WD (www.wd.com), a subsidiary of Western Digital Corp. has added the USB 3.0 interface to its line of My Passport for Mac portable hard drives (top picture) and increased capacity for Mac computer users up to 2TB. WD is also combining two high-speed technologies to produce one of the fastest dual-storage systems ever offered: the My Book VelociRaptor (bottom pic). My Passport for Mac Popular among students and other Mac users who take their digital content everywhere, the My Passport for Mac with USB 3.0 allows users to take advantage of the faster transfer speeds USB 3.0 provides when connecting the drive to their MacBook computer or MacBook Air computer with that interface. The My Passport for Mac includes password protection and hardware encryption features to protect content from unauthorized use or access. The My Passport for Mac drive is also compatible out of the box with Apple Time Machine for backup to further protect valuable files. "Today's mobile consumers are looking for...

Driven by increased demand from developed regions for high-end models, along with an unexpectedly strong push from emerging economies for lower-cost products, smartphones are expected to rise to account for the majority of global cellphone shipments in 2013 -- two years earlier than previously predicted, according to iHS iSuppli (www.isuppli.com). Smartphone shipments in 2013 are forecast to account for 54% of the total cellphone market, up from 46% in 2012 and 35% in 2011, according to an "IHS iSuppli Wireless Communications Market Tracker Report" from the information and analytics provider. The year 2013 will mark the first time that smartphones will make up more than half of all cellphone shipments. "This represents a major upgrade for the outlook compared to a year ago, when smartphones weren’t expected to take the lead until 2015," says Wayne Lam, senior analyst for wireless communications at IHS. "Over the past 12 months, smartphones have fallen in price, and a wider variety of...

TABU Products (http://www.tabuproducts.com) has announced the availability of the Universal Mini Stand on Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects. It can be wall mounted or table top mounted to any flat surface with the reusable, and removable, sticky pad. The Universal Mini Stand holds the iPhone in either landscape or portrait mode, allowing users to type, FaceTime chat, text or surf the web. The sticky pad allows users to mount the iPhone on any flat surface in a car for a safe and clutter-free GPS solution. Additionally, users can combine several Universal Mini Stands together to hold up larger devices such as the iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab. The Universal Mini Stand doubles as a cable organizer. Users can wrap earphones or cables around the stand for a tangle-free carrying solution or keep charge cords secure without allowing the cable to fall to the floor when unplugged. TBU is offering five "early bird" specials for contributors to fund the project with prices...

Sony has introduced the NEX-5R, which combines lightweight design and the freedom of interchangeable lenses with large-sensor image quality, speedy AF and the introduction of Wi-Fi capability. The NEX-5R camera features a 16.1 effective megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor -- identical in size to sensors found in traditional DSLR cameras -- combined with a BIONZ processor to assure richly detailed still images and crisp Full HD videos in all types of lighting conditions, according to Mike Kahn, director of the alpha interchangeable lens camera business group at Sony Electronics. In a first for Sony's line of interchangeable lens cameras, the new NEX-5R model features "Fast Hybrid AF" autofocus technology, combining phase-detection and contrast-detection methods to ensure speedy, accurate autofocus in any shooting situation, he adds. It's also Sony's first interchangeable lens camera with integrated Wi-Fi capabilities for image sharing, saving and viewing, and introduces the new concept...

Audiobooks.com, an audio books service that gives customers unlimited access to downloadable content for US$24.95 per month, says free Apple and Android apps are now available to Audiobooks.com members. Customers can now download or stream audio books that they can enjoy anytime, anywhere on their mobile devices with a free app at Apple’s App Store for iPhones, iPod touch and iPads or at Google Play for Android devices. Members can download up to two audio books at a time on their mobile device. The new apps provide custom settings so users can automatically stream or download books via Wi-Fi or cellular networks and save books to their personal reading list. The Audiobooks.com library contains 10,000-plus best sellers and new releases.

Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps: Visual Frames has announced TraductoPro version 1.0.3, a content translation application and localization tool for Mac and iOS app developers. The TraductoPro localization tool supports three types of projects: Document Translation, App Store Information, and Xcode iOS or Mac app Localization. Version 1.0.3 offers Xcode workflow improvements, the ability to review which strings/files are imported from lproj folders and which are imported from source code, and more. Softpress (www.softpress.com) has released Freeway 5.6.5. This free update to both Freeway Express, the web design application for home users, and Freeway Pro, the application for designers looking for a traditional page-layout approach to web design, includes a number of improvements and enhancements, including full Mountain Lion compatibility. The 69Th Spanish Combat Squadron (http://awacstacsim.com) has rolled out AWACS Tactical Simulator 1.03 for the Mac and iPad. Based...

Delta Air Lines is offering its customers use of iPads at three new restaurants in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Concourse G, reports the "Atlanta Business Chronicle" (http://macte.ch/2hlV9). The Atlanta-based airline will offer more than 250 iPads in the eateries. iPads at each seat inside the restaurants will let travelers order meals through a visual menu. Orders are then prepared and delivered to their seat in 15 minutes or less, according to the "Chronicle." Travelers also can log into their Facebook, Twitter and personal e-mail accounts, or check flight status, play games and watch the news through pre-loaded apps such as Bloomberg News. Delta’s iPad service is also available at LaGuardia Airport Terminals C and D. Delta plans to have more than 4,500 iPads at three of its hub airports over the next year, says the "Chronicle."

A U.S. judge on Tuesday set a December 6 court date to hear Apple Inc's request for a permanent injunction against Samsung Electronics' smartphones, according to "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/YGq7Y). After a California jury found that Samsung violated Apple patents for smartphone and tablet designs, Apple asked for a ban on eight Samsung devices. The devices are: Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S2 AT&T, Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, Galaxy S2 T-Mobile, Galaxy S2 Epic 4G, Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge and Galaxy Prevail. Cited in Apple's filing for the bands as reasons for the injunction are a total of seven patents. Those inventions are the same ones that a jury determined last week have been infringed upon by Samsung's mobile devices. A hearing about the preliminary injunctions had been scheduled for Sept.20 but it is not clear if this issue will be addressed at that hearing or moved to December, reports "Reuters." In an order on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh said that due to the scope of...

A U.S. District Court Judge has granted Consumer Watchdog (www.ConsumerWatchdog.org ) the right to oppose Google's record US$22.5 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission because it allows the Internet giant to deny any wrongdoing. "Google executives want to buy their way out of trouble with what for them is pocket change and then deny doing anything wrong," says John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project director. "Allowing this settlement undercuts the entire regulatory process. Companies and their executives must be held accountable when they violate legal agreements." U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston gave attorneys for the nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest group until Sept. 21 to file an amicus, or friend of the court, brief opposing the settlement. In her order filed late Tuesday she said Google and the FTC would then have a week to respond. The judge said she would hold a hearing on Consumer Watchdog's request after receiving all the legal...

XtremeMac (www.xtrememac.com) has added two new products to its line: the Soma Frame speaker (top picture) and the Tango Air (bottom speaker). The US$299.99 Soma Frame is the first XtremeMac speaker system designed to wrap around your iPad. Consumers can enjoy the enhanced sound while utilizing the frame for portability (it features a lithium-ion battery for up to six hours of playback time) or setting it into the dock for the added power of a subwoofer. The $299.99 XtremeMac Tango Air is an AirPlay speaker compatible with home or office WiFi. Its design allows for high fidelity audio whether positioned horizontally or vertically, making it a highly adjustable speaker option for Apple users. Features include: ° Sound configuration including two tweeters, two full range drivers, one subwoofer and one passive radiator; ° A piano gloss finish and satin plated buttons; ° A rear USB slot that charges your iOS device. ° Auxiliary line-in that provides the flexibility to listen to music on...

CruxCase says a new CruxSkunk campaign now live on Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects. It's a rotating protective keyboard case for the iPad 2 and the new iPad, transforming the tablets into a MacBook lookalike "laptop." The CruxSkunk sports hinge technology, allowing the keyboard to rotate to multiple positions for typing, movie watching and portability. At 6mm, it's the thinnest keyboard ever developed for the iPad, according to the folks at CruxCase. The case is made with aircraft- grade aluminum. In addition, added foam padding in the case allows the iPad to stay in place and prevents scratches. The CruxShunk also features Bluetooth connectivity as well as a raised, full-sized QWERTY keyboard. The case comes with a built-in 350 mAH battery to power Bluetooth connectivity and will only need to recharge once a month depending on usage. The CruxSkunk is currently available exclusively at Kickstarter.com. Kickstarter is an US-based crowd funding website where the...

Apple has recently added the iPhone 4S to its list of items it will accept (and pay) for reuse and recycling, reports "MacNN" (www.macnn.com). The service, which in the US is partnered with PowerOn, pays up to US$345 for a good-condition, working 64GB iPhone 4S model. Users receive payment in the form of an Apple gift card. Apple will either recondition the item for resale as used or refurbished, or break it down for parts.

Pronto (www.pronto.com) has created an infographic using the data about the incredible value of Apple shares. The infographic compares Apple's value to, for example, the GDP of varying countries -- and even real apples. You can check out the infographic at www.pronto.com/infographics/Apple-Most-Valuable-Company-Ever .

Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps: The newest addition to the ConceptDraw Solution Park (www.conceptdraw.com) adds functionality to ConceptDraw MindMap that increases its interoperability with Microsoft Word. With the Word Exchange Solution, ConceptDraw MINDMAP can output ready-to-use documents from a mind map with a single click. Adobe today announced the availability of Lightroom 4.2 and Camera Raw 7.2 release candidates on Adobe Labs (abs.adobe.com). The release candidates correct issues reported in previous releases and add raw file support for more cameras. RealMac Software has upped LittleSnapper (http://www.realmacsoftware.com/littlesnapper/), a screen capture tool, to version 1.8.4. The upgrade offers stability improvements and some bug fixes. Objective Development Software has updated Little Snitch
(http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html), the Mac OS X
software that provides a firewall to protect your Mac against
unwanted guests, to version 2.5.4....

Despite a public acknowledgement by Apple that recent retail store staffing changes were "a mistake" and have been reversed, store employees still haven’t received an official explanation of the changes, and "signs persist of a continuing focus on revenues and profit instead of customer satisfaction," reports "ifoAppleStore" (http://macte.ch/20RGq). Last week "Dow Jones" reported that John Browett, Apple's recently appointed retail guru, had spearheaded a new staffing formula for its retail stores, leading some employees to see their hourly shifts cut and retail locations to be understaffed. It didn't take long for Apple to realize it had made a mistake. Browett then instructed leadership teams to tell employees, "We messed up," says "Dow Jones," quoting two unnamed "people who were aware of the communication." Reportedly, during the brouhaha, shift schedules were affected, but no one was laid off. What's more, Browett also wanted employees to know that it was hiring new staff,...

Zygoat Creative Technical Services has introduced First Assistant for Mac OS X, a new data management tool for film and video professionals. Designed to aid editors and assistant editors in the post-production workflow, First Assistant is designed to make it easy to manage timecode-based editorial notes for creating asset lists and cue sheets, convert whole documents between timecode formats with one click, track scene timings, perform versatile sorting, filtering, summarizing and more. In addition, First Assistant provides a stand-alone timecode calculator and conversion tool that's always at the ready. First Assistant is available for US$49, and a free trial version can be downloaded at Zygoat online (www.zygoat.ca/). It's also available in the Mac App Store. First Assistant requires Mac OS X 10.6.8 or newer; 10.7 or 10.8 are recommended.

A second Apple Store in Hong Kong has been confirmed, reports "The Next Web" (http://macte.ch/7iLA4). It will be located in the Festival Walk mall in the Kowloon Tong area. The new store will be located across the harbor from downtown Hong Kong island, where Apple’s first store in the city is located, the article adds. That location opened in the IFC mall last fall. At the time, the 15,000 square-foot spot was Apple’s most expensive store, costing more than $20 million to build.

Samsung said Tuesday it would fight's attempt to ban the sale of some of its smartphones in the U.S. with "all necessary measures," reports the "Wall Street Journal" (http://macte.ch/AQhIy). After a California jury found that Samsung violated Apple patents for smartphone and tablet designs, Apple is asking for a ban on eight Samsung devices, reports "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com). The devices are: Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S2 AT&T, Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, Galaxy S2 T-Mobile, Galaxy S2 Epic 4G, Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge and Galaxy Prevail. Cited in Apple's filing for the bands as reasons for the injunction are a total of seven patents. Those inventions are the same ones that a jury determined last week have been infringed upon by Samsung's mobile devices, notes "AppleInsider." The article adds that, in particular, the Galaxy S 4G has been found to have infringed on all seven patents cited by Apple: Design patents D'677 and D'3905; utility patents '915, '381 and '163; and two...

Apple has announced that Craig Federighi, Apple’s vice president of Mac Software Engineering (top photo), and Dan Riccio, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering, have been promoted to senior vice presidents. Federighi and Riccio will report to Apple CEO Tim Cook and serve on Apple’s executive management team. Apple has announced that Bob Mansfield, who announced his retirement in June, will remain at Apple. Mansfield will work on future products, reporting to Tim Cook. As senior vice president of Mac Software Engineering, Federighi will continue to be responsible for the development of Mac OS X and Apple’s common operating system engineering teams. Federighi worked at NeXT, followed by Apple, and then spent a decade at Ariba where he held several roles including vice president of Internet Services and chief technology officer. He returned to Apple in 2009 to lead Mac OS X engineering. Federighi holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Science in...

Runesoft has Farm Girl At The Nile 1.0, for Mac OS X 10.6 or later. It costs US$9.99 and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Games category. Here's how the game is described: "Our Farm Girl is well known for her 'green thumb.' Everything she planted on her farm grows and thrives. But now there is a new challenge: Building a farm along the Nile! Establish a farm at the edge of the pyramides! Completely new conditions require completely new management on the farm under the Egyptian sun. "You need to adept your manufacture and your offerings to the current marketing situation -- how about growing papyrus or an ostrich farm? Sandstorms, water shortages or annoying crocodiles from the Nile shouldn't prevent you from building up a premier farm. Don't just watch about your current facilities, invest in new technologies, too."

Chief -- which makes mounts, racks and interactive solutions -- is shipping several kits that are designed for integrating iPads into the workplace. The kits now available include the FSBI2B portable iPad interface, which works with the latest two generations of the iPad. The snap fit is designed for easy removal for the user on the go. For more info, including pricing options, go to the Chief web site (www.chiefmfg.com).

Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps: Autodesk has launched Autodesk SketchBook Pro 6 (www.sketchbook.com) for Mac and Windows, the latest release from the company’s SketchBook family. The new version features a streamlined interface, multi-touch navigation, French curves, synthetic paint and smudge brushes, plus even more brush controls to customize. Photo Sense, photo editing software for the Mac, has been revved to version 1.8.0. The new version brings the creative effects features to a new level, introduces new pre-defined effects, and improves the user interface. PTH Pasteboard Pro (pth.com/products/pthpasteboard/), the multiple pasteboard program for Mac OS X, has been updated to version 4.5.7. The upgrade fixes issues with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. OndeSoft Corp. (http://www.ondesoft.com) has updated Onde iTunes Converter, their media converting software, to version 1.23.5. It's a maintenance upgrade.

The rate of iOS and Android device adoption has surpassed that of any consumer technology in history, according to the Flurry research group (www.flurry.com). Compared to recent technologies, smart device adoption is being adopted 10X faster than that of the 80s computer revolution, 2X faster than that of 90s Internet Boom and 3X faster than that of recent social network adoption. Five years into the smart device growth curve, expansion of this new technology is rapidly expanding beyond early adopter markets such as such as North America and Western Europe, creating a true worldwide addressable market. Overall, Flurry estimates that there were over 640 million iOS and Android devices in use during the month of July 2012. For this report, Flurry used data from more than 200,000 applications that it tracks, running on more than 640 million devices worldwide. With its application coverage, Flurry estimates that it can reliably detect over 90% of all iOS and Android devices active in the...

A new study by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center shows that exposure for two hours to back-lit electronic devices such as tablets can lead to delayed bedtimes, especially in teens, reports "Buffalo Business First" (http://macte.ch/HH8h9). Researchers at the research center found that using devices with back-lit displays before bedtime suppressed the production of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland in dark surroundings that signals "nighttime" to the body. Melatonin suppression has been implicated in sleep disturbances and increased risk for diabetes and obesity, according to the researchers. In the study, 13 people used tablets to read, play games and watch movies. Melatonin production was off about 22 percent, according to the researchers. Stimulating the body’s normal circadian rhythms by that level "may affect sleep in those using the devices prior to bedtime," lead researcher Mariana Figueiro, associate professor at Rensselaer and...