DEVONtechnologies (www.devontechnologies.com) has updated all editions of its intelligent information and document manager DEVONthink for Mac. The new version imports notes and attachments from Apple Notes, makes importing UNIX mailboxes easier, and improves fullscreen text editing. Version 2.9.9 shows encrypted PDFs on macOS Sierra again and fixes additional PDF bugs related to Apple's latest Mac operating system. All updates are free and recommended for all users.

NV Energy and Apple have reached an agreement to build 200 megawatts of additional solar energy in Nevada by early 2019. The projects will support Apple's renewable energy needs for its Reno data center.  In the coming weeks, NV Energy will file an application with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) to enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the solar power plant. The project will bring NV Energy's total to more than 529 megawatts of new solar resources in construction in Nevada or under review for approval. This is in addition to the 491 megawatts of universal solar resources in Nevada currently serving NV Energy customers. Apple will also dedicate up to 5 megawatts of power to NV Energy's future subscription solar program for residential and commercial customers. "We are proud to play a role in helping Apple meet their energy needs with Nevada's abundant solar resource," said Paul Caudill, president and CEO of NV Energy, in a press release. "In partnership with...

Norbert M. Doerner has released NeoFinder 7.0.1. It’s an update of the macOS app that helps you keep track of your digital files, photos, songs, movies, fonts on hard drives, USB sticks, servers, Blu-ray disks, DVD-ROMs, CDROMs, and any other digital media. NeoFinder (http://www.cdfinder.de) generates thumbnails and metadata of your files for search possibilities, smart folders, albums, and more. In version 7.0.1, you can open or close a section in the Inspector by clicking into the section header. Also, NeoFinder will now write all file or folder comments back into the real items on disk, so the Mac’s Spotlight and Finder can use them, too (though this only works for items that are online). The app requires macOS 10.7 or higher. NeoFinder 7.0.1 is a paid update to licensed users of CDFinder, update price starting at approximately $21. Cross-grades for users of competing applications (DiskLibrary, FileFinder, CatFinder, Canto Cumulus, Disk Tracker, DiskCatalogMaker, Atomic View, iView...

Apple has released three new developer betas: iOS 10.3, tvOS 10.2, and macOS 10.12.4. Developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the App Store. iOS 10.3 updates the file structure on an iOS device to the Apple File System (APFS). AFPS is optimized for Flash/SSD storage and features “strong encryption, copy-on-write metadata, space sharing, cloning for files and directories, snapshots, fast directory sizing, atomic safe-save primitives, and improved file system fundamentals.” The beta also includes a new "Find My AirPods" ability, additions to Siri, CarPlay improvements, and some changes to Maps. What’s more, Apple says that by the time iOS 10.3 is available to customers, developers will be able to respond to customer reviews on the App Store. The tvOS 10.2 beta provides an accelerated scrolling feature to the Siri remote so you can scroll through lists of content faster. The macOS 10.12.4 beta adds a Night Shift mode that...

Ohanaware has launched HDRtist NX 1.0, the company’s latest High Dynamic Range Imaging software developed exclusively for macOS. It provides128-bit image processing utilizing multi-core processors and accelerated graphics hardware. HDRtist NX sports a large live editor with a split view, providing near real time performance while the images are being edited. One-Click Styles allow you to pick and choose a pre-made style. (you can also create and share your own). A Master Slider (with four settings) and fine grained control give customers a single slider to help choose their look, while still giving access to the individual elements. HDRtist NX offers multiple exposures, single images and supports iPhone HDRs. Editable HDR images can be saved in the HDRtist NX format. HDRtist NX 1.0 (http://www.machdr.com) is available for $19.70 for a limited time. That’s 30% off the regular price of $29.99.

About Objects (https://www.aboutobjects.com) has announced its schedule of publicly available classes on iOS development in Swift and Objective-C for the first half of 2017. The About Objects iOS curriculum includes introductory through advanced-level training courses. Courses that are above the introductory level are offered exclusively in Swift, though introductory-level iOS development classes are still available in both Swift and Objective-C. Classes are offered at About Objects headquarters in Reston, Virginia. Current course offerings include the following titles: iOS Development in Swift: Comprehensive, iOS Development in Objective-C: Comprehensive, Transitioning to Swift, and Advanced iOS Development. All About Objects courses are designed around a step-by-step approach that is geared to building insight from the ground up, while balancing students's need for proficiency with their need for a solid conceptual understanding of iOS, Xcode, and Swift (or Objective-C).

Apple has released iTunes 12.5.5 for macOS. According to the company, it’s a “minor update” with “performance enhancements. It’s a 116MB. iTunes 12.5.5 is a free upgrade at the Mac App Store.

Apple has released macOS Sierra 10.12.3. It’s free for everyone running macOS Sierra. The update can be downloaded using the Software Update function in the Mac App Store. According to Apple, macOS Sierra 10.12.3: The macOS Sierra 10.12.3 Update improves the stability and security of your Mac, and is recommended for all users. This update: ° Improves automatic graphics switching on MacBook Pro (15-inch, October 2016). ° Resolves graphics issues while encoding Adobe Premiere Pro projects on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (13- and 15-inch, October 2016). ° Fixes an issue that prevented the searching of scanned PDF documents in Preview. ° Resolves a compatibility issue with PDF documents that are exported with encryption enabled. ° Fixes an issue that prevented some third-party applications from correctly importing images from digital cameras.

Comm-Unity Networking Systems (http://www.smtpitpro.com/)has released SMTPit Pro 5.1, an update of its FileMaker Pro plug-in. This version has several bug fixes for working with the plug-in under FileMaker 15 and FileMaker Server, as well as some new and updated file functions. SMTPit Pro provides an array of email options. You can send simple text-based messages or you can send complex HTML messages. You can send a single message or an entire mail out. The Server Edition of SMTPit Pro allows you to install the plug-in in FileMaker Pro Server/Server Advanced to use with Scheduled Scripts, Instant/Custom Web Publishing, and WebDirect. You can download a full-working demo of the plug-in to test it out before purchasing. If you purchased SMTPit Pro anytime from Jan. 23, 2016, until now, you can install this latest version free of charge. If you purchased SMTPit Pro anytime between Jan. 23, 2015,, and Jan. 22, 2016, you can renew your license for 50% off the current price. If you...

Nikolas Konstantakopoulos has introduced Geff 1.0 (http://www.grannysaudio.com/geff), a virtual guitar rack for macOS. It’s a standalone audio effects application to use with your guitar like you would a collection of stompboxes. Geff includes a variety of effects. You can add as many effects and re-arrange them as you like. It offers handling for adding and rearranging effects, using MIDI learning to map almost any parameter of its effects to your MIDI controller. Geff is separated to three components, Header or Input component, Middle or Effects, and the Footer or Output component. As their names suggest, the Input component manages the audio input, the Effects create and includes the used effects, and the output manages the audio output. In addition, Geff has the ability to map your MIDI controller to almost any of its parameters. Geff requires macOS 10.6.6 or later. It costs $19.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Music category.

Steven Riggs has announced TimeTable 3 (http://www.stevenriggs.com/site/timetable.html) for macOS. The tool allows you to export macOS Calendar data and analyze and total the number of hours recorded on your calendars. It’s designed to make it simple to track and bill for your time without keeping a second record outside of your calendars. TimeTable reads and filters macOS Calendar data and calculates the hours spent in the events. Version 3 sports an improved user interface, a new Calendar Groups feature, improved locking behavior in calendar timeframe selection, and resizable text and notes export views. Also, date selection now behaves like the Calendar app. TimeTable 3 — which requires macOS 10.10 or higher — is on sale 50% off for a limited time for $9.99 for a single-user license. Volume discounts are also available. A demo is available.

Zoho has launched Notebook for Mac (http://zoho.to/notebook), a new, free note-taking app. Notebook's mobile apps introduced the concept of Note Cards: dedicated note types for text, checklists, audio, photos, and sketches. The same concept has been applied to the Mac app, creating a “simple and enjoyable note-taking experience,” according to Raju Vegesna, chief evangelist of Zoho. A notebook is a personal, thoughtful space. Notebook encourages users to make the app their own by providing 25-plus hand-drawn notebook covers to choose from, and the option to add their own. Individual notes can be grouped and color coded with default colors or by choosing from a color wheel. Notebook brings the familiarity and ease-of-use of your smartphone to your Mac, says Vegesna. With a trackpad, users can navigate Notebook without making a single click. Users can open and close notebooks, and group and ungroup stacks of note cards by pinching in and out. Users can see more information, lock, or...

Apple has announced major updates to its music creation apps with new features for music makers of all levels on iPhone, iPad and Mac. GarageBand for iOS 2.2 now features the creative synthesizer Alchemy and a new sound browser designed to make searching through instruments and patches easier. Logic Pro X 10.3 for macOS gets a modern interface, new features for professional audio production as well as support for the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro. Logic Pro X users can also remotely add new tracks to their Logic sessions from their iPhone or iPad when they’re away from their Mac. With a new share option, users can upload a special GarageBand-compatible version of a Logic project to iCloud, which they can then open on their iOS devices and add new recordings whenever inspiration strikes. When the project is saved back to iCloud, any newly added tracks will automatically appear in the original Logic project the next time it’s opened on a Mac. GarageBand for iOS now features a...

B-Eng (http://www.b-eng.ch/) has announced SSD Health Check 1.0, the company's new hard drive utility for macOS. It will alert you when your solid state disk is in a critical state or reaches other critical limits. SSD Health Check reports data such as operating temperature, unexpected power losses and power cycles, as well as the number of uncorrectable errors and wear level count or parameters such as erase fail count. It requires macOS 10.7 or later. SSD Health Check 1.0 costs $0.99. It’s available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Utilities category.

Synology (www.synology.com) has released Surveillance Station 8.0, an update of the smart surveillance system for macOS and Windows. It offers flexible deployment and a smoother live view experience, according to Jonathan Wang, product manager at Synology. He adds that Surveillance Station 8.0 includes the following new features: ° Surveillance Station Client: in addition to checking live views and managing channels within browsers, users can now install Surveillance Station Client to enjoy improved performance and efficiency, and be free from browser limitations. ° Multiple streaming: the update supports automatic and manual resolution adjustment based on the size of the monitoring window or event, saves bandwidth consumption1 when prospecting multiple channels. You can choose to automatically switch to higher resolution recording only when important events occur, maximizing storage utilization1 during continuous recording. ° Advanced action rule: more advanced action rules and...

Apple has released a supplemental security update for Mac OS X El Capitan (the predecessor to macOS Sierra. According to Apple, it “fixes a kernel issue that may cause your Mac to occasionally become unresponsive.” The update originally was released in December 2016, but has been reissued. You can obtain the update by launching the Mac App Store app, then checking for updates.

Red Giant has just released two all-new sticker packs for iOS users: Blockbuster and Holomoji. Designed by Red Giant filmmaker Seth Worley and iOS developer Micah Lanier, the sticker packs leverage the very best of Red Giant motion graphics and visual effects to bring a sense of Hollywood action to iMessage conversations. Drag and drop from the sticker keyboard to add high-quality visual effects and holographic emojis directly to texts, images, and videos in iMessage conversations. These sticker packs can be downloaded free of charge from the iOS App store.

BlobmanLabs has released Blobman 3.0 (http://blobmanlabs.com/index.html), a complete rewrite to their $19.95, traces-based, golf swing improvement tool for macOS. Designed for professional instructors, experienced golfers and new golfers alike, the app is designed to encourage better understanding and appreciation of an effective complete swinging motion to better define and polish a golf swing. In version 3.0, component relationships are more easily seen, understood and utilized.

Ergonis Software (www.ergonis.com) has announced Typinator 7.1, a new version of their text expander for macOS. It’s a tool for automating the process of inserting frequently used text and auto-correcting typing errors. In the new version, the new powerful input forms are no longer modal. While an input form is open, it is now possible to temporarily switch to other windows, for example to copy/paste text into form fields. The new version also offers further enhancements and compatibility improvements with macOS Sierra and third-party applications. Typinator requires macOS 10.6 or newer. The upgrade to Typinator 7.1 is free for anyone who owns a valid license for Typinator 7. Upgrade paths are available for owners of older licenses. For new users the price is $24.99.

Apple has released the fourth beta of iOS 10.2.1 to developers. It can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center (https://idmsa.apple.com).

Sonnet Technologies (www.sonnettech.com) has launched its first Thunderbolt 3-to-PCIe card expansion systems, the Echo Express SEL — Thunderbolt 3 Edition and the Echo Express SE I — Thunderbolt 3 Edition. Like the other members of the Echo Express family, the SEL and SE I enable the use of a variety of PCI Express (PCIe) cards with computers equipped with Thunderbolt ports. Both the SEL and SE I are compact and lightweight single-slot Thunderbolt 3 expansion systems, differing only in size, that are designed for use in situations in which users only need to connect a single PCIe card. With the new interface, both systems enable users of computers equipped with 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, such as the new MacBook Pro, to take advantage of Thunderbolt 3's 2,750 MB/s of PCI Express bandwidth to support the most demanding, highest performance adapter cards. Sonnet is also making available Thunderbolt 3 upgrade cards for existing Thunderbolt 2 Echo Express SEL and SE I expansion...

Synology has launched the RT2600ac (http://tinyurl.com/jd4x7cg), a high-speed, security-focused router designed for multiple users. In addition, VPN Plus has been released so users of the Synology router can implement an on-premises VPN solution. The RT2600ac is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, and comes equipped with the latest 802.11ac Wave 2 certified radios featuring MU-MIMO support. Together with Smart Connect, RT2600ac can intelligently optimize connection quality and balance devices on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios for maximum wireless speed and range, according to Synology Product Manager Michael R Wang. Dual WAN with 2.0 Gbps combined bandwidth allows users to take advantage of two high speed fiber internet connections for load balancing plus failover, he adds. The RT2600ac is powered by the Synology Router Manager (SRM) operating system. Application Layer QoS (Quality of Service) makes it possible to monitor and control bandwidth consumption according to not only...

Akitio (www.akitio.com) has announced the upcoming release of the US$329 Akitio Thunder3 Quad Mini. The company says it’s the first 4-bay, 2.5-inch, Thunderbolt 3 storage device designed for use with the new 2016 Apple MacBook Pro lineup (macOS), as well as Thunderbolt 3 Windows PCs.  The Thunder3 Quad Mini — due in March — offers fast transfers with the added flexibility of a DisplayPort video output in a small and portable form factor, says Richard Wright, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Akitio.  The Thunder3 Quad Mini can deliver transfer speeds of up to 1375 MB/s while simultaneously providing two 4K video streams to connected displays. It’s designed for consumers and professionals who desire high-speed external storage and/or video streams in one connection. The Thunder3 Quad Mini features two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a DisplayPort video output to connect to the latest 4K 60Hz displays while also supporting Power Delivery (PD) up to 15W.  The second Thunderbolt 3...

iMobie has announced AnyTrans 5.4, a feature update to their all-in-one iPhone manager. It was specifically created to clone all types of items, including contacts, photos, music, messages, notes, calendar, even customized settings like wallpaper, iCloud account, sounds, and more. Version 5.4 adds a free video download feature. Users can download AnyTrans 5.4 for both Mac and Windows from its official homepage (https://www.imobie.com/anytrans/). It’s free to use.