Though some third-party developers have been able to take advantage of new features of Apple Computer Inc.s Mac OS X 10.4, code-named Tiger, other developers are finding that their creative applications are incompatible.
Though an Apple representative declined to comment on individual cases, he did say the company would cooperate with developers as they try to update their applications.
Some manufacturers offer workarounds. For example, Macromedia Inc., the maker of graphics applications such as the Flash, Director and Fireworks product lines, has posted a note that Macintosh users upgrading to Tiger using the “Archive and Install” or “Erase and Install” options will need to reactivate previously installed Macromedia products. Macromedia says the company is working with Apple to resolve this issue.
Extensis Inc., which makes a variety of creative tools including plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and QuarkXPress, told eWEEK.com that it will soon offer free updates for its Portfolio 7 and Font Reserve products.
The latter, a font management solution, suffers a “minor user-interface problem,” according to Martin Stein, the companys senior product manager for font solutions. Stein said users could see one checkbox in the main interface appear “a little beaten up” and could see a drawing problem in the applications Preference pane.
Derek Fine, the product manager for Extensis Portfolio digital asset management application, admitted a more significant issue with the application. “You can run [Portfolio] in Mac OS X 10.4, but there is a problem in bringing new assets into Portfolios catalog,” he said.