Computer Connections

Computer Connections 7.04

BY LLOYD PREZANT

July | August 2004
Issue No.17

Apple & Bimmer = iPod heaven
Apple Computer and BMW now have a new interface that lets BMW owners of cars built after 2002 integrate their iPod digital music player into the car's sound system. BMW will be the first of many manufacturers to partner with Apple. People are spending more and more time in their cars, and invest in expensive stereo systems. However, they don't have access to all of their music library there. With the iPod in your BMW or Mini you will have all of your music wherever you drive! The connection cable lives in the glove box and plugs into the iPod and iPod mini's dock connectors. The iPod's battery is charged while you surf playlists, set volume and pick selections - all from the dashboard controls or the ones built into the steering wheel. This method of connection provides a clean, accurate sound without the wire mess of third party solutions. Unlike the analog connections or transmitters of third party manufacturers, this iPod connection is all digital. The kit sells for $149 plus installation. See your BMW dealer for full details. www.apple.com/ipod/bmw.

Bryce DAZzles
Corel has sold their animation and landscaping software Bryce to DAZ Productions. The new owner renamed the product DAZ/Bryce. They plan to integrate it with their animation lip-sync application DAZ/Mimic and their art tool DAZ/Studio in the next version release sometime in the next few months. There is a feedback forum on the DAZ Website where users are encouraged to post their desires for the next version. DAZ now assumes all customer support and sales for Bryce. System requirements are a G3, Mac OS X (minimum version not listed) 100MB hard drive space and 128MB RAM. You can order Bryce on their Website:
www.daz3d.com/program/bryce.

Going Ga-Ga for Giga
Giga Designs LLC announces the G-celerator M7 Cube 1.5GHz. This is a CPU upgrade for the PowerMac G4 cube. A new CPU is on board that outperforms the old version. Using a Motorola/Freescale Semiconductor-made 7457 processor that consumes less power than it did before, it supports a 512KB Level 2 Cache (2x more than previous version). It requires Mac OS X 10.2.8 and boots up with OS 9. Priced at $599. A 1.4 GHz model will be available for $499. www.gigadesigns.com.

Apple has ARD2
Apple is in the new release mode with the introduction of Apple Remote Desktop 2. This is their software application that helps Mac system administrators and computer managers with software distribution, help desk support and asset management. With dramatic improvements and 50 new features, this program will help manage Mac computers running Mac OS X. Some features are: screen sharing that works on Macs, Windows and Linux computers using Virtual Network Computing; administrators can access and utilize more than 200 system attributes to help them keep track of systems in their domain, and it looks and feels like real-time when you do remote screen sharing. More features: write and execute remote shell scripts; use command-line tools to configure system preferences; remote control Mac OS X functions - opening files, emptying trash and logging out; perform off-line reports and set the local startup disk or specify network startup disks while using NetBoot. Have I bored all but the geeks? It's targeted for the education market and IT administrators to be a solution for IT managers in education. With a July release date, a package of ten will be $299. For an unlimited amount of systems, pony up $499. Use with systems running G3 or better and Mac OS X 10.2.8. You must use with Airport or Ethernet network connectivity! www.apple.com/remotedesktop.

GC converted to 5.2
Lemke Software GMbH updates their popular GraphicConverter graphics conversion and editing program to v. 5.2. Among the many changes that have been made are: support of 12-bit color table TIFFs, improved WMF import, ability to export Photo (JPEG) pdb files and display of zoomed images with bicubic mode (sorry you asked?). Use with Mac OS X and the classic Mac OS systems. Free upgrade from version 4.5 or later, otherwise you cough up $30. Not bad for all the improvements. I used GraphicConverter with System 6 and 7 in the day... www.lemkesoft.com/en/graphcon.htm.

NEC chips speeding
NEC Electronics Corp. now has a chip set that will deliver DVD+/-R drives writing at 16X speed. It consists of an analog signal processor that controls the laser and servo systems of the optical pickup. A digital signal processor is also included with an ATAPI interface. They come in a thin size and consume 10% less power than previous chipsets that makes them perfect for laptop computers. It will be compatible with 8X formats too. With a production yield of 2 million chipsets per month, look for new NEC and Pioneer drives writing at the 16X speed soon! www.nec.com.

Vonage - your advantage
Vonage, a broadband telephony service provider, is offering an OEM version of Xten Networks' X-PRO SIP SoftPhone for Mac OS X-based Vonage subscribers. What this means in layman's terms is that this software will allow Vonage subscribers to send and receive telephone calls with their computers using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology. SoftPhone is an add on to your Vonage account - starting at $14.99/month. www.vonage.com.

Apple updates HD components
Apple updated DVCProHD Components software to version 1.1. These are QuickTime components that Final Cut Pro HD uses. This software is used by Panasonic's AJ-HD1200A VTR. Update if you are using this VTR. Note: this does not update Final Cut Pro software, only the QuickTime components. To update, go to: www.apple.com/support/downloads and get DVCProHD Components 1.1.

MissingSync = missing link
Mark/Space Inc. now has The Missing sync 4.0 for Palm OS. This software replaces and supersedes several Missing Sync products including their own HotSync manager for Mac OS X. This application provides synching between Palm OS 4 and OS 5-based handhelds (including PDAs and smartphones made by AlphaSmart, Samsung, Sony, Garmin, palmOne and Tapwave). The Missing Sync supports many Palm conduits. Some of them are Microsoft's Entourage and Apple's iSync. It supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi synching; integration with iTunes and iPhoto; desktop mounting of memory cards and the ability to share an Internet connection to receive or send e-mail. Version 4.0 of the Missing Sync replaces Palm OS version 2.0.x , Sony Clie version 3.0, Tapwave Zodiac 1.0.x and Garmin iQue 3600 version 1.0.x. Look for this update sometime in August 2004. You need Mac OS 10.2.8 or later and a handheld with built-in USB running Palm OS 4 or OS 5. Priced at $49.95 on CD-ROM or $39.95 via download on: www.markspace.com.

Lloyd Prezant is a NYC computer consultant who buys and sells recent used Mac computers and their peripherals. Call him at (718) 548-1623.

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