Appletell | Apple, Mac, iPhone, iPod | News, Rumors, Reviews, How-Tos

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod/iPad product updates and announcements for March 9, 2010:

• Macintosh
• iPod

Macintosh

• FileMaker, Inc. has announced the immediate availability of FileMaker Pro 11. Packed with new and innovative features led by charting, “on the fly” reporting, a new Quick Find capability, and a host of productivity tools for easier database creation, FileMaker Pro 11 makes using databases easier and quicker than ever. For advanced FileMaker users and developers, FileMaker Pro 11 delivers many new features for creating professional solutions in record time. Also available today with new features is the entire FileMaker 11 product line, which includes FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced, FileMaker Server 11 and FileMaker Server 11.
• Araelium Group has released Querious 1.0, its all-new database management application for Mac OS X. Querious includes the ability to view, edit, and search data, manage table schema, indexes, queries, and users for MSQL 5. Direct, SSH, and SSL connections are all supported. Querious has been built from the ground up for Mac OS X, featuring a well-crafted user experience that is both comfortable and manages to stay out of the way of experienced developers and database administrators.
• Mapdiva has announced Ortelius 1.0.7, the latest update of their map design software for Mac OS X. Ortelius is a vector-based cartography application that helps you create high-quality custom map graphics, plans, and scaled drawings. Ortelius offers a creative solution with superior quality graphics - perfect for reports, presentations, and publications. Ortelius helps you do more than just make maps - it help you communicate visually.
• Jumsoft has announced Pages Clipart 6.0, and continues to increase its collection of add-ons for Apple’s iWork suite. Pages Clipart provides users with vast options for illustrating their presentations, invitations, Web pages, posters, newsletters, and a variety of other documents. Use of the clipart images is not limited to Pages; they are also compatible with Keynote, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and various graphics editors.
• Other World Computing (OWC) has announced today its OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro mini is the first 2.5” 1TB “Quad Interface” bus powered portable storage solution on the market and available for immediate ordering with 10 models priced from $119.99. Featuring a “Quad Interface” of FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0, and eSATA interface connectivity for data transfer speeds up to 300MB/s, the fanless Mercury Elite-AL Pro mini delivers high performance storage/backup to Mac or PC users in a portable, brushed aluminum, no AC adapter required Plug and Play footprint.
• Digital cameras and flash technology have revolutionized photography. Originally seen simply as a way of illuminating dark scenes with portable light, flash today is used for a host of creative functions, including supplementing daylight and designing complex scenes lit by multiple light sources. Digital cameras with their preview screens make it easy to get instant feedback. But flash photography can still be a difficult artistic and technical challenge. It’s simple to get that harsh deer-in-the-headlights look from built-in automatic flash, yet creating natural-looking images is not as straightforward. Manuals are terse and the terminology is confusing. This is where Mastering Canon EOS Flash Photography comes in.
• Source R&D has announced the availability of the Warpia Easy Dock, which will allow users to wirelessly connect their notebook/netbook/Macbook to any traditional desktop setting.  With the Easy Dock’s straightforward plug-and-play interface, consumers can have both the convenience and portability of a laptop, as well as the comfort of a desktop computer.  Easier on the eyes, ears and hands, users will no longer have to squint at a miniature screen, deal with a below average sound quality, or fumble with a tiny keyboard.
• Elgato has announced the world’s smallest hybrid TV tuner stick. The next generation of EyeTV Hybrid introduces an ultra-compact enclosure in a matte aluminium finish. The TV tuner stick comes with EyeTV 3 software for Mac and a driver for Windows 7 Media Center. The price of the new version of EyeTV Hybrid remains the same at $149.95 USD.

iPhone/iPod/iPad

• The iPhone 3G Flip Case from iKit allows you to enjoy hands-free video viewing at a café, desk, or anywhere with a flat surface. It features a protective polycarbonate body, unique flipstand with a mirror screen protector included with purchase. The fashionable chrome finish makes this item the complete package for your iPhone.
• WaterField Designs has introduced two cases for the Apple iPad: the well-fitted Smart Case and the super-thin iPad Slip Case. Both new cases offer protection for the iPad and come in six colors. They can be matched with the ideal-fitting personal size WaterField Muzetto metro bag. All WaterField’s iPad cases—the Ultimate SleeveCase, the Suede Jacket, the Smart Case and Slip Case—are available for pre-order and will ship shortly after the Apple iPad ship date. The Muzetto is in stock now.
• Tisha Morris has released Feng Shui Bagua Map 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch users interested in an easier way to improve the flow of their lives. The application is based on westernized Feng Shui, providing a bagua map, along with easy to use and follow instructions for optimizing the energy in a person’s home or office. Users can overlay onto the bagua map existing pictures from their phone’s photo library or snap a new one of their room or floor plan.
• Infomato Inc. today released Forget, a free application for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Forget is a memory aid for people who are frequently stuck in tip-of-the-tongue moments or whose otherwise brilliant trains of thought are stalled, simply because they are forgetful. Forget is built around the psychological principles of memory association and recognition, so that even scatterbrains and disorganized people can quickly enjoy its benefits.
• Spil Games has announced the release of its second game for the iPhone and iPod touch: Uphill Rush 2. Now available at the iTunes App Store, this new version of the 2D, side-scrolling, stunt-racing game lets mobile gamers shake and race their way to bigger stunts and higher scores. The mobile version of Uphill Rush 2 offers players three difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, and Hard), Time Trial and Versus modes, twelve customized stunt vehicles, and twenty different racing outfits. High achievers can win eight different cups spanning three different worlds and can post their scores on Facebook.
• Sweetpea Software has announced Rulette 1.0, its first application for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Rulette is a fun spin on the rules of evidence. With just the flick of the wheel, you can view the rules by spinning the wheel and choosing the rule that you want to read. To view the rule that you have selected, simply press the “Read the Rule” chip. This edition of Rulette includes the North Carolina Rules of Evidence.
• Griffin Technology Inc., has unveiled a new collection of designs from the Griffin + Threadless Co-Op Initiative. Two new case patterns—Permafrost Pollution and Funkalicious—join the already popular line of cases, introducing new artists to the tech community.
• TeamViewer GmbH has just released TeamViewer and TeamViewer Pro, iPhone applications making mobile connectivity more flexible than ever before. Designed for iPhone or iPod touch, from versions 2.2.1 and newer, the innovative TeamViewer applications access or control remote computers located anywhere in the world.
• Today marks the official release of Cloak—a community-developed protective case for the Apple iPad. The Quirky community came together to develop a sleek, sturdy case with a modern design resembling that of an office folder, just in time for the iPad pre-sale launch on March 12. The Cloak is constructed from non-slip rubber with durable plastic hinge mechanisms to enable viewing at different angles.
• Gormaya has announced that their first App, TasteTimer, has been updated and is available exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch. TasteTimer is a precise timer with over 600 included timer recipes for tea, coffee, and food. With TasteTimer, there are 19 categories of timer recipes: Black Tea, Botanical, Chai, Coffee, Eggs, Fruit, Grain, Green Tea, Hot Chocolate, Legume, Meat, Oolong Tea, Poultry, Pu-erh Tea, Rooibos, Seafood, Vegetables, White Tea, and Yerba Maté.
• Crazy Mike’s Apps has announced an iPod touch 8GB giveaway tied to March Madness and the release of the new iPhone app, PocketBracket. PocketBracket: College Basketball Tournament is an iPhone app that easily allows people to keep track of their College Basketball Brackets. PocketBracket allows anyone to create unlimited NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament brackets. Full contest details are located online. Winners for the contest will be announced on April 11 on the contest website.
• metaio has released a completely new version of its open augmented reality browser junaio. The version 2.0 is now available in the App Store and offers new unique features. Indoor usage, web- and user-based information channels and an open API for developers are further steps on junaio ́s way to an open browser platform enabling everyone to create and experience mobile augmented reality.