RELEASED
A utility for importing QuickBooks data into accounting programs from MYOB (800/322-6962, www.myob.com ): MYOB Conversion Assistant sends QuickBooks Pro data to MYOB AccountEdge. Conversion Assistant is available as a free download and can be purchased by mail for $19.
Imaging software from RealViz (415/615-9800, www.realviz.com ): Stitcher lets users create fully spherical panoramic images and export them to various formats, including QuickTime 5. It sells for $800 and runs both in Mac OS 9 and natively in Mac OS X.
UPDATED
The dissolution of a merger deal between Mac router maker Netopia (510/814-5100, www.netopia.com ) and wireless-Internet-hardware maker Proxim (800/229-1630, www.proxim.com ): The two companies called off their planned merger in the face of a slowing technology sector.
A 3-D Web technology by Adobe (800/833-6687, www.adobe.com ): Atmosphere is a professional Web tool for authoring, viewing, and interacting with immersive, virtual 3-D worlds. A Mac beta will be available this summer; the product release is set for late summer.
ANNOUNCED
Office 2001 by Microsoft (800/426-9400, www.microsoft.com ): Service Release 1 is a free download that provides enhanced compatibility with both Mac OS 9.1 and Mac OS X’s Classic mode. It also features improvements to Office’s Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Entourage applications.
Windows Media Player by Microsoft (800/426-9400, www.microsoft.com ): version 7 supports the newest media codecs from Microsoft, Windows Media Audio and Video 8. The new codecs deliver near-DVD-quality video.
A Shockwave authoring tool by Macromedia (800/ 470-7211, www.macromedia.com ): Director 8.5 Shockwave Studio uses Intel Internet 3D Graphics software, so users can deliver scalable 3-D content over the Web to anyone with a Shockwave player. It will cost $1,199; users of version 8 can upgrade for $199; users of prior versions, for $399.