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

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for October 15, 2009:

Macintosh

• AquaFold, Inc. has released Aqua Data Studio 8.0, a major upgrade to its universal database administration software. Aqua Data Studio makes it simple to visualize and manipulate multiple relational databases from within a single interface. Version 8.0 of Aqua Data Studio extends native support for the leading data warehousing and high-performance relational databases, including: Teradata, DB2 for z/OS, Sybase IQ 15 and nCluster from Aster Data Systems.
• InfoLogic today announced MathMagic Personal Edition 6.8, their award-winning multi-purpose equation editor for Mac OS X. With a focus on the equation quality and ease-of-use, MathMagic Personal Edition is a standalone equation editor for mathematical equations and symbols. MathMagic reads and writes various industry standard mathematical expressions including LaTeX and MathML. Version 6.8 adds support for Google Docs and Zoho Writer, MathType, OmniOutliner, and other enhanced features.
• Disk Doctor Labs, Inc. has released Disk Doctors Photo Recovery, an upgrade to its photo recovery software for Mac OS X. The latest version of the software now supports recovery of Real Media player files, which include RA, RM and AMR. Apart from the addition of these file types, some enhancements have been added to the product. This version now improves the overall accuracy and scanning speed when recovering lost photo, audio and video files.
• Recosoft Corporation, the developer of the PDF2Office family of products, PDF2ID tool for InDesign, cross platform file format conversion solutions and PDF converters unveils PDF2Office for iWork; a new tool to convert PDF documents into fully editable iWork ‘08/‘09 files for the Macintosh.
• Tropical Software has announced TopXNotes 1.4.2, an update to its popular note manager for Macintosh. TopXNotes allows people to create, collect, store, and retrieve all the bits and pieces of information they find themselves inundated with on a daily basis. All existing customers should download this important version with several small but important fixes to Find, Check for Update, and some minor cosmetic fixes.
• Yabdab Software and YourHead Software have announced PayLoom 2.0 public beta, an update to the popular ecommerce plugin for RapidWeaver. PayLoom offers drag and drop catalog creation and seamless integration with PayPal Shopping Cart. Version 2.0 offers the same reliability and ease of use with many new features, including a new customizable on-page javascript cart, full WYSIWYG editor for product descriptions, and much more.
• Ambrosia Software, Inc. today announced the release of Snapz Pro X 2.2.1. Snapz Pro X is a quantum leap in video capture technology, adroitly capturing full motion video of anything on your screen at a blistering pace, complete with digital audio, and an optional microphone voiceover. Think of it as a digital video camera for your screen. Snapz Pro X makes short work of making training videos, producing product demos, creating tutorials, archiving streaming video, and anything else you can think of.
• Indev Software has announced it has acquired MiniMail, the popular plugin for Apple Mail, from Olive Toast Software Ltd. The acquisition assures the future development of MiniMail, including Snow Leopard compatibility. MiniMail provides a convenient mini-window for viewing unread messages, allowing users to quickly check incoming messages and action them. Immediate plans for MiniMail are to release a Snow Leopard compatibility upgrade before the end of October.
• Mythic Entertainment has announced that the critically acclaimed MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR), will host a special live event, Daemon Moon Rising, for a limited time during the 2009 Halloween season. Daemon Moon Rising, will run in-game from October 23rd through November 2nd, and will feature the Daemon Mask event quest, a new Daemonball Rally Public Quest, a special Realm vs. Realm scenario, and treats both fair and foul.

iPhone/iPod

• The Leonard Maltin Movie Guide for iPhone places consistent capsule reviews and facts for 24,000 films at your fingertips, including hyperlinks to cast and director filmographies. Key features include: search by title, cast member, director; direct link to NetFlix Queue / Instant Queue; automatically updated Current Pick reviews; custom lists; and complete review, rating, cast, movie length, MPAA rating.
• Software Ops has announced Ding 1.0, its fun entertainment application for iPhone and iPod Touch. Ding is designed to be interactive and fun to play with. It was built with the intention of giving a service bell it’s own personality. The user taps the top of the service bell and hears a actual bell ring along with a smart aleck remark by the bell. It has actual voice sound as well as written text, for situations where the user is in a noisy environment and can’t hear the voice.
• Syndicated Puzzles has released several versions of Str8ts, their challenging, logic and addicting number puzzle designed for iPhone and the iPod Touch. With over 800 puzzles of increasing difficulty, and a single solution to each puzzle, you are guaranteed endless hours of enjoyment. The puzzle was specifically invented to follow directly the highly successful pathway of Sudoku. If you have been waiting for the next puzzle craze, you will have to try out Str8ts.
• Gedgers Ltd has announced Kids Allowance and Rewards 1.4, a major update for the popular allowance tracking app for iPhone and iPod touch. Version 1.4 is a complete re-write of the user interface, new and improved features. Kids Allowance and Rewards combines allowance tracking with a rewards system for good behaviour. This makes it a versatile and unique application as well as adding extra appeal for motivating and educating your kids.
• A new version of the hidden object detective quest The Stone of Destiny is now available. To celebrate, the game will be available in App Store at a 30% discount. Version 1.3 adds French localization, zooming capabilities and improved controls.
• Bulkypix, the successful developer of games for the iPhone and iPod Touch, has announced its new role as a video games publisher. Vincent Dondaine, COO, said, “The iPhone and App Store have marked a new direction in terms of market and business model, whereby hundreds of applications and games are available every day. You need to know how to operate within this system; something that Bulkypix has gained real expertise in and which it is now offering for the benefit of its partners.” 5 development studios have already chosen Bulkypix to publish their games and applications on the App Store.
• Ein Entertainment has announced Fish Watching Guide, supervised by underwater photographer Koji Nakamura. The guide holds precious photos of over 235 types of deep sea fish, such as the blackmouth goosefish, the extremely-hard-to-photograph red tail, and the diver’s dream mirror basslet, as well as the sea devil and tropical fish such as the clownfish. In addition to photos, photo locations, sizes, English/Latin names and Koji Nakamura’s comments are included in the guide.
• Purkee has released Tap Grocer 1.3, an update to its grocery app for the iPhone and the iPod touch. New features in this release include a more streamlined user interface, the ability to sort items and grocery sections alphabetically and the option to customize the grocery list font. Tap Grocer is designed to take the work out of building grocery lists. It eliminates the need to retype a user’s list each time.
• Indie iPhone developer Orangefish.inc has announced that Shark’s Treasure is now updated to version 1.3 and they’re celebrating with a temporary price cut. The update adds a variety of new features to the hit iPhone game, which has been applauded for its intuitive use of accelerometer controls. The game has a simple premise, but with pick-up-and-play appeal and addicting gameplay, Shark’s Treasure will have you navigating the murky depths in search of just one more elusive treasure chest.
• Turner Broadcasting has teamed up with digital design studio ustwo to launch its first branded iPhone app in the UK, a Ben 10 MouthOff iPhone App available to buy now. Ben 10 MouthOff is ustwo’s first foray into branding around their unique MouthOff app, which received more than 40,000 downloads when initially launched.  Using original animation throughout and sound effects taken directly from the series, the app is an exciting new development in the apps market.
• iMia, a new take on an old classic, is a great partygame to play with your friends. Rely on bluffing or luck to win. iMia features life-like graphics, accelerometer controls (shake your iPhone to shake the cup), and simple, quick, and to-the-point gaming.