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

Macintosh and iPhone software updates and announcements for October 15, 2008:

• Griffin Technology has announced that Wave—its best selling case for iPhone—has been updated and redesigned to fit the new iPod nano 4G, iPod touch 2G and iPod classic 80/120GB. The new Wave features the same wave-shaped contours that overlap and interlock on the original iPhone version, modified with the double-helix design now on the front and back of the case. Wave for iPod features Griffin’s trademark EasyDock design; simply slip off the case bottom to charge and sync, with no need to remove your iPod from its case.
• FlipSide5, Inc. has announced the release of Touch Hockey, the best-of-breed air hockey iPhone game. Instant Replay, Multi-Player Network play, realistic air hockey topping game play and real-time 3D rendering highlight it’s breakthrough features. Touch Hockey is free and available in the App Store today.
• Never miss the excitement of college football again with iLove College Football 2008 by Fandora’s Box for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch. In addition to providing Live scoring, you will have access to rankings, schedules, standings, weekly picks, Heisman watch, Top 25 game previews and recaps, team reports, and other editorial content. Importantly, content is native to the app, resulting in a great user experience. This app is powered by reliable content from industry leaders PA SportsTicker, The Sports Xchange, and Fandora’s Box.
• WaterField Designs has announced an Ultrasuede Suede Jacket Sleeve designed specifically for the new Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro. WaterField Designs manufactures domestically and thus leads the industry in providing custom-fitted cases as soon as popular electronic devices are announced. The new Suede Jacket Sleeve is available now from Sfbags and will ship next week. Also available for MaBook Air and MacBook Pro 17”. Prices range from $29.00-$35.00.
• Car Spotter has every feature imaginable to help find your parked car; just open Car Spotter, wait for the GPS to locate you and tap the car icon. Your car’s location will be saved. It’s that simple! And it’s on sale for 40% off the original price of $4.99.
• Ohanaware, a company specializing in photo editing software announced the immediate availability of an update to their flagship product, Funtastic Photos. Funtastic Photos is an easy-to-use evolutionary photo editor for the Macintosh platform. This update (free to existing customer) features over 63 improvements.
• EditGroove Software has announced that UserMatic is now shipping. EditGroove’s UserMatic solves FCP Preferences hassles once and for all, encouraging and facilitating experimentation in the thousands of ways Final Cut Pro can be customized. It leverages the editor’s time and creativity by enabling multiple versioning, rollback points, easier troubleshooting, multiple users, and even accessing the same preferences across multiple edit bays.
• unmarked software has announced the release of TextSoap 6, a major upgrade to their award winning text processing utility for Mac OS X. TextSoap 6 brings a new user interface and a new custom cleaner editor. TextSoap moves users beyond the boundaries of simple textual find and replace, adding style to the mix. Integration options bring users all the power of TextSoap right inside their favorite application.
• Ergonis Software has announced the release of Typinator 3.2, the latest version of its highly acclaimed tool for auto-typing text and auto-correcting typos. The new version will particularly intrigue FileMaker developers. With Typinator 3.2 FileMaker developers realize an unprecedented increase of productivity. Function names together with their parameters can now be inserted ultra-fast by typing a short abbreviation instead of tediously searching for them via popup-menu and long lists.
• Pangea Software, Inc., has announced that they have released their latest iPhone game, Nanosaur II: Hatchling. Nanosaur 2 is the ultimate flying reptile battle game for the iPhone or iPod Touch. You pilot a pterodactyl from the future who’s mission is to locate stolen dinosaur eggs and return them to safety by throwing them into wormholes. You collect various power-ups and weapons that are used to battle other dinosaurs and mechanized sentries. There are heat-seeking missiles, blasters, cluster bombs, etc.
• Doseido Software has announced Sharecard 1.0, their vCard sharing application for iPhone and iPod Touch. Sharecard is a revolution in sharing contacts and combines a sleek, clean interface with a powerful user experience. By taking advantage of the iPhone’s unique abilities and interface, Sharecard users can email contact details simply by attaching their vCard.
• Marware, Inc., has announced the Sport Grip for the iPod touch 2G, and that the Eco-Runner for iPod nano 4G is now shipping. The Sport Grip is consistently one of the top-rated skin cases for Apple products, offering direct access to all iPod touch features. With an open face, the Sport Grip protects the sides, back, top and bottom of your iPod. The docking port is protected by an easily accessible silicone slot until needed. The Eco-Runner is their first environmentally friendly case for the iPod nano 4G. If you like green running with style, the Eco-Runner is for you. The Eco-Runner keeps your iPod secure, provides comfort for an active lifestyle, all the while reducing your carbon footprint. The eco-friendly material is light, flexible and comes in a stylish gray with green contrast.
• Chillingo Ltd, Europe’s leading iPhone Application publisher, has joined forces with young and innovative Dutch based iPhone development studio Rough Cookie to deliver Dougie Moo’s Aqua Antics&#151la made-for-accelerometer title targeting casual gamers of all ages.
• Digital Heaven has announced the release of Loader, an innovative application that streamlines the process of importing media into Final Cut Pro. Importing music, sound effects, graphics or movies into Final Cut Pro is a task that most editors do many times a day. In order to keep media files in one place for a particular project, it has traditionally been necessary to first copy the files to a media folder and then import the copied files into Final Cut Pro. Loader handles both of these processes automatically and adds some extra benefits.
• Indev Software has announced the release of Mail Act-On 2, the powerful enhancement to Apple’s Mail application that puts organization at your fingertips. Use Mail Act-On 2 to create rules to perform actions on messages by responding to simple keystrokes. Mail Act-On 2 is the indispensable tool for anyone who needs to manage their inbox more efficiently. Version 2.0 is a complete rewrite and brings several new features.
• AirGrab has announced WiFi Radar 1.0, their wireless networks information tool. With a focus on ease-of-use, AirGrab WiFi Radar displays information about Apple Airport base stations and other WiFi (802.11b/g/n) wireless access points. Signal level and Noise level helps to diagnose common wireless network problems, and optimally positions your base station and or computer to achieve the best possible signal strength. Encryption status of network shows WEP, WPA, WPA2 modes of all immediately available WiFi networks.
• Freeverse has announced that their iPhone games suite—Big Bang Board Games—has received a major update. The update adds the ability to play Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Mancala, and other board games against a human opponent in two player “hot seat” play, as well as against the computer.
• ShaggyMac is offering new screen protectors for the newly launched unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro. Designed specifically for each model, The ShaggyMac lays on the keyboard surface and cushions/protects the screen while the lid is closed. Using the ShaggyMac will prevent marks and scuffs on the lcd surface. In addition, The ShaggyMac Screen Protector is made from an advanced optical polishing cloth, which will keep the MacBook’s glass LCD screen and glass trackpad clean.