Product Watch

When Apple introduced iDVD–the DVD-authoring software that’s included with all SuperDrive-equipped Power Macs–creating DVDs became easier for Mac users. With the latest version of iDVD, due by the end of September, those creations can be a lot more attractive.

iDVD 2.0 will run only on Mac OS X 10.1–also set for release in September–and will be available on CD-ROM for $20 to current iDVD users. Apple hasn’t said whether it will also support new external DVD-writing drives from companies such as EZQuest, CD Cyclone, and LaCie.

DVDs created with iDVD 2.0 can get a professional touch, thanks to the addition of motion to menu items. Users will be able to animate menu backgrounds, the images on iDVD buttons, or both–a look common in commercial DVDs. iDVD 2.0 also can play a soundtrack in the background of a DVD menu screen or a slide show.

The updated version offers more-flexible interface-building tools that allow you to freely position buttons, vary button size, and choose button border styles.

Users of iDVD 2.0 will be able to record more video on a DVD; the limit has been pushed to 90 minutes. Users can encode video at 5 or 8 megabits per second. At the lower data rate, the quality goes down somewhat, but the maximum amount of video fits on a disc.

Burning should go faster in iDVD 2.0 than in version 1.0. Once you drop a movie into iDVD 2.0, the program immediately starts encoding it in the background.

HARDWARE

PROJECTORS
Two digital projectors from Lightware (800/211-9001, www.lightware.com ): The LS-8 ($1,795) is a 2.9-pound, 800-lumen projector featuring SVGA (800-by-600) resolution with XGA compatibility. The LX-8 ($2,695) is also a 2.9-pound, 800-lumen projector. It features true XGA (1,024-by-768) resolution.

UPGRADE CARDS
CPU upgrades for iMacs and Wall Street PowerBooks from Sonnet Technologies (949/587-3500, www.sonnettech.com ): The Crescendo/WS G3 CPU card ($400) uses a 500MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 1MB of Level 2 backside cache. It’s meant for PowerBook G3s with clock speeds of 233MHz to 300MHz. The HarmonI ($300) has a 500MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 256K of Level 2 backside cache. It also incorporates a FireWire port, which lets owners of original iMacs use DV cameras, CD-RW drives, and other FireWire peripherals. It’s compatible with iMacs running at 233MHz to 333MHz.

SOFTWARE

NETWORKING SOFTWARE
A free OS X-native version of Dave from Thursby Software Systems (817/478-5070, www.thursby.com ): The PC-to-Mac file-sharing software will run only on OS X 10.0.4. Thursby decided to offer a free beta for early adopters of the new operating system. The company plans to continue developing a commercial version of Dave for OS X.
A beta release of Virtual PC for OS X from Connectix (800/950-5880, www.connectix.com ): Registered Virtual PC 4 users can download Virtual PC Test Drive for free. The beta, which will expire on January 31, 2002, lets OS X users run PC-based operating systems on their Macs.

–Compiled by PHILIP MICHAELS

MACWORLD CONFERENCE & EXPO: BEST OF SHOW

At each Macworld Expo trade show, Macworld and MacCentral.com pick the most exciting new products. Winners from this year’s Macworld Expo in New York include: