ProactiveWatch (http://www.proactivewatch.com) -- a provider of remote monitoring and management software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), VARs, and other IT support companies -- has announced the immediate availability of new agents to monitor Mac OS X in response to the increased popularity of Mac OS X in the SMB market and demand from it’s partners. “We were getting feedback from our customers that the Mac Mini Server is becoming more important as an inexpensive stand-alone server platform to provide basic workgroup services like file-sharing, web server and more,” says Michael Mittel, president of ProactiveWatch. “Providing proactive monitoring and trend reporting for the server, as well as for workstations, was important for them to grow their business and support their clients.” Service Providers using ProactiveWatch can monitor clients with heterogeneous environments that include servers and workstations running Mac, Windows and Linux/Unix.

The Apple Appe Store isn't highly profitable for Apple, as paid-for applications carry an average selling price of $1.49, according to "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com). Gene Munster, Wall Street analyst with Piper Jaffray, told clients in a note today that app pricing data suggests that 81%of downloaded applications (totaling four billion) are free, while the top 50 paid applications have an average selling price of $1.49. Applications on the iPad are a bit more expensive, with the average selling price of the top 30 amounting to $4.66. Munster said he expects the cost of Apple App Store software to skew higher as the mix shifts slightly toward the tablet device.

Blue Crowbar Software has announced AppControls 1.0 (http://bluecrowbar.com/software/appcontrols/) for Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard"). It's an US$29.99 tool for creating custom controls for use in iPhone, iPad or Mac applications and for use on the web. It combines ease-of-use with high-quality output of images and CSS code. AppControls renders its text and images using Apple's Quartz technology, which means that the results perfectly match the look of Mac, iPhone, and iPad apps and at the same time look great in the modern web browsers, says Steven Vandeweghe, founder of Blue Crowbar Software. "Designing custom buttons and other controls for applications can take a lot of time and the currently available tools often produce images that are difficult to tweak and that don't match the rendering quality of the platforms that they're created for," he adds. "AppControls renders its text and images using Apple's Quartz technology, which means that the results perfectly match the look of...

The maker of MoneyWorks, Cognito Software, has released a free utility (http://www.cognito.co.nz/myobgone.php) that solves the problem MYOB users experience when they want to change their accounting software, then struggle to extract the necessary financial data. It's common for organizations to have outgrown their accounting package, but have concerns about the difficulty of moving to a new solution and the accuracy of the data that is transferred. This can form an impasse that traps users in an uncomfortable situation, where they're restricted by a system that no longer meets their needs and provides inadequate management information. For MYOB users, exporting complete data is very difficult. For example, when they try to export their products/items list no stock on-hand information is included. Previously, the only way to for MYOB users to change systems was by running reports and manually re-entering the information. Cognito has solved this problem. The free file converter will...

The gang at "iFixIt' have torn down the iPhone 4. They say Apple definitely spent time giving the phone a thorough makeover, meticulously changing every little facet. You can find the complete teardown at http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4-Teardown/3130/1 . However, here are some of the highlights: ° Like the iPhone 3G and 3GS, there are two silver Phillips screws at the bottom of the phone. But removing these screws releases the rear case instead of the front glass, giving you immediate access to the battery. ° Unfortunately, the LCD panel is very securely glued to the glass and digitizer. If you break the glass, you'll have to replace the glass, digitizer, and LCD as a single assembly. ° The 3.7V, 1420 mAh Li-Polymer battery is not soldered in place, and very easy to remove. ° The iPhone 4 sports two cameras -- a 1.3 MP front-facer, and a 5 MP beauty on the back. Both are located on their own independent boards, making it possible to physically remove the cameras without...

Dejal Systems and Mariner Software have announced the acquisition of Narrator (http://www.dejal.com/narrator/) by Minneapolis-based Mariner Software. Narrator is Mac OS X software that allows the user to read stories out loud using speech synthesis. With no plans at this time to change the application's title, the software product will be rereleased under the Mariner brand in the near future. Current registered Narrator users will be able to upgrade to the Mariner-branded version for free. The shipping version will be available in English, French and German. A selling price has not yet been established. Current registered Narrator users will be able to upgrade to the Mariner-branded version for free. Narrator requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.

Wi-Ex (http://www.wi-ex.com), a provider of consumer cell phone signal boosters, is now shipping the dual-band zBoost-Metro, a consumer-based cell phone signal booster designed to meet the needs of the urban dwellers, including condos, apartments and other single-story living areas. It's an US$299 single room, cell phone signal booster that requires no external access for the receiving antenna and no vertical separation. The zBoost-Metro is dual band (800MHz and 1900MHz) and is designed to allow consumers to take full advantage of voice, data and Internet services on their mobile phones including 3G high-speed data and video, instant messaging, pictures and more - at home or in their personal workspace. In addition and important to the many smart phone, iPhone and Blackberry users in metro areas, a "zBoost State of the Signal" survey revealed that 67% of cell phone owners use data functions on their cell phones and, of those, 57% experience problems with their cell phone service while...

Onset (http://www.onsetcomp.com), a supplier of data loggers, has broadened its offerings for energy and environmental monitoring by expanding the range of measurement options for its line of HOBO U12 data loggers. Specifically, multi-channel versions of HOBO U12 data loggers can now measure and record kilowatts, air velocity, gauge pressure, differential pressure, DC current and other energy and environmental parameters. The expanded measurements are possible through the introduction of a new, compact power adapter. The adapter enables energy and building management professionals to power external sensors that require 12 volt A/C excitation power. This augments the company’s existing line of measurement options, which includes air temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, AC current, and AC voltage. The adapter can also power any user-supplied external sensor that requires up to 400 mA at 12 VDC. HOBO U12 data loggers are small devices designed for high-accuracy indoor...

Artman21 (http://www.artman21.com/en/jedit_x/) has updated Jedit X, the Cocoa-based text editor for Mac OS X, to version 2.2.4. It's a maintenance update with four improvements and two bug fixes. Jedit X is an Universal Binary app so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. The cost is US$28 for a single-user license, though version 2.2.4 is a free update for registered users.

Agile Web Solutions has updated 1Password (http://1password.com), a password manager for Mac OS X, to version 3.2.3. The upgrade offers improved support for non-English languages in 1PasswordAnywhere, an all-purpose mobile solution provided by 1Password that allows you to keep your passwords and data securely available when you're away from your computer 1Password 3.2.3 is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6. It's a free upgrade for users of version 3.x. For new users the cost is US$39.95 for a single-user license and $69.95 for a family license (five users).

Stand back, folks, there's no telling how big this thing is going to get. Apple has announced that it sold its three millionth iPad on Monday, just 80 days after its introduction in the US. "People are loving iPad as it becomes a part of their daily lives," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a press release. "We're working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more people around the world, including those in nine more countries next month." Apple says developers have created over 11,000 new apps for the iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch user interface, large screen and high-quality graphics. Plus, the device will run almost all of the more than 225,000 apps on the Apple App Store, including apps already purchased for an iPhone or iPod touch. -- Dennis Sellers

iWeb Themes Park (http://www.iwebthemespark.com/Home.html) has introduced five new iWeb Themes for Apple's web site building application, iWeb. The new themes are Beginning, Consulting, eShop, Music and Progressive. To use iWeb Themes from iWeb Themes Park requires a Mac with iLife '08 (iWeb 2.0) or later. The package of 37 themes is priced at US$32.99; each template is available for $10.99. Three iWeb Themes of Your choice can be obtained for $21.98.

Insider Software has released FontAgent Pro TeamServer (http://insidersoftware.com/FA_pro_teamserver.php), which brings expandable font management capabilities to creative departments, corporate design teams and small agencies. The TeamServer delivers consistency, control, power and expandability, while providing users the search, preview and activation power they require. Pricing is as low as US$895 for a complete font server solution. TeamServer creates a centralized library of fonts of virtually any size that everyone can share. It installs, updates and collects fonts on user workstations automatically and provides and enforces consistent font usage across all users and projects. It gives users a variety of ways to search, preview and print fonts, such as: ° Search for fonts by name, weight , slant, keyword, classification and other characteristics; ° Find fonts -- both locally and over the Internet -- by topic (e.g. "winter", "party" or "technology"); ° Display previews of fonts...

Webjimbo (http://www.webjimbo.com), the web interface for Bare Bone's Yojimbo app that lets you view and edit your Yojimbo data from any computer with an Internet connection and a web browser, has been updated to version 2.5. It offers compatibility with Yojimbo 2.2, a personal information manager for the Mac which stores notes, bookmarks, passwords and other data. 
With Webjimbo, you can access your Yojimbo data from wherever you are on the 'Net, including Windows PCs and iPhones. Webjimbo can also be an alternative solution for Yojimbo users who are having trouble syncing their data between multiple Macs. Webjimbo works like a desktop application, not a web site, and its interface is similar to Yojimbo's. It requires your Mac running Yojimbo to be visible on the internet. Webjimbo costs US$30 or $60 for a family license. A demo is available for download. Webjimbo 2.5 requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and Yojimbo 2.2.

InfoLogic has announced MathMagic Pro Editions 6.91 (http://www.mathmagic.com/product/pro.html) for Adobe InDesign, their multi-purpose equation editor for mathematical equations and symbols. MathMagic Pro Editions come with InDesign plug-ins to enable InDesign and QuarkXPress the equation editing capability right inside their documents. MathMagic Pro 7 adds support for Adobe InDesign CS5 with a new CS5 plug-in. InDesign CS4 and all previous versions of Creative Suites are also supported. The upgrade also supports two layers of background color, improved Hyphen and Dashes, improved equation quality, and other new features and fixes. MathMagic Pro Edition 7.0 is available now for US$499 ($299 for academic use). A regular plus two-year free upgrade and free tech support is $695 ($399 for academic use). A one month subscription license for $75 ($50 for academic use) is also available.

Workamajig (http://www.Workamajig.com), integrated software for ad agencies and others in the creative and design industries, has been beefed up to version 10.5.3.0, which includes the new Workamajig Labs for Safari 5. Via Workamajig Lab, Workamajig will release new features to its Project Management Software, and allow clients to turn these new features on when they're ready for them. During the Lab period clients can turn the features on and off at will to try out the new features. The administrator can give specific users access to turn them on through the Allow a Person to Enable Labs Just for Themselves security option. With the latest version of Workamajig, no installation or conversion are necessary, and all updates are at no cost to the over 20,000 users of Workamajig. All client logins and vendor logins are always free.

The 1394 Trade Association (http://www.1394ta.org)-- of which Apple is a member, has issued a trio of new specifications focused on video compression, audio and music transmission, and set top box functionality. The Trade Association’s USA Set Top Box Test Specification Revision 1.0 defines a set of tests to verify the functionality of the 1394 interface -- better known as FireWire to Mac users -- as defined in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate for a functional 1394 interface in the STB. The standard defines a set of tests that when executed will verify a USA Set Top Box has correctly implemented all the required functionality. The revised BT.601 specification on the transport of uncompressed or compressed video addresses the upcoming analog ‘sunset’ directive that applies Jan. 1, 2011 to new Blu-Ray products. The "image constraint token" eliminates the potential for pirated unencrypted video. With this revision, BT.601 has been updated with the token for use with...

Intelerad Medical Systems (http://www.intelerad.com/en/index.php), which specializes in medical imaging PACS and workflow solutions, has announced the availability of InteleViewer for Mac, intended for radiology groups who wish to provide fully-featured image and report access to referring physicians with a Mac preference. Specifically designed for referring physicians, InteleViewer for Mac combines the benefits of Mac systems with Intelerad’s leading-edge medical imaging solutions, says Chris Henri, Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Intelerad. Mac users will experience the Mac OS X 64-bit Intel high speed viewing, as well as full support for FDA approved medical-grade displays, he adds. Intelerad’s native 64-bit InteleViewer for Mac comes with high-performance streaming of data for remote viewing and customizable layouts. Administration tools let radiology groups define user and application preferences as well as access permissions. InteleViewer for Mac supports the entire...

Apple will open a new retail store in Perth, Australia, this Saturday, June 26, at 9 am. It will be located on Hay Street in the business district. "A pastry shop moved out of the historic building last year, and Apple gutted the interior but retained the quaint façade, built a modern two-level, steel building behind it, and installed a standard store inside," says "ifoAppleStore" (http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2010/06/21/western-australia-the-store-i...). "Passersby will be protected by a stainless steel awning, and can marvel at the unusual window pane pattern, intricate plaster detailing, and huge cornice work at the roof line. The Perth Apple store will be the company's 293rd retail store. Apple plans to open another 20 or so during this fiscal year, with about half of those outside the U.S.

Vizio (http://www.viz.com) has introduced a wireless Internet router optimized for Vizio Internet Apps (VIA), the platform that enables viewers to experience web and on-demand content, as well as three wireless Blu-ray players with Internet Apps. The XWR100 Dual-Band HD Wireless Internet Router prioritizes HD video and audio to VIA HDTVs and Blu-ray players, such as VIA-enabled VBR200W, VBR210, VBR220 and VBR231 Blu-ray players that are capable of streaming content from online services such as VUDU, Netflix and Pandora. The universal wireless router can also be configured to prioritize traffic to other Internet-connected devices as well as share a high-speed Internet connection to other Internet capable devices in the home, such as laptops, game consoles and smart phones, according to Laynie Newsome, Vizio's chief sales officer and co-founder. The XWR100 802.11n dual-band wireless Internet router operates at both 2.4 and 5GHz at the same time so can also make use of the less crowded...

Koingo Software has released Amnesia 1.5 (http://www.koingosw.com/products/amnesia.php )for Mac OS X. Amnesia performs a smart scan to determine all related files to be removed. The app now uses a threaded process to search for apps with Spotlight and now performs an internal consistency check before allowing the application to launch. With Amnesia, you can uninstall applications, preference panes, screen savers, and Dashboard widgets, as well as all their related files. In addition, turn on a secure deletion option to prevent recovery of the removed files. Amnesia comes with a built-in backup function that creates an archive of related files in case you wish to restore them at a later time. It will reinstall the pieces of the product exactly where they came from -- even if you choose to restore to a different machine. Another feature Amnesia has to offer is the ability to create a list of untouchable software sets (in addition to the ones built-in). They're software products that...

Limit Point Software has updated AddMovie (http://www.limit-point.com/Utilities/AddMovie.html), a tool for combining multiple movies or images into a single movie and batch exporting movies to any format supported by QuickTime, to version 1.8.4. When saving exporter settings in Preferences, if the selected exporter's settings have not been changed then the default settings for that component will be saved. This way you can easily restore the default settings for that component after a change. AddMovie is a utility for concatenating several files into one single movie, or batch converting movies to other formats. It supports all formats provided by Quicktime. Since the output format is configurable, you can also use AddMovie to convert movie file formats, say from MPEG-4 to 3GP for display on your Bluetooth phone, etc, It requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. It's donationware. Try it and if you use it, donate to the developers so they can continue working on this and other Mac products.

Ecamm Network (http://www.ecamm.com) has released PhoneView 2.5, an update of the Mac desktop companion for the iPhone. The update adds full support for iOS 4. Phoneview gives iPhone and iPod touch users access to iTunes media, photos, notes, contacts, SMS and call history data stored on the communications device. Also, Mac files and folders can be copied to the phone for data storage and file transfer between Macs. What's more, notes can be added to the iPhone or iPod touch Notes program by dragging text files, Word docs, PDF files, and other formats into the PhoneView browser. A seven-day demo is available; registration is US$19.95.

Apple will open a new retail store in Los Cerritos, California, this Thursday, June 24. Apple Store Los Cerritos (http://www.apple.com/retail/loscerritos/) is located at 239 Los Cerritos Center, Cerritos, California 90703. The phone number is 562-356-1555. Regular store hours will be Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm. Apple Store State Street will be the company's 292nd retail store. Apple plans to open another 22 during this fiscal year, with about half of those outside the U.S.