From OpenOffice.org:
OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 is recommended for all. Enhancements include:
- Performance improvements: for example, a 23 percent improvement in certain Calc benchmarks
- Further improvements to file format compatibility with Microsoft Office files
- New email integration features for users wanting to send emails in Microsoft file formats
- More control over how exported PDF documents will display when opened in a PDF reader
- Support for more languages and improvements in hyphenation and thesaurus
- Support for Intel architecture for Mac OS X plus improved Mac OS X System integration
- Built-in check for updated versions
OpenOffice.org is available for Linux, Solaris, Windows, and Mac OS X.
http://download.openoffice.org/2.0.3/index.html
From Apple:
iPod Updater 2006-06-28 delivers:
- New iPod Software 1.1.2 for iPod
- New iPod Software 1.2 for iPod nano
- New iPod Software 1.1.4 for iPod shuffle
- For all other iPod models, iPod Updater 2006-06-28 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2006-03-23.
Important: After downloading the iPod Updater software, connect your iPod to your computer and launch the iPod Updater application. If iPod Updater determines that your iPod needs to be updated, click the Update button to install the latest software on your iPod.
Features of iPod Software 1.1.2 for iPod:
- Bug fixes
Features of iPod Software 1.2 for iPod nano:
- Nike + iPod support
- Bug fixes
Features of iPod Software 1.1.4 for iPod shuffle:
- Volume limit
- Bug fixes
Note: iTunes 6.0.5 or later required to set a maximum volume limit for iPod shuffle. For information about how to set the maximum volume limit, open iTunes and choose Help > iTunes and Music Store Help.
iPod Updater 2006-06-28 available for Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later and Windows 2000 SP4/XP SP2
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ipodupdater20060628.html
From Apple:
"With iTunes 6, you can now preview, buy, and download music videos, short films, and hit TV programs on the iTunes Music Store and sync your music and purchased videos with iPod to enjoy on the go.
iTunes 6.0.5 allows you to sync your Nike + iPod workout data to nikeplus.com, where you can easily track your progress, set training goals, challenge others, and much more. Visit the Nike Sport Music area on the iTunes Music Store to download workout mixes, Athlete Inspiration playlists, Nike podcasts, and more.
Note: After purchasing music from the iTunes Music Store with iTunes 6 or later, you also need to upgrade your other computers that purchase music from the iTunes Music Store to the latest version of iTunes."
iTunes 6.0.5 is available for Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later and Windows 2000/XP
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
From Microsoft:
"Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3 is a major step forward in ease of use and security"
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx
Yahoo! Messenger Beta for Mac 3.0 Beta 1 comes in Universal Binary (for both PPC and Intel Macs). Yahoo! adds webcam support for Mac OS X in this release.
http://messenger.yahoo.com/mac.php
From Apple Supports:
"QuickTime 7.1.2 addresses an issue previewing iDVD projects. This update is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users."
Download Quicktime 7.1.2 (49.1MB)
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/quicktime712.html
"Two Finger Secondary Click" support first appeared on 17" MacBook Pro with preinstalled Mac OS X 10.4.6 Build 8I2032. The same Mac OS X build was also installed on the 13" MacBook. The Mac OS X 10.4.7 (Build 8J2135) includes this feature for all MacBooks, specifically all Early 2006 15" MacBook Pro.
Unfortunately Apple does not bring this feature to PowerBook G4 and iBook line.
Flip4Mac V2.1 Beta is available for download for both PPC and Intel Macs. According to the website, the download link will only work for 24 hours since it was first posted.
http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv_beta.htm
The Blu-Ray version of "The Fifth Element" looks great. The picture looks sharp and colorful. The audio quality is also great.
Sony VAIO VGNAR190G features Blu-Ray drive and 17" widescreen LCD with 1920x1200 resolution. The LCD supports HD 1080 resolution.
"House of Flying Daggers" Blu-Ray Disc.
View larger image in a new window 1440x900 (436KB)
Sony VAIO Blu-Ray drive sports two lenses.
View larger image in a new window 1440x900 (336KB)
A closer look at Blu-Ray drive lenses.
View larger image in a new window 1440x900 (360KB)
To be continued.......
Head over to GotFuturama.com for the latest scoops on Futurama.
Futurama DVD Movies are on track and tentatively set for release around XMas 2007.
Supposedly Comedy Central is ordering 13 new episodes of Futurama.
GotFuturama.com has this to say:
"Update: It seems that some of these articles got some things confused. The 4 DVD movies which we reported about a few days ago will eventually be shown as 4 episodes each on Comedy Central. This makes the number of episodes 16, not 13. But as I understand it, there is no other new content other than those movies."
http;//www.gotfuturama.com/
06.23.2006 Reno 911! Season 4 Premiere, Season 3 DVD, and Miami The Movie
Reno 911! Season 5 will premiere on Comedy Central on July 9th, 2006. The Complete Third Season DVD-Set will be released on July 11th.
Reno 911! Miami is coming soon.
I have had the opportunity to see Blu-Ray Player in action. I saw "The Fifth Element" and "The House of Flying Daggers".
I'll post more details in a bit.
From Apple News:
"Today, Apple delivered Shake 4.1, the first Universal version of its industry leading compositing software, and cut its price from $2,999 to $499 to fit almost any production’s budget. Final Cut Studio editors can now take advantage of Shake for sophisticated 3D compositing, keying, image tracking and stabilization. Shake continues to be the tool of choice for major motion-picture studios and leading effects houses to create award-winning visual effects."
http://www.apple.com/shake/
From Apple Downloads:
"This update to iPhoto contains a variety of new Greeting Card and Postcard themes for use with Apple print services, including invite and thank you card designs for summer parties, weddings, birthdays, etc."
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/iphoto604.html
Download iPhoto 6.0.4 Update (35MB)
After short Beta and RC periods, Parallels Desktop for Mac is officially released. It is available for $49.99 direct from Parallels website.
From Parallels:
"Parallels Desktop for Mac is the first solution that gives Apple users the ability to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical applications at the same time as Mac OS X on any Intel-powered iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook or MacBook Pro."
http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/
Amazon.com is taking pre-order for two versions GIGANTOUR CD; one regular version and one clean version) and GIGANTOUR DVD. According to Amazon, the CD will be released on August 22nd, 2006. Further details are currently unavailable.
As previously reported and confirmed, GIGANTOUR two-disc DVD to be released Sept 5th, 2006.
Featuring songs by Megadeth ("She Wolf," "A Tout le Monde," "Kick the Chair"), Dream Theater ("Glass Prison," "Panic Attack"), Fear Factory ("Transgression," "Archetype"), Nevermore ("Born," "Enemies of Reality"), Life of Agony ("Love to Let You Down," "Day He Died"), Symphony X ("Inferno," "Of Sins and Shadows"), Bobaflex ("Better Than Me"), Dry Kill Logic ("Paper Tiger," "Lost")
Shop Amazon.com:
GIGANTOUR CD
GIGANTOUR CD (Clean Version)
GIGANTOUR DVD
http://www.image-entertainment.com/detail.cfm?productID=43524
http://www.megadeth.com/
From Apple Support:
"The Bluetooth Firmware Update v 1.2.1 fixes Bluetooth performance and reliability."
System Requirements
- Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later
- PPC Mac
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/bluetoothfirmwareupdate121ppc.html
Skype 2.5 for Windows is finally out of Beta.
What’s new in Skype 2.5?
- Easier to call ordinary phones
- Free calls within the US and Canada to all phones until the end of the year
- Send SMS messages
- View and call Outlook contacts directly
- Buy Skype credit more easily
Features
- Make free calls to anyone else on Skype, anywhere in the world
- See who you are talking to with free video calls
- Chat with up to 100 people in group chats
- Conference call with up to four people for free
- Call ordinary phones with SkypeOut
http://skype.com/download/skype/windows/helloagain.html
Microsoft released Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.2.4 Update.
From Microsoft:
"This update fixes vulnerabilities in Office 2004 for Mac that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. This update also fixes issues in Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 and Entourage 2004, and it includes all of the improvements released in all previous Office 2004 updates.
Applies to: Microsoft Office 2004 Standard Edition, Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition, Office 2004 Professional Edition, Word 2004, Excel 2004, PowerPoint 2004, Entourage 2004."
For more information and download:
Download Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.2.4 Update
Google SketchUp (free) is an easy-to-learn 3D modeling program that enables you to explore the world in 3D. With just a few simple tools, you can create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking projects - even space ships. And once you've built your models, you can place them in Google Earth, post them to the 3D Warehouse, or print hard copies.
Available for Mac OS X (10.4) and Windows 2000/XP
http://sketchup.google.com/
Google Earth 4 Beta is available for Linux, Mac OS X (10.3.9+), and Windows 2000/XP.
Google Earth 4 Beta for Mac comes in Universal Binary (for PPC and Intel)
http://earth.google.com/earth4.html
Download or order Windows Vista Beta 2 from Microsoft
Windows Vista Beta 2 comes in 2 flavor, 32-bit and 64-bit. Both are DVD disc image.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx
I'll post more details later, because I gotta catch up with a lot of stuff.
One year ago, Steve Jobs announced that Apple would be using Intel Processors on the new Macs. At that time, it seemed that the first Intel-based Mac would be released on June 6th, 2006. As we all know, Apple shipped the first Intel-based Macs 6 months earlier.
OK, it's the International day of SLAYER
New SLAYER song "Cult" can be heard on http://www.slayer.net/
Apple re-introduced iPod U2 Special Edition.
etc..... seriously, I'll update this later.
Mozilla Foundation released Thunderbird 1.5.0.4. The Mac OS X version now comes in Universal Binary.
http://www.mozilla.com/
http://www.mozilla.org/
