Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 20, 2009:

Macintosh

• Cloud Engines, Inc. has unveiled the second generation of the award winning Pogoplug multimedia sharing device today, giving consumers more flexibility to store personal content safely in the home and access, manage, and share it from anywhere on the Internet. The new Pogoplug hardware sports a new design boasting multiple USB ports supporting up to 4 external drives for expanded data capacity. The new Pogoplug also gives users improved sharing capabilities, an easy drag-and-drop interface to create engaging multi-media slide shows, seamless media playback, and enhanced sharing with friends on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.
• Celmaro has announced Minco 1.0, a innovative, minimalist lightweight time tracking solution for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. It fully integrates with iCal and allows to write time logs in self specified formats to the file system. Minco can also visualize the daily spend time in iCal and hereby allows sharing with others. Minco comes with four standard preconfigured and customizable adapter for iCal, the file system, iChat and Adium.
• Maintain has announced Cocktail 4.5 (Leopard Edition), the latest maintenance update of Cocktail for users running Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. This version adds ability to clear data detectors and QuickLook caches as well as contains many other important improvements and bug fixes. The update is highly recommended for all users of Cocktail (Leopard Edition). Cocktail is an award winning general purpose utility for Mac OS X.
• Macintosh users have been able to store “managed information”—calendars, contacts, podcasts, and so on—on their Macs for years. Today’s challenge is to sync that information to other devices and locations so that its owner can access the data anytime, anywhere. The latest addition to the Take Control series, Michael E. Cohen’s “Take Control of Syncing Data in Snow Leopard,” explains how to sync data to and from a Mac, with advice for readers who have never tried syncing before and for those who need to solve syncing problems or work in complex environments.

iPhone/iPod

• SWIMMAN, Inc., known for waterproofing the Apple iPod Shuffle, has done it again! Now SWIMMAN has waterproofed the in-line controls on Apple’s earphones for the 3rd generation iPod Shuffle, Nano, iPhone and iTouch. By waterproofing the control capsule from the inside out, SWIMMAN has taken the impressive concept of Apple Earphones with in-line controls and turned them into the ultimate all-environment accessory.
• Adamcode has released Christmas Gifts List 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. The Gifts app allows consumers to input the wish lists for everyone on their holiday shopping list, and each person can be assigned a target budget amount as well. As gifts are purchased and prices stored in the application, the easy to use interface lets you see how much money is left in the budget for each individual. Turn on the locking feature and your lists are kept secure behind a unique PIN number.
• StuckPixel, Inc. has introduced Monster Bash 1.0, their new arcade game for iPhone and iPod touch. Designed specifically to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique abilities and interface, Monster Bash is a fun, challenging, and addicting game based on the classic whack-a-mole genre but adds a fresh new twist. It features both Arcade and Freeplay gaming modes, and sure to keep children and adults alike entertained for hours on end.
• IconsBerlin today released a 300 set of icons suitable for iPhone app developers. This royalty-free icon collection is similar to the App Store’s categories, and covers 24 different categories, including such genre as books, business, education, finance, games and 19 others. The right iconography prevents the app from being rejected during the app review process. Customers receive free updates of every collection extension for the period of one year after purchase.
• GoWare today released Grandma’s Remedies from Italy 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app is favored by people looking for a cheaper, more natural way of doing everyday things. Each home remedy offers a time-honored solution to a problem, using ingredients and items that most people have on hand. Although Grandma’s Remedies may be Old World, every one of them can still be easily and successfully used today.
• Marware has announced free, personalized engraving is now available for the iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 2G, iPod nano 5G, and other Apple accessories purchased from the Marware Website. Marware is now offering customized case options on select products and free shipping. Custom engraving is perfect for personalizing a gift, recognizing the value of an important business relationship, or as a great corporate promotional giveaway.
• Francis Dierick has announced Reject for iPhone and iPod touch. Reject helps to stop dead-end meetings in their tracks. By violently shaking the application the user can make his opinion abundantly clear and crack up any meeting. Reject uses the power of irony to help the user make a statement. The App is mostly intended to be used in high-pressure team environments whenever the mood needs a little lightening up.
• Coladia has announced Secret of the Lost Cavern Episode 1 for iPhone and iPod touch. Secret of the Lost Cavern is an episodic adventure game that plunges the player into an inspiring journey that takes place during the Paleolithic period in prehistoric time, 15,000 years B.C. The gameplay and each puzzle were redesigned to take unique advantage of the touch capabilities of the iPhone. 3D graphics and videos were also optimized for an unparalleled visual quality on mobile devices.
• Ever wanted to step into the DJ booth and get the party started right? Then “Bust a Move”, do the “Wild Thing” and pour the “Funky Cold Medina”, as Delicious Vinyl DJ puts you in control of the dance floor.  Delicious Vinyl and Ten23 Software are proud to announce that Delicious Vinyl DJ, a new music rhythm game for the iPhone and iPod touch is now available for download exclusively on iTunes.
• In preparation for the 2010 Winter Games, Sunshine Maps Inc. has designed SeeWhistler App, an intelligent mobile map for athletes and visitors. SeeWhistler for iPhone and iPod Touch gives you interactive, fully searchable mobile access to the best that Whistler has to offer…with up-to-the-minute discounts.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Don’t think for a moment we missed yesterday’s announcement that Star Trek: D-A-C is heading towards the Macintosh system. Currently available for the Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Network and Valve’s Steam digital distribution service for Windows PC, the Mac version comes out in December via TransGaming Inc.‘s GameTreeOnline.com digital distribution platform courtesy of Paramount Digital Entertainment.

Now, when you grow up being asked, “As in ‘Captain?’ ” every time you tell someone your name, you tend to grow bitter towards the source of the joke. Therefore, my interest in Star Trek begins and ends with Star Trek II. But I’m told it’s still very popular, so one of my readers will likely be able to tell me what D-A-C stands for. Until then, game details:

Star Trek: D-A-C is a fast-paced, top-down space shooter where up to twelve players can compete in intergalactic battles between Starfleet and the Romulan Empire.

Star Trek: D-A-C supports online multiplayer, online co-op and single player gameplay. There are four different game types—Survival, Team Deathmatch, Conquest and Assault. In the single-player Survival Mode, Starfleet captains have only three lives to blast through waves of enemy ships. When destroyed, enemy ships and drones drop special ability and score pick-ups, and players are challenged to grab as many as they can before their lives run out. Top scores will move players to the top of the leader boards and Starfleet ranks. In Team Deathmatch, teams go head-to-head, clashing in a winner-takes-all fight to the finish. In Conquest, teams must simultaneously protect and conquer control points in space. In Assault, teams take turns trying to dominate or defend a sector of space.

In Star Trek: D-A-C, players choose from five ship types for both the Romulans and the Federation—Missile Cruiser, Support Frigate, Bomber, Fighter and Flagship—with each ship offering unique capabilities for players to master and manipulate from the Captain’s chair.

Star Trek: D-A-C, which will be available for download for $9.99 from GameTreeOnline.com in December, is rated “E” by the ESRB. It will require Mac OS X 10.5.8 Leopard or higher, an Intel Core Duo Processor, 2GB RAM, an ATI X1600 or NVIDIA 8600 GT or greater video card, and 450MB Hard Disk space. For more information, visit www.startrekd-a-c.com.

Product [Star Trek: D-A-C]

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Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 19, 2009:

Macintosh

• TheMacBundles has begun a 2-week survey of the users visiting its website so that it can gather additional feedback about the software users are most interested in. This feedback will be utilized when planning future bundles. Each week the users that choose to complete the brief survey automatically will be entered into a weekly drawing to receive a free copy of the following month’s bundle.
• Xeric Design has announced EarthDesk 5.1.1, an update to its award-winning, real-time dynamic desktop map for Mac OS X. EarthDesk 5 was entirely rewritten in Cocoa, adds many new features and is compatible with both Leopard and Snow Leopard. Version 5.1.1 fixes a stubborn bug that caused partially downloaded cloud images to be displayed, resulting in a milky white area across the bottom portion of the map.
• Apimac has announced Compress Files 5.0, their compression tool for Mac OS X. Compress Files enable Mac users to create Zip compressed and encrypted files; XAR archive files, 7zip and 7zip crypted archives, TAR archives; Gzip compressed archives; Bzip2 compressed archives and compressed and encrypted disk images. The new release primarily adds Mac OS X Snow Leopard Services support letting user access via Services menu to compress and archive commands associated with files and folders.
• BKeeney Software has announced Task Timer 4.2.5, an update to their time management software for Mac OS X and Windows. Task Timer is an easy-to-use project management tool that tracks time spent on an unlimited number of projects and tasks down to the minute. Version 4.2.5 is a maintenance release for improved performance and increased functionality. The dock and status menus are now hierarchical for Mac OS X users.
• Uncomplex gmbh today released Mailplane 2.1, their popular Google Mail client for Mac OS X. Acting as a site-specific web browser for Google’s Gmail, Mailplane is a fully-fledged mail client for the desktop. It integrates the Gmail web interface into the Mac experience, offering users the best of both worlds. Version 2.1 sports new features, including multiple email signatures and support for inserting images and offline Gmail lab features.
• Agile Web Solutions has announced 1Password 3, its award-winning password and identity manager for Mac OS X. Over one year in the making, 1Password 3 is the most significant upgrade in company history, and adds over 50 fantastic new features and enhancements. These new features and enhancements were fused with a gorgeous new interface and full 64-bit support for Snow Leopard.
• Springy v1.6 is a powerful archiving utility for Mac OS X. Springy integrates seamlessly with the Mac OS X and includes some very useful features. Users are able to see the contents of an archive or disk image without extracting any file from it, and/or extract files of choice from an existing archive, as well as previewing them. All tasks can be done via Drag and Drop using Finder-alike application or through system Services Menu in Snow Leopard or Finder contextual menu plug-in Leopard and earlier.
• Electron Zen has released Quantum 1.3, a free update to its space arcade game. Quantum is a fresh new take on the classic game of Asteroids, with a black hole relentlessly pulling everything into its inky maw. The player must account for the black hole’s gravity when moving and shooting. Version 1.3 adds two new artifacts to pick up, slower ship rotation for easier aiming, and a number of gameplay tweaks. It is a free update for registered users.
• Elixir has announced Dashing, a highly polished RapidWeaver theme. Dashing provides a stylish site design with many great theme variations and stunning graphics. In a relatively short period of time, Dashing makes it easy to build a website, for business or fun. It is a great choice for creating a business site, small or large, portfolio, blog, personal site and much more.
• Tyme Machines has announced the release of its fully sculpted 3D Cullen Crest USB thumb drive. The drive has a memory capacity ranging from 4GB to 16GB and is pre-loaded with the entire official New Moon Soundtrack for easy plug and play.
• Learn how to design and develop distributed web services in Java using RESTful architectural principals and the JAX-RS specification in Java EE 6. With RESTful Java with JAX-RS by Bill Burke, you’ll focus on implementation rather than theory, and discover why the RESTful method is far better than technologies like CORBA and SOAP.

iPhone/iPod

• Modern Geek has released Our Secrets 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Our Secrets gives you access to real people’s secrets and an opportunity to share your own anonymously with the features you want. Secrets can be read by category, rating, date shared, number of comments, number of times shared and by user favorites. Is there something that you want to get off your chest? You never know what secrets you’ll read. It might be a surprise that other people share similar secrets to you.
• iStart Japanese! is the long-awaited iPhone and iPod Touch Application aimed at beginner-level learners of Japanese. The App is produced by Mirai Japanese, the Japanese-language specialists of Mirai Language Systems. There is simply no better way of learning Japanese.
• Independent game developer group Touch Foo today released Soosiz 1.1, a free version of its highly acclaimed 2D platforming game. In Soosiz, the player assumes the role of a hero, running and jumping around different surfaces and obstacles, rescuing his friends, killing monsters and collecting coins. Since its release in October, Soosiz has received glowing reviews by critics and many have already titled it as one of the best platforming games for the iPhone and iPod touch.
• RaiX UG has released 3D Aquarium 1.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. This ultra realistic and interactive app is the perfect solution for people who don’t have the time, room or money for a live pet. It’s also a good way to ‘test the waters’ before taking on the responsibility of pet ownership. With a choice of three different aquariums and various fish and fish tank accessories, users get a very life-like experience, which includes the feeding and caring of their virtual fish.
• Plaid World Studios LLC has announced Mouse House 2, the sequel to the popular puzzle game for iPhone and iPod touch. Use your best-laid plans to puzzle your way through 40 new and colorful levels. All of your favorite traps and critters are back to challenge and entertain in the exciting follow-up to the original hit game. Mouse House features intuitive touch based controls. Touch the screen to make Mouse move a space in that direction, or hold your finger down to keep him moving.
• Independent game developer Mundue LLC has announced the release of its latest game, reMovem Christmas Edition, a themed version of the wildly popular iPhone puzzle game reMovem. The Christmas Edition adds fanciful artwork and seasonal sound effects, while retaining the original game’s successful clear and simple interface. The addition of online high scores and global leader boards is sure to make this a hit for players of all ages.
• Marware has announced the EcoJacket for the iPod nano 5G, the latest eco-conscious slim, Eco-Fabric case, is now shipping. The EcoJacket for iPod nano 5G is made from 100% cotton canvas, wth a belt clip on the back. This soft, stretchy Eco-Fabric feels better, is better for the environment, and keeps your iPod secure while providing access to all the functionality and features of your nano.
• Portable Arts has released iCarol 2.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Just in time for the holidays, iCarol lets users send virtual Christmas Carols to other iCarol and non-iCarol users. Users can select friends from their contact lists or type in emails to send a virtual Carol. Friends with iCarol will be able to view lyrics, hear the music, and see either a slideshow of holiday images or a virtual yule log. Non-iCarol owners can still get Carols in their eMails.
• G.M.Y.C. Applications has released Yachts 1.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Yachts contains photos and statistics for 50 of the largest and most expensive pleasure yachts in the world. Each yacht has a rank that is based on size, price and amenities and all are guaranteed to be amazing examples of what happens when wealthy people try to out-do each other. Yachts is getting scooped up by yacht enthusiasts, as well as by consumers wanting to see how the other half lives.
• MultiEducator has introduced Builder Pro 1.0, their new builder’s calculation, formulation and reference tool for iPhone and iPod Touch. Builder Pro includes parts of the International Building Code, Mechanical Code, Electrical Code, and the ADA code. It combines all of the formulas of MultiEducator’s Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC professional programs and adds specific calculations used by builders and developers.
• Derek Clark has announced Swipe Ruler 1.2 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Swipe Ruler introduces a fast and convenient way to measure items for a close estimation of length. Perfect for window shoppers and garage sale browsers, Swipe Ruler uses the accelerometers in your phone to measure flat surfaces from a few inches up to several feet. Click the ruler, touch the screen to begin, and slide the app along the surface to measure. Then touch the screen to stop measuring.
• Daisyamerica LLC and Adelante Consulting Inc. have announced The Third Advent 1.0, an ebook application by Gregoire de Kalbermatten for iPhone and iPod touch. The Third Advent takes the reader on a journey through 6000 years of politics, economics, philosophy and religion, to bring forth a message of hope for the future that is as practical as it is profound. The author contends that we are on the threshold of a complete transformation.
• To help protect you against the lurking nasties of disease, Proporta has developed the Antimicrobial Silicone Case with SteriTouch for iPhone 3G/3GS. Crafted from a super-tough silicone skin that guards against scratching and impact damage, the case is covered with an antimicrobial coating to protect against germs and bacteria. Available in black and grey, this stylish and lightweight case doesn’t just look after your iPhone, it looks after you in the bargain.
• Alawar Entertainment has announced that The Treasures of Montezuma 2 [iTunes App Store link], the sequel to its popular gem of a game, is now available to iPhone and iPod Touch owners worldwide. Return to the jungle in this all-new match-three game with more levels, more challenges and more fun. Power up totems and unleash special powers by making multiple matches of the same colored token. Then, rack up a high score by activating Score Frenzy with a series of insanely fast matches. As players progress thorough the game levels, they will construct the ancient capital of the Aztecs, collect precious crystals and learn the secrets of their magic.
• Twitter rolled out Geotagging of Tweets and Project ReTweet today, and Twittelator Pro 3.3.1 is the first iPhone twitter client to take advantage of these cool features. Geotagging allows users to optionally attach a latitude and longitude to each tweet. You can tap the tweet to see a map of where it originated or use the Nearby search to find tweeters near you or any location on the planet. Twittelator also lets you create the new official ReTweets, as well as monitor them.
• Rightsscale has announced the Cure Visual-Kei app, a collaboration with the Japanesque rock and visual styling magazine “Cure”, a Visual-Kei magazine in Japan for many years. Visual-Kei is the most popular genre of Japanese music and culture from Japan that links to anime, manga, games, cosplay, etc.

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Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 18, 2009:

Macintosh

• Global Delight has released an update to its Mac screen-capturing tool, Voila. This popular productivity and creativity enhancement tool is now fully compatible with Snow Leopard, leveraging the performance of the new operating system besides working on Leopard OS X. This release also incorporates user requested features such as Copy-Paste, Spotlight and more, along with polishing of some of the existing features.
• Ringce has announced Slammer 1.0, an update to their designer’s layout and geometry utility for Mac OS X. Suitable for graphic designers, web and application developers alike, Slammer is a universal layout tool which can be used as an overlay on top of any application while tweaking a design. Make blueprints by sectioning a canvas using grid systems, fibonacci series, golden sections or harmonious sections. Version 1.0 introduces themes, and many new user-requested features.
• CampSoftware has released QuickCode AutoUpdate 1.0.1, the first in a series of QuickCode products to be released for FileMaker Pro. QuickCode AutoUpdate makes it simple to automatically install FileMaker Extensions from your FileMaker Server rather than having to install the Extensions manually at each workstation. In four easy steps, a FileMaker Developer can add automatic installation of the FileMaker Extension that are required to be used in any FileMaker solution.
• SmileOnMyMac has released DiscLabel 6.2, an update to its award-winning CD/DVD label design software for Mac OS X. The update adds 10 new free templates in the Holidays and Celebrations category. Mac users can stretch their holiday budgets by creating attractive custom CDs and DVDs for everyone on the gift lists. Start with a pre-designed template, or make your own; over 160 professionally-designed template sets included.
• publicspace.net has announced A Better Finder Rename 8.40, an update to its popular file, music and photo renaming utility. A Better Finder Rename is a sophisticated tool that caters for the full range of file renaming tasks encountered by the modern creative professional. The new release simplifies the use of its advanced “Rename from File List” feature which allows files to be renamed according to data originating in external databases, Excel worksheets or from other external sources.
• BKeeney Software has announced Slideshow Magic 6.1, an update to its presentation software for Mac OS X and Windows. Slideshow Magic is easy-to-use and great for online photo albums or business presentations. Version 6.1 has better system compatibility with Snow Leopard and Microsoft Windows 7. Using the latest in multimedia technology, your compiled video has the ability to be uploaded to the Web, shared with users on other platforms, and even burnt onto a DVD.
• Retina-X Studios, LLC has announced the immediate availability of AceSpy for Macintosh computers. Using this new spy technology, users can silently monitor everything their child or employee does on the computer and Internet. AceSpy Mac brings to OS X the same technology used by AceSpy for Windows for over six years. AceSpy Mac runs in total stealth mode and no mentions of the program are shown on the Desktop, Dock, Applications Folder, Force Quit Applications menu or Menu Bar.
• Early registration for the 2010 FileMaker Developer Conference, to be held in San Diego, is now open and available for a limited time at $200 off the full conference price, FileMaker announced today. The $200-off registration offer expires May 21, 2010. The 15th annual FileMaker Developer Conference, Aug. 8-11, 2010 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, is the world’s largest gathering of corporate and independent FileMaker developers, consultants and trainers.

iPhone/iPod

• Davander Mobile has announced that their fourth software package, CatPaint, is now available. CatPaint is an immersive and multi-sensory experience, wherein you can put adorable cats on top of your photos. Also, they mew. With just a few touches, you can take a photo, cover it with cats, and send it off to your friends and family.
• Modern Geek today has announced Geek Reply 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. The geek is in the form of Geek Reply and it answers all those common replies and everyday questions whether you’re at work, home or on a date. The app ships with 50 pre-loaded replies but you can also add your own replies and share them. Geek Reply allows you to record and modify your voice to share with others, and even rate shared replies; the higher the rating the higher on the category listing it appears.
• The latest version of the Hello Vino iPhone app contains new features, including the ability to share pairings and wine brand recommendations to users’ social networks through Twitter and Facebook. The inclusion of new wine pairings for the holiday season, occasions, and popular dishes offers consumers several options for enjoying food and discovering new wines. Over 300 varietals and styles of wine are currently available by taste preference, or region.
• QuinnScape has announced Packing Pro 3.0, their popular packing and travel organizer app for iPhone and iPod touch. In celebration of the first year anniversary of the official launch of Packing, Quinn Genzel is offering special discounts for both of his Packing and Packing Pro travel apps for the holiday season. Packing has been continuously updated and improved, and remains arguably the most flexible, powerful, and feature-rich dedicated packing app on the market.
• Kuyi Mobile has released Card Drop 1.2 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Card Drop is the new millennium version of solitaire, but don’t worry; it is definitely not your grandmother’s card game. This app is a souped up version of that old classic. Solitaire on steroids, if you will. The addition of social networking to the already fast-paced, popular version of solitaire includes Twitter integration, which is a big hit with gamers.
• j2sighte has released A Doodle Flight 3.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. A Doodle Flight is a flying war game that combines the simplicity of a doodle app with the fun and challenge of air combat. It is the first app ever that allows people to draw or import their own flying game piece. To add to the improved, more personal user experience, A Doodle Flight now has an integrated OpenFeint community feature, which lends stronger score keeping and player communication to the app.
• Marware has announcd its thinnest case to date: the MicroShell for iPod touch 2G is now shipping. The MicroShell for iPod touch 2G provides the ultimate in low-profile protection with less than 1mm in thickness. The color versions of the MicroShell have a beautiful metallic look with a smooth rubberized finish. The clear version is ideal for showcasing the iPod touch 2G. This sleek, ultra-slim half-shell case is perfect for protecting the iPod touch in a pocket.
• Sit-Net SA has released MyPsy 2.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The only psychological profiler app in existence, MyPsy is the culmination of twenty-five years of research. Although it is primarily utilized by companies in the hiring process, it’s also an invaluable tool for personal use. MyPsy compiles the answers to a series of questions that are designed to target the psychological make up of a potential employee, volunteer, or partner.
• After the success of Shift, Fishing Cactus has releases its 4th iPhone game: Minim. Find most games offering more and more? In Minim you start with more but end with less…if you have the skill. Become a MINIMalism expert in no time.
• Brave, Inc. has brought three new apps to the iPhone and iPod touch: KERA vol. 1 (Japanese Street Fashion Magazine), Maid Akiba Style (Housemaid illustrations and voices of Tokyo and Akihabara) and Ryoko Kobayashi Photograph collection “Bisyoujyo kurabu [ Ingene ] Vol.01.
• Command Guru has announced the first iPhone Reality Show live streaming event, starting December 6 thru 12, 2009. Broadcast live from BigRock headquarters, Cocoa guru Aaron Hillegass will lead a team of ten international developers with the goal to develop a new iPhone application in 7 days from start-to-publish on the App Store. The new iPhone app be a free and open source, sexy social network application. So that everybody can contribute, live interaction with the Developers via Twitter.
• Version 2 of JoinMe—a Friend Locator useful when you are about to meet someone—is now available. With JoinMe, you can see where he/she is and his/her movements in real time until you meet. This version keeps the same philosophy as the previous one.; a simple 1:1 tracking and respectful of your privacy (no information of where your friends were last sunday, and, most of all, the invited person has to always accept all requests).
• SearchTrends is now available for the iPhone and iPod touch. SearchTrends displays real-time search trends for Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and Twitter, and lets you search on these terms from right within the app. SearchTrends is a great new way to stay up-to-date on popular search terms, news and events. Instead of relying on news sources, you’re keying off of what people around the world are talking about.
• Sunstorm Interactive has announced the release of Run Razzle Run, an exciting new game that takes players back to traditional arcade action. You might have already met the little, cute rat named Razzle in other game by Sunstorm: Rescue Razzle. This time he’s on a high wire run through the city full of hungry birds of prey. Players must take the rambunctious rat from one end of the city to the other and direct Razzle to jump up, jump left or jump right to avoid the pestering pecking of the black crows.
• Textbooks are among the top expenses for college students, following only the costs for room and board and tuition, and their prices have been rising faster than inflation for the past 2 decades. What’s a student to do? Bigwords.com, the leading college textbook price comparison website, will soon be launching a new iPhone App for textbooks which helps students sell their textbooks online, in most cases generating a return of up to 75 percent on the initial cost of the books!
• Edovia today announces NumPad 2.0, the wireless numeric keypad for iPhone and iPod touch. Transform your iPhone or iPod touch into a wireless numeric keypad with NumPad. If you use a Mac with OS X v10.4 or later, NumPad does not require any additional software on your computer. It connects through Screen Sharing, so setup is super easy. That USB cable gets in the way? No problem. NumPad can be used upside-down to keep things out of the way.
• If you’re familiar with the indie iPhone game hit, Slingshot Cowboy you’ll know this award-winning game has already achieved over 2.5 million downloads and continues to attract tens of thousands of global players daily. Now the game that pits players against unwitting cows and ill tempered bulls has released a brand new ad-free version that’ll keep you shootin’ till the cows come home.
• Foodoku is an exciting and funny new variant of the classic Sudoku game where you have to solve puzzles full of cute little creatures. Like in a classic Sudoku game you have to fill the empty places of a puzzle with the missing creatures. Every row must contain one of each creature. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square. Foodoku contains four different difficulty levels, 100 puzzles and 5 different creature sets that make the game more challenging and entertaining.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

The BoyGeniusReport received a rumor earlier this week that claims to have the details on Apple’s Black Friday plans. The rumor contains a “leaked” image that displays all the deals for the day, which include up to 30% off iPods (excluding the iPhone and iPod shuffle), up to 25% off Macs, and up to 15% off accessories. The sale would only be valid for November 27th, 2009, and as far as I can gather, only in store (not online). And before you start dismissing this as complete BS, note the liberal usages of the phrase “up to.”

Yes, at first I shouted, “Fake!”, but then I thought about it a bit more. It really wouldn’t be that unlikely for Apple to offer this much off of certain products. I seriously doubt that all Macs will be 25% off. If they are, my bank and my fiancée are both going to kill me. All it takes is one product to hit that magic percentage off, but I find it hard to believe Apple would be this misleading. Many products could be sold with percentages off close to the mark without Apple actually experiencing losses, so we’ll see.

This could be real, but I’ll be taking this with a large grain of salt substitute, you know, for a healthy amount of skepticism.

Full Story » | Written by Jake Gaecke for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

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

Macintosh

• Snarb.tk today announced Everplay Public Beta, a preview of the successor to their popular iTunes controller Cover Stream. A light weight, stand alone media player, Everplay plays music from your iTunes music library as well as from Last FM online radio services.  It lets you browse, search and play your iTunes music library and playlists in one simple, beautiful and easy-to-navigate Cover Flow window. All this without launching iTunes.
• Apparent Corporation has introduced Barcode Producer 5.6, now available as a cross-platform product for Mac OS X and Windows. Barcode Producer is Apparent’s award-winning barcode generation suite aimed toward graphic designers and industry professionals. Barcode Producer 5.6 delivers support for the Code 93 symbology, an enhanced version of Code 39 with high density printing support.
• Christian Kienle today has announced Ebbinghaus 3.0 for Mac OS X. Ebbinghaus is an easy-to-use flash card application with a beautiful iTunes-like user interface. Organize your cards in decks, folders and smart decks. When selecting a deck, its cards will be shown in a table. Each card has a progress indicator so that you see your overall performance at a glance. Ebbinghaus was a German psychologist, who invented the learning curve.
• Dejal Systems, LLC has announced Caboodle 1.3.4, a lean, clean, snippet machine to store and organize useful tidbits of text, images, PDFs, and more. Caboodle is elegantly simple, but includes some innovative and useful features. Arrange items in an outline-like hierarchy, and include both structured fields and free-form text and pictures. Version 1.3.4 improves performance by storing attachments separately from the main data file, and includes a number of other fixes and improvements.
• Apps & More Software Design, Inc. has announced Script Timer 2.6.2, a Snow Leopard compatible version of its popular script, Automator workflow, and application scheduling utility for Mac OS X. Script Timer can schedule the execution of AppleScript, Perl, and shell scripts, as well as applications and Automator workflows. The application ships with more than half a dozen sample scripts that illustrate its use, including examples of Finder and third party application scripting.
• Urban Design Limited has announced Qu-s 1.5. With Qu-s, using Stickies like notes that have the facility to create numbered lists, check boxes or bullet points, you can structure your ideas and develop and explore how these strands of inspiration come together. By utilizing the Desktop, or by making your notes floating, it keeps what you need at your finger tips. Version 1.5 is now a universal 32/64-bit executable fully compatible with Snow Leopard.
• TeamViewer GmbH has released the beta version of TeamViewer 5. Already recognized as a premium desktop sharing solution, TeamViewer 5 brings a host of innovative features, including the latest VoIP and video conferencing technology, to their proven, user-friendly remote software.
• The Sims are off on an adventure of a lifetime! The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. has announced that The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack, the first expansion pack to the best-selling PC game of calendar 2009, The Sims 3, is available at retail nationwide and for digital download today for the PC and Mac. The game will be in stores worldwide in 60 countries and in 22 languages this week.
• FileMaker, Inc. has announced the Bento 3 Holiday Pack, a free, fun and easy way to get organized for the holidays that works with Bento 3, the popular personal database from FileMaker that is as easy to use as your Mac. Whether the task is planning holiday parties or organizing gift lists, the Bento 3 Holiday Pack makes it easy.
• RadTech has announced the STM Sonic Stylish 15in Laptop Messenger Bag, a retro-styled bag that combines modern materials, rugged hardware and a dedicated laptop cell. Sonic’s distinctive style offers uncompromised protection for a laptop computer, while also affording plenty of space for books, folders and accessories. The fixed, thickly-padded laptop section surrounds your computer in high-density shock absorbing padding. Sonic’s roomy interior allows you to pack in everything else you need, without compromise.

iPhone/iPod

• Handjoy has announced a contest in which everyone will win. There is only one rule; write anywhere on the internet, “I want Gelex for free!” and they will make it happen. People can write this message on their blog, Twitter account, in YouTube comments, on various discussion forums or anywhere else, where Google can record it. Gelex is an iPhone/iPod Touch game for both casual and hardcore players that combines physics elements with the traditional match 3 concept.
• Racer has been updated to v1.2.1. New game modes can be played, cool sport cars can be chosen, and iTunes music from your library can be selected during your extreme highway driving. Also, a few bugs have been fixed and art enhancements have been made. Racer keeps its simplicity, fun and addictive gameplay.
• Happymagenta has announced Net Scan 1.3, an update to their popular network scanner for iPhone and iPod touch. Developed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s peerless capabilities, Net Scan will effortlessly scan hosts or network ranges on the Internet or LAN for running services as well as dig for other useful information. The utility can scan by either IP address or any network range for hosts and services and run in several different modes. Version 1.3 sports many new features.
• 24x7digital today has introduced TimesTables 3.0, an educational title for the iPhone and iPod Touch which teaches the basics of multiplication with an emphasis on learning the times tables and becoming very fast at recalling multiplication facts. The 3.0 update has a revamped user interface and adds multiplication flash cards, skip-counting apple orchard, and multiuser profiles.
• ASD Soft Company has published ASD Poker, featuring the classic 6-Card and Russian Poker. They are based on real casino games, and tested and approved by experienced casino players. High-quality graphics and nice sound effects conjure up the atmosphere of a real casino.
• ASD Soft Company has published Kill Hill, a funny addictive shooter! Mr. Hill Wates has occupied the house, turned all the residents out of it and barricaded himself there. As you are the very hero to save the residents, you need to shoot the villain, appearing in the windows. The weapons here are heavy boots, tomatoes, eggs and creamy cake. The game features 20 levels, which become more challenging as you progress. The more you strike the target, the more points you get. In case of failure, you lose one of 5 lives. Be careful! Don’t shoot a penguin appearing in the windows from time to time, otherwise you will lose 1,000 points!
• Niles Technology Group has announced Essay Writing Wizard 1.2 for iPhone and iPod touch. The Essay Writing Wizard tools brings essay writing and critical thinking skills into the pockets of high-tech students. In order to find the best application for a student’s assignment, Niles Technology Group has setup a quick app selection tool where students can email their assignments in and receive a list of app tools that meet their particular needs in less than a day.
• AdrenalineApps has announced CrashSpace 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Working in conjunction with the CrashSpace website, CrashSpace App helps anyone get repair quotes for their damaged vehicle. Users enter information about their vehicle and upload photos of the damage. Local body shops within a 25-mile radius are notified of the user’s repair request. Users then logon to CrashSpace to review the quotes and communicate with the body shops.
• Findhorn Press Ltd. today released Wisdom Cards 1.0 by Diana Cooper & Greg Suart for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app provides portable advice, guidance and inspiration for people on the go by assisting them tap their own internal wisdom. Biding by the recommended daily usage helps build a steady stream of guidance and synchronicities. Findhorn Press is one of the world’s leading independent publishers in the fields of spirituality, healing, and self development.
• Mail Point GmbH today releases Amateur Models 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Mail Point GmbH has designed Amateur Models in a way that once the images have been downloaded allows fans to view the professional quality photos offline. The steamy snapshots can then be used as wallpaper, with new photos available daily.
• zinc Roe has announced Tickle Tap Apps for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Tickle Tap Apps is a new series developed by child gaming experts, vetted by educational researchers and tested by kids. They are designed to help children ages three to five practice key skills and learn about sounds, numbers, colors, patterns and shapes. They help children improve concentration and motor skills via simple tap and touch controls.
• Gotow.net has announced Layers 2.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Layers is a powerful painting tool for the iPhone that allows you to draw on multiple layers-taking your mobile painting experience to the next level. Use up to five layers in your drawings and create a masterpiece with ten high-quality brushes and extensive undo. Version 2 is a major upgrade to Layers featuring a new smudge tool, a redesigned tool palette, and a revamped photo import panel.
• Cramzy has announced 1,001 Murphy Laws 1.1 for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Loaded with tens of hundreds of these funny and ridiculously true universal laws of how life really works, this is a great collection to have in your pocket. Perfect for social gatherings and personal entertainment the app is sure to enjoy people for days. Cramzy has also released a free demo version of the app, so people can try before buy.
• Westbright has announced Zombies 1.0, a simple turn-based board game for the iPhone and iPod touch. Zombies is based on the old classic Daleks game. Wipe out all the zombies. Collect and cast spells and more. Users can choose either male or female player. Suitable for the entire family, Zombies features include comedy sounds and a fun soundtrack, beautiful cartoon graphics.
• You now have instant access to all the hottest trailers for movies, games and more, with the release of TrailerSpy Mobile, a new app for the iPhone and iPod touch. TrailerSpy Mobile has been designed to provide users with a quick and easy way to access all of the latest trailers as soon as they hit the internet. This is the ultimate resource for movie buffs, TV aficionados, hardcore gamers, or anyone else who wants to have a huge library of trailers at their fingertips.
• Appetizer Mobile has released Cover Up for iPhone and iPod touch. Cover Up gives women the discretion they need when nature calls. With five different noises to choose from, Cover Up can help save face in those potentially awkward situations in the office place bathroom, public restroom or at the new boyfriend’s house.
• Ready and live, App Store users will now be able to download and update their current version of the 80’s arcade classic, Pang, to include online leader boards (challenge your friends and become the world’s best bubble burster) and achievements (unlock achievements by reaching high scores in Infinity Mode, Pang’s most brutal game mode).
• Marware has announced the EcoSleeve for the iPod nano 5G, the latest eco-conscious slim, Eco-Fabric case, is now shipping. The EcoSleeve for iPod nano 5G is made from 100% cotton canvas. This soft, stretchy Eco-Fabric feels better, is better for the environment, and keeps your iPod secure while providing access to all the functionality and features of your nano. An environmentally friendly solution, the EcoSleeve for iPod nano 5G protects your iPod with a custom fit.
• Clickgamer’s new music game, DJ Nights: Global Tour for iPhone and iPod touch, is now available in the App Store. DJ Nights gameplay involves rhythmic tapping, shaking and even virtual turntable scratching as the player tries to keep time with the beat. The game innovates on iPhone and iPod touch as when players miss a beat, that note is not played.
• Griffin Technology Inc., has announced a partnership with community-centric online apparel store Threadless. The Griffin+Threadless Co-Op Initiative combines clever original art and case design to produce a line of accessories.
• Classic Media, a global media company with a portfolio of some of the world’s leading family and pop-culture entertainment brands, has announced that it has signed a deal with games publisher Mastertronic and developers Codemonkeys to bring a Casper’s Scare School game to the iPhone and iPod Touch handsets. Spooky Sports Day is available now on digital download from Apple’s App store (UK). Based on the popular series aimed at kids aged 6-9yrs and currently airing on Boomerang (UK), the game challenges users to a series of ‘spooky’ sporting events as the Scare School celebrates its annual Spooky Sports Day. Gamers control the games using the iPhones touch screen and accelerometer.
• How steady are you? How responsive? How cooperative? For the first time, these intangibles can be measured through an application. Download Balince today and find out just how balinced you are.
• Chillingo has announced the release of its genre-defining new role-playing game, Ravensword: The Fallen King [iTunes App Store link]. Developed by Crescent Moon Games, the fantasy epic offers a unique experience to iPhone and iPod touch owners. “Ravensword offers a game experience unlike anything seen before on the iPhone and the iPod touch,” said Chillingo’s Head of Publishing, Johnny Coghlan. “Fans of adventure and fantasy have understandably been waiting for a game like this. The wait is over – they can dive into an adventure that they may never want to end.”
• Riff Raters is an iPhone app that lets musicians record and share their riffs with the world. Listeners rate and comment on the music they hear, helping to determine which riffs make the Top 25. Riffs are “short repeated melodic phrases,” usually lasting no more than twenty seconds—like a musical “tweet.” Musicians can record original riffs on their iPhone/iTouch with any instrument.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

A new report out of Bloomberg is stating Apple may have been in in negotiations with AdMob about purchasing their company weeks before Google acquired them for $750 million. A purchase of AdMob—which makes their money in the mobile advertisement business—by Apple would have furthered the competition currently going on with Google, a company dominating search advertisements. With the Android and iPhone competing, there’s no wonder that both Apple and Google feel as if having the technology to make advertisement money off of their platforms would be even more beneficial for their companies. After all, AdMob advertisements already appear in a lot of third party applications on the iPhone, so if Apple could integrate this into the SDK somehow, they’d be ready to rake in some cash.

However, this may not be the only reason Apple would want AdMob. For instance, there have been many rumors that the Apple Tablet device (which is rumored itself) would come with an ad supported version to lower the cost. Also, recent patents out of Cupertino describe technologies that could use ads to freeze devices for an amount of time or even tie into an operating system. With a company such as AdMob, these could be even easier to implement. And let’s face it, there’s a lot of money to be made here with the ever-increasing amount of people purchasing smart phones and accessing the Internet on the go. It could certainly get interesting if Apple and Google start competing on another front.

Full Story » | Written by Josh Holat for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 16, 2009:

Macintosh

• TheMacBundles has announced that a new weekly special has been posted to its website. The new offer features the highly rated iPrint utility. iPrint extends the printing capabilities of OS X via a system-wide keyboard shortcut that it adds to OS X. With iPrint installed, users instantly can print or save to PDF just the text that they want in virtually any program. People who order the weekly special also can receive an immediate discount off of the already low price of the November bundle.
• Cynical Peak Software has announced Rivet 2.3, their application for streaming video, music, and photos from Mac OS X to the Xbox 360 or PS3 over their home network, including movies, TV shows, music, photos, and podcasts. Users can now easily enjoy all of their media on their big screen TV from the comfort of their living room. Version 2.3 expands device support, enhances thumbnail support, and performance optimizations.
• Just About Managing, Ltd, has announced SimCap 1.0, the simple iPhone Simulator screen capture utility. With a single button click, SimCap allows iPhone developers to grab screenshots for the App Store and create professional quality demonstration videos and walkthroughs with ease. Created by experienced iPhone software developers, SimCap was designed specifically to counter the shortcomings in the current crop of available tools.
• MacFlite Software has announced Trip Plan 1.0.12, an update to their popular trip planning application for Mac OS X. Designed specifically for aviation professionals, Trip Plan is a trip planning solution for pilots. It features detailed information for airports around the world, with a database of over 24,000 landing facilities and heliports worldwide. Along side the airport and FBO information is hotel, transportation and catering info.
• Apparent Software has announced the launch of MacGraPhoto bundle that gives Mac users 7 premium graphics applications for the price of one or even for free. Applications in MacGraPhoto bundle will satisfy most of imaging needs of any Mac user: image editing, applying effects, format conversion, batch processing, vector drawing, geo-tagging photos, framing them or even creating posters and postcards.
• Dandy Code has released Marketplace 1.2, their popular Craigslist searcher for Mac OS X. Marketplace can search all Craigslist regions, categories, subcategories and supports all the filters the website has. Users can save their favorite entries to return to later or leave Marketplace running and it will refresh searches automatically and notify users when new results are found. Version 1.2 brings many new features and bug fixes. Users can now filter down to the sub-region level.
• Vela Design Group has announced VelaClock Deluxe 2.2.1 and VelaClock 2.2.1, Dashboard widgets for Mac OS X. VelaClock is a world clock widget with a highly configurable user interface. Users can quickly display the time of sunrise, sunset, or twilight, duration of daylight, moonrise, moonset, phase of moon, time zone information and more. VelaClock Deluxe 2.2.1 is currently the number one widget on Apple’s Top 50 Dashboard Widgets list.
• Reinvented Software today has announced Together 2.3 for Mac OS X. Together is an application for storing, previewing, editing and searching all kinds of files. Version 2.3 introduces many improvements to almost every part of the application and takes advantage of new technologies introduced in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Further improvements have been made to include additional information in the list of items, content searching, smart groups, tag bundles and file management.

iPhone/iPod

• Sugarware Technologies has announced iCoin Canada 1.0, a Canadian dollar money counter for the iPhone and iPod touch. iCoin Canada counts Canadian coins and bills by letting users tap, swipe and shake their iPhones. It lets users quickly and easily sum up their Canadian pocket change, and familiarizes visitors, newcomers to Canada, and youth with their Canadian currency. iCoin Canada comes in both a full version and a free Lite version.
• atPurpose Technologies has announced rsrc.atArchive, their new community driven article website for iPhone developers. Designed for developers, rsrc.atArchive aims to bring together existing iPhone development info into one easy and convenient-to-use online resource. Users may submit links to articles, tutorials, blogs, as well as news, projects, and utilities. Visitors to the website may search the content and categories, comment on stories and even vote on their favorites.
• Ivan Karpan and Evgeniy Lebed have announced the Christmas sale of GlobeMaster and GlobeTipping, their applications for iPhone and iPod Touch. GlobeMaster is an offline world-wide travel guide featuring 1400+ cities in more than 260 countries, including 4100+ photos, tips calculator and advisor, units converter and much more. GlobeTipping is a tip calculator and advisor.
• ePapyrus Inc. has announced PDF-Pro Reader 1.3.1, a significant upgrade to its popular mobile PDF reader for iPhone and iPod Touch. Version 1.3.1 features a new Text Reflow View mode which increases the readability of PDF documents. This function allows users to extract only the text from the PDF document that they are reading. PDF-Pro is built on the powerful and proven PDF engine from ePapyrus Inc. that has been marketing its PDF products worldwide.
• Markus Biernath has released Photo Diary 2.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app provides all the security of a private diary, along with a lot of fun features. Photo Diary can be used to share photos, location, icons and notes on Twitter or by email for a fully functional sharing experience, while the password protected journal allows users to keep some things private.
• Francis Dierick has announced BibleThumper for iPhone and iPod touch. BibleThumper allows atheists to keep the most funny and irrational Bible verses right in their pocket. With the BibleThumper App on their iPhone, an atheist is always ready to confront fundamental Christians or have a little fun among friends. BibleThumper randomly displays interesting Bible verses. The user can shake the app to see a fresh verse.
• Treascovery has released Here IM v1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Nicknamed HIM, for short, the app appeals to modern mobiles who want everything they need in one application. It offers portable GPS locating and photo emailing, which is great for general communication or for when you’re lost.
• Bowers Technologies, Inc. has introduced iWatch USA 1.0, their new threat awareness and prevention application for iPhone and iPod Touch. Designed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s unique abilities, iWatch USA serves to empower citizens to help make their community safe from potential terrorist activities. It identifies nine different types of suspicious behavior and activities, a checklist of items to provide law enforcement, as well as helps determine the appropriate entity to contact.
• Happymagenta has announced Spyglass 1.2, an update to their popular digital compass and HUD display for iPhone 3GS devices. Developed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s unique capabilities, Spyglass turns any 3GS iPhone into a real-time digital spyglass and heads-up display with a live compass, GPS information, as well as tilt horizon—right over the live feed from the built-in camera or a map. Version 1.2 adds new overlay filters for cool military-styled effects and auto-rotated maps.
• Marware has announced the SportShell Convertible carrying solution for the iPod nano 5G is now shipping. The SportShell Convertible for iPod nano 5G is 3 cases in 1 and merges versatility with elegant, cross-functional design in a single product. The clear polycarbonate shell has a smooth finish, and by using interchangeable parts, the SportShell Convertible offers a full range of carrying options.
• VenticentoStudio has released iAccounts 1.1, a revolutionary password manager for iPhone and iPod touch. iAccount’s flexy-record technology allows users to customize each record on their needs. iAccount also features high-speed integration with the company’s free iBackup application providing backup and restore over wi-fi networks, for Mac and Windows. The software comes with 20 different field types and with flexy-record technology users can even add their own.
• DigitalDeejay has announced Mix.Dj for iPhone and iPod touch. Mix.Dj gives you access to thousands of mixes from DJ’s around the World in one click. Listen to more than 15,000 mixes straight from your iPhone, streaming whenever and wherever you want, all via WiFi or 3G. Choose from 16 pre-programmed moods and genres; One choice and Mix.Dj takes care of the playlist for you. Mix.Dj allows you to create your own playlist simply by selecting your favorite mixes for playback.
• Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced the Harry Potter: Spells app is now available from the App Store. The app, based on the Harry Potter films, will transform Muggles everywhere into fledgling wizards, casting spells at their opponents to stun them with Stupefy! or disarm them with Expelliarmus! The Harry Potter: Spells app is the only official Harry Potter game available on the App Store.
• Finally there’s a way to scientifically measure a person’s attractiveness and all it takes is a photograph and an iPhone. Fit or Fugly allows iPhone users to calculate how attractive a face is. The application uses Fibonnaci’s golden ratio, which is based on symmetries via key anchor points on a human face: eyes, ears, chin, mouth and nose. Symmetry has been accepted as the measurement to discover a human’s attractiveness.
• Auman Software has announced zooSpelling Preschool 1.0, their latest educational application for iPhone and iPod touch. Designed to support early literacy achievement, zooSpelling is an interactive game that teaches preschool and kindergarten-aged children how to read, spell, and pronounce more than 130 high-frequency sight words. The application has 18 different zoo animals that correspond to the 18 levels of spelling difficulty.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Provides: Writing/drawing tablet functionality on your MacBook multi-touch trackpad
Format: Download
Developer: Ten One Design
Minimum System Requirements: MacBook with multitouch (or a Wacom tablet), Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Pogo Sketch (or similar soft-tip touch device
Price: $6.95
Availability: Now
Version Reviewed: 1.4

This is certainly an odd little program. Its complete reason for being is to increase the functionality of Ten One Design’s Pogo Sketch, a soft-tip touch device designed mainly for iPhone use. Why would you want such a pen? Well, so you can use your iPhone while wearing gloves, to prevent your screen from getting greasy, for increased precision when typing, and so on. But Autograph has nothing to do with the iPhone. Rather, this application turns the Pogo Sketch into a MacBook peripheral.

Launching the app reveals a small gray box.

Using the Pogo Sketch, you can now doodle on your MacBook multi-touch trackpad. Draw a little picture, if you like, but the main selling point here is the ability to quickly and easily add your signature to a document. Well, somewhat easily, anyway. The software lags behind your pen stroke, and looking at the screen while signing on the trackpad is a bit awkward. So although you can sign your name, it’ll be a pretty clumsy autograph you’re sending out there.

There are a few preferences you can tweak, such as the stroke width and writing velocity, and you can choose to have your signature/drawing saved as a PNG or PDF to the desk or automatically added to the currently active program.

Launching Autograph doesn’t pop up the interface. Rather it simply places it in the menu bar for you to activate via the mouse or a keystroke combo. I found it useful to have the app launch on startup, but even that’s not necessary if you rarely use it. Either after you add your signature, the program fades back into the background or you can just shut it down altogether.

So, how often do you need to sign computer documents? Do you already have a Pogo Sketch? Do you have a Wacom tablet that provides this functionality, more or less? These are all questions you have to ask yourself when considering whether you need Autograph. It’s a decent app at a great price and it does exactly what it says it will, albeit in a sloppy fashion. I don’t mean that Autograph itself is sloppy; it’s actually quite clean and streamlined. Rather, using this method, it’s hard to not be sloppy when trying to sign your name. Thankfully, you can at least indicate whether you’re right or left handed, and have the app ignore hand placement if you actually brush the touchpad with your palm.

If you’ve got a Pogo Sketch and a MacBook, you may as well grab Autograph. It’s only $7.00, after all. But I wouldn’t use this as incentive to buy a Pogo Sketch unless you know you’ll get touch device use out of it, too. (And you will, if you have an iPhone or iPod touch; the Pogo Sketch is quite a handy little device.)

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Provides: Word processing
Developer: Hog Bay Software
Minimum Requirements: Mac OS X
Cost: $24.95 (30 day free trial available)
Availability: Now

Word processing was the original “killer app” of the personal computer. For those of you over the age of twenty, be glad you never knew a world where you had to type important documents (term papers, etc.) and making a mistake meant retyping the whole page (Liquid Paper being akin to spray painting over a dent in your car and convincing yourself no one would notice.

Still, just because computers made editing simpler doesn’t mean that writing comes any easier. In fact with wireless networking and the rise of social media, it’s become harder as there are more distractions to pull you away from the page. “I think I’ll just pop over to Wikipedia to check out this topic. Wonder if there’s any e-mail. Oh, hey I just got an @reply on Twitter.” It’s easy to lose your focus.

WriteRoom is a simple word processor: so simple, in fact, that all you can do is write because it takes over your entire screen, with your text floating in the middle of it. Other applications are hidden in the background. WriteRoom features two modes: plain and rich text. In the latter you can bold, underline and italicize, as well as set color and fonts. But I prefer the default plain text interface; it’s totally Spartan and truly gives you no distraction, no mental offramps from getting your words down quickly and efficiently. Other viewing options include seeing invisible characters (like spaces and paragraph marks), and wrapping your words per page (which adds a border if page count is part of your goal). Dropping your cursor to the bottom of the screen gives you a word count. You can also configure the text and background color, the scale, and the font itself to whatever size is more comfortable for you.

Once you’re done writing, you exit the fullscreen mode by hitting Escape or Command+Enter. Your document is presented in a more conventional SimpleText-like window where you could copy it into another word processor for final formatting (like, say, Final Draft for Screenwriting).

As a word processor, WriteRoom doesn’t offer anything that you can’t get for free—but as soon as I tell my friends who are or want to be professional writers about how it takes over the whole screen and helps lock out distractions, their eyes light up. Is that worth $24.95? You’ll answer that yourself with either a puzzled look or a “God, yes!” For me, it was very much the latter.

WriteRoom may be based around a gimmick, but it’s a really good one. Someone once said “A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” I can’t remember who it was exactly.*  Maybe I’ll just pop over to Google to find out. Oh, hey, look a whole website of quotes about writing. I think I’ll just spend a few minutes here before I really buckle down and finish these projects that need my attention. Oh, hey, a friend of mine just popped up on Facebook…

*Thomas Mann

Full Story » | Written by Bill Stiteler for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Apple is trying to make it even easier for people to get involved in the iTunes ecosystem and enjoy the content available on the service. They have now launched a web based sort of iTunes Store that they are calling iTunes Preview. This system allows users who don’t have iTunes installed on their computer to still discover content shared through iTunes links.

While these links would normally either a.) open iTunes on the users computer if it was installed, or b.) have the user install iTunes first if it wasn’t installed, users who don’t have it installed will now be able to view the content in their browser first. To me, this is very valuable as it allows users quick access to the content without having to wait for a download and install of iTunes.

For now, it appears as if online based viewing is strictly for music if you want the details. For instance, clicking a song will give the user a list of all the other songs on the album as well as links to purchase all of them in iTunes. However, clicking on a movie or app simply takes the user to the original page that then redirects them to iTunes as usual. However, some of them do show an icon or other graphic of the media that was trying to be accessed.

If you want to get a glance of what this looks like, scroll to the bottom of Apple’s iTunes page and check it out for yourself.

Product [iTunes]

Full Story » | Written by Josh Holat for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 13, 2009:

Macintosh

• Mac Games and More has announced the release of a new Mac game called United States of Pool, which is a set of billiards game that allows you to travel across American stopping off in various cities to play a match of 9-Ball pool and more. In order to advance to the next city, players are required to earn a minimum number of points and win the game against their opponent.

iPhone/iPod

• Gee Logic Software Co., LTD has released Video Poker: Jacks or Better 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Video Poker is a simulation of video poker machines featured in casinos. It is based on Jacks or Better variant. Video Poker is a casino card game based on Five-card draw poker first appeared in the mid-70s, and has been popular among casinos throughout the world since. If you’re a Video Poker fan, this will be a perfect companion for your iPhone and iPod touch.
• 24x7digital today has introduced TeachMe: Kindergarten 1.0, their new children’s learning game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. TeachMe: Kindergarten is an educational app which teaches four different age appropriate subjects to kindergarten aged children: sight words, addition, subtraction and spelling. Parents can select which subjects they want, set different difficulty levels, and even choose specific questions.
• Clickgamer’s Genius Defense Force—a brain-training game for iPhone and iPod touch—is now available on the App Store. In Genius Defense Force, players must add, subtract, multiply and divide their way to victory. The full campaign offers 30 action-packed levels appealing to contestants of any age and skill level, with players receiving a performance grade after every stage.
• Plaid World Studios has announced the release of Mouse House 1.1.5 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Use your environment to block stingers and wind your way to the top of the house. Guide the heroic Mouse through 57 levels of challenging and addictive puzzle fun. Mouse House has been continually updated since it’s initial release, adding new levels and user requested features. The most recent update added music, a level select screen and multiple save slots.
• Marware has announced the Eco-Runner armband case for iPod nano 5G. The Eco-Runner is the newest addition to our environmentally friendly cases for the iPod nano 5G. The Eco-Runner keeps your iPod secure, provides comfort for an active lifestyle, and helps reduce your carbon footprint. The Eco-Runner is available in black, blue and pink Eco-Prene and comes with Marware’s Lifetime Warranty.
• Dan Russell-Pinson has announced Furballs! 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Furballs! is an addictive new game that combines two popular game genres of path-drawing and match three into one package. It features original music, sound effects and over 150 levels of ever increasing difficulty. Using the familiar tap and draw control system, you must guide the colorful furballs through space to make matches.
• David Ross Software has announced Whimsy Animals 1.0, a simple kids jigsaw puzzle game for iPhone and iPod touch. Explore sixty beautiful animal photos and sounds by completing simple jigsaw puzzles. Practice hand-eye coordination, recognize shapes, and learn about scale while unveiling a world of animals, domestic and wild, baby and adult - all with their fun and unique sounds. Great to play with your kid or to give them for a plane or car ride or at a restaurant.
• PerfectTune is the latest guitar tuner to hit the iTunes AppStore. The team at 31tone Research and Development have rethought the concept of a tuner for stringed instruments from the ground up, creating a custom ultra fast pitch detection algorithm, especially suited for strings and a revolutionary user interface, that not only shows an overview of all strings at the same time, but also allows easy use of a wealth of different tunings.
• Alakazapps has announced Magic Beer Bottle 1.0, a beer simulator that literally comes off the screen. After demonstrating what looks like a normal iPhone ‘beer app’, the performer of the trick can literally pluck the top off the bottle—it becomes real in their fingertips. Beer simulators have existed since the dawn of the App Store, Magic Beer Bottle takes the concept to the next level.
• Freeverse’s Flick Fishing has been updated to version 1.4.1. Announced for the anniversary of the popular virtual fishing game’s release, the newest update introduces a limited-time Cake celebration and is available this weekend for 99c! In addition, Flick Fishing now works seamlessly with Plus+ integration and introduces recapture of Named fish for endless challenges.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

The way we consume and watch our media has certainly changed drastically over the past few years with the advent of technologies such as YouTube and Hulu. Also on the forefront of that market is Boxee, and they’ve now announced plans to become even more of a competitor in this industry. On their company blog, Boxee wrote they officially signed their “first partnership with a CE company,” and although they can’t announce any specifics about the partner or product specs, they promise it’s happening. They also wrote, “We will show mockups of the box and share more details at our upcoming Boxee Beta Unveiling event in Brooklyn, NY on Dec 7th.” That will definitely be one to watch.

Overall their post sounds extremely optimistic and determined to finally bring a box solution to your living room that will make watching Internet TV both easy and awesome. For example, their self proclaimed goal is “to be on every Connected device in the living room” whether or not “it’s on a Connected TV, game console, set-top box, BluRay player, computer, etc.” Sign me up!

Via [Boxee Blog]

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Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 12, 2009:

Macintosh

• Wondershare Software has issued its first professional audio/video converting software—iPhone Ringtone Maker for Mac—which is specialized in making free iPhone ringtones. Its simplicity and powerful functions will benefit Mac users by creating special, personalized, free ringtones that cannot be done in iTunes.
• RAGE Software has announced WebCrusher 1.6, a major update to the website optimizer for Mac OS X. WebCrusher is a utility for anyone to reduce their website’s load time, providing a better experience for their visitors and customers. WebCrusher scans entire websites to intelligently remove all unneeded code, making websites load as fast as possible in a web browser. Now users can simply drop their website onto WebCrusher and let it quickly remove all unneeded code from their webpages.
• Minder Softworks has announced MYStuff 1.2, an update to their handy “stuff manager” for OS X. MYStuff was developed to help people eliminate the paperwork clutter associated with the things they own, and take advantage of manufacturer’s warranties. User can store information about the things they own as images, PDFs, and as manually-entered data. Version 1.2 adds an iPhoto browser palette and improved performance for large databases.
• One of Snow Leopard’s new features is the integration with most current scanners. That means Mac users no longer need to install custom software to use their scanner. What’s the benefit for Prizmo 1.2 users? From now on, they can combine their scanner with Prizmo’s image processing features and the OCR engine supporting 10 languages. Everything is integrated.
• KeynotePro has announced the introduction of Copenhagen for Keynote ‘09. Copenhagen was designed from the ground up to balance high-impact, aggressively modern styling with a restrained sense of order. We began with a fractal-inspired foundation - extrusions of color and shape that explore symmetry and chaos through the use of implied space - and explored the interplay of narrative elements within to create a distinctively playful design with an unmistakably professional edge.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced PDF Checkpoint 1.1.3, an update to its PDF workflow automation solution. Remarkably fast, PDF Checkpoint preflights, exports as images, splits and reduces size of multiple PDF files, and allows to route files according to preflight results. PDF Checkpoint is for users who need a fast and affordable workflow solution in situations where hi-end tools are not required. The new version introduces support for Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

iPhone/iPod

• Hunter Research and Technology has announced Cover Match 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Cover Match is a mesmerizing new match game that uses album art from a user’s music library. Using a classic arcade format, Cover Match starts off slow with just a few album covers to match, then heats up with unlimited levels of randomly sorted cover art. Cover Match offers billions of memory-testing game possibilities.
• MobilEaZe, LLC has announced PayItForward 1.3 for iPhone and iPod Touch. PayItForward is a one of kind application helping to spread some kindness in our world. The application utilizes the Apple Push Notification System to provide users with weekly random acts of kindness designed to be simple, fun, and sure to brighten a strangers day. Users can track their progress directly from within the application by marking tasks as completed.
• Embraceware Software has announced Awaken 1.2, an update to their popular digital alarm clock, sleep timer, fullscreen clock and flashlight for for iPhone and iPod touch. Wake up to music on your iPhone or iPod touch or any of the dozen built in sounds. Set the volume and screen brightness to slowly fade in to ease you out of sleep. Choose from a selection of 6 fullscreen clock styles. Works great as a night table or desk clock. Supports both portrait and landscape modes.
• Byte Squared has announced Files2, its file manager application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Files2 enables users to transfer files between their iPhone and a desktop computer and view them from within the Files2 app. It also provides tight integration with Google Docs and MobileMe iDisk. Users may create local folders and organize their files by copying or moving them between folders. Files and folders may be transferred between the iPhone and a desktop computer over the local wifi network.
• Penpower Inc. has announced WorldCard Mobile 1.0 their new business card reader for iPhone devices. WorldCard Mobile is a business card recognition system and contact management tool for the iPhone 3GS. It instantly recognizes the captured data from business cards and sorts it into organized fields. The new technology also allows for higher quality images than previously possible, thanks to the auto-focus and high resolution camera that is currently available only in the iPhone 3GS.
• TapMode has announced Battery Gauge 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Battery Gauge takes into account all of a user’s normal iPhone or iPod Touch activities. Each task uses a different amount of charge and Battery Gauge intuitively figures it out. Battery Gauge knows how long an individual needs for each task and gives accurate estimates on whether or not the user has enough charge left to complete them.
• Livestream, a leading live Internet video platform, has announced the immediate availability of its free service for streaming live to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Using Livestream Procaster, users can stream live from their webcam, video camera or even broadcast their PC or Mac desktop. Livestream producers can start streaming live to the addressable iPhone and iPod Touch audience over 3G or Wi-Fi connections, with less than five minutes of setup.
• Freeverse has released the first update to the helpful iPhone and iPod Touch magnifying app, Eye Glasses. The app will now feature a new, sleeker frame with capability to rotate between landscape and portrait modes.
• WebIS has announced the release of DeepFish 1.5, a unique email search application for the iPhone. DeepFish has one simple purpose; search your IMAP-based email accounts easily and quickly. DeepFish is fast, memory efficient, and is designed to behave properly in high latency EDGE and 3G networks. DeepFish provides a very simple interface, yet offers options that let you customize its behavior to your needs. Reply, Forward, Flag emails. See all your flagged emails in one search.
• Two new ebooks in the Take Control series—“Take Control of Your iPhone Apps” and “Take Control of iPhone OS 3”—provide an in-depth look at the iPhone and its core apps. These practical, hands-on guides walk readers through the most effective ways to use numerous features and help readers avoid problems. Most of the information is also applicable to the iPod touch, and the differences are called out. “Take Control of Your iPhone Apps” lists for $10; “Take Control of iPhone OS 3” lists for $15. Both books are available from individually and in a discounted bundle.
• Sunstorm Interactive has announced the launch of their new iPhone and iPod Touch game: Rescue Razzle. In Rescue Razzle, players are challenged to rescue the helpless little Rat named Razzle that has found himself locked in a cage at the top of a stack of wooden crates. The mission is to break the wooden crates one after another, lowering Razzle safely to the ground!
• Highway to Health has announced mPassport Paris, a new iPhone application that helps English-speaking expatriates and travelers access medical care in Paris. It was developed in-house at HTH Worldwide, a global health and safety services company.
• Cardo Systems, Inc., a market leader in the field of wireless Bluetooth communications for motorcycle helmet headsets, has announced the launch of its new product: the Scala Rider Q2 Multiset. The Multiset retail box includes two ready-to-use, enhanced Scala Rider Q2 wireless headsets for hands-free and safe bike-to-bike communication (up to 500m/1640ft) as well as for hands-free conversations when paired with mobile phones.
• Toughturtle LLC has released FirePlace 3.0, an update to their hit utility app for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and was selected by Apple as an iTunes Staff Favorite. FirePlace is the go-to App for an instant romantic setting on that special date, to relax on a cold fall/winter night, or whenever. FirePlace is a virtual fire for your iPhone or iPod touch, but with a whole host of new features to give users a more customized and relaxing experience.
• Glazed eyes…flushed cheeks…soulful sighs…Yes! It’s someone enjoying a little romance. But on the subway? Now that ebooks are migrating to portable devices like Amazon’s Kindle and Sony’s Digital Reader, romance is read on the go just about anywhere you have time to kill. Even Apple has turned its ubiquitous iPhone into a reader by offering books as Apps. And romance fiction readers seem to love it.
• Vitaliy Pronkin has announced availability of FingerDancer 1.3 for iPhone and iPod Touch. FingerDancer is very simple yet addictive fast paced game. The goal of the game is to touch colored circles continuously appearing and disappearing on the screen. Different types of circles require touching them differently to score points. And the faster player reacts and more objects touches at the same time, the more points he gets.
• With simple gameplay, Miniheli is one of those games made to keep your fingers stuck on the touchscreen for a long time. The objective is simple. Just keep your heli up in the air without crashing into the rocks, manage your fuel, and gather some refills along the way in order to go as far as possible. Or as far as your skill lets you go.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

MacHeist, purveyors of the popular MacHeist Bundle, have a smaller yet sweeter deal available for today (Thursday, Nov. 12th) only: six applications available free of charge when you register with their site.

The applications are:

• Shovebox by Wonder Warp Software, an app for quickly storing “text, images, URLs, and more.”
• Write Room by Hog Bay Software, a full-screen writing application designed to reduce distractions.
• Twitteriffic by IconFactory, the premium (ad-free) version of the popular Twitter client.
• TinyGrab, a screenshot utility.
• Hordes of Orcs by Freeverse Software, a tower defense game.
• Mariner Write by Mariner Software, a word processor with the ability to open Word documents.

As of this writing, the applications are free for the next 5 hours, which puts the expiration at about 11pm, EST.

Download the MacHeist nano bundle.

Full Story » | Written by Bill Stiteler for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 11, 2009:

Macintosh

• Ohanaware has announced HDRtist 1.1, a free update to their HDR Photography software for Mac OS X. HDRtist creates HDR photos and tone maps them in a single step. Its workflow has been designed to be effortless in operation, and to provide visually pleasing results. Version 1.1 not only includes some bug fixes, speed gains but also Automatic Image Alignment. HDRtist is a great tool to have for dramatizing dull photos, livening dark photos and much more.
• iPresentee has released Keynote Motion Themes 8.0 for Apple’s Keynote presentation software. New Keynote themes package includes: Brilliance, Shining Waves, DNA Chain, Space Drops and Live Mosaic themes. Each theme consists of different high quality animated backgrounds and features up to 22 different layout schemes. Creating the right design is the first step to a perfect presentation. These templates can be used for business presentations, slideshows, seminars, and for school lectures.
• be.ez has announced the LE rush notebook bag collection custom-fit for MacBook Pro 13.3” and 15.4” models. The LE rush features a lightweight, slim, and stylish design available in 3 color choices: LE rush Black Coffee, LE rush Lime Park, and LE rush Lagoon Dream.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced BatchOutput DOC 2.0.6, an update to its popular output automation solution for Microsoft Word on Mac OS X. In addition to batch printing, the software allows to carry out powerful professional PDF production directly from Word eliminating the need for time consuming post-processing. Users can split Word documents into single PDF files, reduce file size and optimize resolution and compression. The new version introduces support for Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

iPhone/iPod

• Spinal Apps has announced Pairopix, a customizable game of matched pairs. This take on the ubiquitous game of concentration adds a personal touch with customizable image sets from your iPhone / iPod Touch Photo Albums and/or your iPhone’s camera. Pairopix taps into two favorite pastimes; games that challenge your mind, and looking at your own photo albums. Whether you’re riding the subway or waiting for an appointment, time flies when you’re matching up pix of your kids, your pets, or…? Get creative with up to 20 custom image sets to go with the 4 standard sets that Pairopix provides.
• Insurgent Games has announced that Skeleton Key, a unique iPhone puzzler, has been updated and is available in the App Store today. The update includes OpenFeint integration, bringing global leaderboards and achievements to the game, and it now has support for iPhone OS 2.2.1, for iPod Touch users who haven’t upgraded.
• Intego has released their important November 11, 2009 Security Memo. Intego has identified this as iPhone/Privacy.A, allowing hackers to connect to any jailbroken iPhone whose owners have not changed the root password. Hackers using this tool will install it on a computer, then let it work. It scans the network accessible to it, and when it finds a jailbroken iPhone, breaks into it, then steals data and records it.
• Galarina has released free versions of GeoLogTag and PhotoToMac for iPhone and iPod Touch. GeoLogTag offers an all-in-one geotagging solution for photos taken with any digital camera. GeoLogTag Free keeps logged locations for 2 hours instead of 90 days. PhotoToMac transfers photos taken with an iPhone and saved photos over WiFi to a Mac shared folder. PhotoToMac Free transfers the photos with a lower resolution than the full version.
• Man0mio has announced the re-launch of the Commodore 64 Emulator, developed in corporation between Manomio, Commodore Gaming and Kiloo ApS. It features original Commodore 64 game graphics and SID sound, auto-save, realistic joystick and beautifully crafted C64 keyboard, portrait and landscape play, vertical and fullscreen gaming (auto rotate for iPod users), unique retro-feeling gameplay, and eight classic games with more on the way.
• Noidentity has announced MoneyBook, the simple and elegant way to track and manage your finances on the iPhone and iPod touch. MoneyBook provides your budget at a glance, and expense tracking at your fingertips.
• PressOK Entertainment has announced the first major update for the America’s Next Top Model iPhone game. Based on the wildly popular and long-running reality show, America’s Next Top Model is the trendiest title on the App Store, packed with fresh and exciting competitions for hours of on-the-go entertainment.
• 2XL Games has announced that both of their award-winning mobile offroad racing games have received updates. 2XL ATV Offroad has been upgraded to version 1.01 and 2XL Supercross has been upgraded to version 1.1 and both continue to feature incredible graphics, tight controls and dirt-shredding action.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 10, 2009:

Macintosh

• Pangea Software, Inc., has announced the release of Bracketeer 4, the latest version of their popular photo Enfusing application for Mac OS X. Bracketeer is a utility for photographers who take multiple “bracketed” exposures of a scene in order to capture a more complete range of shading in their photographs. Traditionally, bracketed exposures are used to create High Dynamic Range (HDR) images that can be Tone Mapped down to an image that a computer monitor can display. Tone Mapping is a slow and cumbersome process which usually results in somewhat surrealistic images.  Bracketeer, however, provides an alternate method to Tone Mapping called “Enfusing,” Enfused images are created directly from the bracketed source images, so no HDR image is ever created.  The results are much more realistic than Tone Mapped images, and processing time is much faster.
• Indev software has released MiniMail 2.0 with Snow Leopard support and new flexible miniature windows features. Indev has worked hard to prepare MiniMail for Snow Leopard and implement new features. We are excited about developing MiniMail further and are certain that our current and future improvements will make MiniMail an even more essential part of streamlining your time managing email with Apple’s Mail.app.
• The Enterprise Desktop Alliance has announced an ongoing series to help enterprise IT departments integrate Macs with their Windows Server-based environments. The webcasts cover Mac integration topics at a level that is useful for administrators and managers and helps them to set strategy and to implement tactical solutions. Subsequent webcasts will address topics that were identified by the IT community as important issues in Mac integration.
• Emantras is giving away an Apple Magic Mouse for the best quote for their game Lucky Me. Send in a quote which they can use to describe someone’s luck. The whackiest and funniest one will get the reward.
• Jumsoft has released Keynote Backgrounds FX 4.0, a collection of 35 skillfully crafted motion backgrounds for Apple’s presentation software. Devised to enhance presentations and set a desirable mood, Keynote Backgrounds subjects vary from futuristic imagery and lab utensils to flashes of lights and splashes of color. Keynote Backgrounds FX movies are prepared for looping to allow infinite playback for all backgrounds.
• Group Logic has announced MassTransit 6.1, an easy-to-use file transfer solution, a powerful tool for high volume transfers and automated tools for system-to-system file transfers. MassTransit provides a single tool for defining and enforcing file transfer access rights and for monitoring all file transmissions. Version 6.1 includes a new, easy-to-use web portal for occasional users, a completely redesigned user interface for power users and a number of new enterprise infrastructure features.
• Maintain has announced Cocktail 4.6.1 (Snow Leopard Edition), the latest maintenance update of Cocktail for users running Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. This version addresses an issue in which Cocktail may unexpectedly quit while clearing Mac OS X 10.6.2 system caches. The update is highly recommended for all users of Cocktail (Snow Leopard Edition). Cocktail is an award winning general purpose utility for Mac OS X.
• Tyme Machines, makers of licensed USB drives, has announced the release of its Series 1 sculpted 3D Star Wars character USB thumb drives.  The drives are sculpted replicas of Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Storm Trooper and Yoda.  Available for sale now, they range from 4GB to 16GB for $29.99 to $59.99.
• Vestax and algoriddim today announced the release of Spin, a brand new all-in-one bundle of digital DJ hardware and algoriddim’s djay 3 software. djay 3 seamlessly integrates with the user’s iTunes library and transforms the Mac into a complete DJ setup, while Vestax’s hardware replicates the control and physical sensation of mixing and scratching on actual records. The bundling of Vestax’s DJ MIDI controller and algoriddim’s djay 3 provides a powerful solution for all DJs, from beginner to pro.
• Today, Withings has announced Twitter integration into its first-of-its-kind WiFi Body Scale. As the world’s first WiFi connected personal weight scale, it automatically records the user’s body weight, lean & fat mass, and calculated body mass index (BMI) to their secure webpage and/or free Withings iPhone application, WiScale. Now, with this new added feature, users can set up alerts to automatically post their updates to Twitter accounts, further motivating them by sharing their progress with followers.
• The Scout Laptop Shoulder Bag is the perfect combination of style and function—a rugged and sophisticated multi-purpose laptop shoulder bag that’s perfect for work and play. Get back to basics with scout- one click of the heavy duty buckle gives you access to the laptop section (with a secure flap), your documents and folders, utility pockets for accessories and a secure zippered pocket for a wallet, mobile or iPod. Water resistant, light weight canvas gives scout a rugged look and feel and STM’s new shoulder padding gives a comfortable carrying experience, even when the bag is full to the brim.Scout’s laptop section is made from high density padding and cushioned felt lining, so your laptop is as secure inside the bag as you are wearing it.
• Combine style and function with STM’s Latte Laptop Shoulder Bag, a slim, chic shoulder bag designed to cushion your laptop as you carry it from anywhere to everywhere. Latte protects your laptop from the inside out. Internally it’s surrounded with cushioned felt and high density padding; from the outside it’s disguised in a sleek, contemporary shoulder bag. A zippered pocket has space for a wallet and phone, and other external pockets allow for cables, papers and essentials.

iPhone/iPod

• Jelly Car 2 [iTunes App Store link], the sequel to the top downloaded driving platform game, launched this weekend and already has skyrocketed to the number one paid App position on iTunes. What’s new for Jelly Car 2? The beloved squishy car is back with more than 30 new levels, new power-ups and three new modes. Jelly Car 2 also features a new custom level editor for creating your own puzzles complete with ramps, wheels, levers and more, in addition to new Sticky Wheels for driving up walls and a Balloon Ability for floating out of trouble.
• Go!TOKYO provides train map, exit information, Google Maps, off-line maps (English and Japanese) for certain areas and information on which train car to get on to get to the nearest exit and transfer points. It covers all the subway stations and JR Yamanote Line.
• Outside Ventures has announced Beauty Minder 1.0, their new beauty organizer for iPhone and iPod Touch. Beauty Minder enables you to take complete control of all your beauty events. Never miss an appointment, while maintaining all key contacts in one beautiful place. Features include Google maps, direct dial and email, expense tracking, reminders, and calendar function. Beauty Minder is fully customizable to enable you to track other events, including health, wellness, and fitness.
• Just in time for the holiday season gift rush, yoox.com has announced the launch of a new iPhone app, an interactive mobile shopping application available for free via Apple’s App Store. The new application, Yoox.com Style Gift Guide, was developed in-house by Yoox Group’s Technology team and offers consumers the chance to explore yoox.com’s selection of fashion & design gifts anytime, anywhere, and ship gifts to friends and family worldwide. This is the second foray for yoox.com into the world of mobile e-commerce, after the successful launch of yoox.com web fashion shopping application for iPhone and Android in April.
• The Dropbox iPhone app can now be yours (for free) from the App Store. It’s now 3.0 compatible too! Also in the works is an update to the app that includes optional passcode locking, better handling of images and more. For all you non-iPhone users, fear not! They’ve got some more mobile magic on the way.
• Tumble Jumble [iTunes App Store link] has launched onto Apple’s App Store for iPhone and iPod touch! The game is a colorful physics-based puzzler, with players employed by the Intergalactic Rodent Removal Company. Defy the laws of physics to rotate and drop a variety of block-shaped rodents into containers while avoiding lasers and dangerous enemy critters. Further amazing physics-altering power-ups will keep you on your toes! Cut-scenes and stylish vector animations reveal Tumble Jumble’s madcap storyline throughout more than 60 challenging levels.
• Sunstorm Interactive has announced WW2 Beachhead 1.0, their fast-action arcade game iPhone and iPod touch game. WW2 Beachhead features amazing graphics and dynamic war-time sound effects in which players have to defend their position against overwhelming enemies. Players must use precise aim and fast reflexes to suppress the attacking waves and win the chance to fight another day.
• Just in time for the holiday season, Broken Thumbs Apps has announced that Santa’s Run is now available in the iTunes App Store! Easy to learn, but difficult to master, Santa’s Run will be sure to get you into the holiday spirit and bring you hours of joy as you help Santa deliver presents across the globe. And, while playing the game, enjoy our original, catchy Holiday jingles and colorful backgrounds.
• Griffin Technology Inc., has announced a collaboration with Chilewich l Sultan LLC, the design innovator of modern vinyl textiles. The result is a collection of accessories, co-branded: Griffin + Chilewich.
• Aboveground Systems has announced the arrival of DaVinci’s Secret Machines on the iTunes App Store. The unique puzzle game challenges players to piece together a variety of the famed artist’s original designs, and features multiple solutions for every level. With its emphasis on imaginative play, puzzle gamers, creative types and inventive “tinker-ers” will all enjoy this title.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 9, 2009:

Macintosh

• Conceited Software has announced HealthNut 1.0, a diet aid and calorie tracking application for Mac OS X. HealthNut comes with thousands of built-in food items, each with predefined nutrients and energy values. Browsing this huge database is as easy as opening the HealthNut bar and typing a few characters. HealthNut remembers everything you’ve eaten and lets you review diet changes by jumping days, or years, back.
• Independent game developer Enkord, Ltd. has announced Zodiac Tower 1.91, its new action puzzle game for Mac OS X. Zodiac Tower is a unique match-3 puzzle game. Uncover the secrets of ancient Zodiac Tower and solve all of its fascinating puzzles. Explore a just uncovered ancient continent searching for valuable treasures and Relics. Zodiac Tower features 2 game modes, includes over 100 mysterious levels with 10 Mechanism parts to uncover.
• Geeksuit has announced Client Folder Maker 3.5, a significant update to their popular folder creation and management utility for Mac OS X. Client Folder Maker is a simple to use, general purpose folder creation and management tool for the busy desktop publisher, prepress operator or web designer. It allows the user to set up a hierarchy of folders once, then re-create that hierarchy anywhere in the filesystem with just a few clicks from the Finder.
• Disk Doctors has announced that its Norcross, GA Data Recovery Center is offering a flat rate for one week only. Any Hard drive shipped directly to or dropped off at their Norcross, GA lab will benefit from this steeply discounted special. This Super Special does not vary with drive size, operating system, or type of drive problem. Offer is good only at Disk Doctors, Norcross, GA Service Center.
• XChange UK has announced a new unprecedented promotion which offers users of any other 3D software product the opportunity to own the powerful, new Strata Design 3D CX. The offer gives users the chance to move to 3D design with an affordable and intuitive solution. With an interface that Adobe users will recognise, Design 3D connects to a user’s creative toolset with links to Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash.
• Reggie Ashworth has announced AppDelete 3.0.1, an update to his popular application deletion utility for Mac OS X. With a simple Drag & Drop, AppDelete will uninstall anything along with all of the associated items. Mac users will no longer have to hunt through their system to find and delete these items manually. AppDelete is a must-have utility for beta testers and the perfect companion to any Mac fanatic’s toolbox.
• The Mac Sale’s latest bundle comes to a close on the 13th, so this is your last chance to get an amazing bundle for a silly price. The apps in this bundle are HoudahGeo, MacJournal, CrossOver Games, Picturesque, Morph Age Regular, Searchlight, Vinoteka, iMaginator, Opacity Express and Stor. Read interviews with the 10 developers involved in this bundle and check out the rest of the software in the deal.
• Online video tutorial site MacSupportCasts is excited to celebrate their streamlined, easily navigated new look by giving away a free membership each week until the end of the year, plus a 32gb iPod Touch, a 16gb iPod Nano, a iTunes gift certificate, and two serial numbers for 1Password from Agile Web Solutions. According to Lead Caster Larry Pollock, MacSupportCasts’ easy-to-use video tutorials just got even easier to use, thanks to the recent homepage redesign.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced BatchOutput Server 4.2.4, an update to its output workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. Originally developed for a major publisher in the U.S., the software automates InDesign output by processing files from hotfolders. BatchOutput Server offloads printing and exporting to PDF and PostScript to a central system leaving operator workstations free from the output process. The new update adds support for Snow Leopard and improves error reporting.

iPhone/iPod

• Zurich-based cyclus.ch has announced WorkLog 2.1, an update to their popular time tracking utility for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Designed specifically to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique capabilities and interface, WorkLog is a powerful and easy-to-use time tracking tool. It supports user definable custom fields for each category, client or project. Logging time with WorkLog can be as simple as pressing Start to initiate a task and pressing Stop when done.
• Muli Mobile has announced Snob-O-Meter 1.0, the social personality test for iPhone and iPod touch. Snob-O-Meter is a personality test designed to poke fun at the egos of users and their friends. Do you have Facebook friends who aren’t real friends? Do you tailgate others unprovoked? Users are scored based on their answers to questions. Users can also rig the test for their friends to expose those who deserve it!
• Very Alien Productions has introduced Geometrics 1.0, their new geometry education and productivity app for iPhone and iPod touch. Designed specifically to leverage the iPhone interface, Geometrics is a powerful tool to construct and then calculate the area and perimeter of both regular and irregular two-dimensional shapes. Geometrics joins Very Alien’s very successful first app, Trigonomics, which is currently featured on the App Store in the New and Noteworthy section.
• Nor Eagle has announced Insulting Monk 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Insulting Monk features a hand-animated monk delivering humorous insults whenever he is touched. It is also possible to give the monk a smacking when you’ve had enough of his venomous tongue. Users can now carry an insult-spewing monk with them at all times. The app is classified as an entertainment app and the title character is eager to share his insults with anyone willing to part with their hard earned buck.
• Coresoft has announced Blood Beach 1.0, a simulated World War 2 game for iPhone and iPod Touch users. As much research as is humanly possible has gone into giving Blood Beach a true-life feel. Weapon firing, flight attack patterns, audio sounds, enemy behavior, ammunition and weaponry are all based on actual real life models. There are twenty different missions to be completed and users can keep track of their scores, as well as compete against others, online.
• Active Gaming Media Co., Ltd. has launched Barkeep 1.0, the new iPhone/iPod Touch app for drinkers. As a first-of-its-kind application, Barkeep has casual drinkers, recipe collectors and wine connoisseurs alike excited about the capabilities. With Barkeep, you can access a database of drinking recipes and add your own. Personalize it with your own photos, notes and dates.  Barkeep keeps track of all your drinking information in an easy-to-use format.
• Pingo, the prepaid international calling service from iBasis, has introduced Pingo EZ Dial, a new smartphone application that delivers automatic access to discount international calling rates for users of popular mobile devices including the iPhone, Blackberry, Treo and phones using operating systems such as Nokia Symbian, Windows Mobile and Google Android.
• Dive into a tranquil undersea environment with the newly updated iPhone application, MyReef 3D Aquarium. The new portrait display function allows users to view their fish tank vertically as well has horizontally. Paired with the ability to play music from the iTunes music library, the portrait setting enables users to watch beautiful tropical fish while listening to music on an iPhone docking station. The update also includes five exotic new fish species: the Threadfin Butterflyfish, Royal Gramma, Orange FireFish, Clown Trigger, and Porkfish. To celebrate the new update, MyReef 3D Aquarium will be available for a limited time for 99 cents in the iTunes App Store.
• Have you ever been involved in a steamy online romance? What would you do if your secret love letters were uncovered and published for the world to see? New media publishers First Fifteen are releasing the provocative e-mails of a true-life online love affair carried out 14-years ago during the advent of the Internet; published as a series of four tantalizing Appisodes to be enjoyed in the privacy of your own phone.
• M.O.C. Interior Designer, LLC has released Mark On Call 2.0 for the iPhone and iPod Touch, a major update to the incredibly popular interior design app. Now room designs can be published and stored on the Web where owners of the application can peruse the new Rooms Gallery, an aggregated area of all users’ published rooms. From directly inside the app, users can download, customize and apply the room designs of others to their own personal space.
• Bitnotic Mobile has announced Octavian 1.1.0, an update to their music theory app for iPhone and iPod touch. Octavian makes musical scales and chords instantly accessible to musicians of all skill levels. It is an essential musical reference tool for any musician, student, composer, songwriter, pianist, keyboard player, or hobbyist. Version 1.1.0 now features high-quality piano sound playback, so that users can listen to scales and chords as they explore them.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Not content with just one “weedy species” franchise in the form of The Sims, Electronic Arts now wants to take over your gaming garden with Spore. EA studio Maxis announced last week the open beta for Spore Islands on Facebook. Spore Islands invites Facebook users to experience the Spore universe in a new way by competing against each other in the “ultimate survival of the fittest game.”

Designed by Maxis and Wil Wright, Spore is a multi-genre single-player metaverse god game available for Windows and Macintosh, with variations available on the iPhone, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii and others. The Spore Islands version—set in a vibrant, playful 2D world—will follow the format of most Facebook games, in that it focuses on player-to-player interaction:

... users choose their own island to live on, create creatures and evolve them, invite friends to live on their island, and send their own creatures to friends’ islands, all in a quest to dominate as many islands as possible. In Spore Islands, much like in other Spore games, parts matter. Throughout the game, players can earn and purchase DNA points that they can use to modify their creature’s stats or customize their creature’s appearance with fun accessories such as hats, animations, holiday-themed items, and more. Players’ progress is tracked on both Global and a Friends-only leaderboards, which can be viewed by players and their friends, upping the ante in the race to the top of the food chain.

Caryl Shaw, senior producer of Spore Islands, doesn’t see this as another Farmville, however. “What sets Spore Islands apart from other social games is that it offers a different kind of social interactivity where a player’s gameplay experience is directly affected by the choices and decisions their friends make. It’s an ongoing game, so player’s creatures and islands will be active at all times, whether the player is logged into Facebook or not.”

So, I guess you won’t have to annoy your husband by taking over the computer to find the owner of a pink cow and water your eggplants every night when he needs to be doing his Appletell work, Tieraney.

To learn more about the Spore franchise, visit www.spore.com. Spore Islands can be played at Facebook.

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Provides: Photo editing, manipulation and sharing
Format: DVD or digital download
Developer: Adobe Systems, Inc.
Minimum System Requirements: Multicore Intel processor, Mac OS X v10.4.11, 512MB RAM, 64MB VRAM, 1GB available hard disk space, DVD drive, QuickTime 7 (for multimedia features), Internet connection for Internet-based services
Processor Compatibility: Multicore Intel only
Price: $99.99 (currently $79.99 with rebate)
Availability: Now
Version Reviewed: 8.0

Photoshop is work. It’s fun work, quite often, but it’s work nonetheless. There’s a lot to know, more to learn (and relearn), and plenty of trial and error. Quite honestly, I wouldn’t have it any way; I love the program, and I love watching its capabilities grow as my skills grow. But quite often, it’s overkill. And for the many Mac users who out there who have never used it, it’s quite intimidating (and, of course, too expensive).

Thus, Adobe has been bringing us Photoshop Elements. This is a friendlier image manipulation program. Cheaper. You don’t get nearly the amount of power and control you get with Photoshop, but you do get enough to have some fun and produce some very cool images. With this iteration, Adobe has not only added some great new editing tools, by also improved the way you organize and share your photos, as well.

It starts off poorly, however, with no active support for iPhoto. In order to import your iPhoto library (or portions of it) to Elements, you have to drag the photos out of iPhoto to your hard drive, or dig into the archaic iPhoto folder hierarchy from within Elements. It’s a pain, but it’s what you’ve got. The hidden benefit is that your iPhoto images remain unharmed, as all Elements 8 work will be done on the duplicates.

Cumbersome as it is, though, it’s worth it. Because Elements offers some great tools that are fairly simple to use once you get the hang of them. For instance, you can recompose your photos without harming key elements. Let me explain visually. In the original photo below, I have a picture of me and my kids, but we’re fairly separated.

Let’s say I want to put this in a portrait frame, not horizontal. Recomposing allows the user to alter the orientation by simply dragging the frame, keeping the important elements without distorting them, and merging the rest. Sometimes, dragging is enough. More often than not, however, it’s better to tell it what to keep and what to lose. You can see below that I’ve painted over what I want with green what I don’t want with red.

Then, I dragged from right to left, and watched my son and daughter magically slide closer to me, while those in the background disappeared…sort of.

It’s not a perfect science, so there will be some practice involved (note the trails over my left shoulder, and the heads directly behind me didn’t disappear). But the fact that you can complete procedures such as this on software so inexpensive is very, very cool.

Elements 8 gives you other powerful tools as well, such as photo-merge, which allows you take multiple images at various exposures to get a perfectly lit image. The image below from Adobe’s samples shows a before and after.

You can control which elements to carry into your final product, so it would’ve been quite simple to highlight the girl without brightening the fence behind her, for example.

The same basic tool and procedure can be used to remove unwanted elements from an image. Take the same shot multiple times to sample various elements and clean up the background. The image below from Adobe’s samples also shows a before and after, although there were a total of about five images used to produce the clean image on the right.

You certainly would want a tripod to make sure the photos are as similar as possible, but it need not be perfect. Photoshop will make some pretty good blending guesses, and you can guide it along, as well.

Not all of the features in Elements 8 are quite so drastic. Many are simply traditional Photoshop filters to touch up or add interesting effects to your photos. You can correct red eye and brighten teeth with a simple click, or you can add some pop to your photos, as with the samples below.

This picture was taken with my iPhone, so the lighting was not the best and the image was a bit blurry. By running it through the “Poster Edges” filter, I’ve given it a more striking look that hides the deficiencies of the source image.

There’s far more to Elements 8 than I can cover in this review, and you can read about the new features, see video demos (that I recommend you watch so you can see how easy all of this is to learn, if not perform) and compare product versions at Adobe’s website. Many features are purely for fun, but others are there specifically to make your photos look better: bluer skies, more striking black-and-whites, etc. I do, however, want to quickly cover image sharing, as Adobe has gone out of their way in Elements 8 to make sure you can show off your work.

Of course, you can print your images, but you can also create photo books, collages and scrapbook pages, make a PDF slideshow, publish them to a web gallery, share them via iPhone, and more. And as if to spite Apple (the inability to communicate with iWeb and iPhoto apparently wasn’t enough), you can create CD/DVD jackets and labels. Take that, Apple! Adobe actually wants to burn discs!

My only complaint with Elements 8 is that the included Getting Started guide is useless. It mentions only a couple features, and provides no detail on any of them (the last 13 pages of the guide are literally blank). You’re going to need a third-party manual for Elements 8, but should be able to rely on the online video tutorials in the meantime. This is fairly common these days, yes, but considering many Mac users are used to the intuitive interface and capabilities of iPhoto, Adobe is shooting itself in the foot by not providing a smoother transition to Elements 8.

Regardless, Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 is a great program that provides some amazing capabilities. It’ll be a bit frustrating at first when your results aren’t as impressive as those in the samples, but with some practice and the acceptance that every image will require a slightly different approach, you’ll be surprised by what you’re able to accomplish. Just don’t tell anyone how easy it was. This is your chance to use “Photoshop” as a verb, and I suggest you do it.

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Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 6, 2009:

Macintosh

• SpeedRunGames has announced that Grappling Hook for Mac OS X and Windows is 50% off this weekend. Grappling Hook is a first-person action puzzle / platform game, where you use a grappling hook to overcome various challenging obstacles by performing incredible moves and fast combinations of daring tricks. The game features 30 dynamic, animated, and unique levels, 30 achievements and 240 challenges.
• Troll Touch has announced touchscreen systems for the new 21.5 inch and 27 inch Apple iMacs and the 13 inch Unibody MacBook laptop. All systems feature analog resistive touchscreen technology and 12 bit touchscreen resolution. Standard warranty is one year, extendable to three years. The iMac systems are available as both a fully integrated, Troll factory installed internal package or a user-Installable, external “SlipCOVER” touchscreen system.
• Macworld has released the Total Snow Leopard Superguide, the latest installment in its popular series of tutorial books. Macworld’s team of experts take you inside Apple’s latest update to the popular Mac OS X operating system: Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6. Snow Leopard is an OS X update unlike any in recent memory. Inside these pages you’ll find all the information you need to install Snow Leopard smoothly and get started with its most important new features.

iPhone/iPod

• Appliya Studio has announced a partnership with the The Art Festival of Street Children, a humanitarian effort supporting poverty-stricken street children worldwide. Appliya has developed an iPhone application that gives users a new way to support this outstanding charity. This app is an innovative donation method, and a sign of the future of charitable donations.
• Riptide Games has announced Gravity Sling 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Gravity Sling is an inertia based puzzle game where the player must use the gravity of nearby planets to sling the astronaut through space and safely back to the space shuttle. Gravity Sling incorporates the popular OpenFeint platform enabling integrated leaderboards and achievements throughout the game.
• Independent developer Brice Milliorn has announced the sale of JBMJBM, LLC. This is a well established company whose sole purpose is creating consumer applications for the iPhone platform. The business is currently listed for sale on eBay as a 10 day auction. 87 apps in all, some of his best-selling applications are Friday Night Lights, iSpy Game, iReferee, iSexyRef, iSexyRef2, Pro Rodeo Fan, Sit Up Counter, Shake 2 Count & several College oriented apps for sports enthusiasts.
• OutOfTheBit has announced Checkers! 1.2.4, their versatile and highly customizable game app for iPhone and iPod Touch. OutOfTheBit, turns an age old favorite into a versatile, modern gaming experience. Checkers! four different playing rules, drag and drop playing, choice of three languages and varying graphic features makes Checkers! a unique application for gamers everywhere.
• Big Blue Clip has released Gas Log - MPG Fuel Tracker 1.5 for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Gas Log - MPG Fuel Tracker keeps track of gas and mileage for multiple vehicles, all in one convenient spot. You always have your mileage and expenses at hand, which you can view by trip or year, break downs per vehicle or as totals. Via an easy to use interface, individuals enter their data into their iPhone or iPod Touch, rather than stuffing receipts into pockets or something similar.
• Readdle has announced the release of Scanner Pro 1.1, new version of their popular iPhone application that transforms the device into portable scanner. Version 1.1 introduces highly anticipated Evernote integration that lets people convert printed documents, receipts and even handwritten notes into searchable information accessible from anywhere. Scanner Pro is available on the App Store to the new customers and as a free upgrade for existing users.
• Macsoftex has announced iAlcohol 1.1, an update to their blood alcohol content app for iPhone and iPod touch. Intuitively easy to use, iAlcohol determines the level of alcohol in a person’s blood and calculates the required break in driving. The formula calculates the influence of factors on the duration of the phases of alcohol intoxication, providing 90% accuracy. The application will help you choose a suitable drink and the amount you are allowed to consume within this interval of time.
• Independent game developer Glenn Corpes has announced Ground Effect 1.0, developed exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Ground Effect is a unique 3D, classic arcade-style racer inspired by ekranoplan technology wherein craft fly on a cushion of air at breakneck speeds. Utilizing the platform’s trademark accelerometer as well as touch controls, Ground Effect boasts amazing graphics and incredibly smooth frame-rates as well as a host of gameplay features.
• Use your iPhone or iPod touch to write a message in the air with the magic of POV (persistence of vision). Move the iPhone in front of your friends or your camera and your message magically appears into the air. You can have a message with an unlimited number of characters and in any color. Be creative and make original photos for any occasion or simply to say hello to a friend or family.
• Infinite Labs has announced their winter line-up by releasing Mover 3.0, an update to the critically acclaimed iPhone data transfer app. Version 3.0 adds video transfer support.
• Apple’s gotten the world hooked on portable music, pictures, and videos. One thing they haven’t delivered, though, is an easy guide for getting the most from your sleek little entertainment center. That’s where this book comes in. J.D. Biersdorfer and David Pogue come to the rescue with the latest edition of their chock-full-of-tips, full-color guide: the world’s most popular iPod book. iPod: The Missing Manual (O’Reilly, US $19.99), now in its 8th edition, provides a no-nonsense view of the latest iPod line, including the tiny Shuffle, the video-capable Nano, the high-capacity Classic, and the Wi-Fi-enabled Touch. With crystal-clear explanations and easy-to-follow color graphics, the book provides expert guidance on all of the amazing things you can do.
• Jokemaster and industry pioneer Al Lowe has released an update for his latest venture, Al Lowe’s CyberJoke 3000™, currently available for download on the iTunes App Store. Comedy fans can listen to over 110 of Al’s favorite jokes, with more updates on the way. Experience Al’s unique sense of humor in a collection of gutwrenchers that will entertain you and your friends for hours on end.
• 365 Puzzle Club [iTunes App Store link] is the new number puzzle game App from Connect2Media containing thousands of Sudoku, Tenpenki and Kakuro puzzles, making it the only puzzle game you’ll ever need. Pit your wits against fresh puzzles every day in a variety of modes.
• Zinc Roe Games has released Tickle Tap Apps: three preschool apps for iPhone and iPod Touch. Sound Shaker is a delightful and hilarious sound making game, Sort Slider is a mesmerizing shape matching game and Count Caddy (makes counting rewarding).
• Sunstorm Interactive has announced the launch of their second iPhone and iPod touch game: WW2 Beachhead [iTunes App Store link]. It is a fast-action arcade game with amazing graphics and dynamic war-time sound effects in which players have to defend their position against overwhelming enemies.
• The World’s Hardest Game can now be played on the iPhone and iPod touch. Avoid Impact with Impending Blue Balls. Keep your Red Square away from the Blue Balls, and pick up yellow balls on your way to the Green Zone or you’ll die! And trust us, you’ll die. A lot. As in often. But even if you beat it, how many times did you die? The lowest score wins that battle.
• App Popular, LLC has announced App Popular 1.0, their new all-in-one solution for navigating the application universe for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Users can now share, monitor and track every iPhone application available in any of Apple’s 77 online App Stores. Features include social networking utilities to share apps via email, tracking functionality to monitor price changes, App Store rankings, App Popular rankings, categorization tools and more.

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Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 5, 2009:

Macintosh

• Arten Science has announced ContaX, their new CRM for individuals, clubs and small businesses. ContaX will let you store, view, interact and communicate with your contacts, customers, prospects and suppliers more easily and efficiently than ever before. It features an elegant, intuitive user Interface and seamless integration with the other R10Office products. Your database can be stored wherever you like, including hosted and/or synchronized services such as iDisk and DropBox.
• Jumsoft has announced Aperture Themes 2.0. Aperture Themes allows Mac users to explore new ways of communicating their love for photography, and offers an extensive collection of design options for arranging their photos and pictures in Web galleries. All 16 themes were developed by a team of skillful designers with originality and sophistication to evoke a mood of professionalism and excellence. Version 2.0 features ten new styles added to the six designs from the previous version.
• Mariner Software has announced its latest product offering—a software and hardware bundle containing the popular digital documents manager, Paperless, with Fujistu’s ScanSnap S300M mobile scanner or the S1500M sheet-fed scanner. Paperless seamlessly integrates with both ScanSnap scanners, creating efficient and easy-to-navigate organization.
• Maintain has announced Cocktail 4.6 (Snow Leopard Edition), the latest maintenance update of Cocktail for users running Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. This version adds ability to clear data detectors and QuickLook caches, as well as several new QuickTime X and Apple Mail settings. The update is highly recommended for all users of Cocktail (Snow Leopard Edition). Cocktail is an award winning general purpose utility for Mac OS X.
• IntelliScanner Corporation has announced their new IntelliScanner Comic Edition 200 is now shipping worldwide in custom metal lunchbox packaging. IntelliScanner Comic Edition 200 is a smart barcode scanner and software package that automatically organizes comic book collections and other media items. It automatically identifies comic books by issue number, providing full details like the title, date, writer, penciler, inker, and more.

iPhone/iPod

• Traveling around the world to experience exotic foods and local life in different countries, how many language tools you have to bring? The answer is one. You only need PixTalk. One picture is worth a thousand words, and PixTalk carefully selects 100 pictures that could tell almost everything needed when traveling. You simply have to point at the pictures to indicate what you need.
• Matrix Knowledge Management Pty Ltd has announced the launch of V Phone, a new application that lets iPhone users make VoIP calls and send SMS messages over IP. Rather than locking iPhone users into working with a single VoIP provider, it lets users choose between multiple providers of their choice for voice calling. With an intuitive, attractive user interface and simple installation, the V Phone makes it easy for anyone to save money and start getting more out of their mobile or cell phones.
• Rosebrae Technology has released Clocks - Multi Time Zone Alarm Clock 1.0 for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  Clocks is a distinctive fusion between a world clock and a bedside clock which combines all the functionality expected of both types of application in one place. Perfect for business people and other frequent travellers, Clocks allows users to keep track of the time in many places at once, whilst doubling as a gorgeous LCD display for bedside clock use.
• Quapps Interactive has released MagiCam - Augmented Reality - Photographs with props for iPhone devices. MagiCam allows users to take live photographs with added props such as ghosts, UFO’s, Beards and the big fish that got away. Using MagiCam, users are able to scale, rotate, move and blend several props over their camera and take ultra realistic photographs. Version 1.0 has 18 props with 1.1 offering camera roll editing as well as live, many more props and a camera timer mode.
• TapFactory has released Stick It 2.1 for iPhone and iPod touch. Stick It is an iTunes Top 100 Utility App that allows you to quickly and easily take notes, customize their look, and create beautiful wallpapers for your lockscreen to function as quick reminders. Create fully customized notes with over 20 note styles, over 30 backgrounds, and plenty of fonts to choose from. Stick It will automatically save your notes so you can pick up where you left off. Email your notes directly from the app.
• syncRage has released Sorty 1.1, morphing two concepts to create new gaming excitement for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Although it has a basic concept that involves rapid relocation or chaining of colored balls, the speed and split second strategizing involved seems to be very pleasing to syncRage customers. Bejeweled and Tetris may have been the inspiration for Sorty but there’s nothing old school about the app.
• Improve your mental capabilities in a fun way with infeCCt. Enter the mysterious temple ruins and solve the ancient puzzles by connecting all tiles—a challenge made harder by impassable blocks, intersections and tunnels. If you are to solve all the tricky challenges, you will not only have to think ahead, but you will also have to train your brain to apply what you’ve learned to new situations. Want to train your brain? Get infeCCted.
• Shiny Development Ltd. has announced Balloons!, the new iPhone app that lets you launch virtual helium balloons and track their progress around the world. Choose a balloon, attach your photo and message to it, then launch it into the sky. It then drifts around the world where it gets caught by other users. They add their own photo and message and send it on its way again. Where will it go? Who will it meet? How far will it travel? Balloons! the world just got smaller.
• After bringing the Artusi cookbook, Dreams&Lotto, Forex Alert, the Constitution and Italian Law Codes to your iPhone, Intermundia has introduced Project OperaM. Opera-lovers and newcomers alike will have the chance to download 24 applications from iTunes with librettos of the most famous operas.
• Beamer—a community developed, iPhone case with a built in light—has been released. This light can function both as a flash for your iPhone’s camera as well as a light to brighten things up when necessary. Dropped something under the table, squinting to read a menu in candlelight, can’t find your keys, or just frustrated by those dark mobile photos? Beamer is the case that shines.
• The OtterBox Commuter Series interactive case for iPhone incorporates three tough, yet sleek layers of impact-absorbing materials which combine to completely safeguard your device. First, a self-adhering transparent film covers and protects the touch screen. Next, a firm silicone skin completely encases the iPhone’s housing. And finally, a one-piece, molded polycarbonate shell snaps tightly over the whole assembly.
• Chillingo and Tetraedge Games have announced the availability of Jules Verne’s Secrets of The Mysterious Island [iTunes App Store link] for iPhone and iPod touch on the Apple App Store. Secrets of the Mysterious Island is the sequel of Return to Mysterious Island launched earlier this year. For approximately 700MB, the player will find out the end of the adventure of Mina, a sailor who finds herself stranded on the shores of a wild and apparently uninhabited island somewhere in the South Pacific.
• Logos Bible Software has released a free iPhone app designed to help people get more into Bible study than ever before. Unlike most Bible related iPhone apps, which are merely Bible readers, the Logos Bible Software iPhone app delivers tools and resources to help you study the Bible with your iPhone or iPod Touch in ways never before implemented on a mobile device.
• RingtoneFeeder has announced distribution of audiobooks in the same format as its popular ringtones and Dynamic Albums. The first title is The Caffeine Collection, which is a collection of audio short stories covering a wide variety of genres produced by Steve Saylor and is available via RingtoneFeeder. RingtoneFeeder is an innovative approach to ringtones offering a subscription model which automatically installs new original ringtones on the iPhone via iTunes every week.

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Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 4, 2009:

Macintosh

• TheMacBundles has announced the release of its November Bundle. TheMacBundles provides users with the best software bargains on the platform while also providing developers with an exceptionally high percentage of the revenue produced from the sale of their software. The November bundle contains 12 outstanding and diverse titles and will be available for 4 weeks. All titles in the November bundle work with OS X 10.6.
• This year, Mac-users can send out their Christmas greetings conveniently via Mail. Following the overwhelming success of our Stationery Pack Greeting Cards, Equinux is pleased to announce the release of Season’s Greetings Vol. 2—a collection of 22 wonderfully festive greeting cards for Mail in Leopard and Snow Leopard.
• Macware has announced MacTuneUp 3.6, a free update to the leading Mac disk utility software. MacTuneUp quickly discovers and fixes problems, restores hard disk space, creates bootable disk backups, and maximizes Internet and network connections to squeeze the best performance from your Mac. Easily prevent system instability and speed up your Mac with a few simple steps. Snow Leopard users can update by downloading the updater from the Macware support center.
• Boinx Software has released iStopMotion 2.1, an update to its wildly popular stop motion animation and time lapse software. iStopMotion 2.1 features markers–a convenient new way to structure the timeline–and improves compatibility with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. It is the first Boinx Software product to provide a full Japanese localization. The update is free and strongly recommended for all iStopMotion 2.x users.

iPhone/iPod

• 1 pixel. 4 colors. That’s a minimum. Alexandre Minard has announced Minima for iPhone and iPod touch. Change your color to survive in the jungle of pixels? Yellow, pink, violet…make the right choice at the right time. 10 different levels are waiting for you. Would you be able to thwart the trapped pixels? Go and compare your score to the rest of the world in the world web ranking. That’s a Minima.
• Sean Maher has released Dead Panic: Survival 1.1.3, an update to his zombie game for iPhone and iPod touch. The undead are back with a vengeance. The updated game offers more playing modes, a new arsenal of kick-ass weapons, and a new set of twists and challenges to overcome. It also offers players a survival mode with unlimited waves of those persistent, shambling flesh-eaters.
• The Right Bite, Inc. today introduces The Right Bite 1.0, their revolutionary behavior modification & weight loss tool for iPhone/iPod touch. Designed specifically to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique capabilities and interface, The Right Bite achieves weight loss results differently than alternative diet/programs. Based on proven scientific research, the system helps users lose weight by controlling the pace of their eating rather than typically focusing on what they eat.
• Energize Software has announced Christmas Experience 1.2, an update to their multi-game Christmas iPhone app. While listening to holiday music you can decorate a snowman, play Christmas hangman, solve a puzzle, and tilt your device in one of eight directions to hear different holiday sounds. Create your own snowman with 30 pieces that utilize pinch and rotate gestures, as well as save, load and replace up to 9 different snowman creations.
• Fore by Cobra is a pretty special game; it not only looks amazingly detailed, but it plays just so well on the iPhone using the touch and accelerometer control to perfection. On top of that, peer-2-peer multi-player adds a new dimension to the game along with fully integrated Plus+. Oh, and if you pull off a hole in 1 or any other great shots, the game automatically saves these for you to replay your best moments.
• JL Software has announced Edition 1.65 of their popular Handbook of High-Risk Obstetrics for iPhone or iPod touch. Version 1.65 adds ultrasound images of fetal anatomy and H1N1 Flu information. Handbook of High-Risk Obstetrics is a new and original reference source for the medical student or resident physician who needs a comprehensive yet concise guide to perinatal care. The Handbook covers all major areas of high-risk pregnancy, and is cross-referenced and indexed with over 3600 search keywords.
• Ivan Karpan and Evgeniy Lebed have announced GlobeMaster 1.1.1, an update to their popular travel guide for iPhone and iPod Touch. GlobeMaster is an offline world-wide travel guide featuring 1400+ cities in more than 260 countries, including 4100+ photos, tips calculator and adviser, units converter and much more. It offers a wealth of information, such as traditions, rules of behavior, ways of getting in, out and around, how to stay healthy and safe and more.
• Sony Creative Software has announced the availability of 1,000 Ringtones, a DVD containing ringtones grouped into three categories: music, sound effects, and spoken words and phrases. Users can select tones for incoming calls, emails and text messages. Developed for iPhone users, the 1,000 ringtone files are included on the DVD in the popular .m4r and .mp3 formats, and are ready for immediate use without any additional fees, downloads or editing after the initial product purchase.
• Chillingo and MusiGames have announced a deal to publish DJ Nights games for iPhone and iPod touch via Chillingo’s mass-market brand, Clickgamer. The first release in the series—DJ Nights: Global Tour—will showcase world-famous electronic music stars including, Emilio Fernandez, Tom Cloud and Tiësto when it releases later this year.
• A new twitter account—@3WordAppReviews—sums up iPhone and iPod Touch apps in just three words. The service aims to make it quick and fun to learn all you probably need to know about many iPhone apps. Each tweet contains a link to the app, and a link to a full review, when available. The feed will have one new review each day, and might increase the daily number of reviews in the future.
• TimeStream Software has turned the iPod Classic, iPod nano and iPod Video into eReaders with its popular Notescast titles. Installing to the “Notes” feature found on nearly every iPod in use world-wide today, Notescasts are interactive books on the iPod, each containing up to hundreds of pages of digital copy linked to related photos and additional text.
• iSkin Inc. has introduced the latest evolution in its line of its trend-setting solo iPhone 3G/3GS protectors: the glamorously elegant iSkin solo FX Special Edition (SE). The iSkin solo FX SE debuts with a brilliant new look and feel thanks to a luxurious outer surface treatment, which combines an elegantly understated matte finish with a subtle embossed designer pattern. This elite edition of the solo line-up is available in three exclusive color options designed to enhance the iPhone’s natural beauty: Onyx (black), Cosmo (pink) and Ice (white).
• TechPad Productions has announced that an expansion pack based on the video game Overlord II is now available for iMEvil for iPhone and iPod Touch on the Apple iTunes App Store. TechPad Productions worked closely with the team at Codemasters, publisher of Overlord II, to create the expansion pack, which is exclusive to iPhone. The pack is an optional free update for those who already have the iMEvil application on their devices.
• JustPurePics.com, a development studio delivering personalized easy to use photo gallery packages for iPhone and iPod Touch, has recently released a new amazing application: Beauty Unleashed. Beauty Unleashed features selected works by a world famous photographer, Paul Buceta, whose pictures frequently appear on the pages of Glamour, Playboy, Penthouse and a number of other glossy publications.

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Sorenson Media has announced the immediate availability of Sorenson Squeeze 6, a significant update to the gold-standard video encoding software application. Sorenson Squeeze 6 provides the first total workflow solution for video professionals, enabling customers to employ innovative tools—such as email and text notifications and a secure review and approval process—that simplify the overall workflow and allow them to more easily encode and publish video files on the Internet. Optimized video codecs and new filters have also been added, significantly improving video quality and encoding speed.

Having dabbled in previous versions of Squeeze, I participated in an online demo of v6 with the developers a couple weeks ago. I can’t verify the encoding speed and improved video quality yet, as I haven’t tried out a full version, but I can say with certainty that the user interface is greatly improved. The workflow is much more intuitive, making it easier than ever for users to achieve optimal results with their video encoding. The presets are easier to read and offer more logical default options, while still providing full customization for those who want to dig deeper.

Updates in v6 include:

• Video quality and encoding speed have been significantly improved
• New review and approve capabilities and notification features simplify the encoding workflow
• New direct publishing and syndication of professional-quality video to YouTube, Twitter, Limelight, Akamai and Sorenson 360
• The enhanced interface makes encoding and managing video files easy
• A new integrated online preset exchange gives users video encoding “recipes” of experts
• Users will receive a complimentary Sorenson 360 review and approval account

Highlights of the demo I received include the ability to have Squeeze notify you via e-mail and text when a lengthy encoding job is done. Start the job, go to lunch, and hang out until the software lets you know the project is complete. Pretty cool. The videos can be automatically posted to an approval account, and an e-mail with password access can be sent to specified clients for approval. The videos can be previewed via computer or iPhone, and client comments are then automatically sent back to the user…while you’re still at lunch.

Sorenson claims that by incorporating and optimizing the latest On2 VP6 and MainConcept H.264 codecs, Squeeze 6 is up to 500 percent faster than Sorenson Squeeze 5 when encoding in the H.264 and VP6 formats, both of which are standard formats included with every copy of Squeeze 6. New input formats include AVC-Intra and WMV with VC-1 for use in Blu-ray and Microsoft Silverlight, and new output formats include AVI, AIFF, DV Stream, Image Sequence, Wave, and WMV with VC-1.

To coincide with the release of Squeeze 6, Sorenson Media has also launched a new Preset Exchange, an online repository of professional “video encoding recipes,” or presets. This is a great way for those new to video encoding (or who simply don’t want to take the time to optimize their settings via trial and error) to grab the settings used by video professionals. The Preset Exchange is new, so choices are limited for now, and users don’t have the ability to upload their own. As the Exchange grows, that could change.

And finally, Apple users will be happy to know that Sorenson Squeeze 6 also now works seamlessly with Apple’s Final Cut Pro and iMovie. This process eliminates the need for cumbersome exporting and importing between applications by enabling users to tap into the powerful Squeeze feature set directly from within their editing software.

Sorenson Squeeze 6 and Sorenson Squeeze 6 for Flash are available immediately for electronic download or for shipping in CD form. Sorenson Squeeze 6 is $799 and Sorenson Squeeze 6 for Flash is $499. Upgrades from previous versions of Sorenson Squeeze begin at $199. The complimentary one-year Sorenson 360 Review & Approval account includes 5GB of storage, 100 streams per month and a maximum video length of 30 minutes. A free trial is available.

For additional information about purchasing Sorenson Squeeze 6, or to find a reseller, visit www.sorensonmedia.com. Appletell’s full review of Sorenson Squeeze 6 will be posted soon.

Product [Sorenson Squeeze 6]

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 3, 2009:

Macintosh

• Apparent Software today is proud to announce Cashculator 1.0, a new kind of personal finance application for Mac OS X. Cashculator is a Mac way to track a cashflow. It is a different kind of personal finance application - instead of focusing on the past and logging previous transactions, it focuses on future by forecasting your financial situation. It allows making better decisions regarding your personal finance or small business. Version 1.0 is first release of the application.
• Macware has announced DiskTools Pro 3.5.1, a free update of its popular Mac utility suite for OS X. Version 3.5.1 supports Mac OS X 10.3.9 and later, including Apple’s new Snow Leopard. DiskTools Pro is a total system utility for the Mac, and the only one that allows you to schedule when to perform important tasks such as file defragmentation, backup and bad sector repair in a single, easy-to-use interface.
• Yazsoft has announced Playback 1.2, an important update to their zero configuration media server for Mac OS X. With a focus on ease-of-use, Playback allows anyone to share their media with any Playstation 3, Xbox 360, or other supported UPnP compatible device. Playback can also share media stored in folders or even make entire disks available to a Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. By default, Playback will share almost any content on the users system. Version 1.2 includes many new improvements.
• SuperMegaUltraGroovy and toastycode have announced the immediate availability of TapeDeck 1.3, an update to their popular audio recorder for Mac OS X. Answering the requests of many professional and hobbyist users, version 1.3 adds the ability to record full-quality audio using lossless compression. Recordings from TapeDeck will preserve their full fidelity when dragged into Garage Band, Logic Pro, or any professional audio application that supports ALAC audio.
• Malkinware has announced Reference Tracker 1.5, an update to their academic reference manager and research tool for Mac OS X. Reference Tracker documents store all the citations and references in an essay, research project, or book and creates reference lists in a variety of formats when needed. Version 1.5 adds support for the newly updated APA 6th edition and MLA 7th edition referencing styles.
• XChange UK has announced a new exclusive PitStop Pro 09 Competitive Upgrade from FlightCheck Pro or FlightCheck Designer. This competitive upgrade gives existing users of FlightCheck Professional or FlightCheck Designer the opportunity to upgrade to the power of PitStop Pro 09 and save. PDF has become the standard for delivering press-ready files and PitStop Professional allows users to make minor edits to a PDF job at any stage.
• Karelia Software has released Karelia iMedia Browser 1.2.1, a free utility that adds the familiar “media browser” experience to just about any Mac application. The new 1.2.1 version provides full compatibility for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, adds Brazilian Portuguese and Russian Localizations, and fixes several other issues. A stand-alone utility, the Karelia iMedia Browser lets users quickly and easily browse and drag photos, music, movies, and bookmarks into most applications.
• newPCgadgets.com has introduces The Rail, a new cable management product for the iMac. The Rail is a stylish cable organizer designed to match the look of your iMac. Designed from polished steel, The Rail attaches directly below the center slot on the iMac pedestal. The Rail holds up to 8 small cables in the stainless steel wire clips. Larger cables like the power cord are held in the center section. Easily stores cables for future use and fast access on the sides. Excess wires can be wrapped around the posts. The Rail is available for $24.95.
• Emmy Award-winning Toon Boom Animation Inc. today announced the release of Flip Boom All-Star, an easy-to-use animation software for teens and up. Flip Boom All-Star offers exciting features that will engage users and allow them to use animation to communicate with their friends.

iPhone/iPod

• To help promote the ringtone creation software PocketMac RingtoneStudio 2 for iPhone, PocketMac is giving away a legally, factory-unlocked iPhone 3G. In addition, second and third prize winners will win a $50 and $15 iTunes gift card, respectively. The contest is structured so existing fans of PocketMac RingtoneStudio will help talk it up and recommend it to their friends. That is, the more copies of PocketMac RingtoneStudio sold during the month of November, the cooler the prizes get.
• mLab emantras has launched their first paid iphone app called Lucky Me lite. It’s a game which rates your luck and gives a score as well as a Lucky quote which can be shared on Facebook.
• IvySkin has announced the SmartCase, a new iPhone 3G/3GS accessory that brings a premium power and protection experience to iPhone owners. It offers IvySkin’s newest Glass Touch-Thru case called Quattro-T4 bundled with the new Quattro battery. This advanced power distribution system enables the iPhone to receive an additional 200% battery life. The SmartCase includes the SmartPac, Quattro-T4, USB cable and full manufacturer’s warranty.
• RemObjects Software, LLC has introduced Data Abstract for OS X, their new framework for Mac and iPhone developers. Data Abstract allows developers to concentrate on data presentation and business logic without having to worry about the intricate details of dealing with the underlying database. As a fully native OS X framework, Data Abstract was designed from the ground up to fit in with the tools that Mac and iPhone developers use, such as Xcode, Cocoa and Objective-C.
• TimeStream Software has turned the iPod Classic, iPod nano and iPod Video into eReaders with its popular Notescast titles. Installing to the “Notes” feature found on nearly every iPod in use world-wide today, Notescasts are interactive books on the iPod, each containing up to hundreds of pages of digital copy linked to related photos and additional text.
• Independent software developer Eknath Kadam has introduced Grammar Express: Tenses 1.0, his new grammar and course testing application for iPhone and iPod Touch. Designed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s unique capabilities, Grammar Express: Tenses is a complete course in mastering English grammatical tenses. This guide contains over a 100 pages of lessons with several examples, and serves to help improve the understanding of tenses and make use of correct form of verb.
• Extropia Games has released Bar Defender exclusively for the iPhone and the iPod touch. Bar Defender boosts castle defense games to an entire new scene. It’s going to be easy for gamers to identify with the bar fly who is threatened by the system and is struggling to hold on to the only place he feels safe: his favorite bar. Each level achieved, Bar Defender rewards gamers with more powerful weaponry and an even more audacious enemy, inciting them to polish the screen clean and shiny every time the game is afoot.
• MultiEducator has announced the release of Electrical Pro 1.0, their new information calculation tool for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Building on the success of Electrical Formulator, the Electrical Pro program adds 35 essential charts to the 100 electrical formulas in the standard Electrical Formulator. It also includes parts of the National Electric Code. The application has been designed from the ground up to leverage the iPhone’s unique abilities and interface.
• Orb Games has released Kamikaze Race 1.0, an exciting racing/action game for iPhone and iPod touch. The game puts players into a seat of an extremely fast car, amidst the busy road, with jammed accelerator pedal and brakes that refuse to work. Players have to survive as long as possible, challenged to earn achievements and to compete against other players in online leaderboards.
• Halloween has come and gone, but there are still zombies lurking in the dark, ready to eat your brains! Welcome to Zombie Dash, a top-down dungeon crawler where players can defeat the undead using the handy trackball control mechanism, as well as magic spells which can be cast with skill and dexterity via intense multitouch control. Trapped in a tomb infested with ghoulish pursuers, players must search for treasure and most importantly a key to the next level.
• VFSoftware LLC has announced Beat the Swine ‘09, the first iPhone app to raise monetary donations for H1N1 relief. VFSoftware LLC will donate to the CDC Foundation’s H1N1 relief fund for all downloads, increasing donations as a player’s score goes up. Similar to the classic Asteroids, Beat the Swine ‘09 has a medically inspired theme and updated pandemic information, making it the first to target gamers to help combat the spread of Swine Flu.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

No longer content to have relationship and bladder problems at home, The Sims are now set to take their issues around the world. EA’s The Sims Studio has announced that The Sims 3 World Adventures, has gone gold for the PC and Mac and will be available on November 17, 2009. The Sims 3 World Adventures is the first expansion pack to the #1 best-selling PC game of calendar 2009, according to NPD data.

And in what kind of crazy adventures can your Sims engage? Well…

They can run from mummies in Al Simhara, Egypt, fill the sky with fireworks purchased from locals in Shang Simla, China and master the art of nectar-making in France.

Nectar-making France…is that what the kids are calling it these days?

If so, we’ll get photographic evidence, as Sims can now take advantage of the brand new photography skill. They can then bring their treasures home to reminisce and share with other fake people. Players who register their copy of the PC/Mac version of the game online will receive exclusive extra game content with the Explorer’s Loot Set and 1,000 SimPoints to be used in The Sims 3 Store to customize their game with additional in-game items.

And what would an exotic vacation be without the Simlish musical stylings of Nelly Furtado and LeAnn Rimes? Why, it would be an epic fail, I tell you, so The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack has you covered there. It also features Matt + Kim, Fefe Dobson, Pixie Lott, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Katie Melua, Esmee Denters, Young Punx!, Evan Taubenfeld, Madina Lake, and more. And I’m sure if you look hard enough, you can probably make your Sim characters look like Natalie Portman’s shaved head.

The Sims 3 World Adventures will be available for purchase on November 17 at retail and online through digital distribution. To pre-order the game visit www.thesims3.com. The game is rated T for Teen by the ESRB, and will require the full version of The Sims 3 to play. For complete PC and Mac system requirements, visit the official website.

Product [The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack]

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 2, 2009:

Macintosh

• Ringce has announced Slammer 0.9.6, an update to their designer’s layout and geometry utility for Mac OS X. Suitable for graphic designers, web and application developers alike, Slammer is a universal layout tool which can be used as an overlay on top of any application while tweaking a design. Make blueprints by sectioning a canvas using grid systems, fibonacci series, golden sections or harmonious sections. It features rulers, a magnifier and a color picker to help further refine any layout.
• Mo Media has launched Custom Headers by M, a service to help those who are building template style websites but lack the skills to create an extraordinary header. Experienced Photoshop designer Karen Kaufman of Mo Media considers the design being used, then works with the customer’s image, logo and text to create a look unique to any website. Clients can check out the gallery of customizable designs, or commission their own.
• RemObjects Software, LLC has announced RemObjects SDK 1.1 for OS X, a significant update to their popular networking framework for Mac and iPhone developers. RemObjects SDK makes it easy for developers to create networked applications that communicate with each other. Version 1.1 sports improved APIs and allows for the creation of SOAP clients for both the Mac and iPhone platforms. Developers can easily have their applications talk to virtually any web service that uses SOAP.
• Readdle has announced ReaddleDocs 1.6, a new version of their popular document and file management solution for iPhone and iPod touch. Version 1.6 adds a professional PDF document viewer that supports full text document search, password protected documents, navigation through embedded PDF bookmarks and handling large PDF files. ReaddleDocs combines a number of powerful document viewers, network file server, web storage client, web browser and file manager within a single application.
• Ben Software has announced the release of RemoteSight 1.0, a new product for video and audio streaming over a network. RemoteSight can stream video from a variety of devices, such as the built-in iSight cameras included in many Macintosh computers. Designed to be part of a video surveillance system, RemoteSight integrates seamlessly with SecuritySpy, the premier multi-camera video surveillance software on the Macintosh platform.
• Eltima Software today announces Flash’In’App promo campaign. Starting from today, with each purchase of Flash’In’App you get a license for Flash Optimizer for Mac for free. Flash’In’App is a Cocoa framework for managing Adobe Flash movies in any application on Mac OS X. Flash Optimizer allows compressing SWF files up to 60-70% as it offers total control over each and every optimization algorithm.
• Mac Bundle Box has launched Mac Daily Box, a new sister site to its unique quarterly software promotions bundle. Mac Daily Box is a Deal-A-Day on Mac Software. Every day at midnight, a new application will be posted to Mac Daily Box at a heavily discounted price. It will remain discounted for twenty-four hours until the next promotion is published on the website. Mac Bundle Box will continue to do its discount bundle promotions, but on a less frequent basis.
• Nova media today announces FoneSync, which synchronizes contacts and calendars with Samsung phones. The new synchronisation tool offers relief for those who could not synchronise their contacts and calendars with Mac OS X before. FoneSync supports the most recent Samsung phones and sports a clean and easy to use interface. It is possible to restrict the synchronization to single address book goups and/or calendars as well as to define the time frame of the calendar sync.
• Vinotekasoft has announced Vinoteka 1.5, a major update to their ultimate wine cellar management solution for Mac OS X. In a unique and gorgeous interface showing bottles, cellars and tasting notes, Vinoteka brings the best wine cellar management experience to Mac users. Customizable and user-friendly, straight-to-the point and nevertheless very professional, Vinoteka is the ultimate companion every wine lover needs. The new major version 1.5 sports many new feature improvements.
• Veenix Technologies has announced TypeBook Creator 1.9, its highly acclaimed Macintosh font specimen book and font sample sheet creation software for graphics professionals. The new version has been updated to support Mac OS 10.6. Additionally, specimen layouts were recoded using Apple’s latest font and text imaging technologies, Core Text, several new customization features and options were added, and more.
• Apparent Software has announced Cashculator 1.0, a new kind of personal finance application for Mac OS X. Cashculator is a Mac way to track a cashflow. It is a different kind of personal finance application - instead of focusing on the past and logging previous transactions, it focuses on future by forecasting your financial situation. It allows making better decisions regarding your personal finance or small business. Version 1.0 is first release of the application.

iPhone/iPod

• LukPlus has announced Hyakkiyagyo, a Japanese style 3D shooting game in which the player becomes a shrine maiden. The game features two methods of attack—magic circle and shot—and you won’t die even if you recieved enemy’s attack.
• Hydrix has released Roto, a new and original solitaire game for iPhone and iPod Touch. Roto is a challenging and addictive game developed by international best seller Dr. Reiner Knizia. Roto was designed from the ground up for the iPhone. The rules are simple so anyone can play, but mastering all the challenges and planning ahead to use the best possible combinations is harder than it may seem.
• Hot Chili Apps GmbH has announced C@rds Master 1.1.2, an update to their free mobile eCard utility for iPhone and iPod touch. Designed specifically to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique capabilities and interface, C@rds Master is an easy-to-use yet sophisticated postcard creation and delivery tool. C@rds sets includes 10 topics for nearly every occasion to create and generate individual and fancy digital postcards.
• Technical Made Easy has announced the release of Easy Stitch 1.0 for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Now anyone can learn Embroidery, Knitting and Crochet using their iPhone and iPod Touch. Easy Stitch provides step-by-step instructions with full color illustration for learning Crochet, Embroidery and Knitting. Included with each category are descriptions of various materials, supplies, tools, conversion charts from U.S to Metric and Tips & Tricks.
• Marware Inc has announced the SportShell carrying solution for the iPod touch 2G is now shipping. This low profile, three-piece shell case is made of resilient polycarbonate with a smooth rubberized finish. The sturdy 360-degree ratchet clip ensures that the iPod touch stays securely on a belt or strap. Use the SportShell with or without the clip, or without the back piece for showing off the Apple logo.
• The iTunes App Store has just received a heavyweight addition to its roster of games, as Speed Bag: Urban Gym [iTunes App Store link] is now available for download. Speed Bag: Urban Gym offers the most authentic boxing experience found on the iPhone/iPod touch. Whether you are new to the ring or a boxing professional, Speed Bag: Urban Gym simulates what it is like to hit the bag wherever you go.
• Pong Double is a new take on an old classic. But Pong Double is so much more, and with the extra play modes, it will keep you playing for a very long time. There is an online high score list where you can compete with the rest of the world.
• appsNminded has launched Jonesing Daily 1.0, a coupon app that highlights and promotes exclusive and hip on-line shoppes that were only known to trendy insiders and fashionistas. Jonesing Daily offers not just a coupon but exclusive deals. Hip online shoppes such as Terra Plana, Viv & Ingrid, GoGo Gear, Fuz, Stanton James, Tucker Paisley, Moby Wrap, blabla kids and Josh Jakus are just a few of the featured retailers.
• iLounge has debuted the brand-new 2010 iPod + iPhone Buyers’ Guide, the latest in its multi-million-downloaded series of publications. The 200-page Guide is available immediately as a free, hassle-free download from iLounge, and will be featured at the iLounge Pavilion of the January 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Coinciding with the release of the 2010 iPod + iPhone Buyers’ Guide, iLounge’s sixth annual guide to Apple’s top media players, accessories, and software, the editors of iLounge proudly announce the winners of the prestigious iPod + iPhone Best of the Year Awards. From cases to speakers, games and applications, the Awards spotlight top picks across major Apple hardware and software categories, and were selected by iLounge’s editors without any influence from advertisers, Apple, or other interests. Recipients were selected purely on the basis of merit from thousands of candidates, and represent the outstanding efforts of small and large developers from a variety of different countries.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Provides: Video effects and manipulation
Developer: Adobe
Minimum Requirements: Multicore Intel processor, Mac OSX 10.4.11; 2 GB RAM, 2.9GB free hard-disk space for installation; plus 2GB of space for optional content; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on flash-based storage devices), 1280x900 display resolution with OpenGL 2.0-compatible graphics card, DVD-ROM drive, QuickTime 7.4.5 software required for multimedia features,  Broadband Internet connection required for online services
Cost: $999 full version ($299 upgrade)
Availability: Now

To use Adobe After Effects is to stare into the face of madness. And I mean that in the best way possible.

The simplest way to describe it is as Photoshop for video; you can import it, add special effects, or even use it to create video from scratch. One tutorial I followed allowed me to mock up rolling storm clouds like you’d see on a commercial for a storm report.

But the ability to manipulate video is geometrically more complex than manipulating an image; you can control time, speeding up or slowing down the motion (popular in action movies today, where a character’s furious attack slows down to allow the viewer to savor a brutal hit—After Effects lets you do that). If you’re working with 3D objects, you can control both the objects movement through space, and control the “camera” (the point of view) that moves completely independently—think of it as the Death Star moving towards a planet while an X-Wing (the camera) zooms over its surface. In addition to the raw power to manipulate and create video, After Effects CS4 comes with over 250 effects to do everything from alter the hue/saturation, to knocking out color for a green screen effect, to adding lightning.

So wrap your mind around that, then add to it the idea that, like Photoshop, you can work in layers, manipulating several images, effects, and video files independently, and you’ll begin to understand why this program is so mind-bogglingly powerful, and how—and I’m being completely sincere, here—awe-inspiring that it not only exists, but that it works compfortably on something like my Macbook Pro.

Okay, enough with the genuflecting. What can you use it for? Special effects. Fun things like lightsabers and laser blasts, adding muzzle flashes for gunshots. Playing with text, making letters fly in and out, explode. Teleport, throw fireballs. Pretty much anything you’ve ever seen happen in the opening credits to a movie, After Effects can do. If you can think of an effect, AE can do it with enough rendering time.

One thing After Effects isn’t built to be is an off-line film editing. I mean, you could do it that way, since you can layer different movie files and determine where they begin and end; it just isn’t built for that. It’d be like trying to type a term paper in PowerPoint, technically possible, but there are better tools for that job.  After Effects is primarily for manipulating a movie, so if you have a whole scene built around a showdown, you’d edit the scene in Final Cut or Adobe Premiere, edit in an effect where the hero’s gun flashes, then render that small part out and drop it back in to your completed movie.

All of this, of course, takes a lot of processing power. A “simple” smoke effect, for example, can require your computer to generate tens of thousands of individual particles, then apply a blur effect to make it look like mist. If you want to see what this looks like as you’re playing with the settings, you’re going to want a fast processor and a lot of RAM, which will pre-render as much of the effect as possible. But the truly great thing about AE is that even if you don’t have the latest and greatest multi-core Intel processor, it’s still functional; you just have to have more patience. Because while you won’t be able to view as many complicated effects “live,” you can still queue up the effects you want, get an idea of what they’ll look like by skipping through the footage, and then render them out as a finished movie file. I did this several times on my older white Macbook, and while the lack of a graphics processor and minimal RAM slowed me down, I was still able to produce amazing, professional-looking effects as I learned to use the program.

Speaking of learning the program, this is definitely one where you’ll want the voice of experience to walk you through the basics. As someone who taught himself to use Photoshop and Quark Xpress, I was completely baffled by the After Effects interface: it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before; even other Adobe programs. Fortunately, I was able to take a beginner’s class at a local film school, as well as buying the Classroom in a Box book from Adobe itself to demystify the program. If I’d tried my usual sink-or-swim process, I’d have drowned. That said, once I got the gist of how AE imported footage, dealt with layers, and manipulated effects, it became really simple to arrange them as I wanted.

After Effects CS4 is an insanely powerful tool for manipulating and altering video. At a suggested retail price of $999 it costs as much as the new Final Cut Studio, but you can find it at significant discounts from places like Amazon, and, for people who need professional-level effects, the amount of power that AE CS4 gives you is quite simply staggering for that price. This is not a tool for the iMovie crowd, but if you see your Mac as a computer built around Final Cut, those with a serious interest in filmmaking will be impressed with the amazing toolkit After Effects gives them… once they figure out how to open it.

Full Story » | Written by Bill Stiteler for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for October 30, 2009:

Macintosh

• ZiggySoft has announced iWeb Valet 2.3.0, the tool to enhance and upload iWeb pages. iWeb Valet widgets give you the power to add new interactive widgets to your web pages. It is both easy to use and incredibly powerful, adding many features to iWeb sites and you don’t have to know anything about programming or web-authoring languages such as HTML or Javascript. Version 2.3.0 includes the ability to have unique meta tags on all pages, a new Falling Snow Effect widget, and more.
• Crunchyroll and Boxee have announced a partnership to provide Anime and Asian drama fans an even easier and convenient way to watch their favorite shows anytime they want from their living room couch. With the largest online collection of legal Anime and Asian entertainment, Crunchyroll has quickly grown to become a fan favorite website with over five million unique registered users. Using Boxee’s free downloadable software, fans will have an even easier way to stream all their favorite anime, k-dramas and more from the Internet onto their televisions. The best part is that Boxee provides users the ability to navigate Crunchyroll’s videos with a simple remote control from the comfort of their couch or bed. Additional bonuses include the ability for fans to share what they are watching with friends and social networks.
• The Mac Sale has announced their latest bundle, containing 10 great Mac apps, interviews with the developers and even a song! The Mac Sale should again provide a great deal for customers and importantly, a fair deal for developers. The apps in this bundle are HoudahGeo, MacJournal, CrossOver Games, Picturesque, Morph Age Regular, Searchlight, Vinoteka, iMaginator, Opacity Express and Stor.
• Anawiki Games has announced the immediate availability of Spooky Runes, the Halloween twist of their bestselling game for Mac OSX. Spooky Runes is a puzzle-driven game offering a polished, addictive game-play. Spooky Runes features exceptional music and superb effects that remain this games hallmark. Avalon invaded by ghosts, ghouls, bats and scary cats is fun and spooky. Spooky Runes takes you to an enchanting world of magic and mystery you won’t want to leave.
• KennettNet Software has announced Clarus 1.5, an update to their pet management solution for Mac OS X, now with a companion iPhone app. Perfect for maintaining insurance and medical records, vet bills, and expense receipts, Clarus was specifically designed to manage a pet’s life and paperwork, all in one convenient, easy-to-use utility. And if Spot just happens to go missing, printing a bold missing poster that includes his photo and basic details with reward only takes seconds.

iPhone/iPod

• IK Multimedia has announced the release of two new applications for the iPhone/iPod touch: GrooveMaker Electro and Drum ’n’ Bass (D’n’B). These complete the range of available GrooveMaker applications with two new style-based apps that allow anyone to create and share non-stop Electro and D’n’B tracks for DJing, remixing, multimedia and movie soundtrack compositions on the go, in real-time, just like a professional DJ or music producer.
• Scholastic Media has the answer for fans of The 39 Clues this month with a limited time promotion for its latest iPhone app - The 39 Clues Madrigal Maze. On November 3rd, in conjunction with the new release of Book #6 of the New York Times bestselling series, the company will offer the iPhone app for just $1.99 on iTunes through November 17th.
• Corduroy Enterprises has announced Portfolio - Local and International Stocks 1.0, their new iPhone app that greatly simplifies the task of tracking a portfolio of stocks. Portfolio takes the clutter and complexity out of stock tracking, and focuses on the information you really need - the total and change in your portfolio’s value. For everyone from professionals to mum & dad investors, Portfolio is an easy to use, uncluttered tool to track their share portfolio and watchlist.
• Pocket Oinko is a virtual pet living inside your iPhone or iPod touch. Instead of having to take care of him like all other virtual pets, Oinko has a mind of his own. You can suggest actions, but ultimately he’ll decide what to do. You can either obsessively stalk him and observe his daily routine, or help him out and receive bonus points in return. Use these to buy food and toys for Oinko to play with.
• BigSprocket, LLC has announced Tourneys 1.1, an update to their popular poker tool for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Designed for the Internet poker player, Tourneys puts the schedules of upcoming tournaments from the most popular Internet poker sites in the palm of your hand. It allows players to quickly find out what games are coming up on each site, without having to log into that site’s software.
• Rapid Turtle Games has announced Mr. Puzzle Genius, a brain challenging and addictive 3D puzzle game. For each level, front, side and top 2D views are given for the goal 3x3x3 cube. The player needs to create a 3D 3x3x3 cube with the basic building pieces; cube and prism in that way to create front, side and top views as in the goal 2D views. Mr. Puzzle Genius comes with 3 difficulty levels ranging from Novice to Expert each with 20 puzzles.
• Marware has announced the SportShell Convertible carrying solution for the iPod touch 2G is now shipping. The SportShell Convertible for iPod touch 2G is 3 cases in 1 and merges versatility with elegant, cross-functional design in a single product. It offers a polycarbonate shell with a smooth rubberized finish. By using interchangeable parts, the SportShell Convertible offers a full range of carrying options.
• LifeFocus Apps has announced LifeFocus 1.2, an update to their popular tasks and goals utility for iPhone and iPod touch. Designed specifically to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique capabilities, LifeFocus gets the information users need quickly so they can focus on getting things done. Whether users desire a basic task list or prescribe to the Getting Things Done methodology, LifeFocus can be personalized to meet any need.
• Ofijo has announced Halloween Mayhem 1.0, their new pumpkin saving Halloween game for iPhone and iPod touch. Halloween Mayhem is a small but very funny and addictive game in which your goal is to crush as many skeletons as you can before they reach the Halloween Pumpkin. Something has awaken and now it’s after your beloved pumpkin! You cannot let anything happen to it!

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Today, Apple announced the launch of the 3.0 software upgrade for its Apple TV, which offers a redesigned user interface and compatibility with Apple’s recently released iTunes LP and iTunes Extras, along with Genius Mixes and Internet radio. Shortly thereafter, Apple also released iTunes 9.0.2, which adds support for Apple TV’s 3.0 software, a new “dark” viewing option for Grid View, and additional accessibility support.

The redesigned main menu in Apple TV’s 3.0 software offers direct access to recently rented and purchased movies, as well as a variety of other content. iTunes LPs and iTunes Extras are available in full-screen viewing for both audio and video titles. The addition of Genius Mixes in Apple TV, a feature which was first introduced by Apple last month with iTunes 9, allows users to listen to automatically generated playlists from their iTunes libraries. Thousands of Internet radio stations are now also accessible within Apple TV with the new software update. Finally, another new feature included is enhancements for viewing photos, as the Apple TV can now make use of the Faces and Events features in Apple’s iPhoto Mac software.

Along with adding support for the Apple TV 3.0 software and the other two new features/additions, iTunes 9.0.2 also once again breaks syncing with the Palm Pre.

Read [Engadget]

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Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for October 29, 2009:

Macintosh

• Redcort Software has announced Virtual TimeClock ‘09 Release 3, their industry leading time and attendance software for Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows computers. Virtual TimeClock is available in both Pro and Network Editions. The new Virtual TimeClock software release brings the ability to add notes to employee timecards, full Snow Leopard and Windows 7 compatibility, and more than two dozen software enhancements.
• St. Clair Software has announced the release of Default Folder X 4.3.2. Default Folder X enhances the file dialogs in all Mac OS X applications. It provides fast navigation to your files, convenient previews, integrated Spotlight tagging, and more. Version 4.3.2 addresses issues with Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard, as well as enhancing Default Folder X’s ability to see which folders you’ve used recently.
• Acapela Group and AssistiveWare have announced the release of Infovox iVox 2.0. Infovox iVox 2.0 offers Snow Leopard compatibility, significantly improves performance and responsiveness and adds a number of new voices for the following languages: Arabic, French, German, Flemish, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Turkish. These voices work with virtually any Speech Manager compliant Mac OS X application, including VoiceOver, Preview, TextEdit, VisioVoice and ConvenienceWare GhostReader.
• Eternal Storms Software has announced the immediate availability of flickery 1.6. flickery is a unique desktop flickr client for Mac OS X 10.5 which combines the flickr photo-community with the ease-of-use and elegance of Mac OS X. Easily upload photos and videos to your Flickr photostream, organize items in photosets and groups, browse Favorites, and more. flickery 1.6 features trimming options for videos, batch-editing of items and the use of CoreLocation on Mac OS X 10.6.
• TidBITS Publishing Inc. has just released the free Take Control of VMware Fusion 3,” by Joe Kissell. The 142-page ebook, sponsored by VMware Inc., provides real-world advice on the best ways to install, configure, run, and maintain Windows on a Mac with the new virtualization software VMware Fusion 3. Customers may download the ebook for free or order a print copy for $12.99.
• MacUpdate has introduced MacUpdate Desktop 5, a powerful application that enables users to keep all their Mac software up-to-date with unparalleled ease and accuracy. MacUpdate Desktop brings the convenience of automatic software updates to every Application, Widget, Screen Saver, and Preference Pane. Designed from the ground up to take advantage of the newest Mac OS X technologies, MacUpdate Desktop is a class-leading solution packed with features.

iPhone/iPod

• I-play, Oberon Media’s publishing division and the world’s leading multi-platform casual games publisher, today launched Bubble Town 2 for iPhone and iPod touch. Based on the wildly successful online arcade game that has captivated millions of players through Facebook, MySpace, PC download and mobile, the highly-anticipated Bubble Town sequel for iPhone is now available in the Apple App Store.
• Stone Design has released Twittelator Pro 3.3.1, a free upgrade to its top-selling iPhone Twitter client for iPhone and iPod touch. Twittelator Pro packs the most features into a Twitter client, mobile or desktop. Version 3.3.1 includes many new features as well as embraces new Twitter features in October. Twittelator Pro was recently featured at the top of the Summer’s Hottest iPhone Apps in an Apple/AT&T full page ad in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today.
• Off-by-One Mobile has released AutoTrafego 1.1.1, a free special Halloween Edition of their isometric traffic management game for iPhone and iPod touch. This Halloween Edition takes place in a specially crafted scary graveyard while still offering the same quality of professional artwork and polished effects as the original game. An original spooky soundtrack ensures that the immersion is complete.
• Galarina has released PhotoToMac 1.2 for iPhone and iPod Touch. PhotoToMac transfers photos taken with an iPhone and saved photos over WiFi to a Mac shared folder. The photos are transferred in full resolution and multiple photos can be transferred in batch. PhotoToMac requires no cables, no internet connection, no browser and no emails. The only requirement is that the iPhone or iPod Touch is on the same WiFi network as the Mac.
• iLuv has announced the availability of the iMM183 Hi-Fi Dual Dock Alarm Clock with NOA/S.A.M.E Weather Hazard Alert, a CES 2009 Best of Innovations Honoree, to iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and iPod fans. The digital dual alarm clock brings rich sound combined with dual dock options and a Weather Band Radio with NOAA emergency alert system to your bedside for $149.99 MSRP.
• Super Happy Fun Fun and Play Mechanix have announced the release of Big Buck Hunter Pro for the iPhone and iPod touch. Available just in time for whitetail hunting season, Big Buck Hunter Pro is the latest way to play the phenomenally popular 3D arcade hunting experience anytime, anywhere. Millions of players already flock to the 10,000+ Big Buck Hunter arcade units nationwide each week, and the iPhone platform will enable long-time franchise fans and new players to experience the world’s #1 arcade hunting game on the touch screen for the very first time.
• Scosche Industries has announced the availability of its powerFUZE line of home and car USB charging systems. The powerFUZE Pro is the signature model and is both “Made for iPod” and “Works with iPhone” certified, and allows users to carry just one charger for all their USB based devices when traveling.
• ooPixel has released a new iPhone game called Samegame Gravitized. It’s available on App store for $0.99 during the first week or two. The price will go up to $1.99 afterwards. In Samegame Gravitized the goal is to remove groups of blocks of the same colour. The more you remove, the more points you will gain, just like in all Samegame or Match three variations.
• PlayHaven today launched its innovative platform enabling virtually any iPhone game developer to instantly establish a community presence online and in-game for free. For the first time, developers can now easily claim their game communities to start directly communicating with their fans, while creating word-of-mouth buzz with iPhone gamers everywhere. PlayHaven’s online universe of communities has an aggregated audience across more than 15,000 games in the iPhone App Store.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

War. What is it good for? For hammering online, apparently. Mythic Entertainment and Electronic Arts have announced that the critically acclaimed MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR), is now available for the Macintosh. The Mac version is available to new subscribers via digital download at. Current subscribers can download the Mac version free of charge.

Based on the popular tabletop war game from Games Workshop, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm conflict that will provide players with an engaging battleground for years to come.  WAR is available now for PC and Mac and rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

“We couldn’t be more excited to officially bring Warhammer Online and our intense Realm vs. Realm combat to Mac gamers,” said Jeff Hickman, Executive Producer of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. “We welcome Mac users to experience the thrill of WAR and take up arms with their PC brethren.”

Key features include:

• Realm vs. Realm (RvR) gameplay means you will never fight alone, but as part of an army of allied players sworn to defend your homeland and conquer enemy Realms. Your every action-every quest completed, every battle fought-contributes to the war effort and can turn the tide of battle, bringing victory to your Realm!
• Experience the camaraderie of fighting side-by-side with allied players against otherwise insurmountable odds in groundbreaking Public Quests. These cooperative PvE encounters unfold across multiple stages and allow solo players to experience the glory of RvR.
• Embark on the endless quest to complete the Tome of Knowledge and unlock Warhammer lore, detailed monster information, new abilities and rewards, and major story plotlines. The Tome is also the story of your life in the game, tracking your achievements to share and compare with others.
• Explore massive Living Cities that become more or less prosperous based on a Realm’s overall performance in the ongoing war. Navigate a maze of twisting streets, visit the local tavern, explore a dark under-city, and meet colorful personalities in a city full of adventure.
• Advanced guild features give unprecedented control to leaders and members, and make guilds an integral part of the war efforts. Guilds can create unique heraldry, capture and claim keeps, and earn Guild Tactics as they grow in power along with their members.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is available on GameTreeOnline for $19.95. For more information about Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and to download the free trial, visit www.warhammeronline.com.

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Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for October 28, 2009:

Macintosh

• IntelliScanner Corporation has announced IntelliScanner Comic Edition 200, the smart barcode scanner and software package that automatically organizes comic book collections and other media items. It automatically identifies comic books by issue number, providing full details like the title, date, writer, penciler, inker, and more. IntelliScanner bundles an award-winning USB barcode reader and comic database software, making it easy to track and inventory collections.
• CTM Development has announced FoxTrot Professional Search 2.5, an update to their popular networked document indexing and retrieval solution for Mac OS X. Developed with law firms, media and mobile professionals in mind, FoxTrot Professional Search helps locate documents and their contents using multiple categorization of search results, ranked by relevance. Utilizing the latest Cocoa technologies, the application works directly with PDF, HTML, word processing, e-mail and rich-media metadata.
• Xeric Design has announced EarthDesk 5.1, an update to its award-winning, real-time dynamic desktop map for Mac OS X. EarthDesk 5 was entirely rewritten in Cocoa, adds many new features and is compatible with both Leopard and Snow Leopard. Version 5.1 adds a new cloud contrast control, fixes minor bugs and has several internal improvements. EarthDesk replaces your static desktop with an image of the Earth showing current sun, moon and city illumination, and more.
• ExactCODE GmbH has released ExactScan 2.8, a major update to their modern and easy-to-use scanning software Mac OS X. ExactCODE continues to provide automated and intelligent document scanning for the Macintosh. Version 2.8 adds support for several portable document scanners, including the all-new Avision AV50F, as well as other popular devices such as the Visioneer RoadWarrior or Xerox Travel Scanner 100. OCR quality, PDF compression and accuracy are further improved as well.
• iPresentee has released iWeb Themes 6.0 for Apple’s popular web site building application. iWeb Themes 6.0 includes five new remarkable themes animated with flash: Personality, Simple, Town, Violet and WildLife. In addition new package of themes includes five ordinary themes with static backgrounds. iWeb Themes with flash is a new outstanding solution combining iWeb and Flash into one great product.
• XChange UK has announced a free Adobe InDesign Server and Automating Adobe Creative Suite 4 seminar. On 23rd November at Adobe offices in Regents Park London, users can learn how implementing InDesign Server can automate the design, layout and typographical abilities of Adobe InDesign CS4. In addition, there will also be demonstrations of Switch solutions from Enfocus that provide configurable automation of Adobe CS4 applications for a variety of publishing environments.
• Karelia Software has announced Sandvox 1.6.5, the award-winning website building application for Mac OS X. This is a maintenance update, free to all registered users. Through the entire month of November, Karelia is offering a promotion where Mac users can get a free license to Sandvox Pro by purchasing one year’s worth of web hosting from either A2 Hosting or Server Logistics via the links on the Karelia Hosting Comparison Chart web page.
• SkypeCap has announced SkypeCap for Mac 3.6, an update to their Skype video and audio session recorder for Mac OS X. With a focus on ease-of-use, SkypeCap for Mac allows recording of audio and video conversation from Skype to video and audio files. SkypeCap for Mac saves your Skype sessions so that you could hear and watch them again later or share them with someone else. It fully integrates the process into the Mac experience by allowing human interaction during recording and conversion.

iPhone/iPod

• Appliya Studio, a provider of customizable template platforms for the creation of iPhone applications, is holding a photo contest for Halloween 2009. Contestants only need to submit their best Halloween photos to Appliya Studio, and the winning photos will become part of free iPhone apps that will be available worldwide.
• Codium Labs, LLC has released Babelshot 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Babelshot allows automatic real-time translation of printed text using the iPhone’s camera. Busy professionals and foreign travelers can use Babelshot to instantly translate items like restaurant menus, hotel booklets, product manuals, or snippets from books and newspapers. Babelshot incorporates innovative image processing algorithms coupled with state-of-the-art Tesseract Optical Character Recognition engine.
• iWater Flow, now available on iPhone and iPod Touch, brings out the child in you. Use the jets of water and tilt the game to place the rings on the spikes. Test your dexterity with this reproduction of the water toys you played with as a child. The controls are the same, and you will soon be reaching your top scores again.
• Fluttr from indieSpring tasks you with saving a butterfly from an explosive end by sweeping aside flowers, poking away bees and pinning up spiders. Easy to pick up and play, with quick, fun gameplay paced gently in a unique artistic setting. Fluttr is built upon the torque iT2D platform from GarageGames, and is also available as a free download for PC & Mac.
• IGG Software has announced iBank Mobile 1.1 for iPhone and iPod touch. iBank Mobile harnesses the power of the desktop version of iBank for Mac to check account balances, enter transactions and categorize expenses, even in foreign currencies. Designed to sync seamlessly with the full edition of iBank, iBank Mobile also works as a separate, stand-alone app for handheld finance management. Version 1.1 adds running balances to transactions, as well as several other enhancements and fixes.
• Graphiclife has announced Tweetspotting 1.0.1, a powerful Twitter client for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Tweetspotting allows you to browse tweets from all over the globe. Explore any location and find out what people are thinking, doing and saying. Tweetspotting also includes a real-time friend tracker that will help you find and follow your friends. Tweetspotting will automatically post your current location to the Twitter servers while you’re on the move.
• Marware has announced the Sport Grip for the iPod nano 5G, their newest lineup of slim silicone cases. The Sport Grip provides smooth, stylish, slip-free silicone protection for the ultimate soft carrying solution. The Sport Grip for iPod nano is slim, comfortable, and is made with an antimicrobial additive. The Sport Grip allows for easy access to all iPod nano buttons and ports, and comes with Marware’s Lifetime Warranty.
• Legacy Effects, one of Hollywood’s most respected special makeup and animatronic effects companies, brings its famed design skills to the small screen of the Apple iPhone and iTouch with the release of its first iPhone App, iMut8r. The new App allows users to take photos of friends and family and transform or “mut8” them into their own custom versions of classic creatures and monsters.
• Gendai Games has announced the introduction of the GameSalad Membership Program and the conclusion of the iPhone Early Access Beta Program. Members of the GameSalad Membership Program now have the ability to publish their GameSalad-made games to the iPhone at the cost of only $99 per year for an Express membership. The GameSalad Membership Program features two tiers of membership: the $99 Express membership intended for casual and prosumers, and the $1999 Pro membership intended for studios and professional developers.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Gruml has been around for a while now, but its first beta was extremely glitchy; too much to make it a very interesting and useful application. However, more recent beta releases have made Gruml a much more stable application. To be specific, an impressive RSS reader that relies on Google Reader for functionality.

Many of you are probably familiar with NetNewsWire—an application I use on both my Mac and iPhone quite often—which has made the switch to syncing with Google Reader back in July. As Gruml advances with new features similar to that of NetNewsWire, it, along with other RSS readers that sync with Google Reader, will have some good competition.

One thing that Gruml is lacking, though, is the AppleScript dictionary, which is quite important in an RSS reader (although that may be implemented in future versions of the app). The keyboard navigation, although quite decent, is also not as good as that within Google Reader’s web interface, which can be navigated entirely with only a keyboard. One cool Gruml feature is the “Send Article to” menu, which uses 12 services, including Delicious, Twitter, Facebok, Ping.fm and Posterous. Other Google Reader features, such as note-taking and starring, are all very well implemented in Gruml, and sync perfectly with the service.

Gruml’s UI has come a long way since the first beta, and the app even allows you to switch between a 2-column or 3-column view. The ability to add feeds is very well done and simplifies the process a lot more than other RSS reader apps. Still, some techinical glitches and bugs remain even in the latest version of Gruml (for example, marking all articles as “read” doesn’t provide any visual feedback), but it is still a very promising Google Reader desktop app for Mac OS X.

As a free download, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t try Gruml.

Full Story » | Written by Patrick Lutz for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for October 27, 2009:

Macintosh

• There are only three days left to purchase the new MacFriendly Bundle of 12 applications for Mac users. The Bundle represents a savings of over 85% off the list prices. Additionally, two bonus applications will be added to the bundle for all customers when 1000 bundles have been sold. The latest version of each application is included in the bundle.
• Jumsoft has announced Keynote Objects FX 4.0 for Apple iWork. Keynote Objects FX is an excellent collection of 150 high-quality 3D images. The strikingly realistic images can be added to presentations as well as text documents to lend them a touch of authenticity. The subjects in Keynote Objects FX 4.0 range from classic furniture and flowers to gift boxes, and the latest selection includes 50 brand-new objects, including many options for sports enthusiasts and leisure-themed objects.
• Agile Web Solutions today announced 1Password 3 public beta, its award-winning password and identity manager for Mac OS X. Over a year in the making, 1Password 3 is the most significant upgrade in company history, incorporating years of customer feedback and new innovation. Version 3 adds ground-breaking features like 1PasswordAnywhere which allows users to view their 1Password information on any computer with a modern browser.
• St. Clair Software has announced HistoryHound 1.9.7, its fast, efficient multi-browser utility for searching the contents of web pages and RSS feeds. Version 1.9.7 broadens HistoryHound’s capabilities with support for the latest versions of Safari, Opera, and Google Chrome. It also adds the ability to search pages pointed to by webbookmark, webhistory, and webloc files, and improves speed and robustness as well.
• Macvide has announced FlashVideo Converter 3.6, an update to its professional Flash to Video conversion utility for Mac OS X. The FlashVideo Converter is a powerful and versatile program for converting any flash video file to one of many popular video formats including iPhone/iPod mp4, Mobile 3gp and MPEG2. FlashVideo Converter able to convert all FLV and SWF files with ActionScript support.
• Second Gear has released Today 1.8.2, an update to its flagship productivity application Today. Version 1.8.2 wraps up several small bug fixes for existing users on Snow Leopard. Today makes it easy to get a one day snapshot view of your upcoming events and tasks in a compact window. Adding new events and tasks is just as easy. You can quickly schedule next week’s meeting or a quick task in Today. No iCal required.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced Instant Backup 1.6.5, an update to its simple and very affordable solution to securely back up selected data on-line and locally. Instant Backup is designed to back up the most important and sensitive active projects - the ones users don’t want to take any chances with. And FTP backup assures that the data won’t be lost in the case of theft, fire or flood. The new version adds support for Mac OS X 10.6 and addresses some usability and connectivity issues.
• Booq, a leading brand of premium laptop carrying cases for creative professionals, has unveiled the Viper rush work-in laptop case. Viper rush is a hard-sided case designed to keep up with your fast-paced day at work, at home, and everything in between. Available at booqbags.com and retailers throughout the country, booq combines sophisticated design and functionality to deliver high-quality bags and cases for the next generation of ambitious professionals.
• Macgamestore.com has announced the release of Macinarium on its web site. Created by Amanita Design, Machinarium is an award-winng point-and-click adventure game by the team that created the critically acclaimed web games Samorost and Samorost2. Machinarium world is populated only by robots of various forms and functions. One of the most interesting places in this world is old, rusty and legendary city of Machinarium where the game takes place.
• Brothers Ian Gillespie and James Gillespie, developers and partners in IGG Software, will personally present IGG’s finance management applications, iBank and iBank Mobile, in demonstrations at four major Apple retail locations this November. Demonstrations of iBank will focus on ways the app can streamline users’ personal money management, including importing data from other Mac or PC finance apps and more.

iPhone/iPod

• PixTalk is a photo communication tool for all travellers. It is also the only language tool you need for travel. PixTalk carefully selects 100 pictures that could tell almost everything needed when traveling. What you have to do is point at the pictures to show what you need.
• MotionDrum is a drum simulator that lets you drum by simply waving your iPhone or iPod Touch in the air. No tiny buttons to tap; just take your device in hand and air drum in one of four different directions. You can choose from a multitude of drum and percussion sounds, as well as sound effects and beat box samples. Use it at parties, concerts, or anywhere else that serious air drumming is required.
• Zoo Games, Inc. has announced that Groovin’ Blocks—the popular puzzle/rhythm game hybrid first seen on Wii—is now available on the iTunes App Store. Like its console predecessor, the game features addicting puzzle action centered around high-energy original music. The portable version will feature all-new levels and new songs to keep you rockin’ on the go. Presented with a minimalistic style, the gameplay is easy to learn, but to become a Groovin’ master, players will need quick wits and the ability to keep a beat. Luckily, the game’s auto-save feature makes this a perfect title for those small blocks of time that iPhone gamers live for. With a perfect balance of casual action, Groovin’ Blocks will be livening up lunch breaks and dull commutes this fall.
• Geospace and developer RogueSheep today announced the WORD SPIN game for iPhone and iPod touch is available from the App Store. The WORD SPIN App combines the elements of popular word games, crossword puzzles and word searches into a portable game for iPhone and iPod touch. The app is a great way to sharpen language skills by identifying words and anagrams from two to eight letters in length. For decades, the Original WORD SPIN has been both entertaining and challenging for everyone from kids to scholars.
• Creaceed today released Vocalia 2.1 speech recognition on the App Store. In addition to English, French and German, Version 2.1 adds Spanish, Italian and Dutch and updated CeedVocal SDK for iPhone speech recognition. Thanks to Vocalia, people owning an iPhone v1, 3G or a 2nd generation iPod Touch have access to speech recognition features like on iPhone 3GS. Vocalia is based on CeedVocal SDK, the speech recognition technology developed by Creaceed for the iPhone.
• WebIS Inc. has announced a major update to its Calendaring/To Do application for the iPhone, Pocket Informant. This release adds push alarms, calendar filtering, automatic sync, optional mini-text-in-month view, improved performance and stability, and much more.  Pocket Informant offers Calendaring and To do management in one easy to use application and is the premiere Personal Information Manager for iPhone, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry devices.
• Drinking budget down these days? Got a $5 bill burning a hole in your pocket?  In desperate need of a drink? Well, APPSolute Media and Lush Life Productions have a solution to all of your problems. Step 1: Download Happy Houred from your iPhone or iTouch (for FREE). Step 2: Search for specials near you. Step 3: Find Mr. McPints in Austin, TX offering $2.50 vodka tonics for the next hour. Step 4: Redeem your $5 for 2 tasty beverages.
• Sunstorm Interactive Inc. today announces Real Deer Hunting 1.0, their first hunting game for iPhone and iPod touch. Real Deer Hunting tests players’ skill, patience, and persistence as they find themselves in realistic locations, using all the tools of the trade to bring in and bag that elusive monster buck. Building on the style and knowledge of over 50 value games and hunting simulations, Real Deer Hunting provides the most realistic hunting experience available.
• Just in time for Halloween comes the “iFreak” iPhone and iPod Touch application for Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant. “iFreak” allows fans to join the freak show. Users can take a photo and transform into their favorite freak from the film, including the bearded lady Madame Truska, Loafhead, Gertha Teeth, Mr. Tiny, Wolfman, Rhamus Two-Bellies, Evra Von, and Larten Crepsley. Users can mix and match characters and add endless features until they are completely satisfied, save it, and share it. The “iFreak” application also contains a gallery of photos from the film and the official trailer.
• Bikini-babes, zombies, bombs, music, bloodshed, slingshots; never before has a single game combined all of the essential elements into one unified whole. But now, Smort brings us Bikini Zombie Babes. They come in wave after wave. They are scantily clad. And yes, they are trying to eat your brains. The alien invaders have cloned one of the most beautiful women on the internet—Marina Orlova of hotforwords.com—and they are ready to do battle:

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Recently, I’ve come across a very cool and useful Mac application known as GrandPerspective (yes, the URL is intentionally misspelt), a utility that scans a chosen area of your hard drive and outputs an illustration of how your hard drive space is being used. This can be particularly useful if you’re running low on disk space or have large unused and/or unwanted files hidden away that are taking up a lot of your free space.

To operate GrandPerspective, you simply choose a directory for the app to scan. After a few seconds (or minutes, depending on the size and amount of files and folders within), you’ll be greeted with a nice graphical representation of how your hard drive space within that chosen directory is being used. From there, you can browse through all of the files in that directory. If you find something you’d like to delete, you can click the Reveal button to see it in your Finder and move it to the Trash from there.

The many squares and rectangles you’ll notice after you complete the scan are a visualization of file sizes on your hard drive (yes, bigger squares/rectangles means a larger file size). For those smaller squares and rectangles that seem quite minuscule in comparison to the others, you can use the built-in focus tools to zoom in on them and find out exactly what they are, or you could do the opposite if you’re only interested in files that are eating up the most free space.

Overall, GrandPerspective is a great, simple tool that allows you to monitor how your hard drive space is being used. And with a price tag of free, you can’t go wrong. GrandPerspective is only available for Mac OS X, but Windows users can check out WinDirStat.

Product [GrandPerspectiv]

Full Story » | Written by Patrick Lutz for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for October 26, 2009:

Macintosh

• Regular Rate and Rhythm Software have announced Rowmote Pro 2.2, a major update to their complete remote control solution for Mac OS X and Apple TV. Rowmote Pro emulates the Apple hardware remote control, providing application-specific controls through a consistent interface, while also featuring a multitouch trackpad and keyboard. Version 2.2 adds direct control over Movst, OpenOffice Impress, and PandoraBoy and expands the wireless keyboard to include function and arrow keys.
• Open Door Networks Inc. has announced that it is now shipping a major update to its DoorStop line of Internet security products for Mac OS X. The update focuses on features and information for Apple’s new Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6) operating system as well as the iPhone, and adds a Twitter stream and other customer-requested items.
• app4mac has released SecretBox 2 for Mac OS X, iPhone and iPod touch. SecretBox allows you to keep your secrets in a safe place. It uses the industry standard 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data. The new version bring a new user interface, a major rewrite of the code, an improved security and more options for import/export. Most people will use SecretBox for personal use, but businesses can also use SecretBox for managing software licenses.
• Freeverse announced an update to Sound Studio’s Monbots, free automation tools available for the popular audio editing and sound creation Mac application developed by Felt Tip Software. Monbots are now compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard). Monbots are a collection of absolutely free automation tools that help you perform complex tasks on multiple sound files. Examples include the Clean & Convert plug-in, which scrubs your audio clean with Noise Gate and Dynamics Compression; Mastering Console, which makes your audio sparkle using Equalization Curves, High and Low Pass Filters, Reverb, Fade and More Cowbell; Bookend Audio, which lets you add an intro and outro; and Stitch, which does the dirty work of combining multiple audio files together with none of the hassle.
• Gracion Software LLC has released Gracion Enclose 1.1 for OS X. Gracion Enclose sends large files without the limitations of email attachments. Files dragged to Enclose are uploaded to the server of your choice (such as MobileMe or your web server) while creating a templated email in one step. To receive a file, recipients don’t need to visit a special web site or install software. They simply click a link in each email to display or download the file through their own web browsers.
• Mac-Chi has announced WhoPaste 3.3 which features flexible multi-user licensing. The new WhoPaste licenses can be installed on any supported Mac, can be transferred to another Mac, and can even be remotely deactivated. All current WhoPaste customers can upgrade their original license to a new license at no charge. WhoPaste is a powerful front-end for Daylite, Google Contacts, Entourage, and Address Book.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced LinkOptimizer 4.1.6, a maintenance update to its popular workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. LinkOptimizer allows users to reduce InDesign job size and speed up processing by eliminating excess image data, performing essential image adjustments and converting file formats. The new version addresses several performance and stability issues related to settings presets, user interface and image processing.
• QuickerTek has announced a new Dual USB device which can run at 802.11a which is 5.8GHz and 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz. This USB device adds high speed wireless to any Mac with an open USB port running at least 10.4.x through 10.6. The 802.11a standard is the highest speed wireless available anywhere, working with 5.8GHz provides up to 300Mbps twice as fast as 802.11n which provides up to 130Mbps.

iPhone/iPod

• Ocarina Spirit v2 brings an exciting new feature—the ability to play more than 20 different sounds of instruments, like the guitar, the piano, the Indian sitar, the harmonica, the bass, the violin, etc. It also features a completely revised interface with intuitive icons and the ability to record the song you are playing. Available for the iPhone and iPod touch 2nd gen, Ocarina Spirit v2 is free for a short time only.
• Elements2Dance has announced songvoo 1.1, their updated iPod music player app for iPhone and iPod Touch. This update adds many groundbreaking features including Facebook integration, shape gestures, 15,000 theme combinations, Intro-Outro skipping, and a streamlined interface. songvoo serves as a great iPod companion for both casual user and music professionals alike, or anyone who has a large, constantly changing music collection to stay on top of.
• Nanaimo Studio has introduced Idea Organizer 1.0, their new free-form note taking and organizer utility for iPhone and iPod touch. Developed specifically to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique capabilities and interface, Idea Organizer is a simple yet powerful tool that lets anyone quickly record their ideas, reminders and notes in whatever form that suits them the most. It aims to be the perfect tool to safe-keep clever ideas, gift reminders, school or meeting notes, and more.
• Press Start LLC has announced 4Notes 1.0, their taking application for iPhone and iPod touch. 4Notes offers a combination of features which allow users access to their notes from anywhere, including their iPhone/iPod touch, the internet, and their email. With fast syncing, real-time search, the ability to email notes, and more, 4Notes is an incredible application for anyone wanting a better note taking experience on their iPhone/iPod touch.
• Volutopia has launched SculptMaster 3D 1.1.0, a major update to world’s first digital sculpting and painting application for iPhone and iPod touch. Previously only seen on high-end PCs, SculptMaster 3D brings full volumetric sculpting capabilities to mobile devices, allowing artists to experiment and sketch on the go. Using the export features, work can be easily continued later on a computer, enabling a whole new level of productivity.
• Vocalia, Creaceed’s speech recognition application for the iPhone, is now available in 6 languages: English, French, German, Dutch, Italian and Spanish.
• Independent software developer Steve Glinberg has announced KidCalc 1.6, an update to his popular animated math flash cards and learning game for iPhone and iPod touch. Designed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s peerless interface, KidCalc helps teach math to children, ages 3-8 years, using Halloween themed graphics, engaging animations and voice-overs by a child. KidCalc is now four apps in one, including animated math flash cards, math drills, counting games, and an animated calculator.
• Former NFL player Tony Mandarich has launched BoxScore Babes, the ultimate NFL fan application, providing a live, streaming NFL score feed alongside images of bikini, fitness, and lingerie models. Check out the pictures in gallery mode, with 9 images on the screen, or scroll through the images in full-screen mode. Each image is downloadable to your iPhone or iTouch. Want to find your team’s score fast? Just click on the “score” button to see a full page of current scores.
• Over 1.5 billion iPhone apps were downloaded from Apple’s App Store in just one year. iPhone for Programmers gives you everything you’ll need to start developing great iPhone apps quickly and—once you’ve joined Apple’s fee-based iPhone Developer Program—to get them up and running on the App Store.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Provides: USB audio input
Developer: Blue
Minimum Requirements: Mac OSX; USB 1.0 or 2.0; 64MB RAM
Cost: $99.95
Availability: Now

Microphone maker Blue may have hit on the secret formula for success; create an easy-to-use product with a great design that also works really well. If other companies catch on to this idea…

The first thing you notice about the Snowball is its physical design. It’s fun without being goofy—a white and chrome ball atop a shiny tripod (it’s also available in brush metal and black). It’s professional without being intimidating. In fact, it looks friendly. There’s a small red light that lets you know it’s pulling power, and the tripod legs are thick and support it well; no worries about it sliding around. The physical design is a total winner, making it a microphone that’s interesting enough to have sitting on your desk as a work of abstract art when you’re not using it. If you’re not used to working with a mic, or think you might have “stage fright” when it comes time to speak, the low-key design of the snowball makes it comfortable for amateurs to use. It’s not pointing at you, you see, it’s siting there, waiting for you to play with it.

A single USB cord connects it to your computer (where it gets its power, no batteries required), and on the back is a small switch which controls the mic’s settings: cardioid (records what’s in front of mic), cardioid with -10dB pad (for loud sounds or live music) and omni (picks up sound from 360 degrees around the mic).

Garage Band detects the mic without problem, which figures since it’s designed for podcasting. I found the audio quality to be excellent, but also found myself leaning into the mic to make sure I was getting more volume. When I tried recording in Windows XP (running virtually in VMware) I had to plug the mic in a couple of times for the computer to recognize it, and really boost my speaking voice to get adequate volume, but it was an unusal setup, and I had neither of those problems when running it in Leopard or Snow Leopard.

Once I had a physical setup that I was comforatable with, figured out where the Snowball worked for me, and how loudly I needed to speak, the audio quality was excellent. I’ve used only low-end USB mics before (along with the internal mics on my Mac for Skype and iChat), and the Snowball has none of their problems (tinny sound, static, etc.). The audio is rich and the playback was warm and realistic.

At almost $100 retail, the Snowball isn’t the cheapest microphone you’ll find, nor is it truly a “pro” mic; you can only connect it via USB, and its simple settings make it ideal for home office use. It’s a prosumer item, but for those who need to take their audio seriously (podcasters, people who use audio chat frequently) without having a home studio, the Snowball is a well-designed piece of hardware that delivers great audio and connects simply with Garage Band.

Full Story » | Written by Bill Stiteler for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Leading up to the release of Mac OS X back in 2001, many users were worried about compatibility with Mac OS 9 and below. Mac OS X was completely different from its predecessors, and only some Mac OS 9 applications that were “Carbonized” would run natively in Mac OS X. Users would have lost access to all of their older applications and documents if Apple didn’t create a Classic environment that emulated Mac OS 9 from within Mac OS X. However, Classic reached its end of life in Mac OS X v10.4, and later versions of OS X didn’t include it at all. Also, since Apple had made the switch from PowerPC to Intel-based machines, any new Apple computers that ran on Intel processors couldn’t use Classic, even if they were running Mac OS X 10.4 or earlier.

For those who have legacy applications that need to be used, there are two possible solutions. If you have a relatively old Macintosh lying around that’s capable of running older versions of Mac OS, you could boot it into OS 9 and run the application on that computer. If you don’t own an older Macintosh or don’t find that to be a practical solution, you can try SheepShaver, a PowerPC emulator that runs under Mac OS X. The project began over 10 years ago as a commercial application for BeOS, and is now free and open-source and runs on multiple platforms, including Windows and Linux. The Mac version of SheepShaver is a universal binary that can run natively on any Intel-based Mac.

Before you decide to try SheepShaver though, keep in mind that it is not intended for a typical Mac user, and requires users to obtain a ROM file and perform a variety of steps, which is outlined in this helpful step-by-step tutorial. If you decide to try SheepShaver out for yourself, let us know how it goes in the comments.

For more details on SheepShaver, including the somewhat complicated set up process, read TidBITS.

Product [SheepShaver]

Full Story » | Written by Patrick Lutz for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

This week, Google announced an official version of Google Chrome, a result of the Chromium project, at the Web 2.0 Summit in California. What that means is that outside of nightly developer builds, this version—build 4.0.223.8—is the first official release build of the software. While the Windows version has been official and crushing it for quite some time now, Google certainly took their time on the Mac side. However, if you plan on trying out Chrome for Mac, I would definitely say it’s worth the wait, as I have been using it for quite some time now on my machine even in the earlier builds.

Some of the most interesting features for Chrome lie in the simplistic and minimalistic interface. As you would expect, the normal navigational buttons are near the top of the screen with the address bar. However, unlike most browsers, Chrome places the tabs above the address bar and bookmarks bar instead of below it. To me, this doesn’t really alter how I use the software much, but it is sort of a refreshing change. Furthermore, the way Chrome handles tabs is really great. For instance, you can drag and drop tabs into new windows or from one window to another simply by moving them with the mouse.

Another interface aspect of the Chrome browser is the themes that can be applied. All you need to do is go to the theme page and install one straight from there in order to get a fresh new look. While I haven’t looked through all the themes, though, I have stuck with the default one, as it works very well with the look and feel of my Mac.

As far as features go, there are some things I like about Chrome other than the speed. For one, it will show you the actual URL of a link along the bottom when you hover over it, which is nice. Furthermore, it has a top sites feature much like that of Safari. All this said, there are still some issues that exist with the software. For instance, sometimes I’ll have to revert to Safari to get Java based components of sites, such as Facebook’s photo uploader.

Either way, I strongly suggest you try this piece of software out. It can be downloaded at google.com.

Full Story » | Written by Josh Holat for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »