Brand: MacNews

Charles Haddad tackles Microsoft Office v.X again in this week’s “Byte Of The Apple” column for BusinessWeek Online. After concluding last week that “Office 2001 runs a tad more sluggishly perhaps, but it’s rock solid in OS X. And, from what I can tell, there isn’t much functional difference between the 2001 and Office X versions,” Haddad offers more praise and discusses the significance of Office v.X.

Pinnacle Systems today announced the release of CineWave RT, its real-time editing, effects, and compositing with uncompressed standard definition video using Final Cut Pro.

IDG World Expo today announced the addition of a new feature presentation to the Macworld Expo San Francisco line up. Titled “This ain’t your parents’ Mac: The Present and Future of the Mac Platform,” the discussion will be moderated by Rick LePage, editor-in-chief of Macworld magazine, with a panel consisted of Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, Inc.; Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus, consultant and author; and David Pogue, author and “State of the Art” columnist for The New York Times.

Apple is ranked number nine overall—and number three among US companies—in the 3rd Annual Computer Report Card, compiled by a number of groups that measure “electronics equipment and the performance of companies that produce computers.” Among the report’s main focus is the cleanliness of a company’s production line, protecting workers’ health, and producing “environmentally superior” products.

An Apple feature on AppleScript explains how the technology can automate a workflow, focusing in particular on how Showtime Networks uses AppleScript to produce its daily promotional video menus.