Adobe is shipping a free update for Adobe Photoshop 3.0. Version
3.0.4 provides optimized code for Windows 95 and new 604-
based Power Macintosh systems. Other enhancements for both
platforms include an added Scratch Disk Efficiency indicator that
lets users know the amount of time Adobe Photoshop spends hitting their
scratch disk; an added Float Controls feature; improved import of Adobe Illustrator files; Added support for TWAIN 36/48 bit scanners; and, added support for online registration. The 3.0.4 English Language Version Update is available now. Other language versions will become available over the next 90 days. In the US and Japan, the update is being sent automatically on CD-ROM to registered users free of charge. In Europe, the update is being sent automatically on floppy disk to registered users free of charge. In Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, India, Latin America and the Far East, registered users should contact their local distributor directly to receive the update.
  
Wacom Technology’s next generation of pressure-sensitive
graphics tablets include a revolutionary new UltraPen with
can erase on-screen data. In conjunction with the debut of the five new tablets (priced up to 28% lower than previous models), the company premiered two new special purpose pens and an Ergonomic Puck. The most important of the innovations, however, is pressure—and tilt—sensitive erasing. Senior marketing manager Jeff Nichols claims "computer users can erase naturally and expressively with up to 256 levels of pressure." Applications that will support the Erasing UltraPen include Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Fractal Design Painter and Dabbler, Macromedia FreeHand, FutureWave SmartSketch, HSC Live Picture, SoftImage Toonz, and Strata Media Paint.
 
A new Macintosh virus has been discovered. The virus "HC 9507", which can effect any Macintosh, infects HyperCard stacks. While running HyperCard with infected stacks, you may observe the screen fading in and out, "pickle" being typed automatically, or suffer a system shutdown or lockup. Symantec has upgraded its Virus Definition files for both SAM 4.0 and 3.5. (The latest version of 4.0 is now 4.0.5.) The definition files are available from the Symantec BBS as well as America Online, CompuServe, and AppleLink. Symantec has an ftp site at ftp.symantec.com/public/mac/sam/.
  
Well…not really. But Greg Landweber, author of the award-
winning Greg's Buttons and Greg's Browser, has created a great
interface extension to give your Macintosh that Copland facelift that
you have been longing for. Folders change to the new 3D-look and the
system font becomes the attractive new Espy Sans Bold. The Aaron 1.0 extension is shareware ($10 US) and is available from the usual electronic sites: CompuServe, America Online, eWorld, your local BBS, and of course, the Internet.
 
U.S. Robotics has announced new software for its Courier desktop modems and Total Control systems products that provides 33.6 Kbps (kilobyte per second) capabilities. An extension of the company's "V.Everything" feature set, the new software also provides the added benefit of higher data rates at any speed. "The ITU will approve a speed of 33.6 Kbps as an enhancement to V.34, as opposed to creating a new standard," said U.S. Robotics' Dale Walsh, vice president of advanced development and a member of the committee that developed V.34 and the new additions to the V.34 standard. Walsh claimed the new software provides added benefits at any speed, "For example, on a noisy connection where a customer might typically experience 26,400 bps, it's likely the new software will allow a connection at 28.8 on a regular basis." U.S. Robotics has made the new 33.6 software available at no cost for owners of Courier "V.Everything" and V.Fast Class desktop modems, which include Flash ROM capabilities. The 33.6 software will also be included in all newly shipping Courier desktop products.
  
Claris is now shipping Emailer, the product it acquired from new
Apple Fellow Guy Kawasaki's Fog City software. Emailer 1.0 pro-
vides an easy and speedy interface for users to get and send mail on
the Internet, CompuServe, America Online, and eWorld. The product
also integrates with the Internet Configuration System. A full func-
tioning demo of the product is available in Claris online software forums on CompuServe, eWorld, America Online and the World Wide Web. (The demo is good for thirty days from the time it is started up).
 
Adobe Systems is now shipping Adobe ScreenReady, a Macintosh graphics utility designed for graphic and multimedia designers, presentation professionals, and video and animation professionals. It simplifies and speeds the process of bringing files and designs from popular applications into multimedia authoring programs. According to Adobe, it previously required six to eight steps to ready files for the screen from an application for multimedia production. Adobe ScreenReady software automatically rasterizes documents and EPS files intended for use in presentations, film, video, animation and CD-ROMs, accomplishing the task in as few as three steps. ScreenReady for the Macintosh is available immediately on CD-ROM and ships with Type On Call 4.0 software, three free typefaces, templates for screen design, sample files, and the Adobe Acrobat 2.0 Reader (also on CD-ROM). Through August 15, 1995, the Adobe ScreenReady utility will be offered at a special introductory price of $99 (US). After that date, the suggested retail price will be $199.
