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

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for March 19, 2009:

Macintosh

• AquaFold, Inc. today released Aqua Data Studio 7.5, a major upgrade to its powerful database administration software that makes it simple to visualize and manipulate multiple databases from within a single interface. Aqua Data Studio 7.5 supports tools for Oracle, DB2 for LUW, DB2 for iSeries, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Sybase, Informix, Apache Derby and PostgreSQL on Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, Solaris and the Java Platform.
• Andrei Doubrovski, a professional photo restoration artist and technician, has released version 7.0 of video-book “As Simple as Photoshop.” The book is devoted to an original method of a quick but total immersion into the environment of Photoshop. Every tutorial here is packed with a short movie showing some practical usage of the wordy lesson. You may play those either one by one, or as a full-size and full-length video. The elaborated controls instantly guide you to required page or episode.
• PremiumSoft has released a major update to its Navicat administration tool for Oracle and PostgreSQL, and a minor update to its Navicat for MySQL. This major release includes some new features such as exporting from MySQL to Excel file, supporting of ODBC Import, Code Completion in all SQL Editor, Enhanced support of PostgreSQL version 7.3 to 8.3. Navicat’s major features include Data Import/ Export, Visual Query Builder, Data Synchronization, Remote connection, Backup and Tasks Scheduling.
• Humble Daisy has announced ProfCast 2.5.0, a significant update to their flagship lecture recording and podcast creation solution for Mac OS X. ProfCast is a versatile, powerful, yet very simple to use tool for recording lectures including PowerPoint and/or Keynote slides for creating enhanced podcasts. ProfCast offers an integrated workflow that makes creating, recording, and publishing podcasts easy. Version 2.5.0 includes numerous improvements and bug fixes.
• Macware has released a new version of MacTuneUp, a total system utility that prevents system instability and speeds up your Mac. MacTuneUp 3.5 provides an entirely improved Optimization section, whereby the Network Optimizer increases the download speed even more, and the Virtual Memory Optimizer frees up more hard disk space on the boot volume.
• Eltima Software has released Flash Optimizer 2.3. Flash Optimizer for Mac is a powerful, feature-rich SWF compression utility. It easily reduces SWF files size up to 80% thanks to amazing algorithms of vectors, shapes, morphing, Z-buffer, fonts and other optimizations, thus saving considerable amount of traffic and loading time. It manages to optimize not only a separate part of your Flash movie, but the whole SWF, including curves, zero-objects and a whole lot more advanced techniques.
• MacPractice, Inc., will introduce MacPractice Endo, a specialized version for Endodontists of its flagship product MacPractice DDS, at the American Academy of Endodontists’ Annual Session in Orlando, FL this week. MacPractice Endo includes specialized, customizable, clinical data-entry forms for use in MacPractice EDR (Electronic Dental Record). Forms that are suitable for being sent to referring dentists are included with placeholders for digital x-ray images. A narrative report may be automatically generated from the completed EDR form, and the narrative may also be merged into a letter template addressed to the referring dentist in MacPractice Note.
• nFinity Inc., has announced the release of its new iPhone QuickVoice PRO Recorder w/Bonus. QuickVoice PRO features added capabilities over its “Free” version of QuickVoice including the capability to send voicemails up to 20MB. It also comes with a free bonus copy of its award winning QuickVoice pC for Mac and Windows.
• Macgamestore.com has announced the availability of CSI:NY - The Game for the Mac through its website and digital download service, Mac Games Arcade. The game is published by Ubisoft. For the first time ever, immerse yourself in the world of CSI: NY. Experience original cases written by CSI writers and solve mysteries alongside your favorite characters from the hit TV crime show. Piece together clues and uncover hidden evidence in the biggest city in America.
• Markus Mueller has announced MindNode Pro 1.3, an update to his popular mind mapping application for Mac OS X Leopard. With a focus on ease-of-use, MindNode Pro features a very simple and intuitive interface that lets the user focus on expressing and developing ideas. It was specifically created with the user in mind so virtually no time is required to learn the interface. Version 1.3 adds the ability to create cross connections and to edit the mind map in fullscreen mode.
• Mariner Software has introduced MacGourmet Deluxe 1.2, software that is as well suited for the kitchen as measuring cups. And like every good cook, MacGourmet Deluxe is well organized—for those meticulously planned dinners to the spur of the moment gathering of friends and family.
• Advenio today announces updates to their add-on Mealplan, Cookbook and Nutrition plug-ins for MacGourmet, their popular cooking and recipe organizer for Mac OS X. Think of MacGourmet as iTunes for Recipes. Easily browse an entire collection, or build custom lists for categories, such as appetizers or desserts. MacGourmet also includes web publishing, clipping from web pages, and web site importing. It’s one of the few Mac recipe applications to offer nutritional analysis.

iPhone/iPod

• The Retronyms has announced that Seek ‘n Spell is now available in the App Store. Seek ‘n Spell transforms iPhone gaming from a solo, sedentary experience to an active and social outdoor contest. The game uses the iPhone’s GPS to coordinate a geocaching-like word game where you and your friends run around outside and compete to gather virtual letter tiles and create words to score the most points.
• Syed Jafri has announced Stitch’em Words Ultimate Edition 2.0, a new and improved version of the immensely popular first edition of the game. Stitch’em Words is a word game that involves “stitching” together pictures and letters to form words in a Rebus style of communication. Players can even earn bonus points by finding the hidden slang words. The game offers hundreds of exciting levels and random bonus rounds which even include math for the not-so-faint-hearted.
• The Dream Apps today has released Places 1.0. Places is your guide to the world. It contains helpful information about some of the worlds most popular destinations. Whether you’re just curious, or you’re wanting to take that trip of a lifetime, Places is the app for you. Places doesn’t just contain info, it has so much more to offer. With information, pictures, quick links to Wikipedia, favorites and maps, Places is one of the most comprehensive and easiest to use virtual tour guides available.
• BeejiveIM for iPhone is on sale for $9.99 until April 30th.
• Hammock Software has announced How Much Is It On Amazon? The idea is that when you’re in a book store (or music store, or DVD store, etc.), you’ve found something you like and you’re about to buy it, but then you think to yourself, “I wonder how much this is on amazon?” You can use this app to check, and (hopefully) save yourself money. You can search any of the departments in any of the amazon stores and buy the item right there and then on your phone. There’s an integrated shopping cart so you can choose any number of items you want in one go, and when you’re finished you can go to amazon’s checkout and buy the items.
• Show your skill as commander and lead your fleet to victory in iBattleship. Challenge your iPhone or another Player through WiFi and try to achieve the highest rank possible. Even a defeat can be important. Deploy your fleet, consisting of an aircraft carrier, battleship, frigate, submarine and mine-sweeper, and get ready to begin the battle in 3D.
• Kids vs. Zombies is an exciting new 3D action game for the iPhone and iPod touch. You control 3 kids attempting to survive an army of undead monsters. To defend your fort, you must effectively use their unique abilities. Every level begins as dusk fades to the pitch black of night, making it difficult to know where the attackers will come from next! If you live through the night, you will be rewarded with a trip to the Hardware Store to upgrade your weapons and defenses, in preparation for the next assault.
• oeFun, Inc., an interactive entertainment development company, has now released Croc Roulette for the iPhone and the iPod touch. Croc Roulette is a fun and exciting multiplayer game all about risk and reward. Crocodile + Fingers + Risk taking + Money, wrapped up into a multiplayer game.
• Zerion Software has announced the release of the exZact data collection platform for the iPhone and iPod Touch at the 19th annual OSDBU conference. The exZact mobile client and the exZact iFormBuilder web application were presented at the conference. The exZact data collection offering is a universal mobile data collection solution leveraging the iPhone and iPod Touch platforms. It provides secure, scalable, flexible, effective, and efficient mobile data collection for teams on the go.
• TimeStream Software has announced the release of the powerful new Walt Disney World Notescast for the iPhone and iPod touch. With over 200 pages of information, over 150 photos, and rich in-depth content, the new Walt Disney World Notescast is a comprehensive vacation planner and in-park guide covering nearly every aspect of the entire resort and all four theme parks, including the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and more.
• Naturespace for iPhone and iPod touch faithfully recreates the sound and space of outdoor natural surroundings. Utilizing the latest HD recording technologies in an entirely new way, Naturespace is created specifically for headphone listening. With exclusive holographic ambiences from all across North America recorded by our professional audio engineers, Naturespace delivers the highest quality listening experience available.