A press release from Metapkg.org announces an alliance between Fink, Gentoo, and OpenDarwin to work together to provide the best opportunity for users of the Macintosh operating system to have access to UNIX and open-source projects. Hopefully, the alignment with "raise the pie higher," as opposed to diluting the …

For those into very serious blue-screen and compositing effects, Apple has announced Shake 3, and upgrade to the compositing package they purchased in February of 2002. The package is pricey ($3900 on the Mac, and $9900 under Linux and IRIX), but it is acknowledged to be the best product in …

I have been refraining from the various blow-by-blow rumors for the upcoming Apple WWDC, but this one is just too juicy to let pass. I will note that the following may well be a hack from outside of Apple or it may just be a huge mistake from inside, but …

Thanks to Amanda for pointing out this new piece of software from Math Game House Software called iStorm. The product provides a combination of electronic chalkboard and voice collaboration application for Mac users. The product costs $19.95 for an individual license and is available for download as a demo …

Apple has released version 3.1 of the Airport software supporting the Airport and Airport Extreme Base Station. The update is available via the web or Software Update. Mainly, this brings the system in line with the 802.11g final specification.

Sony, which has been shipping their FIU-600 fingerprint reader for some time, has now announced that they are shipping it in the US with their "Puppy Suite" authentication integration software, which they also have available for Windows. One annoying thing is that Mac users will be paying about $20 more …

It's big, but it's finally here. The Neverwinter Nights beta for the Macintosh. Weighing in at 240MB it isn't for the faint of internet connection, but it will provide you access to the training level and the combat feature set. Download it from MagGameFiles.Com

For those who just don't want to have to stop their cars when war-driving, the latest version of iStumbler (available for free under the BSD license) will read coordinates from a connected GPS as you drive around the countryside looking for open WiFi access points.

Ever since the release of Adobe's Photoshop, the last significant OS 9 holdout application on the Macintosh has been Quark Xpress, the page layout program from Quark. This week, Quark announced the shipment of their OS X compatible version and the design community has responded with a flurry of comments …

An article from MacMegasite confirms that the Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit is not planning on releasing any future version of Microsoft Internet Explorer for the Macintosh. Coming after the recent Microsoft announcement that there will be no further stand-alone versions for Windows, this isn't a big surprise. So, make sure …

Wired has an article today that describes the various efforts that Microsoft has underway in order to continue their push to make Windows Media 9 the next format for digital media. They cover a number of recent efforts by the company to push into the film industry, including a recent …

Wired has a recap this morning of a variety of new ways to restore the internet iTunes sharing capabilities to your Macintosh. Of course, they don't point out that Apple's DRM still works correctly when this is used over the internet, so the only files that are completely shared outside …

It looks like there will be a third player in the Macintosh OS X Unix tool installation game soon. Gentoo (open-source creators of Gentoo Linux) is bringing their Portage software configuration and installation platform to OS X. For Gentoo, it will be their first foray off of the Linux platform …

MacCentral is reporting that Virginia Tech is requiring the 17" Apple PowerBook for students majoring in Art and Art History. The department has required PowerBooks since 1998.

Apple has released version 1.1 of iSync for immediate download. Includes support for tons of new phones (including the P800, which I've only just recently finished doing a sync program for :-) ). Also included is syncing the bookmarks between multiple macs using .Mac.

For those of us who have machines that cannot boot in OS 9, it comes as a relief to hear that Symantec is going to be releasing version 8.0 of Norton Utilities for the Macintosh, which will not only boot under OS X, but also include substantial speed enhancements …

This article from MacCentral reports that Apple used their own software and hardware to power the iTunes Music Store. This isn't a huge surprise, but I find it a little odd that they didn't mention it at the initial roll-out. Apparently the back-end is all Apple hardware and WebObjects 5 …

After receiving my Windows copy of Adobe's Acrobat Professional yesterday and my Macintosh version today, I'm ready to give some initial reactions to the versions. So far, so great. It's been a long time coming on the OS X side, and because of the annoyance of missing features in "real …

iomega has announced that it is making its new iStorage online data storage service available free for 30 days. The system, not unlike Apple's .Mac iDisk provides rudimentary backup, online secure storage, access from the desktop (Windows only, unlike Apple's Windows and Mac) and "WhaleMail" file transfer. Annual pricing …

Once again, a new entry from the so-wrong-it's-right category: an enterprising Macintosh programmer has created a HID (Human Interface Device) driver for using XBOX controllers on a Mac. To use it, you will need to have a USB to XBOX cable, and an XBOX controller.