TidBITS#972/01-Apr-09
=====================
Issue link: <http://db.tidbits.com/issue/972>
Apple just doesn't stop. Hot on the heels of last week's iLife and
iWork updates, the company released General Support Update 2009-001.
The company has also launched SecurityCare, a new service-based
program that guarantees subscribers a worry-free computing
experience. Plus, speculation abounds about a possible meeting
between Steve Jobs and ex-Microsoft executive Charles Simonyi. In
the iPhone world, it appears that Apple has started purging poorly
performing apps from the App Store, though we're sure that the new
Invisibility, which alerts you to the presence of unwanted people,
will make the cut. In other news, Glenn Fleishman reports on the end
of 802.11b, Adam looks at the announcement of a "green" printer from
Epson and finds some potential privacy concerns within iPhoto '09,
and Jeff Carlson reports on the separate ventures of the
now-estranged SmileOnMyMac founders. We also note the release of
OmniWeb 5.9.2.
Articles
Apple Releases General Support Update 2009-001
OmniWeb 5.9.2 Adds Gopher Support
Space Meeting between Steve Jobs and Charles Simonyi?
Underperforming Apps to be Purged From App Store
Wi-Fi 802.11b Standard Expires
Epson's "Green" Printer Debuts for Earth Day
Invisibility App for iPhone Helps You Avoid Undesirables
iPhoto's Faces and Places Designed to Track Terrorists?
Apple Launches SecurityCare
FrownOnMyMac Fills New Mac Niches
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Apple Releases General Support Update 2009-001
----------------------------------------------
by Matt Neuburg <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10182>
Apple today released General Support Update 2009-001. According to
the predictably terse release notes, the 401.9 MB download "provides
various usability and compatibility improvements and fixes several
minor issues." This is the only information we have at this time as
to what this update may do; there is no word on whether it affects
certain aspects of the system, the system as a whole, or particular
Apple-installed applications. Nor are we told what improvements it
includes or what issues it fixes. Some have speculated that it could
in fact be a new version of Mac OS X, but we're not sure, since the
About This Mac window no longer shows version information after you
apply the update.
<http://www.tidbits.com/resources/2009-04/About-This-Mac.jpg>
Apple describes the update as "Recommended for all users," so we
suggest that everyone obediently download and install it like good
little boys and girls, and leave the thinking to the higher life
forms at Apple. The update is available via Software Update and
should be on the Apple Support Downloads page later today.
<http://support.apple.com/downloads/>
OmniWeb 5.9.2 Adds Gopher Support
---------------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10188>
The Omni Group announced today that OmniWeb 5.9.2 adds support for a
revolutionary Internet protocol called Gopher. Developed at the
University of Minnesota, Gopher eschews the free-form nature of the
Web in favor of a strongly hierarchical organization, simplifying
browsing of categorized information. For a list of Gopher servers,
see the Floodgap list.
<http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omniweb/>
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_(protocol)>
<gopher://gopher.floodgap.com/1/new>
Although Mozilla browsers like Firefox and Camino also offer Gopher
support, OmniWeb is the first WebKit-based browser to support the
Gopher protocol.
OmniWeb 5.9.2 is available now and is a free download with no
licensing restrictions (see "OmniWeb and OmniSiblings Run Free,"
2009-02-25).
<http://db.tidbits.com/article/10094>
Space Meeting between Steve Jobs and Charles Simonyi?
-----------------------------------------------------
by Matt Neuburg <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10185>
In a surprise announcement that caught reporters completely
off-guard, NASA and Apple have issued a curt joint announcement
revealing that a bat clinging to the hull was not the only stowaway
on board the STS-119 Discovery space shuttle mission, which
successfully returned to Earth on 28-Mar-09. With the mission
complete, it has been revealed that Apple CEO Steve Jobs was
secretly a passenger on board. The news is particularly surprising
in light of the fact that Jobs is completely absent from crew
photographs, including the video conference with President Obama.
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts119/launchbat.html>
<http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ccvideos/pres_conference_main.asx>
Wealthy celebrities traveling to space is nothing new, but the
reason for the secrecy of Jobs's presence on this space flight, and
his purpose for partaking of it during a time when he is supposedly
recovering from health problems, remain mysteries. Perhaps he just
wanted the thrill of being in space, for which, it should be added,
he can well afford to pay.
However, it has also been noted that Charles Simonyi, former
Microsoft Application Software Group head, was a passenger on the
Soyuz TMA-14 Expedition 19, which lifted off 26-Mar-09 and is
scheduled to stay until 07-Apr-09 at the International Space
Station. Since the STS-119 was visiting the International Space
Station to deliver improved solar arrays, this means that Jobs and
Simonyi could have held a secret meeting... in space. Speculation is
rife! Might this indicate a pending Microsoft-Apple detente? Even
more alarming, might this be part of an elaborate hush-hush plan for
Simonyi to take over at Apple should Jobs step down? Speculation
remains just that, however, since all parties involved have declined
to comment further.
<http://www.charlesinspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.welcome>
Underperforming Apps to be Purged From App Store
------------------------------------------------
by Doug McLean <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10181>
Customers and developers alike often complain of the overly
sprawling collection of apps in the iPhone App Store. With countless
applications, many of which offer the same basic features, it's
becoming increasingly difficult for truly useful and original apps
to stand out, and for customers to purchase them. Apple, in step
with a handful of previous App Store policy revisions (see "App
Store Reviews Now Distinguish Versions," 2009-03-12), has decided to
do a bit of spring cleaning - implementing a new app purging policy.
<http://db.tidbits.com/article/10135>
Effective 01-Apr-09, Apple is selectively removing from the App
Store apps that fail to meet a new set of criteria for active
in-store status. While an Apple spokesperson said the company would
not be making the specifics of its criteria public, he did note it
would be generally taking into account an app's number of downloads,
customer ratings, and whether Apple feels the app "contributes to or
detracts from the App Store's overall mission."
We also expect that the company may limit the number of similar
products in a category. While this might reduce the app count from
its current 25,000 to as few as 2,500, the long-tail applications
represent less than .01 percent of all App Store downloads.
Some developers are concerned that their apps could be unexpectedly
removed by this murky set of criteria. Fraser Speirs, author of the
Flickr viewing and uploading app Darkslide, is currently waiting for
a title to be approved. "I submitted an app four months ago," he
said. "I'm afraid it will finally be approved and then yanked on the
same day." After some prodding, Speirs revealed the app to be
FartLighter, which combines two of the App Store's most popular
utilities into one.
<http://connectedflow.com/darkslide/>
However, many developers are happy to see Apple taking steps to
improve the app store experience. Craig Hockenberry of Iconfactory,
makers of Twitterrific and Frenzic apps, said, "I know none of my
apps will be affected, so I think it's a wise and overdue move on
Apple's part. It's time we give these underachievers the boot."
<http://iconfactory.com/software/twitterrific/>
<http://frenzic.com/>
Overall, we're pleased to see Apple continuing to enhance the App
Store environment, and feel confident the company will make sound
decisions regarding the deservedness of aspiring apps.
Wi-Fi 802.11b Standard Expires
------------------------------
by Glenn Fleishman <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10158>
As everyone knows, all technology industry standards come with a
built-in expiration date, a kind of "terminator gene" intended to
prevent protocols from functioning indefinitely. Such old
technologies can, if allowed to continue, result in security
breaches and prevent the sale of improved hardware and software. The
final day of operation for IEEE 802.11b, the earliest flavor of the
trade group certified Wi-Fi standard, was 31-Mar-09.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminator_seeds>
You might think you can work around this problem by setting your
device's clock to a date preceding the protocol expiration, but this
usually won't do the trick. Many hardware devices contain a simple
clock that does rough tracking to ensure that the expiration
mechanism isn't bypassed.
If you own a pre-2003 Macintosh, you might have woken up this
morning and found that you couldn't connect to the network. If
you're running Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger or 10.5 Leopard, you should see a
dialog explaining that your AirPort Card will no longer work, and
advising a trip to the Apple Store. A $99 AirPort Express can be
used to connect a Mac to an 802.11g or a newer network via its
built-in Ethernet port.
<http://www.tidbits.com/resources/2009-04/airport_80211b_expired.png>
The AirPort Extreme, starting in 2003, contains 802.11g technology,
which isn't slated to expired until midnight on 31-Mar-11.
While disabling hardware just because a certain date has passed
might seem harsh, if you read the fine print of the license
agreement on the box, you'll see that you agreed to this policy when
you purchased the equipment.
Epson's "Green" Printer Debuts for Earth Day
--------------------------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10183>
Just in time for Earth Day on 22-Apr-09, Epson today announced a new
"green" printer that's cleverly decked out in a green casing: the
GR-401. The monochrome laser printer (black-and-white, not
green-and-white, thankfully!) is designed to meet the needs of homes
and small offices while reducing its environmental footprint in
numerous ways. It's Energy Star-certified for the lowest power use
in its class, and features a sleep mode that draws less than 0.5
watts of power while idle. The printer also employs a kind of
regenerative braking - it recaptures some energy from the rollers'
inertia after power is used to initiate the gripping and feeding
process. You can also attach an optional crank to spin up its
internal motor, and reduce power further.
<http://www.tidbits.com/resources/2009-04/greenprinter.jpg>
The printer also includes built-in Wi-Fi, so it can support multiple
computers, thus eliminating the need for each computer to have its
own printer, and it uses toner cartridges that were explicitly
designed to be refilled up to 10 times. It can also print in duplex,
using both sides of the paper automatically to reduce unnecessary
paper use. The printer driver also automatically switches fonts to
their Ecofont equivalent, reducing toner use by as much as 20
percent per character.
<http://www.ecofont.eu/ecofont_en.html>
Most important, though, is Epson's innovative recycle mode that
reuses both toner and paper. Epson spokesman Isaac "Prince" Daley
told us in a briefing that Epson's research showed that nearly 80
percent of all printouts are recycled within 7 days of being
printed. In response, Epson has developed a technology that strips
the printer's specially formulated toner particles from previously
printed pages, leaving the paper clean and ready to be printed on
again. All you do is stack previously printed pages in a top-mounted
sheet feeder, and set whether the printer should print with virgin
paper and toner or use recycled paper and toner, if available.
Epson's Daley said that although the recycled printouts are pretty
good, they're not quite as crisp as those using new paper and toner,
hence the user option to switch.
Cool as it is, the recycling process isn't perfect. Paper that has
been written on can't be put back through the printer, since pen ink
and pencil graphite could contaminate the recycled toner. The
printer automatically detects foreign substances and discards
suspect toner and pages into a hopper. (A warning light lets you
know the hopper is full.) And although small bends or crimps from
paperclips aren't problematic, paper that has been too crumpled
could cause jams in the printer's sheet feeder. Lastly,
reformulating the recycled toner particles so they can be re-fused
onto paper requires some energy, though Epson is justifiably proud
of the fact that no additional chemicals are involved in the
process, only water. Unfortunately, you can't use tap water, due to
unpredictable mineral concentrations.
Epson estimates that toner and paper usage will be reduced by 50 to
75 percent, since the only losses to the system are from pages that
are either sent out or treated in such a way that they can't be fed
through the printer again. Unsurprisingly, this reduction in
consumables means that the "razor blade" business model used for so
long by printer manufacturers won't work, so the printer is priced
at $3,999. Epson will sell the special mineral-free water, produced
using a patented thermal vaporization system, for $19.99 per liter
bottle, enough for 200 pages. Toner refills will cost $39.99 for
enough toner to print 3,000 pages, and replacement toner cartridges
(pre-filled with toner) will cost $299. Both bottles and toner
cartridges can be returned to Epson for recycling.
Although the GR-401 is the first printer to use Epson's new
recycling technology, the company has high hopes for it and is
looking at introducing a large-scale variant that could be used to
print and recycle newsprint, which could be a boon to the ailing
newspaper industry, beset as it is by spiraling print costs.
Invisibility App for iPhone Helps You Avoid Undesirables
--------------------------------------------------------
by Glenn Fleishman <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10167>
We all have people we want to avoid. Sometimes for a few minutes or
hours ("Damn, the boss is coming, and I'm not done with the
report!") and sometimes for the rest of your life ("Not that psycho
ex-boyfriend - please don't let him see me!"). Invisibility for the
iPhone aims to solve that problem with, you guessed it, technology!
<http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=163960464&s=143441>
The name is related to the Invisible option added to iChat in
Leopard, where you can see buddies but they can't see you.
Invisibility's developers typically write network-intrusion
software, and have released this product separately under the
company name Invisible Inc.
The Invisibility app relies on the information that iPhones and
other devices emit whether they're idle or in use, coupled with the
enormous amount of personal data that we all spew into the Internet
via social networking services. It can't actually make you
invisible, of course, but it can help you avoid uncomfortable
situations by alerting you to the presence of unwanted people.
The app costs $79, which is extremely high for an iPhone app, but
through 01-Apr-10, purchases of Invisibility include a lifetime
subscription to the required Invisibility service, which is slated
to cost $24.99 per year.
Invisibility works by creating a profile of each person you want to
avoid, using a variety of inputs. You can give the program access to
email that's received on your iPhone, and it can scan for inbound
messages. Using IP lookups and likely travel time estimates, the
software tries to determine where that person was when he sent the
email and where he is now, relative to your current location. The
tracking screen uses Google Maps to show you the current location
(if known) of anyone you've profiled, along with a circle of
probability and a timestamp. This is useful when you're taking a
stroll and want to make sure the coast is clear.
<http://www.tidbits.com/resources/2009-04/invisibility_tracking.jpg>
Invisibility can also use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals to identify
someone's cell phone within a range of 30 to 100 feet. To do this,
you put the app into a sniffing mode, in which it grabs MAC
addresses and other wireless identifiers out of the air when you're
near the person in question. If Invisibility "hears" those
identifiers in the future, it uses that information along with other
data to trigger a proximity alarm. These alarms can be customized
for each person, so, for instance, you might want to be alerted via
email and a loud warning sound when your ex-spouse appears anywhere
in your neighborhood, whereas your boss moving within 100 feet of
you might necessitate only a discreet vibration.
The program can also tap into Facebook messages, Flickr geotagging
information, Skyhook Wireless location updates, Twitter, Dopplr
travel logging, Blogger posts, and all kinds of other public and
private (once you've connected it to your accounts) social media and
buddy services. By adding someone's Flickr account to their profile,
for instance, Invisibility can use RSS to determine when a new photo
is added, then extract the geotag information to see where that
person was when the photo was taken, and calculate a possible
current location for them. Since Invisibility reports your own
location back to the company's servers as well, it can use that for
highly accurate location reporting for anyone who's trying to avoid
you.
While Invisibility is impressive, Invisible Inc. isn't promising
100-percent success. However, since the system works largely by
correlating vast quantities of data, the developers promise that it
will improve in the future, as a surveying mechanism built into the
app will enable users to report on failures. And, of course, the
more people who use Invisibility, the more accurate it becomes, if
only among Invisibility users.
The company calls this _asocial networking_, something the founders
believe is a growing trend as people tire of being expected to be in
a state of constant availability to an increasingly wide range of
friends and acquaintances. Eventually, Invisible Inc. hopes to tie
Invisibility into a new system with the working title of
"Effacebook."
iPhoto's Faces and Places Designed to Track Terrorists?
-------------------------------------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10184>
At Macworld Expo in January, Apple made much of the two big new
features in iPhoto '09, Faces and Places. Faces is face detection
and recognition technology, and Places both reads GPS information
stored with photos and enables you to add it yourself. Currently,
Faces is the more successful of the two, since although it's
relatively easy to add geotags to photos in iPhoto, most photos
won't be geotagged until GPS chips are commonplace in cameras.
However, a programmer friend spelunking through the text strings
stored in the iPhoto application binary made a rather unsettling
discovery. There's an IP address deep in the bowels of iPhoto that
points at a machine within a range of IP addresses controlled by the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Users running Little Snitch
haven't reported any unexpected traffic leaving iPhoto for the
destination address, so whatever it is, it's not currently active.
<http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/>
Needless to say, Apple had no comment on the discovery. If forced to
speculate, therefore, all I can think of is that there is some code
in iPhoto with the capability of phoning home to the DHS. It
wouldn't make sense to transfer entire photos most of the time,
since massive data transfers would be obvious. But, if there were
some way to transfer just the facial recognition data at a trickle
rate, the DHS could compile it all and cross-reference it against
facial characteristics of known terrorists. That may not be all that
helpful on its own, but what if the facial recognition data was
accompanied by geotags and date stamp information? If the DHS - or
another government agency - could pinpoint when and where known
terrorists were, even in the past, that could prove a huge aid in
preventing further acts of terrorism and bringing them to justice.
The problem, of course, is that were such a feature to exist within
iPhoto, it would be a massive privacy breach on an unparalleled
scale. I can't see Apple, of all companies, going along with this
sort of thing. However, over the past few years the U.S. government
has been single-minded in its quest to capture terrorists, and I
wouldn't be at all surprised if there was some super secret way the
government could compel a private company to act in a way that
protected the interests of national security. Of course, this isn't
out of line with some previous secret government programs, such as
all color laser printers putting a nearly invisible pattern of
yellow dots on every page that includes the printer model and serial
number, along with a date stamp.
<http://w2.eff.org/Privacy/printers/docucolor/>
Our request for information from the Department of Homeland Security
was turned down, not surprisingly, although the spokesman did say
that all projects begun under the previous administration were
"under review." This is certainly one I'd like to see go under the
axe, for if the DHS relies on iPhoto for its reconnaissance, it's
anyone's guess who will end up under the magnifying glass, given
pictures like this one.
<http://www.tidbits.com/resources/2009-04/iPhoto-unknown-face.jpg>
Apple Launches SecurityCare
---------------------------
by Rich Mogull <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10186>
Recently, Apple has come under criticism for its handling of a
series of security issues. Apple is also known for maintaining a
stoic silence in the face of public outcry, then releasing a new
product or update to wipe away the world's concerns. So we shouldn't
be surprised to see Apple announce a major new security initiative:
Apple SecurityCare.
Similar to AppleCare, SecurityCare is an add-on service available
with the purchase of any new Mac, AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express,
or Time Capsule. All new Macs and AirPort base stations come with 90
days of free coverage, with 3 years of extended protection
available. As with AppleCare, prices vary based on the particular
Mac. While tiered pricing makes perfect sense for AppleCare, it's
hard to see the same correlation justified for security issues, and
we suspect the move is to maintain consistency in the product lines.
Although not yet available for the iPhone or iPod touch, Apple
stated that SecurityCare will be available with the iPhone/iPod
touch 3.0 release later this year. Normal iPods won't be covered,
since there is essentially no security risk for them. For Macs,
SecurityCare is available only for those running Mac OS X 10.5
Leopard or later.
Apple describes SecurityCare as a "premier security service,
offering unparalleled, personalized security support." Breaking out
of the traditional paradigm of subscription-based security products
such as antivirus software, SecurityCare is instead a full service
offering that doesn't require additional software. Covered devices
will be securely configured by a SecurityCare specialist to minimize
the risk of a successful attack.
This includes proper user account and firewall configuration,
software updates, setting up secure sharing and wireless, and
locking down other system settings. It also includes proper
configuration of Time Machine backups, assuming the customer has (or
purchases) a Time Capsule or external hard drive. MobileMe
subscribers gain additional support, including spam filtering,
email-based antivirus filtering (on the MobileMe servers), and Back
to my Mac configuration support. Apple also states that the
SecurityCare specialist activates certain parts of Leopard's
Parental Controls and Apple Remote Desktop to increase security and
support remote security management. After the initial configuration,
Apple will remotely monitor these systems for any signs of security
lapses.
An Apple spokesperson stated, "With SecurityCare we are changing how
people think of security. Rather than relying on limited software,
Apple SecurityCare provides ongoing, proactive support that takes
security concerns out of the hands of Apple customers. Users
shouldn't have to become technical security experts, and Apple now
provides customers with a worry-free computing experience." Apple
guarantees an immediate response if any security problems are
detected, and complete remediation. "Our SecurityCare Specialists
won't rest until your Apple product is completely restored and safe
to use by the entire family."
As part of the announcement, Apple also revealed that it is
dramatically expanding its security team to more proactively manage
potential security issues, saying, "Apple's new Security Response
Center redefines the industry standard for managing product
security. Our team not only responds to security issues, but works
proactively to prevent them from occurring in the first place."
Although Apple is sparse on details about what exactly SecurityCare
entails, information is slowly leaking from some pre-release
SecurityCare testers. "I thought I might have accidentally
downloaded a Trojan Horse program," said one tester, who asked to
remain anonymous, "so I posted a question in an online forum. Within
minutes this shiny silver sports car pulled into my driveway, and
two guys wearing jeans, black turtlenecks, and ski masks walked
right into my house, pulled my mouse out of my hand, and fixed
everything. I couldn't believe how fast and efficient they were!"
Another SecurityCare tester stated, "It was wild. I'd taken my Mac
to the Apple Store to get a printing problem resolved, but they
totally locked down my computer before I left, for free. Then, when
I went to a local Starbucks and connected to the wireless network,
an aluminum sports car pulled up, an antenna popped out of the roof,
and next thing I know my wireless connection was locked down.
Although I think they may have also deleted all my porn."
Other testers report similar incidents... once they encounter a
potentially risky security situation, a brushed aluminum sports car
that many believe is a customized all-electric Tesla appears, and a
pair of Apple security experts resolve the situation. Some people
complained about the aggressive, yet efficient, nature of these
encounters. "I know they're supposed to keep me secure, but did they
really have to cut my Internet connection with wire clippers?" one
source asked. Another tester explained, "There I was, just engaging
in a little late night file sharing, when in the reflection of my
new glossy-screen iMac I saw someone standing behind me. He said,
'Sir, put the mouse down,' took over my computer, and now I can't
get to BitTorrent anymore".
<http://www.teslamotors.com/>
A source within Apple also revealed SecurityCare subscribers will
soon be offered a Pro upgrade that will come with a personal
bodyguard to protect you in line at Apple Stores during Apple
product launches.
[Editor's Note: In what we hope is unrelated news, security
researchers Charlie Miller and Dino Dai Zovi have not been seen
since shortly after the release of their new book, "The Mac Hackers
Handbook," which includes a foreword by TidBITS Security Editor Rich
Mogull. Mr. Mogull filed this article from an undisclosed location
via carrier pigeon.]
<http://www.amazon.com/dp/0470395362/?tag=tidbitselectro00>
FrownOnMyMac Fills New Mac Niches
---------------------------------
by Jeff Carlson <[email protected]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/10187>
The smile at SmileOnMyMac isn't as broad as it used to be. Following
a contentious disagreement between founders Philip Goward and Greg
Scown (apparently over whether the sound made by TextExpander is a
"bloop" or a "pop"), the pair have parted ways. Goward remains in
charge of the SmileOnMyMac stable of utilities such as DiscLabel and
TextExpander, while Scown is branching out with a new spinoff
company named FrownOnMyMac.
<http://www.smileonmymac.com/>
<http://www.frownonmymac.com/>
Scown's initial lineup of programs is based on early code for which
he still owns the rights. "I wanted to hit the ground running with
applications ready for sale right away," he said. The lineup
includes the following applications, which are available
immediately. Because of the age of the code, all three work under
Mac OS 9, or in Mac OS X in the Classic environment (and thus aren't
compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard).
**TextRedactor 1.2** -- Billed as "the perfect tool for any serious
writer," TextRedactor encourages you to write the best prose you can
manage. As writers we can attest that we often delete more words
than we write during the revision process. TextRedactor takes that
one step further, automatically deleting poorly written sentences
once you've typed them. When you write a good sentence,
TextRedactor's proprietary language algorithm identifies it and
keeps it onscreen for three minutes, during which time pressing
Command-Option-Ctrl-7-P-M prevents the sentence from being erased.
(A LazyType option in the program's preferences can also
automatically keep your fifth, tenth, or thirtieth try without
invoking the algorithm.)
<http://www.frownonmymac.com/textredactor/>
New in version 1.2 is the capability to specify fonts other than
Helvetica, the option to play a sound ("Splonk," added to your Mac
during installation) when the software does its redacting, and,
anticipating popular request, a full-screen view for eliminating
distractions. TextRedactor costs $41.09.
**FaxPen PRO 1.0.2** -- SmileOnMyMac's PDFpen utility has been a
godsend for anyone who needs to edit or view a PDF and can't handle
the overhead and feature bloat of Adobe's Acrobat Pro. However, PDFs
weren't yet in wide use when Scown first developed FaxPen Pro.
<http://www.frownonmymac.com/faxpenpro/>
FaxPen Pro takes existing PDFs, with their precise formatting and
aligned text, and converts them into low-resolution TIFF images
suitable for faxing. You can accept the software's default values,
or expand a sidebar to reveal sliders that control the amount of
Text Alignment, Image Loss, Crumpledness, and even Cutoff (where the
bottom of the sheet is excised). Scown also revealed a tip: when you
hold the Option key, the Image Loss slider becomes the Coffee Stain
slider, which controls the darkness of a random coffee stain applied
to the image.
FaxPen Pro is ideal for computer-literate users who are in the midst
of refinancing a mortgage, sending forms to the government, or
engaging in other similar activities where the only acceptable
format is fax. The software costs $41.09 for a single-user license,
or $2,300 for organizations of 50 or more employees. An optional
1200 bps USB modem for directly faxing from your computer (Mac OS X
10.0 or later) is $1.08 plus shipping.
**DisKLabel 1.0.1.3** -- The last item in the FrownOnMyMac lineup is
DisKLabel, an easy-to-use utility for printing attractive dot-matrix
floppy disk labels. "We all have lots of floppy disks stored away,"
said Scown, "typically with no scheme for cataloging or even
identifying what's on them."
<http://www.frownonmymac.com/disklabel/>
DisKLabel reads the contents of a floppy disk (provided, of course,
that you're able to mount it using an external USB floppy disk
reader) and creates a label listing the top six items (or eight
items if you set the label font to Very Tiny) that can be applied to
the surface of any 3.5-inch floppy. A separate sheet of paper
contains the rest of the disk's contents, and includes prominent
marks to indicate where to fold the paper so that it matches the
disk's physical size.
DisKLabel is also compatible with HP's advanced label-burning
technology built into the latest generation of USB floppy drive
readers. It uses a low-powered laser to etch the plastic on a
diskette without a label attached. A typical label takes 150 minutes
to burn.
New in version 1.0.1.3 is backwards compatibility for 5.25-inch
floppies (provided you can find a way to read them) and support for
two-color printing. Through the end of 01-Apr-09, you can also
download a bonus package that lets you also print labels for Zip
disks. Like the rest of FrownOnMyMac's programs, DisKLabel costs
$41.09.
**Why So Serious?** So, what's the story behind the dour company name?
I caught up with Jean MacDonald, the now-professionally-bipolar
marketing and PR contact for both SmileOnMyMac and FrownOnMyMac for
more information. She replied via Twitter (she's @macgenie):
The name is just poking fun at Greg's old company, there's no - well, not
much - malice behind it. We thought FrownOnMyMac embodies the spi
After reaching Twitter's 140-character limit, MacDonald declined to
comment further.
$$
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