This month Symantec Corp. will release Norton Utilities 8.0 and Norton SystemWorks 3.0.
Norton Utilities 8.0 is the latest version of the set of Mac tools for disk repair, optimization and data recovery. With the update, all components are now built for Mac OS X and have the ability to create and view a virtual disk within Volume Recover. Norton Utilities will now come on a dual boot CD for both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9.x.
The tighter integration with Mac OS X provides a “significant increase” in the speed of the core utilities (Disk Doctor, Speed Disk, and UnErase), according to Bill Rosenkrantz, senior product manager of Symantec’s Consumer and Client Product Delivery. The defragmentation scheduler now allows users to minimize work interruptions, he added.
“The dual boot CD has been long-awaited,” Rosenkrantz told MacCentral. “It boots into existing CPUs, including the 17-inch PowerBook. We’ve worked closely with Apple to do things such as making the Wipe Info and Volume Recover components Mac OS X native. What’s more, defragmentation can now be scheduled so that it can be done while you sleep.”
Norton SystemWorks 3.0 includes full versions of Norton Utilities 8.0 and Norton AntiVirus 9.0, as well as the back-up and uninstaller utilities, Dantz Retrospect and Aladdin Spring Cleaning. SystemWorks is now also completely Mac OS X native and comes on a dual boot CD. Version 3.0 also offers a smart application launcher and integration into the System Preferences.
Due before the end of the month in English, Japanese, French, German, and Italian, Norton Utilities 8.0 will cost US$99.95, while Norton SystemWorks 3.0 will be $129.95. Upgrades from previous versions will be $49.95 and $79.95, respectively.