Some of the most interesting products at Macworld New York were to be found on the fringes of the expo and in small, sometimes overlooked, booths. In scouring the show floor, we found several companies that make intriguing products worth a mention.
Main Street Softworks were demonstrating the power of MCVE running on the new Mac OS X operating system.
MCVE is a scalable credit card processing engine designed to handle credit card authorizations and transactions that is also certified to support major clearing house protocols. MCVE creates a direct connection from websites or Point of Sale (POS) computers to end credit processors thus minimizing both errors and time associated with modern credit card authorization systems. Additionally, MCVE allows the retailers to retain and distribute current merchant accounts.
MCVE provides a stable and secure system by conforming to POSIX standards and implementing “light weight threaded” processes to speed and protect all transactions. Also, MCVE offers simultaneous support of multiple modems, merchant accounts and processors with minimal CPU usage and maximum efficiency, according to Brad House, lead developer for Main Street Softworks.
Hoodman was showing glare reduction devices for digital cameras, digital camcorders, LCD screens, desktops, laptops, TV and video monitors, as well as studio viewfinders. The company’s sunshade technology is designed to allow both the home electronics consumer and the film/video professional to use their equipment in bright light or outdoors.
JobOrder was displaying JobOrder Business Process Management Software, a system for the design, advertising, engineering and consulting companies. JobOrder offers a cross-platform, client-server solution for estimating, time and expense tracking, activity and resource scheduling, invoicing, accounting and reporting.
GollyGee Software was showcasing GollyGee Blocks, a 3D kids program. Youngsters can build stuff with it. They can use regular block shapes to build towering skyscrapers or futuristic space stations, or throw a few animals in the scene and make a farm. Kids can use GollyGee Blocks to spin things around, stretch them out or twist and turn them to their hearts’ content.
Klear Screen was selling a line of laptop and computer screen cleaners. They were even offering the iKlear Apple Polish Kit for Apple desktop and laptop systems.
Datadesk Technologies wowed MWNY attendees with its LittleFingers keyboard, which is specially designed for children to use at home or in the classroom. It’s available as a keyboard with separate number pad or as a combination keyboard with built-in trackball. The combination keyboard and trackball is designed to eliminate the need for a separate mouse. Academic pricing is US$49.95 for the keyboard/numeric keypad combo and $69.95 for the keyboard/trackball combo.
Griffin Technology, from my hometown of Nashville, was displaying its entire line of products: the iMic, for USB audio input and output; the PowerWave, the USB audio amplifier and interface; the PowerMate, a USB audio control and input device; iMate, a universal ADB to USB adapter; G4Port, a serial solution for G3s and the Cube; vSync, a video adapter for connecting older monitors to new G4s; and more.
SoftMac XPress from Emulators.com lets you copy and store Mac files on your PC. Or run Mac software on Windows.
APC had an interesting widget on view: a USB cellular phone charger.