Maintain has served up Cocktail 9.2 (El Capitan Edition), the latest maintenance update for users running OS X El Capitan 10.11. Cocktail is a general purpose utility for OS X that lets users clean, repair and optimize their Macs. This version adds ability to clear CoreDuet database and ability to view, rotate and delete archived Authorization, CoreDuet, Security and XPC Activity log files. It also adds OS X 10.11.2 compatibility and contains improvements on the "Clear log files" procedure. Cocktail 9.2 (El Capitan Edition) requires OS X El Capitan 10.11 to run. Cocktail (Yosemite Edition) for OS X 10.10, Cocktail (Mavericks Edition) for OS X 10.9, Cocktail (Mountain Lion Edition) for OS X 10.8 and Cocktail (Lion Edition) for OS X 10.7 are available for download from the Maintain website (http://www.maintain.se/cocktail). It costs US$19 for a single user license. A demo is available for download.

IK Multimedia has announced the T-RackS Mic Room for Macs and PCs. It’s a microphone-modeling module that allows producers to process and "re-mike" their physical microphones to sound and perform like some of the most popular studio microphones of all time. T-RackS Mic Room has a collection of over 20 classic and contemporary models to choose from. Its selection covers every microphone type from condensers to dynamics to ribbons and beyond. Mic Room is a module for T-RackS, and it's available in the Custom Shop. The T-RackS Custom Shop for Mac/PC is a free DAW plug-in and standalone app that gives producers, engineers and musicians 24/7 access to studio production gear. Once installed, its collection of processing plug-ins for mixing and mastering can be browsed, auditioned and purchased. Each model can be tested as a fully functional demo for a period of 14 days. Mic Room is available via the IK online store (www.ikmultimedia.com/trmicroom0 and T-RackS Custom Shop for $69.99. Mic...

Seagate Technology (www.seagate.com) and Newisys (www.newisys.com) have announced that 21 Newisys NSS-2601 with dual NSS-HWxEA Storage Server Modules deployed with Seagate’s newest SAS 1200.2 SSD drives can be combined in a single 42U rack to achieve block I/O performance of 1TB/s with 5PB of storage. Each Newisys 2U server with 60 Seagate SSDs is capable of achieving bandwidth of 49GB/s. Newisys is a division of Sanmina Corp. and a provider of data center products for enterprise and cloud applications. Applications that might benefit most from this flash solution include those where microseconds matter in processing massive amounts of data, says Brett Pemble, vice president and general manager of flash products, Seagate. These applications might include metadata caches for large data centers, as well as prediction models for financial markets, oil and gas, and weather that are constantly changing and in need of pushing the performance envelope in a constant race against time, he...

Apple and Sonos have announced (http://tinyurl.com/pktffbz) that Apple Music will be available in public beta on Sonos starting Dec. 15. Listeners will have the ability to stream all their favorite aspects of Apple Music, including For You, New, Radio, and My Music, through Sonos smart speakers in any room of their homes. "Streaming is bringing more music into everyone's lives—and that's a better life. The introduction of Apple Music marks an inflection point for streaming and its mass adoption," said Sonos co-founder and Chief Executive Officer John MacFarlane. "Now that we have access to virtually all the music on Earth, how music lovers listen to it is even more important. We are honored to bring Apple Music to Sonos listeners all over the world.” The public beta allows many features of Apple Music to be controlled by the Sonos app on an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC and Android phone, and played in any or multiple rooms in the home. General availability will start in early...

Appocto has introduced Censorate for Mac OS X. It allows you to pixelate, blur or hide sensitive or unwanted areas in images. Censor ate is designed for users who who frequently post on social media like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Censorate is compatible with OS X Yosemite and El Capitan. It sells for $4.99 and is available from Appocto online (http://appocto.com).

Times for Fun has upgraded fgrab, its screen recorder for the Mac, to version 1.5. It’s been partially rewritten for OS X 10.10 Yosemite and 10.11 El Capitan. With fgrab, capture any action on your screen and save it as a screen movie. After recording you can immediately play it back without an export procedure. fgrab is available from Times for Fun (http://www.timesforfun.de/) for approximately $20.

24U Software has announced 24U Appearance OSAX 4.0.1 for Mac OS X. The scripting addition allows AppleScript script writers to interact with users via dialogs, notifications, alerts, progress indicators, and floating messages without the need to use a complex development tool, such as Xcode. Version 4.0.1 ensures that scripts created on older OS X will still work, even on the new OS version. It also brings support for OS X 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, and 10.11, improved memory management and more. 24U Appearance OSAX requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It’s available as shareware. You can install 24U Appearance OSAX, and try it out for 14 days for free. After this you’ll need to register. Licenses for 24U Appearance OSAX start at US$49 per user. Version 4.0.1 is a free update for owners of version 4.0. Existing customers of version 3 can upgrade to the new version at 30 percent off the regular price. Optional Premium Support and Implementation service are available with the purchase of 24U...

Zevrix Solutions has announced BatchOutput PPT 2.2.1, a compatibility update to its output automation solution for Microsoft PowerPoint on Mac OS X. In addition to batch printing, the software lets users carry out automated professional PDF production directly from PowerPoint eliminating the need for time consuming post-processing. Users can reduce PDF file size, optimize images and encrypt PDF files. The new version makes BatchOutput PPT compatible with Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan. BatchOutput PPT can be purchased for US$39.95 from the Zevrix website (www.zevrix.com). A demo is available for download. BatchOutput PPT requires Mac OS X 10.5 - 10.11 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2008, 2011 or 2016.

Mireth Technology Corp. has released version 4.8.7 of NetShred X (http://tinyurl.com/plqvu8s), its Internet eraser app that erases browsing data: internet cache, history, mail and more. The upgrade adds support for Firefox 42. NetShred X is designed to run automatically, without user intervention. Since erasing temporary internet files can take some time, its runs in the background. NetShred X is available for immediate download, or on CD-ROM, starting at $24.95 for an annual subscription. Educational pricing and volume discounts are available. NetShred X runs on Mac OS X 10.3 and higher.

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) has announced details for the fuel-2017 Mitsubishi Mirage featuring Apple CarPlay support, a new exterior design, improved performance and enhanced interior appeal. The Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback will be available at dealers in spring 2016. CarPlay gives iPhone users a way to make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages with just a word or a touch. Users can control CarPlay from the car’s native interface or just push-and-hold the voice control button on the steering wheel to activate Siri without distraction. "CarPlay has been designed from the ground up to provide drivers with an incredible experience using their iPhone in the car," says Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPhone and iOS Product Marketing. "iPhone users always want their content at their fingertips and CarPlay lets drivers use their iPhone in the car with minimized distraction." Once an iPhone is connected to a vehicle with CarPlay integration, Siri helps you...

Troi Automatisering has released Troi File Plug-in 8.0.5 for FileMaker Pro 14/ The updated file management plug-in for FileMaker Pro 14 fixes problems and improves several functions. Version 8.0.5 is a maintenance update of the plug-in for manipulating external files and folders directly from FileMaker Pro. In this version Troi Automatisering improved the working of the CreateThumbnail, Substitute and CopyFile functions and fixed some problems in the DragAndDrop and the GetDateCreated and GetDateModified functions. A fully functional demo version of Troi File Plug-in 8.0.5 is available for downloading at Troi’s website (http://tinyurl.com/35alat6). Licenses cost US$ 99 per user. Details on developer licenses and multi-user discounts can be found on the product web site. Upgrading to version 8.0.5 is free for all users of version 8.0 to 8.0.4: version 8.0.5 works with the same registration as the 8.0 version. Users who bought a license for Troi File Plug-in on or after Nov. 1, 2014 are...

SilverWiz has conjured ups MoneyWiz 2.2 (http://moneywizapp.com), an update of the money manager for iOS and Mac OS X. The app offers reports, worldwide online banking and instant sync between all your devices. For iOS, MoneyWiz 2.2 adds support for 3D Touch, iPad Pro, and iPad Split Screen. MoneyWiz costs US$4.99. It’s available worldwide exclusively at the Apple App Store (for iOS) and Mac App Store (for OS X) in the Finance category.

Starting today, 100 local business owners across the country are the first to accept chip cards and payments like Apple Pay from their customers with Square's new reader, giving their customers a simple, fast, and secure payment experience. The first group of businesses to use Square's new reader include Honey Butter Fried Chicken in Chicago, Philz Coffee in San Francisco, Sump Coffee in St. Louis, Cafe Grumpy in New York City, and all 20+ merchants in the Urbanspace Vanderbilt food hall in New York. "We've always wanted to offer our customers the option to pay with Apple Pay and we're thrilled that Square has helped us make this a reality," says Joshua Kulp, Executive Chef of Honey Butter Fried Chicken in Chicago. "Our customers have been asking about contactless payments. Now it's here -- with one tap, customers at our Grand Central location can grab a coffee right before they jump on the train!" adds Caroline Bell, Owner of Cafe Grumpy in New York City. Local sellers are also...

AKVIS has released AKVIS NatureArt 8.0, for Mac OS X and Windows. It’s a collection of nature effects for images. Version 8.0 adds the new Aurora effect. NatureArt 8.0 now includes 10 basic effects: rain, sun, water, lightning, clouds, frost, rainbow, aurora, fire, and ice. Each has a number of presets for creating a variety of natural phenomena. A demo of NatureArt 8.0 is available for download at the AKVIS website (www.akvis.com). On the Mac platform, it requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. The product is available as a standalone application and as a plugin filter for Adobe Photoshop and other image editors. A home license sells for US$72. Version 8.0 is a free upgrade for recent buyers. Users whose license is not valid for the new version can get NatureArt 8.0 with the Aurora effect for $14.95.

Cocoatech has announced Path Finder 7.3, a free update of their file browser for Mac OS X. The update includes a long requested feature: Saved Searches. Path Finder allows you to view hidden files, compare, merge and synchronize folders, batch rename and batch select files, use Dual Pane and full keyboard navigation to browse your file system and more. With version 7.3, you can save search results and criteria as smart folder. It also has improved discovery of SMB/CIFS shares/volumes in the local network, as well as performance and stability tweaks. Path Finder 7.3 requires Mac OS X 10.7 or higher. A 30-day demo is available for download. Registration is normally $39.95 for a single user license applicable for up to three user-owned computers. However, to celebrate the software’s 14th anniversary Cocoatech is offering 35 percent OFF the regular price. Use the coupon code ANNIVERSARY at the Cocoatech online store (http://www.cocoatech.com/) to get the discount, which is available...

GlobalOnePay, a provider of omni-channel payment processing technologies and merchant services, now supports Apple Pay. GlobalOnePay merchants will now have another payment method in Canada to offer buyers. The GlobalOnePay payments processing platform is already accepting Apple Pay in the United States and United Kingdom, where the mobile payment service was already operating. To begin accepting Apple Pay, Canadian GlobalOnePay merchants just need to show buyers that Apple Pay is now an accepted form of payment for American Express cardholders in-store or within apps.  Apple Pay transaction processing has been built into the GlobalOnePay payment gateway and requires no additional software development or integration between the merchant and GlobalOnePay.   
“Many consumers want additional, convenient payment methods, and GlobalOnePay is committed to ensuring our merchants can meet those demands,” says Philip Fayer, president and chief executive officer of GlobalOnePay. “As of today...

Filter Forge Inc. has released Filter Forge 5.0, a Photoshop plug-in that allows computer artists to build their own filters in a visual editor or download thousands of user-submitted filters from the online library. This release introduces Randomization Enhancements, a bunch of new components (Bomber Plus, Map Switch, Modulo, Bricks, Tiles and Pavements Plus) and much more. For more information, visit the Filter Forge website at http://www.filterforge.com or read further. Randomization Enhancement includes the ability to protect filter settings from randomization, the ability to quickly randomize specific parameters, and a simplified randomization settings menu. New components will give filter authors more freedom in creating new versatile filters and the end-users will benefit from this new feature as well. The first filters for the 5.0 version have already been submitted to the library and the folks at Filter Forge Inc. say they’re expecting much more. Now there’s the ability to...

Maintain has announced Cocktail 9.1.1 (El Capitan Edition), the latest maintenance update for users running OS X El Capitan 10.11. Cocktail is a general purpose utility for OS X that lets users clean, repair and optimize their Macs. This version adds the ability to delete locked or inaccessible items using SRM secure delete. It also includes improvements on the "Purge inactive memory" procedure and a number of bug fixes. Cocktail 9.1.1 (El Capitan Edition) requires OS X El Capitan 10.11 to run. Cocktail (Yosemite Edition) for OS X 10.10, Cocktail (Mavericks Edition) for OS X 10.9, Cocktail (Mountain Lion Edition) for OS X 10.8 and Cocktail (Lion Edition) for OS X 10.7 are available for download from Maintain website. Cocktail costs US$19 for a single user license and is available for purchase from the Maintain website (http://www.maintain.se/cocktail). When unregistered, Cocktail runs in demo mode and will expire after the tenth launch.

Intuit has released Quicken 2016 for Mac and Windows users. The Mac version includes integrated bill pay that lets users pay their bills, transfer money between accounts, see what bills have been paid, and which are coming or are past due so they can manage cash flow. The Quicken product line for 2016 is available now at Quicken.com and at select retailers. It’s available in a variety of configurations with pricing ranging from $39.99 to $164.99.

CalDigit (www.caldigit.com) revealed two new USB Type-C docks at Inter BEE 2015 in Japan. The first is the CalDigit USB-C Dock, and the second is the CalDigit USB-C mini Dock. Both of these products feature USB 3.1 as well as a host of additional ports to expand USB-C enabled computers such as the 12-inch MacBook. CalDigit is also announcing two new USB-C adapters. The US$149 CalDigit USB-C Dock (pictured) not only adds extra ports but also simultaneously charges the MacBook. The $99 CalDigit USB-C mini Dock takes the features of the CalDigit USB-C Dock and packs them into a smaller form-factor. The main difference between the CalDigit USB-C Dock and CalDigit USB-C mini Dock is that the USB-C Dock connects to AC mains power, whereas the CalDigit mini Dock draws its power from the computer. Both are available for pre-order today. They’ll ship in December.

128bit Technologies has released Free Fonts - Christmas Collection 3.0, an update to their holiday collection of free fonts available on the Mac App Store. Ten new royalty free fonts have been added to the original collection, bringing the total number of Christmas fonts to 50. All are in OpenType font format, and can be used for any personal and business project. They’re designed for use in graphic design, web design, holiday cards, family newsletters, party signs and invitations, banners, promotional material, advertisements, application development and more. Free Fonts - Christmas Collection 3.0 requires Mac OS X 10.6. They’re a free download.

CS Odessa has announced The Seven Basic Tools of Quality for ConceptDraw Pro 10. It provides techniques focused on analyzing and improving issues of quality within a business setting. The Seven Basic Tools are common diagrams understood by workers of any experience level. Templates offered include examples of fishbone diagrams, histograms, flowcharts, and Pareto charts, among others. The collection of icon libraries, samples, and templates included within the Seven Basic Tools of Quality Solution extend ConceptDraw Pro with the ability to manage quality control processes throughout the workplace. The solution is available for US$25 to current owners of ConceptDraw Pro v10. ConceptDraw Pro is compatible with Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. It retails for $199. ConceptDraw Pro 10 is included in ConceptDraw Office 3, which retails for $499.

CoreMelt has announced its SliceX Free product for Final Cut Pro X. It lets you create instant Shape Masks to cut out layers or isolate effects directly in Final Cut Pro X without having to go into Motion or create the masks with an external program. FCP X editors can now use a version limited to tracking oval and rectangle shapes in their projects freely with no purchase necessary. You can use SliceX Free to: blur a license plate or a log to hide it, or a persons face; color correct a tracked oval section (e.g. a face or other area of interest); remove unwanted objects from frame by cloning areas of the image; or track a glow to a person’s eyes. SliceX Free requires Mac OS X 10.8 or later and Final Cut Pro X 10.1.4 or later. It’s available from the CoreMelt website (http://www.coremelt.com).

SpriTec Software (www.supertab.me) has released SuperTab 1.3, an update to their utility application for OS X. The new version adds support for El Capitan. SuperTab enhances and extends the Mac's built-in Command-Tab Application Switcher by providing users with instant access to more than just their active apps. By the way, SpriTech is offering SuperTab at a 75 percent off sale price of $5 for a limited time. A demo is available for download.