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

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 25, 2009:

Macintosh

• DataMind Srl has announced Jade Plugin 2.0, their digital image processing plugin for Apple Aperture. Based on DataMind’s highly acclaimed digital image processing applications, Jade and Beryl, Jade Plugin implements state-of-the-art algorithms to enhance color, contrast and dynamic range and remove red-eye effect. Jade Plugin is an easy-to-use image enhancement tool that will automatically improve digital images directly in Aperture.
• Pariahware, Inc, has announced Shoo Apps 1.1, an update to its menu bar utility for Mac OS X. Shoo Apps allows per-application granularity for hiding inactive applications in order to help keep your workspace uncluttered. With Shoo Apps, the user can choose to have all inactive applications hide at the same time or give each individual application its own interval. Options for hiding range from hiding immediately to not hiding at all.
• VolnaTech has released NimbleKit SDK, an update to their software development kit for the iPhone platform. NimbleKit allows to develop iPhone applications much quicker using just HTML and Javascript. You have good ideas for iPhone software but you don’t know Objective-C? No need to spend time learning how to use complicated tools, just start development from a template. NimbleKit is well documented and sample code is available.
• The developers of Mac Games have announced Zen Stones, a new release of their logic puzzle game for Apple computers. Zen Stones incorporates match three elements with strategic placement of smooth stones. The game goal is simple: pass as many levels as you can by clearing the board. It takes a little strategy, a little logic and a little luck. Additionally, a Flash version of Zen Stones is available to play online for free.
• Sydney firm Crackatonic Projects has announced Optimism for Mental Health 3.0, its popular wellness planning application. Optimism is a unique software program, designed to help people educate themselves and be proactive in managing their mental health. It is used both in conjunction with mental health professionals and as a standalone product. Simple charts and reports help to examine relationships and the effectiveness of health strategies.
• Dare to be Creative has announced the release of Parachute 1.0, a new backup application for Mac OS X. Designed by Apple Design Award Winner Dietmar Kerschner, Parachute allows users to run automated, scheduled backups to a wide range of destinations, including FTP/SFTP servers, external disks, and iDisk. Each backup tasks can be scheduled to run automatically in hourly, daily, weekly or monthly intervals.
• Ambrosia Software, Inc. has announced the simultaneous release of WireTap Studio 1.1.0 and Snapz Pro X 2.2.2.  Both products are free upgrades for registered users. These applications share a common framework, which required an update to maintain compatibility with Apple’s new 13” MacBook Pro running Mac OS X 10.6.2.  In addition, WireTap Studio 1.1.0 features a number of changes/enhancements.
• Withings has announced its partnership with www.DailyBurn.com, the fastest-growing diet and fitness tracking site on the web with over 300,000 members.  As of today, the Withings WiFi Body Scale can communicate and update a user’s DailyBurn.com personal webpage wirelessly using its built-in WiFi connection.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced File Courier 1.0, a new digital delivery solution with advanced time-saving options. File Courier delivers files and folders to FTP and local destinations and sends automatic e-mail delivery notifications. The e-mail messages are based on variable templates and contain the detailed info about the item and its location. The software can also create a lo-res version of a PDF file and attach it to e-mail, compress folders and protect deliveries with password.

iPhone/iPod

• Robosoft Technologieshas announced the release of Plan It Green for the iPhone. Plan It Green puts you in the role of the Mayor of Greenville. You must take the responsibility of restoring the former glory of the city and making it green again. In order to proceed, you must go through the several districts of the city and meet the goals set in each one of them, which include building eco-friendly homes, managing resources and maintaining the overall district happiness.
• MotionObj has announced SimplyTweet Lite 2.5.1, an update to the free version of their full featured Twitter application for iPhone and iPod touch. SimplyTweet makes using Twitter on the iPhone and iPod touch easy. It lets you tweet easily and keep you informed via push notifications when someone messages or mentions you. The free version of SimplyTweet excludes built-in support for push notifications, themes and photo search.
• Trigital Software, Inc., has announced Goldfin 1.2, an update to their popular arcade game for iPhone and iPod touch. Developed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s unique capabilities and interface, Goldfin is an addicting fast action underwater adventure. The goal is to help Goldie escape from schools of deadly piranhas and to shock them by hitting eel tails. The player aims to achieve the highest scores in all 3 unique and compelling game modes.
• MF Software has introduced Top Rated Apps 1.0, a productivity title for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Top Rated Apps allows you to browse only the highest-rated apps on the iTunes App Store, and store favorites for future purchase or reference. Unlike the iTunes App Store, it also lets you browse apps offline, perfect if you have an iPod Touch or are on an airplane. The Top Rated Apps are organized by category, so you can browse them just like you would in the App Store.
• Camera Laugh automatically generates caricature-like images from portraits. The result is impressive, funny, laughable and a bit frivolous. Now you don’t have to be a Photoshop professional and spend lots of time to make a funny picture out of a group portrait. All the necessary transformations are done automatically by Camera Laugh within seconds.
• 4iThumbs is a clear overlay for iPhone with tactile ridges that guides users’ thumbs but does not impede the screen’s multitouch capabilities so the attachment can even remain on the screen while using different apps. However, if desired, the overlay can be easily removed and inserted seamlessly on the back without changing the look of the iPhone’s sleek design.
• St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland; it’s his white cross on a blue background that forms the Scottish saltire, and November 30th is the day to celebrate him and all things Scottish. It might not have all the razzmatazz that surrounds St Patrick’s Day in Ireland, but every national saint deserves to be commemorated, and to help honour the occasion, Proporta has produced an Alu-Leather Case (Apple iPhone 3GS) - Limited Edition (St. Andrew’s Day). Packed with the usual Proporta protection, including a sheet of lightweight aircraft grade aluminium to guard against crushing and screen damage, this little beauty also boasts an exclusive tartan lining and elegant contrast overstitching.
• MicroApps has announced that their free version of AlarmMusic has been released on the App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch: AlarmMusic Lite. This app makes use of the development features of iPhone OS 3.0, and allows you to use any music you have in your own iPod library, pre-set how long you want snooze time to be for each alarm (1-60 minutes), choose on which days you want an alarm to sound, and more.
• PosiMotion has released Rock Tac Toe. Available on the app store, it is a unique assimilation of Tic-Tac-Toe and Rock-Paper-Scissors in a classic 8-bit format. Your goal is to be the first player to get three (3) of your pieces in a row. The first player places their playing piece on a vacant square on the game board. The players then take alternate turns until the game is won. Keep in mind that Rock can smash Scissors, Scissors can cut Paper and Paper can cover Rock.