27-inch iMacs now close to shipping for early buyers
If you ordered a 27-inch iMac shortly after they were announced, you may be getting it soon. According to "MacRumors" (www.macrumors.com), the all-in-ones are "Preparing for Shipments" for early buyers.
Alas, if you didn't order early, you'll have to wait a bit. Shipping estimates for new orders placed for the newest generation of new 27-inch iMac models have slipped from “3-4 weeks” to “January,” per the Apple online store.
Apple to open new China retail store this weekend
Apple will open a new retail store in Chengdu, China, this weekend. It will have a grand opening ceremony together with Hong Kong's third Apple retail store on Saturday, reports "M.I.C. Gadget" (http://macte.ch/FiZJU).
It will be the first Apple store in Chengdu. The new store will have up to two levels, similar to the one in Shenzhen, but "not as big as the Pudong Apple Store or the one at Nanjing Road in Shanghai," notes "M.I.C. Gadget."
iOS Maps app misdirects some Australian drivers
Mildura (Australia) police are urging driversto be careful when relying on the Maps app in iOS 6 after a number of motorists "were directed off the beaten track in recent weeks," reports the "Victoria Police News" (http://macte.ch/LqamC).
Local police have been called to assist distressed motorists who have become stranded within the Murray-Sunset National Park after following directions -- or, rather, mis-directioins -- on their iPhone. Tests on the mapping system by police confirm the mapping systems lists Mildura in the middle of the Murray Sunset National Park, approximately 70km away from the actual location of Mildura, says the "Victoria Police News."
Police have contacted Apple about the matter and hope the matter is rectified quickly "to ensure the safety of motorists traveling to Mildura," the article adds. Meanwhile, anyone traveling to Mildura or other locations within Victoria should rely on other forms of mapping, the police say.
US online spending approaches $27 billion
ComScore (www.comscore.com), a company that "measures the digital world," has reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 37 days of the November–December 2012 holiday season.
For the holiday season-to-date US$26.6 billion has been spent online, marking a 13% increase versus the corresponding days last year. The most recent week saw three individual days eclipse $1 billion in spending -- Monday, Dec. 3 ($1.117 billion), Tuesday, Dec. 4 ($1.362 billion) and Wednesday, Dec. 5 ($1.051 billion) -- bringing the total number of billion dollar spending days for the season to seven.
"Despite posting three consecutive billion-dollar spending days and five in excess of $950 million, this past week saw a noticeable softening in e-commerce momentum as growth rates dipped into single-digits after beginning the season in the mid-teens," says comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. "However, we expect this lull to be a temporary effect having more to do with the extended shopping...
Kaspersky Lab detects 200,000 new malicious programs every day
Kaspersky Lab (www.kaspersky.com) has released its annual "Kaspersky Security Bulletin,"which provides the overall malware and cyber-threat statistics for 2012.
The data analyzed in the report was obtained using the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN), the cloud-based infrastructure used by Kaspersky Lab products to report telemetry and to deliver instant protection in the forms of blacklists and heuristic rules, which are designed to catch the newest threats.
The 2012 report revealed significant growth of Mac-specific malware and an explosive growth in the number of threats targeting the Android platform. Overall, Kaspersky Lab’s products detected and blocked more than 1.5 billion web-based attacks in 2012 and more than 3 billion infected files.
At the present time Kaspersky Lab detects and blocks more than 200,000 new malicious programs every day, a significant increase from the first half of 2012, when 125,000 malicious programs were detected and blocked each day on average.
Mac OS...
Shanghai for Final Cut comes to the Mac App Store
Mosa Motion Graphics has released Shanghai for Final Cut 1.0 on the Mac App Store . It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and costs US$59.99.
Shanghai is a helper application that runs alongside Apple's Final Cut Pro, and dispenses video of Shanghai, China, directly into Final Cut events or bins. It also works with iMovie, FCPX, Final Cut Express, and Keynote.
Shanghai themes include Skylines, People, Industry, Colonial Areas, Transportation, and Old Street Scenes. All clips contains picture and sound, and are royalty free. These HD clips can be dragged and dropped directly into Final Cut "events" or "bins," or can be saved directly to any folder. Shanghai's thumbnail based interface works as a helper application alongside Apple video editing programs.
All shots can be screened on the app's movie player screen. Just below the movie player screen, a data panel displays shot location text information, and the video file's attributes. If a user intends on putting the shot into an open...
Apple, Google team up for Kodak patent bid
Apple and Google have teamed up to offer more than US$500 to buy Kodak's patents out of bankruptcy, reports "Bloomberg," quoting unnamed "people familiar with the situation."
The two companies have partnered after leading two separate groups this summer to buy some of Kodak’s 1,100 imaging patents, the article adds. Showing the weird workings of the global business world, on another front, Apple and Google are doing battle in the smartphone market.
Last month Eastman Kodak was granted court permission to retain exclusive control of its bankruptcy case through Feb. 28 as it tries to execute an US$793 million financing offer from a group of bondholders. The company hopes to sell off its patent portfolio to a list of potential buyers that include Apple and Google.
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 10
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Koingo Software has introduced AirRadar 2.2.6 (http://www.koingosw.com/products/airradar.php), an update of its free Mac OS X software that allows users to scan for wireless networks in range of their computer, compile favorite and filter lists, and view detailed network information. The upgrade offers better handling of crash reporting.
The Escapers has released Flux 2.10 (http://theescapers.com/flux2/), an update of the Mac OS X app that allows drag 'n drop creation of web pages without the need of knowledge of XHTMLICSS (though you can twiddle with the code if you like). It's a maintenance upgrade with some bug fixes and performance tweaks.
OakTree Software (http://www.accordancebible.com/) has updated its Accordance Bible study software for Mac OS X to version 10.1.1. Copy As Instant Details no longer requires an open Instant Details. Compare Text requires a book match to compare the panes, so it won't attempt to compare LXX with...
Apple rumors: Apple's 'Glass' Project, more
Here are the latest Apple rumors from the blogosphere.
"Before there ever was a Project Glass from Google, there was Apple's Glass Project in the form of a patent application filed in late 2006, published in 2008 and granted in 2009. Apple's Glass Project seemed to have fallen off the grid until July 2012 when a new patent application laid out some new parameters for their future glasses. The new glasses were being designed to work with augmented reality but more importantly, they were being designed with telephonic capabilities in mind." -- "Patently Apple" (www.patentlyapple.com)
"Apple Inc. and worldwide demand for its iPhone and iPad — and maybe soon iTV — may be behind top-secret efforts to land a second major semiconductor manufacturing facility in the Capital Region."-- "TimesUnion" (http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Region-may-have-Apple-s-eye-40...)
"Foxconn likely would want to expand its U.S. manufacturing capabilities to take advantage of recent moves by companies...
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office rules 'Steve Jobs patent...
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published a preliminarily ruling that Apple's iPhone patent popularly referred to as "the Steve Jobs patent" is invalid in its entirety upon reexamination, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://tinyurl.com/but8ewy).
This is the second incident of this kind. In late October, a first Office action in a reexamination proceeding stated the preliminary conclusion that all 20 claims of Apple's rubber-banding (overscroll bounce) patent are invalid. The "Steve Jobs patent" (number 7479949) is for a "touch screen device, method and graphical user interface for determining commands by applying heuristics."
The patent has also been asserted against Motorola. .S. Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner declared large parts of the patent invalid and identified only some minor potential infringement on Motorola's part that he decided would not warrant injunctive relief even if Apple prevailed on whatever little was left of its related claims," notes "FOSS Patents."
Windows 8 tops '100 Best Products' list from '...
Windows 8 sits atop the "100 Best Products" list from "PCWorld" (www.pcworld.com) and "TechHive" (www.techhive.com).
With big technology launches and announcements now on par with blockbuster movie premiers and red carpet galas, tech fans were treated to their fair share of pageantry and promenading from the likes of Apple, Microsoft, Google, and many others this year. The gang at "PCWorld" and "TechHive" took a look back at 2012 to rank the "100 Best Products" that made the biggest impact
At the top of the list of 100 Best Tech Products sits Microsoft’s biggest operating system update and rollout since Windows 95: Windows 8. In some ways, the jury is still out on whether Windows 8 was/is a big success, but the "PCWorld": and "TechHive" credit its "substantial performance improvements and bold step into the mobile/touch-screen universe" with winning the top rank for 2012.
The top 10 includes many of the most popular and successful products from the year: Apple’s iPad (3rd generation,...
Scalpers abound at launch of the iPad mini in Beijing
China: The release of the iPad mini on Friday at its flagship store in Beijing "was missing the massive and unruly crowds reminiscent of some the company’s previous product launches in China, but scalpers were still out in force despite rules making it tougher for them to buy most of the stock," reports "The Wall Street Journal."
Apple is requiring Chinese customers to participate in an online lottery one day in advance to buy the Wi-Fi version of the small tablet at its seven retail stores in China. However, those chosen are limited to two iPad minis each and must bring photo identification.
"On Friday morning, Apple’s Sanlitun store opened to no crowds, but a large group of scalpers was standing a hop and skip from the store entrance collecting iPad Minis from Chinese customers in exchange for cash," reports the "Wall Street Journal." "Behind them, on a nearby bench, sat tall stacks of the devices."
Read more at http://tinyurl.com/b3la2qk .
German court orders stay of Samsung lawsuit against Apple
Judge Andreas Voss of the Mannheim Regional Court in Germany has ordered a stay of a Samsung lawsuit against Apple over doubts concerning the validity of a patent covering a particular method for entering smileys on a mobile phone, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://tinyurl.com/bhuynwb).
A nullity (invalidation) action against that patent is pending at the Federal Patent Court. The Mannheim court won't let Samsung "enforce this questionable patent unless its validity is affirmed at the end of the nullity proceedings," notes "FOSS Patents."
This is all part of the ongoing, global legal battle. Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four continents. For example, Apple alleges that Samsung copied the slide-to-unlock technology of its iPhone and iPad devices.
Apple posts Mac OS X Server 2.2 for Mountain Lion
Apple has released OS X Server 2.2 for Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. The server software update adds a new caching function -- the "Caching Service," which is designed to make software and app updates download faster.
The OS X Server 2.2 update also fixes problems with the Adaptive Firewall, Calendar and Mail services, Contacts service, Messages service, and Profile Manager, according to Apple. It's a free update and is available via the Software Update component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app.
Alien Skin Software releases Eye Candy 7
Alien Skin Software has rolled out Eye Candy 7, an upgrade of its graphic design effects plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.
Eye Candy 7-- which works on Mac OS X 10.7 or higher -- renders realistic effects that are difficult to achieve in Photoshop alone, such as Fire, Chrome, and the new Lightning. The redesigned user interface lets users browse all of Eye Candy's effects through icons and instant previews.
Eye Candy 7 contains the new Lightning, Electrify, and Cloud effects. It also boasts over 1,000 presets.
Eye Candy is made for professionals in production environments who need support for 16-bit/channel images and CMYK mode. It provides multiple techniques for non-destructive editing in Photoshop, including Smart Filter support and rendering effects on a new layer.
Eye Candy 7 is available at www.alienskin.com for US$199. Owners of any previous version of Eye Candy may upgrade for $99. Free upgrades will be automatically sent to everyone who purchased Eye Candy...
Cargo Commander game available at the Mac App Store
Serious Brew's Cargo Commander is now available on the Mac App Store at a special introductory price of US$7.99. It requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher.
Here's how the game is described: "Travel through the vast reaches of wormhole-filled space salvaging priceless cargo from alien infested containers. Punch and shoot deadly mutants in the face, while traveling between your ship and containers. Jockey for promotions with thousands of other Cargo Commanders in the galaxy, collect over 80 different cargo types, all the while earning your way back home.
"The work is hard, honest and hairy. When not punching deadly mutants in the face you must travel between your ship and incoming containers using advanced Cargo Corp-approved technologies, like Jumping and Holding Your Breath to collect over 80 unique cargo types. Plus you get to jockey for promotions against thousands of other Cargo Commanders in the galaxy and loot their bodies to gain that extra little edge."
You can download it at...
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 8
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Apple has posted maintenance updates its line of professional video editing software: Final Cut Pro 10.0.7, Motion 5.0.6 and Compressor 4.0.6.
Read more: http://www.macnn.com/articles/12/12/06/updates.mostly.maintenance.releas... Technologies (www.econtechnologies.com) has updated ChronoSync to version 4.3.6. The latest version of the syncing software supplies more information to connected ChronoAgents that will utilized in future updates of ChronoAgent and ChronoMonitor.
Zevrix Solutions (www.zevrix.com) has announced LinkOptimizer 4.7.12, a feature update to its workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. The new version offers uninterrupted conversion of multilayer images to PNG while preserving image transparency.
Cocoatech (www.cocoatech.com) has released Path Finder 6.1.1 for Lion/Mountain Lion. It's a new version of their file browser and management application that offers new features and bug fixes.
Tension Note has...
Apple products coming to T-Mobile next year
T-Mobile has signed an agreement with Apple to help bring its products to market in 2013, reports "engadget" (http://macte.ch/21AFO). There's no word yet on exactly which Apple products T-Mobile will carry.
An Apple spokeswoman confirmed the deal but declined to offer further details, according to "AllThingsD" (www.allthingsd.com). T-Mobile has been taking steps to make its U..S. network more iPhone friendly, including making its 3G network iPhone compatible and deploying a next-generation LTE network sometime next year.
No 'cloning' allowed in Apple-HTC deal
A patent agreement between Apple and HTC forbids the Taiwanese company from making and selling mobile devices that copy what is described as the "Distinctive Apple User Experience," according to a redacted version of the agreement filed in a California court." reports the "IDG News Service" (http://macte.ch/AIaz0).
The "slide to unlock" feature at the bottom of the screen of some Apple devices, for example, could qualify as a distinctive Apple user experience, while the "pinch to zoom" functionality does not, and will not be considered a "cloned feature," according to the document. According to the IDG News Service, disputes over cloning are to be referred for arbitration, if company executives fail to arrive at a resolution. HTC may be required to remove the cloned feature in its design within 90 days, and Apple may only dispute features designed by HTC in this way.
Last month Apple and HTC reached a global settlement that includes the dismissal of all current lawsuits and a ten-year...
Synium Software releases Animationist for OS X
Synium Software has released Animationist 1.0 for Mac OS X. It's software that lets you create title art animations for your YouTube videos, iMovie or Final Cut projects, showcase videos and even TV broadcasts.
Anamationist comes with a variety of presets, samples and tutorials. All these effects can be completely animated using keyframes.
Every change is being displayed in realtime and playback of your movie is rendered instantly. Animationist can adjust the quality to accomplish a live preview without having to wait until rendering is done.
You can assign as many effects as you like, for example inner and outer shadow, glow, blur or borders to layers. You can create presets from your effect configuration to easily apply them to other layers. And you can combine effects with shaders in any way you like.
With Animationist, you can export your movies with a single click using many different codecs. The software can compress your movie to save space or export it with a lossless video...
ABBYY releases mobile imaging SDK
ABBYY (www.abbyy.com) has released the ABBYY Mobile Imaging Software Development Kit (SDK) for iOS.
It provides developers with smart tools for enhancing the viewing quality of images of documents captured with a mobile device's camera. As document capture scenarios involving mobile devices are becoming increasingly popular, the new SDK also offers special instruments used to determine whether photographed documents are suitable for OCR.
The technology detects blurred photos of text, or images with uneven and poor lighting before they are sent to an OCR engine or service for further processing. Depending on the customer's needs, ABBYY Mobile Imaging technology can both filter out low quality photos by using special detectors and improve viewing quality of captured images with text, according to to the folks at ABBYY.
With the image pre-processing functionality integrated in a mobile device, photographs of documents can be adjusted for better viewing before archiving, publishing or...
AKVIS updates Coloriage to version 9.0
AKVIS has released AKVIS Coloriage 9.0, an upgrade of the software that lets you colorize black-and-white photos and replace colors in color photos. Version 9.0 improves the Eyedropper tool, adds new features, fixes bugs, and adds compatibility with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
AKVIS Coloriage adds color to black and white photos and to sketch drawings, replaces colors in color images, creates a sepia effect, and even removes red eye It also offers selective desaturation and selective colorization.
A demo of Coloriage is available at www.akvis.com ; it requires Mac OX 10.4 and higher The software is available as a Photoshop plug-in or as a standalone application for US$75. Coloriage is also available in the AKVIS Alchemy bundle, which includes all AKVIS software, at a discounted price.
New T-RackS custom shop available from IK Multimedia
IK Multimedia has released T-RackS Custom Shop, version 4.0 of its mixing and mastering suite for the Mac and PC. The new T-RackS CS offers five new, analog-modeled and digital processors. Plus, it integrates the Custom Shop, IK’s online gear shop. It allows users to purchase gear models à la carte from within the T-RackS software itself, and much more.
The new T-RackS CS includes five new processing modules. Four belong to the new Quad Series of multi-band mastering processors, which includes a compressor, limiter, stereo imager and de-esser. These units allow for mastering and mixing by splitting the signal into four adjustable frequency bands (three for the de-esser) that can be processed individually. Each Quad module is equipped with a set of filters and a solo function for auditioning individual bands.
The fifth new processor is British Channel, an analog-modeled emulation of the channel strip from what IK Multimedia says is the most popular British mixing desk of all time....
Foxconn plans American expansion
Foxconn Technology Group, the major supplier to Apple and other companies, is planning to expand its operations in North America as customers request more of their products be Made in U.S.A.
“We are looking at doing more manufacturing in the U.S. because, in general, customers want more to be done there,” Louis Woo, a Foxconn spokesman, told "Bloomberg Businessweek" (http://macte.ch/5puwe) in a phone interview. He declined to comment on individual clients or specific plans.
Last month Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou, who founded the maker of iPhones, iPads, PlayStations and televisions in Taipei 38 years ago, wants to bring U.S. engineers to Asia to train them in manufacturing before deploying them back home.
“Supply chain is one of the big challenges for U.S. expansion,” Woo told "Bloomberg Businessweek." “In addition, any manufacturing we take back to the U.S. needs to leverage high-value engineering talent there in comparison to the low-cost labor of China.”
Apple shares up 1.5%
Apple shares turned positive Thursday morning following an earlier decline, with the stock up 1.5% to US$547 in the second hour of trades.
As noted by "MarketWatch" (www.marketwatch.com), the company's shares have taken a hit this week, falling more than 9% from Monday's opening price to Wednesday's close. The shares were down initially more than 2% after Thursday's opening bell before starting to pick up. No specific news was driving the stock.
Apple hires computer security researcher
Apple has hired a "noted" computer security researcher who helped Microsoft lock down its Windows operating system, reports "Wired" (http://macte.ch/1q77R).
Kristin Paget now works on Apple’s security team. Just over five years ago, she was part of a "small team of elite hackers" brought in by Microsoft to lock down Windows Vista, notes "Wired."
Reached via e-mail, Paget confirmed to the publication that she's now an Apple employee, but referred all questions to Apple’s public relations group. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on Paget.
iPad mini shipment dates improve to one week
The supply of the iPad mini finally seems to be catching up with the demand. Apple's online store now shows one-week ship-by dates for all models in the U.S.
Tech-Thoughts analyst Sameer Singh says Apple could ship an estimated 26 million iPads during the holiday quarter. He’s predicting sales of 24-26 million Apple tablets.
Most of those will be full-sized models. Singh thinks Apple will sell 10 million or less iPad minis, mainly because the company hasn’t been able to make enough to keep up with demand.
Apple investing $100 million-plus for U..S. Mac building factory
Apple is investing more than US$100 million on a factory for building part of its Mac line in the United States, CEO told "Bloomberg Businessweek" (http://macte.ch/RfJXU) in an interview.
"Next year we’re going to bring some production to the U.S.,” he told "Bloomberg Businessweek." “This doesn’t mean that Apple will do it ourselves, but we’ll be working with people and we’ll be investing our money.”
He didn’t elaborate on where the manufacturing would happen or how much would be produced in the U.S. However, he said Apple will work with partners and that the operations would include more than just final assembly.
"I don’t think we have a responsibility to create a certain kind of job,” Cook told "Bloomberg Businessweek." “But I think we do have a responsibility to create jobs.”
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 6
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
The new release of SSD Health (http://ssdhealth.com) for Mac OS X is available. The tool monitors the status of SSD drives by measuring temperature, write/read error count and multiple S.M.A.R.T parameters. By providing technical and statistical information about a solid-state drive, SSD Health informs the user about the current health and probable lifespan of the drive.
MacPaw has released Gemini 1.4 (http://macpaw.com/gemini), an update of the duplicate finder and cleaner. The upgrade improves the Auto Select algorithm.
Econ Technologies (http://www.econtechnologies.com) has updated its ChronoSync syncing tool to version 4.3.6. The upgrade now supplies more information to remote ChronoAgents to make monitoring tools, such as ChronoMonitor, more useful.
Kerio Technologies (http://www.kero.com) has announced Kerio Connect 8.0, the latest release of its messaging and collaboration platform that provides email, contacts and calendar...
Perfect Photo Suite 7 available in new editions
onOne Software has released a Standard Edition and a Lightroom & Aperture Edition of Perfect Photo Suite 7 to complement their existing Premium Edition of the photography software suite.
The Standard Edition allows usage of the entire Perfect Photo Suite 7 as a standalone application. This edition is designed for those who don't use Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, or Apple Aperture, but still want to enhance, stylize, and retouch their JPG images with a professional touch, and create and edit multi-layered files without Photoshop.
The Lightroom & Aperture Edition of Perfect Photo Suite 7 is designed for the photographer who doesn't use Photoshop but uses Lightroom or Aperture as the hub of their photo management and editing workflows. With the Perfect Photo Suite 7 Lightroom & Aperture Edition, users can work with a variety of image formats.
The Premium Edition offers photographers flexibility and integration of Perfect Photo Suite 7 with their...
Mushkin 480GB mSATA Solid State Drive coming in January
Mushkin (http://www.mushkin.com) will begin shipping what it says is the world's largest capacity mSATA Solid-State Drive in January for US$499.
It delivers a "colossal" 480GB of storage capacity on a single mSATA module, according to Brian Flood, director of Product Development at Mushkin. The company managed to to fit eight NAND flash chips and a controller on a mSATA PCB and it "was no easy feat," he adds.
Mushkin's Atlas 480GB mSATA solid-state drive (model number MKNSSDAT480GB) will go on sale in the U.S. in early January at select resellers and distributors. Worldwide distribution will begin in the middle of the month.
Juniper Research: iPhone 5's lack of NFC sets back the...
In a new report -- as noted by "TechCrunch" (http://macte.ch/G4JaO) -- Juniper Research (www.juniperresearch.com) says Apple's decision to forego NFC (near field communication) in the iPhone 5 has set the NFC market back by two years in the U.S. and Western Europe.
As a result, the research group has scaled back its growth estimates for these regions. Juniper says that Apple’s decision has reduced retailer and brand confidence in the technology -- which in turn has led to fewer NFC point of sale rollouts and campaigns, meaning fewer consumers are likely to encounter the technology.
In its research report, Juniper analyst Dr. Windsor Holden writes: “While many vendors have introduced NFC-enabled smartphones, Apple’s decision is a significant blow for the technology, particularly given its previous successes in educating the wider public about new mobile services.”
U..S. online holiday spending passes $21 billion so far
ComScore (www.comscore.com), a company that "measures the digital world," has reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 32 days of the November–December 2012 holiday season.
For the holiday season-to-date US$21.4 billion has been spent online, marking a 14-percent increase versus the corresponding days last year. The most recent week saw three individual days eclipse $1 billion in spending, led by Cyber Monday, which became the heaviest online spending day on record at $1.46 billion. However, growth rates softened considerably in the wake of Cyber Monday and through the weekend.
"While Cyber Monday was a high point for holiday e-commerce spending and Cyber Week saw several strong spending days, there was a clear softening in the growth rate during the back half of the week," says comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. "It is likely that, to some extent, holiday spending was pulled forward to the Thanksgiving-Black Friday period given the heightened promotional...
Apple starts work on Austin expansion project
Construction work has "quietly started" on Apple’s planned US$304 million expansion project on Parmer Lane in Northwest Austin, Texas -- a project that is expected to create as many as 3,600 local jobs, reports the "American Statesman" (http://macte.ch/haiRf).
The article says there's "major earthwork happening on the 38.8-acre site and the concrete shell of what appears to be a three-story office building is taking shape." Apple will receive up to $36 million in state, city and county incentives over the next 10 years if it lives up to its economic development agreement, which includes creating 3,600 jobs over 10 years. The average annual wage for those jobs is $63,950, according to the "American-Statesman."
Stellar Data Recovery launches free edition of Drive Defrag
Stellar Data Recovery has released Stellar Drive Defrag, a free edition of its drive defragmenting software designed to optimize Mac hard drives and volumes.
The software defragments large files, including all associated metadata. It also performs full defragmentation of the entire volume or drive. Stellar Drive Defrag is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 and higher.
Thes free edition is capable of optimizing free space in a hard drive into contiguous memory space. Temperature fluctuations during defragmentation can be monitored; the tool is also equipped with a "color legend" that allows color customization for memory blocks under similar categories.
In order to defragment the boot volume, the application offers to make a bootable DVD. You can boot the Mac system from this bootable DVD and can perform all the defragmentation operations directly on the boot volume. For more info, or to download Stellar Drive Defrag, go to http://www.stellarinfo.com/mac-software/drive-defrag.php .
Fall Trilogy Chapter 2: Reconstruction comes to the Mac
Coladia has released The Fall Trilogy -- Chapter 2: Reconstruction, the second part of the saga, for Mac OS X (10.6 and higher). It's available for US$9.90 at the Coladia web site (http://www.coladia.com).
Here's how the game is described: "In this episode, players wake up in a skyscraper and a strange contact guides you through this new adventure. The Fall Trilogy is a mouse-driven series of adventure and puzzle games from the developers of Destination: Treasure Island, Dracula 3 and Return to Mysterious Island."
Abbey Road Vintage Drummer released by Native Instruments
Native Instruments has introduced Abbey Road Vintage Drummer, a new Kontakt instrument that features the sound of two Vintage drum kits from the 1940s.
Both kits were recorded with a combination of state-of-the-art equipment and period microphones at Abbey Road Studios in London, providing a natural, open sound suitable for contemporary productions. For the first time in Native Instruments' successful Abbey Road Series, Vintage Drummer includes brush articulations especially recorded to provide the authentic sound and style of the swing/big band era.
Abbey Road Vintage Drummer features y rare instruments from the earliest period of trap kit recording. The first kit consists of a 1940 Leedy 26-inch bass drum, and two late-1930s tom toms once owned and used by the legendary percussionist James Blades. Vintage Drummer also features brush articulations -- a first for an Abbey Road Series release.
Abbey Road Vintage Drummer is available at the NI Online Shop for US$119. Additional...
Judge to Apple, Samsung: my instructions, my rules
Two days before the first post-trial hearing in the patent infringement fight between Apple and Samsung, a California judge has told attorneys for both companies that she expects them to follow her instructions and work by her rules, reports the "IDG News Service" (http://macte.ch/2WEK2)
In an order signed on Tuesday, Judge Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, admonished both sides for their filings with the court, the article adds. She had previously imposed page limits on the filings each company could make as part of the post-trial process.
Samsung was limited to a 35-page limit on its filing in opposition of the verdict and Apple to a 15-page response to Samsung’s filing. Each could file supporting documentation.
This is all part of the ongoing, global legal battle. Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four continents. For example, Apple alleges that Samsung copied the slide-to-unlock technology of...
Stock broker arrested on fraud charges involving Apple stock
Former Rochdale Securities stock broker David Miller has been arrested on Federal wire fraud charges for allegedly using company money to buy US$1 billion in Apple stock for his own gain, which ultimately left his employer with a $5 million loss, reports "The MacObserver" (http://macte.ch/D0JJY.
Miller claimed that he accidentally bought 1.625 million shares of Apple's stock when a customer actually requested 1,625 shares, then told coworkers the client was covering a short position. The transaction happened on Oct. 25, which was also the day when Apple announced its fourth fiscal quarter earnings, notes "The MacObserver."
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 5
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
MacPaw has updated CleanMyMac (http://macpaw.com/cleanmymac/fullfeatures), its Mac disk maintenance utility, to version 1.10.9. The upgrade can now uninstall Xcode correctly.
Sproutedapps has revved Nokumo, (www.nokumo.com), its business and personal information manager, to version 1.0.2. It's a maintenance upgrade with some bug fixes.
Rage Software has mailed out MailShoot 2.0 (http://www.ragesw.com/products/mailshoot.html), the new version of the US$69.95 newsletter and mailing list management software. The upgrade boasts faster email sending and better status updates when sending emails.
Noodlesoft (www.noodlesoft.com) has dusted off Hazel, a housekeeper for your folders and files, and promoted her to version 3.0.16 . She's a maintenance upgrade with some bug fixes.
Apple revs iWork apps for iOS, OS X
Apple has updated its suite of iWork apps for iOS. Pages, Keynote, and Numbers, as well as its iWork apps for Mac OS X.
The iOS versions were updated to version 1.7 with features designed to make it easier to collaborate and share items with iWork for Mac and Microsoft Office. iWork for Mac OS X was revved to version 9.3; the update adds support for the new features introduced in the iWork for iOS apps.
Canto announces Cumulus compatibility with Mountain Lion
Canto, maker of Canto Cumulus digital asset management (DAM) software, has announced that the latest release of Cumulus (8.6.1) is compatible with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and Windows 8.
Canto Cumulus is a cross-platform solution that enables companies to organize, find, share and track their digital files in any format. For more info, including pricing, go to http://canto.com .
Ohanaware releases Fun Greetings Deluxe for OS X
Ohanaware has released Fun Greetings Deluxe 1.0 for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher), a redesign of its photo greeting card software. It offers nearly 200 professionally designed card templates for 13 different occasions.
With step-by-step guidance, users can add filtered custom photos to the cover or inside of the card, create personalized messages, and add shapes, borders, or graphics. Featuring a high-resolution print engine, many different card sizes can be printed or sent by email.
Users can also create their own templates, starting with a blank page and building the card exactly as they want it. The app includes a variety of shapes, text boxes, text captions, graphics, and photo holders. Each element can be modified. Fun Greetings Deluxe is capable of printing folded cards in many different sizes (including custom sizes). What's more, cards can be shared via email, Facebook, flickr, or Twitter.
Fun Greetings Deluxe 1.0 is available for one week at the introductory price of US$9.99...
LaCie d2 hard drive gets USB 3.0, Thunderbolt connectivity
LaCie's d2 hard drive now features USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt connectivity together with the latest 4TB, 7200rpm hard drives.
The LaCie d2 performs at speeds up to 180MB/s, twice as fast as FireWire 800 and nearly four times faster than USB 2.0. These speeds allow the user to transfer a 10GB project in less than one minute, back up a computer in record time, easily edit video in demanding applications and browse through photo libraries without delay, says Erwan Girard, business unit manager, LaCie. Plus with 256-bit AES encryption the data is always secure, he adds.
The LaCie d2 features a solid aluminum casing that purportedly provides 60% more surface area than flat designs. Its design means it stays cool without requiring a fan.
The LaCie d2 is available with a full back up software suite in 3TB and 4TB capacities through the LaCie Online Store and LaCie Resellers starting at US$299. For more info go to www.lacie.com .
MetaCase upgrades flagship software development tool to version...
MetaCase (www.metacase.com) has released version 5.0 of their flagship software development tool, MetaEdit+.
MetaEdit+ 5.0 lets you create graphical domain-specific languages and code generators in a few hours. The graphical notations go beyond plain icons and links; they can change on the fly depending on model data, be nested to unlimited depth, retrieved from libraries, and have a fixed or dynamically varying number of ports to connect to. The new features allow domain-specific models to mimic closely the problem domains they describe.
The new version integrates into programming tools like Visual Studio and Eclipse. Software developers get one-click access from their IDE to MetaEdit+ models, can integrate generated code with hand-written code and libraries, and automate their build process.
Application functionality can be traced and debugged on both the code and model levels simultaneously. On the modeling side, the new version aims to minimize the...
Bare Bones Software releases BBEdit 10.5
Bare Bones Software has released BBEdit10.5, an update to its professional strength HTML and text editor. It now supports the Retina display on some new Macs.
In addition, it introduces a new Go menu, new per-project website configuration and support for basic deployment,new Preview Filters and more. The new Go menu expedites navigation within documents, providing quick access to a Functions palette, a Jump Points palette and to any named symbols in a file -- all new in version 10.5.
The Functions palette presents a continuously updated listing of functions defined in the active document. The Jump Points palette presents a history of movement within the active document, providing an avenue to quickly revisit locations.
Now, projects can be configured as "Web Sites" via a new menu in the project window's action bar. The Site Settings sheet offers easier management of site-wide document settings, HTML syntax checking rules and other relevant details. A new Deploy Site command enables...
SUGARfx Movie Credits plugin released for FCP, Motion, AE, PP
Noise Industries (www.noiseindustries.com/), has introduced SUGARfx Movie Credits for Apple Final Cut Pro, Motion, Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro.
Movie Credits allows editors to create credits. Working in their favorite host application, editors can choose from 25 preset styles then use the full control panel to customize them.
SUGARfx Movie Credits (www.sugarfx.tv/) is available now on FxFactory for US$49.
New 'Dockster' malware targets Macs
A new piece of malicious software targeted at Mac users has been found on a website dedicated to the Dalai Lama, but one security vendor is labeling it as low risk, reports the "IDG News Service" ().
The malware, nicknamed "Dockster," is a backdoor that allows an attacker to control the victim's computer, record keystrokes and export files, according to Intego, which sells security software for Macs. Dockster tries to infect computers by exploiting a vulnerability in Java, CVE-2012-0507.
IDG says the vulnerability is the same one used by the Flashback malware, which first appeared around September 2011 and infected as many as 800,000 computers via a drive-by download. Flashback was used to fraudulently click on advertisements in order to generate illicit revenue in a type of scam known as click fraud.
Apple patched the vulnerability in Java in early April and then undertook a series of steps to remove the frequently targeted application from Macs. Apple stopped bundling Java with Mac...
Analyst: yield improves for in-demand iPhone 5
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com) -- Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu says improved production of the iPhone 5 means increased profitability for Apple.
The analyst says that, after checking with members of Apple's overseas supply chain, he believes iPhone 5 yields are still improving. The progress comes as estimated shipping times from Apple's online store have improved to between two and four days, while the handset is set to launch in more than 50 countries this month.
Wu adds that demand for Apple's latest smartphone is still "robust." He predicts that Apple will sell 47.3 million units in the December quarter, a forecast slightly greater than market consensus of between 45 million and 46 million iPhones sold during the holiday quarter.
Re/Max equipping agents with iPhones, Passbook
Re/Max is turning to the iPhone and the new Passbook feature of iOS 6 to equip its real estate agents with digital business cards, reports "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com). It will be offering digital business cards to its brokers and agents in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Southern Ohio, and Southeastern Michigan.
Re/Max (www.remax.com) is a global real estate network of franchisee-owned and -operated offices with nearly 90,000 sales associates. It's based in Denver, Colorado.
Passbook is designed to make it easy for consumers to organize, manage and retrieve local coupons, loyalty cards, and other money-saving information from one place. It was introduced with iOS 6.
