Noise Industries announces Ripple Timelines for Final Cut Pro X
Noise Industries has released Timelines from Ripple Training, an US$59 plug-in designed exclusively for Final Cut Pro X.
Ripple Timelines is a collection of eight transition effects that create graphical timelines for videos. Each transition is customizable, allowing editors to change just about any detail including colors, background graphics and text. A Director’s View provides a bird’s eye view of transitions, complete with explanatory text guides and on-screen controls for adjusting the layout of transition video clips and drop zones.
You can choose from preset camera animation styles, and even adjust the preset to create the exact framing desired. For more info go to www.noiseindustries.com .
Akitio releases 256GB SSD Thunderbolt storage solution
Akitio has released a new 256GB, one-bay, bus-powered Thunderbolt storage solution. It's a follow-up to the company’s 120GB SSD solution, which was previously launched in 2012.
Akitio has upgraded the 120GB SSD to meet the demand of consumers by rising up to the challenge and offering an upgraded 256 GB SSD version of the Neutrino Thunderbolt, says Richard Wright, director of Global Distribution, Akitio. In addition, the 256 GB version is the fastest one bay bus powered external storage device on the market today with 464 MB/s data transfer speeds, he adds.
Akitio’s 256 GB Neutrino Thunderbolt Edition is available for purchase at an manufacturer's suggested retail starting price of US$339.99. It can be found at Akitio.com, as well as Amazon.com and other various Akitio retailers and distributors.
Belkin releases NetCam HD Wi-Fi Camera
Belkin has announced its next-generation NetCam HD Wi-Fi Camera that provides users with instantaneous access via a smartphone or tablet to pets, children and other family members at home in 720p high-definition (HD) video resolution and digital audio.
The newest addition to the popular NetCam product family, NetCam HD features a streamlined setup process that allows users to operate the camera’s functions in two simple steps, says Mike Chen, senior director of product management, Belkin. Utilizing an iOS or Android device, users download Belkin’s free NetCam app and then connect the camera to their home’s Wi-Fi router to begin streaming video and audio to their mobile device. With the NetCam app, users can also customize the camera’s offerings by enabling email notifications when motion is detected or record video directly to their phone or tablet.
Belkin’s NetCam HD Wi-Fi Camera is available for purchase now at belkin.com, Amazon.com, Verizon, Target stores and other major retailers...
Logitech unveils FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for the iPad
Logitech introduced two new products to its tablet accessories lineup with the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad (pictured) and the Logitech Folio for iPad and iPad mini. They protect the front and back of your tablet, says Mike Culver, vice president of brand development for tablet accessories at Logitech.
Both are offered in a range of colors from electric blue and sunflower yellow to Mars red orange, and in an array of on-trend fabrics from matte leather to finely woven cotton. The Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio features the first Bluetooth keyboard with its keys fused into an interior fabric.
Its full-size keys give you the tactile feedback you’re used to in a traditional keyboard, but in a sleek new look, says Culver. The keyboard folio’s high-end fabrics are treated with a coating that's liquid repellent. Hidden magnets hold your iPad in two positions, snapping your tablet into typing mode and ensuring the folio stays shut when you’re moving around.
Designed for...
Nest partners with energy companies
Nest Labs (www.nest.com) -- founded by Apple alums Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers -- has announced that the company is partnering with certain energy providers in the U.S. to offer more than 90 million people the opportunity to earn money and save even more this summer.
Together with NRG Energy, its subsidiaries Reliant and Green Mountain Energy, National Grid, Austin Energy and Southern California Edison, Nest is enabling instant rebates and exclusive offers for the Nest Learning Thermostat. It's also introducing new ways to save energy with Rush Hour Rewards and Seasonal Savings services.
Rush Hour Rewards helps people earn money or credits from their energy provider by using less energy when everyone else is using more. With Seasonal Savings, a Nest thermostat uses its knowledge of a customer’s schedule and preferences to gradually fine-tune the temperatures in the schedule to help save more energy. Both services are powered by Nest’s proprietary Auto-Tune technology and offered only...
'Antennagate' checks arriving
The US$15 "AntennaGate" settlement checks have started arriving for qualifying iPhone 4 users, as noted by "TUAW" (http://tinyurl.com/dyrsbwv).
The checks are a settlement for those who filed a claim in a class action lawsuit against Apple for "misrepresenting and concealing material information in the marketing, advertising, sale, and servicing of its iPhone 4–particularly as it relates to the quality of the mobile phone antenna and reception and related software."
"Antennagate" is the popular term used for reported glitches with iPhone 4 call reception.The settlement comes from 18 separate lawsuits that were consolidated into one.
TP-LINK delivers gigabit switches for businesses
TP-LINK has delivered a series of gigabit Ethernet switches targeted to businesses looking to upgrade their LAN. The Jetstream 24-Port and Jetstream 24-Port PoE, respectively.
They feature 4 Gigabit SFP slots. L2 Managed Switch allows an office infrastructure to provide Ethernet connection to computers. With the PoE functionality, the TL-SG3424P is an efficient and cost-effective choice for small business networks to work with wireless access points, surveillance cameras, VoIP phones and other PoE supported devices, according to the folks at TP-Link. It eliminates cable clutter by using the existing power lines to transfer both power and data.
TP-LINK's answer to affordable green technology is its unmanaged switch (the TL-SG1008PE product, which is due later this quarter). With 8-ports and PoE technology it provides a way to expand a wired network by transferring power and data over a single Ethernet cable while consuming just 124W (up to 30W per port) For more info go to http://www...
Intel doubles speed of Thunderbolt data transfer technology
Intel has doubled the speed of the Thunderbolt data transfer technology, which will soon shuttle data between host computers like Macs and peripherals at a rate of 20Gbps.
As noted by "Computerworld" (http://tinyurl.com/dym2qg7)) this is the first big speed boost for the interconnect, which has held steady at a 10Gbps data transfer rate since the technology's introduction in early 2011. The enhancement will give Thunderbolt an edge over USB 3.0, which transfers data at 5G bps.
The speed boost comes through a new Thunderbolt controller chip code-named Falcon Ridge, notes "Computerworld." The controller chip will go into production by the end of this year, Intel said.
Home 3D scanner launched
Two Canadian inventors and their company, Matterform, have launched a home 3D scanner for US$599 and exceeded their crowdfunding goals in the first three weeks of their campaign. Their scanner, the Photon, is designed to allow anyone to turn physical object into a digital 3D model on their computer, then print the file using a 3D printer or use it in 3D designs or animations.
"It works by shooting dual laser lines at an object as it rotates 360 degrees, taking pictures with a HD camera along the way, and using software to create a digital 3D model on your computer in as little as three minutes," says Drew Cox of Matterform. "Once the file is created, it can be modified, reproduced on a 3D printer to create copies of the original object, used in animations or 3D designs, or saved to keep a digital archive."
Launched via a 35-day crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, Matterform blasted through its initial fundraising goal of $81,000 in one week and has now raised over $330,000. There are...
NEC rolls out new 24-inch LED-backlit pro monitor
NEC Display Solutions of America has announced the 24-inch MultiSync P242W-BK and P242W-BK-SV, entry-level professional desktop widescreen monitors with LED backlights.
The MultiSync P242W display (pictured joins the MultiSync P Series family, which features standard-gamut monitors designed for web, high-end desktop and photography. Its white LED-backlit AH-IPS panel only requires 29 watts of typical power while its ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based on lighting conditions, says Art Marshall, product manager for Professional and Medical Displays at NEC Display Solutions.
The P242W offers an array of connectivity options with DisplayPort, DVI-D, HDMI and VGA inputs. Additionally, it’s USB with DisplaySync Pro feature can be used to operate two computers with only one keyboard and mouse.
The MultiSync P242W-BK-SV features hardware color calibration using the NEC SpectraViewII color calibration solution. The kit, which is compatible with both Mac...
DiapoSheet lets you lay out photos, metadata on a PDF contact...
Lorenzo Puleo has released DiapoSheet 1.0 for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher). It costs US$24.99 and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Photography category (http://tinyurl.com/crxsc7p).
DiapoSheet lets you lay out your photos with metadata-exif and get a contact sheet PDF file. Drag a folder containing images onto the DiapoSheet window and you are done. You can change the number of rows and columns, their gaps, the margins, the page size and format, add your custom logo and company description, your watermark, display the metadata-exif with your favorite font, color and label.
You can then export your document to PDF, TIFF, PNG, JPG at the resolution of your choice. You can select the resolution of the images even when exporting to PDF.
EagleTech releases external battery pack for electronic devices
EagleTech USA is launching the Neptor NP100K external battery pack with dual USB outputs for tablets and smartphones. The company says this portable battery is designed to eliminate the hassle of having your devices shutting down at the most inconvenient times.
The Neptor NP100K is equipped with 10000mAh of storage power and can charge your tablet and smart phone simultaneously. Weighing190 grams, it fits into a pocket or bag.
The Neptor NP100K costs approximately US$70. For more info go to www.eagletechusa.com .
WD releases SAS WD XE solution
WD has announced a new 3.5-inch SAS hard drive solution for legacy datacenter storage systems with the release of the WD XE, 2.5-inch, 10,000 RPM SAS hard drive, now available mounted in a 3.5-inch WD performance adapter.
Shipping immediately, the WD XE hard drives provide best-in-class performance, low power consumption, and an easier upgrade path for existing 3.5-inch storage systems, according to Rich Rutledge, senior vice president of WD's datacenters business unit. While demand for 3.5-inch, high-performance enterprise-class hard drives slows, a need remains for an alternate high-performance storage device as a transitional solution for legacy systems, he adds.
The WD XE purportedly delivers 6Gb/s transfer rates and a sequential data rate of 204 MB/s. This 3.5-inch SAS drive delivers up to 67%lower power versus 3.5-inch 15,000 RPM drives.
The WD XE SAS enterprise hard drives in 3.5-inch performance adapters shipping in capacities ranging from 300GB to 900GB with prices...
Boot Runner for Mac OS X runs to version 1.4
Twocanoes Software (www.twocanoes.com) has announced Boot Runner 1.4, an update to its startup control solution for dual-boot Macs. It provides complete start up management and control, including a customizable selection screen and menu bar boot selector.
It also It allows administrators to manage the startup process locally or through network policies. Boot Runner 1.4 introduces several new features and various bug fixes.
Boot Runner works with Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. Pricing starts at US$9.99 for a single-user license.
Chiaro Software launches Metropolis for the Mac
Chiaro Software has introduces Metropolis, a WordPress client for Mac OS X. It costs US$19.99 and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher.
Metropolis comes with several features, like the possibility to edit posts and pages using a full featured WYSIWYG editor and/or a HTML editor with syntax coloring support. It also allows you to edit, approve and reply to comments. Other minor features include the possibility to create a custom preview template, offline support, full screen support and more.
New comments will appear on Mountain Lion's Notification Center. For older versions of Mac OS X, there's a new comment notification similar to Growl. Metropolis is also integrated to Twitter and TNT.fm. Users can see who tweeted the link to their blog posts and even generate random names from the results. Results can be saved for future reference.
You can download Metropolis at the Chiaro Software web site (www.chiarosoftware.com/). A seven-day, demo version is available for download.
QuickerTek offers new external battery/charger for the MacBook...
QuickerTek has created an external battery for all MacBook Pros. The US$299.95 EyeBattery purportedly adds up to four extra hours of battery power to the MacBook Pro.
There's a model designed for MagSafe 1 and another for Magsafe 2 power connector laptops. Like the rest of QuickerTek's mobile power product line, the new EyeBattery also charges the internal MacBook battery while it powers the laptop. For more info go to http://www.quickertek.com/batteries.html .
Motorola Mobility patent in legal battle with Apple could be...
A Motorola Mobility patent that was successfully used to force Apple to turn off its iCloud services in Germany last year could be invalid, the District Court in Mannheim, Germany, says, as reported "PC World: (http://tinyurl.com/c485tmv).
The court said it doubted the validity of Motorola's patent entitled "Multiple Pager Status Synchronization System and Method," also known as the push notification patent, in a lawsuit between Motorola and Microsoft. Google-owned Motorola alleged that several Windows Phone devices in Germany infringed on this patent. The court, however, decided to postpone a decision in the case pending a validity procedure about the patent in the German Federal Patent Court.
This is part of an ongoing battle. Apple has alleged that Motorola infringes 24 of its patents (21 of them with Android-based phones, the remaining three with set-top boxes and DVRs), while Motorola previously asserted 18 patents against a variety of Apple products (mostly but not exclusively...
iD Gaming Academy for teens announces new location
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educators and parents are beginning to see the educational value in video games. Consequently, teens can now do more than simply play games. They can create and develop them, with help from programs like iD Gaming Academy.
Powered by internalDrive, iD Gaming Academy offers courses in game programming, development, level design, 3D modeling and animation. It has also broadened its course offerings with a new course titled Game Development – Minecraft.
Held at nine different university campuses throughout the U.S., including Harvard and Stanford, iD Gaming Academy runs in a two-week format. Students stay overnight on campus. They also tour game studios, interact with industry professionals, learn tips to get into the game development field, and collaborate with like-minded peers and instructors.
The Academy offers accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from Stanford Continuing Studies, enabling teens to demonstrate they've...
Tinybooks for Mac OS X revved to version 8.0
Ken Winograd and Space-Time Associates (http://www.winograd.com) has updated TinyBooks Pro, its Mac accounting and bookkeeping program, to version 8.0. The upgrade boasts enhanced professional multi-item invoice printing (B&W, grayscale or color), professional check printing, complete mileage support (business, charitable, and/or medical), enhanced interim form printing, extended transaction limits, monthly color coding, reconciliation checkmarks, and more.
TinyBooks Pro is a single-entry bookkeeping and accounting system designed for sole proprietors, home and other small businesses, and family finances. To use you enter your expenses and income, and TinyBooks Pro does the rest. Current and year-to-date on-the-fly totals are continually displayed. Fully automatic bar-charting of all expense and income accounts make the determination of monthly trends intuitively obvious, according to the folks at Space-Time Associates.
TinyBooks Pro 8.0 costs US$79.99 for a single user license....
Graphic Node launches non-profit set of Mail templates
Graphic Node, a graphic design company that specializes in creating themes, templates, and illustrations for Mac OS X, has announced another addition to its product range -- but with a twist.
All proceeds from the Mix Mail 1.0 collection will be donated to My Square charity that works to help underprivileged families in Lithuania. Mix Mail supplies users with a collection of design choices for putting their emails together.
All 120 available templates are divided into five categories: Basic, Daily, Greetings, Invitations, and Travel. Most of the templates contain multiple color schemes or design variations.
Mix Mail requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher and iWork 08 or later. It costs US$4.99 and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Productivity category (http://tinyurl.com/c5ck3p2). It is also available on Graphic Node's website (http://graphicnode.com/).
vmProcessStrobe, mProcessStrobeWeb updated to release 2
F.W.Roller & Associates has announced the availability of vmProcessStrobe 2013 Release 2 and vmProcessStrobeWeb 2013 Release 2. Together they enable viewing, stopping and running processes in VMware virtual machines using any smartphone or tablet with a web browser or any computer running Mac OS X, Windows, or Linux.
The latest releases support the entire VMware family of server and workstation products. Across a network of VMware hosts, vmProcessStrobe and vmProcessStrobeWeb can simultaneously stop or start an application or service/daemon in the selected virtual machines. The virtual machines themselves can also be simultaneously stopped and started. For visual reference, a strobe of screenshots of the selected virtual machines is presented and can be zoomed for greater clarity.
Visit http://fwRoller.com/Downloads to download vmProcessStrobe and vmProcessStrobeWeb. They may be run for free without any time limit. Licenses are available to enable all the professional features on...
Report claims Apple isn't placing new component orders for...
A report (http://tinyurl.com/cl9fjbo) from "DigiTimes" -- not the most reliable of sources claims that Apple has stopped placing component orders for Macs. All Macs.
Quoting nnamed "sources from the upstream supply chain," the article says those sources "originally expected to finish digesting their Mac inventories in April, but are now stranded waiting for further instructions from Apple. Purportedly, the Mac orders "dropped to almost nothing after the Lunar New Year holidays."
"Since Apple hardly mis-estimates its shipment forecasts, the sharp order drop may imply that Apple has underestimated the PC industry's weak status and its iPad products are affecting the PC industry more seriously than it expected," opines "DigiTimes."
Graphic Node releases new collection of Pages templates
Graphic Node -- a graphic design company that specializes in creating themes, templates, and illustrations for Mac OS X -- has introduced another template product for Apple's Pages.
The new Template Mix for Pages 1.0 contains 45 sets of matching templates for brochures, invoices, and other business documents. Every set of Template Mix for Pages includes five different templates in matching styles that correspond with the category of each document: brochure, business card, envelope, invoice, and letter.
The designs range from traditional and formal to friendly and unconventional, says Jolita Unguvaitiene, general manager of Graphic Node. For instance, "the Green Leaf set will be great for environment-conscious organizations, Shadow Pattern will inspire artists in search of an unorthodox way to represent their creations, and Steel Cube exudes the confident outlook that will be great for entrepreneurs," he adds.
Users can view samples of the designs and purchase Template Mix for Pages...
White Nights mobile games conference coming in June
Mobile game developers and publishers from all over the world will gather at White Nights, the largest European mobile gaming conference, on June 27-28, in St. Petersburg, Russia.
More than 800 professionals from over 400 industry-leading companies including Supercell, Rovio, Wooga, Chillingo, Kabam, PlayFirst are expected. WN participants come from the USA, UK, Japan, China, Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, Australia, Israel, Poland and other countries.
There will be two sets of lectures and panel discussions be running in parallel. There will be a night boat cruise on June 26 and a party on June 27.
Early bird registration is available until April 22. For more info go to http://www.wnconf.com/en .
Intel CEO: we're not making ARM-based processors
In an earnings call this week, Intel CEO Paul Otellini dismissed the idea that the company was making processors based on the ARM design, such as Apple's "A" series chips, reports "CNET" (http://tinyurl.com/btpkwus).
However, did seem to leave an opening for his successor, depending how you choose interpret his comments about the foundry business, the article adds.
"It would be great if we could form a strategic relationship with a customer so that it went beyond just a single foundry transaction," Otellini said. The CEO will be leaving Intel in about a month, so we'll see what his successor thinks on the matter.
mix1009 unleashes FoxTube 1.0 for Mac OS X
mix1009 has introduced FoxTube 1.0 for Mac OS X. The app is designed for YouTube video playback, as well as playing other videos and music.
With FoxTube, you can create playlists that, with intelligent caching, can be viewed without interruption, despite a less than ideal Internet connection, according to the folks at mix1009. The mini player can be used alongside other apps. The FoxTube video player supports variable speed playback, bookmarks, seek in frame intervals, and mirror mode.
"The player component in FoxTube has been optimized to work in cooperation with the intelligent caching component to provide seamless playback of long playlists," says Chun-Koo Park of mix1009. "The playback speed control lets movie fans analyze their favorite scenes in detail by slowing the video down to half speed or use the next/previous frame feature. Audio pitch is preserved when playing 0.5x - 2.0x speed. Users can enjoy instant picture start as they move up or down their playlist, and the search...
Leadwerks 3 brings native code to mobile games
Leadwerks Software has announced Leadwerks 3, their new development platform for building mobile games with native code. It's Mac and Windows compatible.
It's based on the technology developed for their game engine for the PC. Applications built with native code are optimized to work with each platform. Games written in C can be ported to Leadwerks 3 without having to rewrite them in a new programming language.
The Leadwerks 3 editor features tools for building game levels using a technique called constructive solid geometry. This streamlines the process of creating games, and makes it easier for artists to see what their games will look like as they build them, according to the folks at Leadwerks Software.
Leadwerks 3 uses automatic asset conversion. This means that images and objects can be reloaded on-the-fly, so an image can be modified in Photoshop and the result will show up in the editor right away.
AI [artificial intelligence] is supported out-of-the-box. The traversable...
VMware Command Line Interface updated to version 2
F.W.Roller & Associates have released vmCLIpboard 2013 Release 2. It enables building, managing and automating the execution of VMware Command Line Interface commands from any computer running Mac OS X, Windows or Linux.
The latest release supports the VMware VIX API, VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit and entire VMware family of server and workstation products. Across a network of VMware hosts, vmCLIpboard can simultaneously execute custom built Command Line Interface commands to expand virtual disks, take snapshots of virtual machines, repair and defragment damaged virtual disks, mass copy files between hosts and guest virtual machines, and much more thanks to the extensive command set.
Visit http://fwRoller.com/Downloads to download vmCLIpboard. It may be run for free without any time limit. Licenses are available to enable all the professional features on Mac OS X, Windows, Linux or a discounted combination of all three for cross-platform users.
iBank for iPad rings up 1.2 update
IGG Software has released iBank for iPad 1.2, an update of the financial management app that boasts over 50 new features, fixes, enhancements and refinements.
The app’s across-the-board improvements encompass investments, reminders, budgets, scheduled transactions, sync, account set-up, stability and more, says chief technology officer James Gillespie. The update is available now from the Apple App Store. Among the enhancements in iBank for iPad 1.2 are:
° Better entry and editing of scheduled transactions;
° The ability to post and manage reminders for bills and other time-sensitive events;
° A new budget set-up assistant;
° Enhanced investment support for bonds and options;
° An easier way to add accounts;
° A new "Refresh now" command.
Among other features in iBank for iPad, users have full manual editing and entry capabilities, including: the ability to split, schedule, categorize and reconcile transactions; the ability to move books between devices; multi-currency support;...
Isotope 244 unleashes Machines at War 3
Isotope 244 has released Machines at War 3 for Mac OS X and Windows. It's an US$19.99 sequel to Land Air Sea Warfare.
Here's how the game is described: "Machines at War 3 is the rare indie game that offers a full single-player campaign to compliment its multiplayer and random map modes. It reminds many gamers of Red Alert and Total Annihilation.
"Using retro strategy and heart-pounding action, Machines at War 3 lets you battle and outsmart enemy forces as a military commander. You’re joined by a fiery officer named Samantha Vice, who helps you maneuver through 21 intriguing campaign missions. Your objective: Uncover why your country’s secret research team -- the Omicron Initiative -- has disappeared.
A demo is available for download. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/c9e63v4 .
Apple shares briefly dip below $400
Shares of Apple stock briefly dipped below US$400 ($399.75, to be precise) on Wednesday. AAPL stock has traded just above $400 for most of the day, down more than 5% from its opening price of $420.60.
The stock is now trading at its lowest levels since 2011. Its market capitalization value has lost more than US$275 billion since late 2012.
As noted by "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com), market watchers believe Apple's slipping shares could be attributed to a warning of weak results that was issued by supplier Cirrus Logic. The company, which makes energy and audio chips, notified investors that it would see lower shipments of a high-volume product as an unnamed customer migrates to a newer component from Cirrus.
Apple listed in China app porn investigation
Apple has been named by the Chinese publication, "The People's Daily," in an article listing web sites and app stores that have/are being investigated for allegedly providing pornographic content in China, reports "The Wall Street Journal" (http://tinyurl.com/cl6s6qc).
Apple's appearance on the list, which mostly includes relatively obscure websites, has spurred concern on the Chinese Internet that this may represent the beginning of another campaign by the government against Apple, says the "WSJ." However, this time around the bad publicity is "markedly different" from the March attacks, which blasted Apple's after-sales policies.
"The People’s Daily article is not featured prominently in Wednesday’s paper, nor does it make efforts to emphasize Apple, which is listed next to the names of other app stores singled out in the middle of the second paragraph of the article," the "Journal" points out. "According to Apple’s terms of use, pornographic content is not allowed on its app store...
Apple updates iPhoto, Aperture
Apple has updated iPhoto and Aperture, its consumer and professional photography apps. The updates are available via the Mac App Store.
Aperture 3.4.4 adds improved Photo Stream support, and addressed an import issue when using Nikon's P7700 camera. iPhoto 9.4.3 also offers improved Photo Stream support, some Mountain Lion optimizations and some bug fixes.
Enolsoft announces Enolsoft EPUB Viewer for Mac OS X
Enolsoft has announced EPUB Viewer for Mac OS X (10.6 and higher). It's available for US$29 at www.enolsoft.com . A demo is available for download.
Featuring zoom-in, zoom-out, bookmarks, scrolling, printing and more, EPUB Viewer helps anyone open and read non-DRM protected EPUB eBooks on a Mac, as well as convert EPUB docs to the Adobe PDF format.
You can open and view multiple EPUB files on a Mac in Tab mode. You can play embedded media files, audio and video in EPUB files. EPUB Viewer lets you manage EPUB eBooks on a bookshelf and much more.
Motion gaming coming to the Apple TV
Rolocule Games has announced rolomotion, a technology the company says precisely tracks various iPhone movements and allows users to play games using natural motion gestures on televisions with an Apple TV connected.
Rohit Gupta, founder and CEO of Rolocule Games, says that, unlike other motion gaming consoles, there's no need for extra sensory and gaming hardware as rolomotion converts an iPhone or iPod touch into a motion controller. The first rolomotion-powered game, Motion Tennis, will stream to a high definition secondary display on your HDTV.
The game is due for release on the Apple App Store in May. Gupta says Rolocule Games plans to roll out its limited beta invites in the last week of April to those signing up on http://www.rolomotion.tv .
Lodsys responds to Apple's response in patent battle
The Lodys Group (www.lodsys.com) has posted a response to a response from Apple's legal department regarding a patent lawsuit. Hang on; we'll explain.
In 2011 Lodsys sued some iOS developers for using in-app purchasing systems that it claims violates patents it owns. The patent holding firm targeted small iOS developers with notices of patent infringement for providing in-app purchase and/or Apple App Store purchase links within their apps.
Apple's legal department has came to the defense of iOS app developers with a letter to Lodsys regarding its patent dispute with app developers. In the letter to Lodsys, Bruce Sewell, Apple senior vice president and general counsel said:
"Apple is undisputedly licensed to these patents and the App Makers are protected by that license. Thus the technology that is targeted in your notice letters is technology that Apple is expressly licensed under the Lodsys patents to offer to Apple’s App Makers ... These licensed products and services enable Apple...
WD now features Dropbox integration
WD has unveiled WD SmartWare Pro, a software tool that gives customers the power to back up their files to any USB external hard drive or the cloud using their personal Dropbox. Additionally, in the event that a file is deleted, lost, or a previous version of a file is needed, WD SmartWare Pro lets you restore and retrieve backed-up data.
Once the software is setup and the drives are connected, WD SmartWare Pro visually presents customers' files and folders in a control center where they can manage multiple external hard drives and their Dropbox account. WD SmartWare Pro is compatible with WD products such as My Passport and WD Elements portable hard drives, as well as external USB drives from other manufacturers. Additionally, WD SmartWare Pro works with WD network attached storage drives such as My Book Live.
WD SmartWare Pro is currently available as a free 30-day trial at www.wdstore.com. After the 30-day trial a standard license, valid for use with up to three computers, is...
Logitech introduces two new Harmony Universal remotes
Logitech (www.logitech.com) has expanded its universal remote control lines with the Logitech Harmony Ultimate (pictured) and the Logitech Harmony Smart Control.
Both products feature Logitech’s Harmony Hub and Harmony Smartphone app to enable closed-cabinet control and one-touch entertainment access to game consoles from your universal remote or smartphone. The Harmony Hub takes personalizing your activities a step farther into home control with the ability to program your Philips Hue lights to the desired brightness and color with a tap of the Logitech Harmony Ultimate, says Joerg Tewes, vice president of Logitech's digital home business group.
The Logitech Harmony Ultimate and Logitech Harmony Smart Control are reportedly compatible with more than 225,000 home-entertainment devices and more than 5,000 brands. Both include the Harmony Hub, which uses Bluetooth wireless technology to power on game consoles such as the Sony PS3, Nintendo Wii and Wii U.
The Harmony Hub also controls...
Apple to set up custom chip development in Florida
Apple's hardware development operations are expanding to the Orlando, Florida, area, where the company "apparently plans to design, build and test custom chips for future devices," reports "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com).
Most of Apple's internal hardware development is housed out of the company's corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California. However, "AppleInsider" discovered several Orlando-based job openings, including seven positions related to developing and testing processor hardware. Apple is also looking for Orlando area employees who can develop drivers for graphics processors.
Apple releases Xcode 4.6.2
Apple has released Xcode 4.6.2, an update to its set of developer tools for Mac OS X.
Apple says it's been updated to improve LLDB performance when debugging Objective-C code. It also addresses several bugs that impacted stability including a problem that could cause the crash log database to bloat to a very large size.
Xcode 4.6.2 is a 1.65GB download. It's free at the Mac App Store.
Bubble Chart Pro revved to version 4.3
Bubble Chart Pro, which lets you create bubble charts, has been revved to version 4.3. The upgrade combines charts and business analytics.
Bubble Chart Pro is available in three versions. With Bubble Chart Pro, managers can create bubble charts in as few as four clicks. They can modify and drill-down into the underlying data by directly interacting with the bubbles on the chart so they can model different scenarios. In addition, the bubble charts are fully-customizable, so managers can get the look that they want.
Bubble Chart Pro PLUS adds a SMART prioritizer that assigns an objective value score for each project based on the business' strategy and goals. The SMART prioritizer is built on research by scientists from Harvard, MIT, and the University of Southern California. Bubble Chart Pro OPTIMAL adds a fast optimizer.
Bubble Chart Pro has editions for both Mac and Windows. A free demo version can be downloaded at Bubble Chart online (www.bubblechartpro.com). All editions of Bubble...
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 public beta available
Adobe has announced the availability of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 beta for Windows and Mac. Adobe Lightroom is a photography workflow application that allows photography enthusiasts and professionals to enhance, organize and share photos.
The Lightroom 5 beta offers a free, public preview of new features and tools that will be offered in the final release, expected later this year. Winston Hendrickson, vice president of digital imaging products, Adobe, says the Lightroom 5 beta offers photographers and enthusiasts many new features including:
° Advanced Healing Brush allows customers to heal imperfections and remove distracting elements;
° Upright tool analyzes an image to automatically level horizons and straighten objects like buildings to correct a keystone effect;
° Radial Gradient tool creates off-center or multiple vignette effects;
° Smart Previews allow customers to edit images without needing the original raw file;
° Video slideshow enables customers to combine still...
Dynamsoft’s Image Capture SDK adds Mac support and Sandbox
Dynamsoft has made available a new software development kit (SDK) that adds to its existing Mac features for cross-platform support and also adds Sandbox for increased security.
The SDK, ImageCapture Suite 9.0, enables development of web applications for image acquisition, processing and management. It’s designed for programmers, R&D managers and CIOs in industries requiring heavy scanning for digital document management. Such industries include healthcare, finance, government and others that require processing paper documents to digital formats.
ImageCapture Suite 9.0 boasts compatibility with all mainstream browsers for use on Mac or Windows platforms. The SDK enables developers to create image acquisition apps using just a few lines of code.
ImageCapture Suite 9.0 is available starting April 16 and is licensed per web server. A royalty-free option is also available. There are three general versions. The Plugin Edition starts at US$1,199. The ActiveX Edition also starts at $1...
New touchscreen systems for slim iMacs announced
Troll Touch, a manufacturer of custom touchscreen solutions for Mac and PC computers and displays, ha sannounced the availability of its latest product offering: a custom designed touchscreen system for the new 21.5 and 27-inch ultra slim (2012) iMacs.
The latest iMac systems feature an internally integrated, analog resistive touchscreen overlay coupled with the company's high resolution 12-bit USB controller and custom cabling. Delivery is slated to begin on or before April 19. The price for factory installed, single unit orders is US$999 for the 21.5-inch and $1399 for the 27-inch. Quantity discounts and Troll Touch affiliate pricing is available.
Troll Touch factory installed internal touch conversions feature a proprietary, custom designed scratch resistant, contrast enhanced analog resistive touchscreen overlay. All Troll Touch products are warranted for one year, extendable to three years. For more info go to http://www.trolltouch.com/ .
AOC releases 29-inch ultrawide display
AOC (us.aoc.com) has unveiled the Q2963PM, a 29-inch, 21:9 super wide screen HD monitor that combines IPS LED technology with a variety of connectivity options.
The Q2963PM is equipped with dual three-watt enclosed speakers and WFHD 2560x1080 resolution. With multiple inputs like DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI, the display will also enable you to multiply your screen with Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture capabilities. This means you can watch a movie through a connected Blu-ray player on one half of the screen and browse the Internet through your connected laptop on the other half, and more. MHL technology will also allow you to mirror your smartphone on the monitor’s 29-inch wide screen. The AOC Q2963PM is now available for US$499 at Amazon, Microcenter, New Egg, Tiger Direct, Canada Computers and other national retailers.
The panoramic Q2963PM display offers a 21:9 aspect ratio, which allows widescreen movies to be viewed without black bars on the top and bottom of the screen....
Foxconn reportedly hiring for upcoming launch of new iPhone
Foxconn Technology Group has resumed hiring at a Chinese factory as it prepares to make a new iPhone, reports "Bloomberg" (http://tinyurl.com/cajs4t9), quoting an unnamed "person familiar with the plans."
Workers have been recruited at Foxconn’s plant in Zhengzhou, eastern China, for the past month, ending a hiring freeze imposed in February, said the person, "who asked not to be named because the plans haven’t been made public." The extra workers will assemble the new device as well as existing models and have been added at Apple’s request to boost capacity, according to "Bloomberg."
'Wired': Apple settles class action suit involving...
Apple has agreed to pay US$53 million to settle a class action accusing the company of failing to honor warranties on iPhones and iPod touches, according to an agreement obtained by "Wired" (http://tinyurl.com/cmnabxy).
The article says the settlement, set to be filed in a San Francisco federal court in the coming weeks, provides cash payouts to "potentially hundreds of thousands" of iPhone and iPod touch consumers who found Apple unwilling to repair or replace their faulty phones under Apple’s one-year standard, or a two-year extended, warranty.
Apple chief litigation counsel Noreen Krall signed the agreement Wednesday. Apple admits no wrongdoing in the settlement, which needs a judge’s approval, sys "Wired."
AirBrush is new airbrush drawing app for the Mac
Akvis has released Akvis AirBrush 1.0. The Mac OS X compatible software makes photos look as if they're airbrush paintings made with a special airbrush tool.
The program is designed to help users create a piece of art out of any picture. Akvis AirBrush is available in versions for Mac OS X (10.4 and higher) and Windows, and can be used as a standalone program and as a plug-in to photo editors.
Airbrushing is a painting technique based on the use of a special tool called an air brush or spraying gun. Since it’s a touch free technique, it allows the painter to add light strokes, minor details, and blurry edges.
Akvis AirBrush is equipped with 40 presets to help you get started. They can be applied "as is" or can be modified. The software lets you save your favorite photo-to-painting settings as a preset and use them further. It's possible to import and export your presets. You can share your favorite settings with other fans of this technique. What's more, the software offers a batch...
Hypnosis Lite is new game for Mac OS X
Nevosoft has introduced Hypnosis Lite 1.0 for Mac OS X (10.7 or higher).
Here's how the game is described: "Hypnosis invites players into a world of surprises, mini-games, and puzzles. The game is played from the perspective of hypnotherapist Maya Anderson, a smart, just, and statuesque woman. When Mark Blanche, the chief physician at a psychiatric clinic, mysteriously disappears the police suspect murder and call Maya in to help with their investigation and Dr. Blanche's patients. She arrives and discovers that the patients are behaving stranger than usual. As a skilled hypnotist, she enters the subconscious of the patients and experiences their inner worlds.
"In the psyches of the patients, players will be attacked by their phobias, which they battle in mini-games that serve as pleasant distractions from the main adventure. All of the characters are exceptionally brilliant: a painter, a musician, a scientist, a businessman, and others, each with their own bright mind, full of...
Sinusoid releases VideoSpeak for the Mac
Sinusoid has released VideoSpeak, a new Mac OS X app for adding synthesized speech audio tracks to existing videos and movies. It allows you to create a voice-over without the use of a microphone or other audio equipment.
You can use as many voices as you wish within a video -- and even have different voices talking to each other. Novelty voices can be used to add interest to funny videos. VideoSpeak is designed for people producing instructional videos, according to the folks at Sinusoid.
Once the user has finished adding the voice tracks, the video is exported to a QuickTime movie file. The original video is never edited; it's only read and a new video produced with the new synthetic spoken voice tracks.
VideoSpeak uses Apple's Speech Synthesis system for Mac OS X, which has a wide range of voices available as standard from the operating system. In addition to the standard voices, users can download localized voices from Apple with accents for the local language or dialect....
