Scott Sheppard takes a lighthearted look at what's new and exciting in the world of the Macintosh computer in this one-hour weekly radio show. From the digital hub to the den of the Panther operating system, Scott is always on top of what is happening in the world of Macintosh and has his finger on the pulse of the industry. With a tasty serving of news, reviews, information, and interviews, Inside Mac is all Mac, all the time, and one of the unique tech shows on radio today.

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Inside Mac - October 25th 2003

Listen / Download the October 25th, 2003 Show

Oliver Duncan Seil - Senior Industrial Designer - Belkin

Oliver Duncan Seil is the Senior Industrial Designer, Belkin Corporation Industrial Design Group Lead designer, Apple iPod accessories development team

Oliver Duncan Seil became a licensed tool and dye maker in his native Germany before studying to become a product designer at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. He began his career as a product designer at design consultancy Hauser Inc,. In 2000, he became Belkin IDG,s first employee, as the group was being formed by Belkin,s design director Ernesto Quinteros. Since then, he has participated in the development of nearly 50 different Belkin products. He considers the experience at Belkin IDG to be the ultimate challenge to a designer's ability to effectively juggle commitment to creative quality and market pressure.

Belkin Corporation,s Industrial Design Group is a full-service in-house design team, handling design, mechanical engineering, branding, prototyping and user experience for Belkin's diverse range of products. The group's studio facilities are located in Hollywood, California.

Do More with Your iPod

Add voice recording and media reading to your iPod with new accessories from Belkin

You can now add recording and digital-image storage to your iPod's amazing music-playback capabilities. The Belkin Voice Recorder and Belkin Media Reader for iPod let your iPod double as a digital voice recorder and allow you to store thousands of digital photos on it. Joining the innovative iPod accessories line from Belkin, these two additions are currently shipping in North America.

Belkin Voice Recorder for iPod (F8E462) - ESP $49.99

With the ultracompact Voice Recorder from Belkin, you can record lectures, interviews, or conversations simply by plugging it into your iPod. Its abundant storage capacity lets you save hundreds of hours of high-quality audio. A built-in speaker on the Voice Recorder lets you easily review your audio notes. You can then transfer WAV file recordings to your desktop or notebook computer for storage, editing, or sending to others via e-mail. In addition, the Voice Recorder works as a travel alarm clock.

Benefits

• Features high-quality, omnidirectional microphone and 16mm speaker for quick playback
• Attaches securely to your iPod player through remote/headphone connector
• Indicates recording status of Voice Recorder with LED indicator
• Requires no software installation, with Plug-and-Play technology; support is already built into the iPod
• Works with iPod software version 2.1 or later
• Includes protective cap for the remote connector

Belkin Media Reader for iPod (F8E461) - ESP $99.99

The Belkin Media Reader for iPod is the ideal tool for the mobile photographer. Now, you can back up digital images to your iPod, and take them with you on the road. Your iPod can hold thousands of digital photos and frees up your camera's disk space so you can take more pictures. Simply connect the Belkin Media Reader to your iPod's dock connector, and insert any of the six supported media types. Using software support that's already built into your iPod (with software version 2.1 or later), transfer the pictures quickly via FireWire¨ technology. When at home, simply connect your iPod to your computer to retrieve the data.

Benefits

• Protects the media slots from pocket dust and dirt at all times with sliding port features
• Indicates power and data transfer status of Media Reader with LED indicator
• Supports CompactFlash¨ (Type 1 and 2), SmartMediaª, Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick¨, or MultiMediaCard (MMC)

The new iPod software update, Version 2.1, is available today as a free download from http://www.apple.com/ipod

John Nack - Product Manager - Adobe Photoshop CS

John Nack is currently the Product Manager for Adobe Photoshop CS. Prior to joining Adobe in 2000, John was a Web designer at AGENCY.COM in New York where he designed and built Web and Flash content for a variety of clients, including Gucci, Coca-Cola, Nike, Compaq, and British Airways.

Adobe Raises the Digital Imaging Standard with Photoshop CS

Streamlined ImageReady CS, Enhanced Camera Raw Functionality and New Shadow/Highlight and Match Color Features Headline 'Must Have' Photoshop Release

Adobe Systems Incorporated, the leader in network publishing, has announced Adobe Photoshop CS, a dramatic full-version upgrade to the professional standard in desktop digital imaging. Available as a key component of the Adobe Creative Suite (also announced today) or as a standalone software application, Photoshop CS is loaded with indispensable new features that help creative professionals craft the highest quality images more quickly and efficiently than ever.

Photoshop CS increases user control, with a redesigned File Browser enhancing search, sorting and sharing capabilities and a new Histogram Palette monitoring changes in the image as they are made. Additional advances include: Match Color, which reads color statistics to quickly achieve a consistent look across a series of photographs; Shadow/Highlight which radically improves the contrast of over- or underexposed digital images; and enhanced ImageReady CS integration. Photoshop CS also integrates second generation Camera Raw functionality, enabling direct manipulation of raw data in an expanded set of professional-grade digital cameras.

"Photoshop is the gold standard in digital imaging and a catalyst in the continuing digital photography revolution. This release empowers our customers to deliver their highest quality work, faster and more efficiently," said Bryan Lamkin, senior vice president of Digital Imaging and Video Products at Adobe. "For the millions of people worldwide who rely on Photoshop every day, our new CS edition will be a must-have upgrade to their digital imaging desktop."

Features for Graphics and Photography Professionals

For graphic designers, features such as Layer Comps can be used to quickly capture design variations within a single file, then instantly output alternates for client review. Eye-catching typographic designs can also be created by manipulating fully editable text on any path or inside any closed path. Photoshop CS enables photographers to work directly with raw data from even more digital cameras and includes comprehensive editing support for 16-bit colorimages. Color across images can be synchronized effortlessly with Match Color and Shadow/Highlight correction cures exposure problems while preserving midtones.

"As a digital shooter who not only captures hundreds of shots each day, but also has to meet time-sensitive client demands, I'm excited about the enhancements in Photoshop CS," said Martin Evening, notable London advertising photographer and author. "The more powerful File Browser with integrated and expanded Camera Raw support gives me the speed, personalization and intuitiveness I've been searching for while the Shadow/Highlight correction tool provides an easy way for me to deal with tricky image adjustments. I'm impressed."

Professional Film and Video Features

Photoshop CS removes the guesswork for film and video professionals designing sequences for DVD, video and film. Accurately creating imagery for display on screen has always been a challenge, because non-square pixels, typical of video, cause computer-generated graphics - which use square pixels - to appear distorted. With non-square pixel support in Photoshop CS, video professionals can see the image as it would appear on the destination device and they can create with confidence using preset video-standard sizes, including automatic action-safe and title-safe guides. The 16-bit support in Photoshop CS preserves the rich color palette of film and the product is tightly integrated with Adobe's industry-leading video software.

ImageReady Comes of Age

Web designers benefit from the seamless integration of ImageReady CS with Photoshop CS which gives them the ability to prepare graphics more quickly and easily than before. The enhanced user interface features multiple object selection, manipulation and grouping, with Smart Guides to facilitate object alignment. Exporting to Macromedia(R) Flash(TM) SWF can be done in one step with preserved vectors and dynamic text, including embedded fonts. Web professionals can also create leaner, more easily edited HTML, with new controls for nested tables, XHTML and more.

Pricing and Availability

Photoshop CS for Mac OSX 10.2.4, Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 with Server Pack 3 and Windows XP will be available in the fourth (calendar) quarter of 2003 to customers in the United States and Canada through Adobe Authorized Resellers and the Adobe Store at www.adobe.com/store. Adobe Photoshop CS will be available for an estimated street price of US$649. Registered users of any previous version of Adobe Photoshop can upgrade to Adobe Photoshop CS for an estimated street price of US$169. Photoshop CS is also available as part of the Adobe Creative Suite. Registered users of any previous version of Photoshop can upgrade to Adobe Creative Suite Premium Edition for an estimated street price of $749, or the Standard Edition for $549. For more detailed information about new features and upgrade policies for Photoshop CS, please visit: www.adobe.com/products/photoshop. For more detailed information about the Adobe Creative Suite, please visit: www.adobe.com/creativesuite.

About Adobe Systems Incorporated

Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems Incorporated (www.adobe.com), the leader in network publishing, offers a comprehensive line of software for enterprise and creative professional customers. Its products enable customers to create, manage and deliver visually rich, compelling and reliable content. Based in San Jose, Calif., Adobe is one of the world's largest software companies.

Cool Mac Products - October 25th 2003

Terforma's iSleeve G2
One of the best protection sleeve on the market. Talk about rugged and cool looking. The iSleeve comes in two models that fits second generation and all new 3rd generation iPods. Isleeve has a unique system that allows users to uses both sides of the sleeve. Also comes with a handy storage area for ones headphones all for $49.95.
http://www.terforma.com

Waterfield Design's iPod Gear Pouch
This case is specifically designed to keep the iPod, docking station, power supply, ear buds, FireWire cable, and power supply cable all together in one compact, portable case. The iPod Gear Pouch organizes these items conveniently in one, slender case that can be whisked away at a moment's notice. Price: $35.00
http://www.sfbags.com

iTunes for Windows
For anyone needing (or forced) into using a PC at work, now iTunes WIndows is the same as iTunes on a Mac. Windows Support : Now iPod owneers receive the full benefit of iTunes on a Windows XP and 2000. . and FREE!

Features

• Auto-sync with iPod . Over FireWire or USB 2.0.
• iTunes Music Store. Buy and get music instantly.
• More Great Music. 400,000 tracks by the end of October including over 100,000 from 200 independent labels.
• Download Audiobooks. 5,000+ audiobooks -- best-sellers, classics, public radio programs, language lessons, more.
• Allowance Accounts. Set an allowance to let your kids download music legally without giving them your credit cards.
• Gift Certificates. Send presents in email.
• Reviews, Bios and Lists. Discover new music more ways with iTunes.
• Celebrity Playlists. Who's listening to what?
• AAC Encoding . Encode in MP3 or pristine AAC.
• On-The-Go Playlists. Make playlists on your iPod that sync back to iTunes.
• Cross-Platform Sharing. Share your music among Macs and PCs on local network (for personal use).
• Disc Spanning. Back up your music collection on multiple CDs or DVDs.
• Email Music Links.

Scott Sheppard - Executive Producer / Host

Scott Sheppard is the founder and editor of the popular Macintosh Web Site, http://www.OSXFAQ.com He is also a monthly Contributing Editor to Macworld UK magazine and produces a daily audio broadcast of Mac news and information Inside Mac Radio.

Scott Sheppard previously hosted the Inside Mac Show broadcast by CNET radio.

Scott has been using Apple computers for more than 25 years, as well as spending many years as a Wintel user, giving him the unique perspective of having spent a lot of time on both sides of the computer fence.

Sam Levin - Co Host & Senior Mac Technologist

Sam Co-Founded the Stanford Mac Users' Group in 1985, and has worked with leading Macintosh developers on business development, licensing, and strategic market development. Sam Directed licensing initiatives for leading entertainment companies such as Virgin Interactive, Broderbund, and Mattel.

Sam has worked with numerous Mac companies such as: Aladdin, Apple, Broderbund, Connectix, IBM Multimedia, IXLA, Jiiva, Keyspan, Microsoft, MYOB, Meilenstein, Fathom Pictures, LandWare, Mattel, Nova Development, Totally Hip Software, Y-E Data and more.

Jeff Baudin - Co Host & CEO Micromat, Inc.

http://www.micromat.com/

Christian Pickman - Producer

Christian Pickman is the producer of Inside Mac and he brings 5 years of radio experience to the show. He is the guy you talk to when you call in, so be nice to him !!!!

Greg Douglas - Director of Network Operations

Gregory Douglas has fifteen years of experience in the radio, television and computer- related areas. He was the Director of Network Operations for Personal Achievement Radio, which included responsibilities for the production, operation and distribution of the "PAR" format. As the primary individual in charge of the on-air sound for "PAR", Mr. Douglas interacted with the motivational authors, Nightingale-Conant, ABC Radio Networks, PAR O & O's and affiliates and the broadcast talent. He pioneered the transition to digital for the flagship PAR studios. In addition, Mr. Douglas was M.I.S. Manager for Douglas Broadcasting Inc. where he was responsible for the traffic and business computer functions as well as the computer networking of DBI/PAR radio outlets.

Previously, he was the General Manager of DBI's Seattle operation and Station Manager at WBPS-AM in Boston. Also, Mr. Douglas has been involved in almost all areas of broadcasting, including traffic, business, engineering, production and sales.