Verbatim (http://www.verbatim.com/index.cfm) has added a new speaker keyboard and two new mice to its Mac accessory line. The new TuneBoard Speaker Keyboard integrates with iTunes for controlling music playback. It includes multimedia keys for muting, volume adjustment, play, pause, previous track and next track control. Two hot keys let you switch the enhanced bass on and off and switch on the backlit luminescence to improve key visibility and to set the mood. Equipped with a built-in mini-microphone, headphone and mic connection, the Verbatim TuneBoard is fully compatible with Skype and other VOIP software. Verbatim's new Bluetooth Notebook Laser Mouse and Desktop Wireless Laser Mouse include Mac software. The new mice also incorporate laser technology with "super-precise" tracking for smoother cursor movement on a variety of surfaces. And they have a laser sensor that can be switched to up to 1,600 dpi (dots per inch). Both models also offer tilt wheel navigation for four-way...

Scion (http://www.scion.com) today announced the Scion Radio 17 Beats Per Minute (BPM) Meter application for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's available on the Apple App Store (http:// www.itunes.com/appstore/.) for free. The app, developed by EpicTilt.com, automatically calculates the BPM of a song as users tap the screen to the song's rhythm. After recording the song's BPM, users can create playlists by genre and send their song lists with corresponding BPM info to themselves and others for use in the planning of live sets and recorded mixes. "Scion is always looking for ways to keep its customers engaged with the brand so we created the 'Scion Radio 17 BPM Meter' with unique create-and-share playlist abilities to appeal to our trendsetting and tech savvy audience of iPhone and iPod touch users," said Jeri Yoshizu, Scion sales promotions manager. "Additionally, given the fact that Scion has always worked with DJs and respected their culture, we wanted to give our audience a useful...

Luxology LLC is continuing its European Roadshow by hosting a modo 401 launch event in Paris on Wednesday, June 17, at 2:30 pm. The event will serve as a platform for Luxology to debut the newest version of the company's 3D modeling, painting and rendering software, modo 401. A modo 401 demonstration, using Roadshow sponsor Wacom's latest Intuos tablet technology, will be given by Andy Brown, Luxology's training division manager and Gregory Duquesne, a Luxology senior engineer. Representatives from game development leader Black Rock Studio will be speaking at the launch event to demonstrate how they use modo to create original games. Cedric Guibert of standardnonstandard will also demonstrate how modo fits within his workflow pipeline and Jacques Defontaine, modo 401 beta tester and independent graphic design professional with varied experience at Weta Digital, Grid and Casterman, will be on hand to answer questions about recent projects created using modo 401. Event location and date...

In-Poculis Mahjong (http://www.in-poculis.com) is a new Mahjong solitaire game freeware for the Mac. The US$15 game comes with 120 levels and six themes: Christmas, Halloween, Asian, Easter, Wonderland and Future. Here's how the game is described: "How to play: find matching mahjong pieces amongst the plethora and click them to get them off the screen. All of the mahjong pieces can be cleared, but it takes some discipline, strategy, and a little bit of luck to win the five medals of each theme."

The Enterprise Desktop Alliance has announced new webinar to help IT professionals learn how to integrate Macs into their Windows environment. "Integrating the Mac into a Windows Infrastructure -- 5 Case Studies" will be held on Tuesday, June 2, at 10 am (Pacific). Participants will see: ° Five case studies that demonstrate how your peers are deploying, integrating and managing Macs in their organizations; ° How to meet the needs of the business and the users when integrating Macs; ° Strategies and technologies that keep the total cost of Mac ownership comparable to Windows systems. Learn more by visiting the Enterprise Desktop Alliance web site at http://www.enterprisedesktopalliance.com/

Rod Cambridge today announced that his iPhone app Top-Tens (http://www.itunes.com/apps/top-tens) now tracks the top 10 rumors surrounding the third generation iPhone. The imminent release of the third generation iPhone has caused large amounts of speculation about the new hardware and software features and capabilities in the new handheld, making it difficult to get a clear picture of what to expect, he says. Top-Tens now keeps a constantly updated, consolidated list of the top 10 rumors -- including their probability -- and links to the various sources providing the information. "As with many people, I can't wait to see the third generation iPhone, and so I thought it would be cool to add a top 10 rumors section to my iPhone app," Cambridge, developer of Top-Tens says. "This now enables anyone who's interested in the upcoming iPhone to be 'on the pulse' with regard to rumors at all times. Any Top-Tens users who are excited about the next generation iPhone can now easily keep tabs...

Bluelounge (http://www.bluelounge.com) has introduced CableDrop, an adjustable cable clip that helps reconfigure one's desktop in a multitude of ways. Designed by emerging industrial designer Greg Fulco, the Bluelounge CableDrop can be fixed behind or onto any desktop or adjacent walls and furniture. CableDrop is offered in two different packs, either in muted colors (Off White, Rust, Warm Grey) or bright fun colors (orange, pink, lime green). They cost is US$9.95 for a pack of six, and is available for purchase right away through . CableDrop comes in a dual color scheme. The muted color set compliments and blends in with typical office & home furniture, while the bright lively color set allows one to make a personal statement, according to Greg Fulco, designer of CableDrop. CableDrop's contours are smooth and natural, as though hand-sculpted, he adds. CableDrop is made from Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). A durable peel-off adhesive on the back of each CableDrop means it can be...

Zensify (http://www.zensify.com/) has released a free (for now) application for the iPhone and iPod touch, allowing users to aggregate, update, search and discover information across multiple social networks and web services. Zensify aggregates all your social networks into a single feed, which allows you to discover the trends and information across your entire social graph. A multi-functional product, Zensify enhances the social network "power-user" experience, by combining updates from the following services into one news feed: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Digg, Delicious, Photobucket and 12seconds. A social network aggregator, Zensify allows you to simultaneously update both Twitter and Facebook. It allows you to share videos, pictures and music across your entire social graph, making it a "lifestreaming" solution, according to the folks at Zensify. A built-in web browser enables the viewing of web sites and integrated video playback is available without leaving the...

Speck has released the TechStyle Case for the iPod shuffle (second and third generations). It's designed to keep the iPod shuffle bruise and scratch-free and your earbud cords organized and ready for hassle-free listening, according to Bryan Hynecek, lead designer at Speck. When done listening to your tunes, place your iPod shuffle into the cradle, wind your earbud cords around the organizer, zip up the case and you're ready to go or attach it to a purse, briefcase or travel bag with the included metal carabineer clip. The TechStyle also allows you to enjoy your iPod shuffle while stored inside the casep simply route the earbud cord outside and zip back up. The TechStyle case includes a removable adapter that allows latest third-generation iPod shuffle owners to use the TechStyle with both second and third generation iPod shuffle models. The oversized zipper pull allows the case to be opened and closed. The case also features a removable metal carabineer clip for attaching the...

WebDNA Software Corp., a developer of Internet technology products, has released WebDNA 6.2, an update of the server-side scripting language that's designed to simplify the creation of complex e-commerce sites, web applications, and intranet office automation solutions. The new version introduces: ° A built-in database: you can create an unlimited number of RAM-centric WebDNA databases or interact with MySQL, Microsoft SQL, Oracle or PostGres databases; ° A single syntax system: database syntax is built-in to the WebDNA language; ° Multiple platform support: WebDNA runs on Mac OS X, Windows, Solaris and Linux; ° Enhanced security: automatic encryption option protects sensitive order information. WebDNA 6.2 for Mac OS X and Linux and OSX is available today at the WebDNA store: http://store.webdna.us. WebDNA 6.2 for Windows will be available in the third quarter of the year. The WebDNA 6.2 Developer Edition is available at no charge. This fully functional, single domain version allows...

LaCie (http://www.lacie.com) has announced three new lines of mobile and desktop hard drive bags -- the LaCie Cover, LaCie Coat and LaCie Cozy, all designed by Sam Hecht. They're made with different materials, for varying levels of protection. Designed for lightweight protection and mobility, the LaCie Cover provides a soft, thin, second skin for your hard drive. It also sports an inside accessory pocket mean for storing cables. Designed for versatility, the LaCie Coat offers a padded bubble pattern and a design that allows users to reverse the Coat, revealing the inner sueded fabric, for two bags in one. A hidden pocket allows users to keep their cables and accessories close. Alternately, for users who desire robust hard drive protection, the LaCie Cozy offers a sturdy outer layer. Made of EVA, it has a rigid exterior and a flexible outside pocket for carrying bulky peripherals, supplies, and accessories. The inside of the Cozy shows a softer side, lined with memory foam to protect...

Boris FX, a developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, has announced that Boris Continuum Complete 6 FxPlug (BCC 6 FxPlug) for Apple Pro Video Applications is now available. BCC 6 FxPlug brings over 200 filters to Apple Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Final Cut Express. In addition to new features included with the recently-released Boris Continuum Complete 6 AE for Adobe -- such as Extruded Text, Splines, and Shapes -- BCC 6 FxPlug takes advantage of Apple FxPlug's real-time architecture for simultaneous live previews of dozens of preset transitions, glows, and color and film look effects in a newly-designed effects browser window. The initial release of BCC 6 FxPlug features over a dozen new FxPlug Shaders. Many of the FxPlug Shaders draw on BCC strengths such as lights, keying, and 3D, according to the folks at Boris. FxPlug Shaders are unique to Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, and Motion, tying directly to each host application's render pipe. Boris Continuum...

Boinx Software has announced the availability of FotoMagico Remote to control a live FotoMagico 3 slideshow with iPhone or iPod touch. To help presenters with their live narration, FotoMagico Remote also includes a teleprompter that displays a thumbnail and the speaker notes for the currently displayed slide. FotoMagico Remote can be puchased exclusively at the iTunes App Store for $19.95. "Using the FotoMagico Remote on stage gives you unprecedented control and makes you look cool," says Oliver Breidenbach, CEO of Boinx Software. "Adding this to your iPhone or iPhone touch comes much cheaper than buying one of the less stylish and less useful hardware remote control devices on the market." A fullscreen presentation with FotoMagico 3 can now be remotely controlled with the "FotoMagico Remote" application on iPhone or iPod touch. FotoMagico Remote provides playback remote control and a teleprompter right in your palm. You can read your notes and get a visual feedback of the duration...

Toon Boom Animation Inc. today announced the release of Toon Boom Animate Pro, the high-performance animation software for professionals. Toon Boom Animate Pro is the most complete professional animation software for serious animators, offering award winning state-of-the-art content creation, animation and compositing toolset for any animation style within a single all-in-one desktop application. "At Toon Boom, when it comes to building a strong and tightly-knit animation community, we believe in giving more for less. This is why today we are releasing the most advanced animation software for professional animators at an incredibly low price. In addition this gives professional animators the opportunity to join the global Toon Boom community," shared Joan Vogelesang, President and Chief Executive Officer at Toon Boom. Here is what Adam Phillips, has to say about Animate Pro: "Animate Pro.. How can such a serious beast be so much fun? I'm finding it's as addictive as any game, so...

There's no lack of advice available for how to run a Mac efficiently and solve pesky problems, but it's scattered all over the Internet. A pair of new ebooks from TidBITS Publishing Inc. - "Take Control of Maintaining Your Mac, Second Edition" and "Take Control of Troubleshooting Your Mac" - help Mac users achieve peak performance from their Macs and handle any problems that might occur. The ebooks, both written by award-winning author Joe Kissell, are available individually for $10 or in a bundle for $16 at http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/ "Take Control of Maintaining Your Mac, Second Edition" looks at how to start on the right foot with keeping your Mac running smoothly, and then it explains weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks that help readers enjoy peak performance and avoid pesky problems. Along with telling reader what to do, it includes a section about what not to do, explaining several time-consuming tasks that don't provide any real benefits. Particular questions answered in...

Macte! Labs, a developer of extensions for Mac OS X, has released the Macte! Safari Toolbar. This extension increases functionality of the Safari web browser and features multi-engine search functionality (such as Google and Yahoo) and access to many web services. Other features will include email check, currency rates, stock prices, and web page translation. Macte! Labs also plan to provide an order service for custom branded toolbars for Safari. "With growing popularity, Safari is currently the world's third most popular browser," says Anton Vorobiev of Macte!. "However, although highly regarded for its stability, speed and simplicity, Safari lacks add-ons when compared with other popular browsers. For instance, Firefox users can take advantage of hundreds of available extensions. But for Safari there is no official extensions architecture, and it is generally believed that any Safari extension is a hack of Mac OS and the Safari browser. In order to overcome this problem, Macte!...

Syntext, Inc. (http://www.syntext.com) has released a free edition (http://www.syntext.com/products/serna-free/) of its Serna WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get XML editor. Serna Free provides a lightweight solution for students, open source developers, and other users to work with DITA, DocBook, and other popular XML formats. Together with the release of Serna Enterprise 4, Syntext has provided the XML community with Serna Free Edition that has all the essential features necessary for individual authors, says says Paul Antonov. The current Serna Free functionality makes it the most powerful free XML editor available, he adds. At any time, authors can upgrade their Serna Free to the Enterprise Edition, which enables enterprise-oriented features such as integration with content management systems, collaborative authoring, and customization APIs (application programming interfaces) and tools. Serna incorporates the on-the-fly XSL-driven technology for flexible presentation, profiling...

Class on Demand, a provider of professional educational products for creative markets, announced its next Adobe self-paced training title "Fundamentals of Adobe Photoshop Elements 7." The new training release is lead by one of Class on Demand's most sought after digital media designers, industry guru Sue Jenkins. An expert in Adobe tools for print and web, Sue is an accomplished designer and published author with years of experience developing exceptional Class on Demand self-paced training for Adobe products. The new Class on Demand self-paced training for Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 provides users of all levels an ideal guide for mastering the highly popular and feature rich application. "Our customers are always looking for ways to get the most out of their experience with Adobe products and the Class on Demand educational products are a great resource for people who want to work at their own pace," said Bob Gager, Group Product Manager for Photoshop Elements at Adobe. "The new DVD...

Epson America has introduced the Artisan 50, a single function ink jet printer designed for printing digital photos and everyday projects. Priced at US$99.99 (estimated street price), this compact printer lets users print their own images and text onto ink jet printable CDs and DVDs. It can also print documents, e-mails and itineraries at print speeds up to 38 ppm (pages per miniute) in color, and laser-quality speeds of 5 ppm black and 4.8 ppm color. The Artisan 50 includes Auto Photo Correction and red-eye removal. You can save paper with two-sided printing. The Artison users Epson's exclusive MicroPiezo ink jet technology. It offers better-than-lab-quality photos that are smudge, scratch, water3 and fade resistant, according to Steve Semos, product manager, consumer ink jets, Epson America. The Epson Artisan 50 will be available in June through major computer, office and electronic superstores, a variety of retail stores nationwide, mail order, PC manufacturers, the Internet, and...

Human Software (http://www.humansoftware.com) has updated HSC Edit for Aperture (Apple's software for pro photographers) to version 1.7.5. HSC Edit is an edit plug-in to Apple Aperture that offers more than 4,000 effects to apply on one or a set of images. Version 1.7.5 is now made of 17 modules that can be purchased separately or as a whole. HSC Edit also now features high quality image resizing without leaving Aperture. HSC Edit 1.7.5 is available for download at US$69.95 per module, $29.95 for the Multi-Curves module and $49.95 for the image enhancer -- or $299.95 as a bundle.

Landon Fuller posted a proof-of-concept exploit for an unpatched vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment currently in use by OS X. While this particular proof-of-concept is meant to be harmless, the vulnerability itself currently affects OS X, including OS X 10.5.7, the latest shipping version of OS X. This vulnerability could be exploited to perform "drive-by-downloads" commonly used as a means to infect computers with spyware, or any arbitrary command with the permissions of the executing user. All a user has to do is visit a web page hosting a malicious java applet to be exploited. Until Apple patches their implementation of Java, we recommend that users disable Java applets in their web browser. Users can disable Java applets in Safari by opening Safari preferences, clicking the Security tab, and unchecking the "enable java" checkbox. Users should also disable the 'open "safe" files after downloading' option under the General tab of the Safari preferences. This vulnerability...

Visionaire Design has released its third iPhone application: Run From Hell. Run From Hell was designed specifically for the iPhone and iPod touch, taking advantage of the touch-screen, sound capabilities, and high-resolution graphics. In the innovative game, there is a little demon trapped in the bowels of Hell. You have to get him to Paradise by jumping on the falling rocks without getting squashed between them, dodging the devils shooting fiery pitchforks, and not fall into the fire of hell that rises higher and higher. There are five levels, with Paradise being at the end of the fifth level; A surprise waits in Paradise if you're good enough to make it there. The game keeps track of high scorers, so you can try to beat the top score. The game has a special introductory price of US$0.99. It's available at the Apple App Store.

QNAP Systems has announced a 2.5-inch SATA HDD, 4-bay, Intel Atom-based SS-439 Pro Turbo NAS dedicated to SMB and SOHO users. Designed with Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB DDRII memory, and DOM (Disk on Module) architecture, the SS-439 Pro is the most compact, powerful, and power-saving 2.5" 4-bay NAS that supports RAID 5/ RAID 6 for highly secure data protection. The NAS supports four 2.5-inch SATA hard drives which are featured with high stability, low power consumption, low vibration, and longer life expectancy. With excellent cooling and energy-saving design, the power consumption of the NAS with four hard drives installed is as low as 18W. Moreover, the SS-439 Pro supports 3 USB 2.0 ports and 2 eSATA ports for storage capacity expansion and backup destination, and advanced features such as built-in iSCSI target service (max 8 iSCSI devices) with Thin Provisioning, Online RAID Capacity Expansion, Online RAID Level Migration, AES 256-bit volume-based encryption, Wake on LAN,...

Objective Development Software has updated Little Snitch (http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html), the Mac OS X software that provides a firewall to protect your Mac against unwanted guests, to version 2.1.3. The upgrade adds support for guest accounts, introduces global, computer-wide rules that are valid for all users, provides improved "Fast User Switching" support and improved support for network user accounts. The upgrade to Little Snitch 2.1.3 is free for all Little Snitch 2 licensees. The full version is available starting at $29.95. Little Snitch includes a free, full featured, time limited trial license.