TidBITS #511 on 2000-01-03

Dour prognostications for the new year have failed to materialize, but other troubles abound: we look at Apple's OT Tuner 1.0, the problem that sparked it, and cover sources of network security information. We also note updates to Microsoft Excel 98, Internet Explorer 4.51, Outlook Express 5.01, and Now Up-to-Date & Contact. Changing topics, we interview Neil Shapiro about the Internet reappearance of MAUG, the first online Apple community. This week's poll queries your Y2K experience, and we have a schedule of staff appearances at this week's Macworld Expo.

TidBITS #510 on 1999-12-14

Happy Holidays! We've collected gift suggestions from TidBITS readers again this year, so read on if you're still trying to find the perfect gift for your Macintosh-using friends and relations. This is also our final issue for 1999, though we'll continue to post news items and polls on our home page. Assuming the world doesn't end at midnight on 31-Dec-99, we'll see you in 2000.

TidBITS #509 on 1999-12-13

If you're focusing on digital cameras this season, Arthur Bleich wraps up his overview of 1999's offerings for beginners. Also, Adam looks at the features - and ads - in Eudora's next release, plus introduces Crossing Platforms, a book for Mac users learning Windows and Windows users learning the Mac. We also note IBM's ViaVoice speech recognition product and updates to The Tilery, Anarchie, WebSTAR, and SoundJam MP, plus news of Macworld Expo SF 2000 events.

TidBITS #508 on 1999-12-06

A vacation is usually a retreat from work, but can you take a holiday without disrupting your business? Mac shareware author Gideon Greenspan offers his tips for carrying his company on his back throughout Asia. Plus, Arthur Bleich returns with advice on buying digital cameras, and we note revisions to Apple's Power Macintosh G4 line, and the releases of QuarkXPress 4.1, ListSTAR 2.0, Frontier 6.1 Trexar's MacWasher, and an update to Microsoft Office 98.

TidBITS #507 on 1999-11-22

This issue is crawling with mice, with part two of Warren Magnus's overview of the USB mouse and driver market and this week's poll asking what sort of pointing device you prefer. Last week's poll about email clients merits additional discussion, and Adam briefly skims over the major offerings while examining the results. In the news, Aladdin releases StuffIt Deluxe 5.1.5 and 5.5, plus StuffIt Expander 5.5 and DropStuff 5.5. No issue next week!

TidBITS #506 on 1999-11-15

Good intentions make excellent paving stones this week, with warnings about a utility that circumvents a crucial bit of Mac OS 9's error checking and a security hole in Outlook Express 5.0. In other email news, Adam announces his new book on Eudora and explains how to use Eudora in multiple user setups, and this week's poll asks about your favorite Mac email client. Finally, Warren Magnus contributes the first part of an overview of USB mice.

TidBITS #505 on 1999-11-08

Thinking about a big hard disk to store MP3 files? First read Jerry Kindall's roundup of Macintosh MP3 encoders to get the best bitrate for your buck. Also in this issue: was TidBITS marked as spam in your copy of Outlook Express 5.0? Find out why, and what Microsoft is doing about it. In the news, we cover Microsoft being found to be a monopoly, the results of our Mac interface poll, and updates to Eudora 4.2.2 and the Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) ROM.

TidBITS #504 on 1999-11-01

Mac OS 9's new networking features may be tantalizing, but the gory details that Geoff Duncan's in-depth look reveals could give you pause. We also start a two-part article by Jerry Kindall about encoding MP3 files; next week's issue will bring a comparison of five Macintosh MP3 encoders. In the news, we track Aladdin Systems going public, improvements to the AppleCare program, and the releases of DiskWarrior 1.1 and MasterJuggler Pro 2.0.3 and 2.1.

TidBITS #503 on 1999-10-25

Saturday's release of Mac OS 9 dictates the tone for this issue, with in-depth coverage of Apple's latest version of the Mac OS. Geoff Duncan first looks at Mac OS 9 installation and compatibility issues and then focuses on three major features in Mac OS 9: Sherlock 2, Multiple Users, and the Keychain. Tune in next week for more Mac OS 9 coverage. Also this week, we cover the releases of Action Menus 1.0, Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0, and iDo Script Scheduler 1.1.

TidBITS #502 on 1999-10-18

Bitter about Apple's speed reductions for the Power Mac G4 line, or merely confused about what's happening? Matt Deatherage examines the hullabaloo to determine what went wrong and why. Adam reports back from a day at Internet World, and in the news we cover Apple's $111 million quarterly profit and the releases of Keyspan's Digital Media Remote, Action Files 1.5, and SoundJam MP 1.1.1. This week's poll: How much does digital video editing interest you?

TidBITS #501 on 1999-10-11

Steve Jobs has introduced a new $999 iMac and the iMac DV with FireWire and video editing capabilities, all with faster processors, revamped audio, dual USB, and transparent cases. Also in this issue, Matt Neuburg looks at Style Master, a tool for authoring Cascading Style Sheets for the Web, Adam continues examining how MP3 is changing his relationship to music, and we note new releases of Norton Utilities, Norton AntiVirus, Palm Desktop, and the results of our first poll.

TidBITS #500 on 1999-10-04

We celebrate the 500th issue of TidBITS with a redesign of our home page, including the addition of weekly polls and quizzes. Also this week, Adam weighs in with the first part of an article on how he's come to see the light of the MP3 format for music. In the news we cover the releases of a free update to Retrospect 4.2, Retrospect for Windows, Netscape Communicator 4.7, and FileMaker Pro Web Companion 5.0v2, plus cheaper prices on Palm handhelds.

TidBITS #499 on 1999-09-27

FileMaker, Inc. has released FileMaker Pro 5, adding a few features and announcing a controversial $1,000 Unlimited version for Web publishers. Also this week, Adam tries using Priceline.com to buy airline tickets and examines the company's upcoming name-your-price grocery venture. In the news, we cover Virtual PC 3.0, MindExpander 1.0, and USB Overdrive 1.2, along with the merger of ISP giants EarthLink and MindSpring. Next week: our 500th issue!

TidBITS #498 on 1999-09-20

Looking for a cheap way to prevent crashes, increase productivity, and extend the lifespan of your Mac? Adam examines the many advantages of using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect your expensive equipment. Also this week, we announce our voluntary contribution program; look at updates to Web Confidential, Keep It Up, and MacHeadlines; re-welcome the EvangeList; and note the announcement of Handspring's Visor, a new Palm-based handheld device.

TidBITS #497 on 1999-09-13

The Macintosh received an unexpected supporter last week in the form of the U.S. Army, which has switched its home page Web server from Windows NT to the Mac OS running WebSTAR. Also, Jerry Kindall sees only smoke surrounding a recent controversy about Unisys charging Web site owners for use of the GIF format. We also note updates to QuickTime and Adobe GoLive, and look at a practical way to talk back to Apple: the annual Bash Apple session at MacHack.

TidBITS #496 on 1999-09-06

With last week's release of the Power Mac G4 and the Apple Cinema Display, Apple generated serious techno-lust in the Macintosh community. This week we look at the specs and the few annoying aspects of the Power Mac G4. Matt Neuburg also weighs in with a Tools We Use column on Menuette, which replaces menu names with icons, and we cover releases of GraphicConverter 3.7, MacTuner 2.1, SoundJam 1.1, Adobe InDesign, and LetterRip Pro 3.0.6.

TidBITS #495 on 1999-08-30

The world ends not with a bang, but with a kerchunking sound from a hard disk. Jeff Carlson relates how DriveSavers brought his data back from the dead. We also review Apple Confidential, a book packed with insider stories and little-known details of Apple's tumultuous history, and note recent changes in the PowerPC universe. News this week includes the release of SkyLINE wireless networking and updates to Anarchie, Documents to Go, and BBEdit Lite.

TidBITS #494 on 1999-08-23

Want to download commercial software for free, legally? In this issue, Matt Neuburg explores the curious case of obsolete and unsupported software, some of which (like the popular outliners MORE and Acta) you can have once again! Also this week, Adam relates his learning experience of trying to buy replacement cell phone and camcorder batteries from clueless Web sites. In the news, we cover the releases of Anarchie 3.6, GoClick 3.0.1, and eMerge 1.6.1.

TidBITS #493 on 1999-08-16

Your friends turn to you to troubleshoot their Macs, but what if you aren't nearby? Jeff Carlson looks at HouseCall, a utility for connecting to remote Macs and using them as if they were on your desk. Also, we revisit REALbasic and Internet grocery shopping, plus note the releases of ShrinkWrap 3.5, a battery fix for some PowerBook G3 Series owners, and MacHeadlines, which displays customizable new items from the Internet.

TidBITS #492 on 1999-08-09

Does the iMac make you see spots? Does the iBook remind you of a lunchbox? Is the Power Mac G3 a blue meanie? Apple's gaudy Macintosh designs might not appeal to all, but they've certainly put the Mac back in the (ahem) limelight. Also this week, Matt Neuburg reviews CE Software's venerable macro utility QuicKeys, we note the release of Mailsmith 1.1.4, and we tell you what Jesse James, Willie Sutton, Robespierre, and Adam Engst might have in common.

TidBITS #491 on 1999-08-02

Tired of reading a press release and then having no idea what the product does? Do you develop software and wish the industry press covered it better? Guest author Matt Deatherage covers the seven deadly sins of product releases. Also this week, we highlight notable exhibitors from Macworld Expo in New York City, and bring you info on Apple's Font Manager Update 1.0 for Mac OS 8.6, Eudora Pro's retail availability, and an update to Alsoft's DiskWarrior.

TidBITS #490 on 1999-07-26

At last week's Macworld Expo in New York City, Steve Jobs introduced the iBook, Apple's forthcoming consumer laptop, and AirPort, Apple's inexpensive wireless networking technology. Adam looks through the hyperbole at how these products stack up, and how Apple's focus on consumers may change the Macintosh world forever. Also this week, we note Y2K updates for FileMaker Pro 4.x, speech recognition announcements, and the new eFax Microviewer.

TidBITS #489 on 1999-07-19

Everyone wants a few specific capabilities from their email application; check out the second part of Adam's look at Eudora Pro 4.2 for a feature that reveals the vast number of attributes in this powerful program. Also this week, Matt Neuburg reviews Deneba's graphics application Canvas 6, and in the news, we look at Apple's $203 million quarterly profit, the SETI@home client 1.06 and BBEdit 5.1.1. Next week: Macworld Expo in New York!

TidBITS #488 on 1999-07-12

Think you can hack it? If so, check out Adam's article on the results of the annual Hack Contest at MacHack and how these software zealots continue to push the boundaries of what Macs can do. Also this week, Adam starts a two-part article on what's new in the recent Eudora 4.2 update. In the news, we note Power On Software's acquisition of Now Up-to-Date and Now Contact, and the releases of updates to graphics utilities Snapz Pro and PhotoGIF.

TidBITS #487 on 1999-07-05

Conferences tend to blur into one another, but after a timeless few days, Adam concludes that MacHack takes the prize for the ultimate Macintosh geek event. Also this week, Geoff Duncan reports on how to upgrade to Quicken 98 for free, and Jeff Carlson follows up on our Internet faxing coverage. In the news, we cover Eudora Pro 4.2.1, WeatherTracker 3.0, Mac OS ROM Update 1.0, WebSTAR Server Suite 4.0, and the withdrawal of FileMaker Pro 4.1v2.