Apple's data center in Maiden, N.C., will be accompanied by a second, smaller data center, reports the "Winston-Salem Journal" (http://macte.ch/oICBR). According to Apple’s design plans on file with Catawba County, the new 21,030-square-foot data center, also referred to as a “tactical” data center, will store clusters of servers. Permits filed with the county list the cost of the new 11-room data center at $1,885,129, notes the "Journal." The article adds that an electrical permit on file refers to the building as a “non-occupied equipment building." Rick Frady, building services chief for Catawba County, told the "Journal" that a non-occupied building just means it’s not open to the public. He said the future building was described to him as a stand-alone metal building with a concrete pad. Last year it was announced that Apple would build a data center in Catawba County on the outskirts of Maiden. Maiden and Catawba County agreed to US$7.3 million in incentives for Apple in order...

Verizon (http://www.verizon.com) has announced its second quarter fiscal report. The telecom reported a second consecutive quarter of double-digit percentage growth in year-over-year earnings results and significant increases in operating cash flow. Verizon sold 2.7 million iPhone for the quarter, down from 3.2 million in the previous quarter. Verizon Wireless generated record-high margins and strong operational results, and Verizon's Wireline segment generated continued increases in revenues from FiOS fiber-optic services and strategic business services. Verizon reported US$0.64 in EPS [earnings per share] in second-quarter 2012, an increase of 12.3% compared with second-quarter 2011 earnings of $0.57 per share.  In second-quarter 2012, Verizon's total operating revenues were $28.6 billion on a consolidated basis, an increase of 3.7% compared with second-quarter 2011. Consolidated operating income was $5.7 billion in second-quarter 2012, compared with $4.9 billion in second-quarter...

HEX has introduced the US$34.95 Stealth, an iPhone 4/4S case that not only offers protection of the phone, but acts as a solution to make contactless tap purchases.   On the outside, the Stealth is a slim case that protects the Apple smartphone. On the inside, engineering reveals a patent-pending, shielded internal storage compartment. The shielded compartment houses any RFID-enabled card so users can make contactless tap purchases via RFID transmissions at any participating tap-to-pay location, including subways, rapid transit, restaurants, and gas stations, and participating retail locations. It also keeps the iPhone and the RFID-enabled card functioning properly with no cross-interference, according to aid Dan Maravilla, co-founder, HEX. No RFID card? No problem. The storage compartment can also be used to hold extra cash, I.D. or a metro card.   Made of a polycarbonate material, the Stealth case comes in two colors: matte black and gloss white. In addition to its multi-tasking...

Panasonic has announced a new addition to its line of LUMIX G series cameras: the LUMIX DMC-G5.  The newest digital single lens mirrorless camera offering features a newly integrated, 16.05-megapixel live MOS sensor and redesigned Venus Engine to render clear, crisp images in both photo and video recording.  The the LUMIX G5 sports a compact, lightweight body with built-in flash. The 3DNR feature detects smooth areas or edges in photos and adjusts the strength of noise reduction (stronger for smooth portion, milder for edge portion) to maintain object descriptiveness. The Multi-process NR detects brightness in each part of a picture and applies optimal noise reduction in multiple steps. The HDR (High Dynamic Range) allows for several pictures consecutively shot at different exposure levels to be overlaid, producing a single composite picture to eliminate over-exposure or under-exposure.  Like all cameras in the LUMIX G series, the LUMIX G5 adopts Contrast AF (Auto Focus), so focusing...

Adobe (http://www.adobe.com) has released Adobe eLearning Suite 6, the company’s integrated toolbox for creating professional-grade eLearning and HTML5-based mLearning content. The suite enables eLearning professionals, educators and trainers to create immersive, interactive eLearning courses complete with simulations, product demos, digital imaging, animations and audio production. Anchored by Adobe Captivate 6 and the new Adobe Presenter 8, Adobe eLearning Suite 6 includes Adobe Flash Professional CS6, Adobe Dreamweaver CS6, Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended and Adobe Acrobat X Pro. Adobe eLearning Suite 6 enhances productivity with round-tripping workflows between Adobe Captivate and Adobe Audition CS6, Adobe Flash Professional CS6, Adobe Photoshop Extended CS6 and Acrobat X Pro, according to Naresh Gupta, senior vice president, Print and Publishing, Adobe. For example, users can open Adobe Captivate files in Adobe Audition CS6 to adjust speech pitch and alignment or Adobe Photoshop...

Skycore LLC (http://skycore.com) is adding mobile-optimized email services to their mobile marketing and commerce platform. Text, images and videos can be inserted into an email along with a dynamically generated, transaction-embedded, 2D barcode image including a logo and related text. Each unique transaction code can be scanned directly on the mobile screen. The code can represent a mobile ticket, voucher, coupon or a student, member, patient or employee ID.   Through a point-and-click interface or developer APIs [application programming interfaces], clients can pass their own transaction IDs or have unique ID’s generated on-demand as part of the service. The resulting 2D barcode (QR Code or PDF-417) for each message is generated on the fly, combined with a custom logo and related text, and then inserted as a single image within the body of the email and also as an attachment.   The emails can be viewed on mobile phones, tablets or desktops. The emails can be printed at home.   "...

Sproutedapps is offering Mac OS X users a chance to test drive a beta version of Nokumo, a productivity app that combines several organizational capabilities into a single app. Just remember: beta software is unfinished software, so use with care. Nokumo provides integration of task management, project management, contacts, documents, notes, events, and archiving. It automatically syncs with Apple-native apps. With all data encrypted, users can prioritize, schedule, organize, track, and plan and generate 20 different kinds of status reports. Nokumo requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later on an Intel Mac. The beta version is free from the product website (http://www.nokumo.com/). When released, the app will be priced at US$39.95.

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group, in conjunction with the USB 2.0 Promoter Group, has announced the completion of the USB Power Delivery specification, which enables increased power delivery through USB cables and connectors. The specification expands cable bus power capabilities in USB applications, supplying higher voltage and current to deliver power up to 100 watts over USB Power Delivery certified cables. It's capable of delivering higher power to charge notebook computers and power external hard-disk drives, devices which previously did not receive adequate power from traditional 5V bus power, according to Brad Saunders, USB 3.0 Promoter Group chairman. The USB 2.0 and 3.0 Promoter Groups developed the USB Power Delivery specification and have transitioned the specification’s management to the USB-IF. The USB Promoter Groups are now accepting adopters of the USB Power Delivery specification. To download both the USB Power Delivery specification and adopter agreements, visit http://...

Apple has posted MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Update 1.0. You can obtain them via the Software Updates component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app. According to Apple, the update fixes a problem with “increased CPU power consumption” and “improves compatibility with some USB devices.” Apple recommends the update for the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, including the new Retina MacBook Pro.

A U.S. judge has rejected several requests by Apple and Samsung to keep portions of key documents out of public view in their patent litigation battle set for trial later this month, reports "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/JpN4g). In an order issued on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, wrote that "it appears that the parties have over-designated confidential documents and are seeking to seal information that is not truly sealable." Koh gave both companies one week to refile their sealing requests. 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 is moving forward on its plans to bring 3,600 new jobs and invest more than US$300 million in Austin, Texas. Records at the Travis County Clerk’s Office show that McShane Development Co. LLC, through its Riata Vista LP entity, sold three tracts of land to Apple on June 20, reports "The Austin Business Journal" (http://macte.ch/mPcK6). The exhibits indicate that the land is in the Milwood Section 20 subdivision near Parmer Lane and Delcour Drive. There's no info on how much Apple paid for the property. Earlier this year Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced that Apple will expand its presence in Texas with an US$304 million investment in a new campus in Austin that will create more than 3,600 new jobs. The new campus will more than double the size of Apple's workforce in Texas over the next decade, supporting the company's growing operations in the Americas with expanded customer support, sales and accounting functions for the region. In exchange for Apple's commitment to create...

According to the latest data from NPD (http://www.npd.com) -- as reported by "AllThingsD" (http://macte.ch/gn5Zl), Mac sales grew 1% year-over-year for the last month of the June quarter, after falling 13% in April and 23 percent in May. For the full fiscal quarter, Mac sales are still down 10 percent from the same period a year ago. However, the fact that they’ve recovered from that 23% decline in May "is a positive sign as we head into fall and the uptick in consumer spending that it heralds," the article adds. "We believe the momentum from the June Mac refresh will carry into the September quarter," says Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who published NPD’s sales data in a research note. "While the up 1% is not tremendous growth, we believe that the refreshed Macs will enable Apple to sustain a better growth profile in the U.S. through the back-to-school season." He expects Mac growth of 5% for the June quarter. Munster predicts that Apple will ship 4.1 million Macs.

Optrix, designer of action sports video cases, has released the XD Sport, a waterproof iPhone case designed to transform your iPhone 4, 4S and iPod Touch into a wide-angle action video camera. The XD Sport combines the proprietary Optrix design with a 175 degree wide angle aluminum and glass lens, giving sports enthusiasts the ability to shoot, edit and share 1080P videos. Designed for extreme sports such as mountain biking, skateboarding, skiing or motocross, the XD Sport is military grade and conforms to military spec MIL-STD-810F, says John Willenborg, founder of Optrix.  The Optrix XD Sport comes with a variety of accessories, including a curved and flat mount to securely adhere to any surface, a quick release latch for fast adjusting of angles, and a rubberized sled that protects your phone while doubling as a case.  The Optrix XD Sport is currently available for US$99 at http://www.optrix.com or at Apple stores worldwide.

GoSmart (http://www.justgosmart.com) has announced the US$24.95 GoSmart Stylus for iPads, touchscreen tablets, smart phones and other devices.   Made of ergonomically designed solid aluminum, the GoSmart Stylus features a flexible, patent-pending, see-through, Teflon coated stainless steel tip with Capacitive Coupling Technology for precision pointing. It's designed for painting, drawing, sketching, scribbling, writing, clicking, and selecting on any touchscreen device -- even those with sticky protective covers.    The GoSmart Stylus is available in two designs: the 300 Series (rocket-shape style) and 200 Series (a pen-shaped style). Both designs include two earth magnets embedded inside for attaching the stylus to the newer iPads.   

D-Link has announced its first 802.11ac router -- the Cloud Router 5700 (DIR-865L). It offers dual-band wireless performance of up to 1750Mbps for high-bandwidth gaming and HD streaming applications, and features D-Link’s Cloud App, allowing consumers to monitor and control the home network remotely. The Cloud Router 5700 provides users with access to manage and stream local content from a connected USB drive to mobile devices via D-Link’s SharePort mobile app. Equipped with Broadcom’s 5G WiFi (802.11ac) chip, the Cloud Router 5700 delivers the world’s fastest wireless speeds at up to 1750 Mbps (1300 ac + 450 n) -- three times faster than the fastest Wireless N technology, according to Ken Loyd, director, consumer products, D-Link Systems. In addition, it's "future proofed" thanks to support of the IPv6 standard. The Cloud Router 5700 is backwards compatible with previous generation 802.11n wireless standards. It also offers four Gigabit Ethernet ports. The Cloud Router 5700 (DIR-...

Twelve South has unveiled a "classic black" version of its BookBook for iPhone 4/4S as well as a refreshed vintage brown version. Like the original, the new black version of BookBook marries a wallet with an iPhone case. The Classic Black BookBook for iPhone, designed at the request of customers, and the Vintage Brown BookBook for iPhone are available now at http:/www.twelvesouth.com and soon at Apple stores for US$59.99. The hybrid wallet and iPhone case looks like a pocket-sized book. It holds a driver’s license/ID, credit cards, cash and iPhone, eliminating the need for both a traditional wallet and an iPhone case.

Quark says that, for a limited time, all purchases and upgrades to QuarkXPress 9 will include a free copy of Markzware’s new PDF2DTP (PDF to Desktop Publishing) software. PDF2DTP is XTensions software for QuarkXPress that enables designers to turn any PDF into an editable QuarkXPress 9 project. It supports both Mac and Windows platforms. 

To purchase or upgrade to QuarkXPress 9, go to the Quark Store (http://shop.quark.com), call 1.800.676.4575 option 3, or visit Quark’s authorized resellers. Then complete the redemption form found at http://www.quark.com/pdf2qxp_US .


Beezwax Datatools has released InspectorPro 4 (http://www.beezwax.net/inspector), a new version of the developer tool for FileMaker 12 database analysis. Rewritten from the ground up to take advantage of FileMaker 12's new architecture, InspectorPro 4 is purportedly up to 10 times faster than previous versions at processing FileMaker Database Design Reports. InspectorPro 4 provides deeper analysis of database elements, a central dashboard, localized user interface options, and data visualizations. InspectorPro 4 works with FileMaker 12 databases and is available now for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and OS X 10.7 Lion. A version for Windows is scheduled for release this fall. FileMaker Pro 12 Advanced is required for a developer to generate the DDR (Database Design Report) to be used for analysis. InspectorPro 4 is priced at US$495 for new customers, and is available for purchase and immediate download. A Team License (for up to five users) is $1,295. A full-feature trial download is...

Leap Motion (http://leapmotion.com/), a motion-control software and hardware company, has announced the appointment of Andy Miller as president and chief operating officer. He was formerly head of Apple's iAds division. Miller will join the company in August, reporting directly to CEO and co-founder, Michael Buckwald. He'll be responsible for guiding all aspects of the company's growth, including business development, growing the executive team and leading the development of the Leap application discovery store. "Andy is a Silicon Valley visionary, and his breadth and depth of experience working in the mobile and digital media space will be invaluable as we continue to grow and bring the Leap to market," says Buckwald. "We have generated a tremendous amount of momentum since launching, and can't think of a better-equipped person to join us at this time and help continue to drive Leap Motion's growth and development." Miller recently served as general partner at Highland Capital...

Parallels (http://www.parallels.com), which specializes in cloud services enablement and desktop virtualization software, has announced the appointment of Betrand Serlet, former senior vice president of software engineering at Apple, to its board of directors. Serlet will serve as a non-executive director, bringing to Parallels. He joined Apple in 1997, and was involved in the definition, development and creation of Mac OS X. Before joining Apple, Serlet spent four years at Xerox PARC, then joined NeXT in 1989. He resigned from Apple in March 2011. Serlet holds a doctorate in Computer Science from the University of Orsay, France.  "Bertrand is the rare combination of a software visionary and master of execution. We’re thrilled to be bringing his world-class experience and expertise to Parallels as the company continues its fast-paced growth and global expansion," says Birger Steen, CEO of Parallels.    Serlet worked at Apple for 14 years, where he led the development and creation of...

Qantas airlines will replace 1300 BlackBerry phones used by employees with iPhones, according to the "Sydney Morning Herald" (http://macte.ch/MpgsL). The switch was made after the majority of respondents to a recent staff survey indicated their preference for Apple's device over the "increasingly unpopular BlackBerry," the article adds. "The iPhone offers a user-friendly interface and simple access to emails, contacts and calendars, as well as meeting all Qantas' security requirements," a Qantas spokesman told the "Herald." Qantas said the move to iPhone could save the company millions of dollars due to better carrier arrangements for mobile data from both Telstra and Optus, as well as simplified support infrastructure.

Software and Computer System Company (http://www.scsc-online.com) has released Scannerz with FSE-Lite for Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It's an US$34.95 "lite" version of the company's fully featured file system events monitor, FSE. Scannerz is designed to detect problems and help users isolate their actual problems before attempting a repair. Scannerz with FSE-Lite can be used to analyze not only a hard drive, but the circuitry supporting the drive. Scannerz offers end users two modes of operation named "normal" and "cursory." Normal mode is typically used by an end user to verify that their hard drive and system are working properly. Cursory mode is used to evaluate a system when errors or irregularities have been detected.

Urbanears has launched the Zinken, a new headphone developed with the professional DJ in mind,. It's available at http://www.urbanears.com at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$140 and is offered in a variety of colors. Built with a Kevlar interior, the Zinken's TurnCable features a 6.3mm plug for use with a mixer, and a 3.5mm for mobile devices such as cell phones or MP3 players. The TurnCable also features a coiled section giving you freedom to move without disrupting the sound coming from your headphones Originally featured on the Urbanears Plattan headphone, the Zinken's SoundPlug is not actually a plug, but rather an audio output socket that allows another person to plug in and listen to whatever you are listening to. The Zinken features a padded headband and ear cushions for longer wearability. 

Ableton, in conjunction with Sample Logic, presents Electrix (http://www.ableton.com/library/electrix), an US$99 collection of instruments derived from real-world acoustic sample material, synthesis and physical modeling. Sonically, the toolkit combines the cinematic sound design of animated atmospheres, morphed instruments and electrified percussion with varieties of cutting leads, growling basses, and tempo-synced audio loops. Within Ableton Live, Electrix is sorted into five sections containing 311 instruments and 75 audio loops. Each instrument uses Live's Rack format, with macro controls mapped to filter, envelope and effects parameters. This allows for customization and spontaneous tweaking during a performance.