Appletell

Apimac has just released new versions of its Compress Files utility, which allows compressing, archiving, and encryption of files. Along with some of the other features, a notable addition is support for AES-256 encryption for zip files.

Compress Files allows users to create a compressed file in any of the following formats: Zip, TAR, Gzip, Bzip2, Xar, 7zip and Compressed Disk Image (DMG). The encrypted formats are: Zip, DMG and 7zip. Version ‘08 release 2 brings:

• Xar version 1.5.2.
• Crypted Zip files now use AES-256
• Improved AppleScript dictionary for automated e-mail and archive actions
• Customisation in contextual menus
• And, of course, bug fixes

Since 1996, Apimac has been developing award-winning software for the Mac platform. Some of their best software includes Mac Notepad, Clean Text, Apimac Slideshow and Secret Folder. Compress FIles costs around $27 for a single user license from their website. They also have a free trial version available.

Product [Compress Files]

Mac users have always been a step behind in Microsoft’s Windows Live Messenger service software; I was hoping Messenger 7 would bring us up-to-date with the Windows users, but it seems this is just a minor update. Users are presented with the familiar Microsoft Messenger interface, which now has a new icon and a search bar at the top of the contact list, along with a better notifications dialog box, but these are the only noticeable changes.

Messenger now includes Bonjour support, so you can chat over your local network without needing an internet connection. There is also now the option to give your contacts a nickname. I find this especially useful, because a lot of Windows Live users don’t use their real names as display names; this lets you add the real name.

This isn’t an impressive update to Microsoft Messenger, but it’s definitely a lot better than the previous version. If you’re a current user of it, there is no auto-update, so you’ll have to download it here.

According to AppleInsider, Apple is getting ready to send out developer builds of Mac OS X 10.5.4. 10.5.3 was just released about a week ago, and many users have been reporting graphics issues and issues with files and Adobe CS3. Apple will likely be addressing these issues in 10.5.4.

The new update may come sooner rather than later, as it is expected to carry updates pertaining to the 3G iPhone and a .Mac renaming, both of which are expected to launch at WWDC June 10th, less than a week away.

Direct quote from Apple Insider:

People familiar with the matter say developers could have the first pre-release copies of the update in their hands by week’s end. It’s almost a certainty that the beta software will surface by the company’s developer’s conference next week, they add.

Only time will tell if Apple plans to push out another update so close following 10.5.3.

Via [AppleInsider]

Time Machine is Leopard’s built-in backup solution. Backing up every hour, Time Machine keeps all of your files safe on either an external FireWire/USB drive, or a networked drive like Apple’s own Time Capsule. Time Machine is a pretty limited service at the moment - you can only have it back up every hour, and it will not prevent backups from being corrupted when your laptop runs out of battery.

According to AppleInsider, Mac OS 10.5.3 is going to bring us more options and features for Time Machine. The latest build of 10.5.3 (9D29) seeded to developers shows an updated version of Time Machine which lets laptop users stop background hourly backups when using battery power. No doubt this update also includes some various “bug fixes” for Time Machine, and hopefully makes it more speedy at preparing backups. It should eliminate a lot of battery loss from backing up over a Wi-Fi connection, and incomplete backups when your battery dies.

Parallels, Inc. introduced a new update to its popular Parallels Desktop application on Friday. The latest version, 3.0.5600, brings support for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP Sp3. It also fixes some other issues, including: Kernal panics, unusually high CPU usage, and improvements to shared folders. This update should have automatically downloaded for existing registered Parallels Desktop users - if not, you can download the update here as a DMG (88MB)

If you’re not a fan of Parallels Desktop, there’s always alternatives like Apple’s own Boot Camp and VMware Fusion. Boot Camp is included in Mac OS X Leopard and VMware Fusion costs $60.

Via [TUAW]

As suspected by the rumor websites, Apple’s latest update comes to us on a surprisingly early Monday. The all-in-one desktop success has just been upgraded with brand new Intel Core 2 Duo “Penryn” processors and new video cards. The new processors range from 2.4GHz to 3.06GHz. Unfortunately, for 4 or 8 cores, you’ll still need a Mac Pro - as these are still dual core processors.

The new models are as follows:
20-inch, 2.4GHz, 1GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT 128MB. $1199
20-inch, 2.6GHz, 2GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive, ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO 256MB, $1499
24-inch, 2.8GHz, 2GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive, ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO 256MB, $1799
24-inch, 3.06GHz, 2GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS 512MB, $2199

Similarly to the recent MacBook Pro update, this update brings no new design - it is simply a regular update to keep the iMac’s up to speed with the competition. The new iMacs are available to purchase immediately from Apple retail stores, and the Apple Store online. Authorized Apple resellers should also be receiving stock of the new iMacs, if they haven’t already.

Geeksugar, who was right about the new MacBook Pros refresh last time around, is now reporting that new iMacs will be out next week, most likely on Tuesday.  The last time this product was updated was all the way back in August 2007, but that was a complete case redesign.  These new machines will be at the same price points, but will have faster speeds (i.e. the new Penryn processors) and a larger hard drive.  With recent news of Apple shipping 2.289 million Macs this most recent quarter, this could help raise that even more this coming quarter.

What do you think?  Is this just another rumor started to get some hype and commotion, or are new iMacs due for a little refresh?  Either way, it would be nice to see a few improvements made to the machine to draw some more customers.  So save that money you were just about to spend on a new iMac for another week or so if you can just in case this rumor turns out to be true.

Usually semi-major releases excite me (I consider a .1 somewhat of a major release) excite me, but this brand spanking new release from Apple seems to be quite dull. Today’s release is Boot Camp 2.1. No, it doesn’t add any cool new features, installers, management tools. In fact, nothing is visually or noticeably new. Really, this update is simple a compatibility update for SP3. For some XP users, that may be great, as Boot Camp may have been unstable or causing issues, but for other Windows users with a stable Boot Camp running, this update is relatively meaningless. The only other difference is that 2.1 comes in three versions for three different versions of Windows, XP, Vista 32, and Vista 64. Of course, if you have XP, install Boot Camp 2.1 before SP3, or else you might have some troubles.

[Boot Camp] via [Ars Technica]

VMware have announced the relesase of Fusion 1.1.2, with added support for Time Machine backups of your virtual machines. According to VMware, Mac OS X Leopard update 10.5.2 included a fix that prevented virtual machines from backing up properly. You can now back up your virtual machines correctly with 1.1.2. A word of warning though, virtual machines will start to eat up your external hard drive’s disk space - as Time Machine backs up all changes to all files. You may want to uncheck a few folders that don’t need backing up.

1.1.2 also brings support for the MacBook Air, Windows XP Service Pack 3, and simplified Chinese, as well as the standard bug fixes. You can download a free trial of VMware Fusion from their website. If you are already a registered user, this update is free - otherwise it’s $79.99.

Via [TUAW]

ScreenFlow [10/10; Review], the phenomenal screencasting application from Vara Software, has been updated to version 1.1 today.

ScreenFlow has been updated twice before, but this update is much bigger, packing new features. Vara says it has speeded exporting up by as much as 40%. Chapter markers have been added for easy jump-to navigation, and can be exported as QuickTime chapter tracks. Audio waveforms have also been added, allowing for easy viewing of areas where there might be a cough or other slip-up in the audio.

This update resolved all the little niggles I had with the product. My favorites: delete key now deletes selection, added automatic Software Update, grabbing the scrubber when playing will now stop playback, made it easier to hit 100% with the video scale slider, and overall CPU/ memory improvements.

For a complete list of fixes, head over to Vara Software.