O'Reilly Launches CodeZoo Open Source Component and Information Site for Developers

Developers have a new place to find good code components
quickly. O'Reilly Media's new CodeZoo (www.codezoo.net) offers a repository
of components plus a rich mix of related information from O'Reilly and
the CodeZoo community.

Created to help developers build on--and expand--the body of useful code
created by the open source community, CodeZoo saves developers from
starting each new application from scratch by making high-quality
components easily available. Each component on CodeZoo is vetted by
O'Reilly editors, and presented along with reviews, user comments, and
supporting materials drawn from O'Reilly books, articles, blogs, and
conference presentations. Initially, CodeZoo is focusing on Java
components, with plans to expand coverage to other open source languages
and tools.

"There's lots of good code out there for developers who want to quickly
piece together applications, but finding it has been a chore," said
O'Reilly's Marc Hedlund, the site's manager. "CodeZoo brings it together
in one place, sorts out the good code from the bad, and augments the code
with information that helps developers use the code wisely. It's
one-button fast-forward for developers."

To give developers a single source of up-to-date information about open
source technologies, CodeZoo is tightly integrated with SpikeInfo from
SpikeSource (www.spikesource.com), an open source IT services company.
SpikeInfo compiles broad technical information, summarizes project
information and revisions, and acts as a gateway to the SpikeSource build
and test results, as well as project downloads. SpikeSource is also the
exclusive sponsor of CodeZoo.

"As more enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions
deploy open source software, developers will need better search and
discover repositories to piece together all the great code that exists,"
said Kim Polese, CEO of SpikeSource. "Together, SpikeSource and O'Reilly
are committed to giving developers a one-stop place for up-to-date
information on open source technologies."

Reason # 3,123 To Love Your Mac: Warning over fake Windows update

An e-mail offering a bogus Windows security update that could cripple a PC is circulating online.

Nine-Year Sentence for Spammer

Jeremy Jaynes becomes the first junk e-mailer to face hard time, but the judge agrees to postpone the sentence until an appeal can determine any outstanding constitutional questions.

Application of the Week: Hamrick adds OCR functions to VueScan

Hamrick Software has released VueScan 8.2.03, an update to its program that enables users to easily produce better looking digital images from color snapshots, microfiche and microfilm, negatives, slides, and paper documents. VueScan 8.2.03 adds integrated Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capability that enables users to scan and process text as well as scan graphics within one application. VueScan can now produce text files, which can be edited with any word processor--from more than 400 scanners and 157 digital camera raw files. Easy to use and price right we believe that if you own a scanner you MUST get VueScan. Or Better why don't you start putting pressure on Scanners Makers to include a copy of this amazing software with the product they are trying to sell you.

we give Hameric VueScan Software and it's constant over time dedication to the Mac community a 5* out of 5.

Photoshop Elements 3: The Missing Manual

O'Reilly has published "Photoshop Elements 3: The Missing Manual" by Barbara Brunda.

Apple's GarageBand, Jam Pack win MIPA awards

Apple this week received two MIPA awards for its GarageBand and Jam Pack audio products.

M-Audio unveils iControl for GarageBand

M-Audio has announced iControl, the first dedicated hardware controller specifically designed for Apple's GarageBand

Apple Creating a Gaming Division?

According to an anonymous report, Apple and ATI have been in talks about either creating or purchasing a Game Development unit.

The purpose of such a division would presumably be to create compelling games for the Mac platform to help attract more PC users to switch to the Mac platform.

Such a move would not be uncharateristic for Apple, as their decision to create Safari as well as many of their iApps were in part to fill a void not provided by 3rd party developers on the Mac platform.

Apple does appear serious about improving gaming performance on the Mac. Recent reports noted that Apple, ATI and NVidia are actively recruiting developers to improve OpenGL performance. Reported by Macrumours

Apple signs 'widescreen iBook' contract

Recent rumours that Apple is preparing to update its consumer hardware product lines were given added weight today when sources close to Taiwanese contract manufacturer Quanta claimed it has won a deal to make a new, widescreen iBook.
The sources, cited by DigiTimes, said Quanta could begin shipping the new model in Q4 this year. It is not yet certain whether the widescreen version will replace the standard 14.1in iBook, which may be updated soon in any case.

Adobe Accelerates Print, Web and Mobile Publishing Workflows with Introduction of Adobe Creative Suite 2

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: ADBE) today announced a new release of Adobe® Creative Suite, the powerhouse design environment that revolutionized print and Web workflows for creative professionals worldwide. Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium Edition integrates new full-versions of indispensable design software — Adobe Photoshop® CS2, Adobe InDesign® CS2, Adobe Illustrator® CS2, and Adobe GoLive® CS2 ) — with the all-new Version Cue® CS2.  The recently released Adobe Acrobat® 7.0 Professional also is included, as a key application in this milestone software release.

A radical new Adobe Creative Suite component, Adobe Bridge, acts as a hub for productivity, imagery and creativity, providing multi-view file browsing and smooth cross-product integration across Adobe Creative Suite 2 software.  It also provides access to Adobe Stock Photos, a new stock photography service that offers one-stop shopping for high-quality, royalty-free images for layout and design (see separate press release).  With advanced mobile authoring, for standards such as SVG-t, Adobe Creative Suite 2 accelerates design and publishing workflows — for print, the Web and the latest generation of handheld devices.


"Through their work in design, advertising and publishing our customers change the way the world looks everyday," said Shantanu Narayen, president and chief operating officer at Adobe. "Our goal is to develop a technology platform that the creative community can rely on and build upon.  With Creative Suite 2 we've delivered the essential tools designers need to efficiently realize and create their best work: online, in print or for the latest handheld device."

Introducing Adobe Bridge and Adobe Stock Photos

Adobe Bridge is a visual file browser that lets designers easily browse, organize, and process design assets within Adobe Creative Suite 2 software components.  Designers can preview multi-page Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files, drag and drop from floating Compact Mode windows, process images with built-in Camera Raw 3.0, edit and search for Adobe XMP metadata, and track assets managed in Version Cue CS2.  Simplifying the purchase and management of stock imagery, Adobe Stock Photos is a single resource that brings together, at one convenient location, more than 230,000 images from some of the world’s leading stock photography providers, including: Photodisc® by Getty Images; Comstock Images® by Jupitermedia®; Digital Vision®; imageshop™ royalty free by zefaimages™; and amana.

"The first version of Adobe Creative Suite enabled substantial productivity gains and more refined creative results at JWT," said Tim McCaffrey, partner and senior design producer for JWT, the largest advertising agency brand in the United States and the fourth largest full-service network in the world.  "With innovations such as Adobe Bridge and the new stock photography service, Adobe Creative Suite 2 is an even more integrated, comprehensive design environment that is eliminating steps from our workflow and promoting enhanced productivity and quality."

Enhanced Collaboration, Color Consistency and Reliable PDF Creation

Version Cue CS2, a powerful file-version manager and collaboration tool, helps users visually preview, track and access historical and alternate versions of files in Adobe Creative Suite 2 projects. Workgroup users can easily share their work, and can now initiate a Web-based collaborative review of PDF project files.  Using a single dialog box in Adobe Bridge, designers can synchronize color settings for Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, InDesign CS2 and GoLive CS2, avoiding painful after-the-fact color adjustments. New global export presets allow for consistent creation of Adobe PDF documents across components of Adobe Creative Suite to save time and avoid costly errors when projects go to print.  Presets are stored in a single location and can be customized for specific workflows.

Availability

Adobe Creative Suite for Mac OS X version 10.2.8 through 10.3.8, Java Runtime Environment 1.4.1, will begin shipping in May to customers in the United States and Canada, and will be available through Adobe Authorized Resellers and the Adobe Store at www.adobe.com/store.  International versions are expected to begin shipping in late May and early June.  For more detailed information about features, upgrade policies and pricing, please visit: www.adobe.com/creativesuite.  Adobe Stock Photos may not be available in all countries, languages, and currencies and is subject to change.  For details on availability visit: www.adobe.com/adobestockphotos.

Entries sought for Apple Design Awards 2005

Apple is now accepting entries for the Tenth Annual Apple Design Awards, which will be presented at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference.

Giga Designs ships 2.0GHz Power Mac G4 upgrade

Giga Designs is now offering the fastest (2.0GHz) G4 processor upgrade available for Apple AGP equipped G4 Power Mac

Macworld Expo Boston registration opens

IDG World Expo on Tuesday opened registration for this summer's Macworld Conference & Expo. Macworld takes place July 11-14, 2005 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass.