Apple has “instituted a design fix” for the iPhone 4 that better insulates the phone’s transceiver module, according to Rodman & Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar. "Barron's (http://macosg.me/2/jh) adds that the analyst is likely to offer free bumpers “as an intermediary solution.” Kumar says he's unclear if Apple will have a recall of the iPhone 4. The Sellers Research Firm (that's me) says no, it won't. In other matters, Kumar told clients that he expects shipments of 3.2 million iPads this fiscal quarter. He thinks sales of the Apple tablet are starting to eat into iPod sales, a trend will accelerate over time. -- Dennis Sellers

CG Software has released Computer Admin Pro 5.0 (http://www.computeradminpro.com), an update of the integrated asset management and help desk tracking software for Mac OS X or Windows. Based on the latest version (11) of the FileMaker Pro database engine, the application offers a solution to storing and searching any data relating to computer hardware, software, maintenance, and repairs. Technicians can use a web browser to manage the ticket process, including creating, editing, and closing. Computer Admin Pro is designed for computer consultants, IT managers, system administrators, help desk system managers, or anyone who needs to record and organize computer related information. Its asset manager feature lets the user consolidate their computer hardware and software information: computer name, location, OS, peripherals, serial and asset ID numbers. All data is fully searchable using a variety of criteria, and the software will automatically generate seven different status reports,...

REAL Software says their rapid application development tool, REAL Studio, will include the option to compile a Cocoa application in the upcoming 2010 Release 3.  REAL Software has been working on the development of the Cocoa framework for a long time and though it is not yet complete, it is far enough along that it will be made available as a beta to all REAL Studio users, according to Geoff Perlman, REAL Software Founder and CEO. On Mac OS X there are two ways for applications to communicate with the operating system: Carbon and Cocoa. Carbon was designed to allow applications from Classic Mac OS, like REAL Studio, to run natively on Mac OS X. Cocoa is the method that has been part of Mac OS X since its introduction and all applications must move to Cocoa to continue to be modern. "Unlike when other companies have gone through the conversion, REAL Software is trying to minimize the impact on their users," says Perlman. "One of the many benefits of using REAL Studio is that...

"DigiTimes" (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100715PD208.html) says Apple is working on botha new MacBook Air and a new iPod touch. The article says the next MacBook Air will sport an 11.6-inch display and Intel Core ULV CPU. The machine will be released in the second half of this year and be built by Quanta computer, according to "DigiTimes." It will purportedly be even slimmer and lighter than the previous gen MacBook Air. As to the next iPod touch, "DigiTimes" says will feature a 3-megapixel camera, capable of both photo and video recording, and will adopt Apple's latest A4 processor, which is also used in the iPhone 4.

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 2.03. The update offers more reliable VPN detection and support and improved Bonjour service discovery. 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 2.0.3 costs US$15 for a single-user license, $25 for a two-user license and $45 for a family pack (five licenses). Users that purchased ShareTool 1.x from April 13 to May 13, 2010 are entitled to a free 2.x upgrade.

DssW has updated Power Manager (http://www.dssw.co.uk/powermanager/), a Mac OS X utility designed to help users save energy by automating Macs, to version 4.0. The upgrade provides the ability to automate tasks and perform sequences of actions. With Power Manager, users can schedule their Macs to start up or wake, shut down, restart, log out, switch to the log-in window, and sleep. A 30-day demo is available for download. Power Manager costs approximately US$52 for a single-user license and $387 for Power Manager Professinal. Volume discounts for 100-plus Macs are available. Version 4.0 is free for registered users of all previous versions. System requirements are Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Elgato (http://www.elgato.com) has released a software edition of Turbo.264 HD, a video converter for the Mac. It gives users the ability to instantly edit HD camcorder clips without converting them first, and supports nearly any kind of video source format. It uses advanced encoding technology to convert any video file to a high-quality iPhone- and iPad-compatible format. The interface offers pre-installed output formats for iPad, iPhone, YouTube and more. The software edition of Turbo.264 HD is available for download immediately in the Elgato Online Store at a price of US$49.95 USD. A hardware-accelerated version of Turbo.264 HD is also available. Turbo.264 HD automatically detects USB camcorders and enables users to preview and edit video clips before importing them. Turbo.264 HD Software Edition does not require a lengthy conversion into an intermediate format, according to the folks at Elgato. Turbo.264 HD can handle nearly any kind of video file, including formats that are non-...

Apple has sent out invitations to the media for a press conference on Friday, July 16, at 10 am (Pacific) at the company's Cupertino campus. Details haven't been divulged, but it will almost certainly deal with the reported antenna/reception problems with the iPhone 4.

Despite rising worries over sovereign debt and the pace of economic recovery, the global computer market grew 22.4% in the second quarter of 2010 (2Q10), in-line with forecasted growth of 22.9%, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. Apple now has 8.8% of the US market, up from 8.6% in the second quarter of 2009, according to IDC. That's 15.4% year-over-year growth. Apple is number four among US computer vendors. Ahead of it -- and their market shares -- are HP (25.7%) and Dell (24%). On a worldwide basis, desktop computer shipments exceeded expectations, helping to confirm signs that businesses are moving ahead with replacements, while portable sales trailed forecast estimates, reflecting the effects of a thus-far jobless recovery on consumer spending. "The personal computer market remains robust, and in a recovery phase, despite challenges to a broader economic recovery, such as slow job growth and a more conservative outlook in...

Microsoft is paying developers to build mobile applications for its Windows Phone 7 system to help it narrow a lead by rival products from Apple and Google, reports "Bloomberg" (http://macosg.me/2/j7). The company is providing financial incentives ranging from free tools and test handsets to funds for software development and marketing, said Todd Brix, a senior director at Microsoft who works with app developers. In some cases, Microsoft is providing revenue guarantees, and will make up the difference if apps don’t sell as well as expected, he told "Bloomberg."

Econ Technologies (http://www.econtechnologies.com) has updated ChronoSync to version 4.1 and updated ChronoAgent for Mac to version 1.1. New scheduling options have been added to both. Additionally the new versions include several other features and bug fixes. ChronoSync is the automated synchronization and backup application for Mac OS X and ChronoAgent for Mac is a utility that runs on the destination Mac and communicates directly with ChronoSync, giving you full root access to the destination Mac. C Both run natively on both Power PC and Intel-based Macs running Mac OS X 10.4 and higher. Demos are available for download. For new users ChronoSync costs US$40, and ChronoAgent is $10. As always, all existing ChronoSync users can update for free.

Don't write the iPod off just yet. While some have predicted its demise due to the rising popularity of the iPhone and iPad, the iPod is alive and thriving. In the US in May, the iPod line-up accounted for 73% of the MP3 player market, according to new research by the NDP Group (http://www.npdgroup.com). That's pretty much the percentage the line has had for, well, years. If you want to predict a product's demise, begin planning the funeral service of Microsoft's Zune. According to NPD, it held just 1% of the US market share in May.

The Goldman Sachs research group says the iPad is going to put the hurt -- big time -- on netbooks. Their new report -- as noted by the "Financial Times" (http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010/07/13/285006/goldman-really-likes-i...) -- lists five reasons for this: ° Consumption -- the iPad is focused squarely on information consumption versus information production; ° Content -- the iPad relies on tight integration with content sources; °  Connected -- multiple options ensure the iPad is connected to the Internet; ° Constant operation -- the iPad is an “instant on” device with all-day battery life; ° Commerce --Apple’s ecosystem ensures that users are always "ready to buy."

ChangeWave’s latest smart phone survey of 4,028 consumers shows an explosive transformation occurring in consumer demand -- resulting in some major new winners and losers for second half 2010. At the individual manufacturers’ level, going forward the survey findings show a major leap for Apple and HTC at the expense of RIM and Motorola. The survey -- completed June 24 -- took a close-up look at consumer demand for the new Apple iPhone 4 and the HTC Droid Incredible, along with the impact these and other offerings are having on the rest of the smart phone industry. Consumer smart phone planned buying going forward is at an all-time high for a ChangeWave survey – with 16.4% of respondents in our latest survey saying they plan on buying a smart phone in the next 90 days. The iPhone 4 is driving much of the industry’s growth, with more than one-in-two (52%) respondents who plan to buy a smart phone in the next 90 days saying they’ll get an Apple iPhone. That's an explosive 21-point leap...

Apple has bought Poly9 (http://www.poly9.com), a Quebec company, for its web mapping technology, according to a "LeSoleil" report (http://macosg.me/2/iu). The article gives no purchase price or acquisition date, but says that most Poly9 employees have moved to Apple's California headquarters. Poly9 -- whose web site is down -- is best known for developing web-based mapping programs and application programming interfaces for a variety of clients. Among its products is Poly9 Globe, a "cross-browser, cross-platform 3D globe which does not require any download." The interactive software allows users to spin a three-dimensional rendering of the Earth, while providing real-time statistics on the user's virtual location, including altitude. Last year Apple acquired Placebase, another online mapping company. Placebase's Pushpin provides a JavaScript API for embedding scrollable maps into your web site. Combined, the technology from Placebase and Poly9 would give Apple the foundation for a...

I don't think it will happen, but betting company Paddy Power (http://www.paddypowerplc.com) has slashed the odds on Apple recalling its iPhone 4 from 2/1 to 4/6 making it odds-on that the smartphone be recalled. 

 Complaints about poor reception and a bad report by "Consumer Reports" have sparked a betting frenzy over the past 24 hours with hundreds of punters backing a potential recall with Paddy Power before the bookie had a chance to react.

 "It looks like Apple may have been a little too fast out of the traps with the iPhone 4 launch," says the betting company "If current betting trends are to be believed it now seems certain that a recall is on the cards." -- Dennis Sellers

IMCapture has released IMCapture for Yahoo Messenger (http://www.imcapture.com/IMCapture_for_Yahoo_Messenger/), which expands the standard notion of on-line communication allowing the user to record audio and video calls from Yahoo Messenger in a "double click" way. Provided with the record feature, IMCapture for Yahoo Messenger features settings to adjust the quality of the video as well. After setting "record audio" and "record video" by default, it captures all calls automatically. This software saves and converts audio and video calls as MP3, WMA or AAC files and QuickTime Movies (MOV), MPEG4, MPEG, VOB, PSP MPEG4, SWF and FLV correspondingly. IMCarture for Yahoo Messenger works with Mac OS X 10.4 and higher. It costs US$49.95 for a single user license.

Nova media (http://www.novamedia.de) has updated FoneSync for LG, a solution to synchronize LG phones with Mac OS X, to version 1.0.3. The new version allows users to synchronize contacts and calendars with Samsung phones, which could not be synced with the Mac OS X before. FoneSync can be set to synchronize single address book groups and single calendars. The synchronization of contacts can be restricted to those that include at least one phone number and the time frame in which calendar events are synchronized can be altered as well. FoneSync for Samsung phones is available for US$19.95. It requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or higher and a Bluetooth-enabled Mac.

LittleFin Software has released Chronicle 3.3.1 (http://www.littlefin.com/chronicle.html), an update to their home finance and bill paying application for Mac OS X. Now bills can be paid directly from the Overview screen. 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 online. Reminders are...

YourHead Software has released Stacks 1.3 (http://www.yourhead.com/stacks/), an update of the page style plug-in for RapidWeaver, the web site creation tool for Mac OS X. The new version sport a tweaked user interface for the most commonly used controls, slimmer code for the built-in layout elements, plus lots of under-the-hood changes. Stacks 1.3 also delivers a new application programming interface for developers of custom stacks. Stacks allows users to build web pages by placing elements from the Stacks Library anywhere onto their web page layout. Elements can be moved, resized, styled, and even nested inside each other. Pages built with Stacks are completely flexible and flow their content to fit the dimensions of any RapidWeaver theme. Stacks costs US$24.95. Version 1.3 is a free update for registered users.

Ergonis Software has updated SharewarePublisher (http://www.ergonis.com/products/sharewarepublisher/), a software submission tool and assistant for Mac OS X, to version 1.4. The upgrade changes the way how file sizes are converted from byte to KB and MB. Conversion is now based on 1,000 instead of 1024 to be consistent with Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard). Besides that, the new version incorporates a number of enhancements and fixes. SharewarePublisher was developed specifically for shareware developers, vendors and media specialists alike. The folks at Ergonis say it was built to make submitting software applications to leading software listing sites and repositories easy. It ships with almost 200 pre-configured shareware sites, with carefully hand-tuned ratings/priorities. Developers can submit to 100-plus sites within just a few hours, which would otherwise take several days, according to Reichenberger. Other features of SharewarePublisher include: management of listing URLs; an...

Cakewalk (http://www.cakewalk.com) has released a new Mac support update for the V-Studio 20. The free V-Studio 20 Mac Support update is available at the Cakewalk web site. The V-Studio 20 Mac Support update enables the VS-20 hardware and Effects Editor to be used with all popular Mac-based recording software titles. The update provides Mac users with all the benefits of recording with the V-Studio 20 COSM guitar and vocal effects; and use of the V-Studio 20 hardware as dedicated universal DAW controller. Additionally, both GarageBand and Logic can be further integrated into the V-Studio 20 system using the included custom control surface plug-in included in this update. The free V-Studio 20 Mac Support update includes: Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6 drivers for the V-Studio 20 hardware (Mackie Universal Control); Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6 support for the COSM effects Editor; and a plug-in for GarageBand and Logic to allow control surface support.

MakeMusic (http://www.finalemusic.com) has announced the simultaneous release of Finale NotePad 2011 and an updated, free-of-charge Finale Reader. Both music notation software packages support current operating systems and provide compatibility with files created with Finale 2011, MakeMusic’s music notation software program. Finale NotePad 2011 is available as a download for US$9.95, or purchased on disc for $19.95, It lets you create, play, print, save and share music notation. Notes can be entered with a mouse, a MIDI keyboard, or by opening MIDI files. Music plays back with nuance thanks to a Human Playback feature and can be heard via the 128+ included sounds or through an external MIDI device. NotePad also fosters collaboration as it can edit, play, print and save files created with other Finale music notation products. In addition to Finale 2011 compatibility, NotePad 2011 includes several new features, including: ° Enhanced lyric spacing -- lyrics, and the notes they’re...

PCI Geomatics (http://www.pcigeomatics.com), a developer of geo-imaging software and systems, is pleased to announce the availability of an upgrade to FeatureObjeX, its software tool for the automatic and semi-automatic extraction of visual features in satellite and aerial imagery.    The latest version of FeatureObjeX 1.0.4 includes linear feature extraction that allows users to extract centerlines of polygonal markup using a toolbar command. It also includes shape labeling whereby users can create and edit labels and add text to shape layers.   Additionally version 1.0.4 includes support of MrSID format and feature improvement upgrades to multi-band and vector layer display. FeatureObjeX can be used in multiple areas including urban planning, forestry, environmental monitoring, change detection, and more.