148Apps (http;//www.148apps.biz/), which offers iPhone development news and information, says the Apple App Store has over 250,000 apps from 50,304 publishers as of Friday, just slightly over two years after it opened. AppShopper.com, which keeps a similar list, has the total at 253,777 apps, including 24,334 for the iPad, notes "Fortune" (http://macosg.me/2/ss). A 148Apps pie chart that breaks down the list by category shows that books (with 17%) have now overtaken games (14%) and entertainment (11%). According to an analysis posted by Royal Pingdom Friday, roughly 70% of the offerings on Apple's store are paid apps. On Google's Android Market, by contrast, 64% are free, notes "Fortune."

Another day, another lawsuit. A tech licensing company controlled by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is suing 11 companies, including Apple, for violating patents on “fundamental web technologies” developed by Interval Research, the now-defunct Silicon Valley lab that Allen created with Xerox PARC veteran David Liddle in the 1990s, reports "TechFlash" (http://macosg.me/2/sr). In addition to Apple, Facebook, Office Depot, Yahoo, YouTube, Netflix and eBay are being targeted. Microsoft isn't on the list. A total of four Interval Research patents are cited in the complaint, which seeks unspecified monetary damages for alleged patent infringement. In a statement this morning, Allen’s firm calls the patents at issue in the suit “fundamental to the ways that leading e-commerce and search companies operate today," says "TechFlash." The patents cited in the suit include one for a “Browser for use in navigating a body of information, with particular application to browsing information...

Mariner Software (http://www.marinersoftware.com) has launched Narrator under its brand after recently acquiring it from Dejal Systems. It's Mac OS X software that allows the user to read stories out loud using speech synthesis. Narrator is now up to version 2.1. The latest rev lets you export to iTunes and, listen to your own texts like audiobooks. It supports multiple voice characters and multiple chapters in a single document and can export AAC sound files. Narrator costs US$39.95 for a downloadable version; a boxed/CD version will be offered soon. Version 2.1 is a free upgrade for registered users and requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.

Eastman Kodak Company (http://www.kodak.com) has announced the newest addition to its innovative line of all-in-one inkjet printers: the ESP 9250 AiO. It has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$249.99. The ESP 9250 Printer features Kodak's proprietary pigmented inks and an intelligent bar code system that optimizes settings for superior printing performance using Kodak's proprietary pigmented ink system. Kodak printers automatically detect and adjust for printing documents or photos and feature a bar code reader that works with Kodak Photo Paper to customize the printer's ink output to produce the best results. With the latest Wi-Fi and networking capability, consumers can effortlessly print with the ESP 9250 Printer, from anywhere in their home or even from an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad device. A control panel and built-in templates allow you to print a variety of forms, including graph paper, line paper, wide-ruled paper, tic-tac-toe, to do lists, grocery lists and even...

Mozilla says it's unlikely that the final version of Firefox 4 will run on older Macs with PowerPC processors, according to "Computerworld" (http://macosg.me/2/sf). Apparently, you'll need a Mac with an Intel processor. "We are not likely to be supporting PowerPC," said Mike Beltzner, director of Firefox, in a message Tuesday on the Mozilla.dev.planning discussion group. "[But] no announcement has been made yet, as I'd like to have the data to back it up, and am having trouble getting it."

Intel (http://www.intel.com) says third-quarter revenue will be below the company’s previous outlook. The company now expects third-quarter revenue to be US$11.0 billion, plus or minus $200 million, compared to the previous expectation of between $11.2 and $12.0 billion. Revenue is being affected by weaker than expected demand for consumer computers in mature markets. Inventories across the supply chain appear to be in-line with the company’s revised expectations. The company’s expectation for third-quarter gross margin is now 66%, plus or minus a point, lower than the previous expectation of 67%, plus or minus a couple of points. The impact of lower volume is being partially offset by slightly higher average selling prices stemming from solid enterprise demand. Equity investments, interest and other is expected to be $175 million, consistent with the company’s revised expectation reported on Form 8-K filed July 16. All other expectations for the third quarter remain unchanged. The...

Apple has released iWork 9.0.4 (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1097). This update addresses issues in Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, and adds export compatibility to Pages with the standard ePub file format (for use with iBooks).

 Apple says the update is recommended for users of iWork 9.0, 9.0.1, 9.0.2, and 9.0.3. it's a 63.44MB download and requires Mac OS X 10.5.6 or higher. iWork 9.0.4 can be obtained by using the Software Updates component of Mac OS X's Systems Preferences app.

Future Media Concepts (FMC) -- an authorized digital media training organization for post-production, broadcast, and content creators -- has announced the 6th annual NY Post|Production Conference, which will be held in New York City from Oct. 13-14 alongside the Content and Communications World (CCW) event at the Jacob Javitz Center. Produced in association with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the NY Conference offers post-production professionals and digital content creators an opportunity to take a bite out of today’s leading technical trends and workflows from industry powerhouses such as Apple, Adobe and Avid. FMC combines manufacturer-certified instruction with training and networking experience. This year’s conference is held in conjunction with Content and Communication World Expo, providing attendees with the opportunity to browse the show floor of over 100 exhibitors. Future Media Concepts is offering a discounted rate of 10% off registration fees for those...

RE:Vision Effects (http://www.revisionfx.com) says new versions of their Twixtor and ReelSmart Motion Blur plug-ins for Autodesk Advanced Systems (Smoke, Flare, Flint, Flame, Inferno, and Burn), including Smoke on Mac, are now available. Twixtor enables you to speed up or slow down your image sequences. It synthesizes new frames by warping and interpolating frames of the original sequence, employing RE:Vision's proprietary tracking technology that calculates motion for each individual pixel. ReelSmart Motion Blur (RSMB) automatically adds more natural-looking motion blur to a sequence. Proprietary tracking technology is at the heart of RSMB. All versions of Smoke, Flint, Flame, Inferno, Flare and Burn on Linux 64-bit and Mac OS X 10.6 are supported. A ReelSmart Motion Blur v4 Sparks node-locked license is US$189.95, and a floating license is $284.93. A Twixtor v5 Sparks node-locked license is $795; a floating license is $1195. Customers who purchased RSMB v3 and Twixtor v4 Sparks on...

Qualcomm, which has long been rumored to supply a CDMA chipset to Apple for a Verizon-compatible iPhone, is looking to hire an "iPhone Developer Guru" for a "secret" project, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com). A Qualcomm job listing (http://macosg.me/2/sb) for an "iPhone developer guru" has this to say: "The iPhone has no secret for you? Well, that's what you think... join us and develop the most challenging product of your life! ou are driven by a very strict development discipline, well versed in Agile, and your passion is to bring product in the hands of consumers. You have been exposed to application or game development on mobile for years and you have developed deployed apps on the iPhone. Join us now: we are small fast moving team working in a lab 24hrs/day." Responsibilities are: "iPhone software design and development but not restricted to it: we expect you to be part of the team and contribute to all aspects of the product development including Android, Web...

Online tutorial vendor MacProVideo (http://www.macProVideo.com) has released two new Propellerhead Reason 5 tutorials covering the Kong Drum machine and Record 1.5. The first title is a 2.5-hour tutorial called "Kong: King of Drums." Comprised of 54 separate videos, this tutorial provides an exploration of Kong's beat-making features, including using samples, physical modeling, and synthesis to create drum sounds. This title is produced by Mo Volans, a veteran technical author and Reason user. The second title is called "Core Propellerhead Record." Produced by G.W. Childs IV, this 2.5-hour tutorial contains 40 separate videos that provide insight into the inner workings of the Record software. Record has unlimited tracks, a mixer modeled after the SSL 9000K with FX, EQ and dynamics processing on every track. From basic set-up techniques to audio time stretching and the new Blocks feature, Childs shows how to record and produce your musical ideas into finished tracks with Record. Both...

BeLight Software has released Get Backup 2.4 (http://www.belightsoft.com/products/getbackup/overview.php) for Mac OS X. The upgrade adds disk cloning capability, including bootable backups. The folks at BeLight say that Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-256) should be used as the highest level of protection, while AES-128 is a good alternative when faster encryption is required and lower security level is acceptable. Blowfish encryption is thought to be a happy medium by providing sufficient security and a quick encryption process. The update is free for all Get Backup users. For new users the cost is US$39.95. A demo is available for download.

Smartphone maker HTC which Apple has sued twice, says the patents Apple has accused it of infringing are invalid, according to the "Groklaw" web site (http://macosg.me/2/s4). The article says that HTC denies infringing the patents, but also says, as a first affirmative defense, that four of the patents are invalid for "failure to comply with one or more of the conditions for patentability set forth in Title 35 of the United States Code, including, but not limited to, utility, novelty, non-obviousness, enablement, written description and definiteness in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §§ 101, 102, 103, 112, and/or 116, or are invalid pursuant to the judicial doctrine barring double-patenting." "Groklaw" says HTC also claims prior art, marking, laches and marking defenses, and it says it has license agreements with third party suppliers to do what they do the things Apple is suing them over. It asks the court to declare the patents invalid. In June Apple expanded its lawsuit against HTC. In...

Is the iPad's popularity hurting sales of other Apple products? Yes. And no. As with many things in life, it depends on whom you ask. According to a survey by Alphawise, Morgan Stanley's internal research team, and investment bank Piper Jaffray, almost 44% of iPad owners would not be buying a notebook, and 24%said the notebook they wouldn't buy would have been a Macbook, while 20% said it would have been a PC, reports the "International Business Times" (http://macosg.me/2/s3). Meanwhile, a recent survey conducted by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster of 448 iPad buyers found that 99% of respondents hadn't considered either an iPod touch or iPhone before making the purchase. However, stock analysis firm Trefis said the Apple tablet doesn't appear to be cannibalizing the company's Mac sales so far. He told "IBT" that he expects Apple to sell around 10 million iPads in all of 2010 even as the company gained 4.19% of the computer market in the second quarter of 2010, up from 3.49% in the...

Canon U.S.A. (http://www.usa.canon) has released the EOS 60D Digital SLR Camera. For the first time on an EOS camera, the EOS 60D DSLR boasts a three-inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen, EOS Full HD video recording with manual overrides including audio level control, and in-camera functionality for RAW image processing -- plus Creative Filters to manipulate images after taking them. Designed primarily for advanced amateurs, the EOS 60D replaces the EOS 50D and boasts a broad array of new features designed to make it easier for photographers to add personal creativity to their images. With the camera you can do things like capture an overhead shot on the Vari-Angle screen at a graduation ceremony or convert a color image to black and white for a nostalgic look. The 60D camera features a LCD screen with 1,040,000 dot/VGA resolution plus anti-reflective and smudge-resistant coatings. Another first for the EOS system is the EOS 60D camera’s new Multi-Control Dial, which places a Multi-...

Sonnet Technologies has announced SDXC card support for its US$29.95 Multimedia Memory Card Reader & Writer ExpressCard/34 adapter, enabling users with MacBook Pro and Windows laptop computers equipped with an ExpressCard slot to use these extended-capacity cards designed for the latest high-megapixel digital cameras and digital video camcorders. The new format SDXC cards (starting at 64GB) surpass previous-generation SDHC cards 32 GB maximum capacity. Sonnet's Multimedia Memory Card Reader & Writer ExpressCard/34 moves files from memory cards to a notebook computer's hard drive, with no cables required. This handy device inserts flush inside a MacBook Pro or Windows notebook's ExpressCard slot so it can be carried inside the computer slot even when not in use. The Sonnet multimedia reader supports the most popular memory card formats used in digital cameras, cell phones, and other electronic devices, including Memory Stick, MMC (Multimedia Card), SDHC (Secure Digital High...

XtraLean Software has released DataLore 1.1, an update to the front end to Spotlight hat makes it easier and faster to search and share files both locally on one's own computer, and on the network. This update adds more than a dozen enhancements to the interface to simplify browsing. Faster search algorithm and improved interface also make it faster to find and display files, and easier to narrow down and display the search results. A new Filters tab allows users to add more filters to their search in order to further narrow down and customize the search results to their specific needs. Other features new with this update include the ability to use DataLore as a Finder, and "exclude files" has replaced the former "exclude folders"feature for faster narrowing down of results. DataLore's developer, Hagen Kaye, says the app uses a "Search-as-You-Type" technology for finding files fast. It also employs "Text Shorthand" and "Special Characters" for highly defined or more complex search...

Intuit (http://www.intuit.com) and mophie has released the Complete Credit Card Solution, an all-in-one product that enables small businesses to process credit card payments via theiPhone. It integrates Intuit’s GoPayment credit card processing app and quick-to-activate merchant account with the mophie marketplace iPhone credit card reader. This package is now available in Apple Retail Stores and soon on Apple.com. As part of this solution, Intuit GoPayment offers an application process designed to let merchants start processing credit cards on their iPhones in as few as 15 minutes, according to Chris Hylen, general manager of Intuit’s Payment Solutions division. As an option, GoPayment is also compatible with QuickBooks Mac to help save time in keeping business financial files up to date, he adds. GoPayment has been on the market for more than a year. This latest version offers the ability for customers to sign their bill via the iPhone touch screen. It’s also possible to now add...

SmartFish Technologies (http://www.getsmartfish.com) has released the ErgoMotion Mouse. It's an US$49.95 laser mouse ethat sports a patented swivel mechanism that promotes a fluid movement, allowing the mouse to adapt to the user’s hand position.  Smartfish’s ErgoMotion technology enables forward, backward and lateral wave-like movements for the wrist every time the mouse is in use.  This helps to relieve discomfort from repetitive stress injuries related to extended computer usage, according to Dr. Jack Atzmon, president and CEO of Smartfish Technologies.  The ErgoMotion Mouse boastsboth left and right click, four-way scroll wheel and a discreet wireless USB plug-in. The device is compatible with Macs and PCs, and features an ambidextrous design for both right and left-handed users. 

Apple CEO Steve Jobs doesn't expect any upcoming Apple TV refresh to be a hit of iPad proportions, because most consumers aren't ready to cancel their cable TV or stream content from iTunes, reports Peter Burrows of "Bloomberg Businessweek" (http://macosg.me/2/s0). Apple will hold a special media event on Wednesday, Sept. 1, but "look for CEO Steve Jobs to focus on the ability for customers to watch their favorite TV shows and movies on their iPads, iPhones, and iPod touches," the article adds, quoting a "person familiar with the plan." Burrows says that company will announce that customers can rent many TV shows for 99 cents. Also, look for Jobs to show off a new iPod touch that features a high-resolution screen like the one in the iPhone 4.

Red Giant Software (http://www.redgiantsoftware.com) has released Light Factory 2.7, an update of its plug-in that now supports Adobe CS5/64-bit processing along with new tools. Knoll Light Factory is a motion graphics tool best known for its high-fidelity simulations of light effects called flares, which simulate reflections from a bright light source as seen through a camera's lens. It was created by John Knoll, Photoshop co-creator and "Star Wars" effects guru. You can buy Light Factory 2.7 for US$399. If you own a license of Knoll Light Factory Pro version 2.5 or later, you qualify for a free update. Upgrades for registered users of prior versions are $99.

Texas students can now download podcasts, videos and other multimedia lessons directly from iTunes through a new online program aimed at providing free, supplementary coursework that can be accessed anywhere, state officials announced Tuesday. The Texas Education iTunes U channel allows teachers to upload material from their classes to help students understand new concepts or do more research in a specific subject area. Students and parents can access the material through home or school computers, and those with iPods can download the information to the handheld devices. The state first met with Apple about three years ago. The governor's office and the Texas Education Agency began working on the project in November, finding and culling existing teacher training videos and programs for students, said agency spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe. "A lot of that content may already be out there, but it's either overlooked or hard to access," Gov. Rick Perry told about 50 students at Sharpstown...

Even with a flood of rival products in the works, Apple's iPad is unlikely to face a viable competitor until 2011, allowing the company to maintain a dominant share in the tablet market at least through 2012, according to market research firm iSuppli Corp. (http://www.isuppli.com). The iPad will account for an overwhelming 74.1% of global tablet shipments in 2010, with the remaining 25.9% consisting of a mix of older PC-type tablet products and competitive slates, says the research group. Despite the arrival of the first real iPad competitors in 2011, Apple still will maintain a prevailing 70.4% share of shipments, iPad research from iSuppli bears out.  Even in 2012, the iPad will continue to control nearly two-thirds of shipments, at 61.7 % as the competition strives to develop ecosystems of tablet apps and content that can match up with those of Apple. “Although the iPad has been on the market for only a few months, powerful interests throughout the technology business are...

Apple is expected to host a special event to introduce new products for music and television, including a 99-cent TV show rental service, as well as new iPods, reports "MacRumors" (http://www.macrumors.com). Rumors have it that the revamped Apple TV may be redubbed the iTV, cost US$99 and would allow users to stream video, such as rentals, to their TV sets. Customers currently can pay to download electronic copies of many cable and broadcast shows, often for $1.99 each for the standard version, to view on iPhones, the iPad, Apple TV or other devices. Kaufman Brothers analyst Shaw Wu told clients in a note on Wednesday that the revamped Apple TV would move to an ARM architecture processor running the same iOS software that powers the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The current version uses an Intel x86-based chip, running a "light" version of Mac OS X and its Front Row software. "Bloomberg" (http://macosg.me/2/rn) says the 99-cent rentals will help Apple fend off rivals such as Netflix...