TidBITS#834/19-Jun-06
=====================
The fast-moving world of running Windows on a Mac has solidified
with the shipping of Parallels Desktop for Mac; Robert Movin
rejoins us with a full review. Steve Sande is also back with
additional information and responses to his comparison of iWeb,
RapidWeaver, and Sandvox. Glenn Fleishman waxes lyrical about
using OmniDazzle to improve presentations, and in the news,
we look at Fetch 5.1, Microsoft Office 11.2.4, and a free
font troubleshooting flier.
Topics:
MailBITS/19-Jun-06
iWeb 1.1 and the Competition, Revisited
Making Presentations OmniDazzling
Parallels Desktop: The Switch Is Complete
Take Control News/19-Jun-06
Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/19-Jun-06
<http://www.tidbits.com/tb-issues/TidBITS-834.html>
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---------------------------------------------------------------
MailBITS/19-Jun-06
------------------
**Fetch 5.1 Adds Tiger Features, Goes Universal** -- Fetch
Softworks has released Fetch 5.1, the latest version of their
easy-to-use FTP client. Major new features include a comprehensive
set of 11 Automator actions, a bone-shaped Dashboard widget for
uploading and checking transfer progress, and universal binary
support for Intel-based Macs. Other changes include a modeless
New Connection window, a new Zip archive format that preserves
Macintosh metadata, the inclusion of the StuffIt Engine so Fetch's
StuffIt support doesn't require installation or updating of
StuffIt, and storage of passwords in the Keychain. Fetch 5.1
also includes a variety of bug fixes and minor tweaks; it's free
to registered customers and is a 14.2 MB download. New copies
cost $25, with free licenses available for educational and
charitable organizations. [ACE]
<http://www.fetchsoftworks.com/fetch5.release.notes.html#5.1>
**Microsoft Releases Office 2004 Update** -- Microsoft has
released yet another update to Office 2004. Version 11.2.4,
a 57.5 MB download, patches a security hole in PowerPoint that
could allow an attacker to overwrite your computer's memory.
It also resolves a crashing bug in all Office applications
involving graphics with embedded EPS data, and another that
occurred with German documents that use Microsoft's German
proofing tools. Two Entourage fixes complete the package:
improved calendar synchronization with Exchange servers and
the repair of a crash that could occur when using SSL to
connect to an LDAP server.
The update is available on Microsoft's Web site as a stand-alone
updater, or by using the Help > Check for Updates command
in any Office application. This update incorporates all the
previous Office 2004 updates, including the new Spotlight and
Sync Services support in Entourage that were added in the 11.2.3
update in March. [JK]
<http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.aspx>
iWeb 1.1 and the Competition, Revisited
---------------------------------------
by Steve Sande <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Last week's article, "iWeb 1.1 Takes on the Competition",
apparently hit a nerve with TidBITS readers. Not only did
I receive a number of email messages from readers who told
me about their favorite easy-to-use Web page editing applications,
but a spirited discussion appeared in TidBITS Talk as well.
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=08560>
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/webx/TidBITS/Talk/862/>
Several readers pointed out one serious shortcoming of iWeb 1.1
that wasn't listed in the article - the inability to insert and
edit tables. While this shouldn't affect iWeb's target audience
frequently, it is a glaring omission for those who wish to use
iWeb to develop and maintain small business Web sites.
Another pet peeve shared by many readers is iWeb's inability to
open existing Web sites. Many beginning designers like to emulate
the design of popular sites, and there's no better way to do this
than download the site into an editor and customize it.
Much of the TidBITS Talk discussion was targeted at the poorly
generated HTML code that iWeb creates. iWeb's lack of compliance
with Web standards means that sites created with the tool may not
render properly in all Web browsers, so many readers feel that
Apple should focus attention on this subject before the release
of iWeb 2.0.
In terms of competition to iWeb, readers mentioned a host of other
applications:
* Freeway 4 Express. Probably the most powerful of the easy-to-use
Web development tools, Freeway Express generates clean HTML,
includes a tool that links with Mal's E-Commerce Suite for simple
store setup, and has a clear upgrade path to the Freeway 4 Pro
professional version.
<http://www.softpress.com/products/freewayexpressin.php>
<http://www.freewayactions.com/product.php?id=016>
* Goldfish. Similar to RapidWeaver in many respects, the shareware
Goldfish is a powerful tool in a simple package. It enables
insertion of HTML for that extra bit of customization you might
want to add.
<http://www.fishbeam.com/en/goldfish/>
* Macromedia Contribute. This tool is designed to let corporate
users edit content on sites designed by pros using its companion
application, Dreamweaver. Contribute can download existing sites
for editing and can export HTML to a text editor from within the
application for quick customization.
<http://www.adobe.com/products/contribute/>
* Nvu. While this open source application isn't really in the same
category of simple Web design tools as iWeb, many readers felt
that the price (free) was right, and that it is both easy enough
for beginners and has a large enough feature set for
professionals.
<http://www.nvu.com/>
* PageSpinner. A powerful HTML editor that isn't a WYSIWYG Web
page design tool, PageSpinner features a live preview mode to
reflect changes made in HTML or CSS associated with a page.
<http://www.optima-system.com/pagespinner/>
* ShutterBug. Primarily a tool for creating online galleries
(hence the name), ShutterBug offers a number of Web page themes
and a simple interface.
<http://xtralean.com/SBOverview.html>
* WordPress. Straying a bit from the category of Web page editor,
this MySQL/PHP-based online blogging tool offers hundreds of
themes and extensions that provide many of the same capabilities
of iWeb, including photo galleries and podcasts.
<http://wordpress.org/>
I plan to dig more deeply into the inner workings of these iWeb
competitors soon. My sincere thanks to everyone who provided
feedback on the previous article.
Making Presentations OmniDazzling
---------------------------------
by Glenn Fleishman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
In my many years of creating presentations for lectures and
conferences, I've always hit a snag when trying to highlight
information while giving the presentation. At some points,
I've tried to use the crummy tools in PowerPoint that let you
sketch a little or highlight something, but often that resulted
in me interrupting a presentation and then needing to restart it.
Keynote offers a nice build system, which I've used to create
objects that are hidden but appear in sequence to identify
specific parts on a slide. It's all a little wonky, though.
OmniDazzle from The Omni Group offers a nice alternative that
has a lot in common with cursor-finding programs, but includes
features that have specific utility in presenting information
to an audience, whether using a presentation deck or just showing
text you want to pick apart.
<http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnidazzle/>
OmniDazzle is a mouse-dropping program, if I can be coarse;
the application has several methods of leaving traces or producing
behavior based on mouse position or dragging. Some of these are
the equivalent of Edward Tufte's "chart junk" definition: They
don't improve communication and can impair it. (Think about 3D
transitions in presentations and 3D pie charts in print, to note
two horrible examples.)
<http://www.edwardtufte.com/>
But several of OmniDazzle's tracking tools are useful whether
presenting or just trying to find the cursor on a giant display,
the company's ostensible motivation for developing this
application in the first place. The tools generally dim
the rest of the screen while highlighting a particular area.
Flashlight puts a circular focus around the mouse as it moves
about. Focal Point highlights the current window with options
to flip between an area in the window and the entire window.
Scribble lets you draw in one of four colors on screen. Cutout
allows you to draw circles, ellipses, and rectangles additively
to highlight parts of the screen. Zoom increases magnification
on a selection you make.
I can't speak as highly about Sonar, Waves, or Comic, which are
just silly proof-of-concept plug-ins, but Pixie Dust makes me
laugh. A little work and it be turned into a great April Fool's
Day joke that hides the application and takes over the mouse
droppings.
The interface for previewing the tools and configuring their
options is just flipping weird and awesome. The top of the
window is a series of 3D rectangles with foreshortening and
reflection. The current selection is labeled and highlighted
in the foreground, parallel to the screen. Make changes to the
settings for that tool, and the changes appear immediately in
the preview.
The triggers for tools include Key, Button, and Shake. Key
allows keystroke assignment, while Button lets you choose a
particular mouse button. Shake is a hilarious and useful tool
for presentation. "Shake" the mouse, moving it back and forth
rapidly, and the tool activates; you set how many shakes are
necessary to activate the tool, as well as the deactivation
period.
No two tools can be active at once, and you can't rotate among
tools from the keyboard. In a future version, I expect you could
assign different keystrokes to invoke different tools, or use
a command to exchange the active tool.
The software is timer-ware: you can use it for an hour at a time
without having purchased a license, but must quit and relaunch
the program when the time is up. A $15 license eliminates that
restriction.
Parallels Desktop: The Switch Is Complete
-----------------------------------------
by Robert Movin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Back when I first contacted TidBITS to write my article "From iPod
to MacBook Pro: A Switcher's Tale," I never expected it would
result in a trilogy dedicated to the state of virtualization
on a Mac. But with this final chapter I'm proud to say my switch
to a full-time Mac user is complete, ahead of schedule, and
virtualization is far more powerful than I ever expected merely
six months after the release of the first Intel Macs. And this
isn't due to the powers of giants like Microsoft (Virtual PC),
EMC (VMWare), or even open source (QEMU), but rather a diminutive
yet nimble startup called Parallels. (See my last article,
"WinOnMac Smackdown: Dual-Boot versus Virtualization" for a more
thorough explanation of virtualization and how it differs from
Apple's Boot Camp beta implementation.)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=08455>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=08495>
I'm normally quite cynical and critical of new technology
products, but Parallels Desktop so far surpasses initial
expectations that's it's hard to avoid waxing poetic. Although
there's still plenty of room for improvement, it's one of
the few pieces of software I can strongly recommend without
reservations, and one that might just change the world's
perceptions of Macs. For anything short of gaming, Parallels
Desktop is the best option for running Windows (and more)
on a Mac.
<http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/>
**From Beta Program to Release** -- Parallels released their first
beta of Parallels Desktop for Mac (called Parallels Workstation at
the time) just as I was completing my previous article for TidBITS
the first week of April. Unlike any of the other tools I tested or
reviewed, including Apple's Boot Camp, I was able to install any
version of Windows, all updates, and all major software packages.
Performance was decent, but the first beta was plagued with poor
memory management, limited features (such as a lack of file
exchange with the host system), and bugs that crashed my Mac
during such uncommon tasks as putting it to sleep. That said,
it ran Windows, it ran all the software I needed (including
our corporate VPN), and ran it all faster than my PC at work.
I'm pretty sure the Parallels development team hasn't slept since
the first beta, as the following two and a half months included
nearly weekly releases full of significant performance and feature
improvements. The final release is a polished, stable product with
more features than the initial beta suggested, although still
lacking a few pieces that advanced users familiar with VMWare
might miss. Despite the "beta" label, I've run all the releases
in my personal production environment and feel confident that
I've stress-tested fairly thoroughly.
<http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/>
The final release version of Parallels Desktop for Mac appeared
on 15-Jun-06 for $80, but it costs only $50 for those who order
before 15-Jul-06; sorry folks, the $40 price for those of us
who pre-ordered is no longer available. [Though if you purchase
"Take Control of Running Windows on a Mac", there's a coupon at
the end of the ebook with which you can save $10 off Parallels
Desktop. -Adam]. The final release includes a bonus: the normally
$180 Parallels Compressor for shrinking virtual images from
multiple products, including VMWare.
<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/windows-on-mac.html?14@@!pt=TB834>
<http://www.parallels.com/en/products/compressor/>
**The Review** -- What's good about the release version? It boots
Windows XP SP2 quickly. It runs Windows, Linux, OS/2, and pretty
much any other x86 operating system. It supports most USB
devices. It runs different operating systems full screen on
multiple monitors. You can cut and paste between operating
systems. It shares files with Mac OS X. It's probably faster
than your PC.
What's bad? Not much, to be honest. There's no support for
FireWire or gaming-level graphics, USB 2.0 devices run at
1.1 speed, and some CD/DVD control issues exist.
As with most Mac software, installing Parallels is a breeze.
Just download and mount the disk image and double click the
installer package. But installing the software doesn't instantly
grant you access to the world of Windows. You'll still need
a Windows install disc and a valid license, and you'll have
to go through a few basic steps. Although Parallels does a good
job of simplifying the process, it might be intimidating to
a non-technical user who hadn't read the instructions in
"Take Control of Running Windows on a Mac."
I started by creating a new virtual machine using the included
wizard, which does a good job of walking you through the process.
I decided on my operating system (Windows XP) and named the
virtual machine before being dropped into the console view where
I chose various configuration options. The defaults should work
for most users, but I did give my virtual machine extra memory
(256 MB is the default) and enabled file sharing with Mac OS X
(disabled by default to keep those pesky Windows viruses out of
your Mac files). I inserted my Windows installation disc, clicked
the Play button in Parallels Desktop, and started walking through
the Windows installer. From here on the entire process is no
different than installing Windows on a new PC. Windows was running
in less than 30 minutes, after which I installed the Parallels
Tools for better networking, screen, and mouse support before
going through the more laborious process of installing all my
needed Windows software. In all it took about 90 minutes to
install Parallels Desktop, Windows XP, Parallels Tools, and my
basic package of Windows software. One caution: you really need
a valid Windows license, and you will have to go through the
activation process.
The Parallels Desktop interface is clean and intuitive and
should feel familiar if you've used other virtualization tools
like VMWare. Small icons in the lower right corner display your
networking, USB, hard disk, and other peripheral status while
a moveable toolbar allows you to start, stop, pause, reset,
or switch your virtual machine to full screen mode. With Parallels
Tools installed, your mouse cursor scrolls cleanly across the
guest operating system as if it were part of Mac OS X. For guest
operating systems without Parallels Tools you must remember to
press Ctrl-Alt to regain your mouse control. Keyboard control can
be a bit tricky when moving in and out of virtual machines, since
although it looks like just another part of Mac OS X, it's still
a separate operating system with keystroke combinations that might
conflict with those in Mac OS X. Parallels Desktop provides a menu
to send special commands (like the ever-present Ctrl-Alt-Del)
to the guest operating system, but I frequently find myself
forgetting that Ctrl-C in the Windows window is very different
than Ctrl-C in Mac OS X.
Performance is where Parallels Desktop really shines. It's
the first virtualization software to take advantage of the VT
technology in Intel's newer chips, hardware extensions provided
specifically to enhance virtual machine performance. On my MacBook
Pro, Windows XP takes about 10 seconds to boot and is incredibly
responsive. I've seen some outside reports state that performance
is only around 2 percent slower than running Windows XP under Boot
Camp and is faster than running on some Core-Duo PC systems from
other hardware manufacturers. Performance after booting is still
strong and easily comparable to my Pentium 4, and is definitely
faster than my Pentium M laptop. I can't express the shock value
of seeing Windows boot so fast the progress bar never makes it
past the first little dot. Everywhere I go, I end up with a crowd
of IT professionals behind me just watching me boot in and out
of Windows. If only Apple offered rewards for referrals, I could
probably retire in a few more months.
I can usually sway those skeptics that still balk at the
performance by giving them a quick full screen demo. You
know that great looking cube effect when you switch users
in Mac OS X? That's one of around a half dozen transition
options when moving to full screen mode. The cube rotates
and pauses for a second as the video resizes to the MacBook
Pro's widescreen resolution. There it is, looking just like
a native Windows machine (without the ugly stickers slapped
onto the case). If you have two monitors, you can keep Mac OS X
on one and run your guest operating system on the other,
full screen, with smooth mouse scrolling across each. Just don't
forget the command to switch out of full screen (Alt-Enter) or
you'll get stuck like I did the first time. For some reason I've
noticed a slight delay when trying to switch back, and sometimes
have to send the command more than once.
Networking support is decent, but definitely weaker than some
of the competition (not that anyone else runs on Intel Macs yet).
By default, Parallels Desktop creates its own bridged network
connection using the host computer's active network adapter,
making your virtual machine look like another computer on the
network. You can also specify that it use any network adapter
on your Mac. Parallels also supports host-only networking,
if you want to isolate the virtual machine or even share your
Mac's existing network connection. I've used this to share
my wireless EVDO connection over Bluetooth when traveling
(you can set this in your Sharing preference pane). Unlike
VMWare, you can't create a complete virtual network on your
Mac, a handy feature for IT pros wanting to test virtual systems
in a safe, "fake" network.
One of the features I particularly appreciate is being able to
run nearly any Linux distribution, including live distributions
(like Knoppix) directly from their disk images without local
installation. Tools support isn't available, so you have to
remember to switch mouse and keyboard control manually. Hardware
support is also more limited, but I've tested both Slax and
Knoppix-based distributions without any problems. Networking
and displays work well enough for most of my needs. Like other
virtualization tools, you can point Parallels Desktop at any
bootable disk image without having to decompress and install
it on a partition.
<http://www.knoppix.org/>
<http://www.slax.org/>
USB support appeared in the last few release candidates, and works
with the USB devices I've tested, including one (my SCUBA dive
watch) that didn't work in earlier betas. Reports from the
Parallels support forums indicate not every device works yet,
but the development team seems to be making good progress.
One big limitation is USB 2.0 devices only connect at the slower
USB 1.1 standard. I also don't recommend having devices connect
automatically, or every USB device you connect will be hijacked
by your virtual machine. It's kind of annoying when I plug in
my iPod shuffle and it pops up in the virtual machine as a mass
storage device instead of opening iTunes.
As with other virtualization products, Parallels Desktop supports
multiple operating systems running concurrently - but you had
better have enough memory. I upped my MacBook Pro to 2 GB and
can run two or three virtual machines comfortably with my usual
Mac OS X applications.
Individual virtual machines consist of two files: one hard disk
image and a configuration file. Cloning virtual machines is easy,
and you can back up your entire Windows installation by simply
copying the hard disk file. If only all computers were virtual.
Parallels also includes tools for changing virtual disk sizes,
but this process is a bit complicated; it's better to make sure
you create a large enough image from the start.
**In the Real World** -- Aside from showing off, I've been
migrating completely onto Parallels as the beta versions have
improved. I've moved all but one of my work applications into
the virtual machine, and it has increased my productivity.
My Windows installation is much cleaner than my "official"
work system, since all my personal applications are in Mac OS X
and I need only a minimal set of Windows tools. Windows now
runs faster, is easier to maintain, and easier to keep locked
down. I'm in negotiations with our IT department to create a
complete, sanctioned virtual image that's locked down without
administrative rights. Since Parallels also sells Parallels
Workstation, a version that runs on Windows, if this experiment
works, we'll have a locked-down, sanctioned image that's easy
to migrate, backup, secure, and distribute. Users can run all
the spyware and viruses they want on their host PC (except for
us Mac users, of course) while the corporate image remains safe
and isolated. I also find myself frequently running multiple
versions of Windows and Linux concurrently, giving me a great
excuse to bump my system memory up to 2 GB.
And I just can't fully express the "Wow!" factor. When people,
especially IT professionals, see Windows running comfortably
on a Mac with full functionality, you can see prejudices melt
from their eyes. When they realize my Windows virtual machine is
running faster than their new dedicated PC, you can feel the envy
ooze out of their pores. The effect of seeing the cube transition
to full screen can only be described as the geek equivalent of
those swooning teenage girls in those old Elvis movies. This is
the future of computing on any platform.
**Looking Forward** -- Although Parallels Desktop/Workstation
is available on Mac and PC, the greater standardization of
Mac hardware may afford opportunities to improve the virtual
experience. Today the one glaring weakness of virtual machines
is much weaker video support. Without direct access to graphics
cards you can't support the advanced features needed for gaming
and other visual elements (as we might expect in Windows Vista).
The Parallels development team is rumored to be working hard on
the problem, and I wouldn't be surprised if the next version
supports advanced graphics applications. Hopefully, we'll also
see better networking support, better USB (and even FireWire)
support, and I wouldn't mind some interface improvements when
selecting and switching between different virtual machines.
While the average user just running a single instance of Windows
on their Mac will be satisfied with current features, Parallels
definitely has room to improve features for IT pros. It also lacks
any of the centralized management tools for multiple images needed
for large enterprise deployments.
Outside of additional product features, Parallels Desktop is one
of the only applications I've seen that could change the world's
perceptions and acceptance of Macs. It's right up there with
Mac OS X, iLife, and Microsoft Office for Mac in the category
of "this changes everything."
If you're not convinced, consider this: Apple has dedicated
a page to Parallels Desktop linked to their new "Get a Mac"
advertising campaign under the banner "You can even run Windows
software." You'll notice a distinct lack of any reference
there to Apple's own Boot Camp (though the reason could be
that Boot Camp is still in beta). Could we see Parallels become
part of the Apple family? Maybe, but Parallels is an up-and-comer
in the world of virtualization and has a healthy future even
without gaining the Apple name. Either way the Mac community
wins, not that I'd complain about it being built into Mac OS X.
<http://www.apple.com/getamac/windows.html>
Thanks to Parallels Desktop, running Windows on a Mac - without
diminishing the Mac (or Windows) experience - is now a reality.
I can highly recommend Parallels for anyone with an Intel Mac
and a need (because it probably isn't a desire) for Windows.
Take Control News/19-Jun-06
---------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
**Free Flier Fixes Flummoxing Font Frustrations** -- If your fonts
are giving you a headache, Sharon Zardetto Aker's "Take Control of
Font Problems in Mac OS X" is the ultimate resource. But if you're
not convinced you need the entire ebook, go ahead and download
a free one-page flier that includes Sharon's font troubleshooting
flow chart. It provides a clear process you can follow to hone
in on and solve many non-specific font problems (by non-specific,
we mean problems for which Sharon doesn't provide the exact
solution in the ebook). The flier is covered by a Creative Commons
license that allows you to copy, distribute, and display it in its
original form for non-commercial purposes, so you're welcome to
post printed copies and give it to anyone who may appreciate its
troubleshooting advice. Enjoy! (If you've already downloaded the
flier, we recommend downloading again to get the new version that
we've tweaked for increased crispness.)
<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/font-problems-macosx.html?14@@!pt=
TRK-0037-TB834-TCNEWS>
<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/resources/0037/
TakeControlOfFontProblemsFlier.pdf>
Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/19-Jun-06
------------------------------------
by TidBITS Staff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The first link for each thread description points to the
traditional TidBITS Talk interface; the second link points to
the same discussion on our Web Crossing server, which provides
a different look and which may be faster.
**iWeb Takes On the Competition** -- Steve Sande's article about
iWeb and other easy-to-use Web creation applications touches
a nerve among readers, who share their own recommendations.
(27 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=3029>
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/TidBITS/Talk/862/>
**Game development for children** -- It's never too early to
foster young coders! Readers suggest packages that kids can
use to build their own applications. (8 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=3030>
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/TidBITS/Talk/863/>
**Vale Michael Bartosh** -- We mourn the passing of Mac author
Michael Bartosh, who died after a fall, with links to an online
memorial and a new Bartosh Scholarship for MacIT Conference
Track (at Macworld Expo). (3 messages)
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=3031>
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/TidBITS/Talk/864/>
$$
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