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

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for August 26, 2009:

Macintosh

• TLA Systems today has announced DragThing 5.9.4, a brand new version of their popular dock utility for Mac OS X. DragThing is the original dock designed to tidy up your desktop. It puts all your documents, folders, and applications just a single click away. Highly flexible, it allows multiple docks, each customized to suit your exact needs. Version 5.9.4 adds full support for Snow Leopard, sports a stylish new Marble dock theme, and much more.
• Freeridecoding has announced SmartBackup 2.5, a new version of its alternative backup and archiving application. SmartBackup is an easy to use tool to perform everything from daily data backups, to full bootable clones of Mac OS X. Featuring its own optimized sync engine, SmartBackup performs fast and efficient backups to various different targets, local or on the network. Version 2.5 supports Snow Leopard, 64 Bit with new performance optimization and updated Automator action.
• Intego has announced that all of its software is fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.6, Snow Leopard, the forthcoming version of Apple’s operating system. Intego NetUpdate will allow eligible users to update their software for free; all Intego programs updated for Snow Leopard will be available for download on or before Friday, August 28. Snow Leopard will be released on August 28, and Intego’s software is already compatible with the new operating system.
• Taco Software has released Taco HTML Edit 2.5, the latest edition of its popular HTML and PHP editor. The Component Library, new in Taco HTML Edit 2.5, allows you to select one of 20 components, customize it, and insert it into an HTML document. From Slideshows to Pie Charts, from Accordion Controls to Scrollable Tables, the Component Library has the widgets that web designers often desire. Taco HTML Edit 2.5 also adds many other new features.
• SMART Technologies has announced the release of the Mac version of SMART Notebook SE (Student Edition) software. SMART Notebook SE Mac was created specifically to meet the needs of tech-savvy students by providing them with a learning tool that complements the way they think and organize. The student edition is compatible with the Mac version of SMART Notebook software, which many K–12 teachers use as their primary lesson creation and delivery application. The Windows software was released in October 2008 and made available on a convenient 2 GB USB silicon bracelet in December 2008. The SMART Notebook SE bracelet makes it easy for students to access any computer, complete assignments and save work to a single, portable USB key. A Mac version of the SMART Notebook SE bracelet will be available in fall 2009.
• SintraWorks has announced PDFClerk Pro 3.9, an update to their very popular PDF Document Editor for Mac OS X. PDFClerk Pro is a multi-faceted PDF editor with powerful and unique capabilities. It is designed to make standard operations easy and accessible, while allowing ample flexibility and adjustment to more complicated workflows for those with more advanced needs. Version 3.9 adds German and French localizations in addition to the option to print only the active page.
• ZappTek has announced iSpeak It 3.5, its popular file-to-audio tool. iSpeak It serves as a perfect companion to the iPod or iPhone. iSpeak It loads Word, PDF, Pages, RTF, AppleWorks, text and HTML documents. It downloads Wikipedia articles, weather forecasts, driving directions, and arbitrary web pages as well as RSS feeds. iSpeak It then uses the Mac’s text-to-speech engine and iTunes to convert the text into an MP3/AAC track. Version 3.5 adds Wikipedia article downloading.

iPhone/iPod

• SmileOnMyMac has announced TextExpander touch, the iPhone version of their customizable typing shortcut tool. With TextExpander touch, iPhone users can enter frequently-used text using short abbreviations. Users who have TextExpander on the Mac can share snippet groups with their iPhone via a local network. The company has also released the TextExpander touch Software Development Kit. The SDK consists of a free TextExpander engine library and sample code.
• TimeStream Software has announced the upgrade of its Walt Disney World Secrets Notescast for the iPhone and iPod touch. This Notescast title now contains over 210 secrets of Walt Disney World Resort, a new Hidden Mickeys tour of over 80 Hidden Mickeys and an added bonus of over 200 Fun Facts. Now iPhone and iPod touch owners can tour all of Walt Disney World Resort using their iPhones as their personal tour guide as they discover one new secret after another.
• Carnation Software has released Say it & Mail it for iPhone and iPod Touch. Say it & Mail it is the quickest way to email a voice memo from your iPhone or iPod Touch to yourself or to others. Send yourself reminders when you are away from your computer. No typing required. Your email address and subject are autofilled. Great way to send anyone a detailed email without using the keyboard. Emailed voice memos are compatible with Mac, PC and any other computer.
• Janos Molnar has released Marble8, a challenging puzzle game for Apple’s iPhone/iPod Touch. 2 circles holding 38 marbles in 4 different colours = 100+ hours of puzzle mayhem. The aim of the game is to sort all marbles according to their colours. This game is easy to learn, easy to play, hard to solve, and impossible to master.
• European based iPhone development team PoweryBase has released NotifyMe 1.3, which now includes web access support and new convenient snoozing feature. NotifyMe update is available on the iTunes App Store, free for all existing customers. Thanks to its simplicity, NotifyMe is a very popular reminder application topping App Store productivity chart, also picked into Staff Favorites by Apple on App Stores worldwide.
• iPhoideas has introduced its latest iPhone app, iWashMe. iWashMe lets you create messages and drawings just as if you were drawing on a dirty rear car window. Take your dirt car canvas everywhere and share your creations with only one tap by posting on your social network. Get it for free for the first week.