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Apple News Served Daily
Last Served: May 11, 2008
MacWorld
Could Apple, NBC be patching up differences? :
Apple and NBC were embroiled in a feud last year over iTunes pricing. But signs point to a thaw in the frosty relations between the two companies, as NBC shows have appeared on the U.K. version of the iTunes Store.
Adobe fixes Photoshop Express :
Adobe has released an updated version of Photoshop Express, its online photo sharing software, days after delaying the update because of a last-minute bug discovery.
TapeDeck audio recorder debuts :
TapeDeck is a new audio recorder app that looks like a cassette tape deck from the 1980s.
RepTools 2008 sports rebuilt user interface :
RepTools 2008 is a new version of the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software with a rebuilt user interface and other changes.
Review: Genius BT-03A Bluetooth wireless headphones :
While the wireless functionality of the Genius BT-03A Bluetooth headphones works well enough in most situations, this isn't going to be your one pair of headphones to rule them all.
Turn to Path Styler Pro for logos, title graphics :
Path Styler Pro helps you produce high-quality logos and title graphics in either Illustrator or Photoshop with a noticeable ease of use. James Dempsey takes a closer look at the plugin.
Up close with MultiClutch :
Will Henderson’s MultiClutch is a utility you have to see in action to appreciate. Dan Frakes takes you on a visual tour of the program that extends MultiTouch gestures to other apps.
For Developers
Release Note: Java for Mac OS X v10.5 Release Notes Update 1 :
Lists resolved and outstanding developer issues with Java for Mac OS X v10.5 Update 1.
Release Note: Java for Mac OS X v10.5 Update 1 Release Notes :
Lists resolved and outstanding developer issues with Java for Mac OS X v10.5 Update 1.
Technical Note: Compressing QuickTime Movies for the Web :
TN2218: Describes how to create QuickTime content optimized for use on the Web
Release Note: Java for Mac OS X v10.5 Release Notes Update 1 :
Lists resolved and outstanding developer issues with Java for Mac OS X v10.5 Update 1.
Reference: Mac OS X Man Pages :
HTML versions of the Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Xcode Tools, and CHUD man pages.
Guides: iMac Developer Note :
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of iMac computers introduced in April 2008.
Sample Code: CIColorTracking :
An Objective-C applicaton that implements a GPU-based technique to find the location of a uniquely colored object in a scene
Sample Code: LiveVideoMixer :
LiveVideoMixer demonstrates customized video rendering with QuickTime 7 and CoreVideo and OpenGL.
Sample Code: QTCoreVideo101 :
Demonstrates (with very little code) how to render a QuickTime Movie using CoreVideo and OpenGL.
Guides: Aperture 2.1 SDK Overview :
Update for Aperture SDK 2.1
Reference: Aperture 2.1 SDK Reference :
Documents the Aperture APIs for creating an export plug-in or an image editing plug-in.
Guides: Motion XML File Format :
Guides: Motion XML File Format
Sample Code: HID Explorer :
Human Interface Device Manager Explorer
Guides: HeaderDoc User Guide :
Explains how to extract API reference documentation from commented header files.
Technical Q&A: How to get a native QuickTime movie object from the QuickTime ActiveX/COM control :
QA1594: Describes how to get a native QuickTime movie object from the QuickTime ActiveX/COM control
Technical Q&A: Drawing attributed strings that are both filled and stroked :
QA1531: Describes how the value of NSStrokeWidthAttributeName indicates fill, stroke, or both, in attributed strings.
Technical Q&A: Supported KPIs :
QA1575: Describes how to check whether a kernel function is part of a supported KPI.
Technical Q&A: Bonjour Printing Subtype :
QA1555: Describes how printer vendors can properly register their bonjour service such that Safari can see them.
Sample Code: UTXplorer :
Uses the
Sample Code: CryptNoMore :
Shows how to authenticate a user using Open Directory (Directory Services).
Sample Code: NumberInput_IMKit_Sample :
Illustrates an input method that uses the Mac OS X 10.5 InputMethodKit framework.
Technical Q&A: QTKit Capture - Extracting SMPTE Timecode information from a QTSampleBuffer :
QA1600: Describes how to use the QTSampleBufferSMPTETimeAttribute with a sample buffer.
Technical Q&A: Sample Description Endianness :
QA1598: Describes the endianness of the QuickTime Sample Description Structure and their extensions.
Release Note: Java for Mac OS X v10.5 Release Notes Update 1 :
Lists resolved and outstanding developer issues with Java for Mac OS X v10.5 Update 1.
Guides: AppleScript Language Guide :
Defines the AppleScript scripting language. Includes many brief sample scripts.
Apple Hot News
Delivering automatic, constant, complete, wireless backups :
“You can’t imagine how satisfying it is to know that if your hard drive dies, you will lose no more than one hour of work,” relates David Pogue (nytimes.com) in his review of Time Capsule. “The Time Machine automatic backup feature of the latest Mac OS X version backs up your Macs onto the Time Capsule, automatically, constantly, completely and wirelessly. And in my book, automatic, constant, complete backups are the only kind that really count.”
Creating Algorithmic Art on a Mac :
Using his 24-inch iMac, Jean-Pierre Hébert, the 68-year-old artist-in-residence at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara, California, creates “algorithmic art” in a variety of media—from sand to copper to tree bark. “Mac OS X is a very good environment for me to work in,” he says. “It offers the best of all possible worlds.”
Now playing on iTunes U: TERRA :
The first online science and nature film series, TERRA lets us enjoy the compelling documentaries produced by the grad students in the Science and Natural History Film Program at Montana State University. Through multiple seasons of programming, TERRA introduces us to the nature of our world.
Time Capsule can save digital heirlooms :
“If your mom or dad has a Mac, help them safeguard their digital heirlooms with Apple’s Time Capsule,” implores Eric M. Strauss (abcnews.com). “Time Capsule combines simple setup and a speedy wireless network with automatic backup in a tidy box. Plus, recovering Aunt Chippie’s first black-jack victory photo after your mom’s hard drive crashes will certainly make it all worth the cost.”
Deadline nears for Apple Design Awards 2008 :
If you’ve developed a great application using the iPhone SDK, a new web application for iPhone, or new software for Mac OS X Leopard, you could be honored with an Apple Design Award. This year, Apple offers awards in seven categories. But, hurry, the application deadline ends next Monday — on May 12.
Pro Tip of the Week: Browsing privately in public :
If you’re browsing the web on a public computer, the last thing you want to do is leave personal information about yourself behind for others to discover. Of course, if you use Safari, you have a number of ways to safeguard your privacy while browsing publicly. Read about them in this week’s Pro Tip of the Week.
Macworld awards “stunning” 24-inch iMac a 4.5-mouse rating :
“A slate of under-the-hood improvements have facilitated a performance spike in the standard models that makes them an especially good value for people looking to upgrade,” reports Roman Loyola (macworld.com) in his recent review of the new iMac. “The 2.8GHz iMac, in all its 24-inch glory, is a stunning machine and is bound to make an impression in your home or office,” Loyola concludes.
Nik Software ships Viveza plug-in for Aperture 2.1 :
Nik Software today announced that its eagerly awaited Viveza plug-in for Aperture 2.1 is available for immediate download. Powered by U Point technology, the Viveza plug-in lets photographers make localized enhancements to brightness, contrast, or color without ever having to leave Aperture. “With the power and popularity of Aperture, we want our customers to decide how and where they edit their digital photos,” said Michael J. Slater president and CEO of Nik Software.
Quick Tip of the Week: Using iChat to transfer files :
A great way to text, set up video conferences with multiple parties, or host remote Keynote presentations, iChat also offers a fast and simple way to exchange large files with clients or colleagues. Find out how by watching the latest Quick Tip of the Week.
Xserve “carries pervasive big iron design to the mainstream” :
In his glowing review of the new 8-core Xserve, Tom Yager (infoworld.com) asserts that it “breaks the PC server mold with big iron-class reliability, availability, and serviceability features, but with neither the big iron price tag nor management complexity.” A great option for small business, “Xserve is built and supported to run not for one or two years, but three years, five years, and beyond.”