PhoneTransact has introduced Credit Card Reader for iPhone and iPod touch (http://www.phonetransact.com/credit-card-reader-for-the-iphone/), their plug-in hardware accessory that allows the user to swipe credit cards. Its sleeve design purportedly fits snugly and plugs in to the 30-pin charging connector of the iPhone or iPod touch, providing bi-directional card reading meeting ANSI/ISO standards. When used with PhoneTransact's iMerchant Pro app, the system works with any merchant account. To receive swipe discount rates the merchant account must be set up for "Card Present" transactions. Credit Card Reader for iPhone and iPod touch sports an one-piece design with no parts or cables to lose or damage. It's constructed of reinforced plastic and features magnetic fingerprint technology to confirm the credit card's authenticity, a non-changeable serial number to track each Reader, and financial industry grade 3DES encryption. Credit Card Reader for iPhone and iPod touch is available now...

Paragon Software Group, a software developer for mobile devices and desktop computers, has released 54 SlovoEd dictionaries for Mac OS X users. The SlovoEd 7.0 series offers original premium content in more than 30 of the most popular languages directly from the world’s top publishers. They contain the most up-to-date dictionary databases in complete accordance with the published originals and provide the user with any needed information 10 times faster than with print editions, according to the folks at Paragon. Most of the electronic dictionaries contain detailed word translations with usage and sound samples, transcription, grammatical information, and color markup to satisfy all learning needs. You can find a list of the languages and dictionary titles available at http://www.penreader.com/mac-os-software/SlovoEd.html .

StarWind Software (http://www.starwindsoftware.com), which specializes in SAN software for building iSCSI storage servers, has announced a special program for US government, educational and non-profit organizations. Now these organizations will be able to get special discounts and offers in time for the beginning of the new academic year. The full range of world-renowned storage management and SAN solutions from StarWind Software is available under this program. To set up a free consultation and receive more information on special pricing offers, please contact John Lynch, StarWind Senior Account Manager:

Tension Software has updated CryptoEdit (http://www.pomola.com/products_cryptoedit/cryptoedit.html), a Mac OS X program to create and edit protected encrypted documents, to version 1.6. In the update a Menu service available to create a CryptoEdit document with selected text within any other application. CryptoEdit can import from other documents in standard TEXT or RTF or RTFD (RTF + images) . Documents can also be exported as TEXT, RTF or standard RTFD (included images) CryptoEdit document are saved always encrypted for security purpose. Saving a document containing images will create on disk a single file with all the text and images encrypted in a single file. Any data the user puts in the document is encrypted and not redeable without the right password. CrytopEdit costs US$30, though version 1.6 is a free update for registered users.

Apple has released the iMac (Mid 2010) Display Brightness Update 1.0 (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1080). It addresses an issue with 21.5-inch iMac (Mid 2010) display brightness. It's a 378KB download and requires Mac OS X 10.6.4. You can obtain it via the Software Updates component of Mac OS X's Systems Preferences app.

There are lots of interesting iPad accessories out there; now there's a chair made especially for the Apple tablet. The iPad Chair is designed by Elite Home Theater Seating (http://www.elitehometheaterseating.com/), and it's a bit futuristic to say the least. A whisper quiet motor reclines the seat back while raising the foot rest, leaving you swaddled by the ergonomically designed chair. The lumbar support, elbow positioning, and a seat cushion are based on those normally found in a European sports car, says Elite Home Theater Seating founder and CEO, Bobby Bala. A Luxa2 H4 iPad holder secures the device in its grasp with its six rubber pins. The holder slides into the existing cupholder of the Elite Home Theater Seating chair, and can then swivel and pivot 360 degrees. In addition, the iPad can be rotated vertically or horizontally, and can even be positioned flat like a table. Like malleable modeling clay, a dynamic mechanical joint hinge holds any position, and delivers all the...

Japan's trade ministry says Apple Japan has satisfied its demands for improved safety notifications about overheating iPod nano portable music players, reports "Reuters" (http://macosg.me/2/p3). In a statement he ministry confirmed that Apple Japan has complied with its July order to publish visible safety advice on its Japan website and improve disclosure of incidents involving its equipment. Apple has also complied with a request to send safety information by email to iPod nano customers who had registered with the company, according to the ministry. Yesterday Apple Japan said it will replace any iPod nano that overheats, an improvement over an earlier offer to only replace faulty batteries. The concession came after Japan's trade ministry put Apple under scrutiny, ordering it to publish an "easy to understand" statement on its web site explaining how users of the devices could receive replacement batteries and obtain advice. Six incidents involving the 2005 model nano catching fire...

Analyst Gene Munster says the iPhone 4 remains in limited stock at Apple's U.S. retail stores seven weeks after its launch, suggesting that "antennagate" has done little to slow sales, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com). He polled 30 retail stores this week, and found that 16 of them had some stock. Most stores he checked with indicated they are receiving daily iPhone 4 shipments to meet up with supply. The continued limited supply, he said, is evidence that demand for the iPhone 4 remains strong despite the "Antennagate" controversy, Munster says.

Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) has introduced the Logitech Wireless Combo MK520, a full-size mouse-and-keyboard combo with a suggested retail price of US$59.99. According to the folks at Logitech, the keyboard gives you the room to type comfortably, while concave, low-profile keys cradle your fingertips. The laser mouse feels good in either hand thanks to its contoured design with soft rubber side grips, they add. The Wireless Combo MK 520 uses Logitech’s tiny Unifying receiver that’s small enough to stay in your laptop when you’re on the go and wirelessly connects the included mouse and keyboard to your computer, so both are ready to use whenever you need them. The Unifying receiver delivers 2.4GHz wireless connectivity that keeps you connected at a range of up to 10 meters. And it includes 128-bit AES keyboard encryption.

UBM TechInsights (http://www.ubmtechinsights.com/?cid=PR_Bilski) -- a provider of information services, consulting, and management software for technology companies -- says it's confirmed, using advanced 3D x-ray microtomography signal tracing, that the initial board layout of the iPad was designed for a 3-axis digital gyroscope and that it was likely a different one than used in the iPhone 4. When Apple released the iPhone 4, it contained the ST Microelectronics L3G4200D 3-axis digital gyroscope. UBM TechInsights Product Manager, Steve Bitton says, "It seemed strange that the iPad did not also include a gyroscope since many of the new applications that were being developed for the iPhone 4 would not function on the iPad." During a comparative analysis with the iPhone 4, Bitton found an unpopulated spot on the board of the iPad next to the ST Micro STM33DH accelerometer that is also used on the iPhone 4.   "But the location on the iPad featured 24 pads whereas the ST Microelectronics...

The new top-of-the-line Mac Pro, 12-core "Westmere" 2.66Ghz and 2.93Ghz uses RAM new to Apple machines. These DDR3-1333 ECC DIMMs are 25% faster than the memory used in the previous generation Mac Pro. Ramjet offers kits (http://www.ramjet.com/macpro.asp#3rdGen) containing 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB modules, up to the system maximum of 64GB. The 32GB kit (8x 4GB modules) is priced at US$3,550 from Apple and can be had for $1379.99 at Ramjet. For the true power-user, Ramjet offers a mammoth 64GB kit, not even available from Apple, for $2,839.99. Ramjet memory includes a lifetime warranty, and you can send your original RAM back to Ramjet for a rebate.

AlpineSoft has updated their vinyl-and-tape-to-CD-and-MP3 software, VinylStudio for the Mac, to version 7.5.4. The latest version adds support for WAV, MP3, FLAC, Ogg, AIFF, AAC, Apple Lossless and CAF formats. VinylStudio is a software solution for digitizing vinyl LPs and tapes. It records your records and tapes, splits those recordings into tracks, removes scratches, tape hiss and more and burns both audio and MP3 CDs and DVDs. You can also play your recordings on your computer. VinylStudio can look up track listings over the Internet and copy tracks to your iPod or MP3 player. VinylStudio comes with audio cleanup filters to remove clicks, crackles, tape hiss and more. All you need is a turntable (or USB turntable) hooked up to your Mac, or you can record cassettes using any cassette player. VinylStudio includes instructions on how to connect up your turntable and will take you through the entire process of digitizing your music step-by-step. VinylStudio costs US$29.95. You can...

Apple has updated iOS for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The new versions are designed to fix a vulnerability in the way Safari handles PDF files on the idevices. The updates should also disable the web-based JailbreakMe service. The new versions are iOS 4.0.2 for the iPhone and iPod touch and iOS 3.2.2 for the iPad.

Ilium Software has released eWallet (http://www.iliumsoft.com/ewalletmac), an US$19.95 password manager for Mac OS X. Many of the features that customers know and trust from eWallet for Windows are included in eWallet for Mac, but with a interface just for Mac owners, according to the folks at Iliumn. With Ilium Software's SyncPro technology, eWallet for Mac syncs with a user's iPhone, iPad or iPod touch via WiFi. Wallet files can also be synced with other computers on the same network and external storage devices like USB thumb drives. All current eWallet 7 for Windows PC owners can use the Mac OS X version at no additional cost. New customers can purchase eWallet for US$19.95 from Ilium Software's online store. For one price, customers can use eWallet on their Mac, as well as any Windows Mobile device, BlackBerry, or Windows PC they own. eWallet 7 also includes access to Ilium Software's free eWallet Viewer for Android. Customers can also add eWallet for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod...

Apple apparently tested a three-axis gyroscope from InvenSense in its iPad, but probably plans to use a similar device from STMicroelectronics in a future version of the tablet, according to an analysis by UBM TechInsights, reports "EE Times" (http://macosg.me/2/ot). The Apple iPhone 4 was the company's first smartphone to uses a three-axis gyroscope, specifically the L3G4200D from STMicroelectronics. When paired with the accelerometer, it makes iPhone 4 capable of advanced motion sensing such as user acceleration, full 3D attitude, and rotation rate. In other words, per Apple, it means more motion gestures and greater precision for an even better gaming experience. “It seemed strange at the time that a product like the iPad would have been designed to not include a gyroscope but an iPhone 4 that was being designed at around the same time would,” says Steve Bitton, a product manager at UBM TechInsights that did a teardown of the iPad. UBM TechInsights is part of United Business Media...

The North Adams [Massachusetts] Public Schools are hoping the iPad will entice at-risk students to improve their grades and graduate on time, reports the "North Adams Transcript" (http://macosg.me/2/oq). The school district is piloting a new program aimed at helping students earn credits for classes they’ve failed through learning modules specifically created for the Apple tablet. "It’s designed for those students who failed a class by a few points," Drury High School Principal Amy Meehan said Tuesday during the district’s School Committee meeting. "Right now we’re targeting freshmen and sophomores who have failed by one marking period. Instead of attending traditional summer school, they’re able to do a module, which is the equivalent of one marking period, and replace that marking period’s grade with a passing grade." She said the program not only helps the student recover the missing graduation credit, but also eliminates the need for the student to retake the class the following...

Apple Japan says it will replace any iPod nano that overheats, an improvement over an earlier offer to only replace faulty batteries, reports "Reuters" (http://macosg.me/2/ol). The concession came after Japan's trade ministry put Apple under scrutiny, ordering it to publish an "easy to understand" statement on its web site explaining how users of the devices could receive replacement batteries and obtain advice. Six incidents involving the 2005 model nano catching fire while being charged have been reported to the Ministry of Economy since 2008. And there were purportedly an additional 21 cases involving incidents where the players overheated and emitted smoke since 2005.

The software for Doxie (http://www.getdoxie.com), a paper scanner that scans directly to the cloud, is now shipping, has been updated to version 1.3. It adds integration with the CloudApp fille sharing service. Mac users can install CloudApp's free menu bar app to share files and links right from the desktop. On both Mac and PC, you can send scans to CloudApp right from Doxie's Cloud menu for sharing of docs and photos. Designed for home and small businesses, Doxis is an US$129 portable scanner is for scanning, sharing, and organizing paper and photos.

iVideo (http://ivideoapp.com/), a movie organizing and sharing app for Mac OS X (10.3 and higher) has been updated to version 4.5 The new version adds Quick Look support, faster importing and more. iVideo lets you create one place for your movies -- whether they be in separate folders, external hard drives and CDs, or even online -- and then share them. A demo is available for download. Registration is US$20 for a single user license; discounts are available for multiple licenses. Version 4.5 is a free update for registered users.

SmileOnMyMac (http://www.smileonmymac.com) has updated TextExpander, a Mac OS X utility that lets users define abbreviations for frequently-used text strings and images, to version 3.1.1. The update resolves one issue that was causing users to lose all their snippets. It also fixes a problem with case sensitivity preferences, among other fixes and improvements. The regular cost of TextExpander is US$34.95 for a single user license or $44.95 for a five-pack family license. A 30-day fully-functioning demo of TextExpander can be downloaded at the SmileOnMyMac web site. Upgrades to TextExpander 3.x from earlier versions costs $15. Version 3.1.1 is a free update for registered users of version 3.x. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later.

KavaSoft has updated KavaMovies (http://www.kavasoft.com/KavaMovies/), the Mac movie database, to version 1.5. The update is more customizable than ever. You can keep track of personal information, such as where and when you saw a movie. There are also customizable fields for other kinds of information, such as who you saw movie with, who you loaned a movie to, or anything else you can imagine. Data in custom fields is are now browsable, searchable and sortable. KavaMovies 1.5 also adds MPAA rating information for all your movies. Keep it PG-13 if you're watching a movie with the kids, or sort by rating to find something more NC-17. KavaMovies lets you organize the movies you've seen, the movies you want to see, and the movies in your collection. It connects to the Internet and downloads tons of information about each of your movies in realtime. You can use KavaMovies to make a list of all the movies you want to see. Click on a movie you like, and it will recommend 10 other movies....

iPresentee (http://www.ipresentee.com) has announced iWeb Themes 9.0 designed specifically for Apple's web site building component of its iLife suite. The new release extends iPresentee's iWeb themes collection up to 80 themes designed for personal and business usage. Each iWeb theme can be customized. iWeb Themes 9.0 requires Mac OS X 10.4.3 or higher and iWeb 2.0 or later. Each iWeb theme is available for US$10. The set of five new iWeb Themes 8.0 may be purchased for $25. The iWeb Suite bundle may be purchased for $70. The bundle includes 40 iWeb Themes, 35 iWeb Themes for Business, 15 iWeb Intros, 75 iWeb Animations and 181 Keynote 3D Stuff objects.

Tension Software (http://pomola.com) has updated DMG Master software to create standard Disk Image Archive "Add files" dialog panel and sports an improved "Remove file" handling and interface. DMG Master costs US$20, though version 2.3.1 is a free update for registered users of version 2.0. It's Universal Binary, so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. DMG Master requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

AppleXsoft (http://www.applexsoft.com) has released their latest Mac data recovery software: SD Card Recovery. The US$49.95 software supports data recovery from SD Card manufactured by SanDisk, Kingston, PNY, Lexar, Transcent, PQI, Transcend, Sony, Integral, Panasonic, Toshiba, Olympus, just to name a few. It has support for -- but not limited to -- SD Card, mini-SD, micro-SD, microSDHC, SDHC, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Pro Duo, MMC, SmartMedia, xD Picture Card. SD Card Recovery recovers formatted, deleted, erased, lost and corrupted pictures, photos or any files from your SD cards. A demo is available for download.