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Mon, 14 Apr 2003
Fink 0.5.2 released
The Fink Project, its community, developers and contributors are proud
to announce the availability of the Fink Binary Distribution 0.5.2
New users who would like to try Fink should follow the download
intructions at:
http://fink.sourceforge.net/download/index.php
Fink users with an existing Fink installation who wish to upgrade
should follow the instructions at:
http://fink.sourceforge.net/download/upgrade.php
If you're running the latest version, in most cases you can update by typing 'fink selfupdate' in the terminal.
This release contains over 720 binary packages with more than 190 new binary packages, including KDE 3.1, Koffice 1.2.1, and Kdevelop 3.0a3.
For more information visit fink.sourceforge.net.
iCommune is back
iCommune is an application that extends Apple's iTunes to share music over the network. You can share the music in your iTunes library and access other iCommune music collections. iCommune music collections appear as playlists in your iTunes window. You can browse through them, and choose to stream or download the music they contain.
Version 1.0b2 of iCommune is no longer available. As you may have heard, it used a proprietary interface to communicate with iTunes, and Apple has terminated my license to use that interface. Please don't ask me for copies of it.
Version 2.0a1 is a complete re-write of the code. iCommune is now a standalone application that communicates with iTunes via open interfaces, and is free of any Apple licensing restrictions.
For more information or to download a copy visit http://icommune.sourceforge.net/.
New repository of Cocoa snippets
Dan Wood of Karelia Software has announced a new open-source repository of useful Cocoa code.
Subject: a new repository of Cocoa snippets
From: Dan Wood dwood@karelia.com
I'm pleased to announce the opening of an open-source repository
http://cocoa.karelia.com/ of some useful Cocoa tidbits used in Watson and
some other projects I've been working on. Unlike the Omni Frameworks or
CocoaTech's new frameworks, this is a lot less ambitious and less
packaged. It's really just a weblog (Yes, Virginia, there is an RSS feed
http://cocoa.karelia.com/index.rss) where each entry is just a snippet of
code. You need to copy and paste into your projects as needed. The
copyright is, I believe, extremely liberal (certainly not infectious like
the gnu license), but let me know if you feel it can be improved.
Why do this? Just a way of giving back to the Cocoa community that has been
so helpful to my efforts in building Watson
http://www.karelia.com/watson/.
I'll add to this repository occasionally as I run across more generic bits
of code, but don't expect a steady stream! :-)
Dan Wood
Karelia Software, LLC
dwood@karelia.com
http://www.karelia.com/
Watson for Mac OS X: http://www.karelia.com/watson/
Monkeybread Releases 5 new Freeware applications w/Source Code
Monkeybread Software Germany releases 5 new Freeware applications made in
Realbasic with source code included. These applications should give Realbasic developers an idea what they can do
with Realbasic if they also have a copy of the Monkeybreadsoftware Plugin
(which is currently available in Version 3.1 or 3.2pr11).
- Screen 640x480
A utility for web designer to see which part of the screen their website
should be viewable inside, so it can be viewed on older Macs. (for Mac OS X
10.2) - JPEG 2000 Dropper
A utility for converting any picture to JPEG 2000 using QuickTime. (for Mac
OS X with QuickTime 6) - Fullscreen Movie Player
A free Full Screen Movie Player for QuickTime. (for Mac OS Classic, Mac OS
X and Windows) - Follow Mouse
This simple fun tool to show a colored tail on the mouse cursor. (for Mac
OS X 10.2) - Tree Size
Just to see how big folders and subfolders are. (for Mac OS Classic, Mac OS
X and Windows)
As all of these applications come with full source code, feel free to change
them or add new feature you are missing.
Download:
http://www.monkeybreadsoftware.de/Freeware/
PS: More applications will be posted over the week...
Audio Hijack Pro Updates and More
Audio Hijack Pro has been updated to version 1.1.
Key new features include:
- VBR and ABR MP3 recording
- Linein Recording option for recording the Live Input
- Instantly split recording files
- Improved support for audio hardware
- Much more
Audio Hijack Pro is an enhanced audio grabber/enricher featuring MP3 recording, enhanced Timers, and more. AH Pro also includes the ability to pause recordings, sets of DSP effects called Patches, support for up to 100 VST and AudioUnits plugins at a time, and more. AH Pro even supports some Classic VST plugins! Use AH Pro to record and/or enhance any audio on your system-grab Real streams, enhance DVD audio, and more. Audio Hijack Pro gives you control over the audio on your Mac.
MacResQ specials for MacMegasite readers
SmartDisk USB Dual Media Memory Card Reader for SmartMedia and Compact
Flash: Normally $9.99, only $7.99 when you use Q-Pon code "BLINDS" when
ordering to get this discounted price. Exp 4/16
AppleVision 17" 1710 Display: Only $89.99 when you use Q-Pon code "EARLY"
with your online order or when calling 1-888-447-3728 to speak to one of
us.
Apple releases new Safari beta
Apple has released the long-awaited new public beta of Safari.
Safari b2 adds tabbed browsing, AutoFill forms & passwords, privacy reset, increased standards compatibility, improved AppleScript support, and the ability to import Netscape and Mozilla bookmarks. Available in English, Japanese, French and German.
Safari b2 can be downloaded from http://www.apple.com/safari/.
Revolution 7.1
Awhile back, I was searching for a cheap surround sound solution for my computers to compliment my new set of Monsoon 505 speakers, since then I've only been using them in 4.1 mode. While I was still please with the quality of sound, there didn't seem to be any difference between having two speakers, or four. At the time, the only available options for surround sound for the average joe was Creative's SoundBlaster for Mac which didn't even have OS X drivers.
Well, since then, I recently attended Macworld to find a company called M-Audio featuring two products, the Sonica Theater, and the Revolution 7.1, both devices offering 24-bit 192kHz 7.1 Surround Sound, and they even came complete with OS X Drivers. I was immediatley hooked.
Installation of the card is pretty straight-forward. Open up the computer, put it into an empty PCI bay, and then start up the computer and install the drivers. M-Audio really eliminates the hassle of getting professional quality surround sound on the Mac. I was really impressed with the easy to use interface of their audio controller.
While MP3 does not contain the surround sound information for a song when encoding, I setup the SRS Circle Surround II option, as well as SRS Dialog Clarity and TruBass options, both of which give more volume to the sound, and really surrounds you with the sound.
I have experienced few problems with the card, and when problems do arrise, they are usually solved by a restart. One of the problems involves the card not outputting any audio if you have logged out, and back in, I believe this would most likely be an issue with OS X rather than the drivers. Second, would be a change in audio quality while using the configuration application. If I select my subwoofer, and then check test and uncheck test, the quality of the sound seems to increase, which I guess might be a bit of a good thing.
The Revolution 7.1 also features a true 24-bit 192kHz input, perfect for doing at home recordings. Upon testing this feature tho, I ran into a few problems. When I check, Monitor Input on Output, I loose all surround sound settings, so then I select for these surround settings to apply to the input, and all sound is lost. As for recording audio, I was unable to select Hardware play-thru of the audio, but still the quality of the recording was superior to any recordings I have made before.
Overall, I'm quite confident that M-Audio will fix these issues in the future and will continue development of their drivers. Don't be turned away by the issues I've listed here though, this card is definitely worth it's value. This product is a great upgrade that you can make to your computer, as well as a wonderful set of surround sound speakers.