MacTech Labs, part of "MacTech Magazine" (http://www.mactech.com), has released the latest in its extensive benchmark study of virtualization solutions running on Intel-based Macs. MacTech's goal was to see how well Parallels Desktop 6 and VMware Fusion 3.1 perform compared head-to-head. The large suite of more than 4,000 tests were performed comparing the MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Pro. The purpose of the testing and the article are to answer the questions about performance for the different virtualization solutions available, as well as the differences between Windows XP and Windows 7 in virtual machines, as well as multiple processors, running from Boot Camp volumes and more. "MacTech Labs has been doing product evaluations and testing for more than 20 years. Our focus is to help the community not only in making tough decisions, but with real-world and how-to answers. In this case, we wanted to help people understand where each virtualization product is fastest," says Neil...

Sonnet Technologies has introduced the US$69.95 Yin•Yang FireWire 800 to FireWire 400/800 Mini Hub (http://www.sonnettech.com/product/yinyang.html), which enables users to connect a FireWire 800 device plus a FireWire 400 device to a computer simultaneously through a single FireWire 800 port. The latest Macs (with the exception of the Mac Pro) have only a single FireWire 800 (IEEE-1394b) port and no FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a) port. However, with the Yin•Yang Mini Hub. Two FireWire peripherals, such as external drives, DV camcorders, webcams, audio interfaces, and previous-generation iPod mobile digital devices, can be concurrently connected and used. No adapter or cable swapping is required.  Yin•Yang is small and portable, and it supports one bus-powered device (on either port). The hub housing, measuring just 1.9 by 1.5 by 0.6 inches, is about the size of a matchbox, and the attached host cable is only three inches long. Yin•Yang requires no power adapter, needs no driver software,...

At this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Xsilva Systems (http://www.xsilva.com/) will be showcasing the latest addition to its platform, a fully integrated mobile point-of-sale (POS) system called LightSpeed Mobile. With LightSpeed Mobile, Xsilva offers retailers the ability to eliminate impersonal cash register line-ups and instead complete transactions on the retail floor using the same hardware as Apple does in its own retail stores, according to Dax Dasilva, CEO and founder of Xsilva Systems. More than just a mobile payment-processing platform, LightSpeed Mobile offers barcode scanning and ties into LightSpeed’s business and inventory workflows, making it a viable option for retailers who require a comprehensive back-end system, he adds. In addition to highlighting LightSpeed Mobile at CES, Xsilva company will be introducing conference visitors to the full suite of its Mac-based LightSpeed POS tools. LightSpeed combines a POS for front-counter retail with back-office...

General Imaging (GIC), the exclusive worldwide licensee of GE Digital Cameras (http://www.ge.com/digitalcameras/US), will unveil the latest additions to its Power, Power Pro and Smart Series lines, and the brand's first handheld 1080p HD digital video camera at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The US$129.99 GE DV1 (pictured) is the first GE-branded handheld, HD digital video camera. It's pocket-sized and waterproof and offers a built-in flip out USB plug for instantly connecting and uploading HD videos and photos to share. With full HD 1080p movie recording capabilities combined with a highly durable exterior, the DV1 is not only waterproof to 16 feet, but shockproof and dustproof , according to the folks at GE. The X500 ($149.99), due next month, features an electronic view finder, 16-megapixels, optical image stabilization, 15X optical zoom, 27mm wide angle lens, shutter and aperture priority modes; high dynamic range and smile, blink and face detection. For...

Canon U.S.A. (http://www.usa.canon.com) has launched five new Pixma Office printers, four of which have the ability to print, copy, scan and fax while the remaining printer has 13 x 19-inch printing capabilities. They sport features such as Advanced Media Handling, an Auto Document Feeder (ADF) and Full HD Movie Print. The Canon Pixma MX882 (US$199.99), MX420 ($99.99) and MX410 ($149.99) Wireless Office All-In-One (AIO) printers help make daily office tasks more convenient by printing from almost anywhere, according to Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. In addition, each of these Wireless AIO models are 802.11n Wi-Fi certified. For the business owner who doesn't need the wireless option, the Canon Pixma MX360 Office AIO model is available for $79.99. Canon recognizes the needs of small businesses to have a desktop printer that prints spreadsheets or ledger-sized documents in addition to high-quality photos as large as 13...

Seagate (http://www.seagate.com) has introduced a new collection of GoFlex for Mac external drives designed to make it easy for those who use Mac OS X and Time Machine to backup, shuttle, or share their digital content. These new portable and desktop solutions are HFS+ formatted out-of-the-box, making them fully compatible with Apple Time Machine backup software, while maintaining the ability to work across both Mac OS X and Windows computers. GoFlex for Mac drives can also be used with computers running Windows by simply downloading an HFS+ driver for Windows from Seagate.com, which will provide full read-write access to the drive from a Windows computer. Each GoFlex for Mac product comes bundled with FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 adapters and cables -- the most popular interfaces for Apple computers -- but also delivers the flexibility to change the drive’s interface to USB 3.0 or powered eSATA for use with Windows computers. Each 2.5-inch, ultra-portable drive in the family features a...

Micron Technology (http://www.micron.com) has unveiled a new portfolio of the RealSSDTM solid-state drives (SSDs) for the flash-based notebook market. A new breed of notebooks are entering the market that have lightweight construction, snappier system responsiveness and a longer lasting battery -- all made possible because of the innovations in flash-based storage products, says Dean Klein, vice president of memory system development at Micron. " The new portfolio is the first SSD product line to incorporate Micron's 25-nanometer (nm) NAND flash technology, creating a broad portfolio of capacities ranging from 64GB to 512GB. The drives will be available in 1.8-inch and 2.5-inch form factors. As with its predecessor, the product line also supports the SATA 6Gb/s interface, which opens up the data path between the host processor and the SSD delivering improved overall system responsiveness including faster boot times and speedier application loads, Klein says. The new drives reach...

Developer Steven Riggs has updated TimeTable for Mac OS X (http://www.stevenriggs.com) to version 2.0. This release adds: multiple calendars; the ability to set rates per calendar; the ability to save column layouts; the ability to save text export settings; live preview for the text export; live preview for the notes export, better date selection controls; the ability to view time in hours, minutes or duration; improved to-do export options; and enhanced user interface; and other internal enhancements. TimeTable allows you to export iCal calendar data and analyze and total the number of hours recorded on your calendar. It's designed to make it simple to track and bill for your time without keeping a second record outside of your calendar. TimeTable reads and filters iCal calendar data and calculates the hours spent in the events. TimeTable 2.9 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher. It's Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. TimeTable costs US$19.99 for a...

Withings has launched the Withings Blood Pressure monitor. All data is recorded and saved to the user’s secure online space for measurement access and retrieval through their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or other screen connected to the device's interface. Through the Withings application programming interface, specialist partners can interface with the platform to offer additional services, as Withings has already proven with its WiFi Body Scale and partners such as Google Health, Microsoft HealthVault and numerous health & sports coaching websites such as DailyBurn.com, RunKeeper.com, FitOrbit.com, gymtechnik.com, aujourdhui.com, Strands.com, Danholt4mac.com, Jogmap.de and more, says Withings co-founder Cédric Hutchings. The Withings Blood Pressure monitor costs US$129. It will be available later this month at http://www.withings.com .

Workamajig (http://www.Workamajig.com), software for ad agencies and others in the creative and design industries, has been updated to version 10.5.3.8, adding the ability to set up new projects via drag and drop. Workamajig's new features for setting up new projects allows users to drag templates into campaigns automatically creating new projects, says Ron Ause, Workamajig's director of marketing. The software's features continue to integrate tightly with Apple's Safari web browser, and Google's Chrome browser, both for the Mac and Windows platforms, he adds. As alway, no installation or conversion are necessary, and all updates are at no cost to the over 21,000 users of Workamajig. All client log-ins and vendor logins are always free.

Tension Software has updated CryptoEdit (http://www.pomola.com/products_cryptoedit/cryptoedit.html), a Mac OS X program to create and edit protected encrypted documents, to version 1.6.1. The update offers improvement in the internal engine. Also, opening an encrypted document the password dialog is now centered and not resizable. CryptoEdit can import from other documents in standard TEXT or RTF or RTFD (RTF + images) . Documents can also be exported as TEXT, RTF or standard RTFD (included images) CryptoEdit document are saved always encrypted for security purpose. Saving a document containing images will create on disk a single file with all the text and images encrypted in a single file. Any data the user puts in the document is encrypted and not redeable without the right password. CrytopEdit costs US$30, though version 1.6/1 is a free update for registered users.

Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has released BatchOutput 3.10, an update to its professional solution to automate printing and exporting from Adobe InDesign. The update dds an option to log InDesign preflight errors to a text file during processing. BatchOutput is designed to automate and simplify InDesign production workflows of service providers, printers, ad agencies and publishers. With BatchOutput, users only need to select the files to output and adjust the settings, and the rest will be done automatically. BatchOutput 3.10 can be purchased for US$129.95. A demo is available for download. Upgrades to BatchOutput 3.101 free for licensed users of version 3.x, and $47.98 for the users of earlier versions. Every order includes a free license of File Courier (a $19.95 value). BatchOutput is available for Mac OS X 10.4.2 and higher, a Universal Binary, and works with Adobe InDesign CS-CS5.

The Forrester research group (http://macte.ch/xBjSd) has Forrester published its revised US consumer tablet forecast, which forecasts US tablet computer sales to more than double this year. And the big winner is expected to be -- you guessed it! -- Apple and the iPad. Forrester has revised its US consumer tablet forecast for 2010 upward to 10.3 million units, and expects sales to more than double in 2011 to 24.1 million units. Of those sales, the lion's share will be iPads, and "despite many would-be competitors that will be released at CES, we see Apple commanding the vast majority of the tablet market through 2012," says the research group. "One major assumption that changed in our model is the replacement rate, which we think will be closer to that of MP3 players or iPhones than to that of PCs," says Forrester. "Although they are certainly used for productivity, tablets are proving themselves to be "lifestyle devices" at home and at work, and as such we think consumers will...

Lexar Media (http://www.lexar.com) has announced the Echo MX and ZX backup drives, designed to automatically protect essential files for on-the-go netbook and notebook users. Jyh Chau, senior product marketing manager, Lexar Media, says the drives offer high-performance read/write speeds and no-touch backup software. Additionally, the Echo ZX offers a low-profile design and sports an always-on capacity meter. The Echo MX back-up drive provides 128-bit AES encryption with built-in Lexar Echo backup software. It's available in capacities of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB, provides multiple levels of storage, and offers speeds up to 28MB/second read and 10MB/s write on lower capacities and speeds up to 30MB/s read and 17MB/s write for the 128GB capacity. The Echo ZX provides all the benefits of a larger backup device in a tiny, plug-and-stay USB form factor, says Chau. This always-ready, low-profile drive can plug into a notebook or netbook and remain there for ongoing, automatic...

Griffin Technology (http://www.griffintechnology.com) has announced CarTrip, an integration of hardware and software that provides realtime driver feedback on everything from fuel efficiency to maintenance codes and environmental impact. CarTrip's Bluetooth monitor plugs into the car's OBD-II port to record and analyze data from the car's on-board computer. On-board memory stores data, and CarTrip's expansion SD card slot allows for additional data storage. A built-in sleep feature minimizes power consumption when not in use. CarTrip displays the data on a compatible iOS or Android device, using a friendly (and free) app called CleanDrive. It's available at the Apple App Store. CleanDrive monitors the car's performance, collecting realtime data like fuel consumption, acceleration, top speed and engine diagnostic codes. It crunches the numbers and displays a "Carbon Score" on the iOS or Android device's screen. Instantaneous, trip, and long-term averages are recorded to give a clear...

Feral Interactive (http://www.feralinteractive.com) says the Mac version of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 will be released on Thursday, Jan. 6 for US$39.95. It's available for pre-order. Here's how the game is described: "Combining the quirky and fun gameplay of LEGO with the magic of Harry Potter, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 lets users experience all the thrills and excitement of the first four Harry Potter books and films in a brand new way. The adventure builds from Privet Drive to the Triwizard Tournament in an interactive journey that takes players through some of the most detailed and expansive environments ever created for a LEGO game.  "Playing as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, as well as more than 170 other favorite characters, fans will have the opportunity to attend lessons, cast spells, mix potions, fly on broomsticks and complete tasks to earn rewards. In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, players will have the freedom to play alone or in two-player co-op as...

So you can make HD video calls and Full HD video recordings on a Mac, Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) has announced that its flagship Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 (US$99.99) is now Mac-compatible. The newest Logitech HD webcam is not only plug-and-play ready with iChat, Photo Booth® and FaceTime, but with the latest Logitech software for Macs, Mac fans can now experience Full HD 1080p video recording and one-click uploading to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, as well as integration with the editing and management functions of iPhoto and iMovie, according to Eric Kintz, vice president and general manager of Logitech’s video business. And for video calls in HD 720p, Mac enthusiasts can now enjoy the "fast, free and easy-to-use" Logitech Vid HD for Mac, he adds. The newest Logitech webcam is compatible with much more than just Macs. In addition to Apple applications such as FaceTime, iChat and Photo Booth, the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 will work with virtually every major video-...

Iomega (http://www.iomega.com) is making several announcements at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, including a home media cloud edition, an iPhone backup and charger, (shown) and Iomega TV with Boxee. Iomega has announced its Personal Cloud technology, which offers data protection and remote access solution for small businesses and consumers. It's a web-based computing architecture that connects your Iomega network storage device to other individuals and/or devices via the Internet.   Iomega's Personal Cloud technology is completely self-owned; the content and accessibility is always under your control. And there are no usage fees or subscription charges. The Iomega Personal Cloud will be available worldwide beginning this month with the launch of the new single-drive Iomega Home Media Network Hard Drive Cloud Edition. It's also a built-in feature in the new Iomega TV with Boxee, launching in February. Users of Iomega's new NAS devices can create their own Personal...

Soldak Entertainment is now taking pre-orders of the Din's Curse: Demon War expansion (http://macte.ch/CdqR9) for both Mac and Windows platforms. It's available for US$8.99 for a limited time. Din's Curse: Demon War is the first expansion for the unique action RPG Din's Curse. Din's Curse is a single player and co-op multiplayer action RPG for Windows and Mac PCs with 141 class combinations (196 with the expansion), an "infinite" number of dynamically generated towns, real consequences, and a dynamic, evolving world. Din's Curse: Demon War is scheduled to be released in the fourth quarter of 2010, however it will be released when it's done, according to the folks at Soldak Entertainment.

Lexar (http://www.lexar.com) has announced new Lexar Professional Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC)  memory cards. The new 33x SDXC cards enable the capture, storage, and transfer of extended lengths of 1080p high-definition (HD) video and continuous, rapid-fire image capture in a single, high-performance solution, according to Pachi Chen-Wong, senior product marketing manager, Lexar Media. The Lexar Professional 133x SDXC card is the first available in a 128GB capacity, and is also offered in a 64GB capacity. Both cards are speed rated at 133x, providing a minimum guaranteed transfer speed of 20MB per second, and feature a Class 10 speed designation. The memory cards are compatible with all SDXC-enabled devices.  The Lexar Professional SDXC cards include a limited lifetime warranty and free, dedicated professional technical support. The new 64GB and 128GB Lexar Professional SDXC memory cards will be available in the first quarter of 2011 at leading retailers and on the Lexar...

Handbrake (http://handbrake.fr/downloads.php), a DVD "ripping" app for Mac OS X, has been updated to version 0.9.5. It's free, requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher and, as of this version, is compatible only with Intel-based Macs. Handbrake 0.9.5 also has a new Audio Panel supporting >4 audio tracks, VLC detection in /Applications and ~/Applications and multiple instance support. Handbrake can encode directly from DVDs (even encrypted ones) or from VIDEO_TS folders. It supports: AC3, LPCM and MPEG audio tracks; two-pass encoding; encoding of two audio tracks; and picture deinterlacing, cropping and scaling. It outputs MP4, AVI, OGM, AAC, MP3 and Vorbis audio files. It also includes a bitrate calculator. However, Handbrake doesn't handle DTS audio tracks or single VOB files. If you have a DVD-ROM with random video files saved on it (AVI, MPG, WMV, MOV, etc), Handbrake won't be able to convert these files.

Safari and iOS market share for Internet usage rose from November to December, while the Mac OS X percentage dipped slightly, according to the latest market share survey from NetMarketShare (http://www.netmarketshare.com). According to the report, among operating systems, Mac OS X had 5.02% of the global market share in December compared to 5.03% in November (that's global market share; in the US it's almost 10%). Windows remains dominant with 90.29% as of December. That's down from 91.81% in November. Apple's highest percentage previously was 5.27% in October 2009. When it comes to browsers, Safari had 5.98% in December compared to 5.55% in November, while Internet Explorer had 57.08% Firefox had 22.81% and Chrome had 9.98%. That compares to, respectively, November percentages of 58.44%, 22.76% and 9.26%, for the browsers. The iOS's market share also rose, according to NetMarketShare. It had 1.69% of the global market share in December compared to 1.36% in November. That's an all...

Apple should probably roll out the next version of Final Cut Studio in March or early April. And it will come in two versions, according to "HardMac" (http://www.hardmac.com). The upgrade may not feature all the new features some users are clamoring for. However, two versions are already running at beta level, one for Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard") and one for Mac OS X Lion, says "HardMac." Some new features will only be available on Lion’s version, due to the changes made on QuickTime layer, the article adds.

Intel has officially unveiled its "Sandy Bridge" processors. chips will in actuality carry the same Core i3/i5/i7 naming as the 2010 generation of Intel processors. According to Intel, highlights of the Sandy Bridge processors, built around a new 32nm microarchitecture, include more energy efficient performance and improved 3D and graphics performance. The latest version of Intel's Turbo Boost technology, called Turbo Boost 2.0, lets each core boost performance past its base clock speed as needed for dynamic workloads, while balancing the thermal headroom to avoid overheating. Intel claims that with this new generation of CPUs, "content creation is up to 42% faster and gaming up to 50% faster," than previous generations. You'll definitely see Sandy Bridge processors in Macs this year. Intel sahs its next-generation laptop chips based on the Sandy Bridge architecture will be able to play Blu-ray 3D movies while preserving battery life. Could this mean Blu-ray playback might finally...