Cringely Rumors: Will Apple buy Adobe?

"For Apple's Windows Strategy to Work, It Must Replace Microsoft Office and Buy Adobe Systems - By Robert X. Cringely"

More fun rumors. Cringely adds some punch to his conclusion by pondering "...could that be why Apple is rumored to have this week just laid-off its entire Aperture development group?".

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Xyle scope CSS Tool for Analysis, Debugging, and Fine-tuning

"Using Xylescope is like surfing with an x-ray vision. You will immediately see beneath the surface of the web pages you are visiting. Experiment by changing CSS values in author style sheets - no matter if they are on the internet or on your own computer."

This is a nice tool. It's kind of like taking the CSS features found in the Web Developer Firefox Extension and turning them into a powerful desktop app (Mac only). I had been using the demo for the past month, but the recent review on Vitamin got me to commit and snag a license. This will be a useful addition to my CSS toolset.

Yahoo! Testing New Home Page Layout

TechCrunch provides early information, as usual...

Adobe Launches Engage with Flash Pitch

In a likely attempt to fend off competition from "Web 2.0" solutions, Adobe has posted a slick landing page showcasing various Flash solutions for Mobile devices.

Adobe Announces PDF Print Engine

"The Adobe PDF Print Engine allows PDF files to be rendered natively, using the same technology as Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Creative Suite software, to ensure that complex designs and effects, including transparencies, are reproduced quickly and reliably.

By rendering PDF content natively, at its highest level of abstraction, and by relying on JDF to capture job ticket and process control information, the print workflows powered by the Adobe PDF Print Engine enable designers and print production professionals to keep PDF content device independent throughout the workflow. This allows designers and printers to more easily make late-stage edits in PDF files and to configure PDF jobs to print on different types of output devices and presses."

Watch the demo on this page. It does a good job at explaining how the this new suite is really about the combination of "Native PDF" plus "Pervasive JDF (Job Definition Format) control". Which basically means a PDF file that can be easily modified last minute, is coupled with JDF data which holds all of the desired process information: associated with that file such as target paper spec, exact printer type, resolution, colors etc.

The New Office 2007 File Formats Announced

"Microsoft have announced the file formats for Office 2007, the next version of Microsoft Office which is due to be released in early 2007. The most notable change is the obvious visual change in file names. No longer based around 3 characters (e.g. .doc), they are now 4 letters long.

Word = .docx
Excel = .xlsx
Powerpoint = .pptx

The naming change reflects the new xml technology being used by the files..."

First Windows XP on a Mac, now this? What next, Microsoft iOffice?

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Apple Introduces Boot Camp

"Apple today introduced Boot Camp, public beta software that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Available as a download beginning today, Boot Camp allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac, and once installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either Mac OS X or Windows XP. Boot Camp will be a feature in "Leopard," Apple's next major release of Mac OS X, that will be previewed at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in August..."

Dual platform designers & developers rejoice (?)!

Buzzword watch: "INFOLUST"

trendwatching.com: "The driving force behind INFOLUST is a basic human need. Which goes for most consumer trends. In this case: the need for power and empowerment, or at least the illusion thereof. Information is power. So is knowledge. And being in the know. And now that INFOLUST can be satisfied instantly, and millions of consumers have had a taste of the new, transparent world of information distribution, expectations about access to information have been raised."

I always enjoy their articles, this one is a nice round-up. The info related to various new kinds of "Codes" is quite interesting. Seems like we all want to hyperlink the physical world...

talkdemonic - electronic duo out of Portland makes sweet sounds

I found out about talkdemonic (check out their site) via SXSW. Preview or buy talkdemonic on iTunes. I love the homage to Talking Heads in this tour poster...

Podcasting's Official Logo?

Via WIRED - Monkey Bites: "The German site Podcastlogo.com recently held a contest to see who could come up with the best design for a podcast logo. The winner is Peter Marquardt and this is his creation:"

Read on to see why WIRED says "I propose a recount."

FlashAmp 3 sound-visualization utility released

"Marmalade Multimedia is pleased to announce the release of FlashAmp 3 FlashAmp 3, the sound-visualization utility for Macromedia Flash 8 and MX2004. Designed for Windows and Macintosh, FlashAmp 3 will synchronize sound in Flash, audio animations and visualizations, lip sync character animations and more."

This looks like a promising tool for presenting a more desktop-competitive online audio presentation.

America Online Changes Its Name to AOL (at least on the Press Release)

"AOL today announced that after 15 years it is retiring the name America Online and will now officially be known simply as AOL."

Wow, you'd think after they spent the big bucks on announcing such a change, they'd fix all the TITLE tags on their website. As of right now, www.aol.com will get you:
<title>AOL.com - Welcome to America Online</title> :-P

AppZapper 1.3 Uses Clever Blog Promotion

macZOT!: "AppZapper 1.3 will be released today. The uninstaller Apple forgot has teamed up with MacZOT.com to run a special promotion for the release of their latest version featuring the new QuickZap... AppZapper 1.3 is FREE! (or will be if we get at least 259 bloggers to mention it)"

So check it out, I've used the demo of AppZapper before and it works great. Let's see if bloggers unite and help bring us a free copy of AZ. In any event MacZOT is a good shareware site and seems serious about getting some real traction.