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

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for September 17, 2009:

Macintosh

• Ortelius map illustration software for Mac OS X makes map design easier with special cartography tools, high-quality graphics, and hundreds of vector-based styles and symbols. One of the most powerful features of Ortelius is its innovative WYSIWYG labeling system. For the designer, smart labels can take countless hours off the time it takes to make a map, meaning higher productivity with top-notch results.
• Registrations are now open for AppleScript Pro Sessions in St. Pete Beach, Florida, for April 12-16, 2010. After 11 successful events, the sessions will be coming to Florida again with a conference hotel directly on the Gulf Coast in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. The sessions offer a full introduction to AppleScript, including the changes in Snow Leopard, and are aimed at both beginners and advanced scripters.
• InfoLogic, Inc. has announced MathMagic Pro Edition 6.7, their award-winning professional level equation editing suite for Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress for Mac OS X. With a focus on the equation quality and productivity, MathMagic Pro Edition comes with Plug-ins and XTensions to enable InDesign and QuarkXPress the equation editing capability right inside their documents. Version 6.7 adds Batch conversion for multiple files and folders, convenient Contextual menu, improved Spot color.
• ProteMac has announced ProteMac NetMine 1.5. ProteMac NetMine is a network firewall for Mac OS X which is able to control and intercepts all internet and network activity of all applications on your Mac. Firewall can restrict or prevent the spread of networked computer worms, trojans, viruses and malware. NetMine firewall can prevent all unwanted outside and inside traffic from reaching protected machines. Version 1.5 features Snow Leopard support, web update and misc fixes.
• Hyperbolic Software has announced Tidy Up! 2.1, the latest version of the award-winning duplicate finder and disk tidying utility. Tidy Up! has become a must-have utility to reclaim disk space being taken up by duplicate files and packages. Tidy Up! locates duplicate items using a wide range of criteria including owner application, time created or modified, name, label, extension and content. Version 2.1 introduces nearly 50 new features to this already comprehensive tool.
• Speck, a leading designer and manufacturer of cases and bags for popular consumer electronics, today unveiled its newest family of notebook bags, packs and sleeves. This fresh generation of notebook carrying solutions features all-new colors, patterns and a host of design upgrades and enhancements.

iPhone/iPod

• Chillingo has announced the immediate availability of their fast-paced side scrolling shoot em up, Underground. Underground takes you on a journey with a graffiti artist through the underground transport system as you battle through his inner demons on a mission to rectify a previous art crime. Fight your way through a series of street art inspired levels and lift the curse that haunts their every move. Unfold the story as you stop at each beautifully 3d rendered station and get closer to the truth behind the myth. Classic 2d side scrolling shoot em up gameplay takes you between the stations and represents the thoughts and anxieties of our cursed artist as they make their way to their final destination.
• Since racking up 35 million online plays and downloads since the flash original launched in 2005, Tumblebugs, the latest internet phenomenon to make the transition to iPhone, has finally launched on App Store in all its bug-blasting glory. The all-new revamped version is developed by Dundee-based Tag Games, creators of recent hit Car Jack Streets and published by Manchester-based developer Connect2Media, creators of critically acclaimed titles Timeloop and Go! Go! Rescue Squad!
• SmallRock Software, Inc. has released Sir Revs-a-Lot 1.01, an update to their hit game for iPhone and iPod touch. Using the tricked out ride, Sir Revs-a-Lot, players fend off endless hordes of UFOs, Spaceships, Helicopters, and Jets. The game combines addictive gameplay with stylized graphics, catchy tunes, and social interaction. Taking advantage of the popular OpenFeint network, players can compete in seven high score categories as well as earn a myriad of achievements.
• MindTrap Games is a compilation of the world’s greatest brainteasers, murder mysteries, trick questions and visual experiences that will capture your imagination and challenge the way you think and see. Delivered every day to the popular iPhone handset, users receive a classic conundrum to stretch their mind. MindTrap, the brain training game recommended by numerous PhD’s specializing in improving cognitive skills has sold millions of copies around the world.
• Griffin Technology, Inc., has announced MyPhones volume limiting headphones for kids. These premium over-the-ear headphones are safe, comfortable and customizable for children aged 3 to 12, and unlike anything else on the market.
• Mariner Software has announced the immediate availability of Mariner Calc 2.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Significant in this version is the system-wide cut, copy and paste, as well as the ability to email (outgoing) files. All of the new features in Mariner Calc 2.0 have been tested and function on the iPhone 3.0 and 3.1 operating system.
• Bottle Rocket Apps has announced the 1.1 update for the NPR News app. Less than a month after its initial launch to critical acclaim, the NPR News iPhone app received an important update including ever-popular social networking. This update makes reading, listening to and sharing the news even more accessible for millions of people. Bottle Rocket Apps is bringing iPhone development to the next level with its high utility, visually stunning apps.
• iLarious, the new comedy kid on the App Store block, today announced its first two apps: iGgression: The Anger Manager and iNabler. Or, if you prefer hyperbolic techspeak: “iLarious releases game-changing transformative Comedy 3.0 digital content aimed at mobile platform dominance.” Either way, fun has come to your pocket.
• Connected is simple idea. Each of the 40 puzzles contains a number of pipe pieces. At the edge of the board are some start and end points. You just have to move the pieces to create a continuous pipe from start to finish…oh, and you can’t leave any open ends. Sounds easy? Well to make it a little more challenging, as connected is a sliding puzzle the pieces block each other, so not only do you have to work out the correct connections, you also have to work out how to move the pieces around each other into the correct configuration.
• MyBattery - Accurate battery indicator claims to be the most accurate battery app for iPhone and iPod Touch. While other battery apps estimate remaining battery percentage to 5%, MyBattery displays battery life to 1% by retrieving hardware information from your device. My Battery also features a Mac-style icon and a simplistic interface, and best of all, it’s free.