Other Sites
'Pixelmator Team Releases Pixelmator 1.6 "Nucleus"
Seven Alternative (Most Of Them Free) Mac Email Clients
Apple MacBook mid-2010 - White Mischief?
Toshiba's New Canvio for Mac Portable Hard Drives
LaCie XtremKey Adventurous USB Flash Drive
Gmail HTML5 Features Now Support Safari Too
Essential Freeware Applications For Mac Troubleshooting
SubRosaSoft DasBoot Free Mac OS X Diagnostic/Emergency Boot Software
Full Circle: The Return of the Mainframe?
Apple's launchd Is Anti-Unix
Microsoft Says 74 Percent Of Work PCs Still Use Windows XP, Extends Downgrade Rights Until 2020
'Pixelmator Team Releases Pixelmator 1.6 "Nucleus"
The Pixelmator Team released Pixelmator 1.6 yesterday, an update of their Photoshop-challenging GPU-powered bitmap image editing tool. Available as a free software update for registered users of Pixelmator 1.x, version 1.6, codenamed "Nucleus," adds major performance improvements, notably 64-bit support, layer groups, an Import feature, Flickr, Facebook and Picasa support, plus redesigned transform tools, and more.
"Pixelmator makes it incredibly easy and fun for anyone to enjoy the best of image editing," says Pixelmator's co-founder Saulius Dailide. "Now, with Pixelmator 1.6's Nucleus foundation, which takes advantage of the latest Mac OS X technologies, Pixelmator delivers the greatest-possible image editing performance ever."
In addition to 64-bit support, which makes use of large amounts of RAM and increases performance, Dailide says that Pixelmator Team engineers have polished almost every part of the Pixelmator foundation in order to allow users to take full advantage of the power of graphics processing available in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Thanks to these improvements, the overall performance of Pixelmator is claimed to be up to 40% improved (and it was no slouch in version 1.5), with launch time now twice as fast and the ability to paint with Pixelmator four times faster than it was in the previous version. Pixelmator says users should notice the overall performance improvements in nearly every function of the application.
The new Layer Groups feature allows users to easily organize and manage layers in a Pixelmator composition. You can use groups to arrange layers in a logical order and to reduce clutter in the Layers palette, and also use Layer Groups to apply blending modes, opacity, masks, or even transformations to multiple layers simultaneously.
The new additions to Pixelmator's "Send To" feature make it easy to quickly publish images to online photo sharing sites such as Facebook, Flickr, and Picasa right from the application. The new Import feature allows quick and easy importing of images directly to Pixelmator from cameras, scanners, and multifunction devices such as camera/phones, printer/scanners, and such as iPhones and iPads.
Other new features in Pixelmator 1.6 Nucleus include redesigned transforming tools which are more precise and easier-to-use, Automator Actions for trimming and watermarking images, improved printing, minor user interface changes, compatibility improvements, and several bugfixes.
Pixelmator 1.6.0 changelog:
Major performance improvements
• 64-Bit support
• Layer Groups
• Send to Flickr, Picasa, and Facebook
• Import directly from cameras, scanners, multifunction devices, and devices such as iPhone and iPad
• New transforming tools
• New printing engine
• Trim Images and Watermark Images Automator Actions
• Deeper Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard integration
Improvements
• Open Recent button added to the Welcome Screen
• iSight support improved
• Ruler performance improved
• Progress bar added when saving larger files
• Edit in Quick Mask mode added to the Edit menu
• Alpha pixels are now properly supported by clipping masks
• New cursors for Hand and Zoom tools added
• Ability to reset pallete locations by pressing Command + Shift + R added
• Gradient pallete is now separated from Brushes palette and can be shown or hidden by pressing the Command + 4 keyboard shortcut
• Layers palette contextual menu improved
• Appearance of type layer thumbnails improved
• License menu item will not appear if the application is already licensed
• Fit Images Automator action now includes the ability to proportionally scale images
• German, French, and Japanese localizations updated
• Minor user interface improvements added
• Help in-app documentation updated
Corrected Bugs
• A bug that caused incorrect palettes size and position
• A bug that caused Eyedropper to move by 1 pixel when picking color
• A bug that caused Gradients palette not to resize when gradients removed
• A bug that caused the Hand tool not to work correctly after Tab shortcut is pressed
• A bug that sometimes caused some palettes to disappear
• A bug that sometimes caused objects to disappear when using Distort transform
• A bug that caused filters not to load after using the Replace Color function
• A bug that caused Clipping Mask to work incorrectly after editing layer s mask
• A bug that caused clipping layers not to show up after the main layer is hidden
System requirements:
• Mac OS X 10.6
• Core Image supported graphics card (recommended)
• Some features require Mac OS X 10.6 Leopard and/or iLife.
Pixelmator 1.6 is available for $59 (USD), and is a free update for registered Pixelmator users. System requirements, as well as a 30-day Pixelmator trial and more information on Pixelmator can be found online.
Pixelmator 1.6:
http://www.pixelmator.com
Download Pixelmator:
http://www.pixelmator.com/download/
Purchase:
http://www.pixelmator.com/buy/
Screenshot:
http://www.pixelmator.com/i/spider-big.jpg
Seven Alternative (Most Of Them Free) Mac Email Clients
FairerPlatform says:
From Mozilla's Thunderbird, and its variants, to the retro-looking MailSmith, you do have choices besides the two most-common email clients, Apple Mail and Microsoft Entourage, when you update or set up your Mac. Here are five fine Mac email clients that will get the job and then some for exactly zero dollars [and a couple more].
Thunderbird
Mailsmith
SeaMonkey
PowerMail
Postbox Express
Eudora OSE
Pine
You can check it out at:
http://fairerplatform.com/2010/07/seven-swee-free-mac-email-clients/
Apple MacBook mid-2010 - White Mischief?
The Register's Alistair Dabbs says "This non-pro notebook is cute but coy and comes with almost everything a consumer will need."
Dabbs notes that while Apple says the MacBook's non-swappable built-in battery will last ten hours on a full charge in normal use, in Reg Hardware's real-world testing it managed barely more than half that - typically lasting five and a half hours on a charge, consuming an average of 23W, rising to 30W while charging the battery.
However, Dabbs couldn't resist the MacBook's charm, observing that "You can sniff at the benchmark results, frown at the 250GB hard drive and rub your chin at the 2GB RAM, but none of this tells you what it's really like to play with an Apple MacBook. It is a terrific notebook computer that is great to use for pleasure and everyday work, and looks lovely being slid in and out of a student's shoulder bag.... It's expensive, but I don t care: if you want cheap, go buy a tombstone. What I do care about, however, is the limited range of I/O ports. Please, sir, I want some more.
For the full review visit here:
http://snurl.com/zdj3l
Toshiba's New Canvio for Mac Portable Hard Drives
Toshiba's Canvio for Mac is Now Available In 1TB, 750GB, and 500GB capacities
With consumers constantly amassing more digital valuables -- from photos, videos, and favorite music to important personal documents -- Toshiba offers Mac users the compact, easy-to-use Canvio for Mac portable hard drive lineup, providing Mac owners 500 gigabytes (GB1), 750GB, or one terabyte (TB) of storage space, with pre-loaded Mac-customized backup software.
According to a February 2010 survey conducted by Impulse Research, 70 percent of Americans have lost some type of data on their computers. Unfortunately, the majority of consumers surveyed (89 percent) are aware of the importance of regularly backing up their computers to avoid losses but less than half (43 percent) regularly do so, leaving many computer users vulnerable to data loss that could include digital photos and movies, important financial records, or professional documents.
Recognizing that many users do not back up their data because they believe it's a complicated process, the Canvio for Mac line makes data backup simple for everyone, from novice users to the most tech-savvy consumers. The included NTI Shadow 5 for Mac software allows for fully-customized backup and synchronization, including the backup of specific folders, certain file types, or even a complete system backup and recovery of everything that is saved on the Mac. Selected folders on the Canvio for Mac and the Mac computer can be merged and synchronized, while the frequency of backups can be adjusted to different periods (from weekly to continuously) for greater convenience. Complete password-protection with up to 256-bit data encryption prevents unauthorized access to data and a special Drive Space Alert monitor sends an onscreen update when storage space is running low.
For advanced users, there's the ability to customize your backup routine. Options include the ability to select only the most common file types, change how often your backup takes place and change the threshold settings on the Drive Space Alert.
The Canvio for Mac's plug-and-play usability and full customization are matched by its small size and elegant, simple styling. Available in either Radiant Silver with silver accents or Infinite White with glossy white-gray accents on the top cover, both feature an anti-slip design and anti-slip side, making the Canvio for Mac an excellent companion to the full line of Mac computers. On the inside, an Internal Shock Sensor and Ramp Loading Technology keep data safe during day-to-day movement from a desk, pocket, bag, or beyond. Despite being smaller than a postcard and boasting a featherweight (six ounce) frame, the Canvio for Mac in 1TB form can hold up to 285,000 digital photos, 263,000 digital music files, or 820 digital movies.
"Toshiba develops personal storage devices that combine the latest, high quality designs with top-notch performance and an intuitive, easy to use interface," says Manuel Camarena, product manager for consumer storage at Toshiba Storage Device Division. "Our Canvio for Mac products give Mac users a safe, convenient, and truly portable solution for backing up their digital entertainment, documents, and other content instantly."
Features:
• Compact and anti-slip design for easy portability
• USB-powered for easy plug-and-play operation
• Internal shock sensor and ramp loading technology help protect your drive and data
• Continuous backup of your home folder
• Keeps a copy of everything saved on your computer
• Merges and synchronizes selected folders
• Secures your backup with a password (Data Encryption, up to 256-bit)
• Alerts you when running low on backup capacity
Protects your drive (Internal Shock Sensor & Ramp Loading Technology)
• Three-year limited warranty provides you peace of mind
The Canvio product line is available now at http://www.toshibadirect.com/canvio_mac or through major retailers and online outlets. For a complete list of retailers offering the Toshiba Canvio, visit:
http://www.wheretobuy.toshibastorage.com
Suggested retail prices by capacities are:
$119.99 for the 500GB Canvio for Mac
$139.99 for the 750GB Canvio for Mac
$189.99 for the 1TB Canvio for Mac
Instant Savings from Toshiba Store:
List Price (1 TB): $189.99
Current Instant Savings: -$50.00
Total Price: $139.99
List Price: (750GB ) $139.99
Current Instant Savings: -$20.00
Total Price: $119.99
List Price (500GB): $119.99
Current Instant Savings: -$20.00
Total Price: $99.99
For more information, visit:
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/adet.to?poid=484839
LaCie XtremKey Adventurous USB Flash Drive
LaCie has announced the LaCie XtremKey offering industrial-strength protection for your data. With capacities up to 64GB and an impenetrable shell, the XtremKey is pitched as a truly rugged USB key that stands up to the elements.
LaCie, originator of the flat, award-winning key-shaped USB flash drives, shields the XtremKey's premium flash memory modules inside a 2mm metal pipe casing. Sealed with wear-resistant screw threads and a rubber O-ring, it is watertight up to 100 meters. The LaCie XtremKey is also resistant to 5-meter drops, fierce heat and bitter cold -- it is claimed to hold up in any environment, no matter where you take it (+200C / -50).
XtremKey is constructed with zamac, a metal alloy so strong it can withstand the pressure of a 10-ton truck. Zamak also known as Zamac ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamac ), is a family of alloys with a base metal of zinc and alloying elements of aluminium, magnesium and copper. Zamak alloys are part of the zinc aluminium alloy family; they are distinguished from the other ZA alloys because of their constant 4% aluminium composition. The New Jersey Zinc Company developed zamak alloys in 1929, and it is sometimes referred to as pot metal or white metal. Less than three inches tall, this flash memory drive puts strength, security and storage right on your key ring.
"The XtremKey offers extreme durability and capacity in a convenient, well-protected and fun form factor," says Alexis Kobassian, Product Manager, LaCie. "Despite the robust, industrial-strength protection we've added, it's still a LaCie key that brings ease-of-use and reliability to customers looking to keep their data secure while on the go."
Equipped with the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface, XtremKey offers instant compatibility, outstanding transfer speeds and cross-platform convenience to all PC and Mac users. With writing speeds up to 30 Mb/s and reading up to 40 Mb/s, you don t have to sacrifice performance for protection.
Designed by Constance Guisset exclusively for LaCie, XtremKey works to keep your data protected. The key, when placed on a desktop, even shows some playful personality with a perfectly balanced wobble effect.
The LaCie XtremKey comes in capacities from 8GB to 64GB and will be available in August through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Corner, and LaCie Reseller+ starting at $49.99.
For more product information, visit:
http://www.lacie.com
Gmail HTML5 Features Now Support Safari Too
Google Software Engineer Michael Davidson blogs:
We've been posting a bunch recently about new Gmail features built on top of HTML5 and other advancements in browser platforms, but so far you've only be able to drag in attachments and drag images into messages in Chrome and Firefox, and the ability to have new windows outlive your original Gmail window was limited to Chrome. Now, all three of these features work in the newest version of Safari (Safari 5) too.
You can check it out at:
http://snurl.com/zdia3
Essential Freeware Applications For Mac Troubleshooting
MacFixIt's Topher Kessler profiles some free software that can improve your Mac experience immensely, noting that "When it comes to troubleshooting the Macintosh, there are many utilities available for getting the job done. Some are cheap and some expensive but for most you will have to shell out a bit of cash for a license. However, there are also some very robust free options out there for troubleshooting software problems to managing hardware issues."
Kessler obzerves that many freeware options can be just as good if not better than the paid alternatives, and cites list of some he's found particularly handy:
AppleJack
DasBoot
OnyX/Maintenance
Grand Perspective
TestDisk
IceClean
NTFS-3G
Rember
Temperature Monitor
Cocoa Packet Analyzer
For the full commentary and software profiles, visit:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20010438-263.html?tag=mncol;title
SubRosaSoft DasBoot Free Mac OS X Diagnostic/Emergency Boot Software
Do you have a shiny new flash drive, or multi use storage device in your pocket ? Now you can turn it into a Mac OS X diagnostic, repair, and maintenance tool. DasBoot allows you to take any third party boot CD (such as those shipped by SubRosaSoft.com Inc, Prosoft Engineering Inc, Alsoft Inc, or Micromat Inc) and quickly create a bootable diagnostic device that contains any of your own utilities you may wish to install.
You can use your device to boot and repair Mac OS X computers as needed without erasing it and taking away your ability to use it for other purposes such as playing music, or watching videos. With the help of DasBoot!" you get to carry all the tools you'll need with you. But unlike expensive third party alternatives, you'll have plenty of space left over in case you need to recover data.
DasBoot devices run software much faster than a CD/DVD repair disk. In addition you can re-configure the device at any time to add new utilities, updated versions of software or newer versions of Mac OS X.
Build a pocket-sized tool kit for your Mac that includes all your powerful utilities in one place. Powerful programs like FileSalvage, CopyCatX, MacForensicsLab, Drive Genius, and Disk Warrior, all in one place to keep your Mac running at peak performance.
Creating a DasBoot device is simple. Insert a flash drive or other device you wish to make a powerful repair kit, select the utilities you d like to include on the repair disk and use a 3rd party bootable CD/DVD (such as those included with FileSalvage, Disk Warrior, Drive Genius, etc) and create your repair drive in minutes.
DasBoot is so easy to use that any Mac user can make their own boot device to maintain the health of their computer. It s so powerful that it s used by computer repair and industry professionals to keep their customers computers running great and to recover lost data. You no longer need to carry around countless boot disks for each of your recovery, repair, and maintenance applications. With DasBoot you can keep all your disk tools in one convenient place where they re ready for whatever problems may arise with your machine. DasBoot devices also boot and run much faster then optical media so you can get to the task of maintaining your machine quicker.
DasBoot has been tested with the following disk utilities and data recovery tools, but will also run many others;
CopyCatX, FileSalvage, MacForensicsLab, VolumeWorks, Drive Genius, Data Rescue 3, DiskWarrior, TechTool Pro 5
Tiger (OS X 10.4) users:
DasBoot 2.0 supports Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or greater.
((*)) Note - Users of DasBoot must have purchased licenses to install the various disk utilities, and own an appropriate disk utility bootable CD/DVD to use as the source disk. DasBoot works with FireWire and USB external storage devices on your new Intel based Mac or firewire only devices on PowerPC based Mac computers. DasBoot does not support the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
DasBoot is free to download, and may be freely distributed.
For more information, visit:
http://snurl.com/zdj6h
Full Circle: The Return of the Mainframe?
The Mac Observer's Ted Landau says:
It's deja vu all over again - with a twist. Been there; done that; sort of. I'm talking about my mixed reaction to cloud computing. To understand exactly what I m talking about, you ll need to join me for a brief trip in my personal Wayback Machine....
Over the ensuing years, the percentage of my day spent online continued to creep upwards.... I am actively online every minute I am at my desk. My connection to the Internet, however, doesn t end when I leave my chair. Via my iPhone, I check my email and Twitter feed wherever I go. For extended trips, I take my iPad (and/or MacBook Pro) and just about refuse to stay anywhere where there isn t some form of Wi-Fi connection.
And yet &almost paradoxically &I retain my desire to be free of the shackles of a remote mainframe. This desire significantly affects how I interact with the Internet. In this regard, my son pokes fun at what he views as my behind-the-times mentality. But I m hanging on....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://snurl.com/zdiku
Apple's launchd Is Anti-Unix
Low End Mac's Keith Winston says:
Starting with Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger), Apple began to move away from the core BSD Unix-like system that was the genesis of the Apple resurgence on the desktop.
You might think Steve Jobs was the single most important factor in the second rise of Apple. There is no question that he has had a huge impact on the company, and I do not aim to diminish his accomplishments. But going all the way back to NeXTstep, the BSD core has been the backbone of the Jobs operating system vision.
It was BSD goodness that got me to switch from Linux to Mac several years ago. One of the great things about Unix-like systems is that most of your skills, programs, dot files, and highly polished shell scripts are portable. I brought them with me to OS X after dragging them through a dozen or so Linux distributions. There is always a little collateral damage, but it is usually minimal.
Consequently, I was distressed when launchd emerged from the dark side of One Infinite Loop. Launchd is the Apple-created open source program for starting, stopping, and managing daemons, programs, and scripts. It supersedes the init process and a handful of daemons (crond, atd, and inetd/xinetd).....
Apple sees launchd as a natural improvement to traditional Unix; I view it as an anti-Unix monolith. It is part of a disturbing trend that I hope does not continue....
To read more, click here.
http://lowendmac.com/ed/winston/10kw/launchd.html
Microsoft Says 74 Percent Of Work PCs Still Use Windows XP, Extends Downgrade Rights Until 2020
Engadget's Sean Hollister reports:
The latest Microsoft operating system may be selling seven copies a second, but it's no match for the behemoth Windows XP, still the most popular OS in the world....
In fact, a Microsoft exec admitted today that practically three-quarters of business computers still run the nine-year-old OS on hardware averaging 4.4 years old, and Computerworld's now reporting Microsoft will extend XP's lifespan through 2020....
"Going forward, businesses can continue to purchase new PCs and utilize end user downgrade rights to Windows XP or Windows Vista until they are ready to use Windows 7," an official Windows blog post reads.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://snurl.com/zdipl
Tags: News ď Tech-Industry ď
