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

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for June 16, 2009:

Macintosh

• Zoom has once again revolutionized digital recording with the first digital recorder with 16-track playback and 8-track simultaneous recording utilizing Secure Digital (SD) memory. The R16 is three production tools in one device: a multi-track recorder, an audio interface and a control surface, providing all the tools necessary to create studio-quality recordings. Additionally, the R16 runs on only 6 AA batteries for the ultimate in multi-track portability.
• GossTech has released Eon 1.1.1, and offers a sale for 20% off its regular price. The sale ends June 30th, 2009. Eon displays iCal events right on the desktop where they’re most convenient. Eon empowers users with enough customization options to satisfy power users and average Mac user. Eon 1.1.1 fixes several minor issues. A preview of Eon 1.2 demonstrates many upcoming features.
• Elixir has introduced their highly configurable Executive RapidWeaver theme. The Executive theme excels in providing a highly versatile RapidWeaver theme with stunning graphics that make it easy to build a website, for business or fun, in a relatively short period of time. Executive makes use of the RapidWeaver color picker. With it you can change the colors for man areas of your site design. It is a great choice for creating a business site, small or large, portfolio, blog and much more.
• Monkeybread Software has announced Combine PDFs 4.3, an update to their popular PDF merge and split tool for Mac OS X. With a focus on ease-of-use, Combine PDFs is a lightweight utility which allows anyone to merge PDF files and images into a single PDF file. Simply Drag and Drop several PDF files on to the program icon. A window will appear allowing the ability to change the order in which the files are joined. Version 4.3 sports many new improvements and a recommended download.
• Jumsoft has expanded its selection of Pages Clipart images designed to illustrate presentations, invitations, Web pages, posters, newsletters, and a variety of other documents. Pages Clipart 4.0 provides vast possibilities to increase documents’ visual appeal due to its extensive range of images, wide compatibility, and smart technical details like transparent image backgrounds and PDF format.
• Macvide has announced FlashVideo Converter 3.0, their Flash SWF and FLV to video conversion utility for Mac OS X. FlashVideo Converter is a powerful and versatile utility for converting any flash video file to one of many popular video formats, including iPhone/iPod mp4, Mobile .3gp and MPEG2. FlashVideo fully support ActionScript. FlashVideo Converter can be used for a myriad of different purposes. Version 3.0 features a new Video Engine to create true 30 FPS movies, and more.
• ActyMac has announced DutyWatch 1.2, an update to their Employee Monitoring Software for Mac OS X. DutyWatch record and log everything your employees do, from recording keystrokes typed and website visits, to chats, employee emails and screenshots. DutyWatch is completely invisible to your employees. It runs silently and unobtrusively while logging everything that happens on their computers. Version 1.2 sports a 10 times speed increased, new database engine, and more.
• FileMaker, Inc. has unveiled the Bento Template Exchange, where Mac users can post and browse many real-world uses of Bento, the personal database from FileMaker that’s as easy to use as a Mac. People interested in Bento can even download templates and use them with a trial or full version of Bento 2 .
• Pixel Research Labs has introduced Ringer 1.0, a new iPhone ringtone creation and editing tool for Mac OS X. Ringer sports a modern, clear, easy-to-use interface and is a perfect complement to the iPhone. Users may choose any non-protected file from their iTunes library or any media file on their system and turn it into a custom ringtone. Easily select just the right part of a song to turn into a ringtone. Preview it exactly as it will sound on the iPhone.

iPhone/iPod

• TNS Team has released Iz She Expensive?, a quiz that will expose the warning signs of a “high maintenance” relationship and will let you get out while you still can. A game and a conversation starter, this unique social quiz selects 10 key questions (from over 50 researched traits) to determine if your girlfriend is too expensive for you to date, and, based on your answers, suggests a course of action.
• YouMail’s free Visual Voicemail Plus app for the iPhone is now available in the Apple App Store, taking visual voicemail to another level. Until now, iPhone users have been limited to standard visual voicemail and with Visual Voicemail Plus, iPhone users can not only see and play their YouMail voicemail, but also have access to a host of valuable time-saving features right from their phone.
• RogueSheep Incorporated has announced the release of Postage, a new application for the iPhone and iPod touch. Postage allows users to create high-quality electronic postcards from their photos and send them by email to family and friends.
• Toy Kite Software has released iSamurai Lite: Two-Player Sword Fight, the free version of their Wi-Fi sword fighting game and simulation for iPhone and iPod touch. iSamurai Lite is a real-life sword-fighting game, where two players use their iPhones as swords, slashing and blocking to attack and defend. Attacks are interpreted by the iPhones in real-time and immediately registered by both iPhones as successful or blocked.
• Mcleaner has release an app called mAdvNote on App Store. mAdvNote for iPhone is a multi-functional note app that supports photo, voice and sketching, along with text notes. It enables you to take notes quickly and easily, depending on your current need, and then store them in iPhone. What’s more important, you can insert pictures to a note or just add text description after you take a photo.
• Open Door Networks, Inc. and Project A, Inc. have announced they are celebrating two major milestones in their iPhone development efforts. The companies have just sold their 100,000th “Envi” application, and have 50 apps shipping through the iTunes App Store. We-Envision.com’s line of topic-specific Web-image browsing applications has grown from the original iEnvision Web-image browser to a comprehensive set of inexpensive apps on topics including art, cars, space, travel and more.
• FrogDogMedia, LLC, has introduced three more books in the iStoryTime library. iStoryTime, a series of illustrated and narrated children’s book applications for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch, is now available with six different children’s books that turn dad’s iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone or iPod touch into educational entertainment for their kids (ages 2-7).
• White Park Bay Software has announced the launch of a new catalogue of the world’s best-selling Reference Dictionaries from leading publisher Oxford University Press (OUP).  Allowing you to get your expert knowledge on the go for the first time, the range launches with 11 of Oxford University Press’s most popular specialist dictionaries, including the bestsellers A Dictionary of Law, A Dictionary of Politics and the Concise Medical Dictionary.
• Flat Earth Studio today has announced I Ching (Yi Jing), the Book of Changes 1.1 software update for iPhone and iPod touch. The Guide, written for the Richard Wilhelm and Cary F. Baynes translation, is included in both English and German, and is the first of several translations and commentaries planned to be provided through this unique app. This update includes “A Guide to the I Ching” by Carol K. Anthony of the I Ching Institute, a new “quick” oracle feature, and other minor enhancements.
• Terry Demco has announced the release of his newest app, Incoming! for Skype. With Incoming!, every call becomes an incoming call with the assistance of a partner application that’s downloaded onto the users main computer. By using a helper app on a computer that’s connected to the internet, it allows Skype to work on the 3G or Edge network, thus eliminating VoIP restrictions. Incoming! is now available in all iTunes stores around the world for $4.99 US.
• Azure Talon Software has launched version 2.0 of its popular iLaugh jokes database for iPhone and iPod touch users. With iLaugh on-hand, iPhone and iPod Touch users no longer have to rely on their memories to come up with hilarious jokes at the office or social events—or even when needing something clever to say to begin a speech or presentation. iLaugh 2.0 puts a database of over 50,000 jokes at anybody’s fingertips and is loaded with social features such as voting, favorites and sharing via Facebook and Twitter.
• Altec Lansing, a division of Plantronics, Inc., has announced the addition of the BackBeat PRO to the award-winning BackBeat line of stereo earphones and headsets. The BackBeat PRO earphones include high-end armature technology, engineered to deliver an in-studio sound experience at a price level far below competing headphones costing several hundred dollars more. The BackBeat PRO technology allows high-definition audio in a uniquely small package, providing a custom occluded fit for superior noise isolation and exceptional comfort.
• Now, you can have information on over 100 of President Barack Obama’s top administration officials and their key deputies right in your pocket. The application is available in iTunes for 99¢ for a limited time. President offers all of the vital information you need to be an active and effective citizen. Learn all about who leads and manages the most important executive branch departments, agencies, counsels, and offices. If you want to reach a member of President Obama’s team, this is the place to start.
• Secret agent, psychic cop…and iPhone developer? Most of us would be happy to be just one of those things, but Greg Grunberg is all three. Not resting on his laurels with his current role on NBC’s Heroes (or past success on hit shows such as Felicity and Alias), Greg is also a budding iPhone entrepreneur.