Revolution Software releases Broken Sword for the Mac
Revolution Software has released the "director's cut" of Broken Sword: Shadows of hte Templars, an adventure game for the Mac and PC. It's available for download at http://store.steampowered.com/app/57640/ for US$9.99, and a retail version, to be published by Mastertronic, will follow.
Here's how the game is described: "Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - The Director’s Cut, is an update to one of the most popular adventures ever written, and boasts an all-new story arc woven into the original plot. With new facial animations drawn by Dave Gibbons (co-creator of Watchmen), enhanced graphics and audio, a context-sensitive help system designed for those stumped by the game’s ingenious puzzles, new mini-games and puzzles, and a new perspective on one of gaming’s most celebrated plots, Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - The Director’s Cut is an essential adventure for fans old and new."
iPhone Max is new iPhone 4 'manager'
4Media has launched 4Media iPhone Max (http://www.mp4converter.net/iphone-max-win.html), an "iPhone Manager" for the iPhone 4 "without the restrictions and limitations of iTunes."
It's a free-to-try iPhone movies and music manager that supports transfer, convert, backup, copy, rip, and manage any format of movie, music and image between the iPhone 4, computer and iTunes. It also lets you rip CDs/DVDs, DVD folders and ISO images to the iPhone.
You can even use your iPhone as a portable hard disk. This converter offers you to create a new playlist or a new photo album, edit song tags, check and search files. It supports iTunes 9.2, iPhone 4 and iOS 4. Registration is US$49.99.
ShareTool update delivers iTunes 10 Home Sharing across the...
Yazsoft has updated ShareTool (http://www.yazsoft.com/st/) for Mac OS X, which lets you access all of your Bonjour services from anywhere in the world, to version 2.1.1. The upgrade delivers iTunes 10 Home Sharing across the internet, the ability to run ShareTool as a background service, and more.
Formerly known as Rendezvous, Bonjour lets you create an instant network of computers and smart devices by getting them connected to each other. ShareTool automatically configures routers supporting NAT-PMP or UPnP. Remote services automatically appear in the Finder, iTunes, and other applications.
ShareTool 2.1.1 costs US$25 for a two-user license and $45 for a family pack (five licenses). Registered ShareTool 1.x users can upgrade to ShareTool 2.x for the reduced price of $15 (for two licenses).
PC World launches ‘iPad Media Streaming’
PC World has launched an iPad Media Streaming service. Designed in collaboration with Livedrive, it allows iPad owners to store 100GB of media and data online. This can then be accessed and played through live streaming via a 3G or Wi-Fi network, all for £39.99 per year.
The launch of the service comes hot on the heels of the Meet iPad service. Available as a consultation in-store, the UK service has seen thousands of iPad owners booking one to one consultations with Apple trained expert store staff to get expert advice on setting up and using the iPad to its fullest capability.
Available to buy at PC World stores throughout the UK, the iPad Media Streaming lets you back up the majority of your media and data files from your Mac or PC online and then lets you access them remotely through your iPad, effectively increasing its hard drive by a further 100GB.
This service allows you to live stream your music, videos and photos direct from your online storage through this service and...
Chronicle for Mac OS X update adds income tracking
LittleFin Software has released Chronicle 3.4 (http://www.littlefin.com/chronicle.html), an update to their home finance and bill paying application for Mac OS X. The upgrade adds the ability to track income and compare it to bill spending.
Chronicle provides a graphical means to enter and track finances. Features include: automatic bill paying reminder; long-term debt tracking; database of payments and receipts; graphs and reports which analyze trends and averages; and a sortable list of upcoming bills which can be paid on-line from within the app.
In addition, Chronicle analyzes payments by month and year and displays the information graphically. It also averages payments so it is easier to budget for bills that fluctuate, like utilities or credit cards. Finally, the sortable overview screen displays at a glance when each bill is due. Colorful icons indicate when a bill is overdue, due soon, or due in the future. With a couple clicks, the user can log payments or make payments...
LaCie spawns the MosKeyto USB key
LaCie (http://www.lacie.com) has spawned a new breed of USB key: the LaCie MosKeyto, a small flash drive that measures less than 20mm and weighs 10 grams. It comes in capacities up to 16GB with pricing starting at US$17.99 for a 4GB model.
The MosKeyto is so small it can even travel with the computer in a protective sleeve or briefcase, according to Alexis Kobassian, accessories product manager, LaCie. Because it lies flush against your device, there's no risk of damage to the port, computer or key if the drive is knocked or bumped, he adds.
Outfitted in s black plastic, the MosKeyto is also equipped with a durable nylon strap to attach to an accessible key ring and a cap to protect its USB connector. Additionally, LaCie has integrated an extra 4GB secure online storage from Wuala into the MosKeyto.
SoniVox unveils Vocalizer, a vocal production synthesizer
SoniVox (http://www.SoniVoxmi.com) is offering a pre-release preview complete with MP3 and video examples of the first instrument from their new Nemesyth Audio Research Group, Vocalizer. It's a vocal production synthesizer.
Vocalizer couples a new technology synthesis engine with an open input based architecture. It's one part effect plug-in and one part virtual instrument, according to the folks at SoniVox. Vocalists, non-vocalists, and producers feed Vocalizer any audio source, and it re-pitches, effects, and re-synthesizes the original source into a whole new sound.
Primarily designed for vocal use, vocalists will enjoy the vast options afforded by Vocalizer to add previously unattainable dimensions to their voice, says the gang at SoniVox. Inversely, non-vocalists will enjoy the opportunity to use their voices in musical ways that they previously thought impossible, they add.
Vocalizer also works well with other types of inputs. Drum and percussion tracks fed through Vocalizer...
Native Instruments releases five new instruments and effects
Native Instruments (http://www.native-instruments.com) has released five products that further extend its versatile Komplete Instruments and Effects range.
The new products include the modal synthesizer Reaktor Prism (US$79), the studio reverb Reflektor ($119), the organ emulation Vintage Organs ($119), the effect suite Traktor's 12 ($79) and the amp emulation Rammfire ($59). All products are based on the technology of Kontakt, Reaktor and Guitar Rig, and can be used both within the full versions and the free Player versions of these instruments.
JABMenu for Mac OS X gets support for networked sources
JNSoftware (http://www.jonn8.com/) has updated JABMenu, a tool for utilizing your Mac OS X Address Book data through a system-wide menu, to version 2.5. The new version adds support for networked sources (i.e., Exchange and CardDAV servers) and improved flexibility in acting on contact data through enhanced scripting support.
JABMenu also adds an option to toggle related groups in the "Groups" submenu for the contacts specified in the contact source preference. Additionally, the upgrade adds a menu item to clear the data cache without having to open the preferences window and help buttons in the preferences window.
JABMenu provides access to your contacts' phone numbers, email, instant messaging, and postal addresses, URLs, and notes. Selecting a menu item can trigger an action such as displaying it in large type, copying it to the clipboard, creating a new email message, dialing the phone, or showing an address on a map.
JABMenu, a Universal Binary for both Intel and PowerPC-based...
FileWave revved to version 4.1
FileWave (http://www.filewave.com), which makes system lifecycle management, has released version 4.1 of their self-titled management suite: FileWave.
New features include the ability to place bandwidth limitations on clients, search across your entire repository of Filesets for any specific file, create smart groups based on ip addresses and subnets, and generate client group memberships based on those of another system.
FileWave is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows and Linux systems. A demo is available for download. Contact the company for pricing options.
Realmac releases Courier for Mac OS X
Realmac has released Courier (http://www.realmacsoftware.com/courier/), an US19.95 (for a limited time) tool that allows you to share files, images, photos, movies and more with online services such as Flickr and Facebook. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and a 64-bit Mac.
To use Courier, you create an Envelope, drag on the stamp icons for the services you want to send files to; then just drag and drop on the files you want to deliver. The stamp icons are for seven built-in plug-ins for file sharing with Amazon S3, Ember, Flickr, Facebook, FTP / SFTP, Vimeo and YouTube.
Once everything's been uploaded, Courier ensures links to the published files are ready for use. Realmac keeps the history of all uploads so you can retrieve links to each file.
iPhone/iPod/iPad apps for Sept. 2
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/).
Hairy Monster Studios has announced Roll Em Hoops HD 1.0, their latest game made exclusively for the iPad. The US$1.99 game combines Skee-Ball like play with the classic basketball shooting games. You flick your finger to roll the ball up the alley into one of five hoops racking up points and unlocking bonus levels such as Rainbow Jumpers, COW, We've Got Spirit and Bombs Away.
Hashsoft has released myPill 1.0, their first app for iOS devices. It's an $1.99 app that helps women who are taking birth control pills to track their pills pack, remember to take daily pill and plan future events, track history and more. myPill's icon badge indicates how many pills are left at the pack, or alternatively how many days left until the period start. Users are able to customize the message of alerts, password protect data and more.
KeitaiArts has introduced...
SD Association reveals new memory card design
The SD Association (http://www.sdcard.org) has defined a new, dual-row pin memory card design achieving bus interface speeds of up to 300MB per second for SDXC and SDHC devices and memory cards. It's fully backwards compatible, allowing equipped devices full use of any SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards.
New high speed interface signals will be assigned on the second row of pins of select SDXC and SDHC memory cards offering the new speed. This option will be available in both full-size and micro form factors and does not change the physical size or shape of the cards. This design will be part of the forthcoming SD 4.0 specification, expected in early 2011.
At IFA, the Association is displaying new products based on SDXC, its latest standard. Attendees will see more than 40 products from 18 different global brands including memory cards, HD digital cameras, HD video cameras, HD televisions, e-books, card readers, controllers and developer kits.
Several of the products on display...
Quark, Snap launch private label version of QuarkPromote.com
Quark has launched the first private-label version of QuarkPromote.com with Snap, aprinting franchise in Australia.
Called Snap Promote, the new service from Snap leverages the technology behind QuarkPromote.com to offer small businesses in Australia an easy and affordable way to create and print marketing material using professionally-designed templates for business cards, postcards, tri-fold brochures, flyers, and more, says Grant Vernon, CEO of Snap.
There are a number of ways printers can work with QuarkPromote.com. Franchise and independent printers in the United States can join the QuarkPromote.com network of printers to send customers to their store specifically or to participate as a prints-by-mail provider. Independent printers and print franchises around the world who are interested in private-label opportunities with QuarkPromote.com for their own markets should contact Cyndie Shaffstall at cshaffstall@quark.com .
NewerTech announces seven-port USB hub
NewerTech (http://www.newertech.com) has announced a $27.95 Seven Port USB 2.0 Powered Hub for connecting and powering up to seven USB devices simultaneously to a Mac or PC. It delivers the required 500mA of power to each of the seven industry standard USB ports to eliminate device disconnection commonly experienced by typical underpowered hubs, the company says.
It's designed for powering multiple desktop accessories like external drives, scanners, printers, optical drives, and digital cameras. The NewerTech Seven Port USB 2.0 Powered Hub also offers access to temporary devices like thumb drives, media readers, and even USB chargeable devices like iPods and iPhones.
Deutsche Telekom to lose iPhone exclusivity in Germany?
Deutsche Telekom AG will lose exclusivity for the iPhone in Germany ahead of the l Christmas holiday shopping season, bringing the number of providers who sell the popular device in the country to three, reports the "Wall Street Journal" (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870420680457546725283446376...), quoting "people familiar with the matter."
In addition to Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Group PLC and Telefonica SA's O2 will sell the iPhone, the people said. One said that deals haven't been finalized yet but negotiations are in a advanced stage. Deutsche Telekom's exclusive rights to sell the device haven't been extended and could end as early as October, posing a threat to growth in its home market.
DV Expo features Final Cut Pro, Adobe CS5 training
NewBay Media, a publisher of digital content creation media, today announced that it will once again partner with Weynand Training International, a Gold Level Apple Authorized Training Center located in Los Angeles, to offer hands-on professional-level training at its upcoming Digital Video Expo (http://www.dvexpo.com) conference and trade show.
The event will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center from Sept. 28-30. Based on the success of last year’s training program, Digital Video Expo and Weynand Training are offering instruction in additional applications at this year’s event, including: Apple Soundtrack Pro, Apple Motion 4, Adobe CS5: Photoshop and Adobe CS5: After Effects.
Digital Video Expo’s hands-on instruction program will be run by Diana Weynand, a producer/editor who is a co-owner of Weynand Training International, an Apple Authorized Training Center located in Los Angeles. She is the author of the Apple Pro Training Series books, "Final Cut Pro 7," "Final Cut Pro 6, 5...
Apimac introduces iDatabase for the Mac and iPhone
Apimac has released iDatabase (http://www.apimac.com/idatabase/) for the Mac and iPhone. It's a new personal database manager that offers a way to organize your information and data.
With iDatabase for Mac and iPhone users can manage membership lists, expenses, projects, keep track of internet accounts and more. Users can choose from 16 ready-to-use, customizable database templates to organize any type of information or can create a totally new database from scratch.
The following templates are included: Accounts; Classes; Computers; Contacts; Customers; Events; Exercise Log; Expenses; Inventory; Movie Catalog; Membership List; Mobile Phones; Notes; Projects; Recipes; To Do; Vehicle Maintenance.
The types of fields a user can create are: Small Text, Large Text, Number, Date, Time, Date and Time, Image, Choose, calculation and also a special field type named Separator Field, to divide a record into distinct visual parts.
iDatabase for Mac and iDatabase for iPhone can be synchronized...
Cinematica is new video clip management tool for the Mac
From the makers of EarthDesk, Cinematica (http://www.xericdesign.com/cinematica.php ) is a new, US$24.95 Mac OS X app that lets you manage your video library in detail, keeping track of dozens of properties for each and every file.
You can sort and search by multiple criteria simultaneously, such as genre, studio, program, season and episode, as well as by technical properties including resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, and video codec. Cinematica even has a secondary filter that lets you further refine your search based on a selected property.
Cinematica imports and catalogs video files quietly in the background so you can keep working, and lets you customize collection icons. It also utilizes smart collections to catalogue all of your video files into groups. A demo is available for download.
iWeb Themes Park releases five new iWeb themes
iWeb Themes Park (http://www.iwebthemespark.com) has announced five new iWeb themes for iWeb, Apple's web creation component of its iLife suite. The new themes are Bright Solutions, Chess Club, Clinic, Historical and Music Life.
To use iWeb Themes from iWeb Themes Park requires a Mac with iLife '08 (iWeb 2.0) or later. The iWeb Themes Box of 55 themes is priced at US $39.99. Ten iWeb themes in a Combo Package can be purchased for $29.99. Each template is available for $10.99. Three iWeb themes of Your choice can be obtained only for $21.98. Two iWeb themes are free for everyone.
Toshiba launches SDHC memory card
Toshiba (http://www.toshiba.com) has launched an 8GB,16GB and 32GB SDHC UHS-I cards compliant with the SD Memory Card Standard Ver. 3.0 (SD 3.0), UHS104.
These new SD cards purportedly offer the world's fastest SDHC data read and write speeds. Toshiba also unveiled the world's first 4GB, 8GB and 16GB microSDHC UHS-I cards compliant with (SD 3.0), UHS50. Mass production of the new SDHC UHS-I cards and sample shipments of the new microSDHC UHS-I cards will start this November.
Toshiba says the new SDHC UHS-I Memory Cards are the world's first memory cards compliant with SD 3.0, UHS104. They have a maximum read speed of 95MB per second, and a write speed of 80MB per second.
Toshiba's new microSDHC UHS-I cards are the microSDHC memory cards compliant with SD 3.0, UHS50. They provide a maximum read speed of 40MB per second and a write speed of 20MB per second.
The expanded new card series will be featured at IFA 2010, in Berlin, Germany from September 3, and PHOTOKINA 2010, in Koln,...
PDFpen for Mac OS X beefs up Evernote support
SmileOnMyMac has updated PDFPen (http://www.smileonmymac.com/PDFpen/download.html), its PDF editing and form-filling tool for Mac OS X, to version 4.7.1. In the upgrade, users can choose an Evernote notebook into which to save the PDF, in addition to setting the name and note title. PDFpen 4.7.1 also added support for form submission via HTTP and email.
PDFpen costs US$49.95, and PDFpenPro is $99.95. Family pack licenses, which cover up to five 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 $25.
PDFpen 4.7.1 and PDFpen Pro 4.7.1 require Mac OS X 10.6 or later. Demo versions are available for download.
The MacJury weighs in on Apple's special event...
The MacJury (http://www.macjury.com) recently convened to discuss the iPod, iTunes and Apple TV announcements made Wednesday at an Apple special event.
Starting with Apple's decision to stream the event, and the success and implications of that stream over both Mac and idevices, the panel reviews everything that was shown. The new High Dynamic Range photography option of iOS 4.1, new Game Center options, new iPod shuffle, nano and touch models, iTunes 10 with the new Ping social network, TV show rentals and a new Apple TV all were entered into evidence and contemplated by the panel of Dave Hamilton, Chuck La Tournous, Don McAllister, Omaha Sternberg and host Chuck Joiner.
Samsung debuts HMX-T10 camcorder
Samsung Electronics (http://www.samsung.com) has debuted the US$299 HMX-T10 camcorder, a compact digital camcorder that sports a 20-degree Slanted Lens that ensures that the user can truly enjoy their recording experience without any discomfort to their arm or wrist, a common occurrence in standard camcorders currently on the market, according to SangJin Park, president of Samsung Digital Imaging Business, Samsung Electronics.
The camcorder has a 2.7-inch touch screen LCD and the ability to capture still images and video footage at the same time. Additionally, due to its compact nature, the HMX-T10 can be carried with ease in any environment, Park says.
The HMX-T10 boasts full HD technology for all video footage and 4.7 mega-pixel still images, plus Optical Image Stabilization. Additionally, it incorporates an advanced BSI (Back Side Illuminated) CMOS sensor that purportedly provides twice the sensitivity of conventional CMOS sensors. This innovative feature dramatically reduces image...
IDC: Apple recycles in 95% of the countries where its products...
According to International Data Corporation (IDC), mobile phone recycling is amazingly low today, with rates of 10% considered good. The research group spoke with the vendors directly, physically inspected the packaging, devices, and accessories of mobile phone manufacturers, and leveraged published corporate responsibility reports and other corporate and product environmental reports as available.
IDC (http://www.idc.com) also reviewed other third-party rating and watchdog sites such as ENERGY STAR and Greenpeace. To better understand where the mobile industry stands on sustainability, IDC used five criteria (packaging, materials, energy, end-of-life program, and overall sustainability efforts) and 20 sub-criteria to create a green ranking of 10 key mobile device manufacturers. The top five mobile device manufacturers in terms of their sustainability policies and practices are (in alphabetical order): Apple, LG, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson.
According to IDC, Apple recycles in...
Arten Science updates macVCR screen recording software
Arten Science has updated macVCR (http://www.artenscience.co.uk), a Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard") application that records your screen activity and saves it to a QuickTime movie, to version 2.6.1. It's a maintenance release with some bug fixes and performance tweaks.
macVCR doesn't require any form of installation, just double click the icon and the program will launch. With it you can specify recording length -- or operate manually. macVCR offers: adjustable compression quality; a choice of codecs; and the ability to specify the number of frames per second. The folks at Arten Science say it has low disk and processor usage.
macVCR is Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. A trial version of macVCR is available for download. It only allows you to record 60 seconds of continuous activity. The full version is available for an introductory price of US$21.22. As with all of Arten Science products macVCR remains free to educational and charity organizations.
Calories update for Mac OS X rounds up to version 2.6.2
danholt4mac (http://www.danholt.de/) has updated Calories, a nutrition tracking and analysis utility for Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard"), to version 2.6.2. The new version optimizes weight data rounding behavior when using Withings WiFi Body scales.
Calories is targeted at casual users who wish to keep a journal of their daily nutrition activities. Users may select foods from the applications database and add them to breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacking categories. Depending on his/her selection, Calories then automatically calculates and displays the total consumption of calories, carbs, fat and proteins for the whole day, or for one of the categories.
In addition to calories, carbs, fat and protein, the application calculates and displays more than 40 nutrients; minerals and ingredients like Alcohol, Zink, Vitamins, etc. Calories also offers simple reporting functionality. You may switch to reporting mode with the option to display reports for the day, week, month or year.
Calories is...
CloudDav enables WebDav access for S3, SkyDrive, other Storage...
SMEStorage (http://www.smestorage.com) has announced that CloudDav is now available to purchase for all registered users of the SMEStorage Gateway service, whether they are free or premium members.
CloudDav enables WebDav access for supported storage clouds, such as Amazon S3 and SkyDrive, even when the underlying storage cloud itself does not support it. This makes it ideal for being able to access documents via iPhone/iPad applications that support WebDav, such as Office2, from storage providers that are otherwise not supported, according to SMEStorage CEO Ian Oborne.
He says that if users are using more than one cloud they will see all their clouds files simply by adding the SMEStorage WebDav service enabling them to, for example, to manage files from Amazon S3, SkyDrive, Google Docs, and more, all from one WebDav file system. For existing and new iPhone and iPad users, if they send a screenshot of their device with their login name on the device we'll enable the WebDav service...
DockView for Mac OS X gets new styles for previews
Kapeli has released DockView 1.0.8 (http://kapeli.com/dockview/), an update of the Mac OS X app that extends the Dock and makes it aware of the windows that applications have open. The upgrade adds a new style for the previews.
With DockView, whenever a user points the mouse at an application's icon, thumbnail images of the windows are displayed. The app helps Mac OS X users visualize the windows they currently have open and find the window they're looking for. It's also able to display the previews in the default Mac CMD Tab application switcher. Users can identify the application they are looking for and reduce the time it takes to switch between applications.
DockView is a 3.8 MB download that requires Mac OS X 10.6. ("Snow Leopard"). It may be purchased for US$7.99. The free version displays an alert every now and then and is otherwise fully unrestricted. Version 1.0.8 is a free update for registered users.
World Clock Deluxe for Mac OS X ticks to version 4.7.2
MaBaSoft (http://www.mabasoft.net) has updated its World Clock Deluxe time tool to version 4.7.2. Twenty-two cities in France and in the United Kingdom have been added to the World Clock Deluxe database.
Daylight-saving information for Egypt, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank has been updated. And on Mac OS X 10.6, the lowest palette level is now Desktop icons so that the Clocks palette doesn't stop receiving mouse clicks after the Finder is activated.
With World Clock Deluxe you can display multiple clocks in a horizontal or vertical palette, in the menu bar and in the Dock, show Coordinated Universal Time and Internet Time, assign labels and colors to clocks, calculate date and time conversions across different time zones and show the current weather all over the world. The software is Universal Binary and runs in English, German, Dutch, French and Italian.
World Clock Deluxe requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later and runs natively on both PowerPC-based and Intel-based Macs. It costs US$...
PING Golf announces trademark agreement with Apple
PING (http://www.ping.com) and its parent company, Karsten Manufacturing Corp., have entered into an agreement with Apple under which Apple will use the PING trademark in connection with Apple's new social music discovery feature in iTunes. Apple introduced the iTunes PING feature at Wednesday's special event.
Founded in 1959, PING is a brand that holds more than 1,000 trademark registrations around the world, many related to golf equipment.
"We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Apple," said John Solheim, Chairman and CEO of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation and PING. "Like PING, Apple carries a reputation for innovation and quality. I have always had great respect for companies that have changed and improved the ways things are done and I continue to model PING along those lines. Apple is a truly great example of this kind of enterprise."
Google SketchUp 8 gets redesigned workflow, more
Google has launched Google SketchUp 8 (http://sketchup.google.com/), which sports a redesigned workflow for geospatial modeling, which is critical for both Google Earth modelers and professionals who need to make digital site models for their designs.
Modelers can now take advantage of access to high-quality imagery and terrain data from Google Earth and a direct connection to Google Building Maker, making it easier to model existing structures. Google SketchUp 8 also sports an all-new collection of Solid tools for performing common additive/subtractive (“Boolean”) modeling operations, which allow for the calculation of volume.
These new tools (Union, Intersect, Subtract, Trim and Split) allow modelers to generate otherwise hard-to-create 3D forms by combining multiple solids, representing a significant time savings for a very large proportion of SketchUp Pro users. There are also SketchUp 8 additions in LayOut 3, a SketchUp Pro 8 companion application for turning 3D models into...
Apple TV revamped, new version goes for $99
Apple has rolled out a new version of the Apple TV at a special Wednesday event hosted by Apple's big kahuna, Steve Jobs. Is it still a "hobby" for Apple? Perhaps, but if so it's less than before and offers a way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows on your HD TV for US$99.
The previous Apple TV cost $249. Users of the new Apple TV -- which is 80% smaller than its predecessor -- can choose from the largest online selection of HD movies to rent, including first run movies for US$4.99, and a selection of HD TV show episodes to rent from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for 99 cents.
Yes, that's right, they're rent only. You can no longer buy TV shows or movies at the iTunes Store. The new Apple TV has no built-in storage.
The new Apple TV also streams content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe, as well as music, photos and videos from Macs and PCs to your HD TV. You can also enjoy slideshows of your photos on your HD TV using Apple TV’s selection...
Apple introduces iTunes 10 with Ping and new icon
Apple has introduced iTunes 10 with Ping, a new music-oriented social network for following your favorite artists and friends to discover what music they’re talking about, listening to and downloading.
iTunes Ping lets you post your thoughts and opinions, your favorite albums and songs, the music you’ve downloaded from iTunes, plus view concert listings and tell your friends which concerts you plan to attend. iTunes 10 also features HD TV show rentals for 99 cents an episode and AirPlay wireless music playback.
Ping lets you follow your favorite artists to see what they’re up to, check out photos and videos they’ve posted, see their tour dates and read comments about other artists and albums they’re listening to. You can also create a profile on iTunes to let your friends know who you’re following, what you’re listening to and which concerts you’re going to.
Ping’s Recent Activity feed shows you their posts about artists, albums, songs and concerts, plus a consolidated Top 10 list...
New iPod touch sports Retina Display, A4 chip, FaceTime, more
Apple has announced the new iPod touch that sports such new features as the Retina Display introduced with the iPhone 4, FaceTime video calling, HD video recording, Apple’s A4 chip, 3-axis gyro, iOS 4.1 and Game Center -- all combined in what CEO Steve Jobs says is the thinnest and lightest iPod touch ever.
The new iPod touch features up to 40 hours of music playback and seven hours of video playback on a single battery charge. The Retina Display has 960 x 640 pixels -- four times as many pixels than before. The resulting 326 pixels per inch is so dense that the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels when iPod touch is held at a normal distance, making text, images and video look sharper, smoother and more realistic, says Jobs.
With the new front-facing camera and mic, iPod touch users can make FaceTime video calls over Wi-Fi. With just one tap of the new FaceTime app, iPod touch users can call other new iPod touch or iPhone 4 users.
The rear-facing camera on iPod touch...
It's alive: the iPod shuffle gets revamp and button
Reports of its demise were a bit premature. Apple has announced the new redesigned iPod shuffle that features both clickable “ring” buttons and Apple’s innovative VoiceOver technology, enabling users to navigate their music and playlists without ever looking at their iPod shuffle.
The new wearable iPod shuffle has an all-aluminum enclosure with a built-in clip and comes in five colors: silver, blue, green, orange and pink. With nearly 50% more battery life, the new iPod shuffle features over 15 hours of music playback on a single battery charge and offers 2GB of storage for US$49.
The iPod shuffle is based on Apple’s popular shuffle feature, which randomly selects songs from a user’s music library. The clickable buttons make the new iPod shuffle even easier to use, according to Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Press the center button to play and pause, press the outer buttons to skip forward and back or adjust the volume up and down.
The new VoiceOver button on top of iPod shuffle allows users...
New iPod nano sports Multi-Touch interface
Apple has unveiled a completely redesigned iPod nano featuring a Multi-Touch interface that lets users navigate their music collection by simply tapping or swiping a finger on the display.
Nearly half the size and weight of the previous generation, the new iPod nano features a polished aluminum and glass enclosure with a built-in clip, making it instantly wearable. The teeny iPod features Genius Mixes, the ability to create and edit playlists, a built-in FM radio with live pause and up to 24 hours of music playback on a single battery charge.
“This is the biggest reinvention of the iPod nano since its debut in 2005, and we think users are going to love it,” says Apple CEO Steve Jobs. “Replacing the click wheel with our Multi-Touch interface has enabled us to shrink the iPod nano into an amazingly small design that is instantly wearable with its built-in clip.”
The new iPod nano with Apple’s Multi-Touch interface allows users to access their songs, artists, albums and playlists with a...
Quark bundles QuarkXPress 8 with MarkzTools, ID2Q, 1,000...
Quark has announced the availability of two new "Magic Bundles" for QuarkXPress 8. Anyone purchasing or upgrading to QuarkXPress 8 between Sept.1 and Nov. 300 will be able to choose between two free bundles worth up to $547.
The Magic Software Bundle features MarkzToolsand ID2Q from Markzware, as well as 1,000 professional OpenType fonts. Alternatively, the Magic Maintenance Bundle includes a year’s worth of unlimited telephone technical support, the ability to upgrade from any previous version of QuarkXPress, free upgrades to any new versions of QuarkXPress released during the 12 months, and the 1,000 OpenType® fonts.
The QuarkXPress 8 Magic Software Bundle is worth $547 and includes:
° Markzware MarkzTools (Mac only): MarkzTools is an XTension to QuarkXPress that allows users to down-save QuarkXPress files to versions 4 and 6, and helps prevent and repair corrupt QuarkXPress files.
° ID2Q from Markzware (Mac and Windows): ID2Q (Adobe InDesign to QuarkXPress) is an XTension for...
Safari, iOS gain market share; Mac OS X down slightly
Safari and iOS market share for Internet usage rose from July to August while the Mac OS X percentage dipped slightly, according to the latest market share survey from NetMarketShare (http://www.netmarketshare.com).
According to the report, among operating systems, Mac OS X had 5% of the global market share in August, compared to 5.06% in June (that's global market share; in the US it's almost 10%). Windows remains dominant with 91.34% as of August. That's up from from 91.32% in July. Apple's highest percentage previously was 5.27% in October 2009.
When it comes to browsers, Safari had 5.16% in August compared to 5.09% in July, while Internet Explorer had 60.40% Firefox had 22.93% and Chrome had 7.52%. That compares to, respectively, July percentages of 60.74%, 22.91% and 7.16%, for the browsers.
The iOS's market share also rose, according to NetMarketShare. It had 1.13% of the global market share in August compared to 1.06% in July. That's an all time high.
NetMarketShares' monthly...
FileMaker announces Bento 3 Project Manager
FileMaker, Inc. (http://www.filemaker.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple, has announced the Bento 3 Project Manager, a new set of templates designed to make it easy for Mac users to track their personal projects and manage their time within one integrated, intuitive place.
The Bento 3 Project Manager includes a free 30-day trial of the popular Bento 3 personal database for Mac, plus two professionally designed, ready-to-use templates. Templates in the Bento 3 Project Manager include:
° Project Dashboard, with forms for project overview, milestones, tasks, communications, related files such as photos and presentations, and time sheets;
° Time Sheets, with pre-defined Smart Collections for hours billed, hours to be billed, and amounts due. All of this detailed information can be located quickly using iTunes-style searching.
The Bento 3 Project Manager also works with Bento for iPad and Bento for iPhone (both sold separately on the Apple App store). Users can organize their...
Epson rolls out NX625 all-in-one
Epson America (http://www.epson.com) has introduced the Epson Stylus NX625, an all-in-one with high-speed automatic two-sided printing. It sports built-in Wi-Fi n and Ethernet and Epson claims it's the world's fastest all-in-one with high-speed automatic two-sided printing.
It also sports copy and scan functions plus photo capabilities. The Epson Stylus NX625 features built-in memory card slots and a 2.5-inch color LCD to view, select, edit, and print photos without a computer. Utilizing Epson's all-pigment DURABrite Ultra ink, this all-in-one delivers prints that are fade, smudge and water-resistant, while also printing a 4 x 6 inch photo in as fast as 20 seconds, says Stacey Tieu, associate product manager, Consumer Ink Jets, Epson America. In addition, the Epson Stylus NX625 offers scanning with 2400 dpi to archive important documents.
The Epson Stylus NX625 will be available in September at a suggested retail price of US$149.99.
TARMAC iOS managing tool updated to version 1.2
Equinux has updated TARMAC (http://www.equinux.com/us/products/tarmac/demo.html), a provisioning tool tailored specifically for the Apple platform, to version 1.2. With TARMAC medium to large enterprises can securely set up and manage their iPhones and iPads over-the-air, says equinux CEO till Schadde.
Businesses can use TARMAC to remotely set up their iPhones and iPads without needing to manually connect them to a machine. TARMAC Server operates within a company's network and using an existing directory service to automatically create personalized user profiles.
TARMAC is installed as middleware on a company's network, and supports directory services in Active Directory, Open Directory, Open LDAP and MySQL databases. The configuration settings available in TARMAC guarantee safety in provisioning iPhones and iPads, according to Schadde. To install a profile on their iPhone or iPad themselves, users log in to the TARMAC web interface via the company's intranet or over a secure...
PCI Geomatics updates Geoimaging Tools for ArcGIS
PCI Geomatics has released GeoImaging Tools for ArcGIS 2.0 (http://www.pcigeomatics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id...), offering automated tools for correcting raw satellite imagery, GeoImaging Tools is revolutionizing the integration of remotely sensed imagery into GIS workflows.
The release of GeoImaging Tools version 2.0 coincides and integrates directly within ESRI’s recently released ArcGIS 10 software. With the GeoImaging Tools Image Correction Module, ArcGIS users will benefit from rigorous, automated multi-sensor support and be able to correct raw imagery using sensor model information, optionally with automatic GCPs and tie points from reference data such as chip databases, reference mosaics, or vectors, according to Terry Moloney, interim president and CEO, PCI Geomatics.
Higher levels of registration accuracy are achievable via block bundle adjustments. Users also have the option of saving the correction parameters and create mosaic datasets for...
RE:Vision Effects releases RSMB 4 OFX plug-in
RE:Vision Effects (http://www.revisionfx.com) has announced a new version (version 4) of their ReelSmart Motion Blur OFX plug-in for Nuke, Maya/3ds Max Composite, and Scratch is now available.
ReelSmart Motion Blur (RSMB) automatically adds more natural-looking motion blur to a sequence. Proprietary tracking technology is at the heart of RSMB, so there's no handwork involved, according to the folks at RE:Vision Effects.. Of course you can add as little or as much blurring as you need and even remove motion blur.
The latest version adds support for 64-bit on Mac OS X and offers speed boosts.
Multi-host application floating licenses are available. With multi-host licensing users can float a single license across many applications, including: Nuke, Flame, Fusion, After Effects (Twixtor PRO only), Shake, Softimage, Smoke, Flint, Flare, Inferno, Combustion, Premiere Pro (Twixtor PRO only), and Maya and Max Composite. A ReelSmart Motion Blur v4 OFX node-locked license is US$189.95, and a...
iWebTemplate releases five new iWeb themes
iWebTemplate (http://www.iwebtemplate.com) has added five new iWeb templates to be used with iWeb, the web site building component of Apple's iLife suite.
iWeb Themes for Business 8.0, developed by iPresentee, includes five new themes available in standard and flash edition: Comics, Eco, Greenery, Light Colors and Red Sunset. The new release extends iWebTemplate's iWeb themes collection up to 139.
Each iWeb theme incorporates a number of different graphic elements that can be removed, moved and changed in size, opacity or color. iWeb Themes for Business 9.0 requires Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later and iWeb 2.0 (iLife 08) or iWeb 3.0 (iLife 09).
Each iWeb theme is available for US$10. Samples and more information about iWeb Themes 7.0 are available immediately at the iWebTemplate web site.
Lightroom plug-in updated to support custom watermarking in LR 3...
BragIt today releases update 1.3 of BragIt HTML Slideshow (http://photo.bragit.com/Lightroom/WebGalleryPlugin.shtml), a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. It lets you publish a collection of photos to your web site, like a slideshow, telling a story.
Visitors to the website can scroll through thumbnails of all photos, and then start the slideshow to see large photos sequentially with annotations below each photo. The slideshow is based on HTML and has a scrolling index page of all photo thumbnails, an identity plate, and an introductory description. The full frame version of each photo can have multiline captions in a compact design to make room for photos in both landscape and portrait orientation with separate bounds for width and height. When a full frame photo is clicked, it advances to the next full frame photo. The plug-in has extensive choices for text labeling, fonts, layout and color controls.
Version 1.3 of BragIt HTML Slideshow supports the new customizable...
Canon rolls out new multifunction printers
Canon USA (http://www.usa.canon.com) has added four new imageCLASS multifunction devices to its line-up of small office and home office solutions: the Color imageCLASS MF9280Cdn and MF9220Cdn color laser multifunction printers and the MF4570dn and D420 monochrome laser multifunction printers.
Developed to address the needs of today’s fast-paced end-user, the new Color imageCLASS MF9280Cdn and MF9220Cdn color laser multifunction printers allow small businesses and work groups to maximize productivity with print, copy, fax and scan functionality in a fully networkable device, according to Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A.
Designed for multi-user environments, the devices feature a variety of technologies including “User ID Management” control, which allows network administrators to monitor and limit print output and an Auto-Duplex function to help reduce paper costs and increase productivity. Additionally, for the first time from...
Logitech rolls out new laptop speakers
Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) has announced the Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515 and the Logitech Laptop Speaker Z305 (pictured) for Mac and Windows laptops. They also work with iPads and iPhones.
To free you from the hassle of cords and let you place your speakers up to 50 feet away, the Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515 uses 2.4 GHz wireless technology to deliver wireless audio. To set it up you plug the included wireless adapter into a USB port on your laptop. If you want to connect to an iPad or iPhone, you won’t even need the USB dongle; just put your device into Discovery mode and the Logitech Z515 speaker will find it and connect wirelessly.
The speaker’s dual two-inch drivers give full stereo sound and plenty of bass, says Mark Schneider, vice president and general manager of Logitech’s audio business unit. Plus, so you can take your music with you wherever you go, the Z515 includes a rechargeable battery that can power your speaker for up to 10 hours.
The Logitech Laptop...
Intel CEO: Jobs happy with our purchase of Infineon wireless...
Intel CEO Paul Otellini says he checked the opinion of Apple CEO Steve Jobs before buying German chipmaker Infineon Technologies' wireless unit for US$7.7 billion, reports "ChannelNews" (http://www.channelnews.com.au/Networking_And_Wireless/Industry/D8Q2K5R6).
"Steve was very happy," Otellini told Fox Business TV. "The industry was abuzz that this business unit was on the market, and there were a number of competing companies for it. I think they are very happy that Intel won the bid."
The purchase gives Intel a major foot in the door of the booming smartphone business. Infineon's baseband chips are used in the iPhone and other smartphones.
Apple to hold special event today
Apple has sent out invitations to the press for a special event to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 1. It's been widely rumored that the event would focus on a revamped Apple TV. However, the invitation shows a guitar with an Apple logo/cut-out indicating that the event will focus on music instead. Or perhaps in addition to Apple TV Take Three.
The event will be held at 1 pm (Pacific) at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco. Doubtless, new iPods will be introduced. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess. "MacNews" will, of course, be covering the event.
