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Filed under: Gaming, Software, Odds and ends, Developer, Snow Leopard

CrossOver Games releases version 8.1.0

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Nov 20th, 2009

The folks behind CrossOver Games sent us a note that version 8.1.0 of their software has come out, and it's got some nice upgrades for Mac and Linux folks who prefer to run their games in Windows almost-emulators (it's based on Wine, and as we all know, Wine Is Not an Emulator) rather than Boot Camping over to the real thing. We tried out CrossOver Games a while back, and found it lacking in almost everything but Steam games, but actually that's OK, because lately Steam has a lot of games going on. Accordingly, this new version has support built-in for the brand new Left 4 Dead 2, as well as fixes for Steam's voice chat, a few upgrades for WoW on Linux and Guild Wars, and a couple of changes to ensure compatibility with Snow Leopard. Sounds like a nice solid upgrade -- owners of the software can grab it for free, or you can try out the app for yourself from their website.

In case you don't have the app yet, CodeWeavers also let us know that they're giving away a Linux rig that's the "ultimate" in... wait for it... gaming. Yes, putting together a Linux rig for gaming is like putting a UFC fighter on a dance show, but we guess stranger things have happened. Anyway, CrossOver Games will definitely help you play at least a few games on the decked-out rig, if you want a shot at winning the thing, all you have to do is pick up the software before December 1st. They'll pick a name out of a hat, and if it's yours, there'll be an awesome 'nix box headed your way. Good luck with getting smooth fullscreen Flash video to work. We kid! You Linux guys make it so easy.

Oh wait, what's that? Flash on the iPhone? I have no idea what you're talking about.

Tags: crossover, crossover-games, emulation, flash, gaming, guild-wars, linux, rig, software, steam, ufc-fighter, version

Filed under: Gaming, Software, UNIX / BSD, Snow Leopard

CrossOver Games 8.0 released

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Sep 3rd, 2009

Codeweavers tells us that they've released version 8 of their Crossover Games software -- I tried it out a while ago, and found that while it was a pretty good way to play their recommended games, once you went off the reservation, things got a little hairy. Then again, that was a long time ago, and since then, they've updated the recommended games list quite a bit -- they're now saying that version 8 will allow you to play most of the Steam games, including the excellent Left 4 Dead, and the new Tales of Monkey Island episodic games.

Additionally (and perhaps we're burying the lead a little bit here), this version is completely compatible with Snow Leopard. So while you still may be banging your head against compatibility for some apps (I'm actually sort of glad now that SL was sold out at Best Buy when I went by to pick it up -- think I might just wait until the compatibility issues get ironed out), Crossover Games should work just fine.

And it of course works on both Mac and Linux, so if you have a spare 'nix box sitting around and want some Windows games running on it, there you go. Existing customers with a support entitlement can upgrade right away, the app can be bought for $40, or there's a free trial to try out as well if you'd rather do that.


Tags: codeweavers, compatibility, crossover-games, games, issues, left-4-dead, linux, mac, released, snow-leopard, steam, tales-of-monkey-island, version

Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Developer, iPhone, App Store

Sketches 1.7 out now

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Jul 23rd, 2009

My favorite iPhone artmaking app, Sketches, has been updated again, this time to version 1.7. It's been made compatible with the iPhone 3.0 firmware, which means you no longer have to leave the app to share your pictures via email, and they've added in a few other bug fixes and improvements which will set them up for the next major release, the big 2.0.

This release isn't done yet though: "Redo" has been added in -- when you hold the Undo button down in the app, you'll get a whole menu of different options to go to various points in what you've done so far. And the Zoom function has been tweaked and improved as well, offering a quicker response and a better resolution, even when zoomed in.

I'm a big fan of Sketches, and expecially of the app's ability to let you pull in a background from almost anywhere (from your phone's camera to the Google Maps app), and then make your own marks on it. It's more than just an art app -- I've used it as a memory jogger, and even as a way to quickly send directions out to others via email or Twitter. It's available to new users on the App Store for $4.99, or the 1.7 update is free to those who already have it.

Tags: app, app-store, art, email, features, iphone, iphone-3.0, redo, sketches, tweaked, twitter, undo, update, version, zoom

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store

Next-gen iPhone photos leaked?

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on May 31st, 2009

The iPhone blogs says they've uncovered the very first photos of a brand new version of the iPhone (the pictures are watermarked from a site called UMPC Fever), and while there's no actual indication that they're real (at the very least, it wouldn't be hard at all to make a picture and load it on the iPhone stream), they are worth a look, if only as ideas. The pictures hint at what's basically a dream roundup of new iPhone hardware: a camera with autofocus, a digital compass, and there are hints at a CPU log as well (which may be a developer function of some kind).

A few people note that there is a percentage near the battery, but that's actually a known function of 3.0, and it's been possible on jailbroken iPhones for a while as well.

To add to the mystery, commenter Dstreelm in the comments over there took a look at the metadata on one of the photos (the one supposedly taken by the iPhone), and it was taken near Hong Kong, just a day or so ago. It's definitely all rumors, so take it all with a grain of salt, but it does lend more credence to the idea that we'll be seeing a new version of the iPhone hardware very soon.

Tags: digital-compass, dstreelm, function, hardware, hong-kong, iphone, iphone-3.0, meta, rumors, umpcfever, version, watermarked

Filed under: Desktops, Software

Pixelmator 1.4.1 brings noise filter, Pixelmator Learning with it

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Apr 22nd, 2009

Our friends over at Pixelmator have released a new update, and while it's not quite as big as their point versions, it does add a few new features and a nice online guide to the program. The main new feature in-app is a noise filter that allows users to add random specks and pixels to an image, creating a little more realism and mess to whatever shapes they're working on. But the bigger addition is out-of-app: they've created an online Learning database with tutorials, tips, and lessons on how to make the most of the image-editing app. There's actually quite a bit of stuff there now, from text and video tutorials to even third-party tutorials submitted by users. If you are interested in learning more about how to use Pixelmator, definitely give it a look. They've also updated the user manual, too, so if you haven't seen that in a while, that's worth checking out as well.

There are also a few performance updates and bugfixes -- here's the list if you want to check it for something you're interested in. I still don't see my personal issue on there: it seems like whenever I switch between the Spaces on my Mac that hold iTunes and Pixelmator, the OS doesn't want to stay put -- it keeps jumping back to the iTunes Space while I'm trying to work on Pixelmator. Of course that might be an iTunes issue, but hopefully the Pixelmator team is looking into it.

Other than that, it's still a great app for editing and resizing images, and at $59, is definitely cheaper and simpler than investing in a big Photoshop suite. The 1.4.1 update will show up automatically for current users, and the app can be downloaded as a free trial from their site.

Tags: design, image, image-editor, learning, noise-filter, photo, photoshop, pixelmator, pixelmator-1.4.1, text, tutorials, update, user-manual, version

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, Odds and ends, Developer, iPhone, App Store

iQuarterback 1.1 from former Ensemble Studios devs

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Apr 14th, 2009


The folks at FuzzyCube Software dropped us a note that their first game, iQuarterback, is in the App Store now, and it looks all right -- rather than actually quarterback a game, you mostly just try to hit passing targets. And while the game is pretty barebones right now (it's only 99 cents, and they're planning to add new modes to it in the next version), the most interesting thing about the game isn't what it is, but who's making it: the guys behind FuzzyCube are a few refugees from Ensemble Studios, the legendary developer of Age of Empires that got shut down by Microsoft on the eve of their recent Halo Wars release.

Now that's interesting -- a big time studio forced to close by their corporate overlords is finding new life in iPhone development (FuzzyCube isn't the only studio to come out of the Ensemble breakup -- Robot Entertainment, Bonfire Studios, and Windstorm Studios are all being started by ex-Ensemble employees right now, though FuzzyCube is the only group to have released a game so far). Lots of game developers are facing a crunch right now, and with the iPhone easy and cheap to develop for, we might see even more of these former larger game devs turn to the smaller screen.

Update: My apologies to the folks at Newtoy -- they are apparently the first Ensemble refugees to have released an iPhone game, dropping Chess with Friends in the App Store last December. But the point stands: bigger studios who've been asked to dissolve can seemingly find a nice place developing for the iPhone.

Tags: age-of-empires, app-store, breakup, closing, development, devs, ensemble-studios, fuzzycube, game-developers, iphone, iquarterback, release, studios, version

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Graphic Design

Pixelmator releases 1.3.1

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Dec 1st, 2008


The good folks at Pixelmator have released version 1.3.1 of their lightweight and smooth photo editing software. While the update is mostly "bug fixes and minor improvements" (isn't that exciting, unless maybe you really were waiting for "iSigh support" -- which probably means iSight), but there are two big changes: the Color Management panel has been updated (as you can see above), and the Refine Selection tool has a very nice, real-time masked UI that lets you see exactly which parts of your selection are being feathered or smoothed out.

Definitely not as big an update as the 1.3 Tempo that we posted about a while ago (although 1.4 Sparkle, we're told, is being worked on right now), but it is free to all users, and in fact ready to download right now in Pixelmator. The app itself costs $59, but if you're looking for something a little more refined than GIMP that's not quite as pricey as Photoshop, it's your new bicycle.

Tags: 1.3.1, photoshop, pixelmator, refine-selection, sparkle, tempo, update, version

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, MacBook Air

Prototype MacBook Air found on eBay

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Nov 19th, 2008


This is probably old news for most classic Mac collectors, but it's the first I've heard of it: a member of the forums at MacRumors.com bought a MacBook Air "as is" on eBay, and when it showed up, he got something even more valuable than the envelope-filler: a prototype version. As you can see above, there's no "MacBook Air" nameplate under the monitor, and hardware inside is dated to May of 2007, which is way before Apple officially announced the machine.

Apparently someone given an early working version of the notebook has already moved on to the new [REDACTED] that Apple is working on, and has sold off their old prototype of the Air. Very cool -- as I said, collectors know that there are prototypes floating around out there still, but this is the first I've heard of the phenomenon. And I like that it's almost a time capsule back into the beginnings of the product we know now as the Air -- the model name given in the software just says "Mac," so this predates the name we associate with the machine. You wonder what would have happened to a system like this if it hadn't actually gone into production and been released.

Tags: Apple, branding, ebay, macbook-air, may-2007, monitor, prototype, version

Filed under: Retail, Apple, .Mac, Deals, MobileMe

Apple, Amazon offer boxed versions of MobileMe

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Jul 8th, 2008

Early Tuesday morning, Apple started offering boxed versions of the much awaited MobileMe web service. While buying from Apple costs $99 for the boxed version, Amazon is offering MobileMe for $89.99 (US).

According to Amazon, MobileMe has been on sale since "July 1, 2008," however, they also say "This item will not be released until July 12, 2008."

We did learn last night that MobileMe is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, July 9th around 6 p.m. pacific time.

Stay tuned to TUAW for the latest information regarding the .Mac to MobileMe switch, iPhone 2.0 software, and the iPhone 3G coverage.


Thanks, Jay!

Tags: .Mac, Amazon, Apple, box, boxed copy, BoxedCopy, dot mac, DotMac, MobileMe, retail, version

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Cool tools, Graphic Design

Pixelmator 1.2 "Draftsman" in the wild

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on May 12th, 2008

My picture editor of choice, Pixelmator, has updated to version 1.2 (as with many other applications, it's just in time for the Apple Design Awards deadline), which they're calling Draftsman. Among the new features are the much-awaited addition of rules and some guides to the UI (with a flashy little indicator as the mouse passes by), as well as the ability to edit color balance and the color curves. There's also a new Polygonal Lasso, and the Transform tool has been reworked "from scratch" to work faster and better.

Pixelmator continues to impress, and with every update, it's becoming a more and more robust little photo editor. Just recently, they laid out "a flight plan" on the blog for what they're up to for summer: the next release, 1.3, will be called Tempo, and focus on making the app just as fast as it is visually striking. And they make another bold claim as well: by the end of the summer, they're aiming to be "completely bug-free." Good luck with that.

But there's no question that development is rolling along for Pixelmator. The app is available as a free trial over on their site, or a full version for $59. If you're looking for an alternative to the 'Shop, Pixelmator is a great way to go.

Tags: bug-fix, bug-fixes, draftsman, image-editing, pixelmator, pixemator-1.2, tempo, update, version

Filed under: Software, Internet Tools, UNIX / BSD, Leopard

Cocktail Tiger edition goes to 4.0.1, Leopard edition 4.0.2

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Jan 26th, 2008

Just in case you haven't yet upgraded to Leopard, but still love using Cocktail (that crazy mix of Unix functions for OS X), Maintain has released version 4.0.1 of their Tiger edition. They've fixed some compatibility problems with QuickTime, and added support for clearing font caches in Microsoft Office 2008. The update is now available from their website, and is, they say, "strongly recommended" for all Cocktail (Tiger edition) users.

Cocktail's Leopard edition is at version 4.0.2-- that update fixed these same problems last week, as well as fixing a network optimization bug for DSL (PPPoE) users.

[Via MacMinute]

Tags: cocktail, download, leopard, software, tiger, tools, unix, update, version

Filed under: Software, Freeware, Security, Leopard

Usable Keychain Scripting updated for Leopard

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Jan 8th, 2008

Daniel Jalkut put together a little app called "Usable Keychain Scripting" a little while ago that was designed (what else?) to make scripting the Keychain a little more usable -- the interface included in OS X is bad, to say the least. He was apparently hoping that it would be better in Leopard, but no dice -- we're all using the new version, and it's still a pain to access the Keychain with AppleScript.

So he's updated UKS to version 1.0b3. It's still a free download (and I'm guessing he still hasn't added the ability to set values of Keychain items, but only because he was justifiably worried that doing something wrong would have terrible consequences). If you've already been using it, you should be happy to see a new version, and if you haven't tried it yet, but do a lot of Keychain scripting, hopefully it'll make the interface a little less painful.

Tags: 1.0b3, applescript, compatibility, daniel-jalkut, leopard, update, usable-keychain-scripting, version

Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, Freeware, iTunes, Open Source

Cog grinds its way to .06

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Jul 13th, 2007


Shaun Martin drops a note that Cog, an open source audio player that plays pretty much every format you'd want to play (I don't know if I'd ever need to play anything in Monkey's Audio but sure enough, it's there) has hit version .06. The release features a brand new UI (with two pullout drawers-- one that browses the filesystem for music, and another that pops up to show info on the playing file), plugin support, preferences (including builtin global hotkeys, which I really enjoy), and everything else you'd expect in an audio player-- Growl support, Last.fm support, gapless playback, and more.

The only little flaw I can find is that there seems to be two Help menus-- maybe the Cog guys just want to be extra helpful. At any rate, if you're looking for a quick and free little open source audio player as an alternative to Apple's iPhone Activator, Cog will probably turn your gears.

Tags: audio, cog, formats, gapless, global hotkeys, GlobalHotkeys, growl, itunes, last.fm, monkeysaudio, player, version

Filed under: Software, Internet Tools

Camino build optimized for Intel

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Aug 5th, 2006

For Intel Mac users who are just ga-ga for Camino, a helpful MozillaZine Forums user by the name of heronstalker has posted a build of Camino optimized for Intel Macs - but only for Intel Macs. This is not a Universal Binary, it's a... Singular Binary, er something.

I ran my old 'n busted copy of Camino against this new hotness Intel build on my 2.0 Ghz MacBook Pro, and I *think* it feels zippier. Of course, it could just be the fancy new Intel shine, so YMMV. For those users interested in saving some disk space, however, this build shaves 17MB off Camino's footprint; my Universal Camino is 39.9MB, while the Singular Binary Camino (yes, I know that isn't a real term) is only 22.3MB (this is a great example of why apps like Monolingual exist).

This Intel build, which is the latest 1.0.2 version, btw, can be had from this MozillaZine Forum post.

Thanks Jason Piper

Tags: binary, build, camino, copy, forum, intel, mozilla, optimized, version

Filed under: Internet Tools, Widget Watch, Universal Binary

Widget Watch: Widget Update

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Jul 17th, 2006

Tired of checking countless blogs and news sites just to find out whether one widget or another has been updated? Widget Update might be just what you need, as it can check up to four widget directories for new versions of all your widgets. Once it runs its check, Widget Update displays a list of the widgets that have new versions available, complete with which version is installed, what the updated version is and a link to one or more directories where you can get it.

This thing is pretty handy, especially if you're a widget user like me who has quite a few widgets installed, but not always running. Widget Update is available for free (and yes, it can check for its own updates) from DashboardWidgets.

Tags: check, features, update, updates, version, widget, widgets, widgetwatch

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