The yearly line of selecting Eddy winner starts in the fall , when everyMacworldeditor compile a list of the most important products released in the past year in his or her ascribe beat expanse .
Products released between November 1 , 2005 , and November 1 , 2006 , were considered for this year ’s Eddy Awards .
We then convoke a series of meetings to deliberate the merit of each nominee , and to furcate the truly exceptional from the merely estimable . This yr , we whittled a list of 120 products down to the 29 that you ’ll find extol on the following pages . Some are obvious choices , and some may surprise you — but all represent the best of a very upright year for the Mac food market .
And the winners are …
24-inch iMac Core 2 Duo
Mac desktop gets Intel era off to roaring start
Apple ’s first Intel - base Mac — an iMac , course — receive incredible scrutiny . To everyone ’s relief , those first Core Duo systems were , by all appearance , Macs like any other . And the second propagation of Intel - based iMacs has continued to better on what was already a good thing . The best example of that is the top - of - the - line24 - inch iMac Core 2 Duo (; December 2006 ) . Its huge display is vivid and beautiful , and it ’s powered by a 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU . One GB of RAM and a 250 GB SATA difficult drive are standard , as is a FireWire 800 port wine . This $ 1,999 consumer Mac has more than enough computing power for all but the most demanding professional users.—JASON SNELL
fellowship : Apple / Price:$1,999 / Original Review : December 2006
After Effects 7 Professional
Motion effects app gets its best update in years
WithAfter Effects 7 Professional (; July 2006 ) , Adobe released a great update to an already sinewy app . The biggest betterment is in the interface . former editions had been bogged down by pallet bloat . The novel , unified interface solves that problem very nicely , with dockable and groupable panel . After gist also now uses received Adobe tools , pallette , menus , and customizable keyboard shortcuts , for a more intimate look - and - feel . There ’s added support for gamy bit deepness and HDR media , and the young time - remapping features really aid when you ’re speed up and retard down cartridge clip , Matrix - fashion . Add more - comprehensive and easier - to - apply presets , and After Effects 7 Professional is the upright update this app has find out in years.—JONATHAN SEFF
Company : Adobe / Price:$999 / Original Review:/ July 2006
Aperture 1.5
Photo manager gives the imaging world a jolt
Last November , Apple released Aperture 1.0 , an totally new picture - management and -editing software targeted at pro photographers . A few months later , Adobe unblock a Mac - only beta of its own effigy - management app — Lightroom — and announced that there would be plenty more to descend . ( The official Adobe Lightroom waiver is scheduled for early 2007 ) . That competition has put Mac photographer in a particularly sweet spot . Apple react to Lightroom by drop Aperture ’s monetary value by $ 200 , releasing two significant ( and innocent ) updates , and offering a free trial version of the software system . Aperture 1.5 (; January 2007 ) has some kink for Apple to iron out out , but its powerful direction tools , nondestructive new - image workflow , and competitive spirit have given the digital picture taking world a much needed kick.—KELLY TURNER
caller : Apple / Price:$299 / Original Review : January 2007
Coolpix S7c
Compact camera makes wireless delivery painless
Nikon’sCoolpix S7c (; February 2007 ) is n’t the first compact camera to offer a ramp up in Wi - Fi connection . It ’s not even the first such photographic camera from Nikon . But it is the first camera we ’ve seen that create the process of atomic number 99 - mailing photos directly from the camera practically painless and altogether intuitive . How easy is it ? Five bit after opening the box , you ’ll be eastward - mailing your first photos . In wireless mode , you take the photos you want to send , and then you use the coil cycle to input e - chain armor speech ( the camera stores 30)—and off they go . Recipients get an due east - mail inviting them to go online to view a slide show or to download full - solvent exposure . The 7 - megapixel S7c is also compact , has a bright 3 - inch sieve , and corrects for television camera trill . Someday , Wi - Fi will be usual on camera . This is a petty taste of how that ’ll make digital photography easier.—KELLY TURNER
society : Nikon / Price:$350 / Original Review:/ February 2007
Deep Freeze Mac 2.0
Hardware-restoration utility is like a magic Undo command
If you ’ve ever tested bad software , downloaded a file you should n’t have , or mud about in Terminal with unpleasant results , or if you deal a crowd of Macs whose user do all that and more , you ’ve plausibly wished you had a magic Undo control that could overturn the damage . That ’s just what Faronics’Deep Freeze Mac 2.0 (; June 2006 ) does . It starts by taking a snapshot of your system in its sportsmanlike province . After that , you could establish computer software , make and save files , change options , and do fairly much anything else you unremarkably do . When you re-start the Mac , Deep Freeze will dispose all those variety and give the system of rules to its original , clean experimental condition . Deep Freeze has been available on the Windows political program for years ; this year , it came to the Mac . You may not demand it . But it will be essential for some people.—ROB GRIFFITHS
Company : Faronics / Price:$30 / Original Review:/ June 2006
Dimenxian
Learn algebra, shoot monsters
training computer software is often as attract to kids as a trip to the principal ’s office . The folks at Tabula Digita have come up with a novel alternative : Dimenxian (; Game Room ) , a pre - algebra and algebra tutor in the guise of a first - person shooter . The game starts you on the surface of an foreign universe . you could run around and shoot things — but to do so you have to fill out a serial of tasks that help formulate and reinforce math skill . For good example , one mission requires that you voyage the surface of the planet using control grid co-ordinate . Tabula Digita ’s slogan : “ pick up mathematics or die trying . ”—PETER COHEN
troupe : Tabula DigitaPrice:$30Original Review : online only
EyeTV Hybrid
Pocket-sized TV tuner sets new standard
troupe : Elgato SystemsPrice:$150Original Review : January 2007
Fission 1.1
Not long ago , audio - redaction applications were the exclusive responsibility of audio engineers and technical school - savvy musicians . Now , thanks to the iPod , iTunes , pour media , and podcasting , nearlyeverymodern Mac user has a reason to muck with medicine . This year , Rogue Amoeba render us amateur an easy , cheap way to edit our audio file : Fission (; February 2007 ) . Boasting an intuitive interface , Fission lets you trim down , rent , and wither plebeian audio Indian file , such as MP3 , AAC , Apple Lossless , and AIFF , in their native formats — no need to reencode or convert files the way you do with other audio editor in chief . For split foresighted audio streams ( captured from the Internet , an audiobook , an LP , or a cassette ) , Fission offers a Smart Split bid that is more accurate and easier to use than similar feature in other audio apps . And unlike the competition , Fission countenance you delete metadata ( ID3 tags)—track title , record album , and artist information , for exemplar — for each track from within the program.—CHRISTOPHER BREEN
Company : Rogue AmoebaPrice:$32Original Review : February 2007
G-Drive Q
Desktop hard drive is the most versatile you’ll find
Only one of the desktop heavy drives we test in the past year garnered a five - mouse rating : theG - Drive Q (; November 2006 ) , from G - Technology . This grueling driving is extremely versatile , incorporating nigh every type of connectedness you could desire — USB 2.0 , FireWire 400 and 800 , and eSATA . In gain , it does n’t need a driver and can be configure as a backup boot movement . ( It ’s bootable via all four of those port . ) That kind of flexibility seemed all the more impressive when we tested the G - Drive Q and found that it was quite quick and nearly silent in operation . Plus , its aluminium outside stylishly coordinates with Apple ironware . It was n’t the dissipated or biggest drive we try this yr . But its combination of feature makes it one of a kind.—ERIC SUESZ
Company : G - TechnologyPrice:$559Original Review : November 2006
Google Earth
3-D mapping tool is out of this world
It takes a lot to upstage Apple at a Macworld Conference & Expo . But when Google released a Mac version ofGoogle Earth (; Mac Gems ) at the January 2006 deal show , the buzz it generate rivaled that of any Intel - found computer hardware or iLife innovations do out of Cupertino . After just a few minute with the 3 - D - mapping and -navigation software , you ’ll see why . Google Earth devote you a bird’s - oculus view of any place on the planet , a panorama you’re able to tilt , pan , and rotate as much as you like . As with Google Maps , you may punch in an address to get driving direction or find nearby eateries . But Google Earth lets you to do much more . For deterrent example , during the 2006 midterm elections , Google create a Google Earth layer showing voter information for each United States congressional district . And the software ’s vibrant on-line community is constantly augment the curriculum . Google Earth remains in eonian genus Beta , but do n’t be fooled — this is a full - featured software that open up up a whole world of possibilities.—PHILIP MICHAELS
Company : GooglePrice : FreeOriginal Review : online only
Huey
Color calibration comes to the masses
Color calibrators — hardware - software jazz band that make certain your monitor lizard is displaying colour accurately — have been standard creature among graphics professional for year . And they ’ve been priced for that pro market . With the $ 89Huey (; October 2006 ) , Pantone has brought color standardization to the masses . The small , portable USB twist measures ambient way light and in a matter of moment adjust your monitor to standard color temperatures . you may optimise the circumstance for specific activities ( Web browse , photo editing , pictorial design , video editing , and so on ) , and the Huey software will then continually align your monitor in the background.—DAN Alton Glenn Miller
Company : PantonePrice:$89Original Review : October 2006
iLife ’06
Best-yet versions of four apps elevate suite
Apple released the iLife rooms in 2003 , and we ’ve given Eddys to single iLife apps ( such as iPhoto and GarageBand ) before . But we ’ve never award an Eddy to the whole suite — until now . This year , Apple did a stellar job not only of upgrading private apps , but also of combining them into a coherent whole.iLife ’ 06offers some of the best tools available for producing undivided image , movies , DVDs , World Wide Web sites , music , and podcasts . That ’s not to say it ’s perfect . The Modern iLife app , iWeb ( ) , in finical has some galling quirk . But those irritation are cancel by best - yet versions of iPhoto , GarageBand , iMovie , and iDVD . With iPhoto 6 ( ) , you get better carrying out , a slew of raw printing options , and full - screen redaction . GarageBand 3 ( ) now does podcasts and integrates with iChat . iMovie 6 ( ) has Modern report , tangible - time preview , and audio effects . And iDVD 6 ( ) offers new extensive - cover support , resizable windows , and support for third - company videodisc burner . Put all that together , and you get the best iLife yet.—JACKIE DOVE
ship’s company : ApplePrice:$79
Keynote 3
Presentation app evolves into viable PowerPoint alternative
For years , Microsoft ’s PowerPoint had no competition when it came to forgather presentations on the Mac . Then , in 2003 , Apple introduced Keynote . While the program brought a fresh approaching to create and editing presentations , it was missing some fundamental features . Keynote 3 (; April 2006 ) , part of Apple ’s iWork ’ 06 entourage , efficaciously satiate many of those holes . Now you may interleave graphics with text builds and put more than one bulleted list on a glide . Images can now be well masked with any embodiment you’re able to take out , a Bézier - bend draft prick lets you create curved shapes , and you’re able to add a semitransparent reflection to any computer graphic with one click . A Pseudemys scripta makes separate and adding transitions to longer presentations much simpler . These and other new feature , combined with Keynote ’s extremely well-disposed interface and professional looking themes , have finally made the app a viable option to PowerPoint.—ROB GRIFFITHS
caller : ApplePrice:$79 ( as part of iWork ’ 06 suite)Original Review : April 2006
Mac Pro
Intel-based desktop keeps its cool
When Apple announced that it was switching to Intel chips , much of the surmisal center on on what that ’d mean for Apple laptop . lilliputian did we take in what a huge impingement those silicon chip would have on the flagship of the Apple screen background blood line . Because those Intel chip run so much cooler , the Power Mac - replacingMac Pro (; November 2006 ) did n’t have to commit so much of its home space to cool systems . That left elbow room for more repositing ( up to four SATA gruelling drives at a sentence , for up to 3 TB [ terabytes ] of storage ) , two optical drives ( instead of the Power Mac ’s one ) , and some pretty cool computer graphic - card selection . Of course , those Intel chipping did more than keep matter cool : they allowed Apple to release its first Intel organization with four processing cores . The sum of all those parts is a to - break down - for , high-pitched - performance workstation and a more than worthy successor to the august Power Mac.—DAN Alton Glenn Miller
Company : ApplePrice:$2,499Original Review : November 2006
MacBook
Surprisingly powerful portable inspires laptop love
Macworldeditors see a fortune of Apple hardware , so you might not expect us to getexcitedabout new Macs . But the day Apple release its unexampled Intel - based consumer laptop computer , our offices were buzzing . Several of us go out that day and boughtMacBooks (; August 2006 ) with our own firmly - earned cash . Why the love ? The MacBook let iBook owners step up to a surprisingly powerful dual - core system . It also give owner of the 12 - column inch PowerBook G4 a powerful Intel - based surrogate . Yes , there have been reports of item-by-item MacBooks with production flaws , and Apple had to unloose a firmware patch to address a ad-lib - shutdown problem . But even the MacBook owner we have intercourse who ’ve been seize with teeth by such bugs still rave about how much they love their piffling laptops.—JASON SNELL
Company : ApplePrice:$1,099 to $ 1,499Original Review : August 2006
Nike + iPod Sport Kit
iPod nano accessory improves your workouts
The iPod nano is a keen exercise accessory , thanks to its diminutive size , its omission - liberal flash storage , and the dewy-eyed fact that it ’s an iPod . Nike’sNike + iPod Sport Kit (; Playlist ) makes the nano an even just physical exertion partner . A modest vector confiscate to one of your running shoes pass over your movements and post that data to your nano via a tiny recipient . As you incline , your iPod provides feedback on your procession and encouragement as you approach your end . afterwards , when you sync your iPod , iTunes sends your workout details to the Nike+ Web site , where you could jell goal , see your best times and distances , and compete with runners from around the world.—DAN FRAKES
Company : NikePrice:$29Original Review : online only
Nikon D80
Digital SLR offers tremendous quality at a great price
TheNikon D80 (; February 2007 ) may not make any headlines for technological innovation . rather , it offers tremendous quality at a great price . The camera treat more like a mellow - last SLR than many of its similarly priced competitors , and it comes with an extensive list of impressive features — some of which you wo n’t find even on more expensive cameras . start substance abuser will apprise the tv camera ’s visceral interface , while experient shooters will like its full range of control and options . Everyone will do good from the photographic camera ’s 10 - megapixel solution and excellent simulacrum quality . The D80 also offer redaction tools that let you perform sophisticated corrections before you export your shots to your Mac . With the D80 , Nikon has raised the performance bar in the sub-$1,000 grocery — and that ’s something even Canon devotee should applaud.—BEN LONG
caller : NikonPrice:$1,000 ( body only)Original Review : February 2007
Parallels Desktop for Mac
Virtualization tool introduces Mac users to the Windows world
Every so often , a product that defines its market segment comes along . Parallels Desktop for Mac (; September 2006 ) is one such merchandise . If you have an Intel - power Mac , Parallels lets you run Windows and Unix - establish operating system at nearly aboriginal speeds . Depending on your Mac , Windows applications run at anywhere from 80 to 95 pct of their aboriginal speed — more than tight enough for all but the most demanding Windows drug user . ( taste that , practical PC . ) Unlike Apple ’s Boot Camp , Parallels does n’t force you to bring up or partition your hard driveway . It ’ll even permit you execute multiple operating organization simultaneously ( as long as you have cakehole of RAM ) . certainly , there are some drawbacks . Parallels Desktop ca n’t , for instance , support full 3 - D accelerated graphic , and some hardware peripherals wo n’t bring by rights with it . But if you involve ( or want ) to use Windows on your Mac , Parallels Desktop is the easiest — and for most exploiter , the good — solution available.—ROB GRIFFITHS
Company : ParallelsPrice:$80Original Review : September 2006
PhoneValet Message Center 4.0
Premier telephony program only gets better
Parliant’sPhoneValet Message Center 4.0 (; July 2006 ) does one simple affair — but does it so well , it ’s hard to believe that no one else has done it before . Previous editions of the program have ground PhoneValet as the chancellor telephony subject matter - recording system for the Mac ; adaptation 4 has cemented that leadership view . The app now does a lot more than answer calls . It can also dial , disc , log , and seek through your call ; it ’ll also automatically forward them to your cell speech sound when you ’re on the road . Despite all those new acquirement , PhoneValet Message Center 4.0 is still one of those apps you may fructify up and never think about again.—JIM DALRYMPLE
Company : ParliantPrice:$170Original Review : July 2006
Photosmart Pro B9180
Photo printer turns digital images into fine art
With eight pigment ink , including a gray ink for right sinister - and - lily-white ikon , HP’sPhotosmart Pro B9180 (; February 2007 ) create gorgeous , tabloid - size prints that will last as long as 200 years . Not bad — but that ’s a standard already do by Epson , long the recognize leader in the pro - quality photo - printing machine market . In designing the B9180 , HP realized that it had to surpass the usability , feature film , and pattern of its competitor ’s products — and it has . This pressman comes with a Photoshop chaw - in for quickly making mark without wade through multiple dialogue boxes ; a simple manual - feed tray for thick papers ( with unmortgaged guides for proper conjunction ) ; support for fine - art papers ; and a built - in color densimeter ( a first for a printer priced under $ 1,000 ) that ensures reproducible prints from day to mean solar day . Digital SLR cameras have revolutionized picture taking ; the B9180 lets us plough those digital images into fine art.—RICK LEPAGE
Company : Hewlett - PackardPrice:$700Original Review : February 2007
PV-GS500
Camcorder does almost everything well at a reasonable price
There are good deal of good video cameras out there , and they ’re more low-priced than ever . Still , Panasonic’sPV - GS500 (; September 2006 ) camcorder stand out — not needfully because it has the best specs or is the top performer in any one region , but because it does almost everything well and is reasonably price . You get excellent video recording quality ( in both standard and 16:9 aspect proportion ) , thanks to a 3 - CCD sensor and a Leica lens ; good double stabilisation ; impressive electric battery life ; prosperous - to - use controls ; and a full manual mode for advance users . To top all that off , the PV - GS500 also take aim very gracious photographs , thanks to its 4 - megapixel still - image mode . If the PV - GS500 is too high-priced for you , check out its GS300 and GS200 siblings , which offer many of the same features at humbled prices.—DAN FRAKES
Company : PanasonicPrice:$1,000Original Review : September 2006
Revolution Mice
Innovative scroll wheel sets mice family apart
An Eddy formice ? That wo n’t seem so strange if you ’ve ever used one of Logitech ’s newRevolution mice — the full - size MX (; February 2007 ) and the portable VX . Both are comfortable and ergonomically correct . Both boast dozens of programmable buttons , let in high - precision optical maser tracking , and are RF radio . But what really place these mice apart — and makes them Eddy - suitable — is the scroll roulette wheel . In addition to operating in the traditional way — with the pointer act up or down one on - screen “ line ” per wheel dog — Logitech ’s MicroGear Precision Scroll Wheel has a barren - twisting manner : leaf your finger , and the bicycle birl freely , scrolling through dozens of pages at a time . lightly touch the bike , and scrolling catch immediately . Once you ’ve tried it , you ’ll never go back to a standard scroll wheel.—DAN FRAKES
Company : LogitechPrice : MX : $ 99 ; VX : $ 80Original Review : February 2007
Sonos Digital Music System
Latest ZonePlayer completes this home entertainment system
When Sonos released itsDigital Music Systemin 2005 , we were impressed . link a ZonePlayer to some speakers wherever you desire to listen , and expend the Sonos Controller to wirelessly stream music from your Mac . The much smallerZonePlayer 80 (; play list ) extends those capableness by connecting the Sonos arrangement to your existing stereophonic system . Taken together , the Digital Music System can replace much more expensive custom - installed home speech sound systems while in many manner improving on them , in terms of both functionality and ease of enjoyment . No other system so effectively combines digital euphony , gamy - quality audio , wireless widget , and simplicity.—DAN FRAKES
Company : SonosPrice:$349 to $ 1,499Original Review : online only
SuperDuper 2.1
Scheduled backups make this utility a back-to-back winner
Last year , we give way Shirt Pocket ’s SuperDuper 1.5 an Eddy because , in its first year , it had already become an indispensable tool for make bootable difficult - driving force backup and for migrating between different Mac organisation . WithSuperDuper 2 (; Mac Gems ) , the programme has become even more utile . It now offers scheduled backups , ameliorate scripting , and better choice for creating disk images . But our favorite improvement is SuperDuper ’s impressive new user interface design : while most backup and disc - utility computer program are unfriendly at good , SuperDuper 2 expend patently , easy - to - understand language to excuse what ’s go to happen ( based on the options you ’ve take ) when you entreat the button to begin your backup.—JASON SNELL
troupe : Shirt PocketPrice:$28Original Review : online only
TonePort UX2
Interface is just what Mac-based musicians need
Line 6’sTonePort UX2 (; February 2007 ) is the perfect companion for Mac - friendly guitar players , sea bass players , and singers . After you stop up the TonePort into a USB port , the GearBox software permit you whole configure amp configurations ; for example , you could customize your guitar phone for everything from Mississippi blue angel to modern metal . you may make unnecessary all your amp and effects frame-up for instant callback . And because the TonePort is compatible with other Line 6 gadget ( such as the Pod xt Live ) , you may expend those context onstage as easily as at home . Portable enough to put in a knapsack , the TonePort UX2 gift you the best tone possible at a jolly sensible price.—JIM DALRYMPLE
society : Line 6Price:$269Original Review : February 2007
YouTube
Video-sharing Web site takes the world by storm in 2006
Video on the vane is n’t new — Nor are tagging , commenting on , or link to picture . But flux those element and make it light than ever to play and upload video cartridge clip , and you have something that ’ll take the Web by storm . Officially launched in December 2005,YouTubedid just that in the space of one inadequate yr . Sure , you’re able to watch only so many clips of college scholar back talk - syncing Cher ’s “ If I Could deform Back Time . ” But now instead of trying to depict that hilariousDaily Showepisode to your friends , you’re able to send them a link . or else of sending your relatives a 5 MB QuickTime file of your sister ’s first step , you could plainly upload your video and send out a URL . Groups , channels , playlists , and subscriptions make it easy to portion out your videos with the world . And it still does n’t cost a dime.—CURT POFF
ship’s company : YouTubePrice : Free
TechTool Protege
Troubleshooting goes portable
If you ’ve ever had a computer problem on the route , you know how essential it is to have a bootable emergency drive . TheMicromat Protege (; February 2007 ) is just that : a quarter round - sized , flash - retentiveness - based , 1 GB FireWire drive that ’s preloaded with of the essence troubleshooting utilities ( Micromat ’s $ 99 TechTool Pro and $ 50 DiskStudio ; Apple ’s Disk Utility , Terminal , and System Profiler ; and whatever troubleshooting utilities you want to add ) . Plug the Protege into your Mac ’s FireWire port and use it to boot , and then use the utilities to diagnose and repair your system . Protege ’s FireWire connexion means booting is fast . Troubleshooting has never been so easy or so portable.—DAN FRAKES
Company : MicromatPrice:$229Original Review : February 2007
VisualHub 1.1
Video conversion software is iPod owner’s best option
Techspansion’sVisualHub (; Mac Gems ) have you convert videos for role with 5th - generation iPods , optimized either for the iPod ’s 320 - by-240 - pixel screen or for the high resoluteness of a television . But so do several other apps . What determine VisualHub apart is its versatility : it makes converting video to AVI , DV , DVD , Flash , MPEG , MP4 , PSP , and WMV easy . you may choose between MPEG-4 and H.264 encoding . If you have a Series 2 TiVo , you may encode video with VisualHub and then transfer them from your Mac to your TiVo . VisualHub is also much quicker than QuickTime Pro at television rebirth — faster still if you use allot batch encoding — and work with single file that QuickTime just can’t.—JONATHAN SEFF
fellowship : TechspansionPrice:$23Original Review : online only
WingNuts 2: Raina’s Revenge
Mac original is year’s top game
Freeverse ’s follow - up to its 2001 arcade - style action game Wingnuts , WingNuts 2 : Raina ’s Revenge (; Game Room ) has the same basic format as the original : while traveling through time , you shoot down squadron after squadron of robot - control plane — everything from old propeller planes and zeppelins to futuristic mellow - tech champion . Combine Freeverse ’s hallmark mother wit of humour ( nonmigratory speculative guy rope Baron von Schtopwatch crack an dateless series of corny , and occasionally ribald , caper , even as he tries to film you out of the sky ) with top - nick production tone ( OpenGL is used to neat effect ) , and you have a game that ’s fun , challenging , beautiful to look at , and delightful to play . Oh , and WingNuts 2 is a Mac original — how many games can we say that about these days?—PETER COHEN
Company : FreeversePrice:$30Original Review : online only
