Tension Software has updated Password Repository (http://www.pomola.com/products_passwordrepository/passwordrepository.html), a Mac OS X password storage utility, to version 2.12.1 The upgrade improves the internal engine and improves preferences handling. Password Repository lets you save all your passwords in documents protecting them on disk using a single password. Data is encrypted using strong and bullet proof algorithms, and the password protecting a document is not saved in any place. Password Repository costs US$30, though version 2.12.1 is a free update for registered users of version 2.0. The software is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.

Singular Software (http://www.singularsoftware.com), developer of automation applications for digital media markets, says a Mac OS X version of DualEyes, currently a Windows-only audio synchronization application for video production, is in the works. Designed to work alongside almost all video editing applications, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and Sony Vegas Pro, DualEyes employs the same automatic synchronization technology as PluralEyes -- which is currently offered in a Mac version -- to streamline the otherwise tedious and time-consuming process of syncing dual-system recordings with the corresponding video, says Bruce Sharpe, CEO, Singular Software. Unlike PluralEyes, DualEyes works as a standalone application, with an emphasis on the dual-audio workflow. It can be used with software ranging from entry-level consumer editors to comprehensive professional production suites, Sharpe says. Users need simply capture audio on a separate high-quality recorder and...

Nearly lost amid Apple Inc.’s recent product and software rollouts was one of the most significant announcements of all: the arrival of the company’s Airplay audio streaming system, a technology with the potential to become a Top 10 consumer electronics product, according to the market research firm iSuppli Corp. (http://www.isuppli.com). At its Special Event on Sept. 1, Apple CEO Steve Jobs showed AirPlay, a system that streams audio, either wirelessly or over Ethernet, to third-party speaker docks, A/V receivers, speakers and more. Far from just being a way to transmit video from the iPad to the AppleTV, as Jobs demonstrated, AirPlay spans the entire audio industry, says iSuppli. To implement AirPlay, Apple has entered into a partnership with BridgeCo Inc., a U.S. provider of connectivity technologies and solutions. The BridgeCo platform is supported by a growing ecosystem of design partners and Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs), allowing for a rapid incorporation of AirPlay into...

In the second quarter of 2010, shipments of mini-note/tablet computers were down 4% quarter-to-quarter (Q/Q), but up 29% year-over-year (Y/Y). However, without the 3.3 million iPads shipped in the quarter, shipments of mini-note/tablet PCs would have been down 14% Q/Q and 13% Y/Y. Clearly, there was an “iPad Effect” in the portable computer market, according to a new DisplaySearch report (http://www.displaysearch.com), which also tracks tablet computers five inches and larger. The effect might have been even more pronounced, but Apple struggled to fill demand, with shipment times listed as 7-10 business days for all of the second quarter of 2010 (Q2’10), and shipments into Japan and China were just beginning at the end of the period, says the research group. Overall, the portable market posted strong Y/Y unit growth in Q2’10, surging 32% to 50.4M units. However, not all market segments were equal, and it's apparent that the combination of iPads and falling ASPs took share from other...

ProVUE Development has released Panorama 6.0 (http://www.provue.com/panorama), an upgrade to the RAM-based database program for Mac and Windows platforms. New features include: ° A 5x speed boost on Intel-based Macs; ° Live Preview -- complex search and data manipulation operations are instantly previewed as the user types and clicks; ° A new Total Recall feature protects data from power failures and crashes; ° A new Time Lapse feature allowsa database to be “rolled back” to its previous state (to recover accidentally deleted record, for example); ° The ability to drag to re-arrange the order of database fields; ° The ability to temporarily hide database fields; ° The ability to right click on any data cell or column header for context sensitive pop-up menu for selecting, sorting, and other common operations, including a “show me more like this” search option; ° A new search dialog with dozens of new options, live preview, and the ability to save favorite searches; ° Simplified data...

In a note to clients -- as reported by "Barron's (http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2010/09/30/apple-stifel-repeats...), Stifel Nicolas analyst Doug Reid today repeats his Buy rating on Apple, boosting his price target on the stock to $360, from $350. He gave three reasons for the higher estimates and target: ° Checks find iPad and iPod shipments are tracking ahead of prior estimates. ° "Increased confidence” in the longer term growth outlook for the iPad following recent competitive product announcements that “appear less menacing for Apple’s competitive position than we previously feared.” ° Higher shipment assumptions for iPhone based on strong data from China and favorable channel checks in the U.S. and Europe.

A former National Assembly representative has launched a one-man campaign protesting Apple's "discriminatory practice" of denying Taiwanese buyers of iPhone 4 protective sleeves, reports "Asia NewsNet" (http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=14666&sec=2). Kao Chia-yu launched the campaign because buyers of the iPhone 4 haven't received protective sleeves for the latest model of the smartphone as promised by CEO Steve Jobs. Jobs said earlier that those who purchased iPhone 4 by the end of September would get a free protective sleeve from the company to help with the antenna reception problem experienced when you hold the phone a certain way. Taiwan's top three telecom carriers, namely Chunghua Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and FarEastone Telecom started to sell the iPhone 4 on Sept. 17. However, none have protective sleeves for the iPhone 4.

Ambiera has announced WebsitePainter 1.2 (http://www.ambiera.com/websitepainter/index.html) for Mac OS X and Windows systems. It's an update of the web editor for creating web site without HTML knowledge and programming. WebsitePainter includes a variety of templates and supports web standards such as HTML, CSS, PHP and ASP. Version 1.2 sports: an improved HTML code editor; a new browser window for selecting specific elements in a page; the ability to select files as hyperlink targets; improved scrolling and faster image rendering; and enhanced Unicode file support On the Mac WebsitePainter requires Mac OS X 10.4.1 or later. It costs approximately US$54 for a single-user license and $135 for a company-wide license.

Troi Automatisering has released Troi File Plug-in 5.0.1 for FileMaker Pro an update of the tool for getting access to information outside the FileMaker Pro database. It's a maintenance update with some bug fixes and performance tweaks. A fully functional demo version of Troi File Plug-in 5.0.1 is available for downloading at Troi's web site (http://www.troi.com/software/fileplugin.html). Troi File Plug-in 5.0works with FileMaker Pro 9.x, 10.x and 11.The plug-in can also be used with runtimes from FileMaker Pro Advanced 9 x and 10.sx. The plug-in is available for Mac OS X 10.5.7 or higher, Windows XP (Service Pack 2) and Windows Vista. QuickTime 7 or later is needed for some image related functions. Licenses cost US$89 per user. Details on developer licenses and multi-user discounts can be found on the Troi web site.

A newly announced settlement in a class-action lawsuit against graphics maker Nvidia has entitled owners of a number of notebook computers, including two of Apple's MacBook Pro models, to repairs or monetary compensation, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) Case No. 08-cv-04312-JW relates to Nvidia chips found in some Dell, HP and Apple notebooks sold between 2005 and 2010. For Mac owners, the suit relates to 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models sold between May 2007 and September 2008. Owners of an affected Mac system could experience distorted or scrambled video on the screen, or the display may not work when the notebook is turned on, notes "AppleInsider." Some Dell and HP systems also reportedly have additional issues, such as random characters, lines or garbled images appearing on the screen.

"Fortune" (http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/09/29/apple-tv-has-2-3-week-shipping-de...) is reporting that the Apple TV has a 2-3 week shipping. It's "not clear whether it's high demand or a production hiccup that's causing it," the article adds. However, I beg to differ. My AppleTV arrived today. Look for a review in the very near future. -- Dennis Sellers

Pearson and the Commonwealth of Virginia has launched what they describe as the nation's first-ever complete social studies curriculum (http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZy64) for the iPad. Pearson has developed four new iPad Apps plus digital curriculum aligned to the Virginia editions of Pearson's U.S. History and World History programs for seventh and ninth graders. The new iPad program will be piloted in several schools for 12 weeks beginning November 1 as part of Virginia's Beyond Textbooks initiative. "In exploring the instructional potential of digital content, it makes sense to partner with Pearson, whose technologies and traditional textbooks are widely used in Virginia schools," Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright says. "The experiences of students and teachers with the applications and digital history content created by Pearson will help shape decisions and practices as schools move thoughtfully and carefully beyond textbooks and deeper...

A group of Tulsa investors have launched AskMeTellMe, a national iPhone application born out of frustrations with Google and other Internet search engines. The new app, which is driven by each user’s individual social network, brings the human element back to decision making in today’s internet-dominated world, according to its developers. “Who are you going to trust to find a good babysitter -- Google or your friends?” says Toby Biolchini, who along with several other Tulsans created the iPhone app that’s free online at the Apple App Store. To use the app, download AskMeTellMe for free. The app then prompts users to link to their Facebook and Twitter accounts and users can then simultaneously ask questions to both networks. AskMeTellMe pushes all answers directly to the app on the user’s iPhone, eliminating the need to check both profiles and wade through photos and status updates. You can now ask all of the people you know and trust for answers that Google doesn’t know, Biolochini...

A new study by Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/1e1e00/future_of_the_inte) says there will be 5.8 billion Internet users, amounting to four-fifth of the global population, by 2016. The report finds that currently only one fifth of the global population uses the Internet. With a six-fold increase, the growth of

China Unicom sold 100,000 iPhone 4s in the first four days the Apple smartphone was on sale in China, reports the IDG News Service (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9188599/China_Unicom_sells_100_00...). Earlier in the week, the mobile carrier reported that 200,000 users had pre-ordered the product. China Unicom has already stopped online reservations for iPhone 4, and is instead asking users to come directly to retail stores to sign up for the device, says IDG. The iPhone 4 was officially launched in China last Saturday. Apple has said more iPhone 4s will be made available in China soon and that customers should check back with their local store for updates. China Unicom expects the second shipment of the iPhone 4 to arrive in China Oct. 1, during the country's National Day Holiday, says IDG.

You can battle your way to victory on land, sea and air as Feral Interactive announces the release of Battlestations: Pacific for the Mac on Friday, Oct. 8. Developed by Square Enix London Studios, the game takes the action/strategy game play of Battlestations: Midway to the next level with two campaigns. One campaign is based on the actual events of the War in the Pacific, and the other a ‘what-if?’ scenario based on the premise of Japanese victory. The historically accurate U.S. campaign invites players to relive some of the key naval battles of World War II, by leading the U.S. forces from the battle of Midway all the way to Okinawa. The Japanese campaign lets players take command of the Imperial forces and change the outcome of the war by defeating the US forces in the Pacific and expanding the Empire of the Sun all the way to Hawaii. Both campaigns comprise 14 separate missions, with players in command and control of over 100 different types of planes, warships and submarines. ...

You can now buy the iPhone in Finland can now do so without committing to a separate phone plan, reports "YLE" (http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/09/iphone_now_available_without_phon...). Teleoperator Elisa will begin selling the Apple phones without a tie-in sale on Thursday. Up until now, consumers have had to purchase a fixed airtime contract together with the handset from telecommunications operator TeliaSonera. Elisa is making the phone available to all customers regardless of their operator, says "YLE."

Tension Software has updated Invoices (http://www.pomola.com/products_invoices/invoices.html), a native Cocoa application to create and manage invoices in Mac OS X, to version 2.7. The upgrade adds two new custom fields usable for Order Number and Shipment Track or other references uses. there's also an internal change on how the invoice form view is managed. Invoices (US$40) allows you to create a new invoices with all data without using the keyboard, only with the mouse and all from a single panel view. You can make two different type of invoices, Plain and Table, where description of sold goods and services can be managed in a different way. Invoices automatically calculates totals and taxes, in accordance with the set-up the user specified using his own country's rules. Invoices requires Mac OS X 10.4. It's Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.

Xeric Design has released version 5.4 of EarthDesk (http://www.xericdesign.com/earthdesk.php), the real-time dynamic desktop map for Mac OS X. The new version adds a new "Fit To Screen" projection and now fully supports dual GPUs on newer i5 and i7 Macs. EarthDesk replaces your static desktop with a photo-realistic image of the Earth showing current sun, moon and city illumination as well as real-time global cloud coverage (hurricanes, storms, and worldwide weather systems) on your desktop. It operates silently in the background, keeping your desktop updated while you work. Unlike a screen saver, which only appears when your system is idle, EarthDesk's dynamic desktop is continuously displayed as your desktop background (and optionally as a screen saver). EarthDesk requires Mac OS X 10.5 or newer. Single user copies may be purchased online for US$24.95. Upgrades are available for $12.95 for licensed users of version 4 and $17.95 for licensed users of versions 1, 2 and 3. Version 5.5...

Tension Software (http://www.pomola.com) has updated DMG Master software to version 2.3.2. It's an app for creating standard Disk Image Archive "Add files" dialog panel and sports an improved "Remove file" handling and interface. Version 2.3.3 sports a new layout for the Image menu. Also, new commands are available. DMG Master costs US$20, though version 2.3.2 is a free update for registered users of version 2.0. It's Universal Binary, so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. DMG Master requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

CodeRage Software has released Zooom/2 version 2.4.4 for Mac OS X (http://coderage-software.com). It's an US$19.95 Mac desktop application that "redefines how you can resize, move and align your application windows." You can snap windows up against each other using Zooom/2's built-in "magnetics" function. Zoom/2 also sports an "autoraise" ability, which makes the window under the mouse automatically visible without you having to click on it. Version 2.4.4 provides much integration with the Office 2008 suite, as well as iTunes 10. For $19.95 you can use Zooom/2 on up to three computers. A demo is available for download.

SmartSound has released two new video tutorials that show a music soundtrack workflow for Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 using SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 5.   The tutorials were created by Adobe Certified Expert, Jeff Foster. Foster has been a long-time SmartSound customer and uses the music in his professional work. "Watch How to Make Perfect Soundtracks in Adobe Premiere Pro CS5" lets you watch over his shoulder as he creates a highly customized music soundtrack for his Premiere Pro CS5 project using SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 5 with the Smartsound fully-customizable royalty free music library. You can find the tutorial at http://www.youtube.com/smartSoundMusic#p/a/u/0/hfK3VWdRT_M . "SmartSound and Premiere Pro CS5 Perfect Roundtrip Workflow" shows Foster demoing the best music soundtrack workflow for Premiere Pro CS5. You can view it at http://www.youtube.com/smartSoundMusic#p/a/u/1/0PJlvqaTpxU .

Singular Software, developer of automation applications for post-production, has released version 1.2 (http://www.singularsoftware.com/downloads.html) of its flagship product PluralEyes for Final Cut Pro. The new version will include improved workflow for dual-system audio, clock drift correction, increased synchronization control, broader coverage of media types and customer-requested enhancements. It does not overwrite the previously installed PluralEyes 1.1, and can run alongside that version. Just remember that beta software is unfinished software, so use with care. Designed for time-conscious video professionals, PluralEyes offers workflow automation tools for analyzing media content and synchronizing audio and video clips, including DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera images. The new PluralEyes plug-in for Vegas Pro provides an array of features for managing multi-camera, multi-take, and dual-system audio productions; including a level audio option, preserving the order...

Brother (http://www.brother.com) has introduced several new laser printers. Among them is the newest family of color laser all-in-ones. The new series also offer productivity enhancing features to help reduce operating costs. Two key functions: duplex printing in all models and the availability of high-volume replacement toner cartridges. The flagship of the product line, the US$699 MFC-9970CDW (available in January 2011) offers a number of step features over the other models in the series and (in a first for a Brother laser) will include a five-inch color touch screen display that permits easy navigation and menu selection for accessing its advanced capabilities. In addition, it features a monthly duty cycle of 60,000 pages. The MFC-9560CDW is $649, and the MFC-9460CDN is $599. Brother's latest family of monochrome laser printers is the HL-2200 Series with prices from $119-$149. Focusing on Small Office and Home Office users, these new models will be available beginning in early...