David X. Cohen Interview About Futurama Episodes

David X. Cohen talks about New Futurama, Fry and Leela relationship, and Hypnotoad.

ToyFare: So where are you right now in the production of the new season?

DAVID X. COHEN: We’re about halfway through the writing, but just getting started on the animation. One big decision we have not yet made is how, once again, to “end” the series—hopefully not for the last time.

ToyFare: How long after the last “series finale” does the new season take place? And what can we expect for the Fry and Leela relationship?

COHEN: When our story resumes, two long years have passed. As for the Fry/Leela relationship, we will be visiting that subject right away, so I refuse to tell you where it will lead on the grounds that I want you to buy the DVD.

Direct link to the Interview at ToyFare:
http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/toyfare/002710592.cfm

I first saw it on GotFuturama
http://www.gotfuturama.com/cgi-bin/Comments.cgi?action=show&NewsID=1165946746,20510

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Beta For Mac and Windows to Arrive on This Friday

Finally, Adobe has officially announced the availability of Photoshop CS3 Beta for public testing.
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200612/121406Photoshop.html

Adobe Photoshop CS3 Beta will be available for:

  • Mac OS X – Universal Binary for PPC and Intel Macs
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Vista

From the press release:

The software can be downloaded at: http://labs.adobe.com , in the early hours Pacific Standard Time on December 15

…..

Customers who have a valid serial number for all other language versions of qualifying Adobe products can download the software. Without a serial number, users can still download Adobe Photoshop CS3 beta, with the product expiring after two days. Customers must register online with Adobe or have an existing Adobe.com membership account to access the software

….

System Requirements
For Adobe Photoshop CS3 beta, recommended system requirements are as follows. For Macintosh: Mac OSX 10.4.8 or 10.5, 1 GHz PowerPC® G4 or G5 processor, Intel based Macintosh. For Windows: Intel® Xeon® , Xeon Dual, Centrino® or Pentium® 4 processor, Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher, Microsoft Windows Vista. Both platforms require 512 MB RAM and a 1024×769 resolution screen. Photoshop CS3 beta will expire soon after the launch of Photoshop CS3 in Spring 2007. Details on final pricing, system requirements and availability have yet to be determined.

©2006 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Skype 3.0 for Windows and Unlimited Calling Plan

I have been using SkypeOut roughly since it was first announced. I really like this feature. Skype currently offers free SkypeOut calls within US and Canada. This special offer will last until December 31st, 2006. Fear not, because Skype is offering a cheap plan for its SkypeOut within US and Canada. I am signing up for it.

From Skype news:
http://about.skype.com/2006/12/skype_announces_new_skype_unli.html

Skype Announces New Skype Unlimited Calling Plan
Offers 12 Months of Unlimited Skype Calls to Any Phone Within the US and Canada for a Flat Annual Rate

SAN JOSE, Calif., December 13, 2006 – Skype, the global Internet communications company, is now offering U.S. and Canadian consumers the new Skype Unlimited Calling plan, a paid annual subscription service that allows registered users to make 12 months of unlimited SkypeOut™ calls to any phones within the U.S. and Canada.

…….

The Skype Unlimited Calling plan is available for a flat rate of $29.95 per year. People who sign up for the new plan before January 31, 2007 will receive a special discounted introductory rate of $14.95 per year – 50 percent off the regular price. While Skype to Skype calls will remain free, the new Skype Unlimited Calling plan is an easier and cheaper way for our growing number of SkypeOut users to stay in touch with friends and family over any phone line. Consumers can also choose SkypeOut’s pay-per-minute offering.

In somewhat related news, Skype 3.0 for Windows is available for download.
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/helloagain.html

What’s new in Skype 3.0

  • Easier to use, more powerful and personal interface.
  • Connect with the world on Skype Public Chats.
  • Do more and share more with Extras.
  • Click to call ordinary phone numbers on any website (optional install).

Features

  • Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to anyone else, anywhere in the world.
  • See who you are talking to with free video calls.
  • Send SMS messages to friends on the move.
  • Group chat with up to 100 people or conference call with up to four.
  • Search the web with the Google Toolbar (optional install).

Skype 2.5 Beta for Mac OS X is also available
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/macosx/25beta.html

Microsoft Releases Updates for Mac Office (updated 12.13.2006)

UPDATE (12.13.2006):
Microsoft has withdrawn the update, citing that the release of the update was accidental.
The official announcement from Microsoft regarding the accidental posting of the security updates.

Microsoft is advising those who had applied the update to uninstall them. The problem is that they didn’t specify the method to uninstall the updates.

Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.1 Update
(December 12, 2006)

This update contains several updates to enhance security and stability, including fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code.

Applies to: Office 2004 Standard Edition, Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition, Office 2004 Professional Edition, Word 2004, Excel 2004, PowerPoint 2004, Entourage 2004.

Before you install this update, make sure that the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.0 Update is installed on your computer

Microsoft Office v. X for Mac Security Update (2006-12-12)

This update contains several updates to enhance security and stability, including fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code.

Applies to: Office v. X, Microsoft Word X for Mac, Microsoft Excel X for Mac, Microsoft PowerPoint X for Mac, Microsoft Entourage X for Mac.

Before you install this update, make sure that the Microsoft Office v. X for Mac 10.1.8 Update is installed on your computer.

Microsoft Patch Tuesday for December 12, 2006

Microsoft security updates for December 2006
(December 12, 2006)

  • MS06-072 – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer (KB925454)
  • MS06-073 – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio (KB925674)
  • MS06-074 – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows (KB926247)
  • MS06-075 – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows (KB926255)
  • MS06-076 – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows (KB923694)
  • MS06-077 – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows (KB926121)
  • MS06-078 – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Media Player (KB923689 and KB925398)
  • MS06-059 (re-release) – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Office (KB924164)

Aperture 1.5.2 Update

Apple releases Aperture 1.5.2 Update
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/aperture152update.html

Download Aperture 1.5.2 Update (129~131MB)
http://www.apple.com/aperture/download/

Valid Serial Number is required for manual download.
Aperture 1.5.2 Update can be obtained through Software Update.
From Apple Support:

Aperture 1.5.2 addresses issues related to overall reliability and performance in a number of areas, including:

  • Contact sheet printing
  • Smart Albums
  • Watermarks
  • Lift and stamp
  • Image export
  • Versions created using an external editor

This update is recommended for all Aperture users.

Note: If you haven’t already done so, it is strongly recommended that you also download the Digital Camera RAW Support Update 1.0.1, which is available on the Apple Downloads support page at http://www.apple.com/support/downloads.

The Digital Camera RAW Support Update provides RAW file format compatibility for the following digital SLR cameras:

  • Canon Digital Rebel XTi / 400D / Kiss X Digital
  • Nikon D80
  • Pentax *ist DS

The Digital Camera RAW Support Update also addresses the following issues:

  • Handling of large Canon RAW files (.CRW)
  • DNG compatibility on Intel-based Macintosh computers
  • Lines sometimes appearing in images exported from Aperture