Another product announced at Macworld Expo, Extensis Universal Type Server, is now shipping. Universal Type Server is designed for corporate font management, requiring Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server 10.4 or 10.5 on a G5 or better machine. My personal opinion is that this would be a perfect application to run on a headless Mac mini.
There are two flavors of Universal Type Server - Professional, which is scalable to any size workgroup, and Lite, for workgroups of up to 10 users. The server and client applications are cross-platform, running on Windows as well as Mac.
Migration paths are available for users of Font Reserve Server or Suitcase Server. The Lite package is available for $1395 directly from Extensis, but you'll want to contact a reseller for the Professional version. If you want to kick the tires before you buy, you can download 30-day free trials for both Pro and Lite.
It's the Holy Grail of Mac virtualization: a Mac inside another computer, running happily on a virtual machine and subject to your every whim. Up until last fall, there was no framework in Apple's licensing to allow for Mac OS X virtualization; then the ground shifted and the heavens shook, and there was a way forward. Mac OS X Server is now eligible for virtualization on Apple hardware, so naturally both big Mac virtual machine players are eagerly pushing forward on this front.
Parallels is offering OS X Server virtualization as part of its Parallels Server high-end product, which is currently approaching the end of its beta; the gang at VMware, however, are going the route of integrating OS X Server virtualization into the consumer level Fusion product. VMware has announced that the next beta of Fusion 2 (and the eventual release) will include the option to virtualize Mac OS X Server. This is awesome news for anyone using Fusion now, as the upgrade to 2.0 is free for existing customers.
Of course, virtualizing Mac OS X Server is not an inexpensive proposition, as even a 10-user license of Server clocks in at a cool $499. For developers and corporate folk, however (many who would have access to volume or seeding licenses of Server), it's a great help. Video demo of VMware's new feature announcement after the jump.
TUAW was recently given the chance to test drive a remote server at Macminicolo, the colocation service that specializes exclusively in Mac Minis. We first covered Macminicolo in 2005 and just mentioned their recently-won"My Mac Server Contest". Given the improvements in the Mini since 2005, I took the challenge to satisfy some curiosities. For a couple of weeks I tried everything I could think of to see what solutions the meager Mini could provide. I got a good idea of what was possible and ran a few tests of my own on various Mini-hosted services to see if it could really hold its own in the realm of XServes and big-iron hosting.
We covered Signal when it first dropped in the middle of last year, and now Alloysoft has sent us a note that they've upgraded to version 1.1. The app turns your iPhone into an iTunes remote through a server connection, so you don't need to jailbreak or hack the phone at all -- just run the program on your Mac, and you can use your iPhone as a replacement for the Apple Remote. And Signal actually works in Windows as well, so you can use it to control WMP, or even use a Windows Mobile device as a control instead. No idea why you'd torment yourself with Windows Media, but that's your row to hoe.
Version 1.1 brings control for AirTunes, so now you can switch speakers directly from the iPhone, and there's a host of new features -- Webclip support, an Alphabetic library, and Landscape support. Nice little program that's available as a free demo or as a registered version for $24.95.
Earlier this week we gave Parallels a turn, and today it's VMWare in the spotlight. Scott spoke to Pat Lee, senior product manager for VMWare, about Fusion, virtualizing Leopard server, upgrading from VirtualPC (there's now an importer for VirtualPC 7) and more.
The long history of the Parallels Server release is moving ever closer to an end: SWsoft (which is changing their name to Parallels) has announced that the product has moved into beta. This thing is the holy grail for Mac server administrators, apparently-- it's supposed to not only be the first virtualization solution to run on Apple hardware, but will also allow admins to run multiple versions of Leopard on one box, and even on Windows or Linux servers. I'm pretty clueless at fine art of administering servers, but even I can see how that would have all the IT guys in a tizzy.
It's still a closed beta at this point, so you've got to sign up if you want to experience the magic for yourself. And apparently the Parallels folks work fast, so odds are we're headed for an open beta within a few weeks. Soon, Mac OS Server will be at the mercy of any IT overseers to bend and use at their will.
I have to say, as much as everyone whined about the lack of an iPhone SDK, I am nothing but impressed at how far people are bending over backwards to provide functionality to the iPhone. Yes it makes you wonder how much we could do if there was an SDK, but on the other hand, developers are really showing us just how much can be done with just a browser.
Take, for example, the Xbox Media Center iPhone Remote. If you're still using your old Xbox as a media center, Tom Robinson has devised a setup that will let you actually log in to your Xbox from your iPhone, essentially using the iPhone as a very expensive (but very functional) remote control. Basically, you FTP the code onto your Xbox (or just install it over the web), and then login to the Xbox's IP from MobileSafari, and you can use it to browse media, view information on playing media, and even use transport and audio controls. Wild.
My only question is how secure this is-- without having used it, it seems like all you need to get full access to the Xbox is the IP address. There may be something in the code that confines access to a local network, but if you can install this script from the web, it seems like you could also log in to control an Xbox from afar after it's been installed. At any rate, it's a really interesting idea, and just another example of how creative people are getting in developing functionality on the iPhone.
How we love enterprising geeks. "This machine isn't dead," they say, "it's prepped for re-purposing!"
Thus was Jonas' thought process (maybe not verbatim) when he came across this 500mhz G3 ibook with a busted display. Other than the screen, the computer functioned perfectly, making it a good server candidate.
He removed the display, optical drive and battery. Next he whittled the case down to the bare minimum that would contain the remaining parts. Finally, he went to a used book store and found a hardcover book that was slightly larger than the resized laptop and cut out all of the pages.
He then used some plastic and velcro to secure the 'book in the book, put it on the shelf and the iBooklet server was born. He claims that there have been no heat issues. Still, I wouldn't go to sleep with that thing running.
Steve said today that there is only one version of Leopard, which isn't technically true. There are, in fact, two versions: client and server. The client version (which is what most people run on their desktops) got all the love at WWDC today, but Leopard server is also shaping up to be very nice.
New to Leopard Server are:
a new step up interface (which includes a widget)
Podcast Producer: create podcasts and upload them to servers. This takes advantage of Xgrid for heavy lifting (and faster encoding)
iCal server: uses CalDAV to create a robust calendaring solution
Spotlight Server
Xgrid 2
Leopard server will ship in October and cost $499 for a 10 seat license and $999 for unlimited.
The whole Moleskine craze has left me somewhat mystified (it's a notebook, it has a pocket, okay, that's cool I guess...). Anyway, here's a different 'skine that makes a bit more sense to me. The guys over at the Sentinel Design Group designed Serverskine for their own use. It's a little application "designed to allow web developers, who deal with many projects at once, quick access to FTP, hosting accounts, domain name accounts and more." Basically it keeps all your account information in the same place and even integrates with Mail.app for quickly sending info to others. It's a niche product, but one that might be very useful to anyone with a bunch of accounts, and best of all it's a free download.
A little TUAW birdie has informed us that a new series of Mac OS X 10.4.9 client and server builds have been seeded to developers. The build versions are as follows: Mac OS X v10.4.9 (Intel) Build 8P2132, Mac OS X v10.4.9 (PowerPC) Build 8P132, Mac OS X Server v10.4.9 (Universal) Build 8P2132 Manual Updater, Mac OS X Server v10.4.9 (PowerPC) Build 8P132 Manual Updater.
While the client build has a significant list of changes (104 to be exact), the Server build reportedly has absolutely zero. This isn't necessarily indicative of an imminent release, but a lack of changes for at least one build could offer some hope. Unfortunately, we don't have a list of what these changes are right now, so we might wind up knowing just as soon as you do.
Now, the venerable CrushFTP has been revised to version 4.0; it offers a midrange, Universal Binary (and cross-platform Mac/Win/Linux) FTP server priced per connection ($30 for 10 concurrent users). Crush offers a fairly sophisticated console and Web management UI; both SFTP and WebDAV services along with FTP (great for rolling your own .mac replacement); granular bandwidth, user/group, and time window controls; automatic compression; and resumable downloads. If you're not interested in the nitty-gritty of PureFTPd config or the high cost of the pro solutions, the new Crush might be worth a look.
Brian at FreeMacBlog works for a company called Macminicolo, which will store your Mac mini in a nice, friendly server cage where it can sit with its friends and distribute web pages, email or whatever you want. After setting up and maintaining a large number of minis for clients, Brian decided to take what he has learned and create a video series on the nuts and bolts of setting up your mini (or any OS X Mac for that matter) as a server. The first video can be found here, and focuses on the initial setup. Check it out, and put that Mac of yours to work.
WiLMa is a utility for adjusting various settings like Mail servers, default printers and even desktop wallpaper based on which Location you're using (check your Apple menu if you're unfamiliar with the Location menu). WiLMa can even open and close applications and set a default network to join. If you're a nomad who bounces from places like work, school, home and who knows where else, this could be quite a handy utility, though it isn't without at least one disadvantage: it runs as an application, which means you need to have it in your dock if its corresponding menubar item will be accessible. Location X, by comparison, is more of a daemon that runs in the background, watching which Location you're using and automatically adjusting these settings to your preferences, without the need for an app to run in the dock.
Of course, with WiLMa's more attractive $12 price tag (Location X is $20), Universal Binary status and unique features, WiLMa definitely has a good thing going for it. A demo is available from Codehackers.
Another product announced at Macworld Expo, Extensis Universal Type Server, is now shipping. Universal Type Server is designed for corporate font management, requiring Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server 10.4 or 10.5 on a G5 or better machine. My personal opinion is that this would be a perfect application to run on a headless Mac mini.
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I have to say, as much as everyone whined about the 
How we love enterprising geeks. "This machine isn't dead," they say, "it's prepped for re-purposing!"
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A little TUAW birdie has informed us that a new series of Mac OS X 10.4.9 client and server builds have been seeded to developers. The build versions are as follows: Mac OS X v10.4.9 (Intel) Build 8P2132, Mac OS X v10.4.9 (PowerPC) Build 8P132, Mac OS X Server v10.4.9 (Universal) Build 8P2132 Manual Updater, Mac OS X Server v10.4.9 (PowerPC) Build 8P132 Manual Updater.
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