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TidBITS#710/15-Dec-03

We're wrapping up 2003 with a jumbo issue! First, we're happy to announce the release of our latest ebook, Kirk McElhearn's "Take Control of Users & Accounts in Panther." Then we have a pair of articles by Dan Frakes, covering a host of iPod accessories and headphones. Also in this issue is a heads-up on where you can find us at Macworld Expo in January, the winners of last week's Bare Bones Software DealBITS drawing, a new DealBITS drawing for Insider Software's FontAgent Pro, and news of Lasso Professional 7. Have a safe and happy holiday - see you in January!

Topics:

Copyright 2003 TidBITS: Reuse governed by Creative Commons license
<http://www.tidbits.com/terms/> Contact: <editors@tidbits.com>

This issue of TidBITS sponsored in part by:

MailBITS/15-Dec-03

TidBITS 2003 Holiday Hiatus -- It's been a mad rush to the end of the year, but you're reading our last TidBITS issue for 2003, and we're all anticipating some well-deserved relaxation with friends and family over the next few weeks of the holiday season. I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to the many people who help keep TidBITS vital and relevant: Tonya, Geoff, Jeff, Matt, Mark, and Glenn, our corporate sponsors and Internet hosts, our knowledgeable authors and contributors, our amazing volunteer translators, all the participants of TidBITS Talk, the folks who have helped make the Take Control project the huge success it is, and of course, everyone who gives meaning to our work by reading TidBITS each week. Our next issue will appear on 05-Jan-04, as we gear up for Macworld Expo in San Francisco. See you in 2004! [ACE]

DealBITS Drawing: Bare Bones Software Winners -- Congratulations to Andre Bloch of free.fr, Wayne Clodfelter of troutnc.com, and Mary of sympatico.ca, whose entries were chosen randomly in our third DealBITS drawing. Each will be receiving a piece of software from Bare Bones Software: BBEdit, Mailsmith, or TextWrangler. Everyone else who entered has received a coupon code good for a 15 percent discount on any Bare Bones product. Thanks to the 967 people who entered, and keep an eye out for future DealBITS drawings. [ACE]

<http://www.barebones.com/>
<http://www.tidbits.com/dealbits/bare-bones.html>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07460>

Blue World Releases Lasso Professional 7 -- Blue World Communications has released Lasso Professional 7, the latest version of its powerful Web-and-database serving middleware for Mac OS X and Windows. Version 7 features an embedded version of the MySQL database (enhancing both performance and security), improved Unicode and extended character set support, significant data source caching (which can dramatically improve performance of some database-driven sites), dynamic manipulation and generation of images, performance enhancements specifically for folks serving FileMaker Pro databases with Lasso, multi-server sessions (so user sessions can be tracked across multiple Lasso servers), support for Apache 2, improved database transaction support, enhanced support for dealing with SOAP, XML, and WSDL-based Web services, hundreds of new tags, and much more. Lasso Professional 7 costs $1,000, although Blue World is offering a $50 discount through 31-Dec-03; upgrade pricing is available for previous versions. Lasso Professional 7 requires Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar with either Apache 1.3, Apache 2, or WebSTAR V, and is fully optimized for Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and PowerPC G5 processors. A fully functional 30-day trial version is available from the Blue World Web site. [TJE]

<http://www.blueworld.com/>

Last Call for Free Macworld Expo Passes -- Despite a great turnout from TidBITS readers last week, our friends at Peachpit Press still have some Macworld Expo exhibits-only passes left for January's show. To request a free pair of passes (normally $15 to $35), send an email message to <macworld@peachpit.com> with your name and postal address. See you at the show! [JLC]

Take Control of Users & Accounts Released

by Adam C. Engst <ace@tidbits.com>

For many of us who were accustomed to the classic Mac OS, the multi-user aspects of Mac OS X have been the most confusing. My parents are still dubious about why I set up separate accounts for them on their Cube, and even those of us who have adopted Mac OS X heartily have found the quirks and repercussions of a multi-user operating system frustrating to overcome at times. How do you share your iPhoto Library or iTunes Music folder between two users on the same computer? For that matter, what's the point of that Public folder, with its Drop Box folder, and why would you want to use those two folders instead of the Shared folder in /Users? Is there any way to log in and switch among users without needing a password?

Those are just a few of the questions we had, and Kirk McElhearn's new 65-page ebook "Take Control of Users & Accounts in Panther" answers all of them and many more. (Although the book concentrates on Panther's interface, at least 80 percent of the text applies equally for those still using Jaguar, and you'll be better prepared for when you do upgrade to Panther.) Kirk explains the basics of how accounts work, discusses the different types of accounts, and helps you figure out an account strategy that's appropriate to your situation. Then he reviews how to log into and out of accounts, looks in detail at the ramifications of Panther's new Fast User Switching feature, and shows you how to manage your startup items.

Next come my favorite sections: how to use your second account to troubleshoot problems, and instructions on the four ways you can share files among users on your Mac. (Note that Kirk doesn't cover sharing files over a network; for all the details on that topic, subscribe to the Take Control announcement mailing list by sending email to <tc-announce@tidbits.com> and watch for news of Glenn Fleishman's "Take Control of Sharing Files in Panther" - due out soon.) Lastly, Kirk provides step-by-step instructions on how to share your photos and music using iPhoto and iTunes, something I've been asked about all too many times.

After working with Kirk on this title for a few weeks, we've become convinced that anyone who manages their own Mac should read it (and I'm giving a copy to my parents for Christmas so they know why I've set their Mac up as I did). The fact is, users and accounts are key to using Mac OS X effectively, and I know we certainly haven't been doing so as well as we could have until now.

If you're the primary user of your Mac, you should take a look, and to help you with that, we've now uploaded a free sample for this and all the rest of our current Take Control ebooks. The samples give you a sense of how the books look and work and provide the full table of contents along with a few pages of content.

<http://www.tidbits.com/takecontrol/panther/users.html>

DealBITS Drawing: Insider Software

by Adam C. Engst <ace@tidbits.com>

With Mac OS X 10.3 Panther, Apple included Font Book, a font management utility. But people who are serious about managing their fonts quickly found that it wasn't competition for a real font manager like Insider Software's FontAgent Pro. For those who work with fonts on a daily basis, FontAgent Pro offers a powerful set of features for managing, organizing, activating, exporting, viewing, and even repairing fonts. FontAgent Pro was built from the ground up as a Cocoa application for Mac OS X, and it offers drag-and-drop functionality in an Aqua interface.

<http://www.insidersoftware.com/FontAgent/fontagentpro/>

In this week's DealBITS drawing, we're giving away a boxed copy of FontAgent Pro, valued at $99.95. Those who aren't among our lucky winners will receive a discount on FontAgent Pro. Enter at the DealBITS page linked below, and be sure to read and agree to the drawing rules on that page. As always, all information gathered is covered by our comprehensive privacy policy. Lastly, check your spam filters, since you must be able to receive email from my address to learn if you've won.

<http://www.tidbits.com/dealbits/insider-software.html>
<http://www.tidbits.com/about/privacy.html>

Macworld Expo SF 2004 Events

by Adam C. Engst <ace@tidbits.com>

Last July's Macworld Expo in New York was, as I wrote back then, highly concentrated, with many fewer exhibitors and many fewer attendees. Apart from the raw numbers, though, the show went well, so I have no ill premonitions regarding the upcoming Macworld Expo in San Francisco. It's also nice to see, after the fuss regarding kids at Macworld Expo in New York, that IDG World Expo has reverted to their previous policy of requiring a registered adult to accompany children under 16, with kids under the age of 5 receiving free admission.

<http://www.macworldexpo.com/>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07279>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07288>
<http://www.macworldexpo.com/macworldexposf/V40/index.cvn?ID=10148>

As has been true in recent years, there are almost no public events after the Macworld show floor closes each day, but the primary exception remains the long-running Netter's Dinner, scheduled for Thursday, January 8th and now in its 18th consecutive year. For those who like tradition, the Netter's Dinner is ideal, since it will once again be held at the Hunan at Sansome and Broadway, where the hot and spicy Chinese dinner (vegetarian dishes are available) costs $18. You must register by 06-Jan-04 via Kagi - use the link below. The booming voice and Hawaiian shirt of our fearless organizer, Jon Pugh, will again be absent, so I'll once more be moderating the boisterous raise-your-hands survey. Help me avoid sounding unprepared on stage by sending suggestions for questions ahead of time, and when you're shouting from the audience, yell loudly!

<http://www.seanet.com/~jonpugh/nettersdinner.html>

As in previous years, meet at the top of the escalators on the south side of Moscone at 6:00 PM and be prepared for a brisk, sometimes damp, walk that snarls traffic throughout downtown San Francisco. We'll leave no later than 6:30 PM for the restaurant.

TidBITS Events -- Along with the Netter's Dinner on Thursday night, Jeff, Glenn, and I will be speaking at various times throughout the show, and for the first time in six years, Tonya will be able to attend several days as well. (For his fifth birthday, which we also hope will involve something relating to clipper ships, Tristan will be spending a few days with my sister, the cool aunt. He's looking forward to it so much that he told us we could just drop him off at the door and didn't even need to come in.)

<http://www.macworldexpo.com/macworldexposf/V40/conference/session.cvn?eid=596>
<http://www.wireless-starter-kit.com/>
<http://www.macworldexpo.com/macworldexposf/V40/conference/session.cvn?eID=618>

<http://www.mugcenter.com/macworld/mwsf2004/ugl.html>
<http://www.tidbits.com/takecontrol/panther/upgrading.html>

We're all looking forward to seeing you at the show!

Music to Your Ears: 2003

by Dan Frakes <dan@frakes.org>

Headphones. Everywhere you look, people are using them with portable music players - including the iPod - but they're also extremely popular computer accessories, used for watching DVDs, playing games, and listening to tunes at work or play. For the past two years I've been providing recommendations for headphone gifts based on the premise that most headphones stink (especially those that come with portable audio devices, but even many that you buy yourself in electronics stores). The bad news is that this hasn't changed; most still aren't very good. The good news is that there are more quality options available than ever, and prices seem to be getting better every year. If someone in your life uses headphones, give them a pair that do their music/movies/games justice.

<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07012>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=06657>

The response to the previous years' articles was overwhelmingly positive, so I'm revisiting my recommendations from last year. A few models have been discontinued, others have been replaced, and some prices have changed. I've also added a few items based on feedback from readers and evaluations I've done over the past year. Below, listed by type/style, are this year's recommendations. I've included approximate street prices in US dollars, and URLs for more information. (If an item is difficult to find, I've also included a URL for a reputable vendor.)

Note that there are definitely "better" headphones available than those listed below - especially if you have a dedicated headphone amplifier that can drive them properly. However, the models listed below will play nice with the headphone jack of your iPod, PowerBook, iBook, iMac, or Power Mac. Also keep in mind that sound quality between different models from the same manufacturer often varies significantly. Just because a model from a manufacturer is recommended here doesn't mean that another model from that manufacturer is just as good; there's a good chance it isn't.

Earbuds -- These models sit in your outer ear, like the iPod earbuds.

<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_headphones_portables_04854>

<http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_30&products_id=429>

In-Ear-Canal Headphones -- These "seal" in your ear canal to block out external sound, and they're great for traveling. The main drawback to in-ear-canal headphones is that some people don't like sticking things inside their ears... way inside. Be sure to read the included instructions on how to get the right fit. Fortunately, all of the models listed here include several different sizes of rubber and/or foam tips to help you achieve the most comfortable fit.

<http://www.etymotic.com/hifi/micropro.asp>

<http://www.shure.com/earphones/eseries_e5c.asp>

<http://www.etymotic.com/musicians/more6.asp>

<http://www.shure.com/earphones/eseries_e2c.asp>

<http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=mZz_RaGQiw__ZZ5aH5b1Tu6dbyyAXxxthcM=?CategoryName=pa_Headphones_FontopiaEarbud&ProductSKU=MDREX71SL&Dept=pa>

Earclips -- Instead of using a headband like traditional headphones, the drivers on these models clip/hang on each ear. They tend to be quite comfortable, and won't mess up your hair. This style has grown immensely in popularity over the past few years, but the only ones I've heard that I can recommend from an audio perspective are the two Koss models below.

(Koss does not let you link directly to headphone models at its Web site, below. Go to Products and click the Portable link to see the Koss models included here.)

<http://www.koss.com/>

Lightweight, Over the Head -- These are traditional over-the-head headphones using a metal or plastic headband. Koss has long been the king of sound quality in this area, as they have an entire line of portable headphones that use a driver that is much better than almost anything else on the market. However, Sennheiser released a new line of lightweight/portable headphones last year that are excellent and give the Koss models some competition.

<http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F007%5F003%5F004%5F000&product%5Fid=33%2D1222>

<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_headphones_portables_05206>

<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_headphones_portables_05207>

Street Style, Behind the Head -- Like earclips, this style has become quite popular - Sony's emphasis on their Street Style line has ended up naming the entire genre. They clip over each ear, but include a headband that goes behind the head/neck for stability. Unfortunately, there aren't too many choices if sound quality is important to you.

<http://www.sonystyle.com/>
<http://www.millionbuy.com/snymdrg72lp.html>

Vertical In-Ear -- These models have a thin headband combined with earbud-sized earpieces that sit vertically (facing forward) in each ear. They tend to be very comfortable, and are good choices for exercise. Unfortunately, there aren't many good options in terms of sound; I've found only one I can recommend.

<http://www.sonystyle.com/>
<http://www.millionbuy.com/snymdra44l.html>

Full-Size Sealed/Closed -- These headphones fit over or around the ears and block out some degree of external noise; they're good for travel or use in noisier environments (the isolation also saves others from having to listen to your music). On the other hand, they tend to be quite a bit bulkier than most of the headphones mentioned so far.

<http://www.beyerdynamic.com/com/product/sheets/d225.php3>

<http://www.millionbuy.com/snymdrv6.html>

<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_headphones_professionals_04974>

<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_headphones_dj_05180>

<http://www.beyerdynamic.com/com/product/sheets/d428.php3>

Full-Size Open -- Like the closed models above, these are bulkier than most portable headphones. However, unlike the closed models, they don't seal out any external noise (or seal in your music), so they're best suited for home use.

<http://www.gradolabs.com/product_pages/sr80.htm>
<http://www.gradolabs.com/product_pages/sr60.htm>

<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_headphones_homeuse_minihifisystems_05179>

Style over Substance -- I prefer good sound in a headphone to a fault - I'll wear the ugliest headphones around if they sound good. But I'm open-minded enough to realize that not everyone has the same preferences. Some people see their headphones as an extension of their appearance, and legitimately care what they look like. Here are some of the "chic-est" of headphone chic. When compared to the sound of the other headphones I recommend, they come up a bit short, but they're still an upgrade over the stock headphones that come with most portable players.

<http://www.bang-olufsen.com/sw711.asp>

<http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?products_id=308>

<http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?products_id=618>

Noise-Cancelling -- These gadgets feature a processor that "cancels" out external noise in a limited frequency range. Until last year I couldn't recommend any headphones in this category because noise-canceling technology is still no match for good old isolation (see the Etymotic and Shure models above), and because almost every model on the market sacrificed audio quality for noise-canceling circuitry, leaving you with fairly poor sound. But there's finally a pair of noise-canceling headphones worth mentioning.

<http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_headphones_portables_04924>

Wireless -- For use at home, wireless systems let you move around without being tethered to your audio source by cables. Like noise-canceling headphones, it used to be difficult to recommend a wireless headphone system because they sounded lousy, even compared to cheap wired headphones. However, a couple of impressive systems have surfaced over the past few years that make wireless a viable, if not perfect, option for those who value good sound.

<http://www.amphony.com/products/head.htm>

<http://www.xdreamfones.com/>

Headphone Amps? If you're serious about sound quality, you might also consider a dedicated headphone amplifier. Many people make the mistake of thinking that a headphone amplifier is for increased volume. Although that might be a benefit (and a danger to your hearing, if you aren't careful), the main reasons for using a headphone amplifier are (1) the ability to drive harder-to-drive headphones; and (2) sound quality. Headphone amplifiers generally provide the necessary power for your headphones to keep up with the music, even during complex transients. In addition, some, like amps from HeadRoom Corporation, offer a "crossfeed" processor that makes the extreme left/right imaging common in headphones sound a bit more natural (i.e., closer to the sound of speakers or even a live performance).

Headphone amplifiers connect to a line-level output (preferred) or headphone jack (if necessary) on your audio source. For portable use, HeadRoom offers their AirHead ($150) and Total AirHead ($200). These portable amps are perfect for using with an iPod or PowerBook (or even with a desktop Mac). They run off of AAA batteries and provide two headphone jacks for music sharing. The newest models, just released, also have a slim profile case that is approximately the same width and height as the iPod. (In fact, HeadRoom sells a bag that holds the iPod and amp as a package.) Other portable options include numerous DIY or DBSE ("done by someone else") amps, with lots of information available on the Web. For non-portable amps, the selection is surprisingly varied. HeadRoom probably has the largest variety, both of their own amps and those from other manufacturers, but much more info is available online at some of the URLs listed below.

(Disclaimer: I've done a bit of editing for HeadRoom. However, I was a satisfied customer long before that.)

<http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=27>
<http://www.jmtaudio.com/>
<http://www.tangentsoft.net/audio/>
<http://headwize2.powerpill.org/projects/index.htm>

Where to Buy? I've listed links to retailers for those products that aren't widely available. Most of the other models can be found in the United States at a good headphone-only retailer like HeadRoom or GoodCans. A few of the Koss, Sony, and Sennheiser models can be found at electronics chain stores. Web retailers like Amazon and Buy.com also carry a number of the products mentioned here.

<http://www.headphone.com/>
<http://www.goodcans.com/>
<http://www.amazon.com/>
<http://www.buy.com/>

If sound quality isn't your primary goal, and you're instead looking for the latest in headphone chic, Audio Cubes and MiniDisco both carry a wide variety of style-over-sound models. They both also carry a number of better sounding headphones, including models I've recommended here.

<http://www.audiocubes.com/>
<http://www.minidisco.com/>

Note that Sennheiser currently has a holiday rebate on several models I've recommended, good until 31-Dec-03: $5 for the PX 100, PX 200, HD 497, and HD 212 Pro; and $10 for the HD 280 Pro. I've seen the rebate form posted online at Amazon.com, but it's good on products purchased from any authorized Sennheiser dealer.

<http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000089GN4.01.RB03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg>

Finally, if you're interested in learning more about, or just talking about, good headphone audio, check out Head-Fi and HeadWize.

<http://www.head-fi.org/>
<http://www.headwize.com/>

PayBITS: If Dan's recommendations helped you or your gift recipient
better enjoy the music, say thanks with a few bucks via PayBITS.
<http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/P3UQQEWHYLQXIT/>
<https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=dan%40frakes.org>
Read more about PayBITS: <http://www.tidbits.com/paybits/>

iPod Offerings, Part 2

by Dan Frakes <dan@frakes.org>

Last week I gave you Part 1 of my holiday gift suggestions for the iPod user(s) in your life, covering Apple accessories, music, software, cases, bags, and jackets. Part 2 provides you with the best in third-party iPod add-ons, car accessories, speakers, reading, and repair options. Give your favorite iPod user even more reason to love their iPod with one (or more) of these useful items.

<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07464>

To recap from last week: I've divided products into categories, and included approximate U.S. prices for each, though you may be able to find items for significantly less. I've also noted whether each product is available for the older (FireWire port) iPods, the newer (dock connector) iPods, or both. For recommendations on headphones, see "Music to Your Ears: 2003," elsewhere in this issue.

Accessorize iPod Add-Ons -- The iPod is much more than simply a portable music player, and it's more versatile than many people realize. Here are some add-ons that your iPod lover might love to own.

<http://www.sendstation.com/>

<http://store.sik.com/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SS&Product_Code=03-1004>

<http://www.tentechnology.com/>

<http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Product_Id=148969>

<http://store.sik.com/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SS&Category_Code=HotWire>

<http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Product_Id=158384>

<http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Product_Id=158350>

<http://www.chally.net/podpod/>

<http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/ifm/>
<http://www.griffintechnology.com/images/ifm_infographic.gif>

<http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/radioshark/>

Road Trip: Car Accessories -- To truly appreciate what it means to have thousands of songs on your iPod, you need to take a trip that passes through radio no-man's-land. Whether it's a lack of any radio stations at all, or an overwhelming proliferation of "all talk, all the time" stations, having your favorite music with you can make the trip much more enjoyable. But you need a few items to get your music playing in your car and to keep your iPod going. (In other words, setting someone's car up to be an iPod-playing-roadster is a great holiday gift.)

<http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/>
<http://www.griffintechnology.com/software/software_itrip.html>
<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tbart=07191>

<http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powerpodauto/>
<http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Product_Id=149006>
<http://store.sik.com/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SS&Product_Code=03-1004>

<http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=153999>

Listen Out Loud: Speakers -- Apple responded to feedback when they added a line-level output to the dock base for the newer iPods; now users can get the best possible sound when connecting the iPod to a home stereo. Here are a few accessories for listening without headphones. If you have an older iPod, or a newer iPod without a dock base, you can also use these accessories; however, you must use the iPod's volume control to approximate a line-level output from the headphone jack.

<http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/cables_accessories/ipod_cable_kit.html>

<http://www.tivoliaudio.com/pPALPRL.htm>
<http://www.danfrakes.com/writing/images/TidBITS/iPodTivoliNavPod.jpg>

<http://www.tivoliaudio.com/pM2TPE.htm>

<http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=T8355LL/A>

<http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=search&item=c1md12ee&type=store>
<http://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/products/aego/aegoloudspeakers.html>
<http://www.aegoproject.org/buy.htm>

Read Up -- Although the iPod and iTunes are easy to use, you'll never use them to their full potential without some help. I suggest a little iPod leisure reading.

<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0321223713/tidbitselectro00/ref%3Dnosim/>

We Can Rebuild Him -- If your favorite iPod user has an older iPod, or just hasn't taken very good care of their newer one, some gifts for repair and maintenance might be appreciated.

<http://www.radtech.us/icecreme.html>
<http://www.ipodcleaner.com/>

<http://www.ipodbattery.com/>
<http://www.pdasmart.com/ipodpartscenter.htm>
<http://www.info.apple.com/support/applecare_products/service/ipod_service.html>

<http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=M9404LL/A>
<http://www.smalldog.com/product/46133>

PayBITS: If Dan's recommendations helped you find the perfect iPod
gift, say thanks with a couple of bucks via Amazon or PayPal.
<http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/P3UQQEWHYLQXIT/>
<https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=dan%40frakes.org>
Read more about PayBITS: <http://www.tidbits.com/paybits/>

Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/15-Dec-03

by TidBITS Staff <editors@tidbits.com>

Reading HTML TidBITS in Panther Mail -- The new Mail application in Panther isn't consistent about displaying our HTML-formatted issues, as some readers discover. (4 messages)

<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2128>

How does an app attract fans? Readers continue to discuss the merits of software that goes beyond just providing a useful service; although not often achieved, excellent software tends to excel in areas such as interface, form versus function, and support. (21 messages)

<http://db.tidbits.com/getbits.acgi?tlkthrd=2126>

Non-profit, non-commercial publications and Web sites may reprint or link to articles if full credit is given. Others please contact us. We do not guarantee accuracy of articles. Caveat lector. Publication, product, and company names may be registered trademarks of their companies. TidBITS ISSN 1090-7017.

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