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LIVID Demonstrates Real-Time Video Software Instrument at Apple Store SoHo August 31st
VueScan 8.0.13 Scanner Software For Flatbed & Film Scanners
Madsonline Core Charger XK-Series Announced
MindCad Updates Pyramid for OS X
Bakbone Ships Enterprise-Level Data Protection For X Server
Canvastic Graphics/Text Publishing Tool For K-8.
MakeMusic! Releases Finale 2005 Music Notation Software
CutX for Safari 1.1 Blocks X-Rated Media: Protect Kids/Employees [/url]
LIVID Demonstrates Real-Time Video Software Instrument at Apple Store SoHo August 31st
Livid Instruments, the company behind the world’s first line of video instruments and VJ software, will demonstrate its innovative video application Union at the Apple Store in New York City’s SoHo district Tuesday August 31st at 6:30 PM. Union is the world’s first “video performance” software instrument geared toward the emerging VJ market.
A complete live video mixing and presentation solution, Union can manage, edit, and manipulate over 4,000 QuickTime media files on
the fly, from any Apple Macintosh G4 or G5 computer. Union provides the most comprehensive platform to easily create live visual productions for clubs, theater productions, fashion shows, corporate events, and live concert performances.
“Over the last couple of years club owners all over the world have installed these amazing projection systems and high-end plasma screens, but you’ve rarely seen them being creatively utilized to their full potential. Union allows anyone with an computer and video camera to create and compose live multimedia experiences,” states Andrew Rudy CEO of Livid Instruments.
Since its release in June, Union has been driving dynamic live visual presentations for Macintosh users all over the world. Inline with Livid’s
Viditar and Tactic hybrid video instruments, Union is designed to exploit
the power of Apple’s computers and the QuickTime format to provide a mobile alternative to expensive dedicated video systems.
At August 31’s exclusive in-store demonstration Livid will be demonstrating their progressive new software as well as conducting a workshop on “playing video”. Livid’s founder Jay Smith, the inventor of the Viditar and member of multimedia band Sinch, will be on hand to demonstrate in and outs of live video performance and creation.
Contact:
Andrew Rudy
Livid Instruments
567 3rd Avenue
5th Floor
New York, NY 10016
(212) 490-4843
http://www.lividinstruments.com
Apple Store SoHo
103 Prince Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 226-3126
http://www.apple.com/retail/soho/
VueScan 8.0.13 Scanner Software For Flatbed & Film Scanners
VueScan is a powerful scanning program that works with most scanners to produce high-quality scans that have excellent color fidelity. It takes advantage of the advanced hardware capabilities of most scanners on the market today, and helps you do batch scanning while at the same time producing color-balanced and cropped images.
Photographers, home users, scanning services and corporations around the world use VueScan for a wide range of scanning needs.
Download VueScan now and see how it improves your scans. VueScan gives you improved color accuracy and color balance, increases your productivity and saves you money: VueScan can make your existing scanner work as well as a brand new scanner. A recent review on applelinks.com describes more ways you'll benefit from using VueScan.
VueScan supports more than 330 scanners, and takes about 5 minutes to download and install.
VueScan changes nothing on your system, installs nothing in your operating system and all other scanner software will continue to function.
You can also download VueScan for Mac OS 9 (7.6.64).
New in this version:
• Fixed problem with focus on Minolta Scan Dual IV
• Fixed problem with older HP OfficeJet scanners
• Fixed problem with button on UMAX Astra 6400
• Fixed problem with Microtek StudioStar
• Fixed problem with Minolta Scan Multi Pro
• Fixed problem with ICE always enabled on PIE scanners
• Changed automatic cropping on document feeders
• Changed Windows installer from 16-bit to 32-bit
System requirements:
Mac OS X 10.3 or higher
Supported scanner
VueScan sells for $59.95
For more information, visit:
http://www.hamrick.com/vsm.html
Madsonline Core Charger XK-Series Announced
Madsonline has announced a series of PowerBook and iBook battery chargers that can can charge and re-calibrate batteries for the 12 and 14-inch iBook, and the 15-inch Aluminum PowerBook.
Core Charger XK-10
Benefits:
• External charge 1.25 hrs.
• Recalibrate batteries to match fuel gauge.
• 10 bays.
• Will charge 12" & 14" iBooks, 12" & 15" AL PB's.
Features:
• Rails supplied to align smaller batteries.
• 2 recalibration bays.
• Amber light on right side of each bay is "on" when battery needs to be recalibrated.
• Fully SMBus compliant.
• Draws 3.8 amps when charging 10 dead batteries.
• Wake up feature if battery falls below 2.8 volts per cell.
• Each bay is independent. Each bay has it's own circuit board and power supply (UL 240 - 100Vac).
Price: $1288
Shipping late September
Core Charger XK-4
Benefits:
• External charge 1.25 hrs.
• Recalibrate batteries to match fuel gauge.
• 4 bays.
• Will charge 12" & 14" iBooks, 12" & 15" AL PB's.
Features:
• Flashing green when charging. Solid green when done.
• Amber light on right side of each bay is "on" when battery needs to be recalibrated. Put batteries into the recalibration bay on the right side, press the red button. The middle light then starts flashing amber. Flashing amber means it is going through the recalibration cycle. This will take 10 hours. Be patient. Solid amber means it is done.
• Fully SMBus compliant.
• Draws 2.4 amps when charging 10 dead batteries.
• Wake up feature if battery falls below 2.8 volts per cell.
• Each bay is independent. Each bay has it's own circuit board and power supply (UL 240 - 100Vac).
Price: $628
Core Charger XK-12
Benefits:
• External charge 1.25 hrs.
• Recalibrate battery to match fuel gauge.
• Will charge 12" iBooks, 12" AL PB's.
Price: $188
For more information, visit:
http://www.madsonline.com/
rootsolutions announces SoundLib 3.0
SoundLib lets musicians and producers keep track of their sample and sound library. User defined keywords make finding the right sound fast and easy. Mass importing of entire folders or disks is supported, as well as a direct from disk preview of QuickTime compatible files. An overview lists favorites at the top of the list and shows storage requirements for backup purposes. Custom labels can be printed for a variety of media types.
System requirements:
SoundLib is available for MacOS and Windows.
Licenses start at US$ 15.00.
A full featured demo can be downloaded from:
http://www.rootsolutions.de
MindCad Updates Pyramid for OS X
MindCad has updated Pyramid, its visual thinking software for OS X, to version 1.2. New features added include the ability to link objects to external documents and web sites, the ability to export OPML for compatibility with many traditional OS X outliners, and an updated introductory tutorial.
Pyramid, a visually-based outlining and thinking tool, automatically places connecting lines between related objects on worksheets that grow dynamically in all four directions. The software is designed to help people focus their attention on ideas and underlying relationships, as opposed to wasting creative energy on the mechanics of formatting and presentation. Pyramid automatically formats objects and worksheets based upon choices made using the Preferences panel.
A full-featured, save-disabled demo is available for free at
http://www.mindcad.com
The demo includes an introductory tutorial. The full version of Pyramid sells for $29
Download link:
http://www.mindcad.com/downloads/Pyramid.dmg
Bakbone Ships Enterprise-Level Data Protection For X Server
BakBone Software has announced the availability of NetVault's data protection solution for customers using the Mac OS=AE X Server version 10.3 "Panther." From the experts in open systems data recovery, BakBone will offer its enterprise-class software, including data backup, restore, and disaster recovery software. With the addition of enhanced data protection for Panther Server, NetVault now helps customers integrate Panther Server into a true heterogeneous enterprise IT environment.
"BakBone's rapid disk-to-disk backup and recovery capability is perfectly suited for data intensive environments, such as rich media and digital video editing," said Keith Rickard, president and CEO of BakBone Software. "NetVault runs natively on Mac OS X and offers the advanced data protection that Panther Server users need."
"Panther Server combines the most popular solutions from the open source world with breakthrough management tools to create the most powerful and easy-to-use server for Mac, Windows and UNIX users," said Ron Okamoto, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "NetVault is an excellent solution that provides Panther Server customers with robust protection to back up their valuable data."
This announcement further expands the number of applications and platforms BakBone now supports. The availability of NetVault as a single data protection software solution on the Panther Server will provide users the assurance they need to aggressively accelerate their Mac OS adoption plans. Customers will be able to confidently deploy a reliable, high performance system with the same level of protection that they are familiar with in other operating system environments.
For more information, visit:
http://www.bakbone.com
Canvastic Graphics/Text Publishing Tool For K-8.
Canvastic is the fantastic new student focused graphics/text publishing tool for K-8. It features easy to understand tools and options with a clear, clean interface. There are no "toy" features that waste the students' time.
• Customized for age and ability. Feature sets give it a highly usable interface
• Graphics and text can be created and combined
• Documents can be brought together for presentations
• Elements can be easily arranged for exact printing
Canvastic offers a wealth of easy to use features that make publishing beautiful projects fast and fun. The tools are designed around industry standards. This means that when you teach your students how to use a specific tool, they can carry that knowledge into professional level publishing tools later. There are great opportunities for integrating content curriculum with technology skills using Canvastic
Canvastic was designed by a technology teacher who had tried everything under the sun with his students for years. The choices were always "toys" or designed for adults. The kids loved the toys but never got enough work done. They tried hard to use the adult tools but were often confused.
Canvastic does not have the "toy" features that many applications include. These toys like "the bomb" waste the students' and the teachers' time. Having too many frivolous choices for tools wastes time also.
Canvastic has a clear clean interface unlike some adult sofware choices that makes it very easy to see what tool you have and what the result will be. Also, the interfaces can be customized for the age and ability of the user. There are 3 included interfaces; A, B, and C. A is for primary students, B is for intermediate students, and C is for advanced students and adults. But these interfaces can be customized and you can build your own! For example, an elementary school lab teacher may want to create an interface that only has the paint brush, eraser, text tool and color choices for her Kindergarten students. A middle school lab teacher may want to create interfaces that have only paint tools or only vector tools available for specific teaching scenarios.
Students and teachers are authors and publishers. In order to meet the standards our states and school districts require they must often write, graphically show and present information to many different groups and in many different ways. They continually create documents with whatever tools they have at hand. They write stories, sentences, descriptions, and reports. They draw depictions, maps, diagrams and graphs. They present their knowledge with pictures, text and video. Canvastic is a great tool for doing all these things. Any curriculum can be addressed with Canvastic if there is a desire to publish information about it.
Canvastic can produce graphic, text, and presentation documents. Graphic documents can have fully editable text included and text documents can, of course, have graphics included. All documents can be combined into a presentation format for display to a group.
The graphics capabilities of Canvastic are more complete than most tools available. They include both bitmapped and vector graphics.
2 Kinds Graphics:
Bitmapped graphics are sometimes referred to as "painted" and vector graphics are sometimes referred to as "draw objects".
Bitmapped Graphics Explained:
Bitmapped pictures are "painted" on the screen. For example, when you paint a red stroke across a green area the red replaces the green. Painted graphics can be erased bit by bit with the Eraser tool. These are the tools used when actually creating a hand drawn picture of a house or animal or scene. Most primary students will use only the bitmapped or paint tools.
Vector Graphics Explained:
Vector pictures are shapes and lines that exist as separate objects which do not erase what is underneath. In fact, they each exist on their own invisible layers "above" the painted pictures that are in the background. Because they exist as separate objects, they can be moved around and positioned independently or in groups making it possible to layout a page for printing in an exact way. Object graphics can be deleted but not erased. Object graphics can easily have different choices applied them such as color, thickness, and size because they are not painted on the screen. They are actually the math formulas that describe the shape for display on the screen.
The confusing thing to keep in mind is that we often refer to what we create as drawings. We say we drew a picture. However, in computer graphics we paint the picture and create draw objects.
To facilitate all this, there are two sets of graphic tools. They are referred to as the Paint Tools (bitmap) and Object Tools (vector). They are displayed in different areas of the screen to help keep their differences clear. They are referred to as the Paint Toolbox and the Object Toolbox. You do not need to use both. And as you will see, some students will never even have to make the choice.
Canvastic's interface can be customized for Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced users such as adults and middle school students. The three settings affect which tools, tool choices and capabilities are readily available on screen. The setting choice can be easily adjusted from the Preferences.
The Primary setting limits the choices significantly making the interface very easy to understand and use. This setting can be used as an introduction mode for any users as well as the normal setting for Kindergarten through 2nd grade students. It only includes the Paint Tools and a limited set of choices and colors.
The Intermediate setting expands the choices significantly making the program more capable. This setting can be used with 3-5th grade students. All the Paint Tools and choices are available. Some of the Object Tools are available.
The Advanced setting provides all of the choices and capabilities creating a very sophisticated publishing environment. This setting can be used 6th grade through adult users. All the Paint Tools and all the Object Tools and there respective choices are available.
System requirements:
Canvastic will run natively on Macintosh OS 9 and X, and Windows XP. It requires a minimum of 32MB of available application RAM.
Windows installations require QuickTime from Apple Computer. Macintosh computers already have QuickTime installed of course.
For more information, visit:
http://www.canvastic.com/
MakeMusic! Releases Finale 2005 Music Notation Software
Finale Performance Assessment, a revolutionary new education tool, leads a long list of new features and requested enhancements for both Macintosh and Windows users
MakeMusic! Inc. has announced the release of its much-anticipated Finale 2005 music notation software for Macintosh and Windows computers. The latest upgrade to the Company's award-winning music notation software offers a variety of powerful and timesaving new features for educators, students, composers and publishers.
New Features Include:
-- Finale Performance Assessment(TM) (FPA) - Utilizing SmartMusic technology to be further differentiated from its competitors, Finale 2005 can create music files which students can see and play in the revolutionary FPA application (now available as a free download at [url=http://www.finalemusic.com]http://www.finalemusic.com)[/url] Students can practice the music at any tempo, hear how it is supposed to be played, and even be assessed with red and green notes which show them what they did wrong and how to do it right. Students can also record themselves for instant feedback and self-evaluation. The recordings can be saved to disk or e-mailed to teachers along with the grade FPA gave their performance. No other notation product offers a similar feature.
-- Engraver Tuplets - Default tuplet positioning looks great (even when tuplets begin with rests) and tuplets automatically reposition when notes are moved on the staff. Tuplet brackets avoid staff lines and rests and follow the angles of stems and notes. Many new automatic positioning and editing enhancements have been added.
-- Create SmartMusic Accompaniments - A new SmartMusic Wizard makes it easier than ever to create accompaniments with advanced features for solo works, exercises, warm-ups, and more, for use in the classroom or for student use at home.
-- Row-Loff Marching Percussion Sounds - Dozens of high-quality marching band sounds are included free with Finale 2005.
-- Human Playback Enhancements - Users can now combine multiple Human Playback styles in a single piece and edit the results with the Finale MIDI tool. Additionally, Human Playback has more control and new features for 2005 - the result is that music plays back with more lifelike nuance than ever before.
-- Macintosh/Windows on a single CD together - For the first time ever, both Finale for Macintosh and Finale for Windows are found on the same CD. Those who have a Windows computer at work and a Macintosh computer at home have all they need with a single purchase.
-- Intelligent repeats, grace note and other music-spacing improvements, expanded Setup Wizard, new TG Tools plug-ins, transportable staff lists, the ability to record continuous data in HyperScribe, and third-party sound font support are among the many other new features.
"SmartMusic technology has enabled us to give Finale 2005 a breakthrough education feature with its new Finale Performance Assessment," stated John Paulson, MakeMusic! President. "Teachers can now notate difficult passages from their band literature and make them into assessable and recordable assignments for their students. Students download the free FPA software, and then practice the assignments with special practice tools including a tuner, fingering charts, practice loops and more. Even before the first band rehearsal of the piece, the teacher can receive an FPA grade and recording of every individual student's competency and progress with the difficult passages."
For more information, visit:
http://www.makemusic.com
CutX for Safari 1.1 Blocks X-Rated Media: Protect Kids/Employees
This utility protects your kids or limits the web access of your employees.
CutX allows children or employees of a company to surf the Web without the risks of being exposed to harmful or pornographic websites. It allows parents or network administrators to manage a keyword list. When a keyword is found in a web page, all pictures are automatically hidden. Now, you can rest more easily knowing your children or employees can safely explore the Web.
With CutX installed on a Mac, you don't have to sit next to your child or employee and watch his or her every move or worry about potentially vulgar or distasteful pop-ups or messages.
• CutX works only with the powerful and fast Apple Safari web browser.
• CutX add new options in the preferences window of Safari.
• You can enable or disable the protection with a simple menu and protect the access to preferences.
New in this version:
• Better performance
• Create a list of authorized web sites (most requested feature)
System requirements:
• Mac OS X 10.3 or higher
• Safari 1.2 or higher
CutX for Safari sells for $22.84
For more information, visit:
http://www.adnx.com/cutx.html
Charles W. Moore
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