ManiacTools releases MIDI to MP3 Converter for the Mac
ManiacTools (http://www.maniactools.com) has released MIDI to MP3
Converter for Mac OS X (10.5 and higher). The US$29.95 app lets you
convert MIDI files into into WAV or MP3. By using "SoundFonts," it
can purportedly surpass the capabilities of a particular sound card,
producing tunes that sound better, compared to the computer's usual
output.
Several SoundFonts can be used simultaneously, so the user is able to
assign individual SoundFonts to each instrument instead of using
ready-made General MIDI sets. In other words, the program turns a
usual home computer into a powerful synthesizer with a potentially
unlimited number of instrument samples, according to the folks at
ManiacTools.
Using SoundFonts, MIDI to MP3 Converter will convert a five-minute
MIDI file into MP3 in a few seconds. The program has a built-in ID3
tag editor and can supply converted files with important information,
like title, artist etc. It will accept MIDIs that are dragged and
dropped into its window....
Elgato releases EyeTV app for the iPhone, iPod touch
Elgato has released the EyeTV app for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's
available at the Apple App Store for US$4.99. With the EyeTV app,
EyeTV users can watch live TV and recordings on an iPhone/iPod touch
and browse the detailed program guide.
They can also use the iPhone to start recording TV shows back home on
a Mac immediately, or to schedule them to record later. The EyeTV app
connects to any Mac running the latest version of Elgato's TV
software, EyeTV 3.2, and can automatically find a Mac on the local
network using Bonjour. The EyeTV app can also find and access a
remote Mac via "My EyeTV," a free locator utility introduced today as
part of EyeTV 3.2.
EyeTV 3.2 and the EyeTV app use Apple's new HTTP streaming technology
that was introduced with iPhone OS 3.0. Unlike other proprietary
streaming solutions, EyeTV relies on Apple's specifications for
adaptive streaming using H.264 video and AAC audio codecs. EyeTV also
uses the iPhone's hardware acceleration for playback, and...
CUDA Fortran Compiler beta release available
Nvidia has released a public beta of the PGI CUDA-enabled Fortran
compile. Developed in collaboration with The Portland Group , it's
the first Fortran compiler compatible with Nvidia CUDA -enabled
graphics processing units (GPUs).
A compiler is a software tool that translates applications from the
high-level programming languages used by software developers into a
binary form a computer can execute. Developers are invited to
download the beta CUDA Fortran compiler for Mac OS X, Windows and
Linux systems from The Portland Group web site
(http://www.pgroup.com/support/downloads.php).
The PGI CUDA Fortran compiler requires the CUDA Software Developers
Kit (SDK) which is available from CUDA Zone
(http://www.nvidia.com/cuda). PGI compilers are recognized in the HPC
community for delivering world-class performance across a wide
spectrum of applications and benchmarks, according to the folks at
Nvidia.
Freeverse releases Eye Glasses app for the iPhone, iPod touch
Freeverse has announced the release of Eye Glasses, an iPhone
application that clearly displays objects that are too small to make
out -- from fine print to photo details. It's available for US$2.99
at the Apple App Store
(http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=331625...).
Eye Glasses uses the iPhone 3GS autofocusing camera to clearly
display text or imagery. To use Eye Glasses, users choose between
four different levels of magnification -- from 2x, 4x, 6x or 8x.
Point the iPhone camera at the item, and see it magnified on the
screen as the camera sharpens the image.
Cocktail 4.4 (Tiger Edition) has been released
Cocktail 4.4 (Tiger Edition), a general purpose utility for Mac OS X,
has been released. This version (http://cocktail.maintain.se) fixes
various bugs discovered in the previous release.
Cocktail (Tiger Edition) is now distributed as freeware and doesn't
require a license. The update is strongly recommended for all users
of Cocktail (Tiger Edition). It's distributed as a Universal Binary
and runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.
Typinator for Mac OS X adds Dropbox support
Ergonis Software (http://www.ergonis.com) has released Typinator 3.6,
the latest version of its tool for auto-typing text and
auto-correcting typos system-wide across all Mac OS X applications.
The new version hadds support for Dropbox, an online platform and
software that automatically syncs your files across your computers.
Setting up Typinator for using Dropbox synchronization is as easy as
defining Typinator's set folder to be located inside your Dropbox
folder with a new preferences setting. Now your snippets will be
instantly available on any of your other computers that you've
configured that way.
Additionally, Typinator 3.6 implements more improvements and changes,
including speed enhancements and increased compatibility with Mac OS
X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard") and many 3rd party applications.
Typinator 3.6 requires Mac OS X 10.4 or newer, and Mac OS X 10.5
("Leopard") is recommended. The new expansion technique requires Mac
OS X 10.5.5 or newer.
Typinator can be purchased on the...
PDFPen for Mac OS X gets new OCR engine
SmileOnMyMac has updated PDFPen
(http://www.smileonmymac.com/PDFpen/download.html), its PDF editing
and form-filling tool for Mac OS X, to version 4.5. The upgrade --
free to registered users of PDFPen 4.x -- incorporates the Nuance
Communications OmniPage Capture SDK OCR (Optical Character
Recognition) engine for improved accuracy when performing OCR on
scanned text documents.
PDFpen uses version 15.5 of the OmniPage OCR engine. It replaces the
Tesseract open source OCR engine in PDFpen on Intel-based Macs. In
addition to the OCR improvement, PDFpen 4.5 includes other new
features.
Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard") users can now scan directly into
PDFpen from Image Capture or TWAIN scanners. SmileOnMyMac also added
a new text highlighting tool which selects and highlights text in a
single action.
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...
Jiggler ready for Snow Leopard
Stick Software has announced version 1.4 of Jiggler
(http://www.sticksoftware.com/software/Jiggler.html), a freeware
utility for Mac OS X. The new version is compatible with Mac OS X
10.6 ("Snow Leopard").
Jiggler keeps your Mac awake through those lengthy tasks when it
would rather fall asleep, by jiggling your mouse periodically. This
means no more having to open System Preferences to change your sleep
time and your screensaver delay, only to have to change them back
again at the end.
Jiggler is Universal Binary, so runs natively on both PowerPC and
Intel Macs. It joins Stick Software products such as PhotoReviewer,
Eyeballs, Trisection, Fracture, BigFoot, Measles, Aquatint and
Constrictor.
RoGame Software releases BandMaster for the iPhone, iPod touch
RationalPlan for Mac OS X gets faster execution speed, interface
Stand By Soft has released RationalPlan 3.15.4
(http://www.rationalplan.com/), an update of the project management
software application developed to assist project managers in creating
plans, tracking progress, allocating resources, managing budgets and
analyzing workload, now going international and planning translation
in several languages. Version 3.15.4 sports an increase in its
execution speed, more task types, and interface improvements.
Until now users could handle tasks that have only fixed units for the
assigned resources. This means that once resources were assigned to
tasks with a certain amount of units these units were fixed that is
do not change on other task changes like duration or work. The
functionality was like this: changing task duration resulted in
keeping units fixed and adjusting task work; and the reverse changing
task work resulted in keeping units fixed and adjusting task duration.
With this new feature, project managers have the possibility to
automatically...
REAL Software ships REALbasic 2009 Release 4
REAL Software (http://realsoftware.com), creator of REALbasic, a
cross-platform development tool for creating software for Mac,
Windows and Linux, is now shipping REALbasic 2009 Release 4. This
release offers 97 improvements and 39 new features, including a new
report editor, which will be included in all versions of REALbasic,
and build automation, a feature exclusive to REAL Studio.
The new report editor allows developers to visually create a layout
for printing by dragging and dropping labels, fields, images and
more. Reports can be created to print a single page or multiple
pages. The layout is divided into sections (header, body, footer as
well as grouping sections for reports that have sorted data).
The new build automation feature of the Project Editor is only
available in the REAL Studio Edition. With Build Automation
developers can now automate the most common functions of building
their applications without having to write IDE scripts.
REALbasic Personal Edition for Mac,...
FileMaker releases Bento 3
FileMaker Inc. (http://www.filemaker.com) has released Bento 3, a new
version of the Mac OS X only personal database. For the first time,
Bento 3 integrates with iPhoto from Apple allowing you to store more
info about your photos and link them to contacts, projects, events
and other information stored in Bento.
Bento 3 also delivers new ways to share your information with other
Bento users. Just like sharing iTunes and iPhotos over a local area
network (LAN) using Apple's Bonjour technology, you can now share
your Bento libraries with up to five users over a wired or wireless
local network. You can also encrypt any field and assign passwords to
secure your information in Bento 3.
The new Grid view in Bento 3 delivers a method of displaying
thumbnails of photos, text and numeric-based information, while
improved File Lists show image thumbnails, instead of just text, says
Ryan Rosenberg, vice president, marketing and services, FileMaker.
With Bento 3, you can choose from 35 pre-...
Intelligent Assistance updates new Sequence Reporting Tool
Intelligent Assistance has updated their Sequence
Clip Reporter to version 1.5, even though the
application has been available for less than two
months. Thanks to a "massive amount" of customer
feedback, "we were able to add the features they
asked for, moving Sequence Clip Reporter forward
to a new version," says Intelligent Assistance'
CEO Philip Hodgetts.
Sequence Clip Reporter takes an XML export from
your finished, edited Final Cut Pro Sequence and
generates usage reports as an Excel spreadsheet
on selected video and/or audio tracks. As well as
all the features of version 1 -- Clip name,
Sequence start and end times; source in and out
and durations, plus comment fields -- version 1.5
adds these features:
° A completely revised interface;
° Video and audio tracks are identified with
different colored text (settable); ° Reports can
be limited to specified audio and video tracks;
° Estimated total duration for each reel is
reported; ° Additional sheets can be generated
for a reel-by...
Zevrix updates ArtOptimizer for Illustrator, adds Snow Leopard
Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has released ArtOptimizer
2.3, an update to its workflow automation solution for Adobe
Illustrator. The new version is compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow
Leopard").
ArtOptimizer eliminates the excess image data of document links and
performs image adjustments, reducing the size of Illustrator job. In
order to eliminate excess image data, ArtOptimizer automatically
scales the images in Photoshop to match their dimensions in
Illustrator, changes resolution according to the target resolution
specified, and reimports images to Illustrator at 100 percent.
In addition, ArtOptimizer can automatically convert image colors,
apply sharpening filters, merge and delete layers, and run Photoshop
Actions during processing. Version 2.3 also addresses several
performance and stability issues.
ArtOptimizer 2.3 can be purchased from the Zevrix Solutions web site
for US$129.95, as well as from authorized resellers. A demo is also
available for download....
Stuffit Deluxe 2010 for Mac OS X adds Connect service
Smith Micro Software has released StuffIt Deluxe
2010 for Mac
(http://www.smithmicro.com/stuffit/mac). The new
Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard") compatible release
includes StuffIt Connect, a new cloud-based file
transfer service that lets users share large
files without the hassle of email attachments or
FTP.
StuffIt continues to provide compression
technology, of course. It works with virtually
all files and compression formats, such as Zip.
StuffIt Deluxe 2010 eliminates the constraints of
email attachments by automatically redirecting
large files to the new StuffIt Connect web
service, according to Matthew Covington, senior
director, Product Management of Smith Micro
Software. Recipients receive invitations via
email that contain a link to the hosted file,
which lets them download shared files. Users can
access and create invitations to share content
from any Internet-connected device, including
iPhones and other smartphones. StuffIt Connect
protects files with 512-bit RC4 encryption...
MEI releases InPorter add-on for K4 Publishing System
Managing Editor (MEI), an Adobe premier development partner and a
provider of software solutions for the publishing industry, has
released InPorter, a new add-on utility developed by MEI for the
vjoon K4 Publishing System. InPorter automatically ingests several
different types of external content and their metadata into the K4
workflow.
InPorter is a server-side tool that streamlines the process of moving
content into K4, the editorial solution integrating Adobe InDesign
and Adobe InCopy, for use in production. It handles any kind of
object that can be managed in the K4 system, including InCopy
documents, InDesign layouts, pictures, ads, multimedia and more.
Using InPorter's Web interface, an administrator can configure
workflows for different types of content to be dropped in InPorter's
watched folders. When content arrives -- from a digital asset
management system, wire service, database, syndication partner, Web
site or another K4 publication, for example -- InPorter checks it
into...
Freeverse announces Fairy Trails app for the iPhone, iPod touch
Freeverse has released the Fairy Trails app
(http://freeverse.com/fairytrails), an augmented reality game for the
iPhone and iPod touch, leveraging the latest technology in iPhone OS
3.1, including camera and compass access. It's available for US$1.99
at the Apple App Store
(http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=331011...).
Here's how the game is described: "Shake the device to power the
detector and then scan your surroundings for magical creatures. Fairy
Trails uses the camera and compass of iPhone 3GS to merge the real
world and game world in spectacular ways. For iPod touch users, a
stunning forest setting is rendered for the fairies to inhabit."
JamBase releases version 2 of its iPhone app
JamBase (http://www.jambase.com), a database of show listings and
ticket information, has released an update (version 2) its free app
for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's available at the Apple App Store
(http://jambase.com/iphone/app).
Music fans can access the JamBase iPhone app and create their own
personalized tour schedule. It gives mobile music fan instant access
to the largest live show database, which combines member-contributed
concert information along with data received from thousands of music
industry partners such as booking agencies, venues and record labels.
JamBase's listings feature 60,000 artists across more than 50 genres,
performing in 70,000 venues worldwide. With version 2, individual
users can personalize their mobile connection to "My JamBase"
features. "My JamBase" is the free JamBase member experience which
enables music fans to track favorite artists and add upcoming shows
to calendars.
QNAP device blends set-top box, networked storage
QNAP Systems (http://www.qnap.com) has unveiled a new network
appliance described as a set-top player crossed with a NAS server.
The NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player bridges the gap between the
home network and the living room, says Meiji Chang, CEO of QNAP
Systems. It works with Mac, Window, Linux, and even UNIX-based home
networks.
The NMP-1000 solves the dilemma of how to centrally store, manage,
and playback growing amounts of digital content spread around the
home on multiple computers, he adds. It incorporates an internal hard
disk drive that catalogs digital pictures, videos, music, and other
content from computers on the home network and can play them back in
a home theater with the included remote control.
The new NMP-1000 connects to the home network via wired Ethernet
(wireless adapter ready) and to an HDTV via HDMI or Component
interfaces, or composite and S-Video interfaces for standard-def TVs.
The NMP-1000 is capable of playing back smooth Full HD 1080p video.
It...
iMinds releases MP3 'MindTracks'
iMinds (http://www.iminds.com), a new company based in Sydney,
Australia, has announced the release of a catalog of eight-minute
audio books that deliver "bursts of general knowledge." The first 72
of these "MindTracks" are now available for download in the North
America from Audible.com or iTunes and work with any MP3 player.
Initial titles include: "The Federal Reserve," "Epidemics,"
"Parkour," "History of Whaling," "D-Day Invasion," "Seven Wonders,"
"Film Noir," "Stockholm Syndrome" and "Evolution." The iMinds
catalog is expected to grow at an accelerated clip in the coming
months, with hundreds of MindTracks available by the end of 2010,
according to Olivia Woods, founder and managing editor of iMinds.
iMinds employs a mix of professional researchers, writers and topic
experts to produce high quality content designed specifically for the
spoken-audio entertainment format, she adds. All iMinds MindTracks
include high quality voice-over artists mixed with a sound-scape of
music and...
Dataram unveils XcelaSAN storage optimization app
Boris FX updates Boris Continuum Complete product line to version
Boris FX (http://www.borisfx.com) has announced that its flagship
Boris Continuum Complete product line has been updated to version
6.0.4.
The Boris Continuum Complete (BCC) product line includes BCC AE for
Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro, BCC FxPlug for Apple
Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, and Apple Final Cut Express, and BCC AVX
for Avid editing and finishing systems. The new version 6.0.4 release
includes a revamped optical stabilizer filter, enhanced support for
Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple Motion, new animated presets for BCC 6's
3D Objects filters, and official support for Apple Final Cut Pro 7,
Apple Motion 4, Avid Media Composer 4, Avid Symphony 4, and Avid
NewsCutter 8.
BCC 6.0.4 AE is a free update for BCC 6.x AE users, BCC 6.0.4 FxPlug
is a free update for BCC 6.x FxPlug users, and BCC 6.0.4 AVX is a
free update for BCC 6.x AVX users. The BCC 6.0.4 updates are
available for download from the Boris FX web site. Fully functional
14-day trial versions are available...
Miraizon announces Snow Leopard compatibility of Cinematize
Miraizon announced today that its current
versions of Cinematize® products, Cinematize 2
Pro for Macintosh Version 2.03 and Cinematize 2
for Macintosh Version 2.07, have been tested and
certified to be fully compatible with Mac OS X
10.6 Snow Leopard. Free updaters to the latest
versions are available for download at:
http://www.miraizon.com/support/downloads.html
Cinematize 2 and Cinematize 2 Pro are
award-winning DVD movie clip extractors that
allow you to extract audio, video, and subtitle
clips off of DVDs and convert them into formats
compatible with popular applications including
QuickTime, FinalCut, iMovie, iDVD, PowerPoint,
iTunes, Apple TV, and even an iPod. The extracted
clips can be used to create best-of movie clip
collections, multimedia presentations, movie
clips for viewing on an iPod or Apple TV unit, or
movie clips for posting on web sites including
YouTube.
Cinematize 2 includes everything you need to
start extracting from DVDs, while Cinematize 2
Pro includes many...
BoinxTV updated for Snow Leopard
Boinx Software has updated BoinxTV, a live production software for
video podcasters that turns any recent Mac into a TV studio, to
version 1.4. The upgrade is revved for Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard")
and also includes support for Axis network cameras and streamlines
the production workflow.
Its interface allows a single person to operate BoinxTV during the
recording session, says Boinx CEO Oliver Breidenbach. After the
starting of BoinxTV, the user can choose from the many predefined
templates, or one he previously created, making it easy to produce,
for example, a news show. In education, BoinxTV opens new horizons
for school TV whether students are recording a sport event or setting
up an interview with two cameras, Breidenbach says. In enterprise,
BoinxTV can be used by sales managers who want to address their staff
in a weekly podcast, he adds. And because it runs on a MacBook Pro it
can be used in the field as well as in a studio.
BoinxTV uses various inputs like video cameras,...
Absoft releases Fortran 11.0
Absoft Corpo. (http://www.absoft.com) -- a developer of compilers,
debuggers and software development tools for high performance
computing -- has announced general availability of the new Absoft Pro
Fortran 11.0 for x86 and x64 based Linux systems.
Release 11.0 is the first of Absoft's high-performance,
auto-parallelizing Fortrans to include support for OpenMP multi-core
parallel programming standards and optimizations for AMD's six-core
Opteron (Istanbul) and Intel Xeon (Nehalem) processors. Absoft's Fx3
graphical debugger has also been upgraded to support OpenMP threads
and the Absoft multi-platform IDE, has added an OpenMP control
feature among other improvements. Supported environments include RHEL
8, SuSE 3, Ubuntu, Fedora and Mandrake. Pricing starts at US$599.
Pro Fortran v11.0 also adds a new scheduler, which has demonstrated
performance increases of up to 10% in resource-constrained
environments, according to Wood Lotz, president of Absoft. SSE4/4.2
instructions are supported...
TI calculator released for the iPhone
Texas Instruments has released a calculator for
the iPhone and iPod touch. With BAII Plus,
business professionals and students can calculate
business deals, client finances, the price of
their next Café Latte on the go and more. It's
available for US$14.99 at the Apple App Store
(http://www.itunes.com/appstore/).
Designed for iPhone-packing realtors,
accountants, stock brokers and anyone who simply
needs to make short work of simple math or
complex financial equations, the BAII Plus app
takes advantage of the iPhone's fast CPU to
process complicated or long calculations,
according to the folks at TI. It's equipped with
all the original calculator's features. The
application also solves accrued interest,
amortization, cost-sell-margin, depreciation and
time-value-of-money calculations, such as
annuities, mortgages, leases and savings.
Zevrix releases PDF Checkpoint, a PDF workflow automation...
Zevrix Solutions has released PDF Checkpoint 1.0, a PDF workflow
automation solution. It preflights, exports as images and splits
multiple PDF files.
It lets users review and analyze preflight results quickly and
easily, according to the folks at Zevrix. The program is equally
suitable to process hundreds of files as well as single PDF documents.
PDF Checkpoint checks fonts, colors, images and metadata of multiple
PDF files and lets users instantly identify potential problems
according to user-defined preflight profiles. Preflight profiles let
users check PDF for specific attributes, such as image resolution,
color model, PDF/X compliance and others. PDF Checkpoint can also
route PDF into success/error folders according to preflight results
and generate preflight report for each file.
With PDF Checkpoint, you can export PDF pages into TIFF, JPEG and
other formats as RGB, CMYK or Grayscale images. You can specify image
resolution and scale. You can also split multipage files into...
Werck BV releases Checkout 3.0 point-of-sale software for the Mac
Werck BV has updated Checkout (http://www.checkoutapp.com), its
point-of-sale software for the Mac, to version 3.0. The upgrade adds
barcode label printing, a revamped Product Manager, and an overall
speed boost.
You can now add barcodes to items, then print on Avery or Dymo
labels. Checkout 3 has a brand new interface to set up product
variations like sizes and colors. The number of definable product
properties is limitless, according to the folks at Werck.
Rebuilt from the ground up, Checkout's new product manager offers
better search functions and allows for editing and deletion of
multiple products at the same time. Version 3 makes it possible to
accept down payments and deposits on orders.
A typical retail sale is now completed faster and easier. With
improved support for barcode scanners and magnetic swipe readers,
Checkout now purportedly works even better in a high-volume business.
Checkout 3 is priced at US$399.
Werck has also launched a new Checkout web store, EnStore. It's...
BannerZest for Mac OS X gets 10 new banners, more, in version 2.0
Aquafadas (http://www.aquafadas.com) has updated BannerZest, a flash
presentation tool for professional and amateur web designers, to
version 2.0. The upgrade adds 10 new banner themes (of which three
are exclusive to the Pro version), the ability to add a sound file,
the ability to publish a banner in a single .swf file (Pro version
only), the addition of theme presets and the ability to publish
banners in an iPhone compatible format (Pro version only).
With BannerZest you can turn your pictures into a flash slideshow.
BannerZest doesn't require you to know or even possess Flash,
according to the folks at Aquafadas. It uses the concept of themes,
which work like templates.
BannerZest comes in two versions: a standard edition (US$49) and a
pro version ($129). The Pro version has all the features of the
standard version, plus some advanced editing options, workflow
enhancements and specific pro templates.
Customers who purchased BannerZest on or after Aug. 1 will receive a...
Wacom adds multi-touch to Bamboo
Wacom (http://www.wacom.com) has announced a new computer input
solution with the introduction of multi-touch in its new family of
Bamboo tablets. Bamboo tablets are USB peripherals that deliver input
to desktop or laptop computer users.
They now support multi-touch (finger-based input) with pen input.
Bamboo includes a family of five distinct tablets: touch-only,
pen-only and three versions of the pen and Multi-Touch combination.
They're compatible with Mac and Windows systems.
The new Bamboo family is comprised of three core products: Bamboo
Touch (US$59), Bamboo Pen ($69), and Bamboo Pen and Touch ($99). Two
additional tablets, Bamboo Craft ($129) and Bamboo Fun ($199) form
the rest of the line-up
NewerTech introduces FireWire 800-400 adapter
Newer Technology (http://www.newertech.com) has announced the
US$12.99 NewerTech FireWire 800-400 Adapter to provide plug and play
connection of FireWire 400 devices to the latest Mac Pro, MacBook Pro
17-inch, Mac mini, iMac, and other computers with FireWire 800-only
support.
The NewerTech FireWire 800-400 Adapter solves the dilemma of how to
use existing FireWire 400 devices with the latest Macs, as well as
eliminates the hassle of determining which cable type and length to
buy, according to the folks at NewerTech. The adapter plugs into a
computer's FireWire 800 port via a 9-pin male (FW800) connector. The
other end of the Adapter features a 6-pin female FireWire 400
connector.
Autodesk expands options for Mac users
Autodesk (http://www.autodesk.com) -- which specializes in 2D and 3D
design, engineering and entertainment software -- and Parallels,
which makes virtualization and automation software, have signed an
agreement to make Parallels Desktop for Mac Autodesk's preferred Mac
virtualization software.
Autodesk will now support use of AutoCAD software, AutoCAD LT
software, Autodesk Inventor Professional software, Autodesk 3ds Max
software, Autodesk 3ds Max Design software and the Autodesk Revit
software platform for building information modeling (BIM) on Mac OS X
via Parallels Desktop. Autodesk added official support for these
products on the Mac via Boot Camp earlier this year.
With the launch of the Autodesk Alias family of software for Mac OS X
earlier this year, Autodesk now offers six native Mac OS X
applications for the entertainment, multimedia and design industries,
including Autodesk SketchBook Pro, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Mudbox and
Autodesk Stitcher Unlimited software.
Sassafras Software ships K2 6.2 with new tools for software cost
Sassafras Software (http://www.sassafras.com) has released a new
version (6.2) of K2 KeyAuditor & KeyServer with new tools for
optimizing, automating, and simplifying the management of software
assets throughout an enterprise.
K2 6.2 integrates new measurement metrics into application usage
tracking so that re-allocation of unused software licenses (and the
K2 client it- self) can become fully automatic based on usage
patterns. The set of built in reports can then be scrutinized for
trend analysis, migration planning, and for license contract renewal
negotiations. Many of the routine K2 client and license re-allocation
tasks will no longer require attention, resulting in greater
optimization of software budget and personnel resources, according to
John Tomeny, vic president of Business Development, Sassafras
Software.
K2 is a cross platform Software Asset Management (SAM) solution for
managing software license entitlements throughout an enterprise. It
tracks, controls, and reports...
Genius launches wooden speakers
Genius (http://www.geniusnetusa.com), a brand division of KYE
Systems, has announced a new addition to the company's line of
speaker systems, the SP-HF500A. It's an US$44.99 two-way,
high-fidelity, wood-enclosed system.
The SP-HF500A speakers utilize a three-inch speaker driver for
improved sound structure capable of delivering "crystal clear treble
and ground-rattling bass," according to the folks at Genius. The
speakers sport 14 watts of power and a burnished black panel.
There's a large button for power control and a tone button for timbre
adjustments. Additional features include an extra line-in jack to
connect an iPod, MP3 player, or CD player without disconnecting the
speakers from a computer, as well as a headphone jack for private
listening.
Strata Foto 3D CX 2 ships
Strata (http://www.strata.com), the company
adding the power of 3D to the designer's toolset,
today released Strata Foto 3D CX 2. This new
version of Foto 3D makes it even easier to create
3D models from photographs, allowing the use of
image sets taken from video as well as still
images. Foto 3D's patented technology has
revolutionized model creation of real-world
objects and version 2 takes this technology to
another level.
Strata Foto 3D CX allows the use of a standard
digital camera to capture real-world objects as
fully textured 3D models. Foto 3D is ideal for
difficult to model objects like organic shapes,
soft forms and hand made items. A plug-in for
Adobe's Photoshop is included which integrates
Foto 3D's model creation with Photoshop's image
and 3D model manipulation capabilities.
New in Strata Foto 3D CX 2 is the ability to use
images taken from a variety of sources, including
aerial photographs, frames taken from video, and
pictures of objects too large to fit within a...
MetaCommunications releases Workgroups 2010
MetaCommunications (http://www.meta-comm.com), a software developer
of cross-platform process management and productivity solutions for
the graphic arts industry, has releasedWorkgroups 2010, a major
upgrade to its collaborative process and productivity management
software suite for marketing, creative design, packaging and prepress
workgroups.
It's compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 and higher. Workgroups 2010 builds
upon its four core modules for project & workflow management,
document review & approval, document storage management, and
financial productivity management, while extending its capabilities
with hundreds of new features and improvements, according to Robert
Long, executive vice president of MetaCommunications. These new
features include a Document Organizer, a browser-based proofing tool,
and an integrated Developer Center community web site.
The Workgroups 2010 suite is available immediately. Free upgrades are
provided to customers who participate in the Meta...
Avid releases Digidesign Eleven Rack
Avid (http://www.avid.com) has released the
Digidesign Eleven Rack for guitar players. It's a
standalone hardware unit that combines a guitar
amp and effects processor with a computer
recording audio interface, to create a recording
and performance solution.
It will be available later this month at a
manufacturer's suggested retail price of
US$1,259. It's bundled with Pro Tools LE studio
mixing software.
Avid says that Eleven Rack provides guitarists
with three distinct solutions in one product that:
° Replicate everything guitarists love about
vintage and modern amplifiers without the hassle
of storing or maintaining them;
° Create the ability to record incredible guitar
tone without needing to re-record a great
performance due to bad tone;
° Reproduce tones captured in the studio in live
performances with unprecedented ease and
flexibility.
ezGear introduces ezVision interface for the iPod, iPhone
ezGear (http://www.ezgear.com) has introduced the ezVision Video
Glasses TH121 interface for the iPod and iPhone. They offer the
ability to watch any video on your iPod in a simulated bigger screen
format. The new ezVision for iPod plugs right into the bottom of your
iPod or iPhone and is "Made for iPod" and "Works with iPhone"
certified.
With the TH121, you can enjoy movies, TV shows, and music videos
stored on your iPod or iPhone on a larger format screen and in total
privacy, according to the folks at ezGear. The glasses are
lightweight, weighing four ounces, and have built-in earphones, a
rechargeable battery, and a cary bag.
The video glasses also come with a video adapters that can be used
with almost a DVD player or any videogame device, including XBox 360
video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation
Portable, and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems.
The ezVision Video Glasses come in two models: ezVision G1 and
ezVision X4. The former offer a...
Recordare adds Finale 2010 support to Dolet 5 for Finale plug-in
Recordare LLC has released version 5 of its Dolet plug-in for the
Finale music notation program. The plug-ins serve as "universal
translators" between music notation applications.
The Dolet 5 for Finale plug-in reads and writes MusicXML 2.0 and Open
Score Format 1.0 files for translations available between music
notation programs. Dolet 5 for Finale adds support for Finale 2010,
including Finale 2010's new percussion and chord features.
What's more, it moves beyond the MusicXML support provided with
Finale 2010 by including support for the Broadway Copyist font
family. Dolet 5 for Finale also improves import from Sibelius 6
files, adding support for importing new features such as feathered
beaming, jazz articulations, and German chord symbols, according to
Recordare CEO Michael Good.
More than 30 new and improved features have been added in version 5,
compared to the previous version 4.8. MusicXML 2.0 features such as
part name accidentals and per-part measure numbering are now...
TeamViewer offers new collaborative tools for the Mac
TeamViewer (http://www.teamviewer.com), a provider of solutions for
online communication and collaboration, now offers professionals
desktop sharing with instant chat messaging and customized
QuickSupport for advanced communication on a Mac.
Further enabling online collaboration, TeamViewer offers enhanced
chat instant messaging for the Mac platform. Designed especially for
business communication, group chat is possible with multiple partners
able to share immediately and effectively. Status updates signal
partner availability while messages sent when partners are away will
be displayed when the user is available.
In addition, companies using Mac OS are now able to facilitate
customized sharing and support with TeamViewer's Custom QuickSupport
tool. Businesses can incorporate their company logo, colors and
individual text to create brand continuity when using TeamViewer
QuickSupport to access colleague, client or prospect computers
anywhere in the world.
All TeamViewer software...
'Take Control of Mac OS X Backups, Fourth Edition'...
The "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups"
(http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/backup-macosx) by Joe Kissell has
been updated to its fourth edition. The 196-page tome is available
for US$15.
Kissell offers advice "that goes far beyond the false security of
simply turning on Time Machine or copying a few files to CD." He says
the ebook helps readers pick the best backup strategy for their
needs, complete with an at-a-glance comparison of different backup
strategies (low-cost, easy, safest), along with advice for backing up
digital photos and other media.
The ebook has an appendix aimed at readers who want to create their
own backups using Unix on the Mac command line, explains how to
backup Sindows volume for those who run Windows on their Macs, and
comes with coupons for $30 off Data Backup and 10% off CrashPlan.
FirmTek releases Snow Leopard compatible storage drivers
FirmTek (http://www.firmtek.com) has announced that the
SeriTek/2SE2-E SeriTek/2SM2 storage adapters are fully Mac OS X
10.6.x ("Snow Leopard") compatible.
FirmTek also offers the SeriTek/2SE2-E PCI-Express eSATA host
adapter, which is compatible with all Mac Pro models and the late
2005 PowerMac G5 (11,2). This 2-port SATA II controller enables
Macintosh PCI-Express equipped desktop owners to add external,
native, eSATA ports to their computer. With the release of the new
FirmTek 5.4.x driver the SeriTek/2SE2-E is fully Snow Leopard
compatible with the Mac Pro.
The new series 5.4.x FirmTek driver is built from the ground up to
take advantage of Snow Leopard. It adds SMART application support and
full 32-bit or 64-bit "Snow Leopard" compatibility. However, it will
only recognize FirmTek controllers.
IntelliScanner Corp. releases IntelliScanner Classic for $99
IntelliScanner Corp. (http://www.intelliscanner.com) has announced
IntelliScanner Classic, an US$99 smart barcode scanner that
automatically organizes, books, movies, and media. By scanning the
retail barcode, IntelliScanner automatically identifies the items
users' scans using popular online media databases, pulling down the
title, creator, cover artwork, and more.
IntelliScanner's included media organization software lets you:
organize books, movies, music, and video games: create lists of
favorite titles, track lending, create virtual bookmarks, and
generate insurance reports for a safe deposit box. It works with Mac
OS X and Windows XP/Vista and requires an available USB port.
For teachers and students, IntelliScanner Classic is available at a
special price of just $79. IntelliScanner's built-in Smart Lists and
Web 2.0 sharing tools let educators share their classroom's media
collection online for access by students and parents at home. Plus,
IntelliScanner's free iPhone web app...
iPresentee extends iWeb Themes collection
iPresentee (http://www.ipresentee.com), the developer of add-ons for
Apple's iWork and iLife applications, has extended iWeb Themes 5.0 to
be used with Apple's Web site building application, iWeb. iWeb is
part of the iLife bundle. It includes five new excellent themes:
Beauty, Solid, Furniture, Lite and Trade.
Each iWeb theme has 11 templates instead of ordinary eight. iWeb
Themes 5.0 includes following templates: Welcome, About Me, Photos,
My Albums, Movie, Blog, Podcast, Blank, My Hobbies and News. iWeb
Themes 5.0 can be customized. Each theme incorporates a number of
different graphic elements which can be removed, moved and changed in
size, opacity or color. They contain several different page layouts.
The new iWeb themes are compatible with iWeb 2.0 and iWeb 3.0
versions. Each iWeb Theme is available for US$10. The set of five new
themes may be purchased for $30. Samples and more info about iWeb
Themes are available immediately at the iPresentee web site.
ATTO, LaCie team up for storage solutions for video, IT pros
Projectur (http://www.projecturf.com/), a provider of on-demand
project and collaboration management software designed for small to
medium-sized businesses, will be rolling out Projecturf 2.0 -- a new
project collaboration tool. And it's Mac compatible. Pricing starts
at US$29.99 per month.
Projecturf 2.0 maintains the web-based project management software's
signature navigational scheme and features, including unlimited file
storage with no cap on users or project managers, sections
specifically created for developers and designers, and almost no
learning curve, according to the folks at Projecturf. Version 2.0
purportedly takes advantage of the recent advances in browser-side
programming languages to deliver a fast product that eliminates
clicks and provides immediate feedback.
A new ticketing/bug tracking system that contains ticketing numbers,
open/closed ticket logs, timecard integration, and the ability to
upload screenshots. There will also be a section to store and share...
ATTO, LaCie team up for storage solutions for video, IT pros
ATTO Technology (http://www.attotech.com) and LaCie
(http://www.lacie.com) have announced an OEM (original equipment
manufacturer) partnership designed to deliver integrated SAS/SATA and
Fibre Channel storage solutions for digital video and IT customers.
Pairing enterprise storage systems and high-performance host
adapters, the new partnership will deliver two product combinations
-- the ATTO ExpressSAS R380 SAS/SATA host adapter combined with LaCie
12big Rack Serial, as well as the ATTO Celerity FC-42ES Fibre Channel
host adapter, and LaCie 12big Rack Fibre storage system. The
integrated storage solutions provide users with the ability to edit
multiple streams of uncompressed HD video, while delivering a stable
and robust RAID-protected storage infrastructure, according to Tim
Klein, president and CEO of ATTO Technology.
ATTO's ExpressSAS R380 combines x8 PCIe technology and 3Gb/s SAS
speeds to deliver RAID-protected connectivity to the 12big Rack
Serial. The ATTO Celerity FC-42ES...
Adobe releases Photoshop Elements 8 for the Mac
Adobe has announced Photoshop Elements 8
(http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelmac/) for Mac and Windows,
providing automated and intelligent photo-editing technology across
both platforms. The newest version of the consumer photo-editing
software is the perfect complement to iPhoto for consumers who want
to go beyond the basics and tell amazing stories with their photos,
says Doug Mack, vice president and general manager of Consumer and
Hosted Solutions at Adobe.
For media management, Mac users have access to all the features in
Adobe Bridge CS4 software, which provides quick organization with a
custom viewing workspace and full-screen preview with one-click
close-ups. Keyword tags and a variety of search options are designed
to simplify photos quickly. Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac now includes
all of the intelligent photo-editing options as the Windows version.
In addition to Photomerge Exposure, Recompose and Quick Fix previews,
Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac features Scene...
Soundboard for Mac OS X gets Japanese localization
Ambrosia Software has updated Soundboard for Mac OS X
(http://www.ambrosiasw.com/dl/soundboard") to version 1.0.3. The
upgrade adds Japanese localization and fixes a bug relating to
registration on Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard").
Like cart machines in broadcast radio studios, Soundboard lets users
map sound effects, audio clips, or musical accompaniment to keys on
the Mac keyboard, triggered with a single tap. When you import audio
into Soundboard, it is converted to Apple Lossless format so playback
will be instant. According to the folks at Ambrosia, you'll be able
to find your desired sounds at a glance, and triggering them will
quickly become automatic.
Triggers can be renamed at will, color-coded, and shuffled around the
board to suit your needs. You can assign up to 32 sounds per tab, and
create as many tabs as you need, and you can share 'boards with other
Soundboard users.
Soundboard's 32 triggers can also be used to build custom mashups
from your onboard audio. You can create...
Kensington introduces sound-amplified iPhone cradle, mobile
Kensington Computer Group (http://www.kensington.com) has introduced
a new car mount with amplified sound for use with any iPhone
navigation application. The US$39.99 mount allows iPhone users to
easily navigate while driving, as well as double the volume of
turn-by-turn directions from navigation applications.
The Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount with Sound Amplified Cradle
for iPhone acoustically increases speaker volume without additional
battery drain to the iPhone, allowing drivers to navigate while
keeping their eyes on the road, according to Federic Frappeau,
Kensington global product manager. The sounds amplifying cradle
mounts in seconds to a vehicle windshield or vent and holds an iPhone
securely even on the roughest terrain, he adds. Compatible with any
navigation application for iPhone, the cradle will be carried in all
Apple stores beginning in early November 2009.
Kensington has also introduced eight new products to help users boost
the everyday performance of their...
Laptop Burka releases new anti-glare technology
Laptop Burka Inc. (http://www.laptopburka.com) has announced a new
product line released on the heels of the debut of their other new
invention, the Laptop Burka. The US$16.99 Geek Sheet offers a way to
work outside with a portable space that reduces glare by 100 percent.
"It's similar to the Laptop Burka," says Marc Johnson, owner and
inventor. "The Geek Sheet is breathable, light weight, and mobile."
It's white with a dark interior, reflects sunlight and creates a cool
work space. The Geek Sheet is designed to let you work or watch
movies in your own portable private space, Johnson says.
