Getting in the Groove
If there is one thing Mac users are sensitive to, it's being marginalized. Maybe that's the price of originality and quality, but Mac users at MACWORLD Expo 2000 were not neglected by SpikeRadio, who introduced its desktop player for Macintosh computers, authored in iShell by the cross-platform multimedia studio, Luchador2000. Tribeworks' SpikeRadio is a Mac-ready Internet radio player that offers a selection of music mixed by renowned DJs. The proprietary third-party desktop streaming application for Mac users is a first for both SpikeRadio and Tribeworks.

"Other companies in the arena of Internet radio and streaming media have largely ignored the Mac audience, specifically in the area of providing custom built players," said Chris O'Hanlon, the Los Angeles-based founder and chief executive officer of Spike Networks. "Now Mac users can listen to our live radio stream as well as playback archives of our guest programs at their leisure and send us song requests directly from the desktop player without opening a browser."

With iShell -- a cross-platform multimedia-authoring environment -- Internet capabilities and open architecture designed by developer John Eric Greenberg of Luchador2000, SpikeRadio was customized for streaming live audio, and streamed Flash movies on the Macintosh.

"iShell enabled us to customize Spike's content presentation for a differentiated experience," said Greenberg, Luchador2000 founder. "In order to build the player, we needed a solid authoring environment -- and as a Tribeworks Full Member, I received iShell's SDK for building SpikeRadio's odd-shaped window. iShell's modular approach to media authoring also means we can modify the player at any time, and seamlessly to the listeners."

Communicating with the other side
Now should Mac users actually want to talk to people on "that other system," ReallyEasy.com has been showing ReallyEasyVoice 2.0 software for Macintosh along with its first online community page for Macintosh users to go with it.

"The introduction of ReallyEasyVoice 2.0 for the Macintosh opens the door for Macintosh users to our easy-to-use voice chat technology to participate in communities with other Macintosh users as well as PC users," said Christopher Rossie, chief executive officer and president of ReallyEasy.com. "We are committed to bridging the gap between PC and Macintosh computer users and helping online community managers bring together like-minded communities regardless of their operating environment."

And, should you download the free software and find nobody listening, clicking the "send to a friend" icon users can forward a copy of the ReallyEasyVoice 2.0 software to a friend who can download it and begin to chat online almost immediately. Once both parties have the software, each user's Speed-Dial List is updated to facilitate future conversations.