Year: 2001

Google, the popular search engine that offers a Mac-centric portal, is considering adding subscription versions, according to c|net, in order to diversify their streams of revenue. Subscription packages could be targeted at academic and corporate clients, leveraging the power of Google’s vertical search technology. Traffic to the site has tripled over the past year, as Web surfers are attracted by near-instantaneous search results and a lack of banner advertising.

Procreate today released KPT Effects, a collection of nine Photoshop-compatible plug-ins. KPT Effects ships with Mac OS X compatibility for US$199; German and French versions of the software are due next month.

Lemke Software has released GraphicConverter 4.1 for Mac OS and Mac OS X, a new version of the enormously popular image manipulation software. The update adds JPEG2000 import support, improved TIFF import, unsharp mask, and countless other fixes and improvements.

Apple’s iPod, which was recently shown to a group of journalists in Milan, Italy, features a hidden Easter egg that allows users to play Breakout as they listen to their music, according to MacityNet. The classic arcade game is accessed by pressing and holding the center button on the device at the About screen. iPod will be available on November 10 for $399.

Spiderweb Software, in a new partnership with Chromite Software, has released Galactic Core, a $15 space strategy/war game featuring six campaigns with planet colonization, research options, resource exploitation, and deadly weapons such as warships and holographic vessels. The game requires only a 150MHz processor with 24 MB RAM and OS 8 or later. A demo is also available.