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

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 24, 2009:

Macintosh

• Ergonis Software has released PopChar X 4.3, the award-winning tool for finding and inserting special characters. The new version supports the usage of font collections, can restrict the font list to only those fonts that contain a special character, and adds support for Unicode 5.2. PopChar X 4.3 utilizes Ergonis’ new easy installation and upgrade technique. Furthermore, PopChar X 4.3 improves compatibility with Snow Leopard as well as with MS Word, MS Excel, and Java applications.
• Dejal Systems, LLC has announced Simon 2.5.4, the essential server monitoring tool for Mac OS X. It checks websites and many other kinds of services for changes or failures, with lots of notification and reporting options. Version 2.5.4 includes a couple of important fixes, and is a recommended update for all users. Simon is available in TheMacBundles for just a few more days. Discounts are also available via MacUpdate Promo and the Dejal Store.
• Apparent Software has extended its offer for MacGraPhoto buyers with additional 50% discount on leading Mac applications, including Pixelmator image editor, Apple Design Award winning Sandvox easy web site builder, Apple Design Award winning Fontcase font manager, iCollage application, and Cashculator, a unique personal financial application. An additional application -  ButtonDesign is added for free. These add up to additional savings over the regular MacGraPhoto promotion.
• iPresentee has released Keynote Animations 3.0 for Apple’s Keynote presentation software. The new package contains 115 animations. It includes 80 animations from the previous release and adds 35 new remarkable animations which are made with the precision, highly detailed and easy to use. Within Apple’s Keynote these animations can be changed in size, rotated, increased or decreased in opacity or even overlapped with each other to create extra effects.
• Ben Software has announced SecuritySpy 2.0.2, the premier multi-camera video surveillance software on the Macintosh platform. With features such as motion detection, real-time compression of multiple video and audio feeds, and network video and audio streaming, SecuritySpy is designed for demanding video surveillance applications. It supports a wide variety of network cameras and video servers, as well as FireWire, USB, and PCI video input devices.
• LaCie has introduced the most complete HD multimedia hard drive player, combining Full HD 1080p playback, unsurpassed format compatibility and DLNA media server functionality: the LaCinema Classic HD, design by Neil Poulton. Users can browse, play and share HD media collections from anywhere in the home, directly on HDTV.
• Indev software has released MiniMail 2.0.1, a maintenance update for its small but hugely useful Mail plugin. MiniMail is an enhancement to Apple’s Mail application to minimize message browsers to a iTunes like mini window so you can keep your messages out the way but visible at a glance. Version 2.0.1 addresses initial issues with the 2.0 release, including stability problems and mini window behaviour.
• The much anticipated NPR Radio by Livio, which allows you to access thousands of NPR station streams, podcasts and audio content is now shipping to the United States. For just $199.99, NPR enthusiasts can enjoy their favorite local NPR member station and other on-demand content and programs from NPR.org and member stations nationwide.

iPhone/iPod

• A merry breeze has blown to Speck’s downtown Palo Alto offices, carrying with it two brand new vibrant shades of CandyShell for iPhone 3G and 3GS. CinnaRibbon Red and SourApple Green have arrived just in time to kick off this year’s festivities, a merry combination of shades that together conjure images of Christmas cheer and apart, bring colorful joy that will last beyond this jolly season.
• TriX Software has announced TrailBlazer Challenge 2.0 for iPhone 3G, 3GS devices. Perfect for walkers, runners, cyclists, and hikers, TrailBlazer Challenge is the ultimate way to monitor speed, record and review paths, and share travels. Users are able to compete against a friend’s recorded track and know whether they’re trailing or leading their opponent every step of the way with visual and audio cues. Later, view the path in Google Earth, animated and color-coded for speed or altitude.
• NIX Solutions Limited has announced uPackinglist 1.3.5, an update to their popular packing and travel organizer for iPhone and iPod touch. Designed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s unique capabilities, uPackinglist turns packing and travel preparation into a fast and convenient activity for any journey, business trip, vacation, or outing. Easily create and maintain an unlimited number of customizable lists to control the packing process, or use a handy built-in items catalogue.
• iRingPro has posted a free downloadable trial pack of its popular iPhone and MP3 ringtones. The free iPhone ringtone download contains a sample ringtone from each collection including iRingPro’s Tek Collection, and the Zen 2 Collection. The free iPhone ringtones also include a coupon code that may be used for a discount in the purchase of any complete collection.
• Independent iPhone developer Francis Dierick has announced WeddingRing for iPhone and iPod Touch. WeddingRing allows the user to keep their lover close at heart, on their iPhone. It offers a virtual wedding ring with added picture frame functionality. The application puts a wedding ring icon on the iPhone which, when tapped, shows a picture of the significant other and a short message of love.
• IvySkin has announced the Zappak Battery Back-up solution with Dual-USB technology. Zappak is the world’s lightest and smallest with longest battery life and a built-in USB cable. It will charge an iPod or any other USB device while simultaneously providing charge and extra power to the iPhone or Blackberry phone. Zappak incorporates SmartBattery technology and proprietary circuit by IvySkin to deliver unmatched performance.
• The new Regator Premium—an app that gives users easy mobile access to the web’s best blogs—includes all the features of the previous free version, but also gives users the ability to personalize the user’s experience by saving favorite blogs, topics, and posts for fast, easy access. In addition, this premium version supports in-app video viewing and adds popular Regator.com features such as Blog Monitor and Related Posts.
• NaturalMotion—the animation technology and game development studio behind the euphoria engine—has announced that Backbreaker Football on the iPhone is to receive brand new content in the form of a free update. Since its release in early October, the hard-hitting arcade football title became a number-one hit in multiple territories and features unrivaled 3D visuals and console quality animation. The forthcoming update will introduce a brand new Challenge 6 including 10 all-new waves, as well as much-requested “Pro” and “Hardcore” modes, taking the iPhone/iPod touch gridiron action to a whole new level.
• Pet Acoustics, Inc., has released the Pet Jingles Application for iPhone and iPod Touch.  This special collection of themed holiday music will bring a joyous atmosphere to your home, a veterinarian office, an animal shelter or anywhere people and pets are gathered throughout the holiday season. Pet Jingles is a unique gift for pet lovers to enjoy while gift shopping, walks with the dog, while entertaining family and friends or to play for pets while they are home alone.
• Cignias has launched its NAO Music Station line of products, including NAO Symphony and NAO Symphony Noir. Both products offer a powerful, high-quality music solution that transforms smartphones into wireless home entertainment devices. The NAO Music Stations interact with smartphones in a variety of ways to give music lovers the freedom they demand. Any stereo Bluetooth-enabled device can stream music to a NAO Music Station while in Bluetooth mode. Also, a BlackBerry smartphone or iPhone can wirelessly control an iPod docked in the music station through free MusicNAO apps available at corresponding app stores.
• metaio, Inc. has announcd that junaio—a social augmented reality platform—is now available in the App Store. The application is free and available globally on all iPhones. junaio is a mobile and online platform that lets users create, explore and share information in a completely new way using augmented reality and location-based content. Users can place 3D objects, Twitter messages or websites into the real world and then share their creations with friends through social networks such as Facebook.
• Skyworks has announced another addictively classic football sports game. Think you have what it takes to make first-string? Are you Pro-material? Could you be a Hall of Fame running back? Then suit up and hit the gridiron with Speedback.
• Independent developer Marcus Roskosch has released Electronic Toolbox 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Electronic Toolbox is for technicians, electronic enthusiasts, students or trainees. It comes with a huge Database of electronic devices. All functions can be used offline, without Internet connection. Rereading in books and tables or computation with the pocket calculator is unnecessary after installation of this application. Electronic Toolbox offers 12 individual programs in one.
• Insurgent Games’ third iPhone game to date, teh internets- Attack of the Memes is now available in the App Store for $1.99. Sure to attract those who are fans of Internet culture, as well as any action game enthusiast, this tongue-in-cheek app is chock full of lollerskaters, viruses, firewalls, and other denizens of the web. Players can compete for high scores on nine global leaderboards, such as most lolcats collected, total cheezburgerz eaten, and most time wasted. There are also a huge amount of hilarious achievements to unlock such as “kittens, inspired by kittens” and, “it’s peanut butter jelly time.”