Apple got a shout out from President Obama during last night's State of the Union for bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. Last year CEO Tim Cook said Apple plans to invest US$100 million in domestic manufacturing to produce some Macs here. Not that there'll be a ton of new jobs created. In December, Dan Luria, a labor economist who studies factory operations at Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, told "Bloomberg" (http://tinyurl.com/7hvzzda) that Apple's Mac production would probably add 200 jobs. (Michael Marks, ex-CEO of Flextronics, also estimated 200 jobs would be needed to make the Macs to Bloomberg.) But as "Business Insider" (http://tinyurl.com/9wzjc6r) notes: "That's not exactly going to get the American economy firing on all cylinders, but we suppose it's more about the symbolism, especially for a State of The Union address. If Apple is bringing some manufacturing back to the U.S., maybe other companies will, too."

Intego has announced its 2013 line of Mac antivirus and Mac security products. The company says it's completely redesigned its products with an intuitive, streamlined user experience that requires almost no configuration out of the box, provides helpful notifications and alerts, and is a perfect complement to the Mac OS X platform. Intego’s antivirus and Mac security products are sold on its website in bundles. The Mac Internet Security Premium 2013 bundle brings together three of Intego’s products to protect you and your data against malware, network attacks, and the loss or theft of your Mac. It includes: ° Virus Barrier 2013, which fights Mac and Windows malware that threaten your security; ° Net Barrier 2013, which keeps strangers and suspicious applications out of your Mac; ° Identity Scrubber: new to Intego’s Mac security product offerings, Identity Scrubber searches for sensitive identity information stored on your computer and protects or deletes it at your command (available...

Apple is making the MacBook Pro with Retina display faster and more affordable with updated processors and lower starting prices. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display now starts at US$1,499 for 128GB of flash, and $1,699 for a new 2.6 GHz processor and 256GB of flash. The 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display now features a faster 2.4GHz quad-core processor, and the top-of-the-line 15-inch notebook comes with a new 2.7GHz quad-core processor and 16GB of memory. Apple today also announced that the 13-inch MacBook Air with 256GB of flash has a new lower price of $1,399. The updated MacBook Pro with Retina display and MacBook Air models are available today through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Pricing details, technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbook-pro and www.apple.com/macbookair .

This Friday, Feb. 15, a 180,000-ton asteroid dubbed "2012 DA14" will fly past the Earth. And you can follow it with Apple devices. Whizzing by just 17,200 miles away, this 50-meter space rock will come closer than our orbiting geosynchronous communication satellites. Although there is no chance of a collision, this passage of 2012 DA14 by the Earth is a record close approach for an object of this size. To let you track 2012 DA14, Southern Stars is releasing an update to its SkySafari Plus and Pro apps for iOS, Mac OS X, and Android. These app updates are a new first in mobile computing, and a solution to an unusual technical challenge, according to Southern Stars founder Tim DeBenedictis. Because the Earth's gravity affects the asteroid's orbit so severely, most desktop planetarium programs -- and all other mobile apps -- will completely fail to predict the asteroid's position correctly, he adds. To solve this problem, Southern Stars consulted with solar system dynamics experts at...

Bare Bones Software has announced the release and immediate availability of BBEdit 10.5.2, an update to its HTML and text editor. The BBEdit 10.5.2 update includes various refinements and fixes for specific reported issues. It now requires Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later, and is fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. Detailed information on all of the changes in BBEdit 10.5.2 can be found at http://tinyurl.com/6pst6y . The BBEdit 10.5.2 update is free of charge to all BBEdit 10 customers. Customers who purchased in the Mac App Store will automatically receive the update when it becomes available, while customers who purchased directly may download the update immediately from the Bare Bones Software web site (http://tinyurl.com/9wnh2sc).

ByteWorks has announced techBASIC 2.6 for iOS, an update to their software development environment for programming, data collection, displaying interactive graphics, and analyzing data. The new version supports the TCP/IP, HTTP and FTP protocols. iOS App Developers now have the ability to write a program to connect networks using WiFi from their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. techBASIC apps can be compiled and submitted to the Apple App Store using techBASIC App Builder from Xcode on a Mac. Version 2.6 is US$14.99.

SweetP Productions has announced eMail Address Extractor 1.3, an update to their eMail recovery utility for Mac OS X. It's a maintenance upgrade. With no configuration required, eMail Address Extractor allows you to extract valid eMail addresses from virtually any kind of text file. To use you drag and drop files to recover all unique eMail addresses. You can retrieve addresses from your entire Apple Mail database, iWork projects, docx, xlsx, and from within zip archives. eMail Address Extractor requires Mac OS X 10.7.5 or later. It costs US29.99 and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Business category (http://tinyurl.com/b9rlz7u). eMail Address Extractor v1.3 is also available from the SweetP Productions Store (http://sweetpproductions.com). A trial version can be downloaded from SweetP Productions online.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will join join First Lady Michelle Obama to watch her husband deliver his State of the Union address Tuesday, reports "Contra Costa Times" (http://tinyurl.com/b88qepv). He'll sit in the First Lady's box and will be joined by military families, those championing immigration reform and those whose lives have been touched by gun violence, the article adds. Last year, Michelle Obama's guests included Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Adobe (www.adobe.com) has proposed a new standard -- dubbed "Automatic Text Balancing" -- for better web typography. If browsers adopt text balancing it could mean the end of typographic unsightliness like widows, orphans and ragged lines, and would go a long way to creating more readable text on the web, according to "WebMonkey" (http://tinyurl.com/akm7yvx). Adobe’s proposal is based on InDesign’s “Balance Ragged Lines” feature, and works a bit like justifying text except that instead of expanding text with ugly spaces between words, the algorithm would adjust line lengths to “balance” text for easier reading.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will speak at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference for the second year in a row, reports "The Next Web" (http://tinyurl.com/bqozfl8). Apple will present the event live, via an audio-only stream. You can listen to it at http://tinyurl.com/ce8j5; it's slated to begin at 7:15 am (Pacific) on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's (DCED) annual report on the Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) tax credit program lists Apple as having acquired 32 approved tax credits worth US$2.33 million in 2012, reports "Philly.com" (http://tinyurl.com/akj8bk3). The KIZ program is designed to support companies with ties to Pennsylvania colleges. Firms in operation for less than eight years and situated in one of the 29 zones statewide can apply for a tax credit of up to $100,000. Last year, the DCED approved a total of $13.73 million in tax credits to 179 companies across the state. Of those totals, 43 Philadelphia-area companies were awarded a total of $3.33 million in credits, says "Philly.com."

Smartphone users who appreciate the "grab and go" convenience of the Magnetyze by BuQu Tech Magnetic Charging System now have two new ways to connect and charge. With the pre-sale availability of the Magnetyze AC Wall Charger and Magnetyze Car Charging Stand beginning today at www.BuquTech/Magnetyze.com, iPhone 4/4S and Samsung Galaxy S III users alike can share a charge from the road or any AC outlet. All that’s needed is a phone equipped with a Magnetyze protective case or back plate. Magnetyze by BuQu Tech applies patent-pending magnetics technology to keep iPhone and Android smartphones charged, synchronized and ready to "grab and go." The high- performance Magnetyze platform eliminates multiple cords, clumsy cradles and the need for new charging accessories with every smartphone upgrade. When it is time to upgrade to a new smartphone, only the Magnetyze protective sleeve needs to be replaced. All Magnetyze-branded products and accessories will continue to work with any available...

Pubblog has announced MailSteward, MailSteward Lite, and MailSteward Pro, version 10.0. MailSteward is an email archiving solution for the Mac. It archives email in a relational database for access and safe backup of all your email. MailSteward can now search for multiple strings in the same field. Version 10.0 also includes a number of other enhancements and new features. MailStewart Lite costs US$24.95, MailStewart is $49.95 and MailStewart Pro is $99.95. For more info go to http://mailsteward.com .

The iPhone 5 debuted in China in December, but it hasn't boosted Apple's smartphone share in the country, according to the Canalys research group -- as noted by "Macworld UK" (http://tinyurl.com/a9fnutn). Apple remained the sixth largest smartphone vendor for the most recent fiscal quarter -- a position it held in the third quarter. Its market share increased to 8.5% in China in the fourth quarter; that up 0.5% from the previous quarter. Canalys says Samsung took the top spot with 16% market share. It was followed by Chinese vendors, Lenovo, Yulong Computer Telecommunication Scientific, Huawei and ZTE.

Adobe has issued a patch to update Flash on Mac OS X and Windows platform to deal with two new vulnerabilities already being exploited by hackers "in the wild" to spread malware. The patch is a 16.09MB download. You can obtain it at http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ .

Apple has updated AirPort Utility, the Mac OS X tool for configuring AirPort Wi-Fi networks, to version 6.2. According to Apple, the upgrade -- which requires Mac OS X 10.7.5 or higher -- contains improvements and bug fixes, including: ° The ability to extend the Guest Wi-Fi network on a network that is configured with multiple AirPort Base Stations; ° The ability to add a WPS-capable Wi-Fi printer; ° Improved international support.   For the latest information on AirPort software, check Software Update in System Preferences or the following Apple Support Downloads website (http://support.apple.com/downloads/).

Rabbit's video chat and content sharing application is now available for download for Mac OS X (10.7 and higher) as part of its closed beta. The app allows you to watch videos, listen to music and share any type of content together with your friends. Rabbit has rebuilt video chat from the ground up to complement natural human behavior, with thoughtful design decisions that make Rabbit a more fun, immersive and inherently social experience, according to Stephanie Morgan, co-founder of Rabbit. She says that Rabbit is the only video chat application that lets you: ° Share any kind of content with friends: Use Rabbit to share and enjoy any kind of content together with your friends in real-time -- from videos, movies and TV shows to music, documents and photos. You can take advantage of Rabbit’s one-click sharing through SharePad, a central hub of best-in-class content providers that integrate for in-app sharing. ° Create rooms: You can create or join rooms (public or private) where you...

Stalin Kay has released Sounds 1.0, its music app for Mac OS X (10.7 and higher) and iOS. Designed for professionals and hobbyists alike, it's a collection of music samples and effects for music production, including a library of loops, sounds beds, drum loops and more. All samples are audio samples rendered to 24bit/96 kHZ. Sounds allows you to preview sounds and to download sounds straight to your system for use in your favorite Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), where you can continue to tinker with the sounds even further to match your needs. Sounds 1.0 for Mac OS X costs US$0.99 and is available exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Music category (http://tinyurl.com/b3lbbsm). An iOS version called Sounds SD and Sounds HD+ is also available from the Apple App Store. Lite versions for both Mac OS X and iOS have already been posted to the App Store and should be available soon.

Professionals working with high resolution video graphics up to 2560x1600 have a way to extend their display from the computer using two CAT-7 cables. Gefen’s new DisplayPort Extender over CAT-7 sends audio/video up to 100 feet (30m) in distance from computer to display. Those working with resolutions up to 1920x1200 can use the same extender with only one CAT-7 cable. Wall mountable sender and receiver units deliver audio and video from the DisplayPort source over the CAT-7 cabling to the display. Power is required at the sender unit only; the receiver unit receives its power using the CAT-7 cable. Additional features include 16 different EQ adjustments using a rotating switch on the receiver unit. The receiver’s HPD Auto Calibration switch allows a full calibration of the connected display with no training needed in video technology.  A locking power supply on the sender unit improves system stability. The Gefen DisplayPort Extender over CAT-7 is currently shipping and includes...

To help designers get started creating layouts for iPad, iPhone, Kindle Fire, and Android devices, App Studio presents the "Think Beyond Ink" tour. The tour, which features free live events in San Francisco, New York, Hamburg, Paris, and London, will shed light on digital publishing by addressing:
 ° Why digital is the future of publishing; ° The difference between apps and eBooks; ° The costs involved in creating and publishing apps; ° Why designers need to go beyond static, boring PDFs; ° How to create HTML5-based apps from QuarkXPress and InDesign.

 The Think Beyond Ink Tour, hosted by App Studio, is a series of free, half-day events that will feature an overview of digital publishing, an introduction to App Studio, and information on how to get started quickly. Designers of all levels who are just getting started or who are looking for alternative solutions to digital publishing can register now for the event in their area.  

 Tour dates
 March 13, 2013: San Francisco, CA
March...

Australian Labor MP Ed Husic has questioned how Apple can have such high expenses cutting profits in Australia when none of its manufacturing occurs locally, reports "ZDNet" (http://tinyurl.com/ay9tmoc). The US-based company reported a drop in profits in Australia and New Zealand for the last financial year, yet increased its revenues to AU$6 billion. Last month it was revealed that Apple raked in AU$5.9 billion in revenues in Australia and New Zealand, but after increases in expenses, the company reported a drop in net profit to AU$58.4 million, meaning the company only paid AU$40 million in taxes in Australia in 2012, compared to AU$94.7 million in 2011, notes "ZDNet." In parliament today, Husic, who has long targeted tech giants such as Apple over IT pricing in Australia, questioned how Apple could have AU$5.5 billion in costs, the article adds. "How? They don't manufacture here, there are no factories here. I don't know what their R&D effort is here," he said. "They've got a...

AnyPresence, an enterprise mobile development platform, has released what it describes as the industry’s first auto-generation of iOS Storyboard and Android XML Layout. It's designed to reduce the time to bring mobile apps to market and allow developers to leverage official native tools for advanced customization. AnyPresence now enables users to assemble a mobile app using common user interface patterns and widgets, driven by data from backend services, and generates pure native iOS and Android code from a single app definition, according to Rakesh Rao, chief technical officer and co-founder of AnyPresence Unlike most mobile app development platforms, the code produced by AnyPresence is human-readable and editable in the development toolkits provided by Apple and Google, he adds. Rao says that, coupled with existing support for HTML5 and a rich set of backend capabilities, AnyPresence provides a powerful accelerant to organizations looking to build enterprise mobile apps. A free, no-...

D-Link has released the DXS-3600 series -- a family of 10-Gigabit Ethernet Layer 2 and Layer 3 managed aggregation switches. The D-Link DXS-3600-16S and DXS-3600-32S are compact, high-performance switches with very low latency, making them ideal, cost effective solutions for enterprise and education network environments, as well as top-of-rack (ToR) deployment in data centers, says Steven Olen, director of product marketing, D-Link Systems.   The DXS-3600-16S and DXS-3600-32S support eight and 24 fixed 10-Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ ports respectively, with the option to add more ports using an expansion module. The expansion modules provide extra 1000BASE-T ports, 10-Gigabit SFP+ ports, 40-Gigabit QSFP+ uplinks, or low cost 10GBASE-T interfaces for a range of applications.   The DXS-3600 switches support Data Center Bridging protocols to help prevent data loss during network congestion, and feature selectable store-and-forward, or cut-through switching modes to reduce network latency. The...

Apple may rolled out a long-awaited, new Mac Pro this spring, according to information reportedly given by the company to an Authorized Reseller in France Wednesday, according to French site "MacGeneration" (http://tinyurl.com/b5o23ak) -- as reported by "The MacObserver." 
Apple's pro desktop is long overdue for an update. Last year CEO Tim Cook said in an email that: "Our pro customers are really important to us…don’t worry as we’re working on something really great for later next year." Read more at http://tinyurl.com/asf787w .