BeLight Software Releases Disc Labler

From Macminute: March 29 - 13:16 EST "BeLight Software today released Disc Cover 1.0.8, the latest update to its CD/DVD labeling program. This version can import data from Toast Titanium and improves sorting iTunes imported files. The current update is free for all existing users. Disc Cover is priced at US$34.95(for download) and is available in fully functional demo."

We all know and love Swift Publisher, now here's an elegant straight-forward approach to labeling CDs. I've played a bit with this app and I have to tell you it makes some gorgeous CDs! The only issue I have is with the type layout if one is placing more than eight or nine tracks. It can get a bit ugly. Other than that, it's a great program. Download it and see for yourself. -Tim

Final Cut Studio Goes Universal!

Posted on Mar 29, 2006 at 8:28pm by Dennis Sellers: Apple's Final Cut Pro Studio is now available as a Universal Binary product and will run natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.Final Cut Studio Pro includes Final Cut Pro, Motion, SoundTrack Pro and DVD Studio Pro components. For new users the cost is US$1,299. Upgrades from Final Cut Pro 1, 2 or 3 are $699. There are also a variety of Universl crossgrades for those wishing to get the Universal Binary version. Crossgrades start at US$99. Apple is offering free shipping on orders of the product.

Macsimum News - Final Cut Pro Studio goes Universal Binary

technorati tags: Apple, Macintosh, FinalCut, Video

To Leave Running or Not to Leave Running

Quoted from Don Foy and Macsimum News - "At the risk of starting a holy war, I want to tackle one of the most-asked questions of Mac users across the world: Should you turn your Mac off when you are not using it? I plan to present both sides of this battle and let you decide on the merits of each argument. I will likely leave out something, so you guys and gals can fight it out in the comments below, but let's keep it civil. Remember from the last column;we are all family, eh."

Macsimum News - MacBasics: leave your Mac on or shut it down?

technorati tags: Macintosh, Apple, Unix, Maintenance

Quicksilver. Wouldn't Leave Home Without It

Once in a while, I'll put a "plug" in for an application I find indispensible. This time the vote goes to Quicksilver - hands down! Quicksilver is difficult to describe. Strictly speaking it's a launcher (an application designed to make quick work of accessing applications no matter what you're doing or where you are on the Mac) This it does and does brilliantly. But it is so much more than that. For instance: I need to email a TextEdit file to my co-worker and add a quick comment. With Quicksilver I can perform that entire operation in just a few keystrokes! No kidding. Now follow me here. I'm talking about finding the file wherever it happens to be, launching Mail with the file attached and my co-workers address already filled in. You really have to see it/use it to believe it.

So how does this work? Quicksilver lives quietly in the background, observing, learning and cataloging the applications, files, contacts, etc. you tend to use most frequently. After a few days it is nearly clairvoyent. From that time on Quicksilver just seems to "know" what it is you want to do, puts the steps together in logical sequence and waits happiliy to do your bidding.

For all this functionality there must be a great cost, right? Wrong! Quicksilver and all the associated plugins is absolutely free! I know, "If it seems too good to be true it probably isn't". Not so in this case. If you're curious head on over to Blacktree's site, look around, download the latest release and give it a try. Officially, Quicksilver is still in Beta so all the usual precautions apply. I've been using it for months now with absolutley no difficultities.

Do me a favor, please. If you do download Quicksilver and give it a whirl, please let me know what you think. You may post a comment here on the blog or send me an email. Either way I'd love to hear from you.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Launcher, Macintosh, Productivity

Final Cut Pro training goes on the road

Diana Weynand, author of Peachpit Press’s Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 5, is taking the authorized Final Cut Pro 5 course on the road starting in May.

The first stop on the road tour is Weynand’s hometown of San Antonio, Texas (May 8-10), followed by Houston (May 15-17) and then on to other cities such as St. Louis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Buffalo, Raleigh, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Tucson. Other cities will be announced throughout the year.

New iChat Icons for .Mac Members

Your .Mac ID lets you use iChat AV to exchange messages with everyone on the .Mac and AIM instant messaging networks. As an additional benefit, messages exchanged among .Mac members are automatically encrypted (except for text chats involving more than two people). If you've never played around with iChat AV you may not have discovered how easily... Read more

Apple .Mac Welcome

technorati tags: Apple, iChat, .Mac

Important Virus Discussion

Ted Landau, the MacNotables resident troubleshooting guru, takes us on an in-depth tour of how some of the new Mac "viruses" actually work - what they do, what files they access, where they place themselves, how they propogate and more. No punches are pulled, so be prepared for a healthy dose of technical information that will help you understand what's going on with the little programs that have been making big news on the Mac web and beyond. Even though Apple's recent security updates address these threats, it helps to know what's going on and why.

MacNotablesYou can listen and get the show notes on the MacNotables web site.