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

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 12, 2009:

Macintosh

• Wondershare Software has issued its first professional audio/video converting software—iPhone Ringtone Maker for Mac—which is specialized in making free iPhone ringtones. Its simplicity and powerful functions will benefit Mac users by creating special, personalized, free ringtones that cannot be done in iTunes.
• RAGE Software has announced WebCrusher 1.6, a major update to the website optimizer for Mac OS X. WebCrusher is a utility for anyone to reduce their website’s load time, providing a better experience for their visitors and customers. WebCrusher scans entire websites to intelligently remove all unneeded code, making websites load as fast as possible in a web browser. Now users can simply drop their website onto WebCrusher and let it quickly remove all unneeded code from their webpages.
• Minder Softworks has announced MYStuff 1.2, an update to their handy “stuff manager” for OS X. MYStuff was developed to help people eliminate the paperwork clutter associated with the things they own, and take advantage of manufacturer’s warranties. User can store information about the things they own as images, PDFs, and as manually-entered data. Version 1.2 adds an iPhoto browser palette and improved performance for large databases.
• One of Snow Leopard’s new features is the integration with most current scanners. That means Mac users no longer need to install custom software to use their scanner. What’s the benefit for Prizmo 1.2 users? From now on, they can combine their scanner with Prizmo’s image processing features and the OCR engine supporting 10 languages. Everything is integrated.
• KeynotePro has announced the introduction of Copenhagen for Keynote ‘09. Copenhagen was designed from the ground up to balance high-impact, aggressively modern styling with a restrained sense of order. We began with a fractal-inspired foundation - extrusions of color and shape that explore symmetry and chaos through the use of implied space - and explored the interplay of narrative elements within to create a distinctively playful design with an unmistakably professional edge.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced PDF Checkpoint 1.1.3, an update to its PDF workflow automation solution. Remarkably fast, PDF Checkpoint preflights, exports as images, splits and reduces size of multiple PDF files, and allows to route files according to preflight results. PDF Checkpoint is for users who need a fast and affordable workflow solution in situations where hi-end tools are not required. The new version introduces support for Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

iPhone/iPod

• Hunter Research and Technology has announced Cover Match 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Cover Match is a mesmerizing new match game that uses album art from a user’s music library. Using a classic arcade format, Cover Match starts off slow with just a few album covers to match, then heats up with unlimited levels of randomly sorted cover art. Cover Match offers billions of memory-testing game possibilities.
• MobilEaZe, LLC has announced PayItForward 1.3 for iPhone and iPod Touch. PayItForward is a one of kind application helping to spread some kindness in our world. The application utilizes the Apple Push Notification System to provide users with weekly random acts of kindness designed to be simple, fun, and sure to brighten a strangers day. Users can track their progress directly from within the application by marking tasks as completed.
• Embraceware Software has announced Awaken 1.2, an update to their popular digital alarm clock, sleep timer, fullscreen clock and flashlight for for iPhone and iPod touch. Wake up to music on your iPhone or iPod touch or any of the dozen built in sounds. Set the volume and screen brightness to slowly fade in to ease you out of sleep. Choose from a selection of 6 fullscreen clock styles. Works great as a night table or desk clock. Supports both portrait and landscape modes.
• Byte Squared has announced Files2, its file manager application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Files2 enables users to transfer files between their iPhone and a desktop computer and view them from within the Files2 app. It also provides tight integration with Google Docs and MobileMe iDisk. Users may create local folders and organize their files by copying or moving them between folders. Files and folders may be transferred between the iPhone and a desktop computer over the local wifi network.
• Penpower Inc. has announced WorldCard Mobile 1.0 their new business card reader for iPhone devices. WorldCard Mobile is a business card recognition system and contact management tool for the iPhone 3GS. It instantly recognizes the captured data from business cards and sorts it into organized fields. The new technology also allows for higher quality images than previously possible, thanks to the auto-focus and high resolution camera that is currently available only in the iPhone 3GS.
• TapMode has announced Battery Gauge 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Battery Gauge takes into account all of a user’s normal iPhone or iPod Touch activities. Each task uses a different amount of charge and Battery Gauge intuitively figures it out. Battery Gauge knows how long an individual needs for each task and gives accurate estimates on whether or not the user has enough charge left to complete them.
• Livestream, a leading live Internet video platform, has announced the immediate availability of its free service for streaming live to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Using Livestream Procaster, users can stream live from their webcam, video camera or even broadcast their PC or Mac desktop. Livestream producers can start streaming live to the addressable iPhone and iPod Touch audience over 3G or Wi-Fi connections, with less than five minutes of setup.
• Freeverse has released the first update to the helpful iPhone and iPod Touch magnifying app, Eye Glasses. The app will now feature a new, sleeker frame with capability to rotate between landscape and portrait modes.
• WebIS has announced the release of DeepFish 1.5, a unique email search application for the iPhone. DeepFish has one simple purpose; search your IMAP-based email accounts easily and quickly. DeepFish is fast, memory efficient, and is designed to behave properly in high latency EDGE and 3G networks. DeepFish provides a very simple interface, yet offers options that let you customize its behavior to your needs. Reply, Forward, Flag emails. See all your flagged emails in one search.
• Two new ebooks in the Take Control series—“Take Control of Your iPhone Apps” and “Take Control of iPhone OS 3”—provide an in-depth look at the iPhone and its core apps. These practical, hands-on guides walk readers through the most effective ways to use numerous features and help readers avoid problems. Most of the information is also applicable to the iPod touch, and the differences are called out. “Take Control of Your iPhone Apps” lists for $10; “Take Control of iPhone OS 3” lists for $15. Both books are available from individually and in a discounted bundle.
• Sunstorm Interactive has announced the launch of their new iPhone and iPod Touch game: Rescue Razzle. In Rescue Razzle, players are challenged to rescue the helpless little Rat named Razzle that has found himself locked in a cage at the top of a stack of wooden crates. The mission is to break the wooden crates one after another, lowering Razzle safely to the ground!
• Highway to Health has announced mPassport Paris, a new iPhone application that helps English-speaking expatriates and travelers access medical care in Paris. It was developed in-house at HTH Worldwide, a global health and safety services company.
• Cardo Systems, Inc., a market leader in the field of wireless Bluetooth communications for motorcycle helmet headsets, has announced the launch of its new product: the Scala Rider Q2 Multiset. The Multiset retail box includes two ready-to-use, enhanced Scala Rider Q2 wireless headsets for hands-free and safe bike-to-bike communication (up to 500m/1640ft) as well as for hands-free conversations when paired with mobile phones.
• Toughturtle LLC has released FirePlace 3.0, an update to their hit utility app for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and was selected by Apple as an iTunes Staff Favorite. FirePlace is the go-to App for an instant romantic setting on that special date, to relax on a cold fall/winter night, or whenever. FirePlace is a virtual fire for your iPhone or iPod touch, but with a whole host of new features to give users a more customized and relaxing experience.
• Glazed eyes…flushed cheeks…soulful sighs…Yes! It’s someone enjoying a little romance. But on the subway? Now that ebooks are migrating to portable devices like Amazon’s Kindle and Sony’s Digital Reader, romance is read on the go just about anywhere you have time to kill. Even Apple has turned its ubiquitous iPhone into a reader by offering books as Apps. And romance fiction readers seem to love it.
• Vitaliy Pronkin has announced availability of FingerDancer 1.3 for iPhone and iPod Touch. FingerDancer is very simple yet addictive fast paced game. The goal of the game is to touch colored circles continuously appearing and disappearing on the screen. Different types of circles require touching them differently to score points. And the faster player reacts and more objects touches at the same time, the more points he gets.
• With simple gameplay, Miniheli is one of those games made to keep your fingers stuck on the touchscreen for a long time. The objective is simple. Just keep your heli up in the air without crashing into the rocks, manage your fuel, and gather some refills along the way in order to go as far as possible. Or as far as your skill lets you go.