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Spiderworks Releases Automator Book
[SpiderWorks](http://www.spiderworks.com) has announced the book release of *Mac OS X Technology Guide to Automator* by Ben Waldie. Only days after the release of Mac OS X Tiger, this is the first published book dedicated to Automator. It's available from the SpiderWorks web site as an eBook for $14.95 (US) and a printed softcover edition for $29.95 (US). Check out the free [PDF Preview](http://www.spiderworks.com/books/automator.php).
Andy Ihnatko Calls Automator “Ginchy”
Old school Mac pundit Andy Ihnatko offers up [his impressions](http://www.themacobserver.com/columns/ihnatko/2005/20050429automator.shtml) of Automator at The Mac Observer. Be warned; he also uses the term "gorblimey".
Apple Posts Automator Programming Guide
Apple Developer Connection has posted its Automator Programming Guide. This 84 page tome [[pdf](http://developer.apple.com/documentation/AppleApplications/Conceptual/AutomatorConcepts/AutomatorConcepts.pdf)] explains everything you always wanted to know about coding Automator Actions (but were afraid to ask).
FileMaker Pro 7 adds Automator Support
Filemaker has announced "FileMaker Pro 7 users will experience immediate compatibility with Apple's new Mac OS X Tiger," and will include future support for Automator. FileMaker president Dominique Goupil said, "While Tiger users can get productive right away using FileMaker Pro 7, we also are planning on leveraging Automator's approach to streamlining repetitive tasks."
Doug’s Automator Actions for iTunes
Doug's Applescripts has released Doug's Actions for iTunes vol. 1, a collection of seven useful iTunes Automator Actions.
DropDMG 2.6 Adds Action
Michael Tsai 's utility [DropDMG 2.6](http://c-command.com/dropdmg/) now includes an Automator Action. DropDMG is a utility for creating and converting disk images and archives.
Apple launches Automator Actions Page
Apple has opened their Automator Actions site to the public. So far most of the available actions are demos, but they're fully functional. Check it out, download some actions, write a killer Workflow and share it here!
BBEdit 8.2 Automator Actions
Bare Bones has released BBEdit 8.2, which features a host of Automator Actions along with other bug fixes and enhancements. A page detailing the Automator support includes a [summary](http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/automator.shtml) of the included actions, along with a screenshot of it in action.
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Apple Posts Action Installation Info for Developers
Apple has posted Installation Instructions for Developers, consisting of simple instructions to aid developers in sharing their Spotlight Plug-Ins, Dashboard Widgets and Automator Actions. More »
Automator and Burning Guitars
If you're on the left coast in May, check out the [Applescript Pro Session](http://www.scriptingmatters.com/aspro) being held May 2-6 in Monterey, California. According to [MacMinute](http://www.macminute.com/2005/04/14/aspro/), AppleScript Pro sessions *"will include coverage of Tiger, including AppleScript changes in the new OS version and Automator"* and *"will cover creating workflows in Automator, and building actions in AppleScript Studio."* If you don't get the title of this news item, you're too young.
Almost there…
Apple has [announced](http://www.apple.com/macosx/) that OS X 10.4 Tiger will become available on April 29th (how long until you actually get your copy is another story). For those near an Apple Retail store, you can pick up a copy starting at 6pm. The Automator [page](http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/automator/) has been updated with glossy black graphics.
Only 17 days until we can all start really working with Automator!
Sample Manager to Support Automator
Audiofile Engineering is expected to ship version 2.1 of Sample Manager soon after the release of OS X 10.4 Tiger. Sample Manager is a "full-featured batch audio processor for Mac OS X", and 2.1 will support Automator Actions for all of its processing commands.
iMagine Photo
Yarra Valley Software has released iMagine Photo 2.1.1, an update to their free Applescript-based image automation software.
According to author Kevin Meaney, iMagine Photo "is a tool for processing image files by writing AppleScript scripts. Apple has their own tool called Image Events but iMagine Photo has a much larger range of functionality than Image Events. Image Events is a background only application so you don't see it working, iMagine Photo can run as a normal application or as a background only application, and all processing can be done offscreen or you can choose to display the image while processing if you wish."
iMagine Photo appears to be a quite comprehensive (see the documentation), and anyone who uses Applescript or Applescript Studio might find incredible potential in building powerful image processing applications. Meaney is also working on Automator Actions for iMagine Photo; I look forward to what he comes up with.
MacWorld looks at iPhoto 5
MacWorld has a First Look at iPhoto 5. It's a good, if brief, overview of the new features with iPhoto 5, and echoes some of what I have said so far in my iPhoto Challenge series. Part III of the Challenge, covering my experiences with file organization and navigation, should be up in a few days. And I definitely have a few things to say...
DeBabelizer Automates
Equilibrium has announced that the forthcoming DeBabelizer Pro 6 will "enhance the automated functionality of Tiger's new Automator feature". This is great news; DeBabelizer is one of those seriously heavy-duty file processing applications that hardcore imaging geeks swear by, and integrating with Automator shows a solid commitment and support for its potential.