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OS X 10.4.6 Update
Apple has released [OS X 10.4.6](http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303411). This update *"resolves potential issues with several iPhoto Automator actions, such as Import Photos into iPhoto,"* and *"EXIF data is now exported with TIFF images in Aperture."*
Automator Adopts New Mascot
Internal builds of [OS X 10.5](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X_v10.5) indicate Apple is quietly rolling out a new "mascot" for Automator. Automator 2.0 is dropping the beloved [*Otto*](http://www.thisisjeffwong.com/blog/?p=5) robot icon for that of [*The Terminator*](/wordpress/wp-images/terminator.png).
According to seed notes, this change is "to help Automator appeal to a broader audience," based on market research which indicates that "hardcore Mac scripters are more receptive to 'totalitarian futuristic [robot assassins](http://members.aol.com/wormpix/term.html) than cutesy little [Twiki-looking](http://www.buck-rogers.com/film_and_series/gallery/images/cast/buck_twiki01.jpg) things.'" OS X 10.5 is due by the end of 2006.
Interarchy 8.0 Apes Automator
[Interarchy](http://www.interarchy.com), a long-time favorite Mac FTP/SFTP client, has just been updated to [version 8.0](http://www.interarchy.com/main/features), sporting [three](http://www.interarchy.com/documentation/8/reference.html#ref_automator) Automator actions: *List URLs, Download URLs* and *Upload Files*. It also appears to hold the honor of being the first 3rd party application to [mimic](http://www.interarchy.com/documentation/8/tour) the Automator interface (with less bugginess, one hopes.) (Via [Daring Fireball](http://daringfireball.net/).)
Sound Studio 3.0.3 Released
Freeverse has released Sound Studio 3.0.3, which includes nine Automator actions: Amplify, Compress Dynamics, Expand Dynamics, Get Sound Studio Document, Normalize, Open Files With Sound Studio, Save Sound Studio Documents, Sound Studio and Split By Markers. Sound Studio was one of the first really good audio apps for OS X, considered by many the spiritual successor to the great Sound Edit 16.
Set a Course for Adventure…
[Geek Cruises](http://www.GeekCruises.com/) has announced that [MacMania V](http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/index/macmania_5_to_set_sale_oct_28) is set to sail on October 28th through November 4th. Along with a host of other [seminars](http://www.geekcruises.com/seminar_b/mm05_seminar.html), Rob Griffiths will be presenting ["Working with Automator"](http://www.geekcruises.com/seminar_b/mm05_seminar.html#07). So if you're looking to justify an exotic South American cruise to your boss, [reserve a berth](http://www.geekcruises.com/booking_b/mm05_booking.html) today.
Automator at the Olympics
A [number](http://fuzzmartin.com/2006/02/24/851/) of blogs have [reported](http://www.dvguru.com/2006/03/04/apple-pro-stories-the-olympics/) on the use of Apple technology at the recently completed 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. New York Times photographer [Vincent Laforet](http://www.vincentlaforet.com/) is featured in a Pro/Photo [profile](http://www.apple.com/pro/photo/laforet/index2.html), which details how Automator played a part:
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iMagine Photo Turns Universal
[Yarra Valley Software](http://www.yvs.eu.com/imagine.html) has released [iMagine Photo 2.1.4](http://www.yvs.eu.com/imagine.html), a Universal Binary update to their Applescript imaging environment. This update bundles the previously separately available Automator actions, and sports a number of bug fixes. iMagine Photo is a [free download](http://www.yvs.eu.com/downloading.html).
Applescript Pro Sessions Take Manhattan (well, nearby anyway)
For the first time ever, The [Applescript Pro Sessions](http://www.scriptingmatters.com/aspro) are coming to the New York Metro region, running May 8-12 in Secaucus, New Jersey at the Meadowlands Marriot Courtyard. As someone who spent years taking the bus from the Port Authority to the Meadowlands (Go [Devils](http://www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/home/site2005.html)!), I can tell you it's an easy and fast trip from Manhattan.
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Fetch is Universal
[Fetch Softworks](http://fetchsoftworks.com/) has released Fetch 5.1b1 ([download](http://getfetch.com/Fetch_5.1b1.dmg)), a public beta of their popular S/FTP software. Fetch 5.1b1 is compiled as [Universal Binary](http://developer.apple.com/transition/index.html) to support the [awkwardly named](http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/) Intel-based Macs. It also includes an extensive group of Automator Actions, including *Convert Fetch Item to URL, Delete Fetch Items, Download Fetch Items, Get Fetch Folder Contents* and *Upload Files*.
Macworld Automator Sessions
Ben Waldie, president of [Automated Workflows, LLC](http://www.automatedworkflows.com), and author of the [Mac OS X Technology Guide to Automator](http://www.spiderworks.com/books/automator.php), will moderate several Automator-related sessions at [Macworld Conference and Expo 2006](http://www.macworldexpo.com/live/20) in San Francisco. More »
Automator Wins Eddy Award
For its annual [Eddy Awards](http://www.macworld.com/2005/12/features/2005eddysmain/index.php), Macworld has selected Automator as a [winner](http://www.macworld.com/2005/12/features/06eddy3/index.php?lsrc=mwrss) in its [Top Productivity Boosters](http://www.macworld.com/products/eddy05/Automator.php) category:
>"Apple’s Automator, built into OS X 10.4, puts AppleScripting power into the hands of users who feel weak-kneed at the thought of script-writing. A few relatively simple click-and-drag operations let you build your own commands; even better, you can turn these commands into programs that you can easily reuse or put on a pop-up menu in the Finder."
Aperture Automator Actions
[Aperture](http://www.apple.com/aperture/) is in users hands now, and the reviews are a bit [mixed](http://arstechnica.com/reviews/apps/aperture.ars/), to put it [mildly](http://www.frostbytes.com/twiki/bin/view/Main/ApertureReview). But hey, it wouldn't be the first time a 1.0 didn't live up to the hype. Aperture comes preloaded with a set of Automator actions: *Retrieve Item References, Store Item References, Assign Keywords to Images, Export Images, Set Image Rating, Set IPTC Tags, Choose Albums, Choose Projects* and *Import Photos.* Assuming you aren't [obsessing](http://homepage.mac.com/foamx/Aperture%20vs%20C1/index.html) over the quality of Aperture's raw conversion, these actions should be handy in enhancing your imaging workflow.
Hide Running Automator Applications
From [MacOSXHints](http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20051113095905227): "...choose the Automator plugin that you want to remain hidden while it runs, control-click on it, and choose *Show Package Contents* from the pop-up menu. Inside the Contents folder, open up Info.plist, and change LSUIElement from No to Yes (if using Property List Editor) -- or change the line after the LSUIElement key line to
Troubleshooting Workflows
[Macworld](http://www.macworld.com/) has posted a brief article on steps to [troubleshoot](http://www.macworld.com/2005/11/features/automatortrouble/index.php?lsrc=mwrss) workflow creation. One helpful tip is to pause your workflow:
>"If one of your workflows takes its sweet time, you might want Automator to notify you when some part of it has completed. The trick is to insert the Automator: Ask For Confirmation action after the relevant part of the workflow, forcing Automator to pause the entire workflow at that point. (You can also use the Ask For Confirmation action to pause your workflow so you can make changes to whatever it’s working on.)â€
LinoType FontExplorer X Makes Me Happy
Many readers of this site are graphic design professionals, and I haven't met a one who doesn't have, to put it mildly, *font issues*. Recently I installed [LinoType FontExplorer X](http://www.linotype.com/fontexplorerX), and within five minutes of launch I came to the conclusion that it is, and I say this without reservation, the best font management application I have ever used. And it's free. More »