Taiwanese carriers don't have nearly enough iPhone 4s for...
Fans in Taiwan "who showered Apple with 200,000 pre-orders while the company’s carrier partners expect about one-quarter that number will be available there by year’s end," reports "iPhonetouch.Blorge" (http://iphonetouch.blorge.com/2010/09/17/apple-greets-200k-iphone-4-pre-...).
Although customers in the country ordered that many units, Apple’s three carrier partners -- Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone -- only had 1,800 units on hand when the iPhone 4 went on sale. What's more the carriers only expect 45,000 to 50,000 units will be allocated to Taiwan by the end of the calendar year, adds "iPhonetouch.Blorge."
Keynote Theme Park releases 360 Elements, Nation Elements
Keynote Theme Park (http://www.keynotethemepark.com/) has released 360 Elements and Nation Elements Keynote themes. Keynote is the presentation component of Apple's US$79 iWork suite.
360 Elements, are looped QuickTime movies made with transparent background for use with OS X Keynote presentations. Each set includes isolated letters A-Z, 0-9 and six symbols centered within a ring that slowly rotate. Each set is available for immediate download for US$5.95 or four white or four black sets for $14.95 each.
Nation Elements are a matched collection of "clipart" type items for each nation of the world. Each nation slide includes the national flag, a flag version rendered in the reflective sphere, location maps that consist of up to six isolated elements (can be broken apart and customized to your needs). National border shapes that take a Keynote fill, stroke and shadow. Plus national symbols such as coats of arms or other significant national icons. Just copy and paste elements into your...
Einstein is NewtonOS running on other operating systems
Einstein (http://code.google.com/p/einstein/) is a platform developed by Paul Guyot to get the NewtonOS running on other operating systems. On the Mac platform, it requires Mac OS X and an iPhone, iPod or iPad.
It was written and released by Paul Guyot several years ago, but got a shot in the arm earlier this month when Matthias Melcher got it up and running on iOS and posted a video of himself running it on his iPhone, notes "Panic Blog" (http://www.panic.com/blog/2010/09/newton-never-dies/).
So what's a Newton? It was the first personal digital assistant proposed by then-Apple CEO John Sculley in 1987; the Newton project was initiated in 1990. The Newton prototype was announced two years later. In 1993 the Newton MessagePad was announced just shortly after Sculley resigned. Unfortunately, the MessagePad ended up as the butt of many jokes (including a famous “Doonesboro” cartoon) because the handwriting recognition, a vital part of the device, didn’t work properly and would often...
iPhone/iPod/iPad apps for Sept. 17
Here are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps announced. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/).
Stigmergy Games has announced Virion SD Lite 1.0, a free lite version of its first title for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's a puzzle game loosely based upon real biological processes. Features include a synced soundtrack to gameplay to enhance emotion and pace, introduction of player portrait profiles for multiple users on a single device and language free via use of image based instructions for gameplay.
Reallusion has launched 10X Camera Tools Pro ($1.99) for the iPhone. App owners get more than 10 critical tools for working with their iPhone camera and managing their photos. 10X Camera Tools Pro allows users to edit and enhance, rapid shoot various sizes of photos, secure photo privacy, tag, organize, share their images and more.
Fraga-Games has released Kickin' Fraga 1.0 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. Developed to work universally on...
Sunday is Talk Like a Pirate Day
Arrr, mateys, mark Sunday, Sept. 19, on your calendar. Tis International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD). Though not exactly government sanctioned, it was launched in 1996 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy) -- pictured -- who proclaimed Sept. 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate.
They came up with the idea during a racquetball game. You can read the history of the origin of ITLAPD at http://www.talklikeapirate.com/faq.html . What started as an inside joke between Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy has gained momentum. The holiday gained exposure when John Baur and Mark Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to the American syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry in 2002. Barry liked the idea and promoted the day.
So what's the Apple connection. Steve Jobs is once reported to have said, "I'd rather be a pirate than join the navy," and Apple flew a pirate's flag outside its Cupertino headquarters.
Okay, that's...
Dialectic telephony app gets 64-bit compatibility, more
JNSoftware has updated Dialectic (http://www.jonn8.com/dialectic/), a telephony tool for the Mac, to version 1.7. Among the new features are 64-bit compatibility, integration with Exchange, CardDAV, & LDAP accounts, and new or improved support for many devices and services including Aastra IP phones, MagicJack, and more.
Dialetic provides system-wide dialing of phone numbers using Bluetooth mobile phones, landlines, many VoIP services and more. It integrates with contact management applications such as Marketcircle Daylite, Microsoft Entourage, Now Contact, Palm Desktop, FileMaker Pro and other databases, as well as Apple's iCal and Address Book.
In addition to dialing, the software provides a global Address Book menu for accessing your contact data including email, instant messaging, postal addresses, URLs, notes, and phone numbers. You can create new email messages, look up addresses on a map, copy data to the clipboard or insert it into your current document.
Dialetic is...
Apple, others in advanced talk with Justice Department
Several U.S. tech companies -- including Apple, Google, Intel, Adobe, Intuit and Walt Disney's Pixar unit -- are in advanced talks with the Justice Department to avoid a court battle over whether they colluded to hold down wages by agreeing not to poach each other's employees, reports the "Wall Street Journal" (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870344060457549618252755267...), quoting "people familiar with the matter."
The article says some companies more willing to settle to avoid an antitrust case than others. If negotiations falter, both sides could be headed for a defining court battle that could help decide the legality of such arrangements throughout the U.S. economy, notes the "Journal."
Spokespeople for Google, Apple, Intel, Adobe and Intuit all declined to comment, to the newspaper. Pixar had no immediate comment. A Justice Department spokeswoman also declined to comment.
iPad debuts to big crowds in China
The iPad officially went on sale in China Friday morning and hundreds of people lined up at Apple stores to be the first to get the tablet device. "Silicon Alley Insider" (http://www.businessinsider.com/china-ipad-lines-2010-9) says that "unlike in the other countries, Chinese consumers had to tough it out through a big rain storm to get their tablet at Apple's Beijing store."
The article says customers were in line for three days just waiting to get an iPad. That's the Wi-Fi model; the Wi-Fi plus 3G model isn't on sale in China yet. Yoou can see some photos of the Beijin store launch at the "Silicon Alley Insider" web site.
European companies worried about Apple, Google 'Trojan...
French newspaper "Le Figaro" -- as noted by "Mobile Business Briefs" (http://www.mobilebusinessbriefing.com/article/orange-t-mobile-telefonica...) -- reports that Stephane Richard CEO of France Telecom-Orange, has invited the heads of Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and Vodafone to discuss the possible creation of a common platform for mobile devices.
The talks are set to take place on Oct. 8 in Paris. "Mobile Business Briefs" says they're motivated by a view that Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems have become a “Trojan horse” for these companies to establish their own relationships with mobile customers, reducing the significance of the operators in the value chain.
While operators globally have moved away from a closed ecosystem to support products and services from Apple, Google and other companies from the computing and Internet industries, these new partners have been gradually increasing their influence in the mobile space, at the expense of operators and their...
Info needed on ISP software for the Mac
Our next Migration Kit will look at ISP software for the Mac. If you use or know of such goodies, drop me a line (dsellers@macsimumnews.com) no later than Wednesday, Sept. 22.
Migration Kits appear on Friday and round-up Mac solutions for specific industries and areas as dentistry, engineering, sales, etc. Also, if you have a particular migration topic you'd like us to cover, drop me a line, as well.
MacFlatplan is new Mac OS X pagination solution
Independent developer Heikki Ohvo has announced MacFlatplan 1.0 (http://www.heikkiohvo.com/en/ohje19.html) for Mac OS X 10.4.11 and higher, an US$39 pagination solution for magazines and other publications. The application enables the user to view a color-coded map of all the pages of their publication, providing a complete overview of the relative location, page number, and category of content of every page.
Page sizing is adjustable, print sections of a fixed number of pages may be specified, and page content may be color-coded by 1/4, 1/2, or full pages. While it's not a magazine desktop publishing program such as QuarkXpress or InDesign, MacFlatplan can be used to keep track of the order of finished pages and empty pages/space remaining. It can also provide an invaluable guide to the printer during pre-press planning, says Ohvo.
The application offers a variety of options which allow the user to customize its operation to best suit the project. MacFlatplan permits the user to...
Apple shipping 27-inch Cinema Display
Apple is shipping its 27-inch LED Cinema Display with 2560 x 1440 resolution and 60% more screen real estate than the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. It costs US$999.
Featuring a built-in iSight video camera, microphone and speakers, powered USB 2.0 hub, and universal MagSafe connector, the new LED Cinema Display is designed as a companion for the MacBook family or a Mac desktop. The screen uses the same 16:9 ratio panel as the 27-inch iMac.
'DigiTimes': Second gen iPad coming in early 2011
Component suppliers including touch panel and reinforced glass suppliers for the iPad are completing validation with Apple for the second-generation Apple tablet, says "DigiTimes" (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100916PD215.html), quoting Taiwan-based component suppliers.
Apple is expected to launch the second-gen iPad in the first-quarter of 2011, the article says. Some folks had thought it might see the light of day in time for the holidays, but perhaps not.
Metakine releases Hands Off! 0.9.1 for Mac OS X
Metakine has released Hands Off! (http://www.metakine.com/products/handsoff/) for Mac OS X 0.6.4 and higher. It's an US$19.95 application to monitor and control the access of applications to your network and disks.
When connected to the Internet, applications can send any information stored on your computer to whoever they want without you ever knowing. Using Hands Off!, you can monitor and control Internet connections from all applications as to expose hidden connections and prevent them from sending data or phoning home without your consent, according to the folks at Metakine.
Applications present on your computer can freely read, store or erase information on your computer without your knowledge. Using Hands Off!, you can monitor and control disk access from all applications as to prevent them from obtaining confidential information, erasing your data or storing cookies.
Broken Sword games available at Macgamestore
Macgamestore (http://www.Macgamestore.com) has released adventure games, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - Director's Cut and Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror for the Mac. They require Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later and cost US$9.95 each.
Here's how the games are described: "George Stobbart is an American tourist on holiday in Paris in the autumn. The story opens with George's quiet coffee at a cafe rudely interrupted by the explosion of a bomb planted by a man dressed up as a clown. He sets off investigating the explosion and, gradually, he and photo-journalist Nico Collard are drawn into a globe-trotting adventure involving conspiracies, cults and murder, all revolving around the Knights Templar.
"Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror was originally released in 1997 and opens with George Stobbart witnessing the kidnapping of his now girlfriend Nico Collard. It is up to George to break Nico out, and uncover a secret drug ring that relates to the redemption of a sinister Mayan god. It...
Rowmote Pro update for Mac OS X adds three, four finger support
Regular Rate and Rhythm Software have announced Rowmote Pro 3.2 (http://rowmote.com), an update to the $4.99 remote control solution for Mac OS X and Apple TV. The upgrade adds three and four finger gestures support.
Rowmote Pro emulates the Apple hardware remote control. It controls and switches between over twenty popular applications, from music applications like iTunes and PandoraJam to video players such as DVD Player, Hulu Desktop, Plex, and Front Row, to presentation tools such as Microsoft Powerpoint and Apple Keynote.
In addition, Rowmote Pro allows complete control over the Mac with its trackpad and optional keyboard. It supports landscape full-screen mode, two finger scrolling and right clicking, dragging, and accented and international characters. These remote control facilities have been enhanced with the 2.0 release to boast native to near-native speeds, according to the folks at Regular Rate and Rhythm Software.
Rowmote Pro requires iPhone or iPod Touch 2.0 or later....
App Tamer 'tames' apps on Mac OS X 5 and higher
St. Clair Software has released App Tamer (http://www.stclairsoft.com/AppTamer/) for Mac OS X 10.5 and higher. The US$14.95 app gives you control over your applications so you can save battery and CPU power. A 15-day demo is available for download.
Some Mac applications, especially web browsers, continue running tasks or animations even when they're supposed to be idle in the background. This can consume valuable processing power and reduce battery life. App Tamer's AutoStop capability automatically pauses these applications when you switch away from them, and then restarts them when you click back to them. This frees your CPU and reduces power consumption, according to the folks at St. Clair.
App Tamer shows the average percentage of your processor(s) being used by each app, and graphically displays a history of CPU usage. You can enable AutoStop for any application, as well as change its processing priority in OS X.
App Tamer comes pre-configured to automatically pause Safari,...
Is the iPad saving journalism?
In an effort to find out the impact of the iPad on journalism, RJI Program Director for Digital Publishing Roger Fidler and the Reynolds Journalism Institute have launched a National iPad survey.
With iPad sales expected to hit 28 million in 2011, more than personal computers, consumers are accessing their news direct from their tablets. What does this mean for the journalism industry.
"The results from the survey will help journalists, journalism educators and other media practitioners better understand how the widespread adoption of the iPad and similar mobile devices may influence the future of the news media," says Fidler.
He's conducting the survey and making it available to all iPad users. The survey is available until October and can be found at http://rji.ipadsurvey.sgizmo.com/s3/ . By completing the survey, you may be eligible to win iTunes gift cards by signing up to participate in follow-up surveys next year.
TRENDnet launches new GREENnetT switches
TRENDnet (http://www.trendnet.com) has released the 16-Port Gigabit GREENnet Switch, model TEG-S16Dg, and the 24-Port Gigabit GREENnet Switch, model TEG-S24Dg, which feature TRENDnet's embedded power saving GREENnetT technology.
GREENnetT is a TRENDnet switch-based technology that determines and supplies the appropriate amount of electrical power to each hardwired switching port as required by the connected device, by the port, or by the length of the connected Ethernet cable. GREENnetT technology can purportedly reduce port-based power consumption by up to 40% for 10/100Mbps switches, and 70% for Gigabit switches.
The TEG-S16Dg will be available from TRENDnet's online and retail partners this month at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$159.99. The MSRP for the TEG-S24Dg is U.S. $219.99.
Acorn for Mac OS X grows to version 2.5
Flying Meat has updated Acorn (http://flyingmeat.com/acorn/)h, a layer-based bitmap image editor. A free update for registered users, to version 2.5. The new version adds support for layer masks and the ability to set a matte background color for transparent images via the program’s Web export tool. There are also new Automator actions for using Acorn to watermark, crop, and manipulate images with JavaScript.
With Acorn, you can take screenshots and edit them immediately. You can chain together image filters to create effects. You can make new images and layers using your built-in iSight. Acorn offers layer-based image editing and image and canvas resizing, just by changing the size of your window. The software works with drawing tables. Plus, you can write plug-ins using the Python scripting language, as well as in Objective-C.
Acorn is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It requires Mac OS X 10.4.9 or higher. It costs US$49.95, but version 2.5 is a...
LightSpeed gets maintenance upgrade
Xsilva Systems (http://www.xsilva.com/explore) has released LightSpeed 3.2.1, an update of the multi-user Point of Sale (POS) system built exclusively for Mac OS X. It's a maintenance upgrade.
LightSpeed offers sales, service, tracking and purchasing tools that employ SQL searches, natively multi-user operation and "intelligent" workflows. LightSpeed also features administration and reporting tools. Pricing starts at US$749.
LightSpeed is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher.
MailStewart sports new rules for excluding email from archives
Pubblog.com has updated MailStewart (http://www.mailsteward.com/), the Mac OS X email archiving solution, to version 9.0.2. You can now define rules to exclude email from being archived into the database in MailSteward and MailSteward Pro.
MailSteward archives email in a relational database for access and backup. Version 7.4 also adds the ability to set and/or buttons for searching, the ability to delete attachments and the ability to set default font.
MailStewart is a native Cocoa application that supports Mac OS X 10.5 (“Tiger”) and greater. MailStewart costs US$24.95 for the "lite" version, $49.95 for the standard version and $99.95 for the pro version.
iPad coming to South America Sept. 17
According to Apple's Latin America web site (http://www.apple.com/la/ipad/), the iPad will arrive in South America on Friday, Sept. 17.
Both the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi plus 3G models will be available in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The iPad -- at least the Wi-Fi only model -- will also come to China tomorrow.
Study: iPad creating third major device category
A recent study by market research firm Technology Business Research (http://www.tbri.com) finds that the iPad will displace many consumers' secondary computers, creating a third major device category for personal computing and connectivity.
The study points to the success of the Apple tablet as a demonstration that the consumer seeks quick, easy e-mail and web access via a device that features more portability than a laptop while providing instant-on and more usability than a smartphone. Although laptops will lose some ground to tablets, TBR believes the market will support all three device styles for computing and connectivity, including the laptop, tablet and smartphone.
"The rise of tablets is a clear signal of consumers' desire for different forms of information consumption. Tablet devices, such as the iPad, will shake up the personal computing ecosystem and the personal computer market," says Ezra Gottheil, Senior Analyst at TBR. "Tablets will displace sales of consumers'...
Savant delivers access to Internet music sites
Savant Systems (http://www.savantav.com), having delivered the first Apple-based home automation and control system, has announced the introduction of their Logitech Squeezebox user interface, giving users access to continuous music via free Internet radio stations and subscription services anywhere in the home.
Savant’s new Squeezebox user interface provides an array of content streamed over a home network either via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, giving listeners numerous delivery options. For example, you can play jazz in the study, wake up to local radio in the bedroom or use an online music service to create customized playlists. Savant’s Squeezebox user interface also provides access to a variety of streaming music from services such as Pandora, Rhapsody, Last.fm, Sirius and others.
In addition to streaming content, homeowners also have the option to enjoy Savant’s iTunes digital media server throughout the home via Savant’s multi-room audio solution. It combines the personalized...
Jobs named most influential in T3 Tech 100
Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been named the most influential person in tech as T3 reveals the "T3 Tech 100 for 2010" (http://tech100.t3.com/).
Riding high on the success of the iPad and iPhone 4, T3's panel of expert judges felt that Jobs “embodies Apple, propelling the company forward as the instigator and first true genius of the tech lifestyle age.”
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer came second, thanks largely to Windows 7, while the Google trinity of Eric Schmidt, Larry Page and Sergey Brin shared third. Terry Gou, chairman and president of iPhone manufacturers Foxconn, was fourth and CEO of Intel Paul Otellini was fifth. Heads of Facebook, LG, Samsung and Nintendo also made the Top 10.
LaCie debuts Wireless Space storage device/router
LaCie (http://www.lacie.com) has introduced its first network-attached storage solution to feature Wi-Fi. The LaCie Wireless Space can operate as a file or media server for multiple Mac and PC users, from anywhere in the home – making it the most compatible and multifunctional network hard drive on the market.
Leveraging Wi-Fi technology, the Wireless Space can connect to your existing Wi-Fi network, allowing you to access files wirelessly throughout the home, and can serve as a central storage solution for your back-ups. If you wish to increase your Wi-Fi performance, the Wireless Space can also act as a B/G/N access point, and even serve as a router.
For users with a large media library, the Wireless Space can also act as a media server. It’s compatible with UPnP/DLNA and iTunes, and you can stream music, movies and photos from a central location and play them on any device. Additionally, the Wireless Space is Time Machine compatible.
Designed exclusively for LaCie, Neil Poulton’s...
VMWare announces $9.99 Fusion Upgrade Program
VMware has announced an US$9.99 VMware Fusion Upgrade Program for users of any version of Parallels Desktop for Mac.
For a limited time, users can make the switch to VMware Fusion for less than 10 bucks, a $30 cost saving from the usual VMware Fusion upgrade and a $40 cost savings from upgrading to Parallels Desktop 6. More information on the VMware Fusion Upgrade Program can be found at www.vmware.com/go/unparalleled .
For a limited time, eligible users of any version of Parallels Desktop for Mac and users of VMware Fusion 1 or VMware Fusion 2 can purchase the discounted upgrade atwww.vmware.com/go/unparalleled .
For new users of Windows on Mac software, VMware Fusion 3 is available at http://www.vmware.com/fusion, the Apple Online Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple retail stores, Amazon.com, and other authorized resellers. The suggested retail price of $79.99 includes all of the software needed to switch from a PC to a Mac.
Checkout Point of Sale for Mac localized for Canada
Werck BV today announced the release of a localized version of itsCheckout Point of Sale for Mac in Canada. Checkout is point of sale software for retail stores that use Macs to run their business.
The Canadian version of Checkout includes new sales tax features that allow for the setup of different tax rates for sales and purchases, improving support for GST, PST, and HST when buying and selling goods. Checkout is networkable, allowing up to 20 Macs to be connected on one network, and it plays well with others, integrating with AccountEdge for Canada.
Checkout allows users to process credit card payments directly within the software, connect to a cash drawer, barcode scanner and receipt printer, and even integrate with the new Checkout web store, Enstore, to sell products on the web.
Available on the web at http://www.checkoutapp.com and through Apple resellers throughout Canada, Checkout is priced at US$499.
Apple shines in 2020 Best Global Brand Study
The Interbrand 2010 Best Global Brand Study, a guide to the world’s most valuable brands, has been released -- and Apple shines, as usual. Interbrand (http://www.interbrand.com), a brand consultancy, publishes the study each year, ranking the top 100 global brands using a unique methodology. Brands in the IT/technology sector dominate the list, occupying five of the top 10 brands. Some other interesting findings include:
Here's what Interbrand says about Apple: "Apple’s brand value grew 37%. This year, iPhone 4’s reception glitches warranted a public apology from Steve Jobs -- leaving the door wide open for public criticism. Yet, sales on its first day alone reached the 1.5 million mark. Meanwhile, negative buzz over the iPad name was quickly replaced by glowing sales and avid converts. The brand can attribute its success to carefully controlling its messaging, and in effect, always managing to create enormous buzz and anticipation of its products. Advertising campaigns and...
Smith Micro rolls out Stuffit Deluxe 2011
Smith Micro Solutions (http://www.smithmicro.com) has released Stuffit Deluxe 2011 for the Mac, which introduces StuffIt Destinations, a new drag-and-drop toolbar application designed to help users securely transfer files quickly and easily, according to Matthew Covington, senior director, Product Management of Smith Micro Software.
StuffIt Destinations helps users transfer videos, presentations and other large files from one location to another using a file compression workflow that's simple and intuitive, he adds. Whether the user is looking to backup files to a DVD or deliver a project to a customer’s FTP server, tasks can be accomplished with a single click on the toolbar button.
StuffIt Destinations provides support for email, FTP and iDisk file transfers, and also allows files to be burned to CD/DVD or moved to a local or network folder. Users can zip files prior to transfer and have Destinations send an email notification once the task is complete.
The StuffIt X file format...
PDF2Office Professional 5.1 for Mac OS X released
Recosoft Corp., the developer of the PDF2Office family of products, has released PDF2Office Professional 5.1 for Mac OS X (http://www.recosoft.com/products/pdf2office/macintosh/macpro5.htm), the next version of the PDF-to-Office formats conversion tool for the Mac. The upgrade is compatible with the Office 2010/2011 family of products.
In particular several issues when converting PDFs to the native 2010/2011 formats have been addressed. What's more, PDF2Office 5.1 correctly integrates with the latest Office family of products.
PDF2Office Professional converts PDF documents to the Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, RTF and other formats recreating the intended construction and layout of the document -- forming paragraphs; applying styles; regrouping independent graphic elements; extracting images; creating tables; and processing headers/footers, endnotes/footnotes and columns/sections, all automatically -- without any manual intervention. It also enables you to recover the data stored...
Url Extractor X beefs up international Google site support
Tension Software has released Url Extractor X 3.2 (http://pomola.com/products_urlextractor/urlextractor.html). Url Extractor X is a Mac OS X app for extracting emails address and generic URLs from files on the HD or directly from the web using a list of "starting" web addresses and working unattended after the startup. You can now retrieve and start search from web pages using keywords from various international Google sites.
Url Extractor can extract thousands of URLs from the web starting from a single web page and using "cross navigation" and extraction. It requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and costs US$50. It's Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. Version 3.2 is a free update for registered users of version 3.0.
VueScan for Mac OS X updated to version 8.6.58
Hamrick Software has released Vuescan 8.6.58, a new version of the VueScan software for Mac OS X that's designed to let users produce better digital images from color snapshots, negatives, slides and documents. The new version adds support for new Canon scanners and multi-core scanning.
The Standard Edition of VueScan costs US$39.95 and the Professional Edition is $79.95 for a single user license. Multi-user licenses are available. A fully functional, trial copy of VueScan is available for download from the Hamrick web site (http://www.hamrick.com).
Adobe releases Square for Mac OS X
Adobe Labs (http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashplayer10/) has released a preview version of Flash Player "Square" that enables native 64-bit support on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows operating systems.
Adobe says they've made this preview available so that users can test existing content and new platforms for compatibility and stability. Because this is a preview version of Flash Player, don’t expect it to be as stable as a final release version of Flash Player. Use caution when installing Flash Player "Square" on production machines.
Apple releases Pro Applications Update 2010-02
Apple has released Pro Applications Update 2010-02 (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL949). It adds compatibility for new camera formats, improves overall stability and addresses a number of other minor issues.
This update is recommend for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio. Pro Applications Update 2010-02 is a 321.1MB download and requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or higher and QuickTime 7.6.2 or later.
Olive introduces HD music server under $1,000
Olive Media (http://www.olive.us) has announced the US$999 Olive O3HD music server for home stereo systems. Based on the Olive O4HD, it requires no software installation, networking setup or virus protection. It features a 24-bit/192 kHz DAC, dedicated storage and color touchscreen navigation, allowing you to store and access your complete music collection right at your stereo system.
The new Olive O3HD stores your music collection right at your stereo system, so networking problems are a concern of the past, says Dr. Oliver Bergmann, co-founder and CEO of Olive. The 24-bit DAC with 192 kHz up-sampling delivers your music in a quality that has never been heard before on a product in this price category, he says. Olive even has a free mobile application that will turn your iPhone or iPad into an Olive remote control.
Designed for music lovers with large music collections, the O3HD stores up to 1,500 CDs or 5,000 HD songs in a box no bigger than a standard CD player. Olive offers a CD...
Better Finder Rename update adds new insertion options
Publicspace.net (http://www.publicspace.net/) has released A Better Finder Rename 8.6.7, an update of the renaming solution for the Mac. The new release adds new options for inserting space-saving alphabetical sequences into file names.
A Better Finder Rename costs US$19.95. Business, family and enterprise licensing is also available. Customers may chose to include a "forever upgrade" with their purchase.
A Better Finder Rename requires Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.6. It's Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.
UI Browser update for Mac OS X adds more Help buttons
PFiddlesoft has released UI Browser 2.1.1 (http://pfiddlesoft.com/uibrowser/), an update to the assistant for GUI scripting with AppleScript on Mac OS X. The new version adds Help buttons to many alerts and fixes a number of dead links in the UI Browser Help book.
UI Browser helps you to explore, manipulate, and monitor the user interface of most Mac OS X applications running on your computer. With the push of a button, it also generates AppleScript statements to control any application using GUI Scripting, even applications that are not otherwise scriptable.
UI Browser is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher. A full-featured 30-day trial version of UI Browser 2.1.0 is available for download.
New customers may purchase UI Browser 2.1.1 for US$55, with quantity discounts available. It's free upgrade for registered owners of UI Browser 2.0.x and for customers who purchased version 1.4.1 or older on or after Jan. 1,...
'Take Control of iTunes 10: The FAQ' answers 100...
TidBITS Publishing has announced the newest ebook in the Take Control series, "Take Control of iTunes 10: The FAQ," by iTunes expert and audiophile Kirk McElhearn.
The 146-page "Take Control of iTunes 10: The FAQ" uses a Q&A approach to help readers appreciate and understand the process of adding media to iTunes, tagging it, adding album art, and organizing it into playlists.
"Take Control of iTunes 10: The FAQ" costs US$10, and includes coupons for $5 off Equinux's SongGenie tool for adding missing metadata and $3 off Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil wireless audio distribution software. You can find the ebook at http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/itunes . Questions answered in the ebook include:
° How do I use the new Album List View in iTunes 10?
° What can I do with Ping, the new musical social network in iTunes 10?
° How do I control the sound quality when I import (rip) a music CD?
° What should I consider before I rip an audiobook CD?
° How do I turn on Genius?
° Where are good places...
Analysts: Verizon iPhone needed to combat the Android threat
Bernstein Research analysts Toni Sacconagh and Pierre Ferragu told clients in a research note that Apple needs a Verizon iPhone if it's serious about warding off the Android threat.
As noted by "Barron's (http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2010/09/14/apple-to-ward-off-an...) the analysts say that the daily run-rate for Android phone sales has more than tripled in the last seven months, to 200,000 phones a day from 60,000. Sacconagh and Ferragu estimate that 53 million Android phones will ship this year. With that in mind, the Bernstein analysts think the Android installed base could exceed that of the iPhone in a little over five quarters.
One of the main reasons for the Android’s momentum is the fact that the iPhone is still selling through just one carrier in some countries, including the U.S., where AT&T (T) remains the exclusive carrier. Sacconaghi says Apple needs to add versions of the phone for the large carriers that don’t currently sell it, including Verizon...
iBank rings up version 4.0
IGC Software (http://www.iggsoftware.com) has released released iBank 4.0, a new version of its financial management application for Mac OS X 10.5.8 or higher.
Among dozens of new features and improvements in iBank 4 are: faster transaction entry and dynamic editing options in a two-line register; a set-up assistant for transferring data from Mac and PC versions of Quicken, MS Money, or other finance programs; a streamlined set-up process for downloading transactions from online bank accounts; a more accessible user interface for easy monitoring of account balances, net worth, or summaries of assets and liabilities; upgraded investment tracking capabilities; more powerful support for multiple currencies; and speed enhancements.
Features that have been entirely revamped for iBank 4 include:
° An all-new reporting engine that, for example, lets users examine income and expenses by category, monitor net worth over time, check the performance of investments, analyze spending by payee,...
Flash Decompiler 4.2 offers Flash CS5 support
Eltima Software has released Flash Decompiler Trillix 4.2 (http://mac.eltima.com/swftofla-converter.html) for Mac OS X. It's an update of the SWF to FLA converter designed to help users decompile Flash movies and convert SWF elements into multiple formats.
Version 4.2 offers Adobe Flash CS5 support, P-code view of ActionScript 3.0 and a fixing mechanism for third-party SWF files that don't satisfy the Adobe SWF file format specification.
The software lets you extract all SWF objects from the file (images, sounds, videos, shapes, morphs, fonts, texts, sprites, etc) and save them in various formats. Eltima added the ability to choose resources to extract and process several files simultaneously. Also, Flash Decompiler Trillix lets you export ActionScripts, which can be searched through later.
The new interface of Flash Decompiler Trillix 4.0 provides users with navigation and preview options for SWF files and their elements. Flash Decompiler Trilli runs under Mac OS X 10.4 or higher...
Syncro Soft releases Oxygen XML Editor, Oxygen XML Author 12
Syncro Soft (http://www.oxygenxml.com) has released version 12 of its Oxygen XML Editor and XML Author, which contains a set of tools supporting all the XML related technologies.
The user interface has been redesigned, and the Project view provides a simplified toolbar, an intuitive contextual menu and synchronized selection with the currently edited document.
A new Open/Find resource dialog has been added along with improvements in Outline and Attributes View.
Oxygen XML Editor and XML Author 12 offers generic conditional text support for any XML documentation framework, including (but not limited to) DITA and DocBook. All you need to do is to define the profiling attributes and corresponding profiling values.
The new ePUB support allows you to change, extract, validate and process data stored in ePUB files. These capabilities allow developers to pack files into ePUB and also process data from ePUB documents using XSLT or XQuery.
In case of complex XSLT transformations, inspecting...
Group Logic enhances ArchiveConnect for the Mac
Group Logic (http://www.grouplogic.com) has updated ArchiveConnect, its File System Archiving (FSA) solution for Mac desktops.
Version 1.1 extends its s integration with Symantec's EnterpriseVault and CommVault's Simpana to include new usability enhancements and support for network-based home directory environments with active enterprise FSA deployments. Together, these new features measurably boost productivity for Mac users of Symantec and CommVault FSA systems, according to Brian Ulmer, product manager for ArchiveConnect at Group Logic. "
"The Mac's inability to differentiate between online and offline files the same way Windows can present serious challenges. In an archiving environment like EnterpriseVault or Simpana, the Mac's file previewing features trigger unintended requests to restore archived files automatically.," he says. "For just about any archiving system, this can cause severe performance impacts. In fact, many IT organizations are forced to segregate Mac users...
MacTech Conference adds Macworld Panel, Apple Certification...
The MacTech Conference for IT Pros and Mac developers, November 3-5, 2010 in Los Angeles, has announced two new additions this week: Macworld VP & Editorial Director Jason Snell will moderate a panel on virtualization, and Apple Authorized Training Center v.2 Consulting is offering a study hour and exam session for all Apple Certifications.
The three-day, information-packed event has expert speakers from a variety of backgrounds covering a broad array of topics. Evenings are full of activities, including an exclusive visit the Griffith Observatory (one of Los Angeles' greatest landmarks). On the final evening, the MacTech Conference Party will include dinner, billiards, video games, and more. The first ever MacTech Bowl will take place to raise money for the "School Field Trip" program at the Griffith Observatory.
Macworld VP & Editorial Director Jason Snell will be moderating a panel entitled "Trends in Virtualization" at MacTech Conference 2010. The panel will explore and...
Newspaper subscriptions coming soon for the iPad?
The "San Jose Mercury News" (http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_16076242?) is reporting that Apple is expected to announce soon a new subscription plan for newspapers, "which hope tablets like the iPad will eventually provide a new source of profit as media companies struggle with declining print circulation and advertising revenue."
Not surprisingly, Apple wouldn't comment to the newspaper. However, Roger Fidler, head of digital publishing at the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute in Columbia, Mo., told "The "News" that Apple probably will take a 30% cut of all subscriptions sold through the company's Apple App Store, and as much as 40% of the advertising revenue from publications' apps.
Apple has agreed to provide an opt-in function for subscribers to allow the company to share with publishers their information, which includes vital data that news organizations use to attract advertisers, industry sources told the "News."
Publishers "want the data of their customers so...
iOS devices surpass Sony PSP as gaming platform (and close in on...
A new survey shows that the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch have surpassed Sony PSP as a gaming platform in the United States and have almost caught up with Nintendo's DS, according to "GamePro" (http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/216511/apple-closes-in-on-nintendo-p...).
According to a survey from the International Gamers Survey 2010 from market research and consulting firm Newzoo, 77 million Americans play games on mobile phones and portable devices. Of those, 40.1 million use the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. The platform of choice for 41.0 million ages 10 and up is the Nintendo DS and DSi.
"GamePro" says that 18 million Americans play using Sony’s PSP. The survey also reveals that two-thirds of PSP and iPad users play games at least three days a week, compared to 50% on the DS, DSi, iPhone and iPod touch. Players willing to spend money on games is highest on Nintendo devices (67%) and PSP (66%) compared to the iPhone/iPod touch (45%) and iPad (32%).
A majority of the 160 million...
Mix up a Martini QuickShot for Final Cut Pro
PowerProduction Software has released Martini QuickShot Creator (Martini), the first plug-in for post-production visualization. Designed to work within Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Martini (http://www.martiniquickshot.com) lets editors direct additional shots and sequences.
With Martini’s dynamic power, editors no longer need to use black slugs with text explaining what “shot goes here, says PowerProduction Software Chief Technical Officer Paul Clatworthy. From single shots to multi-shot sequences, Martini helps directors and editors create a better final film, he adds.
Loaded with classic and unique shot styles, Martini's interface guides editors through the quick creation of composite shots. Editors can select a style, such as basic over-the-shoulder shots, two and three shots, and close-ups as well as fight scenes, chase scenes, and other pre-composed multiple shot sequences. Then, editors can choose a location from hundreds of pre-loaded interiors, exteriors, and custom digital...
Apple AirPrint wireless printing coming in November
Apple is releasing a beta version of its AirPrint wireless printing for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to members of Apple’s iOS developer program today, and says AirPrint will be included in the free iOS 4.2 software update in November.
AirPrint automatically finds printers on local networks and can print text, photos and graphics to them wirelessly over Wi-Fi without the need to install drivers or download software. HP’s existing and upcoming ePrint enabled printers will be the first to support printing direct from iOS devices.
AirPrint is designed to support a range of printers from entry level inkjet printers to office laser printers. Additionally, iOS 4.2 devices can print to printers shared through a Mac or a PC. iOS 4.2 compatible HP printers this fall include the HP Photosmart, Officejet, Officejet Pro and LaserJet Pro series ePrint enabled printers.
