Smart Technologies has announced the Mac version of Smart Notebook SE (Student Edition) software. Smart Notebook SE Mac (http://www.Smarttech.com/Smartnotebook)was created specifically to meet the needs of tech-savvy students by providing them with a learning tool that complements the way they think and organize, according to Smart CEO Nancy Knowlton. The student edition is compatible with the Mac version of Smart Notebook software, which many K--12 teachers use as their primary lesson creation and delivery application. The Windows software was released in October 2008 and made available on a 2GB USB silicon bracelet in December 2008. The Smart Notebook SE bracelet lets students access any computer, complete assignments and save work to a single, portable USB key. A Mac version of the Smart Notebook SE bracelet will be available this fall. Smart Notebook remains one of the most popular collaborative learning software applications in the world, with more than 25 million classroom users...

SmileOnMyMac has released TextExpander touch, the iPhone/iPod touch version of the customizable typing shortcut tool. It's available for US$1.99 at the Apple App Store; after that it will cost $4.99. With TextExpander touch, iPhone users can enter frequently-used text using short abbreviations. Once notes are composed using TextExpander shortcuts, they can be sent directly to Mail and Twitter clients. They can also be used in other iPhone apps via copy and paste. Each snippet has its own action menu as well; snippet contents can be sent directly to Mail and Twitter clients or copied to the Clipboard with a couple of taps. Users who have TextExpander on the Mac can share snippet groups with their iPhone via a local network. Both the Mac and the iPhone must be on the same WiFi network. Snippet groups can also be shared between devices. Because of the limitations of the iPhone OS, TextExpander touch doesn't work in the background, as it does on the Mac. Notes must first be composed in...

WoodWing Software (http://www.woodwing.com) has released Enterprise 6.3 , the latest version of the company's flagship content publishing platform. The new versioin offers several new features, taking the integration with the customers software environment one step further. Users can simply double-click on files of any type in Content Station to directly open them in their source application. After editing and closing the files, they will be checked in again in Content Station. This feature allows users to make Content Station their primary tool for research and production of content. This functionality will be used heavily for Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Apple Keynote and video files, among others. Content Station is equipped with a new Quick Look feature that allows the user to preview files in a pop-up window when pressing the spacebar -- a method to evaluate images and videos. Other enhancements include: ° Improved screen layout and numerous other user interface...

Axiotron has released a public beta version of Quickscript (http://www.axiotron.com/quickscript), the company's new handwriting recognition application. Quickscript offers handwriting recognition in 26 languages to Mac users with systems running Mac OS X 10.5.x or higher -- including users of Axiotron's Modbook and Mac users who have pen tablet devices with the latest drivers installed. By incorporating technology developed by Vision Objects, Quickscript lets users write in Microsoft Word, Excel, Pages, TextEdit and other applications that accept text input. Its features include a pop-up text-entry pane, configurable interface, basic gesture support, personal dictionary and handwriting recognition training. For users of Axiotron's Modbook, Quickscript provides a text-entry option. With the text recognition engine, Quickscript transforms the Modbook into a note-taking device. Quickscript supports 26 languages, including Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Arabic. The application comes pre-...

Twelve South (http://twelvesouth.com) has released the BookArc, an US$49.99 metal stand designed to hold any Apple laptop, from MacBook Air to the 17-inch MacBook Pro. The stand is designed to free up desk space and create a cleaner, less cluttered workspace by allowing the laptop to operate while in a closed vertical position. A BookArc "six-pack" geared towards design studios and Mac-based offices is being offered at a bundled discount price of $249.99. When a laptop is placed into the heavy gauge steel stand, it's held in place by a soft silicone cushion. Three different sizes of easy-to-install cushions are included in the box, ensuring the right fit for various Mac models. Silicone footpads also protect the surface of your desk from scratches. BookArc has a compact footprint of 10 by 4 inches. "Our vision behind BookArc was twofold," says Andrew Green, co-founder and design principal of Twelve South. "First, we see the MacBook as a beautiful piece of art that deserves to be put...

Bare Bones Software has released TextWrangler 3.0 (http://www.barebones.com/support/textwrangler/current_notes.html), an update to the text editor. The new version introduces direct editing within disk browsers and search results windows, as well as non-modal Find and Multi-File Search windows. TextWrangler 3.0 also offers improved FTP performance, an overhauled FTP/SFTP user interface, revamped Ruby and JavaScript language support, and other improvements to the built-in programming language support. TextWrangler's search and replace power is now channeled through modeless Find and Multi-File Search windows, which sport new options and still offer keyboard controls for streamlined operation. The Find Differences command now generates more usable results for file comparisons, and now supports reviewing and applying discrete differences that occur within lines. This new version introduces a revamped interface for working with files via FTP and SFTP, significant improvements to FTP file...

Parallels, which specializes in virtualization and automation software, has unveiled a complete solution designed to simplify the process of "switching" from a PC to Mac. Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition empowers users to effortlessly make the move to Mac without the risk of losing familiar and important data and applications on their Microsoft Windows-based PCs according to CEO Serguei Beloussov. The product combines a set of tools and interactive tutorials with Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac to help "Switchers" understand how to operate Mac OS X, transfer all PC data and applications, and run their Windows applications on their new Macs. "The growth in switching is partially due to the ease-of-use and cool capabilities of the Mac," Beloussov says. "However, users don't want to lose the data they have accumulated and the applications they are already familiar with. Building on our proven track record of Mac innovation, we have addressed this concern and made learning the new...

NetExÒ, which specializes in WAN optimization software, has announced that its software-only HyperIPÒ for VMware optimization is the first industry solution to support the migration and acceleration of live VMotion images between VMware virtual machines over existing IP WAN connections. HyperIP WAN optimization software has taken a giant step forward in support of VMware's vision for VMotion over distance by providing software that enhances the delivery of VMotion migration and storage VMotion over existing IP WAN infrastructures by enhancing throughput 600 percent, according to Robert MacIntyre, vice president, Business Development and Marketing at NetEx. NetEx has already solved the latency problem with HyperIP for VMware with a design optimized for long-distance data migration that mitigates performance degradation due to distance latency, he adds. The software-only HyperIP WAN optimizer is downloadable today for a free 10-day trial. The NetEx HyperIP for VMware software solution...

Zevrix Solutions has announced the release of PDF Checkpoint 1.0 public beta, a pre-release version of its new automatic preflight solution for Adobe PDF documents. Just remember that beta software is unfinished software, so use with care. PDF Checkpoint checks fonts, colors, images and metadata of multiple PDF files and lets users identify potential problems according to user-defined preflight profiles. The program presents detailed info on all PDF fonts, colors, images and document properties. Customizable preflight profiles let users check PDF for specific attributes, such as image resolution, color model, PDF/X compliance and many others. In addition, PDF Checkpoint will let users route PDF files according to preflight results, split PDF into single pages and extract images. QPDF Checkpoint 1.0 public beta can be downloaded from the Zevrix web site (http://zevrix.com/download.php), free of charge. This beta version is released for testing purposes only. Qualified beta-testers will...

FUNDimensions has just released version 7.5 of their flagship fundraising product that's Mac OS X compatible. The upgrade adds a new "Anywhere" search. With this search, fundraisiers no longer need to know what field a match might be in: you can search all the fields of each donor record in one step/ This makes searches faster (you don't have to repeat a search for each field you want to cover), and more reliable (you don't have to worry about overlooking a field/search), according to the folks at FUNDimensions. In addition, this update includes several minor improvements and bug fixes. The software is available for immediate download at the FUNDimensions web site (http://www.fundimensions.com). This version is a free upgrade to licensees of version 7.0 or higher. A free working demo is also available for download. A discount on new purchases of FUNDimensions started in early July and will end on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Prices start at US$1,500 while the sale lasts.

Planet Waves (http://www.planetwaves.com/iPhone.) is offering LE versions of the apps for the iPhone and iPod touch, Chordmaster and Scale Wizard. These new "lite" versions are available as free downloads from the Apple App Store. ChordmasterLE allows users to view each chord in first position and to strum the virtual strings to play and hear each chord in pristine audio. The library allows users to navigate to any chord easily and quickly. The full version of Planet Waves Chordmaster offers a comprehensive and accurate library of over 7,800 guitar chords, displaying notes and fingerings on a virtual fret board for $1.99. Scale Wizard LE provides four of the most useful scales including major pentatonic, minor pentatonic, major, and minor in all neck positions. Offering over 10,000 patterns, the full version of Scale Wizard is the most complete scale application on any platform, featuring a interface truly optimized for iPhone and iPod touch. All Scale Wizard and Chordmaster...

Sonoma Wire Works has released the InstantDrummer iPhone app (http://www.sonomawireworks.com/iphone/instantdrummer), which includes professionally recorded, customizable drum loops that can be built into drum tracks for songs. It's available at the Apple App Store for an introductory price of US$0.99 Heartbreaker is first in a series of InstantDrummer iPhone Apps that will soon be available in various genres. Jason McGerr, the a drummer for pop-rock band Death Cab for Cutie, recorded Heartbreaker on his signature Ludwig drum kit in his Seattle based studio, Two Sticks Audio. Hayden Bursk of Drummerheads was the producer. With InstantDrummer, you can pck a groove by Jason McGerr, tap in a tempo, and the app inspires you to play along with continuously varying drum tracks using matched, full kit studio drum recordings. Spin the Intensity wheel to set the mood from mellow to aggressive. Use the Variation slider to get a constantly evolving beat. Ambience adds room sound and Gain sets the...

Sennheiser (http://www.sennheisersoundtour.com) has expanded its line of full-sized, portable HD headphones. The HD 428, HD 438 and HD 448 are optimized for portable players but also deliver strong audio performance on home hi-fi systems, making them an ideal choice for users who want to crank their playlists on the move and at home, according to Eric Palonen, product manager for consumer electronics and telecommunications products at Sennheiser's U.S. headquarters. The top-of-the-range HD 448 model (US$129.95) offers a lifelike sound experience with precise detail, he adds. The HD 438 ($119.95) also offers a natural sound signature, while the HD 428 ($99.95) is more focused on the lower frequencies and delivers powerful bass response, according to Palonen. Each model features a closed-back, around-the-ear design that provides impressive sound isolation. For perfect sound on a home stereo system, each headphone comes with a gold-plated quarter-inch stereo adapter. The HD 448 features...

Paragon Software Group, a developer of electronic dictionaries for mobile devices and desktop computers, has released Oxford dictionaries for Mac OS X (10.4 and higher) -- the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, the Concise Oxford Thesaurus, the Oxford Russian Dictionary and the Oxford German Dictionary, Third Edition. The most authoritative coverage of English vocabulary is coupled with Paragon's advanced SlovoEd engine to bring premium dictionary content directly to the users' desk, according to Evan Schnittman, Vice President of Global Business Development at OUP. The original dictionary was adapted to the electronic versions for Mac users' convenience to provide extensive translation or word definition by simply pointing the cursor over the word in question. The detailed word definitions are accompanied by usage and a native British sound module of 20,000 words, transcription, grammar information, and color markup. Using unique compression technology, the...

Softhing has updated Entourage Email Archiver X (http://www.softhing.com/eeax.html), an utility for archiving emails and attachments you have received or sent using Microsoft Entourage in Mac OS X, to version 4.2.0. The update is compatible with the new Entourage 2008 Web Services Editions. EEAX has been successfully tested with the latest 10.5.8 and Office 12.2.1 update. It also now includes the latest version of the freeware SpotInside to browse and search the archives including the real time preview of search results using the Apple Spotlight technology. EEAX 4.2.0 works on Mac OS X 10.5.x ("Leopard") with Microsoft Entourage 2008. EEAX 3.x is available for Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5 users using Entourage 2004. EEAX can archive your emails in six different ways with further sub-options. One of the features of EEAX is to archive emails as native Entourage file format. The files with .eml extensions give you the possibility to restore one email or group of emails simply drop them back to...

The Omni Group (http://www.omnigroup.com) has updated OmniOutliner, its outlining app for Mac OS X, to version 3.9. The new version introduces a new auto-save system, new duplicate row function, the ability to paste into OmniGraphSketcher, new software updating mechanism, and more. OmniOutliner Pro 3.9 introduces .docx export support. Version 3.9 is also a maintenance release that fixes reported issues and adds numerous other enhancements. OmniOutliner now uses Apple's auto-save feature for backups, which supplants the previous auto-save system, and now backs up new, never-before-saved files in case of a crash. Pre-saved files are backed up to to "~/Library/Autosave Information," while files, once saved, are located in the folder containing the OmniOutliner document. With the new auto-save system, after a crash, all backup copies automatically load upon relaunch, with an option to "revert to saved" for previously saved documents. OmniOutliner 3.9 can now automatically install updates...

Apricorn, (http://www.apricorn.com) has released the Aegis Padlock Secure Hard Drive, a portable hardware encrypted drive and secure storage system. With a keypad design and software-free design, the Aegis Padlock offers customers access to the drive using a customized personal identification number. Offering a choice of AES-128 or 256 bit hardware encryption, the Aegis Padlock provides seamless real-time encryption to keep data secure even if the hard drive is removed from its enclosure, according to Mike McCandless, Apricorn's vice president of Sales and Marketing. The drive is compatible with Mac OS X 10.2 or higher. The Aegis Padlock comes with a one-page Quick Start Guide and software-free setup. Its "Administrator Feature" recognizes enrollment of up to 10 unique user IDs and one administrator, further allowing it to function as a secure business collaboration tool. Weighing just over six ounces, the Aegis Padlock's compact design fits in a laptop bag and features a 16-point...

Epson America has expanded its line of Artisan all-in-ones with the Artisan 710 and Artisan 810. They sport built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking, automatic two-sided printing, printing from an iPhone and more. What's more, the Artisan 810 offers built-in color fax with an auto document feeder and a 7.8-inch touch screen. Using the convenient front panel features on both models, consumers can preview, select, enhance, and print photos without a computer. The Artisan 810 boasts a 7.8-inch smart touch panel and 3.5-inch color LCD that lights up only the buttons needed, while the Artisan 710 has a control panel with a 2.5-inch LCD. The Artisan 710 and 810 can turn photos or drawings into personalized coloring book pages or note paper, or print college-ruled, wide-ruled and graph school paper. They also allow consumers to create and print custom designs directly onto ink jet printable CDs and DVDs. In addition, Epson's six-color Ultra Hi-Definition Claria ink and exclusive MicroPiezo...

SneakPeek Pro (SPP), the r Quick Look plugin for graphics files, has been updated to support Adobe Swatch Exchange (.ase) files. Instead of having to import swatch files to view their contents, users can now just use Quick Look to preview their swatch libraries. In addition to adding ASE file support, version 1.3 of SneakPeek Pro also adds support for Adobe Illustrator (.ait) and Adobe InDesign (.idt) Templates. This brings the total number of graphics files supported up to 8 including: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Swatch Exchange, Encapsulated PostScript and Freehand MX. SneakPeek Pro is available from Code Line's online store for $19.95 USD. Version 1.3 is a free upgrade for all current users. SPP requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later. For more information or to download a free 15-day trial, visit http://www.code-line.com/software/sneakpeekpro

Techno-Grafik eU (http://www.itaskx.com)has released iTaskX 2.6, an update of the project management solution. The new version is ready for the upcoming Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard"). Version 2.6 also offers filters for every view like Completed Tasks, Incomplete Tasks, Critical, Milestones, Using Resource, Task Range. There's also now an Italian localization beside the existing English and German localizations. iTask 2.6 is a free update for current users. For new users the cost is approximately US$113 for a single-user license.

Morrison SoftDesign has updated FontXChange (http://www.FontGear.net) -- Mac OS X software that converts fonts to OpenType, PostScript Type 1 and TrueType for both Macs and Windows systems -- to version 2.0. The upgrade sports new folder naming options, new file naming options and a new feature to choose how a converted fonts are named in application font menus It also sports an updated user interface and updated support for: previewing different font formats; how certain platform names are read from Name tables; complex contours in Type 1 fonts; and the UniqueID field of the Name table. There are also several bug fixes. FontXChange supports batch processing for converting entire font libraries and has preferences to set font encodings. FontXChange has a font inspection window with preview and support for many font encodings, including Adobe Standard, Unicode, Mac Roman, and Windows ANSI, and European. FontXChange is designed to understand many different font formats and can convert...

RAGE Software has updated RAGE Google Sitemap Automator (http://ragesw.com/products/googlesitemap.html) -- the software package that helps web-masters get their web site listed in Google, Yahoo and MSN search -- to version 2.1. The upgrade allows users to create XML Sitemaps for secure websites and adds complete support for Microsoft's new Bing search engine. With Rage Google Sitemap Automator you can automate the process of creating Google Sitemaps by utilizing filters and preset conditions. You then upload your Google Sitemap to your web server and notify search engines so they know where to find your sitemap file. RAGE Google Sitemap Automator works with Mac OS X 10.4 or later. A free trial version is available for download. The full version of RAGE Google Sitemap Automator which adds automatic submission to Google as well as the ability to generate an unlimited number of Google Sitemaps costs US$29.95, though version 2.1 is a free update for registered users. It's a Universal...

Sweb Apps (http://www.swebapps.com) has launched, claiming to give anyone the tools to build a "great-looking, highly-functional mobile application for their business, in as little as five minutes." It's launching with a suite of features including an App Tracker to give users the ability to track their application's daily performance, and a Content Management System that enables content creation and update real time. According to Magaly Chocano, CEO and founder of Sweb Apps, with Sweb Apps branded iPhone applications, restaurants can upload menu items, specials or take reservations; retailers can promote sales, locations, and inventory; and non-profits can post events, information on how to get involved, and take donations -- all with customized buttons and consistent company branding throughout the application. He says that building an app is simple, and takes just a few steps. Once an application is created, users can track the app's performance through the App Tracker. It...

Bare Bones Software (http://www.barebones.com) has announced the discontinuation of Super Get Info, its file and folder information utility. Development of Super Get Info has ceased, and new licenses will no longer be available for purchase. Super Get Info 1.3.1, the last released version, will remain available for existing customers to download, and Bare Bones Software will continue to offer technical support through the end of 2009. "Super Get Info was designed to provide a powerful and flexible alternative to the 'Get Info' command in early versions of the Mac OS X Finder," says Rich Siegel, founder and CEO of Bare Bones Software. "However, we believe the Finder's interface has now advanced to the point that it's a good time for Super Get Info to sail beyond the sunset."