Monday, February 7th updated 4:15 pm

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We have an overview of Seybold Boston, the conference portion of which begins today followed by the expo opening on Wednesday with keynotes by Macromedia President Norman Meyrowitz and Adobe CEO John Warnock.

Macromedia today announced a new version of its FreeHand 9 illustration package, which is expected to be available next month.

DataViz has released Documents To Go v2.003, a free update to its $40 application that allows users to view Microsoft Office files on Palm handhelds; the new release includes features such as document beaming and rich text viewing, along with a new Windows-only add-on called Attachments To Go, which brings Microsoft Outlook e-mail and attachments to a handheld during a desktop or local synchronization. [updated]

iCab v1.9 preview is the latest version of the alternative small, compact Web. This version expires at the end of June and offers support for browser plug-ins (e.g., QuickTime, Flash & Shockwave), a new "Link-Manger" which lists all links of a shown webpage in a seperate window and a first beta of JavaScript support, which is called "InScript".

Discussing the upcoming International Solid-State Circuits Conference in San Francisco, Wired reports that Motorola is sticking "by statements made in October that the 500MHz chips will ship in the first calendar quarter of this year" and says that a 780Mhz PowerPC chip to be showcased at the conference may hit the market this year.

Over the weekend, we noted AppleCare Technician Training, Interex/XLR8 update, and the release of textSOAP 2.6, EIMS 3.0b6, and Program Switcher 5.01

evening edition

Macromedia has released five new rich media instructional modules at the Training Cafe, an interactive Web-based site for training teachers about computers and the Internet, including Macromedia's Directory, Dreamweaver and Flash products. The 22 modules now available cost $120 per user. The company also announced its spring edition of Web Design 101, a teaching kit for educators that provides professionally designed curriculum and 90-day trial versions of its software. There are six hours of course curriculum and example files.

Lazy Mountain Software has released Key Pad 2.0, a $12 shareware personal account information and password database program. New in the update are an SQL-driven database, graphics and buttons and a toolbar.

Sony has introduced UP-DP 10, a vertical printer for making photo-lab quality pictures. It uses Sony's paper that produces laminated 4-by-6-inch borderless pictures. Other features include USB and parallel connectivity and printer-driver software for both Windows and Mac computers. The printer will be available in the spring for $400. The paper will cost less than $15 for a pack of 25 prints. [site not updated]

afternoon edition (final)

Scott Boettcher notes that Apple's Mac OS 9 Audio 1.3 update fixes DVD sync issues on his iMac:

"... the DVD sync issue on my iMac DV SE appears to be gone. I dare not say that out loud, but I watched a number of movies this weekend and it was fine. I am going to test this on a new G4/450 rith now that loses sync in about three minutes -- if that one works, I'll be smiling!"

Washington Apple Pi has release Pi Fillings 6.0 ìWeíve jammed this CD full of every update, Internet tool, utility and driver we could find!î The CD costs $10, plus $2.50 postage and handling. User groups get a discount for purchasing the CD in 10 packs for $55, which includes postage and handling.

As noted several weeks ago, Alan Bevan has released recently released FaxElite, a fax software application that is available as a single-user version or a network version. The software has been available for nine years in Europe and is now available in the United States. On a network, all the FaxElite users can share one modem and one telephone line. Prices start at $90. There is a demo available. One reader had some positive comments about the program:

"Because I saw it on MacNN, I downloaded a demo of FaxElite and found it to be a very clean, fast and competent fax program for my G4 and OS9. I had some questions about ordering security, which Glenwarne has said they are working on that problem.

"They even called me from London to answer any questions ... and I ordered the Solo version on that call. It arrived by mail 5 days later. Glenwarne seems to be a very nice company to deal with ... and FaxElite Solo is a very good fax program without the usual problems and conflicts that other fax programs have presented. Thanks for the lead!" [updated]

Virgin Atlantic's new online auction site where travelers can bid for tickets on some of its flights to Europe and other destinations is limited only to Windows browsers, leaving Mac and Linux users in the dark. Bill Danylko, Virgin Atlantic's Interactive Marketing Manager, said that this was not a jab at non-Windows users but that the current system is in place only to test how it works and if inventory sells. Danylko mentioned that if the service is a success that it will be offered to users of other platforms in the near future.

Reuters is reporting that Akamai will buy Intervu, a streaming media company, in a stock deal valued at $2.8 billion. Akamai will combine its network offerings with those of Intervu to support all streaming-media formats. The combined company's client list will include AOL MovieFone, Apple, CBS, CNN and General Motors. Apple currently owns 4.11 million shares of AKAM with a market value of $966 million. [AppleInvestors]

CoolCam 1.3 is a update to the $20 shareware Webcam utility that "provides true WYSIWYG editing of text captions, picture badges, clocks and blur items, all floating on top of live video from your camera." It adds the ability to display a static image when CoolCam is not running and other enhancements.

EpsonShareLaser 1.0 is new client-server shareware utility from Gérard Ceccaldi that allows you to share an Epson Laser 5700 printer between several Macs, without an additional network adapter card. Pricing is $25 and $40 for 1 and 3 client respectively.

Lon Hutchinson notes that the new SETI client 2.02 has some changes: "... one thing it does not tell
you, the Users folder generated by version 2.0 is now defunct and SETI now places its files in the Application Support folder in the System Folder. one can delete the Users folder (in the root of HD) as it is no longer used by SETI." A few readers followed-up:

[Kevin Brook] "...The Users folder should not be deleted, regardless of Seti use, if you are using Multiple Users. Just thought I'd pass that along just in case some misunderstanding user suddenly saw that his Mult. Users info is suddenly all gone. ;)"

[Jason Carey] "...it does tell you, in the mac_release_notes.txt file: '- Under OS 9, put Preferences and Data in the "Application Support" folder (inside the System Folder) instead of in "Shared Data" folder.'" [updated]

DebuggerTools 1.0 is a "very simple set of applications to activate and deactivate the debugger on the fly."