iMovie
rolls to 4.0.1
Apple has
released iMovie 4.0.1 - an update to their digital video editing software
that is included in the iLife 04 suite of applications.
Pixelated video is fixed. A loss of audio after editing audio or video
when emptying the trash is also fixed. iSight compatibility is improved
(when using QuickTime 6.5.1 and iSight 1.0.2) and corrupted "Ken Burns" clips
are fixed. Overall reliability, when working with large projects, opening
and adding titles to the time line and using third-party plug-ins is
improved. You must have iMovie 4.0 installed in its original location
if you want to update to 4.0.1. If moved, the updater will not work.
Free download - 1.2 MB. www.apple.com/downloads/
macosx/apple/imovieformacosx.html.
GMail on Safari
Google launched their GMail Internet search engine beta
on April 1, 2004. The April fools joke was that it was not compatible
with Apple's Safari Web browser. No longer! Before GMail is available
to the public, there will be support for Safari. GMail allows users to
have up to 1GB of mail messages and allows searching of those messages
using the well known Google interface. GMail intends to make money by
scanning users e-mails and then sending targeted ads to be seen based
on content of those e-mails. Privacy groups are up in arms. We shall
see what survives as GMail moves towards its public roll out! http://gmail.google.com
iTunes plays on
Apple updated
iTunes, their music jukebox software with version 4.5. New is: iMix lets users
publish their playlists for all to see (send
those lists to family and friends via "Tell-A-Friend"), a
free song download every Tuesday (one per customer), a Music Video
section where users can watch a video of a song and purchase the tune
while watching the video, and Radio Charts that will track the most
played songs culled from the playlists of over 1200 radio stations
across the USA. A new lossless encoder has been included that will
allow imports to iTunes at half the previous size with no loss of quality.
Conversion from unprotected Windows Media Audio (WMA) files to Advanced
Audio Code (AA) can be done by Windows users. CD Insert Printing is
now resident in iTunes. This allows you to print a jewel case insert
inside of the iTunes application. Many designs of album covers are
also included for your printing enjoyment. A Wish List lets users,
who love to browse a diversity of genres or artists before buying,
save previews (clips) of those tunes in a playlist. Then you can download
all your selections. Oh, and one more thing - Party Shuffle shuffles
your playlist so a more random playing of your songs can be had. Nice
upgrade!
www.apple.com/itunes
Graphic Converter converts
Lemke Software has
upgraded their Graphic Converter tool for converting images from one
format to another and manipulating
them. Version 5.1 brings: bug fixes, improved compatibility with Photoshop
plug-ins, extra options for digital camera picture downloads and a glass
blocks effect. I had this program many years ago when it was shareware,
using in through System 6 and 7. It was always the best darn almost freebie
out there. Upgrade for free if you are a registered owner. Download for
$30, or get the CD for $35. www.lemkesoft.de/ (it's a German Website).
QuickTime files are halved
Apple posted
an update to QuickTime. It's version 6.5.1 of their audio/video media
handling software working on
the Mac OS and Windows platforms. The QuickTime Lossless Encoder lets
you rip uncompressed CD audio with no degradation of audio quality at
half the file size. The Advanced Audio Codec (AAC) encoding improves
having high quality sound over a full range of audio frequencies. The
6.5.1 player is free. A pro version that allows media authoring can be
purchased for $29.99. www.apple.com/quicktime.
iTalk - iWant
Griffin Technology Inc. is shipping iTalk - a voice recorder
for the third generation iPods. It snaps on top of the iPod and has a
headphone connector, a speaker and a jack for an external microphone.
With its automatic gain control, you can record sound from up to 100
feet away from you. Weighing 1.2 oz and tiny in size, its capacity is
limited only by the available space on your iPod. Music, or any other
sounds, can play back through the iTalk's speaker. Use with the latest
iPods having a dock connector. No mini iPod support. $40. www.griffintechnology.com/products/italk
Bluetooth better
Apple gives
us the Bluetooth Firmware Updater 1.1. Use this to update the internal
firmware on D-Link USB adapters (rev.
B2 or later) and Apple internal Bluetooth modules on PowerMacs and PowerBooks.
Now find: easier update install, better performance when Macs wake up
from the sleep mode and the addition of some key commands during startup.
Use only with OS 10.2.8 or higher! Note that if you update a D-Link USB
to Bluetooth adapter you make it incompatible with non-Mac systems. 1.4MB
download.
www.apple.com/support/download/
bluetoothfirmwareupdater.
html
DCL eats files
Belkin Corp. has
announced their Digital Camera Link (DCL) for iPod. This device lets users
transfer images to a third generation
(dock) iPod. This frees up the memory cards and camera internal memory
for more storage. Use the supplied interface cable that goes from your
camera USB cable end to the iPod dock (no iPod minis). Pressing the transfer
button automatically takes images out of the camera and into your iPod
using iPod software (v. 2.1 or higher). LED's on the DCL show your progress.
It supports PTP-compliant and all mass storage DCF-format cameras. Belkin
has a list of compatible camera on their Digital Camera Link web site.
$79. www.belkin.com
AirPort flies better
Apple has
updated their AirPort Software to v. 3.4.1. They originally had a 3.4
update, but that one had low signal
strength and dropped connection issues. Now get: performance improvements
for WPA security, improved antenna output and enhanced logging from your
base station that's compatible with syslog. Use on AirPort and AirPort
Extreme products (inside computers and the base station). Update using
the Software Update control panel.
Apple
in “secure”
Apple has
released their May security update. We advise that all Apple computer users
go to thier
Software Update control panel and get the
Security Update 2004-05-03. It includes Security update 2004-04-05 just
in case you missed last month's update. Don't wait!
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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