and touch-sensitive volume control, our newest diNovo keyboard has a full-size layout and nineteen shortcut keys that provide quick access to Safari, iTunes, Expose, iChat and much more."

diNovo Keyboard, Mac EditionFeaturing the classic diNovo design language, the sleek diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition with its high-gloss, semi-translucent Plexiglas frame, sharp angles and thin profile (.87 inches or 22.10 mm from base to key caps) is an elegant, modern accompaniment to any Mac computer. Plus, when it's time to rest between typing sessions, the built-in, brushed-aluminum palm rest provides a stable, satin-touch base.

For a typing experience that's comfortable and fluid, the diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition features the Logitech PerfectStroke key system. PerfectStroke is designed to create longer key travel 3.2 mm compared to 2.2 mm than that of typical notebook keyboards, which means that the distance your fingers have to travel to activate a key is optimized for your comfort. And because micro-scissors distribute force evenly across key surfaces, even if you strike the edge of a key, the key stroke still feels the same.

Getting to your favorite applications is as easy as pressing the appropriate F-key. The diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition delivers one-touch access to Mail, Safari, iTunes, Expos, Cover Flow, Dashboard, QuickLook and Spaces. In addition, Play, Pause, Mute and Volume buttons simplify media control. (Logitech Control Center software installation is required for some features.)

Because you often use your Mac computer in busy wireless environments, the diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition employs Logitech's advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology, which dramatically reduces interference, effectively eliminating delays and dropouts. And by optimizing the power management system, Logitech's improved wireless technology enables an impressive 3-year battery life - Logitech's longest.

Key Features

  • Modern, elegant design features an ultra-slim profile, piano-black finish and brushed-aluminum palm rest that perfectly complement the beautiful Mac design aesthetic.
  • PerfectStroke key system with precision micro-scissor gives you more key travel than typical keyboards, so every stroke is comfortable, fluid and silent.
  • Three-year battery life minimizes the hassle of changing batteries.
  • Mac keyboard layout lets you type faster and more comfortably, with all the keys where you expect them to be.
  • Integrated number pad makes data entry fast and effortless.

Product Specifications

  • Dimensions (L x W x H): 17.01 x 6.82 x 0.88 inches
  • Weight:
    • 1.63 pounds without batteries
    • 1.98 pounds with 4 AAA batteries

Warranty

  • 5-year limited hardware

System Requirements

  • Mac computer with Mac OS X (10.3.9 or later)
  • 1 USB port
  • CD-ROM drive
  • The diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition can be used with any Mac computer, including the MacBook Air, iMac, MacBook or MacBook Pro.

The Logitech diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition cordless keyboard is expected to be available in the US and Europe beginning this month for a suggested retail price of $99.99.

Das Keyboard Professional Now Available in Retail Stores

PR: Das Keyboard,) a division of Metadot Corporation, announced today the availability of its high-performance award-winning keyboard, the Das Keyboard Professional, in Micro Center stores throughout the US as well as J&R Music and Computer World in New York, NY

Das Keyboard Professional

Das Keyboard has been designed for people who spend many hours a day working on a computer and for whom typing productivity and comfort does matter.

Both Das Keyboard Professional and Ultimate models are identical except that the Ultimate is a blank keyboard (there are no inscriptions on the keys).

Das Keyboard Professional

German-engineered mechanical key switches:

Das Keyboard compares to the legendary IBM model M. Its best-in-class mechanical gold-plated key switches provide a tactile and audio click that makes typing pure joy.

  • USB 2.0 hub: The high-speed USB hub allows to sync and charge your iPhone and iPod or any USB compatible devices.
  • Extra-long USB cable: Das Keyboard sports 2-meter (6.6') cable that can go through your desk grommet in order to keep your workspace neat and tidy
  • N-key rollover: Das Keyboard allows up to 12 keys to be pressed simultaneously. Great for fast typists and gamers alike.

System requirements:

  • PC or Mac, Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X.
  • One USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 port, no driver required.

Das Keyboard technical information

  • Glossy black upper enclosure with matching black USB cable, Darth Vader approved.
  • Mechanical key switches with gold contacts
  • Two-port USB hub 1.1 and 2.0 compatible
  • Blue LEDs
  • 2-meter (6.6') USB cable
  • Enhanced 104 or 105-key layout
  • Three Windows keys
  • Dimensions: 18" x 6.5" x 1" (thickest portion, feet not extended, 1.5" w/ extended feet)
  • Weight: 1.2 Kg, 2.6 lb.

System requirements

  • Windows, Linux, or MacOS X
  • One USB port
  • Mac users can swap the command/control/options keys to match the Mac keyboard layout using the MacOS X keyboard control panel

Environmental data

  • Operating temperature: 0C to +70C
  • Operating humidity: 5% to 95%

Electrical data

  • Compatible with most KVM switches with a USB port
  • The USB hub has 2 ports and does not require an external power supply. It's compatible with the 1.1 and 2.0 standards. Both ports can be active at the same time but one can temporarily shutdown if the current consumption is too high.
  • Compatible with KVM switches

Since the launch of the Das Keyboard Professional in July 2008, demand for the German-engineered keyboard equipped with mechanical key switches has been strong and continues to grow. In addition to purchasing the keyboard direct at www.daskeybaord.com , Consumers now have the option to purchase it at Micro Center and J&R Music and Computer World store locations.

"Good engineering and high quality manufacturing make the Das Keyboard Professional the kind of product our customers have come to rely on us for," said Patti Drake, a buyer for J&R. "We're pleased to be able to offer the Professional and expect it to appeal to a broad spectrum of our customer base."

"Both Micro Center and J&R Music and Computer World are committed to offering first-class products to people who are passionate about technology," said Daniel Guermeur, creator of the Das Keyboard and CEO of Metadot Corporation. "The Das Keyboard Professional is a natural fit for both stores and we're honored it will be included in their lines of consumer technology items."

The Das Keyboard Professional and its sibling, the completely blank Ultimate keyboard, continue to be available from daskeyboard.com. Both models retail for $129. Both models can also be purchased in Europe through GetDigital, in Canada from TekGear, and in Australia through AUSPC Market Online.

Software

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac Released

PR: Version 4 offers premium Windows-on-Mac experience with virtualization enhancements plus internet security, data protection and disk management

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for MacParallels has announced the availability of version 4.0 of Parallels Desktop for Mac, its market-leading product that currently enables more than 1.5 million users to run Windows, Linux and other operating systems side-by-side with Mac OS X. This new version of the award-winning Parallels Desktop for Mac improves OS integration, performs up to 50% faster and incorporates a range of security, backup and power saving features to give Mac users a truly easy, fast and powerful desktop computing solution.

"We run a high volume of Macs and it's absolutely vital that they deliver on fast performance and ease of use. Parallels has met this need well with features like Coherence and SmartSelect in creating a seamless Windows-on-Mac experience," said John Hermes, Chief Technology Officer at Oklahoma Christian University. "Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac builds on this, providing blazing speed and all-round performance through innovations such as the Adaptive Hypervisor, which gives our users the resources they need on the fly; and advanced graphics support, which provides a very smooth experience."

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac introduces support for DirectX 9, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0, providing fast video performance, while the Adaptive Hypervisor dynamically allocates resources to meet user needs. The responsiveness to all applications is further enhanced as the virtualization engine has been optimized to consume 15-30% less resources than previous versions.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac"Parallels is committed to continuing the innovation that has resulted in Parallels Desktop for Mac winning more than 30 major awards and being a premier Windows-on-Mac virtualization product," said Serguei Beloussov, CEO of Parallels. "With version 4.0, we're delivering an advanced solution that is easy, fast and powerful with industry-leading tools and utilities included at no extra cost."

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac addresses two other primary user concerns: security and backup. The software offers users peace of mind through Parallels Internet Security powered by Kaspersky for anti-virus, firewall, scanner, recovery, filtering and identity protection as well as Acronis True Image Home backup and restore and Acronis Disk Director Suite. These three additions to Parallels Desktop represent $175 in extra value along with a more complete user experience.

"Mac OS X is the world's most advanced operating system and its ability to run Windows on a Mac is yet another reason users are switching to the Mac at a rapid rate," said Ron Okamoto, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "This rapid adoption is supported by applications like Parallels Desktop for Mac, which enables users to get the most from their hardware."

Parallels Desktop 4.0 offers a computing experience that is:

  • Easy Get easy access to all your applications and data while enjoying the full Mac experience with
  • Improved Windows and Mac integration, True Drag & Drop and Copy & Paste, SmartX Technologies and Built-in Installation and Migration Tools.
  • Fast Experience the fastest speed for all applications withAdaptive Hypervisor, FastLane Architecture, up to 8 way SMP and 8 GB RAM plus 64-bit support for each VM, HyperBus and support for DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0, and OpenGL 2.0.
  • Powerful Get a complete suite of essentials for Internet security, data protection and disk management withParallels Internet Security powered by Kaspersky, Acronis True Image Home backup and restore, SmartGuard, PowerSaver, Full-hardware ACPI support and Acronis Disk Director Suite disk management.
  • Developer and Enterprise Ready Additional features specifically for Developers and IT administrators includeMac OS X Leopard Server and Windows Server OS support, VM Directory, CLI and Scripting support, SDK and API, remote control from iPhone, PXE Boot, improved networking and VM Templates.

With more than 50 new features, additional highlights includea redesigned user interface with quick access to all VMs, additional Screenview modes, Clips for screenshots, Speech Recognition, Security Manager, Safe Mode, Shut Down Mode and Over 45 Supported Guest OSs.

"The growth, in both performance and ease of use, of desktop virtualization software is making it easier for Windows users to adopt Macintosh computers. The availability of this technology is one of many factors driving growth in the adoption of Mac desktops and notebooks, for which shipments have grown 46.6% between the first half of 2007 and the first half of 2008, according to our data," said Michael Rose, Industry Analyst at the research firm, IDC. "Those users leveraging virtualization software on their Macintosh hardware will find that many of the new capabilities in Parallels Desktop 4.0 represent another step forward."

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is available in English and localized versions will soon be available in Chinese, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Polish and Russian.

The standard retail price (SRP) of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is $79.99. New users can test a free, fully-functional copy for 15 days. Current Parallels Desktop users can upgrade their existing software for only $39.99 a 50% off promotional price available until November 30, 2008. Users that purchased version 3.0 on or after September 1, 2008, qualify for a free upgrade to version 4.0.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is available at Amazon.com, Apple Store, Best Buy, Fry's Electronics, Micro Center, Office Depot, Staples, and hundreds of other retailers nationwide.

Volume pricing and site-license opportunities are also available for new customers by contacting the Parallels Sales Team at sales@parallels.com or 425-282-6400.

Bento 2 Holiday Pack Makes Getting Organized for the Holidays Fast, Fun, and Free

PR: Never leave someone off of your holiday card list again!

FileMaker, Inc. has announced the Bento 2 Holiday Pack, a fast and easy way to get organized for the holidays that's completely free. Download it now at www.filemaker.com/holidaypr . The Bento 2 Holiday Pack works exclusively with Bento 2, the latest version of the personal database that's as easy to use as your Mac, and includes: a free 30-day trial of Bento 2, plus festive themes and templates that help you organize contacts, cards, gifts, and donationsall in one place.

Holiday Card Tracking is Solved

Do you agonize over whether you're going to miss returning a holiday card to someone who sent you a card last year? Are you frustrated because your spouse has holiday card contacts stored on email at the office, and you've got some in your computer's address book at home? People who love the time-honored tradition of sending holiday cards via snail mail can now use easy-to-use database software technology to get organized. With the new Contacts & Cards template in the Bento 2 Holiday Pack, you can easily check off who sent you what and when, track card recipients' names, addresses, family members, pertinent notes, and even add images of the actual photos and cards you've received. The best part is that you will no longer find yourself speeding off to make that frenzied, last minute "holy cow I forgot about these people" mailing.

Keep Holiday Purchases Under Control and on Budget

Now that you've got your cards and contacts organized, how about your budget? Chances are, you've started thinking about holiday shopping, donations to make and how much to spend. And given the current economic environment, you may be thinking about keeping to a strict holiday budget. The Bento 2 Holiday Pack helps you track all of the information on your gifts, such as cost per recipient and a description of the gift. You can even add a photo of the gift. You can also make notations on tax-deductible items, so you have a record when tax time rolls around. Best of all, you can automatically tally your purchases and donations, so you can stick to your holiday budget with ease.

Now comes the really fun part: the Bento 2 Holiday Pack goes one step further by letting you apply chic holiday themes to your templates. You can choose from either a cheerful red and green motif or a beautiful blue theme with snowflakes, adding flair and style to the art of getting organized.

"The holidays can be a hectic time, with cards, parties, gifts and other details to organize and track," said Ryan Rosenberg, vice president marketing and services with FileMaker. "With the free Bento 2 Holiday Pack, we're offering a no-stress way to get all the details organized so you can breeze through the holidays not to mention making them more festive and stylish."

Bento 2 helps Mac users organize their work and personal lives. Designed specifically for Mac OS X Leopard, Bento 2 is an exceptionally easy way to organize contacts, calendars, projects, events and more, faster and easier than ever before.

How to download the free Bento 2 Holiday Pack

To download the free Bento Holiday Pack, visit www.filemaker.com/holidaypr and complete a simple form. The Bento 2 Holiday Pack works only on Macs running Mac OS X 10.5.4 or later. Customers have the option of using the free 30-day trial version or they may purchase the complete version of Bento 2, available for $49

Giftory Gift Tracking Software for Mac OS X

PR: Infusions of Grandeur announces Giftory 3.0, an update to their gift buying and tracking utility for Mac OS X. Giftory helps keep track of gift giving and receiving for multiple people, on multiple occasions, over a period of years. It can also help with setting and keeping detailed budgets for any gift-giving occasion. Create entries for gifts exchanged between two people, and sort and display the lists of gifts in a variety of ways.

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Infusions of Grandeur announces Giftory 3.0, an update to their gift buying and tracking utility for Mac OS X. Perfect for the Christmas season, Giftory helps keep track of gift giving and receiving for multiple people, on multiple occasions, over a period of years.

Giftory lets users set up a group of people, easily categorize them, and create lists of gifts exchanged between them, as well as sort and prioritize the gifts in a variety of ways. Easily manage all sorts of gift exchanges, as well as plan and budget for gifts that have yet to be purchased.

Users may easily set budgets for different occasions as well as set spending limits for individual people. Giftory will faithfully maintain each gift's associations and information, such as where it was purchased, how much it cost and where it is hidden. This feature makes Giftory particularly suited for early shoppers.

Version 3.0 offers a number of new and/or enhanced features, including:

  • Budgeting
  • Online shopping integration with Amazon, eBay and Yahoo Shopping
  • Support for creating wish lists
  • Integration with .Mac/MobileMe
  • A free iPhone app that lets anyone read published wish lists from .Mac/MobileMe accounts
  • Ability to sort people into different groups
  • Improved purchased and unpurchased gift price totaling * Drag-n-Drop customization of gift lists
  • Full Undo/Redo support
  • Improved customizable multiple person view for side-by-side comparisons

Giftory is integrated with Yahoo Shopping, eBay and Amazon, so users may search for gifts, as well as initiate purchases, directly from within the application. Giftory also helps users create wish lists for gifts they wish to receive. Easily publish gift lists for friends and family members to see, either to the local computer or to a MobileMe (.Mac) account. A free iPhone app is available, pending release on the iTunes App Store, that lets any iPhone user view the wish list of any Giftory user who has published their wish list to their MobileMe (.Mac) account.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Mac OS X Version 10.4 or later
  • Universal Binary for PowerPC and Intel
  • 7.4 MB Hard Drive space
  • MobileMe (.Mac) account (required for online publication of wish lists, iPhone integration)
  • Internet connection (required for online shopping, online publication of wish lists, iPhone integration)

Giftory 3.0 is immediately available for only $19.95. Except for saving files, Giftory works as an unrestricted demo until such time as it is unlocked with a purchased registration code.

Logos Bible Software for Mac Pre-Release Offer

PR: While no firm launch date has been projected yet, Logos is hinting that it should ship in time to slip under the Christmas tree.

To celebrate the long-awaited arrival of Logos Bible Software for Mac, Logos is running a special during the month of November that will allow current Logos users to get the new Mac engine for free.

Heres the deal. Spend $250 or more on live products at Logos.com or over the phone (800-875-6467) in a single order during the month of November, and they'll send you the Mac engine for free as soon as its ready.

The $250 must be spent in a single order during the month of November 2008. Only live products and base package upgrades apply. Base package purchases are excluded, since they already include the Mac engine. Pre-Pubs and Community Pricing titles are also excluded. Email your receipt of at least $250 to macpromo@logos.com, and they'll send you a free copy of the Mac engine as soon as its ready.

Suggested Retail Price: $59.95

Pixelmator Team Releases Pixelmator 1.3 Tempo

PR: The Pixelmator Team today released Pixelmator 1.3, codenamed Tempo, a third major update to the revolutionary GPU-powered image editing tool that provides everything needed to create, edit, and enhance still images. Available today as a free software update, Pixelmator 1.3 Tempo features major performance improvements: click-and-drag technology-based Magic Wand, Paint Bucket, and Magic Eraser tools; improved Hue and Saturation, Replace Color, and Colorize tools; Smart Palette Hide; and more.

The Pixelmator Team today released Pixelmator 1.3, codenamed Tempo, a third major update to the revolutionary GPU-powered image editing tool that provides everything needed to create, edit, and enhance still images. Available today as a free software update, Pixelmator 1.3 Tempo features major performance improvements: click-and-drag technology-based Magic Wand, Paint Bucket, and Magic Eraser tools; improved Hue and Saturation, Replace Color, and Colorize tools; Smart Palette Hide; and more.

Pixelmator

"Pixelmator is an awesome tool for anyone to enjoy the benefits of image editing," said Saulius Dailide of the Pixelmator Team. "And now with innovative click-and-drag tools, improved adjustment tools, and major performance enhancements it is becoming one of the most innovative, top-quality image-editing tools for Mac OS X."

Pixelmator 1.3 Tempo delivers performance gains in almost every function of the application. It takes even more advantage than before of Core Image, OpenGL, and the power of other Mac-only technologies so that dramatic performance improvements are easily seen when one is working with large images - opening and saving, using filters and adjustments, and more.

Pixelmator's new click-and-drag approach in Magic Wand for selecting, Paint Bucket for filling, or Magic Eraser for removing unwanted backgrounds allows the artist simply to drag the mouse and see instant results when working with these tools. Click-and-drag, technology-based tools are easy-to-use and fun, yet they keep all the functionality of same-purpose classic tools.

Pixelmator's new adjustment tools include the redesigned Hue and Saturation, Colorize, and Replace Color tools. These three tools now feature a color wheel with color buttons nearby. Spinning the color buttons will show users what is changed as those buttons go with other colors in the wheel - e.g., red is replaced with green, green is replaced with blue, etc. In addition to the ability of the Hue and Saturation tool to edit different ranges of colors, Replace Color features a new Radius preview slider which shows a black-and-white preview of how much of the selected color will be changed.

The Smart Palette Hide feature solves the problem of palette clutter when one uses adjustment tools or filters in Pixelmator. It makes all the unnecessary palettes temporarily dissolve when any of the adjustment tools or filters are in play, allowing the user to focus on only one image and chosen tool.

Other new and improved features in Pixelmator 1.3 Tempo include improved Type tool, Stroke, an Action Tooltips feature, minor user interface and compatibility improvements, Spanish and French languages, and some bug fixes.

Pixelmator 1.3 Tempo is available to order for $59. Pixelmator 1.3 Tempo is a free update to current Pixelmator customers. System requirements, as well as a 30-day Pixelmator trial and more information on Pixelmator, can be found at their website.

WakeOnLan

PR: Need to access some files on your other Mac? Find out it's sleeping and you can't? Try this little app to help you out.

WakeOnLan discovers all other computers in your LAN, and enables you to wake them up by clicking a button. If your remote computer is a Mac you can put it asleep too.

Scheduled Wake Up Calls

In addition to timer based wake up calls, each computer can be scheduled to be woken up frequently at a day of the week (or, weekdays or weekends only) and time of your choice. For example, schedule wake up calls each Sunday night at 04:00AM for backup.

WakeOnLan Dashboard Widget

You need to wakeup some other computer quickly, but don't want to start the WakeOnLan application? Just press F12 and use the WakeOnLan Widget. Simply select the computer to be woken up and click on the sun. Press F12 again and you're done.

New for all Mac OS X versions: Dock Menu

Faster access for everyone. Click and hold the WakeOnLan icon in the Dock (while WakeOnLan running), and select any computer to be woken up or put asleep directly from the menu. It doesn't get any simpler.

Version History

Version 0.99

  • fixed host discovery under Leopard
  • ignore virtual interfaces
  • added host edit
  • improved stability

Version 0.80

  • completely rewritten several modules
  • cleaned up interface

System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or 10.5

WakeOnLan is Freeware. It is a Universal Application and runs on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, 10.4 Tiger and 10.3 Panther.

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