Rainer Brockerhoff announces the immediate availability of a new public beta of XRay, the File/Folder information utility for Mac OS X.
XRay offers users a much more detailed view of files, folders, applications and volumes than Mac OS X's "Show Info" window does. Permissions can be changed without resorting to obscure terminal commands. Type, creator and extension can be examined and changed, and their effect on file-application binding is shown immediately. Types, creators and extensions can be selected from pop-up menus built from the system's own databases. XRay can be run from the Finder's Contextual menu, the Services menu or by dragging and dropping items onto the application's icon. Third-party developers can write plug-ins that further augment XRay's capabilities. Preview, Custom Icon and Hex Edit plug-ins are already in the works.
[Editor's note: XRay is a very impressive application! Well worth a download if you do much work manipulating file settings. And the return of third-party contextual menus in the Finder is very nice to see.]
SockhoEasyFind is a native MacOS X application (built for MacOS X) available in 6 languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Japanese) which makes searching on the Internet an easy task. It does simultaneous searches on six popular search engines using the language of your choice (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese, Danish, Norwegian).
When you're ready to use the program, just click on the strip that will appear on the side of the screen, enter the word(s) to search and press enter. You can also select some text in any MacOS X native application and do Apple Key + 6.
iGetter is download utility that gives you convenience and ease in downloading on the Internet. Behind its pleasant interface is hidden powerful download engine. iGetter has many useful functions like resuming broken downloads, segmented (accelerated) downloading, Internet browsers integration, queue filtering by various criteria, file mirrors support for additional acceleration, cookies support, scheduling downloads for low traffic periods, reconnecting modems, hang up and shut down when the downloads are done.
New In Version 1.5:
Includes cookies support. Now you can download from servers that require cookies from your computer like MP3.com or other services.
New improved way of integration with Internet browsers using plug-in technology.
Included new function for searching of server mirrors for additional acceleration of downloads.
Pricing and Availability
iGetter 1.5 is shareware. iGetter can be evaluated for as long as needed to decide if it suits the users needs. All registered users will get free support by email and also free upgrades in the major 1.x versions. The registration fee for iGetter is $25 US. The final release version 1.5 of iGetter can be downloaded immediately.
Extensis today announced that its award-winning Suitcase font management solution is now compatible with Mac OS X. Suitcase makes activating, previewing and managing fonts faster and easier than ever before.
Suitcase 10.1 for Mac OS X is available to all registered owners of Suitcase 10 (via electronic download) at no additional charge.
"With the added support for Mac OS X, Extensis delivers the most robust font management solution available today," said Michael Wong, Suitcase product manger for Extensis. "Suitcase users now have the ability to activate fonts for Cocoa, Carbon and Classic applications simultaneously -- a first for a font manager in Mac OS X."
In Mac OS X, there are four or more Fonts folders available to users; making font management more critical than ever before. With Suitcase 10.1, users can now view fonts in all Mac OS X font directories, and activate or de-activate fonts in Cocoa, Carbon and Classic applications.
As users transition from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X applications, they can utilize Suitcase 10.1 across both operating environments. The Suitcase Bridge provides users an easy way to activate fonts for applications in Mac OS X Classic while operating in the Mac OS X Native environment, providing users with true font management capabilities.
Read the rest of the article for more on Suitcase 10.1's feature set...
[Editor's note: I recently wrote an article about SwitchPic, a utility to automate the switching of background desktop images. The first version worked reasonably well, but had a couple of 'gotchas' that are discussed in the previous posting's comments. Here's a blurb from the author about the 1.01 release ... I have it installed and it's working fine on my machine.]
Less than a week after the initial release, SwitchPic has been updated to version 1.0.1. This update fixes a couple of the bugs that many users ran into and adds a couple requested features.
Fixed the bug that ate up tons of memory while loading SwitchPic. While loading 145 pictures, 1.0 used ~250 MB of RAM, 1.0.1 uses ~15 MB at most. This should fix the biggest performance problems.
Fixed the bug that caused images not to automatically rotate if you had chosen a custom folder.
Added Japanese localization (I was unable to test this as a Preference Pane, it should work though)
Add the ability to change the placement of all pictures in collection by holding down the option key and changing any of the pictures in that collection.
SwitchPic is now smarter about starting and stopping the random rotation of pictures.
I am hoping that this fixes the problems that everyone has been running into. SwitchPic 1.1 will feature a redesigned interface (think iTunes) and will support dual monitors. 1.1 may be delayed until I can find some time (darn school getting in the way) but I hope you enjoy 1.0.1.
SANDIA PARK, New Mexico -- November 6, 2001 -- PocketDock 2.2 has been released and is available for download. PocketDock 2.2 is an incremental update with the following enhancements:
User interface enhancements. For example, easier access to preferences and direct editing of labels.
Updated skins.
Performance enhancements.
Bug fixes.
PocketDock is a utility to organize and launch applications, documents, web links, and email addresses. It supports multiple skins or looks. PocketDock has the following features:
Multiple skin support.
Drag and drop of links and tabs.
Customizable links, tabs and docks.
Multiple docks.
Can launch documents, applications, web links, email addresses.
Web links and email addresses can be added via services.
Supports Internet Explorer, iCab, OmniWeb, Netscape/Mozilla, Outlook Express (Classic), Eudora, Opera and AddressBook.
This update is free to all registered PocketDock users. A free 30 day trial version is available on the PocketDock home page.
Not directly OS X related, but Apple's much-hyped introduction today is the iPod, a new 1,000 song MP3 player. Key specs include a 5gb hard drive, firewire (transfer an entire CD in under 10 seconds), 20 minute skip protection, and auto-synchronize with the iTunes library. Any space on the hard drive that's not used for music will mount as a spare partition on your desktop (neat). Priced at $399, it can be ordered as of today from the Apple store, and will ship starting November 10th.
In addition, Apple also announed iTunes2, available in November as a free download. The key features include cross-fading between songs, burning MP3 CD's, and a graphic equalizer. CD burning is also claimed to be up to twice as fast as it was previously.
Editorial: I find the iPod player fairly interesting, but not enough so to actually order one at this point (might have to put it on the Christmas list, though!). The new iTunes2, however, looks like a real winner. Cross fading and an equalizer, faster burning, and MP3 burning support are all great wins, and it's still going to be a free download! There's no mention on the page about "OS X", but I'm assuming it will be available for both OS 9 and OS X ... if it's not OS X only.
WindowShade X brings the familiar window-collapsing effect from MacOS 9 into MacOS X, and more. Stacked with three different shade styles, it gives you the freedom to manage your workspace environment exactly how you want it.
Alcatel Announces Next Evolution of its Speed Touch USB
Release 1.4 of modem ADSL increases ease of installation
Paris, October 16, 2001 - Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA), the world leader in Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and broadband solutions, today announced a new driver set for its Speed Touch (TM) USB, release 1.4 . Next to the introduction of support for Windows XP and Mac OS X, the latest Operation Systems versions for PC and Mac, it also eliminates the need for an additional PPPoE client, for those networks running PPPoE.
For further details go to http://www.alcatel.com/vpr/ and click on the story "Alcatel Announces Next Evolution of its Speed Touch USB" from the 16th of October.
A small tool called ShadowKiller by Unsanity is out. It totally removes shadows from MacOS X while the application is running, including window and menu shadows. ShadowKiller is freeeware. Grab it now and send us your ideas for other MacOS X hacks!