Starbucks expands iPhone/iPod touch payment program
You can now use your iPhone or iPod touch to "pay for lattes, pastries and other items at more than 1,000 Starbucks locations," reports "Computerworld" (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/348055/Starbucks_Tries_Mobile_Pay...).
In these select stores, you can pay for your coffee using just the Starbucks Card Mobile app on your iPhone or iPod touch. Enter your card number and your device will display a barcode you can use the same way as your Starbucks Card to make purchases.
You can download the Starbucks Card Mobile app free at the Apple App Store.You can find a list of participating stores at Target, Seattle or Silicon Valley by going to http://www.starbucks.com/store-locator .
Apple offers headphones with remote replacement program
Apple has announced a Headphones with Remote Replacement Program (http://www.apple.com/support/headphones/replacementprogram/). The company says it's determined that the Apple Headphones with Remote included with the iPod shuffle (third gen) may fail under certain conditions.
Apple says a "very small percentage" of iPod shuffle owners have experienced this issue. These headphones were included with the iPod shuffle made between approximately February 2009 and February 2010.
If your headphones stop working or work intermittently, Apple will replace them, free of charge, for two years from date of purchase. Symptoms of the affected headphones include: controls are non-responsive or work intermittently; unexpected volume increase or decrease; and/or unexpected playing of voice feedback.
Palm purportedly trying to retain execs as it seeks buyer
Palm has started handing out "golden handcuffs" to the key executives who've not already jumped ship, in what could be the run up to an acquisition announcement, reports "The Register" (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/19/palm_handcuffs/).
One key executive who's already left is Michael Abbott -- the man credited, in large part, with creating WebOS, the article adds. His last day will be next week, as explained in a Securities & Exchange Commission filing from Palm.
The filings also detail incentives of up to US$250,000 for key executives, including operation chief Jeff Devine and CFO Doug Jeffries, if they choose to stick with Palm.
The move comes as Palm purportedly explores options for its survival including an attempt to find a buyer. Analysts and investors viewed the loss of Abbott as yet another setback for Palm, sending the shares down 6% Monday. UBS analysts issued a note Monday saying the departure of Abbott and the retention plan signal that a takeover deal is not...
iPad outperforms netbooks on many web site
Gomez (http://www.gomez.com), which specializes in web site and application performance analytics, says that the iPad is proving surprisingly swift when it comes to web browsing.
In fact, the new Apple tablet often outperforms netbooks -- perhaps its closest rival product category -- when it comes to interacting with a majority of popular web sites, according to the research group. In preliminary results, Gomez said that 74% of the pages, on what it determined to be the top 50 most visited sites by iPad users, loaded faster on the iPad than on netbook computers in the U.S.
Gefen ships USB-400 FO for long range peripherals
Connectivity solutions provider Gefen has released a newly redesigned fiber optics-based extender, the USB-400 Fiber Optic (http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=9133). This US$1,599, long-range 4-port USB 2.0 hub powers multiple hi-speed peripherals at distances up to 1640-feet (500m) from the computer, enabling a reliable remote workstation.
The Gefen USB-400 FO extender provides a high-bandwidth method of extending up to four USB 2.0 devices, including printers, keyboard/mouse, cameras, hard drives and DVD burners, enabling complete connectivity when operating in the field. The solution is designed for professional applications as it offers invulnerability to electromagnetic and radio signal interference.
The USB-400 FO operates through compact sender/receiver units, with the sender connecting to the computer, and the receiver connecting to four remote USB devices. Two multi-mode fiber optics cables terminated in LC connectors connect local and remote locations; both sender...
SMEStorage releases first beta of Mac Cloud Drive
SMEStorage, the multi-cloud data access provider, has released the first beta of a Mac Cloud Drive (http://www.smestorage.com/?p=static&page=clients_and_tools#Mac), which enables up to 10 commercial storage providers to be accessed directly from a virtual drive in Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6.
"This drive enables users to access their cloud storage files directly from their shell or Mac file manager," says SMEStorage CEO Ian Osborne. "The drive brings cloud computing directly into the Mac OS with over 10 popular Cloud Storage vendors supported, including Amazon S3, Google Docs, Microsoft SkyDrive and RackSpace Cloud Files."
Just remember: beta software is unfinished software so use with care.
PureCM releases version 2010-1 of software management solution
PureCM (http://www.purecm.com/) has announced the latest version of their software configuration management solution, PureCM 2010--1. This new release includes a range of new and enhanced features to support agile application lifecycle management (ALM).
PureCM 2010-1’s agile planning capabilities fully support working with project releases, iterations and backlogs, linking these to configuration management to ensure that any rescheduling is fully reflected. 2010-1 also automates task tracking, making parallel development easy by matching tasks to releases.
Another enhancement is support for isolated features. When starting work on a feature, PureCM Professional automatically creates a feature stream and maps the developer workspace against it, avoiding the need for a developer to create a branch manually. Also, PureCM Professional automatically updates features with any changes from their parent version as a default. In the event of an update conflict, the feature owner is...
Wi-Fi + 3G iPads to start shipping in the US May 7
According to info on the Apple Online Store, the company will ship 3G-enabled iPads in the US by May 7, although there is still no news on European availability of any model. Last week Apple blamed surprisingly strong US demand" for pushing back the international launch of the iPad by a month.
The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model.
Apple to use OLED in second gen iPad?
Apple has reportedly has started development of the second generation iPad using the same design concept as for the iPhone 4G, and will use an OLED panel, according to sources in the component industry.
Apple is said to be aiming to launch the device in 2011, but a Digitimes Research (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100416PD211.html) senior analyst said the cost of OLED panels are much too high for the iPad. He pointed out that OLED panels' high price will still be the major obstacle for them to be adopted in the iPad in 2011.
Kuo noted that the current price of the 9.7-inch LCD panel for iPad is about US$60-70, but the price of a 9.7-inch OLED panel is about US$500. He said the price gap is unlikely to narrow significantly in 2010 or 2011.
Apple sued over iPhone liquid sensors
Another day, another lawsuit. Apple is being sued by denying warranty service to its iPod and iPhone customers based on data supplied by allegedly inaccurate liquid sensors, reports "InformationWeek" ("http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/app-security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224400647&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All).
Apple began including liquid contact indicators (LCI) in its iPods and iPhones in 2007 and also added them to its MacBook and MacBook Pro computers in 2008. The company uses these sensors to determine the eligibility of devices for repair under warranty.
Devices brought in for service that have been damaged by water or some other liquid are not covered by Apple's one-year limited warranty or the company's AppleCare Protection Plan. The lawsuit filed last week alleges that Apple "uses [the LCIs'] false-positive readings to avoid its [warranty] obligations..."
The plaintiff in the case, Charlene Gallion of San Francisco, had two iPhones cease functioning in the space...
Apple now Silicon Valley's most valuable company
Apple has bumped Google out of first place as Silicon Valley's most valuable company. With the total value of its publicly traded stock at US$224 billion, up 107% from a year ago, Apple now has a market capitalization greater than all but two companies in the U.S, Exxon Mobil and Microsoft, reports the "Silicon Valley Mercury News" (http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_14900422?source=rss&nclick_check=1).
Last year, amid the worst recession in decades, the company recorded a 39% ncrease in profit to $9.4 billion. That was the highest profit earned by any company in the SV150, according to the "Mercury News." Apple's revenue grew 20% percent to $46.7 billion, returning the company to its standing as Silicon Valley's second-largest by revenue, a ranking it hasn't held for 23 years.
The "Mercury News" says that last year, one of every five dollars Apple took in was profit, giving it a profit margin three times that of Hewlett-Packard, the valley's revenue leader. Much of Apple's...
equinux, WatchGuard present VPN solution for Mac users
Mac users can now benefit from the safety and comfort of VPN Tracker 6 in partnership with WatchGuard security appliances.
equinux VPN Tracker 6.2.1 is an update to the market leading IPsec based VPN client for Mac OS X. The new version supports Watchguard Fireware XTM-based devices, such as the Firebox X Edge, Core and Peak e-Series and all XTM Series devices.
VPN Tracker 6.2.1 contains pre-configured device profiles for the WatchGuard XTM-2, 5, 8 and 10 Series and the firewalls of the Firebox X Edge, Core, and Peak e-Series. The related configuration instructions for the devices are already available at vpntracker.com/interop .
VPN Tracker 6 offers the new Secure Desktop, gathering your standard applications in a central location: check e-mails, open files and disks from remote servers, use Remote Desktop or restart Windows applications using Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion. The Secure Desktop automatically builds the necessary VPN connections, disconnecting safely once...
Vitamin-R is new Mac OS X productivity tool for Mac OS X
publicspace.net has announced Vitamin-R (http://www.publicspace.net/Vitamin-R/index.html), its new Mac OS X compatible productivity tool for creative professionals. It's a collection of tools and techniques for managing attention and maintaining motivation.
According to the folks at publicspace.net, Vitamin-R complements the task capturing and organizing features of modern to-do list managers by forcing you to concentrate fully on one task a time and keeping distractions at bay. It breaks down large, vaguely defined tasks into a series of short "time slices" of between 10 and 30 minutes, each with specific and actionable objectives.
Vitamin-R provides you with the "Now & Later Board," complete with FastType magic, to give you a place to quickly dump all those things that go through your head and allows to get back to the task at hand. It requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.
Vitamin-R may be purchased for US$14.95. Family, business and enterprise licensing are also available....
Apple reshuffles Board of Directors positions
Apple has reshuffled several positions on its Board of Directors, putting the company back into compliance with its own rules after the sudden death last month of director Jerome York left it out of compliance, according to the "Wall Street Journal" (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405270230349130457518845195307584...).
Apple's changes to its six-member board add extra duties to its co-lead directors, Avon Products Inc. Chief Executive Andrea Jung and Genentech Inc. Chairman Arthur Levinson. Intuit Chairman Bill Campbell and Mr. Levinson now co-chair the audit committee that Mr. York had led for more than 12 years, according to Apple's site.
SF Bay Area biggest US market for Apple products
The San Francisco Bay Area is the biggest U.S. market for Apple products, according to the results of a survey conducted by research firm Experian Simmons.
As reported by "CNET" (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-20002715-36.html?tag=mncol), the study found that 32.3% of adult residents of the region own at least one Apple product -- an iPod, iPhone, or Mac computer -- compared to 21.6% in the nation as a whole, which makes Bay Area residents 49% more likely to buy Apple products.
A close second in Experian Simmons' "Mac Metropolis" list is Boston, where 31.3% of adult residents own at least one Apple product. In third, fourth, and fifth places are San Diego, New York, and Washington D.C., respectively. Chicago, Ill. comes in sixth, and Denver, Colo. is seventh.
According to "CNET," the biggest surprises on the list are probably the metro areas of Monterey-Salinas, and Santa Barbara-Santa Marina, Calif., which come in eighth and ninth place.
Apple looking to adopt AMD chips?
Apple and AMD are in "advanced discussions" to bring the chipmaker's processors to upcoming Macs, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com). If that's true, it would end the exclusive Apple-Intel relationship that's been around since 2006.
According to "AppleInsider," Apple and AMD execs have been meeting to allow Apple to begin working with AMD processors in its labs as part of an initiative to position the chips inside some upcoming products. Apple seems to be mainly interested in AMD's workstation and notebook class CPUs, the article says.
"It is believed that Apple is working with AMD to expand its potential sources for CPUs in order to increase its flexibility and broaden its competitive options, but also likely in response to problems it has encountered with Intel," says "AppleInsider." "These issues include limited availability of new processors (which is rumored to have slowed Apple's notebook refreshes) as well as new chipset designs imposed by Intel that have...
iPhone OS has 70% share of smartphone impressions in March
Millennial Media (http://www.millennialmedia.com), an independent mobile advertising platform, said today that mobile connected devices like the iPad and Sony PSP displayed more than 20% of the giant ad networks’ ad impressions in March, a trend that could have far reaching impact on mobile advertising as these devices grow more popular.
Millennial Media decoupled the device and OS trending information from the company’s monthly Scorecard for Mobile Advertising Reach and Targeting (SMART); the new Millennial Media Mobile Mix will now complement the company’s monthly SMART report. The company’s mobile advertising network reaches 83% of mobile users in the U.S.
Millennial Media also reported that, for the first time, Android’s OS was in the top three in the ranking of smartphone impressions in March. Android OS impressions share increased 3% in March alone to bring the Google platform to a total of 6% of U.S. smartphone impressions for the month. Globally, Android impressions increased...
Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena comes to the Mac
Virtual Programming (http://www.vpltd.com) is releasing the Mac version of Atari's The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena today, reports Inside Mac Games (http://www.insidemacgames.com). It costs US$49.95, has an age rating of 18+ and requires Mac OS X 10.6.3 or higher.
Here's how the game is described: "Be Riddick, the most ruthless criminal in the universe. In his latest chronicle, Riddick has been captured by The Dark Athena, a mercenary ship hell-bent on eliminating him once and for all. Using his intense hand-to-hand combat skills, explosive firepower, and lethal stealth, Riddick must shut down the maniacal Captain Revas and her deadly crew. When Riddick steps into the darkness, no one is safe.
"Before battling the Necromongers on Helion Prime — even before the crash landing of the Hunter-Gratzner on a deserted planet in Pitch Black — Riddick stalked his enemies across the universe. Play the award-winning Escape from Butcher Bay campaign, which has been re-mastered...
Winthrop, MN school district buys 320 iPads
The Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop (GFW) High School school district in Winthrop, Minneapolis, has allocated US$267,748 to its technology fund to become what is believed to be the first school in the country to buy iPads at a cost of US$479 each, reports the "The NU Journal" (http://www.nujournal.com/page/content.detail/id/512977.html?nav=5009).
The money will be used to buy 320 iPads with extended, two-year warranties for students and staff, create Wi-Fi (wireless) infrastructure including routers and access points plus professional development (staff training). Last fall, the GFW School Board was told by Maplewood-based, educational technology and K-12 online learning consultant David Glick that if they didn't keep up with the latest computer technology, they would get behind in a future world without traditional schools, according to the "Journal."
Glick said iPads are capable of replacing textbooks and calculators while offering online research capacity. Bertrang told the school board...
Intego: HellRTS Backdoor can allow malicious remote users to...
Intego (http://www.intego.com), a Mac security specialist, says it's has discovered a new variant of a malware for Mac, called HellRTS, which, when installed on computers running Mac OS X, opens a backdoor that allows remote users to take control of infected Macs and perform actions on them.
Intego identifies this backdoor as OSX/HellRTS.D, a variant of an early Mac OS X malware first spotted in 2004. HellRTS, built in RealBasic, and a Universal Binary able to run on both PowerPC- and Intel-Based Macs, is able to perform a number of operations if installed on a Mac.
It sets up its own server and configures a server port and password. It duplicates itself, using the names of different applications, adding the new version to a user’s login items, to ensure that it starts up at login. (These different names can make it hard to detect, not only in login items, but also in Activity Monitor.) Intego says OSX/HellRTS.D can send e-mail with its own mail server, contact a remote server, and...
iFixIt offers teardown of new 15-inch MacBook Pro
The iFixIt site has offered a teardown of the new 15-inch MacBook Pro (http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Unibody-Core-i5-Teard...). It doesn't look any different than its predecessor, but Apple has made quite a few subtle tweaks within their latest professional laptop. Here are some highlights of the teardown:
° As usual, there's a sticker warning against removing the battery. Por qué, Apple? The printed manual that came with the machine shows you how to replace RAM and hard drive. The battery is just three screws and a connector away from being able to be replaced.
° For some odd reason, Apple has stopped using five-point Torx screws found on other MBP 15-inch Unibodies in favor of Tri-Wing screws. Perhaps the sound of a thousand technicians crying out in unison made them change their mind?
° The battery is now rated at 77.5 Wh. That's just a tad bit bigger (6%) than the 73 Wh battery we found in last year's 15-inch model, but not enough to explain the two-hour...
MYStuff update for Mac OS X adds one-click Internet searching
Minder Softworks has updated MYStuff (http://www.mindersoftworks.com/products/mystuff), a "stuff manager" for Mac OS X, to version 1.3. The upgrade adds one-click internet searching for manuals and images, and CSV import.
Combining features of PDF managers and home inventory programs, MYStuff adds additional features, and gives users a way of filing and finding their information. It makes it easy to file and find information about the things you own, according to the folks at Minder Softworks. You make a new record, and key in what you bought, where you bought it, how much you paid and how you paid for it, warranty information, and other key data. Then you can add an unlimited number of files to the record: a scan of the receipt, photos of the item, a PDF of the manual, and anything else you'd like to add. What's more, MYStuff's MYInbox feature allows users to add files to MYStuff from other applications.
MYStuff will run on any Intel or PowerPC Mac running Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later,...
AudioBook to MP3 Converter for Mac 1.02 released
AudioBooktoMP3.com has released AudioBook to MP3 Converter for Mac 1.02 (http://www.audiobooktomp3.com), an update of the tool that converts audio books from iTunes to MP3, AAC or WAV for playback on any MP3 player. It's a maintenance update with some tweaks and bug fixes.
It converts purchased audiobooks to MP3 or AAC files from iTunes on Mac OS X. AudioBook to MP3 Converter uses a "virtual CD-RW" to automate the process of burning and ripping an audio book. It works with iTunes and Virtual CD burning technology to convert audio books to keep users on the legal side.
AudioBook to MP3 Converter for Mac is available immediately for $29.95. Version 1.02 is a free update for registered users. A demo is available for download. AudioBook to MP3 Converter requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later and iTunes 8 or higher.
The Devil’s Playhouse premieres on the Mac, iPad, PC,...
The curtain has risen on Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse with the premiere of the first episode, entitled "The Penal Zone," on Macs, iPads, PCs and the PlayStation 3.
Here's how the game is described: "Telltale’s landmark series returns for the biggest, best looking, most bizarre installment yet as the dog and rabbit detective duo battle an onslaught of fearsome villains bent on acquiring the source of Max’s newfound psychic powers."
With new episodes releasing monthly, season passes are available now for the full five game series for US$34.95. The PC and Mac version can be downloaded at http://www.samandmaxgames.com/thedevilsplayhouse.
Also available on the iPad, The Penal Zone was a launch title for Apple’s new tablet device and is available now for the introductory price of $6.99 on the Apple App Store.
Graph Paper Maker for Mac OS X updated to version 2.2.0
Black Cat Systems has updated Graph Paper Maker (http://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/graphmaker.html), Mac OS X software for creating custom sheets of graph paper, to version 1.6.0. The latest version adds the ability to set the background color of produced charts, as well as plot marker points on graphs with logarithmic, hydraulic, and probability axes.
With Graph Paper Maker, you can control the graph characteristics. X and Y axis can independently be set for linear or log scale, and scaling. Youc an select from a dozen standard paper sizes, or custom create your own. Graphs can be saved as PDF files, and you can choose whatever color you want for the lines. Also, you can specify independent line weights for the X and Y axis lines.
Graph Paper Maker costs US$19.99, though version 2.2.0 is a free update for registered users. It works with Mac OS X 10.2 and later. Graph Paper Maker is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.
InPreflight for Adobe InDesign adds Snow Leopard support
Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has updated InPreflight Pro -- its quality control, packaging automation and preflight reporting solution for Adobe InDesign -- to version 2.7. The new version features a revamped user interface and addresses some minor issues.
InPreflight provides a preflight solution for service providers, printers, ad agencies, designers and publishing houses. It gathers information about document fonts, colors and links and lets users locate potential problems according to preflight presets. The software is also a packaging automation solution that allows users to preflight and package multiple documents. Among other abilities, it can collect all files into one folder, eliminating the need to collect the same links multiple times for each design. In addition, InPreflight lets users print graphic preflight reports and save them as fully searchable interactive PDF files, providing an easy way to analyze, archive and send reports to service providers....
Fable Sounds ships Broadway Big Band Kontakt 4 Player Edition
SONiVOX (http://www.sonivoxmi.com), on behalf of Fable Sounds, has announced the availabliity of the latest version of the Broadway Big Band virtual Instrument for Mac and PC systems. It's designed to let you accurately portray contemporary jazz, blues, pop, and rhythm 'n blues woodwind, brass, and rhythm instrument’s playing techniques in a playable virtual instrument plug-in.
By integrating the Broadway Performer technology directly into the Kontakt 4 Player via Kontakt’s l scripting engine, this new version of Broadway Big Band is designed to simplify use as well as add greater control over expressiveness. For the first time Broadway Big Band users will be able to use Broadway directly in their DAW environment without having to use any virtual MIDI cabling or more elaborate midi routing.
Fable Sounds is offering a special cross-grade price for registered users who wish to cross-grade to the new Kontakt 4 Player Edition of Broadway Big Band. This upgrade is available directly...
Spiderweb Software updates Avernum 6 game for the Mac
Spiderweb Software has updated Avernum 6 for Mac OS X (http://www.avernum.com/avernum6/index.html) to version 1.0.3. Avernum 6 is the final game in the epic Avernum series. This upgrade fixes a handful of bugs and balance issues.
Avernum 6 is set in the world of Avernum, an enormous series of caves far below the surface of the world. Here's how the game is described: "Avernum is a world underground. It is a nation of people living in an enormous warren of tunnels and caverns, far below the surface of the world. Once a prison colony for rebels and thugs, it is now a wild frontier, full of adventurous souls looking for wealth, fame, and magical power.
"And then the Blight came. Almost overnight, the mushrooms Avernum needed to feed itself withered and died. Then the denizens of the low tunnels, the savage, reptilian Slithzerikai, emerged. Sensing weakness, they struck, destroying much of a weakened Avernum and creating waves of hungry, desperate refugees. This final set of disasters...
Apple tops Bloomberg BusinessWeek's '50 Most...
For the sixth consecutive year, Apple has topped the list of Bloomberg BusinessWeek’s annual special report, “The 50 Most Innovative Companies,” produced in collaboration with partner Boston Consulting Group.
Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Toyota Motor round out the top five. For the first time since the rankings began in 2005, the majority of corporations in the Top 25 are based outside the U.S. and 15 of the Top 50 companies are Asian -- up from just five in 2006. China’s rise is biggest. A year ago its only representative was computer maker Lenovo Group, at No. 56. This year Greater China is tied with Asia’s postwar powerhouse, Japan, thanks to showings by BYD (8), Haier Electronics (27), Lenovo (29), China Mobile (44), and Taiwan-based HTC (47). Just ahead of General Electric in seventh and eighth places are newcomers LG Electronics of South Korea and BYD, with Korea’s Hyundai Motor claiming a spot at No. 22.
Boston Consulting Group’s annual survey of top executives, which provides...
iPad causing 'radical paradigm shift ' in...
The iPad is causing the entertainment, publishing and information industries to undergo a radical paradigm shift in their methods of delivering entertainment and information to consumers, according to a new report from Rider Research (http://www.riderresearch.com) of Baton Rouge, La.
The impact started on day one, says Geoff Whiting, who prepared the report.. Apple said it sold over 300,000 the first day the iPad went on sale in the U.S. and that over one million iPad apps were downloaded. With the iPad, Apple has created a leisure media device that consumers can use thoughout the home: for reading books, playing movies and music or as an instruction manual for home repairs or cooking, Whiting says.
"Studios, TV networks and magazine/newspaper publishers are no longer limited to immobile TV sets, mobile phones with tiny screens or PCs that place entertainment in a secondary role," he adds. "Instead, the major TV networks, online video services, newspapers, magazines and book...
Native Instruments introduces Paranormal Spectrums
Native Instruments (http://www.native-instruments.com) has introduced Paranormal Spectrums, a new Kore-powered instrument that creates "mysterious and unsettling" sonic atmospheres.
For use with Kore 2 and the free Kore Player, it's designed as a resource for suspenseful film and game scores in the horror, thriller and mystery domain, and is also suitable for dark electronic music styles. Based on atmospheric field recordings, unusual sampled sounds and intricate synthesizer programming, Paranormal Spectrums offers an assortment of evocative pads and sinister soundscapes, as well as intense mallets, flutes, bells and synth sounds.
It takes advantage of the integrated engines of Kore 2 and Kore Player. It also combines the advanced sampling features of Kontakt with the versatile synthesis functions of Massive and Absynth and the sound processing capabilities of Guitar Rig to create deep, complex and charismatic sounds that can be efficiently modulated and brought to life, according to...
Quark joins RIXML.org as an associate member
Quark (http://www.quark.com) has become an associate member of RIXML.org, a consortium of buy-side, sell-side, and vendor firms committed to the development and implementation of the first open standard for investment research.
Quark offers Quark XML Author, an XML authoring tool that allows anyone to create XML content directly in Microsoft Word. Quark XML Author can be configured for RIXML so that research analysts and other non-technical professionals in the financial services industry can create RIXML content easily, without having an understanding of XML coding.
As an associate member, Quark says it brings more than a decade of experience in XML authoring, including extending the usability of XML and advancing XML standards. Quark will help advance the RIXML specification through direct participation in RIXML workgroups to discuss trends, solve issues, and develop future releases of the standard, according to company execs.
Apple rises from 71 to 56 on Fortune 500
Apple now sites at 56 on the Fortune 500 list, "Fortune" magazine's annual ranking of America's largest corporations. That's up from 71 on the previous year's list.
"Fortune" says Apple's profits are up 12.5% from 2009 and that, as of March 26, the company has over $53.8 billion in asssets. The top 10 on the list are Wal-Mart, Exxon Mobile, Chevron, General Electric, Bank of America Corp., ConocoPhilips, AT&T, Ford Motor, JP Morgan Chase & Co., and HP.
HoudahGeo update for Mac OS X supports Aperture 3 Places
Houdah Software (http://www.houdah.com/) has updated HoudahGeo, a geocoding solution for the Mac, to version 2.5. The new version brings full integration with Aperture 3 Places.
HoudahGeo costs US$30 for a single-user license for new users. Version 2.5is a free update for registered users. HoudahGeo requires Mac OS X 10.4.8 or higher.
PlusTek announces workgroup scanner with integrated flatbed
Plustek Technology (http://www.plustek.com/usa) has announced the new SmartOffice PL1530 scanner, Plustek's newest ADF scanner with an integral flatbed. It will go on sale next month with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$349.
The SmartOffice PL1530 features two USB ports that allow the scanner to be shared between two computers for business users who want to save money and space. It's bundled with business card reading software and a suite of document management and scanning applications.
Documents can be scanned with the flatbed or ADF and sent to either computer with the press of a button. Multi-page documents can be scanned on both sides to be processed into electronic searchable PDF files.
MacForensicsLab gets speed boost, more with version 3.0
MacForensicsLab (http://www.MacForensicsLab.com) has updated their self-titled, computer forensic suite, MacForensicsLab, to version 3.0 The new version offers new features, more stability and speed improvements.
The latest version of MacForensicsLab features redesigned core functions. Speed improvements make all tasks faster than ever, says MacForensics CEO Marko Kostyrko. Some operations were benchmarked to run up to 12 times faster then the previous version, he adds. New 64-bit operation helps to maximize speed and take full advantage of newer Mac's Intel processors. What's more, MacForensicsLab has redesigned memory allocation algorithms to prevent system freezes due to memory leaks or inefficient memory distribution by the operating system.
MacForensicsLab is priced at US$1,195 for licensed law enforcement and $1,495 for private industry. Upgrade pricing is available for owners of previous versions of MacForensicsLab for $495. Those that purchased MacForensicsLab after January...
Apple looking for engineer for iPad video capture
It’s "a sure thing that the iPad will get a camera in its second generation," according to the "Cult of Mac" site (http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-is-hiring-ipad-camera-engineer/38256). There’s already an empty, iSight-shaped slot in the iPad’s frame and Apple is looking for a performance QA engineer to work on still and video capture in the iPad Media department.
At the "Jobs at Apple site" (http://jobs.apple.com/index.ajs?BID=1&method=mExternal.showJob&RID=47818...), it says: "The Media Systems team is looking for a software quality engineer with a strong technical background to test still, video and audio capture and playback frameworks. Build on your QA experience and knowledge of digital camera technology (still and video) to develop and maintain testing frameworks for both capture and playback pipelines. You will work together with the development team to ensure quality. Your focus will mainly be on performance testing and developing performance measurement test tools....
Steve Jobs is entrepreneur most admired by teenagers
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Apple, is the entrepreneur most admired by teenagers, according to a new survey by Junior Achievement USA (http://www.ja.org), the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.
In a poll of 1,000 12-17-year-olds, 35 per cent thought that Jobs was more impressive than Facebook-founder Mark Zuckerberg or television host Oprah Winfrey, reports the "Telegraph" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7593141/Steve-Jobs-is-entrep...). Zuckerberg was the favorite of 10% of respondents, and Winfrey the favorite of 25%.
Of those polled, 61% said that Jobs "made a difference in or improved people's lives or made the world a better place." Another 33% cited his "success in multiple fields," referring to Jobs' record at Apple and Pixar and his involvement with Disney.
Tidy Up for Mac OS X tidied up to version 2.1.5
Hyberbolic Software (http://www.hyperbolicsoftware.com) has released Tidy Up! 2.1.5, the latest version of their disk, file and folder processing utility for Mac OS X.
Tidy Up! can find duplicate files and packages using any criteria. Version 2.1.5 improves the search for content within email messages of Mail. Now it will find messages even if they differ by the number of spaces at the end of the message.
Tidy Up 2.1.5 requires Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard") or higher. Upgrades from version 1.x are $20, and upgrades from version 2.x are free.
Dr. Bott releases mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters
Apple's newly released MacBook Pro models now support audio output via their mini DisplayPort, and Dr. Bott's mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters fully support this new feature. With these adapters, a single HDMI cable can transmit both audio and video to your LCD-TV or LCD-display.
Older Macs with a non-audio mini DisplayPort can achieve the same result by using the Dr. Bott Audio and mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter Pro. This adapter combines digital audio and digital video to a single, unaltered HDMI signal to pass to the display via HDMI cable.
All Dr. Bott HDMI adapters for mini DisplayPort support HDCP copy protection. They're plug and play; no driver installation is necessary.
The US$29 Mini Display Port to HDMI Adapter is designed to connect your flat panel display or LCD-TV with HDMI-Port to a computer equipped with a Mini DisplayPort. It supports audio output on the MacBook Pros released this week.
The $99Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter Pro w/Optical Audio transmits the...
vjoon announces full support for Adobe Creative Suite 5
vjoon (http://www.vjoon.com) says its cross-media publishing platform, K4 6, will be compatible with Adobe Creative Suite 5 in the second quarter of 2010.
With its explicit workflow features for multiple output channels, content management for multimedia, and automation of exports for digital publishing, K4 version 6 complements the latest Adobe creative software by "providing an ideal platform for creative teams to collaborate," says vjoon CEO Andreas Schrader. He adds that, in K4, content isn't simply reused for different channels, but is adapted to the different demands of specific media and devices, including web sites, print publications and handheld devices such as the iPad and Amazon Kindle.
Oki Data launches new color LED printer series
Oki Data Americas (http://www.okidata.com ), which markets its products under the OKI Printing Solutions brand, has added two new series of digital color printers designed for medium and large workgroups with the launch of the C610 Series and the C711 Series. Pricing ranges from US$699 to $1,449.
Offering HD (high-definition) Color Technology, both the C610 Series and C711 Series allow users to produce high-quality, color documents in-house, reducing lead/turn-around time, cost and potential waste associated with outsourcing, according to Mike Garofola Sr. of OKI Data Americas.
The C610 Series from OKI Printing Solutions comes in four configurations that deliver a footprint of 17.1 x 21.5 x 13.4 inches and print speeds up to 32 ppm color and 34 ppm mono. With a monthly duty cycle of 75,000 pages, it’s designed for small-to-medium sized businesses and medium workgroups.
The C610 Series features a 400-sheet standard paper capacity (which is expandable to 1,460 with optional second and...
Maintain releases Cocktail 4.7.3 (Snow Leopard Edition)
Maintain has released Cocktail 4.7.3 (Snow Leopard Edition), the latest maintenance update of Cocktail (http://www.maintain.se/c) for users running Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard").
This version addresses an issue in which the system log server (syslogd) may not be properly restarted, fixes a bug where clearing the virtual memory swap files may cause kernel panics and addresses minor compatibility issues with Mac OS X 10.6.3 (v 1.0 and 1.1) identified in the previous release.
Cocktail 4.7.3 (Snow Leopard Edition) requires Mac OS X/Mac OS X Server 10.6 or later and is tested for compatibility with Mac OS X/Mac OS X Server 10.6.3. Cocktail (Leopard Edition) for Mac OS X 10.5 and Cocktail (Tiger Edition) for Mac OS X 10.4 are available for download from the Maintain web site.
Cocktail is a general purpose utility for Mac OS X that offers a variety of practical features designed to simplify the use of advanced UNIX function. A single user license costs US$14.95.
Cartographica for Mac OS X updated to version 1.2
ClueTrust has announced Cartographica 1.2 (http://www.macgis.com), an update to their Geographical Information System (GIS) software for Mac OS X. Due in May, the new version builds on Cartographica's exploratory interface and adds:
° Flexible labeling that can show multiple fields in multiple styles on one or more lines;
° Improved Illustrator export, using layers to provide all the geospatial and textual data, plus legends that can be styled for direct inclusion into documents;
° New formula fields that enable calculations using higher math as well as ready use of geoprocessing data, and can be updated in real time;
° Live Maps that incorporate access to a variety of tile-servers and WMS services to put data into context quickly;
° Increased speed and reduced memory footprint.
Cartographica provides a set of tools that enable the user to explore, analyze and present geospatial data. It supports importing from over 100 different raster and vector formats, as well as bringing in...
nova media unveils 3G surfstick for the Mac
nova media has unveiled the iCON XY (http://www.novamedia.de/en/icon-xy.html), a 3G USB surfstick made by the Belgium company Option. The HSPA modem reaches download and upload speeds up to 7.2Mbps and 5.76Mbps.
The surfstick sports a swivel USB connector and a micro-SD slot compatible to SDHC cards with up to 32GB memory. The iCON XY isn't IM locked and can be used in any 3G network running on 900 or 2100 MHz and on any EDGE/GPRS network running on 850, 900, 1800 or 1900 MHz.
"The real benefit of the iCON XY is the ability to use it with prepaid SIM cards all around the world." says Jan Fuellemann, PR spokesperson at nova media. "Using a prepaid SIM card abroad can save hundreds of Euros otherwise spend for data roaming costs."
The iCON XY features a self-installing connection manger, "uCAN Connect" software from Option. It's compatible with all Intel Macs running Mac OS X 10.4.11 and higher. It offers a SMS text message manager, a statistic manager for online time and data volume...
NTFS 8.0 supports Snow Leopard in 32-bit, 64-bit modes
Paragon Software has updated NTFS for the Mac (http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/) to version 8.0. The upgrade is purportedly the first NTSF driver to support Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard") in both 32-bit and 64-bit modes.
The purpose of NTFS for Mac OS X is to provide rapid reading and writing data to NTFS volumes under Mac OS. It comes in a single edition that includes a standard DMG disk image containing the installation package.
NTFS for the Mac costs US$39.95. NTFS for Mac OS X requires Mac OS X 10.4.6 or higher.
Gartner: Apple has 8% US computer market share
According to the latest results from the Gartner research group, Apple has 8% of the US computer market for the first quarter of 2010. That's up 34% from the 7.2% of the same period a year ago.
That places Apple fifth among US computer vendors. Ahead of it, with first quarter 2010 market share percentages, are HP (25%), Dell (23.4%), Acer (15.6%) and Toshiba (8.6%). Worldwide, Apple still doesn't rank in the top five, which are: HP (18.2%), Acer (14.2%), Dell (12.1%), ASUS (5.5%) and Toshiba (5.5%). The Mac has, by most estimates, a 5% global market share.
Worldwide computer shipments totaled 84.3 million units in the first quarter of 2010, a 27.4% increase from the first quarter of 2009, according to preliminary results by Gartner. These first quarter results have exceeded Gartner's earlier market outlook. Gartner had been expecting first quarter computer shipments to grow 22%.
... Or maybe it's just 6.4%
Okay, Gartner says Apple's US market share has grown. IDC says it's shrunk for the first quarter of 2010. As the old joke says, "99% of all statistics are made up," so I guess you can pick which one you like best.
According to IDC, Apple had 6.4% of the US market share in quarter one of 2010, compared to 7% in the same time period a year ago. The research group says Apple sold 1,130,000 Macs for 1Q 2010 compared to 1,043,000 in 1Q 2009.
According to IDC, Apple is fifth among US computer vendors. Ahead of it are, with market shares for 1Q 2010 are HP (25.4%), Dell (24.1%), Acer (13.1%) and Toshiba (8.6%).
Apple releases security updates, Server Admin Tools 10.6.3
Apple has released a security update for users of Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard") and 10.6 ("Snow Leopard"), as well as Server Admin Tools 10.6.3
Security Update 2010-003 for Snow Leopard (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1029), Leopard Client (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1027) and Leopard Server (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1028) fixes an issue with the potential execution of arbitrary code when viewing or even just downloading a document with a maliciously crafted embedded font.
Server Admin Tools 10.6.3 (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1032) contains remote administration tools, documentation, and utilities that you can install on a computer other than your server. The Server Admin Tools update is recommended for remote administration of Snow Leopard Server.
OWC announces memory, storage upgrades for new MacBook Pros
Other World Computing (http://www.macsales.com) has announced OWC DDR3 1066MHz Memory Upgrades up to 8GB and internal 2.5-inch hard drive upgrades up to 1TB for the new MacBook Pro 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models announced this week.
OWC Memory and internal drive upgrades offer owners of the newest MacBook Pro models savings of up to 46% versus factory installed options as well as upgrade options not available from the factory, according to the folks at OWC. Details and ordering information for OWC Memory, internal hard drive upgrades, and other accessories for the new MacBook Pro models, as well as existing MacBook and MacBook Pro models introduced since 2006, is available at http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade .
