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

Macintosh and iPhone software updates and announcements for September 4, 2008:

• Ambrosia Software, Inc. has announced the release of the $2.99 mondo Top 5 Solitaire game for the iPhone. For solitaire lovers who want just the most popular games, but done in a professional, easy to use, and fun interface, this is the solitaire game for you.
• Internet radio is taking another step forward as a legitimate entertainment medium this month as the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s IBS Student Radio Network by Backbone (IBS-SRN) launches the Web’s first live music festival, called IBS-Palooza. Increasingly sophisticated college radio clubs combined with advances in Internet broadcasting technology will allow, for the first time, multiple stations to digitally share and play each other’s live content and provide valuable exposure to emerging local artists from around the U.S and around the world. This is expected to become an annual event on the IBS-SRN. IBS-Palooza will be available on the Internet from each participating school’s website, as well at WIBS and Apple’s iTunes Radio, College Radio category; September 19th through the 21st, 2008.
• Xeric Design, Ltd. has announced the release of EarthDesk 4.4. EarthDesk replaces the static desktop with an image of the Earth showing current sun, moon and city illumination, as well as real-time global cloud coverage, allowing users to track hurricanes and other weather systems on their Macintosh or Windows desktop. Version 4.4 improves the handling of satellite cloud images and is able to detect and ignore images with missing data sent from the satellite receiving station.
• Derman Enterprises has announced its first public beta of Sync’Em, a new sync hub for Macs. Sync’Em is designed to sync Microsoft Exchange, Google and Apple contact and calendar information.
• The new Sound Waves waterproof mp3 case was released at the recent Sydney International Boat Show. At last you are able to take your mp3 player with you, no matter where you want to go. The case is 100% waterproof to a depth of 5mtrs and has an adjustable arm band to fit almost any size arm.
• Bad Dog Apps has announced the availability of BdPricer for the iPhone and iPod Touch. BdPricer is the perfect shopping companion for the smart shopper. Simply enter the product you want to compare the price for and let BdPricer do the rest. Use BdPricer’s quick look up directory to find common items form 15 main product categories, with over 150 sub categories and 3,000 sub category items, to instantly find the products your are interested in.
• Karelia Software today announced the release of version 1.5 of Sandvox, a major update to its award-winning website creation software for Mac OS X. Version 1.5 includes dozens of new features and over 150 improvements, updates, and performance enhancements. Sandvox features drag-and-drop website assembly, live editing without a preview mode, fifty stylish and flexible designs, eleven page types, and nineteen different pagelets.
• Chromatic Bytes has announced a going back to school sale for their flagship vector drawing program, ZeusDraw. ZeusDraw goes back to school with a sale price of $59.99 from now until September 21. This is one third off the regular price of $90 USD. ZeusDraw is a vector drawing program with a fluid, graceful interface. It has a different, more intuitive approach to paths (Bezier curves) and great brushes.
• XChange International has announced the release of four more XTensions products for QuarkXPress 8 for Macintosh: ProPack, FlexScale, Crops XT and Nametag. The XTensions are available for upgrade from earlier versions as well as for new users.
• TweakerSoft has introduced AroundMe 1.0, their new application for the iPhone. Via GPS, AroundMe quickly acquires the users location and allows them to choose the nearest bank, bar, gas station, hospital, hotel, movie theatre, restaurant, supermarket, theatre and taxi. The selected listing is then displayed on a map and plots the route to the nearest address. The chosen information can be added to the contact list or even emailed to a friend.
• O’Reilly Media has introduced and opened registration for iPhoneLive, a new conference scheduled for November 18, 2008, at the Holiday Inn San Jose in Silicon Valley, California. Conference chairs Raven Zachary and Bill Dudney are creating a full day’s schedule featuring keynotes from visionaries and leading thinkers in the mobile space, “Build” and “Launch” tracks of breakout sessions, and panel discussions exploring the iPhone ecosystem. Some of the biggest names in the emerging iPhone industry will speak in the intimate setting of this new conference.
• Aspyr Media, in collaboration with Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, announced that futureU, its new SAT prep video game, has shipped to retail stores nationwide for PC and Mac. futureU, the first game released under Aspyr and Kaplan’s partnership, represents a new medium for supplemental SAT prep, adapting test preparation material into a collection of fun interactive games.