The Dig For Mac Gold: New Software Updates.

Mac360 is digging for gold. 2006 is another year of change for Mac users. Many Mac apps get upgraded for OS X for Intel. What about Adobe and Microsoft?

The latest word from each is that we need to cool our heels for awhile.

It may be the end of 2006 or early 2007 before either software developer has native applications ready to run on Intel Macs. Those are complicated projects.

In the meantime, earliest reports show that the Intel-based iMac runs older Mac applications quite well using the built in Rosetta feature. Power users may have issues with Photoshop.

Elsewhere, Mac application developers are moving rapidly to update their software to run fully native on Intel Macs. These applications are known as Universal Binaries.

Among them, one of my favorites, the browser Camino. Think of it as Firefox that looks like a Mac application.

Also updated is Transmit, the popular FTP application.

More recently, AppZapper was updated, as was the excellent VideoCue. Nothing is better at building a video Podcast using the built in scrolling teleprompter.

Worried about your PowerBook or MacBook Pro being stolen? Don’t be. Use Undercover to track your Mac. The latest version is ready for Intel Macs and will use the built in iSight camera to take a snap shot of the thief.

We’ll do a more detailed report on Undercover’s update in the next week.

Of course, Mac OS X and the iLife 06 applications are ready for Intel Macs now. Again, the early word is that it’s safe to go in the water.

My favorite labeling application, DiscLabel, was also updated to run on new Intel Macs.

Many Mac developers were ready with updated software within days of Apple’s announcement of new Intel-based iMacs and MacBook Pro. Among them, The OmniGroup, with the excellent OmniGraffle Pro for charting and diagrams.

We’re often asked where we come up with such excellent Mac applications. As a group, the Mac360 writer staff is always on the lookout for Mac applications that just “get it.”

That’s a broad term with not much definition to it, though I’m certain you understand. There’s a sweet spot somewhere between cost, useability, look and feel, features, and so on. That’s what we look for.

I tend to focus on the low end and the bargains. Bambi prefers the basic business applications and graphic software for the Mac. Carol and Jack bring a different perspective.

Jack is a switcher from the Windows world. Carol’s been on Macs for a decade or two (they age quickly in the Midwest). Tera does what she wants. Queens are that way.

Between the five of us and sharp-eyed Mac users, we can spot some very worthwhile Mac applications, assign someone to review it, put it through the paces.

As a small editorial staff, doing what we do for love, we have weaknesses. Music and Hardware.

Music is a problem for us as an editorial group. Hardware costs plenty of money and there’s not much of the “try before you buy” spirit among hardware manufacturers.

I’ve got a note into Steve Jobs about “borrowing” a MacBook Pro to do a review. I’m not holding my breath, though I suspect it would be a positive review.

One thing we appreciate about Mac360 readers, and the Mac community in general, is the desire to share. When someone finds a great Mac application, we hear about it. Usually. That’s what the “feedback” link is for.

Tera Patricks
I’m a Queen? Who knew?

Bambi Hambi
You’re right, Alexis. Music and Hardware are two categories which could use improvement. They’re tough.

Jack D. Miller
You’re right about the sense of “community.” The only community that Windows users enjoy is a common sense of frustration.