Study: mobile broadband modem sales to reach 200 million in 2014
The sales of new devices with integrated mobile broadband connectivity, together with external USB modems, will top 100 million in 2010, as mobile broadband makes major inroads into the mass market, stimulated by new devices such as the Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad and more aggressive tariffs from mobile operators, according to Strategy Analytics (http://www.strategyanalytics.com).
According to a new study by the research group, the installed base of mobile broadband modems will have grown to 415 million devices by 2014, highlighting the need for true, ubiquitous mobility, that enables users to engage with their contacts and content whatever their location.
"Decreasing module costs and greater variety of pre and post-pay tariff plans are making mobile broadband more accessible, allowing more people to access their content wherever and whenever they desire," says Andrew Brown, director of Wireless Enterprise Strategies at Strategy Analytics and author of the report. "Going forward,...
Analyst: 'HD' iPhone should be a hit
Apple's upcoming iPhone could be a blockbuster hit, according to RBC analyst Mike Abramsky. (One caveat: Apple hasn't officially announced such a device yet.)
Still, citing a survey of 1,000 people, Abramsky says 20% of the respondents intend to buy the fourth version of the iPhone, which is expected to debut at next month's Apple Worldwide Developer Conference. This is more than twice the number of eager buyers surveyed prior to the original iPhone three years ago, notes "TheStreet" (http://www.thestreet.com/story/10762460/1/apples-hd-iphone-reloads-deman...).
Abramsky estimates Apple will sell 23 million of the redesigned "HD" iPhone -- which is expected to have higher resolution and an improved camera -- this year, which is more than half of the 40 million iPhone sales estimate he has for 2010. Included in his forecast to customers is the arrival of a CDMA-based iPhone, "but not necessarily at Verizon this year," he says.
Ex-employee says Apple ruined his life
An ex-Apple employee, Kenyon Zahner, who filed a class action lawsuit against the company in August 2009, says Apple "ruined his life." The lawsuit complained that Apple forces its staffers to work long hours without overtime pay.
In the lawsuit, Zahner said he routinely worked more than 40 hours per week at an Apple location in Florida but didn't receive extra compensation required by state law for non-managerial employees. The lawsuit sought damages on behalf of Zahner and other Apple employees in Florida who were allegedly cheated out of overtime pay. The lawsuit settled last December for US$3,500, of which $2,300 went to Zahner's attorney.
In the lawsuit, Apple’s attorneys denied there was any pressure to work unpaid overtime, and said Zahner had not presented any proof he was owed money. Yet, in the settlement agreement revealed at "ifoAppleStore" web site (http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2010/05/20/ex-employee-settles-lawsuit-b...), the company ended up paying Zahner and...
iPhone's performance in China is lackluster so far
A recent survey of 2,000 mobile users in China between the ages of 22 and 32 by China Market Research Group, or CMR, suggests that the cause of the iPhone's performance in China may stem from the relative unpopularity of Apple's partner, China Unicom, among its target users, as well as a lack of desire among those users to sign up for two-year contracts and subscribe to 3G services, reports the "Wall Street Journal" (http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/05/20/why-iphone-hasn’t-sold-well-in-china/?mod=rss_whats_news_technology).
CMR found that while users really wanted the iPhone, less than 10% of respondents use China Unicom, and of those respondents, a majority said they were unhappy with the company’s service. In comparison, 95% of respondents said they felt competitor China Mobile was more stable and had better coverage when traveling around the country. CMR also found that 80% of respondents used prepaid mobile services rather than monthly subscription-based services, and had...
iTunes grows its share of the US music market to 26.7%
Apple's iTunes store, which emerged in 2008 as the top U.S. music account for the first time, widened its lead last year over former market leader Walmart, according to a new report by "Billboard" (http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/magazine/upfront/e3i12fe2...).
Acording to the music industry publication's analysis of 2009 sales and market share, the top 20 U.S. music accounts accounted for 85% of the total account base. That's down from 88% in 2008 and runs counter to an almost decade-long consolidation trend under which the top 20 accounts continued to capture an ever larger share of the total market. "Brick-and-mortar" accounts dipped, while digital accounts made up a combined 35.5% of the total account base, up from 31.6% in 2008, says "Billboard."
iTunes grew its share of the U.S. account base to 26.7%, up from 21.4% in 2008 and more than double the 12.7% share the company had in 2007. Number 2 account Walmart saw its 2009 share sink to 12.5% in 2009 from 15% in...
Case dismissed in 'spying' MacBook lawsuit
A federal judge has dismissed a plaintiff's lawsuit against Apple that accused company employees of waiting like "vultures" to spy on her every time she used an Apple laptop to access the Internet, reports "Reuters" (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64I76D20100519).
In the lawsuit, Leslie Carr claimed every time time she used the laptop to go online, "there would be a mass number of Apple employees waiting greedily like vultures to survey and monitor my life." She was asking for US$60 million for trauma.
However, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman said the complaint "fails to state a plausible claim for relief. Where, as here, a complaint is asserting unrealistic and unsupportable claims, a court may dismiss it." The case was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
MediaEdit for Mac OS X updated to version 3.1.9
Mien Software (http://www.miensoftware.com) has released MediaEdit 3.1.9 for the Mac, an update of the consumer-level video editing tool that can edit most QuickTime readable formats. The upgrade fixes some issues with long file names and fixes an issue where clips can become corrupted after a join and a split.
MediaEdit's features include: the ability to add video, audio and text instantly; non-destructive editing; multiple levels of undo; live previews and background rendering; the ability to capture video and audio; and the ability to resize and position the clip display region. MediaEdit comes with standard effects, filters and transitions. You can create slideshows, add chapter markers and export to QuickTime, DV, MPEG-4 and to the web.
A 30-day demo is available for download. The suggested retail price for MediaEdit is US$59.95. Version 3.1.9 is a free update for registered users of version 3.x.
Gaussian 09 Software ported to 64-bit Mac OS X systems
The Portland Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of STMicroelectronics and supplier of compilers for high-performance computing (HPC), has announced that Gaussian, an ongoing collaboration of scientists and academic research groups throughout the world, used PGI compilers to port a version of its flagship Gaussian 09 product to Intel processor-based Macintosh computers running 64-bit versions of Mac OS X.
PGI develops and markets C/C++ and Fortran compilers and development tools that are used by engineers and scientists. PGI Workstation compilers and tools enable building, debugging and profiling of 64-bit multi-core applications on the latest generation of Macs based on processors from Intel and running the Mac OS X operating system.
"A large percentage of academic and government HPC users rely on MacBooks as their mobile computing solution," says Douglas Miles, director, The Portland Group. "Now that Gaussian 09 is available on Mac OS X as well as on Linux- and Windows-based systems,...
IDC forecasts 7.6 million media tablets to ship this year
The nascent market for media tablets, fostered by the launch of Apple’s iPad, will be driven by the device's attributes as a content consumption platform and the compelling applications and services that will be created to take advantage of them, according to a new study by International Data Corp. (http://www.idc.com).
According to a the IDC research group, worldwide media tablet shipments will grow from 7.6 million units in 2010 to more than 46 million units in 2014, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 57.4%. In comparison, IDC expects 398 million portable computers will be shipped in 2014.
"These are early days for media tablets, an altogether new device category that takes its place between smartphones and portable personal computers," says Susan Kevorkian, program director, Digital Marketplace: Mobile Media & Entertainment. "IDC expects consumer demand for media tablets to be strongly driven by the number and variety of compatible third-party apps for...
CVC Verilog Simulator now supports Mac OS X
Pragmatic C Software Corp. (http://www.pragmatic-c.com) has released CVC, a Verilog 2005 simulator for the Mac OS X platform. It's been ported to the X86 Mac OS X platform allowing engineers to develop Verilog designs with the convenience and ease of Mac systems, says Pragmatic C President Steven Meyer.
CVC now fills a void in the market making it the only high performance Verilog simulator for Mac OS X, he adds. In addition to the new support for Mac OS X, various speed improvements have been made to CVC's native code compiler.
CVC is a full IEEE 1364-2005 32-bit and 64-bit native code, compiled Verilog simulator. It has a one executable compilation process and also supports an interpreted mode.
To learn more or for info on how to evaluate CVC, contact Pragmatic C Software Corp.
LaCie announces Network Space MAX
LaCie (http://www.lacie.com) has announced a dual-disk Gigabit network storage and media server -- the LaCie Network Space MAX, design by Neil Poulton. It allows users to store and share their most important files throughout the home with complete data security, according to Patrick Salin, Digital Home Business Unit Manager, LaCie.
The Network Space MAX includes two large-capacity hard drives that can be configured for maximum security (RAID 1) or maximum capacity (RAID 0). If protecting your data is a priority, the RAID 1 mode will ensure automatic disk mirroring-- meaning all files will be copied onto each of the disks. If one drive fails, data won't be lost.
LaCie Network Assistant software helps you set up the product, and a dashboard allows you to easily manage files, backups, private accounts, and download torrents. Additionally, with the Network Space MAX, the files stored on the hard drive are fully accessible outside your home from any connected computer using the remote...
Carrara 8 adds new improved animation tools, more
DAZ 3D-Gizmoz has released Carrara 8 (http://www.daz3d.com/i/software/carrara8?), an update of the all-in-one 3D solution. The new version provides improved animation tools, enhanced lighting, new vegetation tools and optimized rendering, says DAZ 3D-Gizmoz CEO Dan Farr.
Artists utilizing the Carrara 8 Pro toolset will gain access to 64-bit compatibility for Mac and Windows, as well as the Bullet Physics Library. This open-source, advanced physics toolkit allows artists to use e rigid and soft body dynamics. Combined with the speed improvements achieved from the new support for multi-threading and 64-bit hardware, Carrara 8 Pro drastically improves productivity, says Farr.
Additionally, updated export capabilities allow game developers to transfer custom figures, environments and/or animations directly into the Unity game engine via the FBX file format.
In addition to the above improvements, Farr says Carrara 8 artists will experience: improved plants and vegetation, editing of...
AJA ships KUMO compact SDI routers
AJA (http://www.aja.com) is shipping its its new KUMO line of compact SDI routers and FiDO family of SDI/Optical Fiber converters. They support full broadcast specifications over SDI, HD SDI, and 3G SDI and provide web-browser control over a LAN to simplify integration into production and post environments.
FiDO (Fiber Digital Optical) is a family of five SDI/Optical Fiber converters that enable the transport of SDI, HD-SDI and 3G SDI over long distance. KMO compact SDI routers are available in two configurations: the KUMO 1604 supporting sixteen SDI inputs and four out, and the KUMO 1616 supporting 16 channels in and out. Running embedded Linux, KUMO routers support HTTP control and monitoring, with elegant and network setup via BonJour.
The FiDO mini converters are available at a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$445. The MSRP of the KUMO 1604 is US$1995 and the MSRP of the KUMO 1616 is US$299.
Pro Sound Effects distribute BBC Sound Effects Archive
Pro Sound Effects (http://www.prosoundeffects.com) has announced an agreement with BBC Information & Archives to distribute the BBC Sound Effects Archive.
Pro Sound Effects has prepared the BBC’s sound effect CD collection 1-165, BBC’s Natural History archive and additional BBC sound content for distribution as royalty-free sound effects libraries on hard drive and via download. There are a variety of bundles; contact Pro Sound Effects for pricing.
Quark showcasing Quark XML Author at DoDIIS 2010
Quark will be onsite at the Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems (DoDIIS) worldwide conference next week, May 23-27, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Quark will demonstrate Quark XML Author for Microsoft Word, a COTS solution that helps government organizations meet Intelligence Community Directive Number 501.Combined with the Quark XML MSP Accelerator 3.0, Quark XML Author allows for XML encoding for classification, declassification, handling, and dissemination, and readies content for delivery to HTML, Wiki, PDF, and RTF formats.
Quark XML Author offers readymade adaptors to leading content management systems such as Microsoft SharePoint, EMC Documentum, IBM FileNet Content Manager, and Alfresco. Quark is a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner, recipient of the Office Solution Builder Grand Prize, and Member of the Microsoft Office 14 Developer Advisory Council.
For more info about how Quark XML Author can benefit governmental and intelligence agencies, go to http://...
CatDV for Mac OS X prowls to version 8.1.2
Square Box Systems (http://www.squarebox.co.uk/) has released version 8.1.2 of CatDV, the media asset database and professional video logger for Mac OS X. The new version works with CatDV Server 6.1.5 and later.
Also, user fields can now be locked so only specified users can edit the field. CatDV is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. A demo of version is available for download. For new users the cost is $95 for the Standard Edition and $340 for the Professional Edition. Version 8.1.2 is a free update for registered users of version 8.x.
VelaClock Deluxe, VelaClock for Mac OS X tick to version 2.2.4
Vela Design Group (http://veladg.com/) has announced VelaClock Deluxe 2.2.1 and VelaClock 2.2.1, new versions of its Dashboard widgets. The new versions have updated Daylight Saving Time rules for Bangladesh, Chile, Fiji, Paragua and Samoa.
For current customers, both versions are a free update. Both are compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard") and 10.6 ("Snow Leopard"). VelaClock Deluxe is priced at US$15.95. VelaClock Deluxe Household, for up to five computers within a single household, is priced at $23.95. VelaClock (standard version) is priced at $9.95. Existing VelaClock users may upgrade to the Deluxe version for $6.
ReSizeMe update for Mac OS X adds presets
Dare to be Creative has released ReSizeMe 2.2 (http://resize-me.com), an update of the batch image and photo editor for Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5. The upgrade adds presets and fixes some bugs,
ResizeMe can resize, scale, rotate and flip many images and photos at once, and is the latest tool by Dare to be Creative aimed at creative professionals. With it, users can resize, scale, rotate and flip many images at once. Resizing allows users to reduce the size of their photos for emailing, or creating thumbnails for images to post on web sites. Users can rotate images to switch from portrait mode to landscape, or vice versa. By flipping images horizontally or vertically users can create mirror effects.
Resize Me is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It costs US$30, though version 2.2 is a free update for registered users. A 15-day demo is available for download.
Is the iPad causing a surge in ebook piracy?
Popular Bit Torrent site, Torrentfreak, recently investigated the number of downloaded ereader ebook files in conjunction with the subsequent release of the iPad. The numbers were quite staggering as research shown that ebook piracy increased by a whopping 78% after the first few weeks of the iPad release, according to "Goodreader" (http://goodereader.com/blog/about-us/), a provider of electronic reader, slate and tablet PC news.
The rise of ebook piracy is still pathetically small if you look at music, video games or movie distribution. Also, most eBooks are very restrictive and come "with a staggering amount of DRM that prevents sharing or lending of the ebooks," says "Goodreader."
"We believe that blaming the iPad directly for a surge in piracy is valid, but it is not the only extenuating factor in the rise of eBook piracy," the site says. "The Apple iPad is a popular new gadget right now that is drawing in a ton of different consumers from all walks of life. Some people have the...
Rumpus file transfer tool for Mac OS X upgraded to version 6.2.8
Maxum (http://www.maxum.com) has updated Rumpus, the Internet file transfer tool for Mac OS X (10.4 and higher), to version 6.2.8. It adds FTP control/data coordination checks to avoid problems dealing with mis-behaved FTP clients.
In addition, new appearance options make integrating file transfers into an existing web site easier than ever, and Growl notifications give server administrators new ways to monitor transfer activity.
Rumpus 6.2.8 is a free upgrade for anyone who has purchased a license since Jan. 1, 2008, and costs US$99 ($149 for Pro) to upgrade from any previous version. For new users the cost starts at US$269 for a one-server license.
VueScan update for Mac OS X updated to version 8.6.32
Hamrick Software has released Vuescan 8.6.29, a new version of the VueScan software for Mac OS X that's designed to let users produce better digital images from color snapshots, negatives, slides and documents. The new version adds support for searchable PDF files.
The Standard Edition of VueScan costs US$39.95 and the Professional Edition is $79.95 for a single user license. Multi-user licenses are available. A fully functional, trial copy of VueScan is available for download from the Hamrick web site (http://www.hamrick.com).
Brits choose the iPhone as one of the most important inventions
The iPhone has been voted a more important invention than the washing machine, combustion engine and space travel, according to a survey of more than 4,000 consumers in Britain, reports the "Telegraph" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/773868...).
The survey was conducted by Tesco Mobile, which carried out the nationwide research among 18-65 year-olds. Those polled also placed the iPhone ahead of the car, camera and flushing toilet, notes the "Telegraph." The wheel was voted as the most important invention in history, with the airplane in second place, the lightbulb third, the worldwide web fourth and computers fifth.
Other inventions to make the top ten included Graham Bell's telephone in sixth place, followed by Sir Alexander Flemming's discovery of Penicillin. The iPhone came eighth, while Thomas Crapper's flushing toilet was ninth. The internal combustion engine came tenth.
Adobe delivers HTML5 support in Dreamweaver CS5
Adobe announced today at the Google I/O conference that a new HTML5 solution is available for web designers and developers. The Adobe HTML5 Pack is an extension to Adobe Dreamweaver CS5, the latest version of the HTML authoring tool for web site design.
HTML5 is being developed as the next major revision of HTML (HyperText Markup Language), the core markup language of the web. It's touted as the next standard for HTML 4.01, XHTML 1.0 and DOM Level 2 HTML and is designed to to reduce the need for proprietary plug-in-based rich internet application (RIA) technologies such as Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight, and Sun JavaFX.
This extension provides more creative options to Adobe Creative Suite 5 users, so they can more easily create, deliver and optimize compelling content consistently, across the widest array of screens, to maximize revenue streams and forward their businesses, according to Lea Hickman, senior director, Creative Solutions at Adobe. Adobe has made its HTML5 Pack...
CEA: consumers to increase electronic accessories spending by 5%
A new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) finds that nearly half of consumers will shop to replace an accessory included with their consumer electronics purchase and that they will base their accessory purchase decisions on functionality rather than price.
"Accessories Purchasing in the 21st Century" shows 61% of online U.S. consumers shopped for accessories in the past year and more than half (53%) made a purchase.
“Product quality, enhancing performance and getting the word out through satisfied customers are key factors for consumers in purchasing accessories,” says Rhonda Daniel, manager of market research for CEA (http:/www.CE.org). “Consumers place more value on quality and functionality of the accessory than price when making purchase decisions.”
According to the study, 41% of consumers will upgrade an accessory that came with a device to get a better quality one. While quality is important, enhancing the performance of the device is the primary reason behind...
O'Reilly releases 'Missing Manual' for the iPad
O'Reilly has released "iPad: The Missing Manual," a 320-page book by J.D. Biersdorfer (with David Pogue), looking at Apple's new tablet. It costs US$24.99 for a print version and $15.99 for an ebook version.
"The iPad is a brand new product that's already sold a million units and is converting people who don't even use a regular laptop because it's so versatile," says Biersdorfer. "It's so much more than just an ebook reader and web browser, and my book shows you how to maximize the iPad's potential to make it be whatever you want it to be."
The "Missing Manual" promises a look at the device's features, undocumented tips and tricks and more. For the full table of contents, sample content, cover graphic, and a video tutorial from Biersdorfer, see http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/0636920010142 .
Biersdorfer is the author of "iPod: The Missing Manual" and "The iPod Shuffle Fan Book," and is co-author of "The Internet: The Missing Manual" and the second edition of "Google: The Missing...
Is Apple tweaking Final Cut Studio apps to fit prosumers?
According to "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com), Apple's Final Cut Studio suite of video post production apps is getting a "significant makeover to better target the software to the mainstream of Apple's customer base rather than high end professionals." But at least one industry pro begs to differ.
Quoting "a person with knowledge of Apple's internal Pro Apps plans," "AppleInsider" says Apple has shuffled around management within the Final Cut team in order to retarget its efforts to more closely match the needs of the majority of its customers. Apple's Mac customer base has steadily shifted from desktop models to notebooks, while also broadening out from a high end creative niche to a wider installed base that includes more prosumer and advanced home users, the article adds.
However, Philip Hodgetts, president of Intelligent Assistance (http://www.intelligentassistance.com/), which makes a variety of software products, writes in an online blog (http://macosg.me/2/a0) that...
LoginTrap for Mac OS X gets speed boost
ProteMac has announced ProteMac LoginTrap 1.2 (http://protemac.com/LoginTrap/), an update of the tool designed to prevent unauthorized usage of a Mac. The upgrade offers speed increases and some bug fixes.
LoginTrap monitors all log-in events and detects whether a log-in attempt was successful or failed. After a log-in attempt is made the program captures an image from the iSight camera, so that you are able to see who is trying to break into your Mac. An alarm e-mail with iSight camera snapshot attached is sent immediately after a log-in attempt.
ProteMac LoginTrap requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. It's Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It costs US$29.95 for a single user license. Version 1.2 is a free update for registered users.
Apple files trademark for retail store design
Apple's attorneys have filed applications to trademark the design of the company's retail stores, including the gray stainless steel and the light-brown wood of the display tables, reports ifoAppleStore (http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2010/05/18/apple-trademarks-retail-store...).
“The mark consists of distinctive design and layout of a retail store,” state the applications filed May 12 by attorney Lisa Widup. There are two versions of the trademark application, one describing the store in color and the other one in black-and-white.
fScanX 1.5 for Mac OS X adds support for new scanners
Elevated Software Development has updated fScanX (http://www.elevated-dev.com/Products/fScanX), their scanning solution for Mac OS X, to version 1.5. It adds support for new scanners.
fScanX was developed specifically to provide native Mac OS X support for high-speed Fujitsu scanners. Rather than requiring the application to launch in order to perform scanning, fScanX's command-line utility gives developers the ability to control the user interface completely. This opens up a host of possibilities for prepress operators, developers and graphic designers alike to build custom workflows involving scanning, according to Scott Ribe, founder of Elevated Software Development.
Additionally, fScanX ships with an Automator action that enables creation of scanning workflows without scripting. fScanX also enables a host of alternative automation options. It takes only three lines of script code in FileMaker to scan a document, with similar setups available in 4D, Ribe says. And it's just as easy...
First quarter of 2010 was iPhone's strongest quarter yet
The iPhone had 2.7% of the worldwide mobile phone market in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 1.55 in the same time period of 2009, according to the Gartner research group (http://www.gartner.com). Apple sold approximately 8.4 million iPhones in 1Q2010 compared to approximately 3.9 million in 1Q2009.
Ahead of Apple, globally, for 1Q2010 are Nokia (35% market share), Samsung (20.6%), LG (8.6%), RIM (3.4% and Sony Ericsson (3.1%). The first quarter of 2010 was Apple’s strongest quarter yet, which placed the company in the No. 7 position with a 112.2% increase in mobile devices sales.
“Growth came partly from new communication service providers in established markets, such as the UK, and stronger sales in new markets such as China and South Korea,” says Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner. “The second quarter of 2010 will be a very important one for Apple. We expect that Apple will present its new iPhone in June during its Worldwide Developer Conference, which will...
Video tutorial looks at creating Final Cut Pro soundtracks
SmartSound has posted new video tutorial showing a new royalty free music workflow for Final Cut Pro users. SmartSound's Sonicfire Pro 5.5 Scoring Edition with the Final Cut Pro Plug-in enables editors to make music fit between markers in a Final Cut Pro sequence.
In addition to automatic custom lengths, SmartSound enables control of the music arrangement and instrument mix for a highly customized end result. All of these features are available in a fast roundtrip workflow that allows unlimited fine-tuning of the music without the need to save any project files in Sonicfire Pro.
This video tutorial was created by Larry Jordan, a Final Cut Studio experts. You can find the tutorial at http://blip.tv/file/3619521 .
Soulver for Mac OS X updated to version 2.0
Acqualia has updated Soulver (http://www.acqualia.com/soulver/), a calculator that provides a word processor style interface for doing math on your Mac, to version 2.0. The upgrade brings units, conversions, stocks, answer tokens, syntax coloring and other new features.
Soulver lets you do calculations over multiple lines like you would on paper, and you can use words alongside your numbers. It's designed for day-to-day sums and calculations, to do complex mathematics in different bases. As such, Soulver includes all the standard mathematical functions, supports very large numbers, and has support for hex and binary calculations. When you're finished, you can save and print out your work.
Soulver costs US$24.95. Existing Soulver owners can upgrade to 2.0 for $12.95. Anyone who purchased Soulver 1 in 2010 receives a free upgrade. Soulver is also available for the iPad and the iPhone.
Canon offers mobile image capture solution for the Mac
Canon (http://www.usa.canon.com) has addressed the growing need for on-the-go image capture solutions among Mac users with the introduction of the imageFORMULA P-150M “Scan-tini” personal scanner.
Utilizing the same technology and compact footprint in the original P-150 scanner, the imageFORMULA P-150M allows for quick connectivity and set up time via a single USB port that also serves as a power source from the attached computer. The embedded Canon CaptureOnTouch software lets Mac users start scanning without installing drivers or additional applications while also routing scan information directly to Evernote, a service for saving and organizing content across desktop, mobile and web devices.
Additional functionality is provided by a TWAIN driver for easy hardware integration with third-party Enterprise Content Management (ECM) software, according to Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Groups, Canon U.S.A.. Technology features such as Color Dropout,...
CrossTech Remote Control 11 is Mac compatible
CrossTec Corp. (http://www.crosstecsoftware.com) has released CrossTec Remote Control 11, an update of the multi-platform Remote Control solution. The new version combines multi-platform support for Mac, Windows, Linux, Solaris, CE, Pocket PC, and Windows Mobile systems, with a range of management tools designed to ensure business continuity through granting access to critical IT infrastructure.
CrossTec Remote Control can now detect Intel vPro technology, listing the machines as a separate group and enabling a range of remote functions to be performed where previously a physical visit to the machine would have been required. Additional support for both Thin clients and Zero client systems has been added to help ease the management of diverse networks.
A new dynamic “Auto-Groups” facility that provides an instant hierarchical view of your remote Client machines by platform and operating system has been added along with supporting Quick Search and Quick Access features. Contact...
Compartments for Mac OS X gets advanced reports system
LittleFin Software has updated Compartments (http://www.littlefin.com/compartments.html) for Mac OS X (10.5 and higher), to version 1.1. Advanced reports system has been introduced in the new version, allowing the user to customize the information displayed on the report. The user can also attach receipts or other files to items in this release.
Compartments allows household items to be entered, searched and sorted by location, type, value or any custom tag. Drag and drop photos and other info can be added to each item listing.
The first step in using Compartments is to set up Locations, which are the places in which the user's items are stored. A Location can be a room, a house, a piece of furniture, a briefcase, or a safety deposit box -- any place that contains things to be cataloged. Next, the user creates an Item for each one of their possessions.
The Add Item dialogue box permits one or more of the following entries: item photo, item name and type, location, date acquired,...
Layer Groups 2.0 InDesign plug-in for InDesign CS-CS5 shipping
DTP Tools has released Layer Groups 2.0 plug-in (http://www.dtptools.com/layergroups), which more than doubles the feature set of the previous version. The plug-in is Adobe Creative Suite 5 ready.
Layer Groups 2.0 adds: listing of objects in the layer on current spread; listing of objects in the layer in the document; and importing layers including structure and content from other documents. Also, users can enjoy the listing and naming of objects within a layer introduced in CS5 in any InDesign version from CS up with additional settings filtering objects for spread or document.
Upgrades to Layer Groups 2.0 from any previous version of Layer Groups and InDesign is free. For new users the cost is US$40 per license. A demo is available for download.
StingRay file transfer tool gets Quicksend feature
Pro2col (http://www.pro2col.com), specialists in the secure large file transfer arena, has released StingRay 2.6, an update of the file transfer server.
The latest firmware release for this multi-protocol file transfer server provides users with an entirely new file sending named, Quicksend. Intended for one-off transmissions, the Quicksend feature enables users to send large files instantaneously via the StingRay Client application (Mac version 2.0.2) by simply entering an email address,.
StingRay 2.6 also sees the inclusion of HTTPS with 128-bit SSL encryption. It ensures that the security of sensitive data is maintained during transit over unsecured networks, according to the folks at Pro2col.
Similarly, there have been improvements to the existing features and functionality offered by StingRay. One such improvement is the ability to personalize email content when using the Email Hyperlink feature to send to external customers. What's more, files uploaded via the external web...
RAID Host Adapter for Mac Pro announced
HighPoint Technologies (http://www.highpoint-tech.com/) has announced the RocketRAID Quad eSATA 6Gbs host adapter for the Mac Pro. The company says it's the industry’s first PCI-Express Gen 2.0 x4 host adapter with quad independent 6Gb/s eSATA connections.
The RocketRAID Quad eSATA 6Gb/s for Mac supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 and JBOD for performance and data protection. RAID 0 and 10 boost performance with striping technology and RAID 1 protects data from a single drive failure with mirroring technology. RAID 5 delivers performance and protection against a failed drive.
The RocketRAID Quad eSATA 6Gb/s for Mac is compatible with all generations of Intel-based Mac Pro platforms. The PCI-Express Gen 2.0 x4 bus connector is upward compatible with x8 and x16 slots and also backward compatible to PCI-Express Gen 1.0 slots. Hard drive compatibility includes support for SATA 3.0, 2.0. It's compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 and higher.
External storage connectivity include point to point eSATA...
Mac DVD Ripper adapted for PowerPC, Intel Macs
Digiarty Software has updated its DVD Ripper for Mac (http://www.winxdvd.com/dvd-ripper-for-mac/) with Power PC Mac added. It now works with PowerPC and Intel Macs. The app lets you convert your DVD movie collections to Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod, PSP, etc.
DVD Ripper for Mac works on both encrypted and non-commercial homemade DVDs and can convert to MP4, MOV, iTunes, iLife, AVI, FLV, MP3, etc. that playable on Mac, but also converting DVD content to the format playback on portable devices like the iPod, iPad, iPhone and the PSP.
This DVD Ripper also works as a solution for those who want to make backup DVD copies of their protected DVDs since it has the ability of making 1:1 DVD copy to hard drive by removing the copy-protection from encrypted discs. Also, its editing function lets you to trim any video segment you favor and adjust the video effects, like video resolution, frame rate, bitrate and audio channel depending on what you like.
DVD Ripper for Mac is on sale now for US$35.95....
Apple releases Java updates
Apple has released Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 7 (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL971) and Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 2 (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL972). The first is a 122MB download and requires Mac OS X 10.5.8. The second is a 78MB download and requires Mac OS X 10.6.3.
According to Apple, Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 7 delivers improved compatibility, security, and reliability by updating J2SE 5.0 to 1.5.0_24, and updating Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_20 for 64-bit capable Intel-based Macs. J2SE 1.4.2 is no longer being updated to fix bugs or security issues and remains disabled by default in this update.
Apple says Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 2 delivers improved compatibility, security, and reliability by updating Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_20.
Ascender launches FontsLive.com:
Ascender Corp. has launched http://www.FontsLive.com, a new service for web designers and developers seeking high quality fonts to format web sites with CSS @font-face using licensed downloadable fonts instead of system fonts or headline graphics.
Ascender, known for the creation of screen and user interface fonts for Microsoft, Google, Motorola, Nokia and other leading technology companies, launched the site this week. FontsLive.com leverages the Ascender Web Fonts platform, using the CSS @font-face rule and downloadable fonts.
Instead of programming images to represent fonts, use of FonstLive.com allows developers and designers to utilize the real font, eliminating a step within the production process, says Bill Davis, vice president of Ascender. FontsLive.com delivers web fonts to all major desktop browsers and mobile devices including the iPhone and iPad.
Via the site, web designers and developers can select both web and traditional desktop font licenses from Ascender’s list...
Sprint CFO: we'd love to have the iPhone
Sprint's Chief Financial Officer Robert Brust recently told investors that the company had seen the worst of its problems and things are looking up, reports "Information Week" (http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2010/05/sprint_says_pr...). What's especially interesting is that he also lamented the (lack of) impact of the Palm Pre and said Sprint would love to be an iPhone carrier.
"The Pre didn't work out as well as we hoped," he said. Brust said Palm's supply issues were part of the problem, and that, concerning the iPhone, "we'd love to have it."
Brust did note that this was unlikely at this point in time, notes "Information Week."
Which is too bad. In December Thomas Weisel analyst Doug Reid added Sprint to his list of potential iPhone carriers in the US. In a note to investors (as reported by AppleInsider.com) analyst Shaw Wu with Kaufman Bros. said although many believe the iPhone will come to Verizon in 2010, he was dubious. Why? Both Verizon and Apple have found...
Steve Jobs among TIME's 'top college dropouts'
Okay, kids, don't take this as a reason to quit school (believe me, it's hard enough in the working world without a good education), but Apple CEO Steve Jobs has made the "Top 10 College Dropout" list (http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1988080_19880...) by "TIME" magazine.
Also on the list are Bill Gates, Frank Lloyd Wright, Buckminister Fuller, James Cameron, Mark Zuckerberg, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Lady Gaga and Tiger Woods. Here's what "TIME" says about Jobs:
"The Mac, the iPod, heck, even Buzz Lightyear probably wouldn't have existed had Steve Jobs stayed in school. The future wizard of One Infinite Loop dropped out of Reed College after just six months because of the undue financial strain it placed on his working-class parents' savings. He would go on to eventually found Apple, NeXT Computer and Pixar, becoming an instrumental force in shaping the landscape of modern culture. However, his brief tenure in academia was not for naught. In a 2005...
Enhance Technology unveils 4-disk, RAID-5 storage system
Enhance Technology (http://www.enhance-tech.com) has released the EnhanceRAID E400 FR desktop storage series. It's the next generation cable-less 4-Bay USB, Firewire and eSATA combo RAID storage arrays designed for 3.5-inch SATA HDDs.
Its LCD keypad control panel provides system information and status at a glance; no additional management software is needed. The EnhanceRAID E400 FR desktop RAID system sports enterprise grade cable-less design, field replaceable controller, and hot-swappable components, provides true hardware RAID-5 data protection and flexibility with built-in multiple host connectivity.
The EnhanceRAID E400 FR features hot-swappable HDD drive trays with protective key locks, cable-less and modularized design and 80 Plus energy efficient power supply. It will be available through authorized dealers worldwide starting later this month, which includes a standard two-year warrant. The populated EnhanceRAID E400 FR storage solution comes with a complimentary one year...
Launch2net Premium update offers support for ZTE modems
Nova media (http://www.novamedia.de) has updated Launch2net Premium, its 3G connection manager with the ability to share your Mac's 3G connection with iPads and other devices. Version 2.0.1 offers support for modems from ZTE, improves the french translation and contains bug fixes.
Launch2net Premium can replace different connection managers from network operators and modem manufacturers, making a mobile online experience much more enjoyable, says Jan Fuellemann, PR spokesperson at nova media. Using the integrated Mobile Hub, the 3G connection can instantly be shared with iPads, iPod touches and other WLAN capable devices, he adds. Besides the ability to establish a 3G connection with most modems and most network operators, launch2net Premium offers a full fledged SMS text message manager as well as a statistics.
Launch2net Premium 2.0.1 is available today for download at nova media's web site. It's a free update for current users. For new users a single license of launch2net Premium...
PrintSprint update for Mac OS X adds remote photo order option
Blue Lamp Software (http://bluelampsoftware.com/printsprint/) has updated PrintSprint, a Mac OS X utility for users who want prints from their digital photos, to version 1.6. The upgrade adds the option (in the preferences) to remove photos from the order after printing or collecting them. It also speeds up printing to PostScript printers.
According to the folks at Blue Lamp Software, PrintSprint makes it simple to select photos, set the print size, quantity, and crop and then generate your order. It never modifies your originals and it works with your organizational system so it doesn't matter if you're using iPhoto, Aperture or have your photos on your hard drives or CDs.
PrintSprint requires Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard") or higher. A demo is available for download. PrintSprint costs US$19.95, but version 1.6 is a free update for registered users.
MMScript for FileMaker Pro revved to version 1.1.2
Comm-Unity Networking Systems has released MMScript 1.1.2, an update of the FileMaker plug-in to trigger and schedule scripts. It's compatible with FileMaker Pro 8.5 on Mac OS X (both PowerPC and Intel systems) and Windows.
MMScript allows you to create a whole calendar of events. You can trigger a script in the present or at any time in the future. For example, you can set up a script to trigger in five minutes or five days. In addition to one time events, you can schedule recurring events. Version 1.1.2 fixes some bugs.
A 30-day demo version can be downloaded from the MMScript product page (http://www.cnsplug-ins.com/products.htm?product=mmscript). A single user license for MMScript is US$35. Version 1.1.2 is a free update for registered users.
SharewarePublisher for Mac OS X offers interface refinements
Ergonis Software has updated SharewarePublisher (http://www.ergonis.com/products/sharewarepublisher/), a software submission tool and assistant for Mac OS X, to version 1.3. The upgrade offers user interface refinements and improvements.
SharewarePublisher was developed specifically for shareware developers, vendors and media specialists alike. The folks at Ergonis say it was built to make submitting software applications to leading software listing sites and repositories easy. It ships with almost 200 pre-configured shareware sites, with carefully hand-tuned ratings/priorities. Developers can submit to 100-plus sites within just a few hours, which would otherwise take several days, according to Reichenberger.
Other features of SharewarePublisher include: management of listing URLs; an integrated two-tab web viewer; Autofill submission forms; Autolearn submission forms; user ID and password management; site-specific categories; a to-do list; submission history; and PAD file support....
BMFM update for Mac OS X beefs up EXIF info handling
Publicspace.net has updated The Big Mean Folder Machine (http://www.publicspace.net/BigMeanFolderMachine/), a file/folder management utility for Mac OS X, to version 2.0.7. The new delivers improved handling of missing EXIF information during the batch folder creation stage.
BMFM is a a tool for those who work with large file collections, including digital photographers, content creation, post-production, system administrators, and other creative professionals. Featuring an copying engine, The Big Mean Folder Machine walks you through each decision. BMFM also resolves name conflicts automatically. You can unify entire file collections from various locations into a single folder. Or, alternatively, you can split files into several folders based on a range of criteria.
BMFM is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later. A single user license is US$19.95. Small business, family, business and enterprise licenses are also available...
Arten Science releases CRM solution
Arten Science releases CRM solution
Arten Science (http://www.artenscience.co.uk/artenscience/Home.html) has announced a multi-user MySQL based version of their cross platform CRM Solution, ContaxCRM. It works with Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and costs US$99 per user.
ContaxCRM works in mixed Mac and Windows environments. It will let you store, view, interact and communicate with your contacts, customers, prospects, network and suppliers.
ContaxCRM is designed for individuals, clubs and businesses who wish to use their contact or membership database proactively. It's also designed for graphic designers, web developers, software developers, the self-employed, electricians, plumbers, consultants and more.
