IK Multimedia (www.ikmultimedia.com) has released the Total Studio 2 MAX bundle, a studio collection of software instruments and FX. It brings together 94 products in one single suite for macOS and Windows systems. Total Studio 2 MAX is designed for composers as well as engineers, creative sound designers, producers, performers, multimedia artists, broadcast professionals, and others. Features include full orchestral arrangements for TV, cinema and video games, as well as full-blown tracks in any style and genre. Total Studio 2 MAX and its entry-level version, Total Studio 2 DELUXE, are now available. They cost $999.99 and $499.99, respectively.

Xojo, Inc. (www.xojo.com) — the company that makes Xojo, a cross-platform development tool for developing native apps for the desktop, web, iOS and Raspberry Pi — has announced that in honor of Pi Day 2018, Xojo Pi licenses will be free, today and every day. Xojo Pi licenses allow you to build console apps for Linux ARM for use with Raspberry Pi 2 and Raspberry Pi 3. "Back in 2015 at the Xojo Developer Conference when we announced Xojo would be adding support for the Raspberry Pi, we thought it was a fun extra for Xojo users," says Geoff Perlman, Xojo founder and CEO. "We were not expecting the overwhelming excitement and interest from the Xojo community and makers around the world! To celebrate Pi Day we're making Xojo Pi licenses free from Pi Day forward!"

Javier Ramirez has introduced Wakefy (https://wakefy.com) for macOS 10.12 or later. It’s a free app that turns your Mac into a Spotify alarm clock. Wakefy forces you to actually get up and walk to turn off the alarm, and allows you to wake up to your favorite Spotify tunes. It works even if your Mac isn’t awake. The utility lives in your menu bar and only pops up when you need it. You can set it once, then forget about it.

Apple will host its 29th annual Worldwide Developers Conference at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California, June 4-8. WWDC provides an opportunity for developers to learn more about how to create new experiences across Apple's platforms for the Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and HomePod. A range of developer application programming interfaces (APIs) — including SiriKit, HomeKit, HealthKit, GymKit, MusicKit, ResearchKit, and Core ML — give developers ways to help users take command of everything from their health and homes, to how they get around, shop and learn. Developers and Apple enthusiasts everywhere can livestream the conference on the WWDC app for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, as well as through the Apple Developer website. Developers can apply for tickets now through March 22 at 10 a.m. PDT via the WWDC website (https://developer.apple.com/wwdc/register/). Tickets are issued through a random selection process, and developers will be notified of...

Zevrix Solutions has announced Output Factory Server 2.0.13, a maintenance update to the company's output workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. Output Factory automates printing and exporting from InDesign by processing files from hot folders. The app can serve unlimited users and offers single page export, layer versioning, preflighting and more. The new version lets users edit workflow settings during processing without having to restart hot folder watching for the changes to take effect. Output Factory Server can be purchased from the Zevrix website (www.zevrix.com) for $699.95. A demo is available for download. The upgrade to version 2 is $350 for licensed users of Output Factory Server 1.x and BatchOutput Server. Output Factory Server requires macOS 10.7-10.13 and Adobe InDesign CS5-CC 2018.

Apple has signed an agreement to acquire Texture, the digital magazine subscription service by Next Issue Media LLC. Texture offers access to over 200 magazines for $9.99 per month.. With Texture, users enjoy the magazines they know and love, while discovering new content that fits their passions and interests. “We’re excited Texture will join Apple, along with an impressive catalog of magazines from many of the world’s leading publishers,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We are committed to quality journalism from trusted sources and allowing magazines to keep producing beautifully designed and engaging stories for users.” “I’m thrilled that Next Issue Media, and its award-winning Texture app, are being acquired by Apple,” said John Loughlin, CEO of Next Issue Media / Texture. “The Texture team and its current owners, Condé Nast, Hearst, Meredith, Rogers Media and KKR, could not be more pleased or excited with this development. We...

iMobie has released PhoneRescue 3.6.0, a maintenance update to their data recovery software for macOS and Windows. Developed exclusively for iPhone and Android users suffering from data loss, it’s a tool that can retrieve lost messages and other important data directly from iPhone and Android phones, even without a backup. The app allows users to preview the deleted data and select those that really matter to recover. A single user license for PhoneRescue is $49.99 and a family license is $69.99. You can purchase a license at the iMobie online store (www.imobie.com).

Malwarebytes, a malware prevention and remediation solution, has announced the extension of its visionary endpoint protection to support on Macs. Businesses with Mac computers can benefit from Malwarebytes Endpoint Protection powered by the Malwarebytes Cloud Platform, according to CEO Marcin Kleczynski.  Based on Malwarebytes telemetry, malware targeting Mac operating systems more than doubled from 2016 to 2017. In the year 2017 alone, Mac threats increased more than 270 percent. New threats identified in the first two months of 2018 indicate a similar pace of malware development, says Kleczynski.   With Mac Endpoint Protection, a single dashboard unites Endpoint Protection for both macOS and Windows Windows and Mac computers for use by the system administrator. Mac EP doesn’t require a constant connection to the cloud platform, meaning users are still protected when they’re not connected. Enterprise compliance programs may safely incorporate Macs with Malwarebytes Endpoint...

Apple’s has released its 12th annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, which details progress the company is making to improve working conditions at supplier facilities, protect the planet and ensure responsible sourcing. The tech giant says that, since 2007, almost 15 million supplier employees have been trained on their rights, including three million last year. Constantly raising the bar, finding problems and fixing them, providing advancement opportunities and reporting transparently are fundamental to Apple’s supplier responsibility efforts, according to Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams. He says that the company’s efforts to create a greener supply chain resulted in significant progress in 2017. All iPhone final assembly sites around the world have now been certified as zero waste to landfill. More of Apple’s products were made using renewable energy, while also reducing overall energy usage and carbon emissions. Suppliers working with Apple implemented energy...

The Khronos Group, an open consortium of leading hardware and software companies creating advanced acceleration standards, has released the Vulkan 1.1 and SPIR-V 1.3 specifications. Version 1.1 expands Vulkan's core functionality with developer-requested features, such as subgroup operations, while integrating a range of proven extensions from Vulkan 1.0. Khronos will also release full Vulkan 1.1 conformance tests into open source. AMD, Arm, Imagination, Intel Corp., NVIDIA and Qualcomm have implemented conformant Vulkan 1.1 drivers. Find more information on the Vulkan 1.1 specification and associated tests and tools at Khronos's Vulkan Resource Page (https://www.khronos.org/vulkan/).

Houdah Software has introduced HoudahGeo 5.2, an upgrade to its photo geocoding solution for macOS. The app "pins" photos to locations where they were taken. Just like a GPS-enabled camera, HoudahGeo embeds latitude, longitude and altitude information within the image file. It works with Photos, iPhoto, Aperture, and Adobe Lightroom. Version 5.2 adds support for Lightroom Classic, brings enhancements to the geocoding workflow, and adds support for newer EXIF tags. Licenses can can be purchased from the Houdah Software store. HoudahGeo 5.2 is priced at $39 for a single-user license. A demo is available for download.

Twelve South has announced an update to its BookArc mod MacBook stand (https://tinyurl.com/km9hbjo) with a wood focused design. It works with most Mac laptops, including the MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 3. The folks at Twelve South say the revved BookArc is inspired by mid-century modern furniture design with a birch finish designed to complement to most decors and MacBook colors. The stand holds your MacBook vertically, minimizing desk clutter. BookArc möd comes with soft, interchangeable silicone inserts to fit current MacBooks (Thuderbolt 3 / USB-C), MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Retina. Twelve South is launching it with a $10 discount for $49.99. This will be a temporary deal that will last for the next two weeks when the price will jump back up to $59.99.

StarTech.com has released the $316.99, a turnkey solution for those looking to extend their laptop expansion options. The chassis enables users to add their choice of external PCI Express (PCIe) card to their MacBook or Windows laptop, and features a dedicated port for connecting a DisplayPort monitor. For additional scalability, the chassis also supports Thunderbolt 3 daisy chaining. The expansion chassis is available for purchase individually, or bundled with one of a variety of StarTech.com PCIe cards. The bundles available include 10 Gigabit networking, USB 3.1, FireWire, and m.2 SSD connections. The Thunderbolt 3 expansion chassis supports business and creative professionals’ use of many external add-on peripherals and storage media, according to Carey Cline, senior product manager, StarTech.com. Also, by adding this expansion chassis, users won’t lose their investment in previously purchased PCIe cards and the devices connected to them when upgrading to a Thunderbolt 3 laptop.

Apple has released the fourth developer betas of macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, iOS 11.3, and tvOS 11.3. Registered developers can download them from Apple's Developer Center — or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

Zevrix Solutions has announced Output Factory Server 2.0.12, a maintenance update to company's output workflow automation tool for Adobe InDesign. Output Factory automates printing and exporting from InDesign by processing files from hot folders. The app can serve unlimited users on a network and offers layer versioning, preflighting, single page export and more. Version 2.0.12 improves handling of email alerts triggered by preflight errors and addresses issues related to corrupted workflow files. Output Factory Server can be purchased from the Zevrix website (www.zevrix.com) for $699.95. A demo is aavailable for download. The upgrade to version 2 is $350 for the licensed users of Output Factory Server 1.x and BatchOutput Server. Output Factory Server requires macOS 10.7-10.13 and Adobe InDesign CS5-CC 2018.

Case-Mate has announced a new category with the launch of the Power Pad, a fast wireless charger with an optional stand included. CEO Steve Marzio says it engages Qi-enabled devices at the highest charging speeds possible, including 7.5W of power for the latest Apple iPhones (iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X) and 9W of power for the latest Samsung devices. The Power Pad also includes a sturdy stand designed to be used on a table, desk, or countertop, displaying your device in either portrait or landscape views. Check incoming texts or emails, answer the phone, follow a recipe, utilize as an alarm clock, or stream the latest series, all while your phone is charging. There’s also a “soft” LED light indicator that confirms charge initiation upon contact, so you can place and go with assurance that your device is indeed charging. The "iPhone shaped" charging pad is separate from the stand, so if you prefer to simply lay flat, you can easily do that as well. There’s a slip resistant...

Quark has announced the upcoming availability of QuarkXPress 2018 (https://tinyurl.com/y9cznolc), the next new full version of Quark’s graphic design and page layout software. Coming on May 16, 2018, QuarkXPress 2018 will bring designers and creative professionals “new powerful typography, print and digital publishing features necessary to meet daily creative and productivity demands.” If you buy or upgrade to QuarkXPress 2017 now, you’ll receive QuarkXPress 2018 free when it arrives on May 16.All QuarkXPress users on versions 3-10, 2015 and 2016 as well as those purchasing the Competitive Upgrade are eligible for the Buy QuarkXPress 2017, Get QuarkXPress 2018 promotion. Customers who already own QuarkXPress 2017 can pre-order the QuarkXPress 2018 upgrade and save 15% in March, 10% in April, and 5% in May until QuarkXPress 2018 arrives. All pre-order customers will be among the first to receive the new release a few days before it is publicly available.   QuarkXPress 2017 and the...

Games PR and marketing agency Big Games Machine has published its first-ever survey of games journalists, giving an insight into their daily frustrations and ever-increasing workload. With thousands of games across PC, console and mobile being launched every year, journalists are inundated with pitches from PRs and developers like never before. While this was seen as a nice problem to have, the strongest feedback from reviewers was that developers and PRs could be doing a lot more to help journalists do their job, and give their own games the best chance of being covered. The report, “Overworked, underpaid and passionate: a survey of games journalists,” is based on responses from 217 games journalists from across Europe and the US, including some of the best-known sites like Game Informer, PC Gamer, n3rdabl3, Recombu, Forbes, Eurogamer, IGN, VG247, Engadget, Gizmodo and 148 Apps. It’s free to download at https://tinyurl.com/yavsohzn. Games journalists told Big Games Machine that...

Acapela Group, Dutch charity Nederlandse Stichting voor het Gehandicapte Kind (NSGK) and AssistiveWare have launched the first Dutch text to speech children's voices. They’ll benefit children who cannot speak and rely on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. The voices will be available to download exclusively in Proloquo2Go (https://tinyurl.com/ycgfx49v), the $249.99 iOS app that gives a voice to over 175,000 children, teens and adults around the world. The Dutch voices, named Thijs and Merel were recorded by and for children. They will benefit children who cannot speak and rely on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems.

Skiers and snowboarders can now use Apple Watch Series 3 to track their activities via new updates to apps available in the App Store. Watch users can now record runs, see vertical descent and other stats, and contribute active calorie measurements directly to the Apple Watch Activity app. Developers are taking advantage of the built-in GPS and altimeter in Apple Watch Series 3 as well as custom workout APIs released in watchOS 4.2 to enable tracking of specialized metrics. App updates for snoww, Slopes, Squaw Alpine, Snocru and Ski Tracks now track new metrics on the slopes including: total vertical descent and horizontal distance; number of runs; average and maximum speeds; total time spent; and calories burned. Apps can auto pause and resume and users will get credit towards their Activity rings; workout information will also be recorded to the Health app on iPhone with user permission. Using Siri, users can start Slopes and snoww to track their runs using just their voice. “Having...

Joyoshare (www.joyoshare.com) has announced Screen Recorder for Mac, a video capture tool that can record screen videos with audio simultaneously on macOS. It allows users to record all screen activities, including desktop videos, audio, streaming music, games, webcams, online chats, video calls, lectures, and more. You can then save recordings in media formats such as MP4, MOV, WMV, FLV, and more. Joyoshare Screen Recorder for Mac is sold with three different license types, including: $29.95 for a single license copy with lifetime free software update;$59.95 for 2-5 Macs with lifetime free update; and $79.95 for unlimited use. The software is compatible with macOS 10.8 and later. A demo is available for download.

Norbert M. Doerner has released NeoFinder 7.2.1 (https://www.cdfinder.de), an update of its media asset management tool for the Mac. Among other things, you can now generate thumbnails and metadata from Luminar 2018 files (".lmnr" file suffix) NeoFinder 7.2.1 is a free update to all NeoFinder 7.x users. NeoFinder 7.x is a paid upgrade to licensed users of NeoFinder 6.x and the old CDFinder, upgrade price starting at $22.47 New licenses start at $34.30 for a NeoFinder Private License.

Yummy Software has announced Yummy FTP Pro 2.0, an upgrade to their flagship file transfer app. Yummy FTP Pro is a Mac file transfer app. Version 2.0 introduces a new, Retina-focused user interface overhaul with streamlined local/remote file browser design, new navigation path bar, drag ’n drop-enabled with integrated favorites, history, and more. Yummy FTP Pro 2.0 requires macOS 10.8 or higher. It costs $29.99 and is available directly from Yummy Software (www.yummysoftware.com) Upgrades cost $15. Customers who purchased version 1.0 since Dec. 1, 2017, can obtain a free upgrade.

The Khronos Group (www.khronos.org), an open consortium of leading hardware and software companies creating advanced acceleration standards, has announcesd that the Vulkan Working Group’s Portability Initiative has been working with Khronos members Valve, LunarG, and The Brenwill Workshop to enable Vulkan applications to be ported to Apple platforms. The Vulkan Portability resource page links to a collection of free and open source set of tools, software development kits (SDKs), and runtime libraries to enable Vulkan development on macOS and deployment on macOS and iOS platforms. Valve is extending Dota 2 using the Vulkan tools on macOS to achieve y higher performance than native OpenGL drivers. Vulkan support for Dota 2 on macOS will be released in the coming months as a free update.   “We have been running substantial production loads through the Vulkan tools on Mac, including Dota 2 which is now running faster than the native OpenGL version,” says Pierre-Loup Griffais at Valve. “...