TidBITS #550 on 2000-10-09

Microsoft Office - love it or hate it, it's the 3,000-pound gorilla of the Macintosh software scene. This week brings the release of Office 2001 and the latest versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with the new Entourage, which Contributing Editor Matt Neuburg examines in depth in this issue. Also this week, we look at the reasons behind Apple's stock plunge and note the Supreme Court denying an expedited hearing of the Microsoft antitrust case.

TidBITS #549 on 2000-09-25

Aside from the releases of PageSpinner 3.0 and MRJ 2.2.3 and news of Apple's licensing of Amazon's 1-Click patent, this issue is devoted to explaining XNS, a new Internet technology platform, and XNSORG, the independent non-profit tasked with maintenance of the XNS standard and governance of the XNS community. It's worth a look. (Please note: no issue next week!)

TidBITS #548 on 2000-09-18

Mac OS X Public Beta is out! Steve Jobs's keynote at Apple Expo 2000 in Paris last week featured the Mac OS X Public Beta and introductions of more powerful iBooks in new colors. Also in this issue, we talk with Macintosh author and veteran David Blatner about playing with today's technology yesterday, and note releases of MindControl 1.1 and WebSTAR Server Suite 4.3. This week's poll: Do you say "Mac OS Ten" (like Apple wants) or "Mac OS Ex?"

TidBITS #547 on 2000-09-11

Use Eudora? Thinking about using Eudora? A detailed look at the unusual features in the just-released Eudora 5.0 anchors this week's issue, and Kirk McElhearn returns to BookBITS with a review of Newton's Telecom Dictionary. New releases include BBEdit 6.0, Default Folder 3.0.7, and VSE Link Tester 3.1, and we report on the surprising results of last week's poll on 68K Macintosh usage and present a vocabulary quiz for this week's brain tester.

TidBITS #546 on 2000-09-04

Want to add auto-correct functionality to Eudora? Read on for instructions and the link to the necessary auto-correct dictionary. Then it's time to learn about different options for repairing your Mac and how Apple is quietly changing service policies in ways you may not appreciate. In the news, the Mac OS X beta lines up for 13-Sep-00, the Palm sees its first Trojan Horse, and we cover updates to VSE Link Checker 3.0, SoundJam 2.5.1, and Eudora 4.3.3.

TidBITS #545 on 2000-08-28

Speech recognition took first place in last week's poll on future technologies, so it's appropriate that this week Matt Neuburg looks at Apple's PlainTalk speech recognition technology, along with the alternative speech interfaces offered by QuicKeys and ListenDo. Segueing from voice to print, Kirk McElhearn returns with a review of David Pogue's "Missing Manual" on Mac OS 9, and we ask what factors help you decide to buy computer books.

TidBITS #544 on 2000-08-21

Want a larger monitor? Read on for how to expand the viewable image on most CRT-based displays. Also in this issue, Matt Neuburg reviews weighs in with a review of IBM's ViaVoice speech recognition software. Major releases this week include Interarchy 3.8, an updated and renamed version of Anarchie, and Adobe GoLive 5.0, the latest version of the powerful Web design package. This week's poll: which futuristic technologies do you most want to see become reality?

TidBITS #543 on 2000-08-14

In this week's installment of Hacking the Press, Adam sheds more light on the inner workings of the computer media with an examination of different types of editorial coverage. We also recap a pair of TidBITS events at Macworld Expo, announce a new sponsor, and take a quick look at icWord, a $20 utility that lets you view and print recent Microsoft Word documents. Finally, we offer another quiz whose results could improve your productivity!

TidBITS #542 on 2000-08-07

Thinking of passing along juicy news you heard under a non-disclosure agreement? Think again! Apple's on the legal warpath to find who leaked news of recent product announcements - and you can register your opinion on the value of rumors in our poll. Also this week, Matt Neuburg reviews the Starry Night Backyard astronomy program, Palm releases new handhelds, and we explain the little-known Finder tips necessary to answer last week's quiz.

TidBITS #541 on 2000-07-31

We wrap up our Macworld Expo NY coverage with an issue full of show superlatives. Read on for bits about the most interesting hardware, the coolest software, and the most disgusting events. In the news, we cover Napster's legal woes, and the releases of Retrospect and Retrospect Express 4.3, Now Up-to-Date & Contact 3.9.2, and useful Palm and Handspring updates. Finally, if you think you know the Mac OS, try this week's diabolical quiz.

TidBITS #540 on 2000-07-24

Apple stole the show at Macworld Expo with major hardware releases, so we concentrate first on the technical and pricing details and then analyze what Apple's announcements mean for the rest of the Mac industry. In other news, Netscape released Communicator 4.74, Apple posted a $200 million profit, TidBITS Publisher Adam Engst was named as the 2nd most influential person in the Mac industry, and IncWell released SuperCard Personal Edition.

TidBITS #539 on 2000-07-17

This week's installment of Adam's Hacking the Press series focuses on the different types of publications, how they work, and how to interact with them. Jeff Carlson weighs in with another Worthy Web Site - iPing's Mr. WakeUp notification service. In the news, we cover the releases of Conflict Catcher 8.0.7, ATM Deluxe 4.6, and Default Folder 3.0.6, note last week's poll on Macworld Expo attendance, and ask where you buy Mac hardware.

TidBITS #538 on 2000-07-10

The Macworld Expo season is starting, and we offer tips on figuring out what you'll want to do and see at Macworld Expo and in New York City. Also this week, Adam starts an article series on Hacking the Press, Matt Neuburg looks at the outliner Inspiration 6, and we put out the call for more translators. New releases include an important patch for Word 98, FileMaker Pro Web Companion 5.0v5, ATM Light 4.6, and PowerMail 3.0.4.

TidBITS #537 on 2000-07-03

Curious what top Macintosh developers create when locked in a hotel for 72 hours? Adam looks at the winners of this year's MacHax Best Hack Contest. Jeff Carlson weighs in with a look at VSE Link Tester, and in the news, electronic signatures become legally binding, Palm releases a fix for defective DRAM, Connectix scores against Sony in court, Webvan buys HomeGrocer.com, and we cover releases of MRJ 2.2.2, GraphicConverter 3.9, and Aladdin Tuner 3.0.

TidBITS #536 on 2000-06-26

What happens when well-known open source proponent Eric Raymond meets 300 diehard Mac programmers at the annual MacHack developers conference: a butting of the heads or a meeting of the minds? Also this week, Ron Risley relates his experiences in turning a battered PowerBook into a powerful Internet router and server. Finally, the Microsoft antitrust trial might go to the Supreme Court, and we report which MP3 players are most popular.

TidBITS #535 on 2000-06-19

This week's issue spans the gamut, starting with releases of Suitcase 9, AirPort 1.2, and PowerMail 3.0.3. Next, we check out the acquisitions of Bungie Software by Microsoft and Farallon Communications by Proxim, then move on to a discussion of preventing or reducing the severity of RSI problems. Next, we look at changes in Casady & Greene's SoundJam, and close with a review of RepairClinic.com, a clever Web site that sells appliance parts.

TidBITS #534 on 2000-06-12

Who decides what should appear online? Two articles tackle different aspects of that question. First, Adam weighs in on Adobe's lawsuit against MacNN over publication of Photoshop 6 pre-release information. Then, Kirk McElhearn looks at the hyperlink and wonders if there's any content behind it. We also note the Microsoft breakup ruling, Apple's QuickTime deal with RealNetworks, and releases of QuicKeys 5.0 and Illustrator 9.0.

TidBITS #533 on 2000-06-05

Want to travel really light? Consider travelling with a Palm handheld instead of a beefy PowerBook. Jeff Carlson looks at what you'll need to make it a reality. Also, Brady Johnson passes on a collection of sites that provide information and tools for combatting spam. Finally, Apple releases firmware and Ethernet updates for current Macs, and we note the releases of Eudora 4.3.2, Spring Cleaning 3.5, and AMUG's 3.2 GB shareware DVD.

TidBITS #532 on 2000-05-22

Is Big Brother watching? Do you care? Read on for Adam's thoughts on the split between the privacy community and the rest of the world, based on novelist Neal Stephenson's keynote at CFP 2000. Adam also covers the news from Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference about Mac OS X, WebObjects, and QuickTime. Releases last week include PowerMail 3.0.1, Farallon's 11 Mbps SkyLINE wireless PC Card, and EIMS 3.0. (Please note: no issue next week!)

TidBITS #531 on 2000-05-15

Deception, fraud, and theft form the core of this week's sordid tale of Gadget Software, a Mac shareware developer that apparently stole its products. Also this week, we look at just what sort of devices you can and cannot safely plug into your Mac while it's on, plus cover the releases of Palm's HotSync 2.6.1 for fixing synchronizing under Mac OS 9.0.4, Web Confidential 2.0 with Palm support, and FileMaker's security hole-fixing Web Companion 5.0v4.

TidBITS #530 on 2000-05-08

What do you do with all the snippets of information you deal with every day? Toss them into a folder? Append them to a huge text file? Matt Neuburg has found a better way: Idea Keeper. Also in this issue, Kirk McElhearn replaces Emailer with PowerMail 3.0 as his email client of choice, and we note the releases of AppleShare IP 6.3.2, AppleWorks 6.0.3, and Netscape Communicator 4.73, plus announce another quiz to test your Macintosh knowledge.

TidBITS #529 on 2000-05-01

Should spam be illegal? Brady Johnson examines state and federal efforts to cut back on unsolicited commercial email and the practical implications of regulating spam. Plus, Adam provides comprehensive details about keys you can hold down to control your Mac's startup process. We also note the availability of AOL 5.0, Palm Desktop 2.6, and Virtual PC 3.0.3; Apple's free release of iMovie; and major Internet security issues found in FileMaker Pro 5.

TidBITS #528 on 2000-04-24

Want to fight back against spam? Depending on where you live, you may be able to sue spammers for filling up your mailbox. Brady Johnson begins a multi-part article about the legal reactions to spam in the United States. Also in this issue, Jeff Carlson explains how he transitioned from Emailer to Eudora, and we note Apple's second-quarter profits and the releases of FileMaker Developer 5 and REALbasic 2.1. Test your Macintosh knowledge with this week's quiz!

TidBITS #527 on 2000-04-17

This issue marks ten, count 'em, ten years of TidBITS! Adam commemorates the occasion of our tenth anniversary by passing on some of the lessons we've learned over the years. Geoff Duncan weighs in with a Tools We Use column on iDo Script Scheduler, and we cover the releases of Now Up-to-Date & Contact 3.9 (with Palm synchronization) and PowerMail 3.0. For this week's poll, tell us how long you've been reading TidBITS.

TidBITS #526 on 2000-04-10

"Psst! Wanna buy a PC?" To a Mac user, purchasing a PC feels like an illicit transaction, but many of us will at some point have to plunk down cash for an Intel-based computer. This week Adam looks at how to do battle with the dark side and still retain your sanity. We also report on Apple's poorly documented release of Mac OS 9.0.4, plus Darwin 1.0, Virtual PC with Windows 2000, BeOS 5, and the middleware platform wannabe Netscape 6.