(a href="http://www.macprovideo.com" TARGET="_blank")macProVideo.com(/a), a company that specializes in training videos for Apple software, has released the first in a new series of Logic 9 tutorial videos, called "Logic 9 First Look." This tutorial-video details many of the new features of Logic Pro 9. It's available for free here: http://www.macprovideo.com/tutorial/logicfirstlook In this new title you'll explore the new interface features of Logic 9, while learning how this new version better optimizes CPU usage. You'll explore the new Notes function and the novel "bounce in place" feature. You'll also get an introduction to Flex Time Editing, the convert to sampler instrument function, and the new Amp designer and pedalboard plug-ins.

MakeMusic has released SmartMusic 2010 (http://www.smartmusic.com), an update of the music learning software for band, orchestra and choir. Compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard"), the software adds a new Home Screen designed to make getting started even easier. Music titles, assignments and all of SmartMusic's features are now accessed from one place and downloading additional titles is purportedly faster and more efficient. The stand-alone digital recorder can now record anything (with or without a metronome) and SmartMusic 2010 is fully compatible with files created in Finale 2010. MakeMusic CEO Ron Raup says searching for repertoire in SmartMusic is faster and more efficient, allowing users to filter results by instrument, skill level, state list and genre. Educators and students will enjoy improved playlists with method books, exercises and Finale-created files, he adds. The SmartMusic Gradebook and student assignments can now be accessed from within the SmartMusic application...

Nemetschek North America is pleased to announce that Jonathan Pickup's latest training guide, "3D Modeling in Vectorworks," is now available. The tutorial is a workbook for anyone seeking to learn how to free-form model with Vectorworks. It's filled with exercises aimed at building a foundation of 3D Vectorworks skills. Specifically, the tutorial will show users how to create 3D forms through the use of extrudes, sweeps, solids, NURBS, loft surfaces, and 3D primitives. Although the tutorial is based on version 2009, it can be used successfully with prior versions of Vectorworks, according to Pickup. In addition, the manual is appropriate for both students and professionals and provides a very practical approach to learning 3D Vectorworks skills, he adds. The hard-copy workbook comes with a companion CD that contains exercise files and the entire manual as a PDF file with embedded instructional movies. Each workbook retails for US$75. This tutorial is part of Nemetschek North America's...

Booyah (http://www.booyah.com) -- a Silicon Valley start-up founded by former games industry veterans Keith Lee, Brian Morrisroe and Sam Christiansen -- has launched its first product Booyah Society, the first social game based on real-life achievements for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's available for free at the Apple App Store. Booyah Society is the kernel product for Booyah's long-term vision, says Booyah CEO Keith Lee. Booyah's goal is to help people to improve their lives and catalyze mass action through an artfully stylized, immersive app that blends game mechanics and emergent social behavior, he adds. Booyah Society allows iPhone and iPod touch users to track their activities, earn recognition for their accomplishments, and participate in positive social engagement. Via a customizable 3-D avatar that resides in a designed world, Booyah members can track their daily accomplishments in real-time with nine activity zones that help to categorize and visualize activities....

Tycoon Games has released Bionic Heart, an US$19.99 science-fiction visual novel/game for Mac, PC and Linux systems. It's available for download here: http://www.tycoongames.eu The game is set in the not too far future of London 2099, where climatic catastrophes have changed the Earth's climate permanently. In this interactive novel, bionic beings and complex technologies, clash with complicated relationships and even more complicated romance. Wise decisions build relationships with other characters, but one wrong move could ruin a friendship forever. Riva Celso, programmer/designer of Tycoon Games, says that Bionic Heart blends romance and comedy with philosophy as the players walk the line between scientific advances and love and friendship. The full version comes to life with over four hours of voice acting and beautiful artwork. he adds.

Realmac Software (http://www.realmacsoftware.com) has released LittleSnapper 1.5, an update of the tool for designers and developers to take and catalogue screen--shots and "webshots" -- full--size screen--shots of web pages. It now supports more types of media than ever before -- and you can browse each type using the sidebar's new Types section. LittleSnapper 1.5 sports a new screencapture engine that provides the user with improved full-screen, area and window snapping. The new snapping engine also allows for multi-window snapping, and LittleSnapper can composite the windows into one image. The upgrade also features: a new Tag Management HUD and tag auto-completion; Quick Look support for all snaps; and an image cropping feature. Users can now store Photoshop documents within your LittleSnapper library. LittleSnapper 1.5 now uploads to Realmac Software's new Ember image-sharing service. As well as handling the taking of shots, LittleSnapper also allows users to organize, categorize...

Xmultiple (http:?/www.xmultiple.com) has released the X-Power 1, an US$29.95 USB rechargeable battery/backup charge/sync cable for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's available in different lengths: six inches, 20 inches, 30 inches, and in a retractable cable design. The X-Power 1 is designed to serve as a portable back-up power source for your iPhone or iPod touch when you intend to go mobile away from a power source. To use you plug the X-Power1 into a USB outlet and the X-Power1 charge/sync cable circuitry will charge the Apple device.

FontGear (formerly Morrison SoftDesign) has released FontGenius 1.0 for Mac OS X. It's a font identification utility that costs US$39.99 for a single-user license. A demo version is available for download at the FontGear web site (http://www.FontGear.net). FontGenius examines pictures and identifies typefaces of any text within a picture. Using advanced recognition technology, FontGenius will produce a list of likely fonts that match selected characters within an image, and will generate character previews of the matched fonts. FontGenius can match both installed fonts and uninstalled fonts using a built-in font profile database. An Internet search can also be performed on the list of results to locate, purchase, and/or download matched fonts. FontGenius requires Mac OS 10.3 or higher and runs on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.

The Tolis Group (http://www.tolisgroup.com) has released BRU Server 2.0, an upgrade of the network backup solution. It supports networks of Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris and many other Unix-platform systems. Enhanced functionality is delivered across multiple platforms. Enhancements include: the redesigned BRU Server Management graphical user interface, which is identical in functionality on Mac, Windows and Linux systems; new client-level user initiated backup and restore functions that don't require administrator intervention; an optional Encryption Module add-on for encrypted backups using any archival hardware; and more. Archives are still backwards compatible with all previous BRU Server versions, and as with previous versions, are also recoverable by any BRU product, on any platform BRU supports. The BRU Server 2.0 license once purchased may be used into perpetuity, regardless of the amount of data being protected. BRU Server 2.0 continues its support of D2D, D2D2T and D2T...

macProVideo.com (http://www.macprovideo.com), a company that specializes in training videos for Apple software, has announced pro-level training for the new Final Cut Studio suite of video editing applications including Final Cut Pro 7, Motion 4, and Color 1.5. Produced by Apple Courseware author Michael Wohl, these tutorials each run about five hours (15-hours combined duration) and show users how to use Final Cut Studio to create professional video productions. Wohl was also one of the original designers of Final Cut Pro. These newly released titles are available for download from the company's web site at US$49.50 per title. You can also subscribe to macProVideo.com's Online Tutorial Library for $25 per month and watch these (and all other macProVideo.com titles) online through your web browser.

Primera Technology (http://www.primera.com), a manufacturer of specialty printers, has released a number of hardware and software enhancements to its CX1200 Digital Label Press. Most notable among the changes is a new rewind/tensioning system. Utilizing Primera's exclusive IntelliTorque technology, the rewind mechanism automatically applies just the right amount of tension as the printed roll increases in diameter, according to Mark Strobel, Primera's vice president of sales and marketing. Improvements have also been made to software and firmware, including Primera's new RichBlack print optimization feature. RichBlack produces deep, highly saturated black printing on labels. The CX1200 Color Label Press delivers short-run, full-color digital label printing at a price of US$18,995. Existing CX1200 units in the field are being updated with all new enhancements at no additional cost.

Apple has announced an update to Final Cut Studio with more than 100 new features and new versions of Final Cut Pro, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, Color and Compressor. Final Cut Studio features Final Cut Pro 7 which expands Apple's ProRes codec family to support virtually any workflow and includes Easy Export for one step output to a variety of formats and iChat Theater support for real-time collaboration. Motion 4 includes enhanced tools such as 3D shadows, reflections and depth of field for stunning motion graphics and visual effects, and Soundtrack Pro 3 features new multitrack audio tools to streamline audio post production. Color 1.5 includes better Final Cut Pro integration and support for full color resolution, and Compressor 3.5 adds new features that make it easy to set up and customize your export options. At $999, the new Final Cut Studio is $300 less than the previous release and is also available as an upgrade for $299. "With 1.4 million users and 50 percent of the market,...

Matterform Media has announced the 2.0 release of Yank, the universal uninstaller for Mac OS X. Yank 2.0 offers new features and is now compatible with Snow Leopard, Apple's forthcoming update to OS X. Yank is an all-purpose uninstaller for Mac OS X. Yank 2.0 monitors the hard drive for changes when new software is installed and creates a log of all files that were added or modified. This information can be used later to completely uninstall the software. Because Yank works at installation time, monitoring the file system in real-time, it is able to remove software more reliably than other installers that rely on limited search techniques. Yank 2.0 is compatible with Leopard and Snow Leopard and features a new Auto-Launch feature that automatically starts monitoring your hard drive as soon as you begin installing new software. Yank 2.0 is a free upgrade for users who purchased a Yank 1 license after September 1, 2008. Other licensed users can purchase an upgrade for $11.95. New...

Pixologic (http://www.pixologic.com) has just announced its GoZ for modo feature from Pixologic, which improves the workflow between ZBrush, Pixologic's premiere organic sculpting and texture tool, and modo, the 3D modeling, painting and rendering software from Luxology (http://www.luxology.com). The two companies worked closely together to optimize the mesh geometry transfer between these two computer graphics applications to give users a more seamless and combined workflow, says Brad Peebler, president and co-founder of Luxology. GoZ is a feature within ZBrush that automatically transfers mesh geometry and normal, displacement, and texture maps into modo and back again. This ability to move between two complementary applications offers tremendous freedom to artists, who use each product at different phases of the creative process, says Peebler. With GoZ, modo can be used to create a base model, such as a human head, to provide the basic anatomy. This model can then be instantly...

Sorenson Media (http://www.sorensonmedia.com) today announced several significant video management enhancements to its Sorenson 360 Video Delivery Network (VDN), providing video professionals with the ability to more fully control the functionality and branding of the Sorenson 360 video player. Users can now incorporate their own identities, including company logos, into Sorenson 360. Video professionals can also create unlimited players, and customize a variety of key settings for each player -- from screen modes to content sharing and specifying a particular branded player for each video. In addition, the update provides a seamless password-protected workflow. Video professionals can now use Sorenson 360 to manage and limit access to specific videos, using a separate password for each video. Sorenson 360's high-quality browser-based encoding capabilities have been further enhanced, enabling customers -- many of whom already use the industry-leading Sorenson Squeeze encoding...

RSA (http://www.RSA.com), the security devision of EMC, has released the RSA SecuID Software Token for the iPhone. It enables an iPhone to be used as an RSA SecurID authenticator, providing two-factor authentication to enterprise applications and resources. The RSA SecurID Software Token App is available on the Apple App Store at no charge. The required RSA SecurID software token seed as well as RSA Authentication Manager -- the software that powers the RSA SecurID system -- are both available for purchase at the RSA web site. The new RSA SecurID Software Token for iPhone is engineered to generate a one-time password that changes every 60 seconds, enabling secure access to enterprise applications and resources. The solution complements the existing range of authentication methods offered by RSA, giving customers a choice in the way they assure identities to a system, resource or information based on risk, cost and convenience. Through a simple download from the App Store, the software...

(img src="{filedir_1}boxskypecapwin_thumb.png" border="0" alt="image" name="image" class="left" width="85" height="94" /)SkypeCap has updated (a href="http://www.skypecap.com/SkypeCap_for_Mac/" TARGET="_blank")SkypeCap for Mac(/a), their Skype audio session recorder for Mac OS X (10.4 and higher), to version 3.0. The upgrade allows you to capture and record audio and video calls via Skype in real time, so that you could replay the records later and share them with other people. SkypeCap for Mac allows you to record audio conversation from Skype to audio mp4 file. It fully integrates the process into the Mac experience by allowing human interaction during recording. You can save your Skype sessions so that you could hear them again later or share them with someone else. You can use SkypeCap to record Skype Casts, teleconference calls, meetings, training sessions, announcements, interviews, group brainstorming sessions, telephone and cellular phone calls and more. SkypeCap costs US$49....

Managing Editor (http://www.maned.com), an Adobe premier development partner and a provider of software solutions for the publishing industry, hasy announced the release of the Integrated Production Suite 4.6, the latest version of the collection of MEI products for enterprise publishers. IPS's Macintosh components -- including IPS AdTrac, Mac File Agent and Doc Server -- now run natively on the Intel processor, for measurable performance improvements. The minimum operating system to support the components is Mac OS X 10.5.5. IPS 4.6 now supports Adobe InDesign CS4 and QuarkXPress 8.0 for design and Suitcase Fusion 2 for font management. Oher updates include enhanced AdTrac and WebTrac performance. IPS is used in demanding multi-site operations to streamline and distribute all facets of ad and page production. Contact MEI for pricing options.

Group Logic has announced the immediate availability of ArchiveConnect (http://www.grouplogic.com/products/ArchiveConnect/). Available now, ArchiveConnect enables organizations with Mac desktops to take full advantage of the benefits of file archiving and hierarchical storage management solutions. It provides end-users with a way to identify and access archived files. It also eliminates inadvertent recalls of archived files by Finder previews, Quick Look and Cover Flow, an issue that has impeded the adoption of file archiving, according to the folks at Group Logic. "Gartner expects that the file archiving and HSM markets will continue to grow quickly with a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 19.2 percent through 2012," says Carolyn DiCenzo, vice president of research at Gartner, Inc. "Note also that the recent market share gains of the Macintosh have made support for mixed Windows/Mac environments a deal breaker in many organizations. In the last year, I have seen the requirement...

Native Instruments has announced AUDIO 2 DJ (http://www.native-instruments.com/audio2dj.info), which it says is the world's smallest USB audio interface for DJs. Delivering the same audio quality and performance as the AUDIO 8 DJ, it sports a footprint no larger than a deck of cards. The bus-powered AUDIO 2 DJ is small enough to fit into a pocket. It touts studio-grade 24bit/96kHz Cirrus Logic converters and output amplifiers capable of delivering a +9.7dBu audio signal. It comes with low-latency drivers for Mac OS X and Windows systems. The dual stereo outputs of the AUDIO 2 DJ provide connectivity to route two decks separately into an external DJ mixer, or to output independent master and cue signals when mixing in software. There are two included RCA break-out cables. AUDIO 2 DJ will be available in September for a suggested retail price of US$119.

Recordare LLC has released version 5 of its Dolet plug-in for the Sibelius music notation program. Recordare's Dolet plug-ins serve as "universal translators" between music notation applications. The Dolet 5 for Sibelius plug-in saves MusicXML 2.0 files from Sibelius. This lets Sibelius users share files with people using other music programs with the highest possible accuracy. Dolet 5 for Sibelius supports the new plug-in and notation features added in Sibelius 6. New features saved from Sibelius 6 include transpositions, octave-transposing clefs, hidden staves on systems, system and page breaks, color, jazz articulations, comments, feathered beams, and enhanced chord symbols. Dolet 5 for Sibelius includes more than 30 improvements to the MusicXML exported from both Sibelius 5 and 6. It also runs about 20% faster than Dolet 4 for Sibelius. Current Dolet 4 for Sibelius customers have praised the improvements in the new version. "The MusicXML files output from Dolet 5 for Sibelius and...

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of David Bowie's "Space Oddity," iKlax Media (http://www.iklaxmusic.com/davidbowie), a global leader in interactive music, has partnered with EMI Music to distribute a special iPhone and iPod touch application that enables users to remix the audio tracks. It's available for US$1.99 at the Apple App Store. Consisting of four unique song versions, an EP purchase will also provide fans with eight additional multi-track audio files for even more material to edit into a custom remix. Users can either render a personalized remix using iKlax Creator software, available for the Mac and PC. Or, while engaging with the iPhone or iPod touch app, they can shake their device for a random stem selection. Reviewing the various individual audio tracks, fans can remix the vocals, acoustic 12-string guitar, drums and bass, mellotron, organ and guitars, guitar solo, strings and other orchestration on both the iPod touch, iPhone and desktop applications. In addition,...

Nova media (http://www.novamedia.de) has released Modem Mate, an external antenna and adapter that couples inductively with the internal antenna of most 3G modems. It's available for approximately US$57. "A better signal strength is often the difference between a slow GPRS connection and a super fast HSPA transmission," says Jan Fuellemann, Nova media spokesperson. "Modem Mate can increase the signal strength by up to 2 dBi." Modem Mate consists of a adapter with a fastening strip to attach to and detach from the 3G modem and an external antenna. The antenna can be clipped to a display in an instant for the best signal strength and transfer speeds.

Microsoft Corp.'s Macintosh Business Unit (MacBU) hsa released Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Service Pack 2 (SP2) -- a midcycle free update designed to improve the Office 2008's speed, stability and compatibility. SP2 delivers requested features throughout the suite as well as a new tool, Document Connection for Mac, that helps improve access and browsing to documents on SharePoint Products and Technologies and Microsoft Office Live Workspace. According to Mike Tedesco, senior product manager for MacBU at Microsoft, highlights of the release include: ° Two new highly requested features in Microsoft PowerPoint 2008 for Mac: Custom Path Animation (which adds the ability to author motion-path animations; users previously could only play back motion paths) and Default Theme (which lets users define their default theme, including fonts, color scheme and slide layouts); ° Increased speed in Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac (launch and scroll times) as well as Microsoft Excel 2008 for Mac with...