14 DAY TRIAL // Another week has passed and, as always, we've sifted through some interesting pieces of free Mac software, which undoubtedly must reach your eyes, if not your Mac. Browse through, pick what you like, and pass on what you don't.
ImpressCMS
ImpressCMS is a Content Management System aiding OS X users to easily build and maintain a dynamic website. It is easy to use, secure and flexible, enabling you to keep your website up to date. From business to community users to large enterprises, ImpressCMS is also a good blogging tool.
ImpressCMS 1.0.1 is based on the ImpressCMS 1.0 core (Which was based on XOOPS 2.0.17 core + some additions made in the XOOPS 2.0.18 development branch) and, as such, will retain compatibility with existing XOOPS modules and themes. The goal is to provide an on-going, stable environment for information and support for XOOPS and its users.
Installing ImpressCMS is fairly easy:
1. Copy the content of the htdocs/ folder where it can be accessed by your server 2. Ensure mainfile.php, cache, templates_c and uploads are writable by the webserver 3. Using your web browser, access /folder, "folder" being where you uploaded the htdocs/ files to launch the installation wizard
For complete installation documentation, refer to /docs/install.html in the ImpressCMS package.
The software uses a database to store the data required to run your ImpressCMS site. MySQL is currently supported, while support for other DBMS's is coming soon, according to the developers. Website content is managed by separate content modules/web applications. What you have to do is simply install the module that has the features you need. For example, a news module, forum module, or a photo album module are right there for quick install and use.
User Management includes:
Optional user registration: Registered users are authenticated using the standard ImpressCMS system, or by using LDAP. Security: IP banning, restricting content by group, backend security features for database manipulation, security token system for form validation and more. Personalization: Registered users can edit their profiles, select site themes, upload custom avatars, and much more! Versatile Group Permissions System: Powerful and user-friendly permissions system which enables administrators to set permissions by group.
ImpressCMS also boasts powerful themes that both admins and regular users can manipulate to change the look of the entire website with just a click of the mouse. A few examples of what you can do with the hundreds of free modules soon to be available include: the ability to publish news of your organization; letting visitors contact you through a state of the art customizable contact form; creating and managing articles; adding a forum to your site; selling products through your website using an online store.
Click HERE to download ImpressCMS (Universal Binary).
X-Moto
Since it's the end of the week, you probably don't want to hear or see anything work related. Except for your Mac, that is. Well, in case you are looking for some quick 2D fun, X-Moto is a free physics-based motocross platform game that'll keep you stuck to the screen until you finally make that long jump.
Besides the 43 levels with various degrees of difficulty, the game boasts high-resolution 2D graphics accelerated by your Mac's 3D hardware, an advanced physics engine and the option to record replays. As soon as you're done with the included levels, you can easily extend your gaming pleasure by downloading levels over the web, or even creating your own, with the built-in level editor (levels scriptable with the Lua programming language). You can also use the web from within X-Moto to peek at other people's best times.
X-Moto also includes an option to remove levels not suitable for children. The game can get so frustrating at times, that a child could grab the keyboard and drive it through the Mac's screen. You don't want that happening to your aluminum 20-incher, do you? Plus, where's the fun if the game's too difficult to play?
Requirements call for X11, which needs to be installed on your Mac prior to installing X-Moto. Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later is also listed as technical requirement to run the game. The final version of X-Moto will include 50 levels, Rasmus Neckelmann assures fans.
X-Moto is free to download and install, and is a Universal Binary. HERE's where you can grab it.
Sequimago
Since not that many exciting apps were released this week, we figured a useful AppleScript that allows you to easily create image sequences without QuickTime Pro would be a great asset to some. Sequimago can do JPG, JPEG, PSD, PICT, BMP, GIF, PNG, TIFF, TIF and even PDF, although only the first page of a PDF document is recognized.
As always, installation is fairly simple, as is using the script. Simply download and extract the ZIP archive, open the script with a double click (optionally, you can just drop your images onto the icon in the Finder), after which point the script will ask you to specify a file name, the frames per second and the location for the new QuickTime movie to be saved. Easy as pie! Your image sequence is produced within seconds. You don't even have to need something like Sequimago. It's pure fun just using it so there's no reason not to download and try it out right now. The only requirements for using Sequimago are QuickTime 7.2.1 and Leopard.
Developer Martin Michel notes that Sequimago currently uses the JPEG image format for the image sequence, which results in a smaller file size of the QuickTime movie. However, you can easily edit the Python script to use alternative image formats (e.g. TIFF). The Python script is located at "Sequimago.app/Contents/Resources/crtimgseq.py," according to the Sequimago maker.
Download Sequimago HERE for free (Mac OS X 10.5 or later, Universal Binary).
Leave your impressions below. We'll see you soon.
