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

Software updates and announcements for July 8, 2008:

• JNSoftware has announced the release of Dialectic v1.1, a significant update to its flagship telephony tool for Macintosh. Dialectic provides system-wide dialing of phone numbers using Bluetooth mobile phones, landlines, many VoIP services and more. It integrates with leading contact management applications including Marketcircle Daylite, Microsoft Entourage, Now Contact, Palm Desktop, FileMaker Pro, Panorama and other databases as well as Apple’s iCal and Address Book.
• Softpress today released Freeway 5.1.3, adding a Simplified Chinese localization to its award-winning web design software. This free update to Freeway, recent winner of Best Creative Web Product from Macworld UK, is available to all registered owners of Freeway 5. Free 30-day trials of Freeway 5 Express and Freeway 5 Pro, including the new localization, are available from the Softpress website.
• Freeridecoding announced BurnAgain FS 1.0.2, a free update of their CD/DVD multisession burning utility for Mac OS X. Like magic, BurnAgain FS re-mounts a data CD or DVD in a writeable way just like a hard drive volume, making it possible to change the content of a data CD or DVD simply using the Finder. At any time the changes can be burned to the media.
• Berlin based nova media updated FoneLink to version 2.1 today. FoneLink is a comprehensive cell phone suite which features a familiar Mac-like interface. The new version 2.1 offers quick-sync and quick-text messaging through a new menu bar icon, making the most used features available instantly without the need to open FoneLink first.
• Tutorial-Video maker macProVideo.com has released two new titles—Aperture 2 101: Core Aperture 2 and Mac OS 105: Securing Your Mac—showing tips and tricks to help you use Apple Aperture 2 and Mac OS X Leopard (10.5).
• Steinberg North America has announced a repositioning of the minimum advertised price for Cubase 4 and Cubase 4 Educational Edition versions in the US. Effective July 1st, 2008 Cubase 4 will carry a MAP price of $599.99 (MSRP: $780.99) and Cubase 4 Educational Edition will carry a MAP price of $299.99 (MSRP: $390.99).
• Everyone knows backups are essential to protect against file corruption, hardware failure, and theft, but to go beyond the false security of turning on Time Machine or copying a few files to CD, Mac users can now turn to the third edition of “Take Control of Mac OS X Backups,” the best-selling Take Control ebook by backup guru Joe Kissell. Or, for those who find the field overwhelming, Kissell’s small ancillary ebook, “Take Control of Easy Backups in Leopard,” covers the fastest and easiest way to create a complete Leopard backup system from which data can be restored after an accident or disaster.
• Briksoftware opens beta testing on Snapplr, the smartest way to take and share screenshots. Snapplr extends Mac OS X’s native screenshooting facilities by providing a very easy way to instantly share screenshots on the Web via any Instant Messaging client or Mail. The beta testing program is currently limited to the first 100 people signing up.