OS X Utilities Updates: Apple Darwin; Launcher; Pseudo; Eyeball X; Random Shapes; more

Apple Darwin OS 1.3.1 is the open source binary release of OS X's core. Darwin is not for Mac OS X users in general, this is the open source development release of Mac OS X's core.

Launcher 3.0.1 is a Cocoa adaptation of the Mac OS 9 Launcher control panel. This version now allows dropping files on folder buttons to copy or move them into that folder, and users can drop folders on Carbon CFM applications. It also contains bug fixes and performance improvements.

Pseudo 1.0.1 allows users to launch applications as a system administrator. This version fixes a problem launching files with non-ASCII characters in their paths.

Eyeball X 1.0 cycle-eating, cursor-tracking, floating vector eyeballs. [What Mac OS version would be complete without them. What's next, a talking moose? - ed.]

Random Shapes 1.0.1 is a screensaver module that displays colored squares and ovals. This update is contains fixes for several minor bugs, and it now properly scales down the shapes drawn in the System Preferences preview pane.

BrickHouse 1.0.2 provides a simple interface for configuring firewalls. Changes include improved generation of firewall rules to properly allow outgoing traffic in restrictive configurations, a 'Remove Startup Script' option, and an early draft of a FAQ, with an important tip for PPPoE users.

MacJanitor 1.0 runs the system's maintenance scripts that normally run between 3 AM and 5 AM. Running these scripts should keep log files from growing too large, and insure system databases are backed up regularly. [See also are previous coverage of system.log file overflow.]

SETI@home 3.04 is the latest version of this OS X client for the collaborative SETI effort. It works around problem connections by automatically retrying a dropped connection.

PowerLogix Cache Control X 1.0b1 is a tool to configure G3 & G4 caches.