The PandaWare Company has updated Simple Help Editor, its cross-platform help authoring application, to version 4.0.1. Mac and Windows users can use Simple Help Editor to create software help systems that display in Apple Help Viewer, Windows' HTML Help viewer, a Web browser, or in a proprietary help window (for applications created with Real Software's REALbasic). The new version offers new options to add page navigation links either automatically or manually, more support for reusing content for different products or versions of a product, and improvements to its Library for better management of reusable snippets. Simple Help Editor allows creating platform-specific Help systems for display in Apple Help Viewer, Microsoft Windows' HTML Help viewer, and Web browsers. It is available as a Mac OS X Universal Binary application (for Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher) and a Windows 2000 or higher application. Both can be downloaded from The PandaWare Company's web site (http://www.pandaware.com/...

Akvis (http://www.akvis.com) has released Akvis Sketch 9.0, an update of the software that converts photos to pencil and watercolor drawings. The new version has a new improved algorithm for photo-to-sketch conversion, adds a new parameter field for edge definition, adds the possibility to manipulate the saturation of color pencil drawings and much more. Akvis Sketch 9.0 also adds seven ready-to-use Akvis presets (B&W Sketch, WaterColor, Charcoal Low, Charcoal High, Color Pencil Low, Color Pencil High, Pastel). What's more, it's now possible to import/export a list of presets. An Akvis Sketch Home License (plug-in or standalone) sells for US$72. Registered users of the previous versions can upgrade to version 9.0 for $39. Or you can buy the Alchemy Bundle (which includes the Sketch, Chameleon, Stamp, Retoucher, Coloriage, Noise Buster, Decorator, Enhancer, LightShop, SmartMask and ArtSuite plug-ins) for $325. For business licenses consult the Akvis web site. One license key...

St. Clair Software has updated Default Folder (http://www.stclairsoft.com/DefaultFolderX/index.html), its utility for enhancing Open and Save dialogs in Mac OS X, to version 4.3. This release delivers support for Apple's new Mac OS 10.6 "Snow Leopard," as well as continued compatibility with Mac OS 10.4 and 10.5. It also provides improvements in Default Folder X's feature set and reliability. Default Folder X 4.3 is a free update for existing users who purchased a license or upgrade on or after June 1, 2007. The upgrade is US$14.95 for users who bought their copies before that date. Default Folder X costs $34.95 for a new license. Installers are available now in English and German and will be released shortly in Japanese, French, and Danish.

Qnap Security (http://www.qnapsecurity.com), a manufacturer of computer-less network video recorder (NVR) solutions for the corporate security/surveillance market, has announced a new addition to its VioStor line of Network Video Recorders (NVR). The VS-4016U-RP VioStor NVR is a video surveillance system that can simultaneously record video from up to 16 IP cameras on the network. It's designed as a solution for a medium/large office building, shopping mall, or manufacturing facility where rack mounting is desirable. The embedded surveillance system allows each channel of video recording to have it own monitoring parameters including continuous recording, motion detection recording, time-scheduled recording, alarm recording, and even pre-alarm and post-alarm recording. The intelligent video analytics (IVA) allows for foreign object detection, object removal detection, and camera out-of-focus or obstruction. Security personnel can search the video logs by date/time, motion event, video...

Boinx Software says that FxTiles (http://boinx.com/fxtiles), its collection of 3D filters and transitions, is ready for the new Apple Final Cut 7. Based on the visual effects architecture FxFactory from Noise Industries, it also fully supports Apple Final Cut Express, Apple Motion 4 and Adobe After Effects CS3/CS4. FxTiles filters include: Flip 3D, which lets users divide the source image in tiles and flip them in 3D space; Shatter 3D, which lets users divide images into tiles and animate them through 3D space; and Spread 3D, which divides the image into tiles and offsets each tile in 3D space. FxTiles transitions include: ° Flip & Reveal 3D, which divides the source image into tiles and flips them in 3D space to reveal the same portions of the destination image; ° Shatter & Rebuild 3D, which lets you shatter the image into fragments while at the same time rebuilding fragments of the destination image in place of the source; ° Shatter & Rebuild with Fade 3D , which lets...

Plus+, a publisher of iPhone and iPod touch games, and MumboJumbo, a developer and publisher of casual games, are bringing the Mac and PC game, Luxor (http://www.luxoriphone.com/), to the iPhone and iPod touch. The marble-shooter game will make its debut on the Apple Store this August with community gameplay features enabled by Plus+, the free social play network. Here's how the game is described: "In Luxor, the god's evil minions have unleashed chains of colored spheres to destroy the pyramids of Ancient Egypt. Players must clear these chains by color-matching three or more spheres. Native controls allow players to slide, tap, shake and tilt to manipulate the magical winged, side-scrolling shooter and launch power-ups. The fate of Ancient Egypt is literally in the player's hands. "Plus+ registrants in LUXOR can experience not only the touch innovation of a genre classic, but also the added depth of social play. Players can send challenges to friends via Facebook and Twitter,...

Opera 10 is now available in its third beta version from http://www.opera.com/next/. Performance and stability were purportedly prioritized in beta 3, with improvements to Opera Turbo, a compression tool for faster surfing, and refinements to the overall look and feel of the previous Opera 10 betas. Multiple Opera users who tested the previous betas shared their preferences for more visual tab options. Opera has responded in beta 3 by offering options for tab placement. Now users can view their visual thumbnail tabs on the right or left side of the screen, in addition to placement options on the top or bottom. Tabs are resizable and the thumbnail view is optional. In Opera 10 beta 3, designer Jon Hicks continues his renovation of the user interface (UI) by implementing several new tweaks designed to make using Opera even more efficient. The upgrade also supports a total of 38 languages, sports an integrated crash logger and offers increased speed when browsing over slow network...

Newer Technology (http://www.newertech.com) has announced two new products in its iPod/iPhone accessories line: the NewerTech 3 in 1 Audio/Sync/Charging Cable and the NewerTech Auto Charger & USB Sync/Charging Cable. Available immediately at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$14.99, in a choice of white or black color, the NewerTech 3 in 1 Audio/Sync/Charging Cable allows Dock Connector equipped iPod, iPhone, and iPhone 3G/3GS users to: ° Play music through any auxiliary input equipped car stereo, computer, or portable speakers; ° Update or download pictures, music, and/or videos via a Mac, PC, or content portals like iTunes; ° Charge via any Mac or PC USB port. Available immediately for $19.99 in a choice of white or black color, the NewerTech Auto Charger & USB Sync/Charging Cable allows Dock Connector equipped iPod, iPhone, and iPhone 3G/3GS users to: ° Charge via any vehicle's 12 volt Power Accessory outlet or any Mac or PC USB port; ° Update or download...

VVI (http://www.vvi.com/news/2009/0813vvidget.html) has released version 10.5.8 of Vvidget, a point and click graphing solution. The upgrade enables more deployment options, especially for Apple developers. They include: ° Vvidget Builder Standalone: Vvidget Builder was previously available with only shared frameworks and standard Mac OS X Installer that required administrative privilege to install. Vvidget Builder is now available as a self-contained application that simply needs to be uncompressed from the Finder to be used. ° Free developer redistribution: Vvidget Code is now available for free developer deployment according to the redistribution license enclosed in the Vvidget Code documentation. Vvidget-based applications can now be self-contained, with the Vvidget component embedded into the re-distributable application bundle. ° Free developer use: The developer add-on to Vvidget, Vvidget Code, was US$189 without re-distribution options, but is now available for download and...

Skooba Design (http://www.skoobadesign.com) has expanded its original Checkthrough "checkpoint-friendly" laptop bag collection, with the addition of an ultralight backpack and a rolling laptop/business case. Checkthrough bags are designed and tested to pass through airport security x-ray screening without having to remove the computer. At first glance, the Checkthrough Backpack (US$129.95)looks like a standard, high-end business or travel backpack. But unlike traditional laptop packs, it opens and hinges in the middle to separate and isolate the laptop compartment from the rest of the bag. For initial, immediate visual reference, the laptop can be seen by the inspector through a clear window that is exposed when the bag is unfolded. With the window facing up, the bag is sent through X-ray screening. The design of the laptop compartment is such that the image presented to the screener is the same as if the laptop were removed and placed in a bin. The Checkthrough bag and all of its...

Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) has unveiled the Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S315i and Logitech Portable Speaker S125i. The former purportedly delivers up to 20 hours of listening time, while the Portable Speaker S125i lets you "crank up the bass in your bedroom, kitchen, living room -- even in your backyard." With the US$129.99 Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S315i, you can play and charge your iPhone and any iPod model with the dock connector. According to the folks at Logitech, its power-saving mode allows for a full days (or nights) worth of music on a single charge. The S315i supports the iPhone and all iPod models with Universal Dock Connector; it also supports other portable music players via 3.5 mm auxiliary input. The $69.99 Logitech Portable Speaker S125i -- due next month -- plays and charges any iPod model, and boosts songs with extra bass at the push of a button. It runs on AC or battery power. It works with any iPod model with a Universal Dock connector (except third-...

Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) has unveiled the Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S315i and Logitech Portable Speaker S125i. The former purportedly delivers up to 20 hours of listening time, while the Portable Speaker S125i lets you "crank up the bass in your bedroom, kitchen, living room -- even in your backyard." With the US$129.99 Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S315i, you can play and charge your iPhone and any iPod model with the dock connector. According to the folks at Logitech, its power-saving mode allows for a full days (or nights) worth of music on a single charge. The S315i supports the iPhone and all iPod models with Universal Dock Connector; it also supports other portable music players via 3.5 mm auxiliary input. The $69.99 Logitech Portable Speaker S125i -- due next month -- plays and charges any iPod model, and boosts songs with extra bass at the push of a button. It runs on AC or battery power. It works with any iPod model with a Universal Dock connector (except third-...

SmileOnMyMac has updated PDFPen (http://www.smileonmymac.com/PDFpen/download.html), its PDF editing and form-filling tool for Mac OS X, to version 4.2. The update adds support for documents encrypted with 128-bit AES encryption. PDFpen costs US$49.95, and PDFpenPro is $99.95. Family pack licenses, which cover up to 5 computers in one household, are $74.95 for PDFpen and $129.95 for PDFpenPro. Upgrades from earlier versions of either application are $25, and free to users who purchased after June 1, 2008. Upgrades from any version of PDFpen to PDFpenPro 4.0 are $50. PDFpen 4.2 and PDFpenPro 4.2 require Mac OS X 10.4 or later. An Intel 1.8GHz processor or above is recommended for OCR. Demo versions are available for download.

Noise Industries (http://www.noiseindustries.com), a developer of visual effects tools for the postproduction and broadcast markets, announced FxFactory compatibility for the newly released (a href="http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/boris_fx_product_line_supports_final_cut_studio_3" TARGET="_blank")Final Cut Studio 3(/a). The FxFactory product line includes over 200 visual effects plug-ins optimized for real-time performance on the Mac platform. The plug-ins span a wide range of categories that include: blurs, color correction, distortions, glows, half-tones and stylization filters, as well as generators and transitions. Users must install the Noise Industries FxFactory engine to operate FxPacks. FxFactory is free and can be downloaded from the Noise Industries web site. FxFactory Pro is available for US399. Additional plug-in packages are available for free or commercially starting at a price point of $29. FxFactory plug-ins vary in price and can be purchased via the...

equinux (www.equinux.com) has released Summer Spirit Cards, a set of 20 nifty greeting cards for Mail. Summer Spirit Cards enable everyone to share their favorite summer snapshots with personal greeting cards. Summer Spirit Cards ship with the Stationery Pack Browser to help you find the perfect greeting card. You can sort all available templates by category and keywords or, if you're looking for something specific, you can also type in your own search terms. For a big picture, you can view the templates with the Quick Look window. Summer Spirit Cards include 20 mail templates and are available now for $19.95 at the equinux Online Store. For a limited time, chic Summer Spirit Cards boxes will be available at Apple stores nationwide. There's also a reduced price family pack available for use on up to five Macs for $29.95.

equinux (www.equinux.com) has released Summer Spirit Cards, a set of 20 nifty greeting cards for Mail. Summer Spirit Cards enable everyone to share their favorite summer snapshots with personal greeting cards. Summer Spirit Cards ship with the Stationery Pack Browser to help you find the perfect greeting card. You can sort all available templates by category and keywords or, if you're looking for something specific, you can also type in your own search terms. For a big picture, you can view the templates with the Quick Look window. Summer Spirit Cards include 20 mail templates and are available now for $19.95 at the equinux Online Store. For a limited time, chic Summer Spirit Cards boxes will be available at Apple stores nationwide. There's also a reduced price family pack available for use on up to five Macs for $29.95.

Cocktail 4.4.1 (Leopard Edition), a general purpose utility for Mac OS X, has been released. This version addresses compatibility issues with Firefox 3.5 and Flock 2.5 web browsers, adds clearing of the latest variants of the RSPlug (Jahlav) trojan horse, adds Mac OS X 10.5.8 compatibility and contains other minor bug fixes as well as updated Automator actions. The update is highly recommended for all users of Cocktail (Leopard Edition). Cocktail 4.4.1 (Leopard Edition) is distributed as a Universal Binary and runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It requires Mac OS X/Mac OS X Server 10.5 or later and is tested for compatibility with Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server 10.5.4. Cocktail 4.4.1 costs US$14.95 for a single user license. It's a free update for registered users of version 4.x. Youc an find it here: http://cocktail.maintain.se

Syncro Soft has released version 5.0 of its SVN client (http://www.syncrosvnclient.com). The upgrade adds the Diff Files and Diff Directories tools, updates the main menu and toolbar actions for the Working Copy, Synchronize and Repository views, and comes with a new application toolbar for easier access to the most common SVN operations. The Diff Fiels tool allows finding the differences between two files with other algorithms than the build-in one of the SVN server and applying some options like ignore whitespaces, merge adjacent differences, etc. Diff Directories tool allows finding the differences between two sets of files that have the same names but are located in different folders. Two files with the same name can be compared with the binary content method or the last modification timestamp method. The menus and toolbars were changed in Syncro SVN Client 5.0. Some actions where added or removed in the menu bar and in the Working Copy, Synchronize, Repository, History views so...

Twelve South (http://twelvesouth.com) has introduced BackPack, a shelf designed specifically to fit the iMac and Cinema Displays. As the name suggests, the perforated metal shelf attaches to the back of Macs and can be used to store hard drives, hubs, iPods and other Mac peripherals. It's available at Apple stores and online for US$29.95. The BackPack uses two adjustable clips and gravity to literally perch on the desk stand of iMacs and Cinema Displays. The adjustable clips allow users to position the BackPack at the desired height, so gear on the shelf is within reach. Since it's height adjustable, there's room for two BackPacks on one Mac. With two BackPacks in place, the lower shelf could be used to store larger hard drives, while the top shelf could be used to store smaller items like a charging iPod, or a favorite collectible.

Apricorn (http://www.apricorn.com) has released the PCIe and the PCI-X Drive Arrays. Each of these cards support up to four 2.5-inch SATA hard drives or solid state drives of your choice. With the PCI Drive Arrays, industrial and power users can take advantage of as much as 4TB in a single slot to support applications such as servers, industrial computers, high speed data collection, animation, CAD/EDA simulation, video editing, scientific computing and storage systems that require maximum performance from their storage architecture. Sporting an open, fully configurable design, each PCI Drive Array embeds four 2.5-inch, 5400/7200 RPM or even faster solid state SATA hard drives on one card. When used with solid state drives, Apricorn's PCI Drive Array is capable of delivering sequential read speeds of 791 MB/second, and sequential write speeds of 675 MB/second. The PCIe Drive Array is compatible with several systems and only uses one internal full length PCIe X4 slot. It fits perfectly...

The Sonos Controller for iPhone 3.0 (http://www.sonos.com/iPhone) is now available as an update on the Apple App Store. It's free The upgrade brings all of the great new features of the Sonos Controller 200 to the iPhone controller for the Sonos Multi-Room Music System. One of these features includes the "Info View" command. This new feature (accessed using the "i" button on the Now Playing screen) allows you to discover even more music via the various music services available on Sonos. With Sonos ZonePlayers connected wirelessly in the rooms of your choice and a Sonos Controller for iPhone or iPod touch in hand, you can find and play the music you want by simply picking a room, picking a song and hitting play. You can play the same song in every room in synchronization, or play different songs in every room. The Sonos user experience allows you to quickly link and unlink rooms, without interrupting music playback. You can select, play, pause, and skip music in any room. You can...

The Coding Monkeys have updated SubEthaEdit (http://www.codingmonkeys.de/subethaedit/), a text editor for Mac OS X, to version 3.5. The upgrade adds support for code folding, which lets you hide text or source code to better concentrate on the task at hand. SubEthaEdit 3.5 also adds document state persistence. The app now remembers window positions, sizes, cursor positions, etc. SubEthaEdit's tabbed window interface helps to reduce window clutter by grouping documents in a single window with a tab bar, according to the Coding Monkeys. Tabs include keyboard access, and support drag-and-drop to tear off, recombine and sort individual tabs. However, the traditional multi window interface is still fully supported. SubEtha 3.5 is a free update for registered users of version 2.x and 3.x. For new users the cost is US$35. A 30-day demo is available at the Coding Monkeys web site. SubEthaEdit is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It requires Mac OS X 10.4 or...

QNAP Systems (http://www.qnap.com) has expanded its Turbo NAS line-up with a pair of new NAS servers for the corporate and entry-level enterprise market. The new TS-439U-RP and TS-439U-SP models are both 4-drive, 1U rack mounted NAS servers with hot-swappable drives that are capable of up to 8TB total capacity using 2TB drives. The newly-designed HDD tray for 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch HDD dual support is also equipped in these two models, which gives users more choices to deploy the hard drives. The TS-439U-RP and TS-439U-SP feature Intel Atom 1.6GHz CPU and 1GB DDRII memory, making them capable of up to 87.3MB/second transfer rate for an FTP read with RAID 5 enabled. Both models can be configured for RAID 0/1/5/6/5+ spare, and JBOD with online RAID capacity expansion and RAID level migration. Both models feature iSCSI Target service with Thin Provisioning and dual Gigabit LAN ports with port trunking (support for seven bonding modes) and multi-IP setting. The primary difference between...

TechSmith Corp. has announced that Camtasia for Mac will be available Aug. 25 for download and purchase. It's an app for creating presentations, demonstrations, screencasts, training and marketing videos in HD-quality video to reach audiences online, on Apple portable media devices, and on popular video sharing sites like YouTube. To celebrate the release of Camtasia for Mac, TechSmith will be offering a special introductory price of US$99 through the end of the year for a single user license with a full-featured 30-day free trial. The general public can sign up via the webs ite to receive more information by visiting: http://www.techsmith.com/macdevelopment.asp Camtasia for Mac records exactly what a user sees on their computer screen, what they say, and how they interact with any web site or Mac-based application such as Keynote and Power Point, says Troy Stein, Camtasia for Mac product manager at TechSmith. Users can then edit the interactive content and share it online, on...