Apple offers free summer camps
Apple is again offering free summer camps (http://macte.ch/44M89) for kids at its retail stores. Dubbed "Make Movie Magic," they focus on filmmaking using iMovie and GarageBand.
Here's how Apple describes the camps: "At Apple Camp, kids ages 8-12 learn how to shoot their own footage, create an original song in GarageBand on an iPad, and put it all together in iMovie on a Mac. This free workshop, held at Apple Retail Stores, spans three days and ends with campers debuting their masterpieces at the Apple Camp Film Festival. Space is limited and workshops fill up quickly, so sign up now for a super-creative adventure."
Sonic the Hedgehog coming to the Mac
Feral Interactive (http:says SEGA mascot Sonic the Hedgehog and over 25 other SEGA characters are coming to the Mac this summer. Developed by Sumo Digital Ltd. and published by SEGA for consoles and PC, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing and SEGA Superstars Tennis will bring the world’s speediest blue hedgehog to the Mac for the very first time.
A ine-up including Doctor Eggman, Tails, Shadow the Hedgehog, Alex Kidd and Super Monkey Ball’s Aiai will battle it out not only in single player and split-screen multiplayer modes, but also online using Apple’s Game Center technology, a feature of the next version of Mac OS X, Mountain Lion.
Here's how the games are described: "Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing sees Sonic and friends race cars, motorbikes and even a 'bananamobile' across crazily inventive tracks inspired by the incredible worlds of the SEGA games. Players must find secret shortcuts and use hilarious power-ups to give them the edge, making Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing an...
ABI: will Microsoft surface be the tablet enterprise users want?
Microsoft may face an uphill battle by throwing its hat into the mobile computing tablet ring, according to new data from ABI Research (http://www.abiresearch.com). Windows is expected to account for only 1.3% of media tablet shipments in 2012.
Now the company is introducing a fragmented OS strategy with Windows RT and Windows 8 (something Google has been chastised for by developers of the Android OS). Microsoft assumes that the popularity of Windows for PCs is a draw for Windows on tablets.
ABI Research expects Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows RT-based tablets to account for only 1.3% of 2012 global shipments; having little impact on the market this year. This is due to lack of adoption for Windows 7, but primarily due to the late-in-year launches of Windows RT and Windows 8 operating systems (estimated to become commercially available in select devices starting in October 2012).
Microsoft is starting with a two-prong device strategy: a Windows RT-based ARM tablet powered by an...
SanDisk introduces new memory cards
SanDisk (http://www.sandisk.com) has announced what it says is the world's fastest mobile memory card, the SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDHC UHS-I card. It's especially designed for smartphone and tablet users who want to boost their device's storage capacity.
Mobile phones will capture approximately one third of all video footage by 2014, according to an IDC study. With a UHS Speed Class 1 rating (Class 10 equivalent), the new card allows consumers to record Full HD videos, even in 3D
High-Quality Photo Capture:
Mobile phones will capture 525 billion photos in 2012, roughly half of all photos captured this year, according to IDC. The SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDHC UHS-I card offers up to 90MB/second write speed for capturing multiple photos using burst mode with a UHS-I enabled mobile device
The SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDHC UHS-I card is available at the SanDisk web site in 8GB and 16GB capacities with manufacturer's suggested retail prices of US$59.99 and $99.99, respectively.. The...
WeMo lets you control household electronics via an iOS device
Belkin (http://www.belkin.com) has launched WeMo, a line of modular, Wi-Fi-based products that turn an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch into a remote control for household devices.
Consisting of two initial products, the WeMo Switch (US$49.99) and the WeMo Motion, WeMo works with the free WeMo app to create a scalable, customizable home control system. The WeMo Switch is a small device that plugs directly into any electrical outlet and serves as the main building block for WeMo.
Once the Switch is connected to the home Wi-Fi network, any device plugged into it can then be turned on or off from anywhere, whether at home or on the go with the WeMo app. The app also enables users to put devices on a timed schedule, so devices will turn on or off at pre-set times.
The WeMo Switch + Motion ($99.99) adds a sensor that reads motion within 10 feet and will turn on or off anything plugged into the switch based on motion. The WeMo app tells any device plugged into the corresponding WeMo Switch...
Satechi Portable Energy Station now available
Satechi has announced the Portable Energy Station. The US$49.99, 10,000 mAh battery pack features a 1-amp and a 2-amp USB port to keep most smartphones or tablets fully charged -- including charging a dead iPhone 4S up to five times.
The battery pack features a lightweight (5.93 ounces) and compact (5.5 inches long) design and sports a rechargeable lithium ion battery. Additional features include a battery life indicator and auto off feature which detects when the connected device is fully charged.
The Portable Energy Station comes complete with a USB charging cord and six connectors compatible with most smartphones and tablets. It's available at Satechi.net and Amazon.com.
Markzware updates QuarkXPress to Adobe InDesign plug-in
Markzware has released Q2ID for CS6, an InDesign plug-in that converts QuarkXPress to InDesign CS6. Markzware Q2ID v6 for Mac supports Adobe InDesign CS6 on the Mac.
Markzware Q2ID for CS6 for Mac maintains the layout of the Quark document to convert QuarkXPress to InDesign CS6, including appropriately converting paragraphs, tables, graphics and other object property information. It's available immediately at the Q2ID Store online (http://markzware.com/products/q2id/q2id-store/) for US$199.99 and requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or higher.
Yabdab releases Twitter Bootstrap Tools for RapidWeaver
Yabdab has announced BootSnap (http://www.yabdab.com/bootsnap), a set of RapidWeaver stacks designed to simplify responsive web design for Mac-based web developers.
RapidWeaver is a theme based tool that allows novice to intermediate designers build modular sites with drag and drop widgets called stacks. You don't need to know any HTML, CSS or JavaScript to build a web site.
BootSnap is a set of 15 stacks and a RapidWeaver theme. It's available today for US$29.95 with future expansion packs scheduled for release in the coming months.
Studio Six Digital offers iTestMic for iOS
Studio Six Digital (http://www.studiosixdigital.com) has announced iTestMic, an iOS test and measurement accessory that transforms an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch into a test and measurement platform when combined with the AudioTools app.
AudioTools provides SPL meters, speaker polarity, RTA, FFT and other audio system analysis tools. Applications include home theater speaker and subwoofer setup, live audio sound system EQ and monitoring, audio system calibration in house-of-worship, and automotive sound system setup.
iTestMic plugs into the 30-pin dock connector, and communicates to the iOS device using digital audio, avoiding the marginal cell-phone mic and extreme voice filtering that Apple "does not let us bypass, even with the headset jack," says Studio Six Digital President Andrew Smith. With iTestMic, you get flat 20-20kHz +/-3dB response, low self-noise and the ability to measure from 27 to 120 dBA SPL, with an omni pickup pattern, he adds.
The iTestMic will ship next month...
ProjectWizards conjures up Australia Merlin OS X tour
ProjectWizards, makers of project management software for Mac OS X from Germany, and PureMac, Australia, announce the first live Merlin OS X Project management training events in Australia.
The limited seating, two-day Mac workshop sessions will leverage traditional project management best practices in order to demonstrate how to effectively use Merlin to manage projects on Mac OS X or iPad iOS. The certificate granting training sessions, in English, are for registered Merlin 2 users. For details, including places and pricing, go to http://projectwizards.net/en/partner/?f=australian-tour .
Synology presents DiskStation DS112+ central data hub
Synology has launched the US$295 DiskStation DS112+, an all-in-one NAS server that offers high performance with energy-efficient and quiet design for small and medium businesses, according to Peter Chen, product manager of Synology.
It's powered by a 2GHz processor and includes 512MB of memory, boasting read and write speeds up to 107 MB/second and 76 MB/second. In addition, the DS112+ features two USB 3.0 ports.
The DS112+’s distinct chassis design enhances the overall airflow to keep the system running cool while minimizing the noise level to 18.4 dB(A) with its two side ventilation openings and a 60 mm low-rotation rear fan, says Chen. It consumes only 14.6 watts in operation and further reduces to 6.34 watts when hard drive enters hibernation mode, he adds.
Mac OS X software updates for June 21
Here are the latest incremental updates for Mac OS X apps:
Tension Software (http://www.pomola.com) has updated AutoCrypt, a batch processing encryption tool, to version 2.0. The upgrade is Lion ready and "sandboxed."
GroupLogic (http://www.grouplogic.com) has upgraded ExtremeZ-IP software, itssolution that empowers enterprise IT to integrate Mac into existing Windows infrastructure. ExtremeZ-IP 8.0 with Network Reshare allows customers to extend enterprise file access for Mac users to NAS storage systems. It also makes greater amounts of corporate content and files available and provides integration and control through Active Directory.
publicspace.net has released A Better Finder Rename 9.05 an update to the g file, photo and music renaming utility on the Mac. The new version further improves the new manual ordering feature that allows users to change the order of sequence numbers via simple drag 'n drop.
China Consumers' Association criticizes Apple repair...
Apple’s repair policies have come under fire in China from the China Consumers' Association, a government funded consumer watchdog group, reports the IDG News Service (http://macte.ch/rYQX2). The group is criticizing Apple for using refurbished parts to fix products.
The Association released an evaluation of Apple’s repair policies, calling certain conditions "unfair," and saying that, in some instances, Apple infringed on consumers’ rights. One of those policies include Apple stating that it would use new or refurbished parts when repairing products.
The China Consumers' Association says this violates laws because consumers would be unaware if Apple used refurbished parts in the repair process, notes the IDG News Service. Under a three month warranty, Apple should always use new parts in its repairs, according to the group.
Study: majority of Americans won't switch to Microsoft...
Following Monday’s news that Microsoft is entering the tablet market with their contribution of the "Surface" tablet, CouponCodes4u (http://www.CouponCodes4u.com), a coupon code website in the U.S., has conducted a flash-poll of Americans to discover their reaction to the news.
CouponCodes4u conducted a flash-poll of 1,578 Americans, aged 21-35, in a bid to discover more about their reaction to the news that Microsoft has launched its iPad rival; the Microsoft Surface. The study formed part of research into perceptions of American consumers towards their personal tech gadgets.
Respondents were initially asked whether or not they owned a tablet, to which 58% replied "yes." When questioned further to discover which brand they used, 55% replied that they owned an iPad, while 23% said they owned an Android tablet and 12% admitted to owning a Blackberry Playbook.
According to the research, more than half, 59% of the respondents who owned a tablet device said they would not switch to...
'iFixIt' tears down the 'regular' MacBook...
The gang at iFixIt have torn apart the "regular" (as opposed to the Retina display version) of the MacBook Pro that was updated last week. Here's their report:
"While its sibling with the Retina display may have stolen all the press, today's MacBook Pro is nothing to scoff at. It's way more repairable, upgradeable, and hackable than its sleeker, 0.24"-thinner, one pound-lighter sibling. This isn't much of a surprise to anyone, and neither is the very respectable 7/10 repairability score (compared to 1/10 for the MacBook Pro with Retina Display). Internally the machine is pretty much the same as the last year's model.
"Yet one question still bugs us: could Apple make a super-sleek laptop like the MacBook Pro with Retina Display and still preserve the repairability of the machine? The answer -- and we hope you agree -- is yes.
"Comparison highlights between the two machines below. The regular MacBook Pro is always cited first, compared to the MacBook Pro with Retina Display:
"Use of...
iLuv shipping Mo’Beats wireless stereo speaker stand
iLuv Creative Technology (http://www.i-luv.com) is shipping the Mo’Beats Wireless Stereo Speaker Stand (iSP245). This US$99.99 slim, compact and portable device pairs "cinematic sound with a convenient cradle, allowing users to easily enjoy music, movies and TV shows on the go," according to Brian Yang, vice president of Sales and Marketing at iLuv.
The Mo’Beat’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery can be recharged through a USB charger or a computer and allows users to watch or listen to their favorite videos or music everywhere, from the beach to a camping trip. The cradle design of the Mo’Beats allows for either landscape or portrait viewing of any device while accommodating most cases.
The iSP245 features Bluetooth connected speakers on each side. The Mo’Beats also offers a 3.5 mm jack connection for any mobile device not Bluetooth enabled.
Apple tries to salvage lawsuit against Motorola
Apple will try to salvage a high-profile lawsuit against Google Inc's Motorola Mobility unit today at a hearing in the smartphone patent wars between the two tech companies, reports "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/5l5kn).
Federal Judge Richard Posner in Chicago will hear Apple argue why it should be able to seek an order barring the sale of some Motorola phones. Posner's decision could affect the iPhone maker's ability to negotiate favorable licensing agreements in its legal fights against Motorola and other competitors like Samsung, notes "Reuters."
Earlier this month A federal judge scheduled an injunction hearing in a patent dispute between Apple and Motorola Mobility, after raising the possibility last week that the case might be dismissed as neither side had established a right to relief, according to "Computerworld" (http://macte.ch/dih9S).
Posner said that the hearing would be June 20, and each party may argue for injunctive relief against alleged patent infringement by the other,...
WWDC session videos available for Apple developers
The session videos are available to members of the Apple Developer Connection through the Apple website (https://developer.apple.com/videos/wwdc/2012/) and iTunes U (http://macte.ch/otuQe)
The WWDC keynote presentation is also online for anyone to watch. You can find it at http://macte.ch/h9fHt .
Hague Court rules in favor of Samsung in patent claim against...
The Hague District Court in the Netherlands has ruled in Samsung's favor regarding a 3G patent asserted against Apple, reports "The Verge" (http://macte.ch/pWukK).
"Samsung welcomes the decision of the court in The Hague, which again confirms that Apple makes free use of our technological innovations," Samsung says in a press release. "In accordance with this statement, we will recover adequate damages that Apple and its products have caused."
The Dutch court had already rejected Samsung's earlier attempt to ban Apple's iPhones and iPads based on four patents deemed essential to 3G. However, Samsung's announcement suggests that Apple has been found to violate at least one of Samsung's patents on older iPads and iPhones using baseband chips from companies other than Qualcomm, notes "The Verge."
Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four continents. For example, Apple alleges that Samsung copied the slide-to-unlock technology of its iPhone and iPad...
China Unicom-Apple expected to renew partnership
Chinese wireless operator China Unicom is in talks with Apple to renew their partnership for the iPhone beyond the three-year agreement that they first signed in June 2009, reports "TNW" (http://macte.ch/Eyzb2).
China Unicom President Lu Yimin says that talks are ongoing, with a new deal expected to close soon as both sides are "extremely satisfied" with the success of their work together, the article adds. Unicom was Apple’s first telco partner in China.
Apple has since signed deals with China Telecom, the country's third largest operator. China Mobile -- the world's largest operator with more than 650 million subscribers -- has yet to sign on.
Lomation announces OneDock for Mac OS X Dock
Lomation has introduced OneDock, a companion app for the Mac OS X Dock. Unlike Apple's dock, users aren't limited to just one dock.
With OneDock's interactive, wheel-based design, users can create as many docks, or categories, as they want and populate those docks with practically anything -- not just apps and folders.
With OneDock, users no longer need to be concerned about the limited space of Apple's dock. You an drag items to the dock, including text clippings. You can scroll up or down to spin the dock. With OneDock, you have access to all docks via right-click. It supports external monitors and has the ability to automatically minimize the dock and text.
OneDock is available for US$2.99 until July 15; after this the price will be $5.99. A 30-day demo is available for download (http://www.lomation.com/onedock); OneDock requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or newer.
Wacom Makes a Splash with new pen tablet
Wacom (http://www.wacom.com) has introduced the US$79 Bamboo Splash. Designed for the aspiring artist at home, school, work or play, its modern tablet design and its world-renowned pressure-sensitive pen are combined with a playful suite of value added software to deliver a fresh new way to draw, sketch and paint on the computer, according to Rick Peterson, director of Consumer Products for Wacom.
Bamboo's pen is pressure-sensitive, battery-free and cordless. Whether navigating, painting a landscape or drawing a portrait, the pen's natural-feeling pressure provides users a direct link to precise input control and a realistic pen-on-paper feel, according to Peterseon. Additionally, the pen works with creative software applications to produce instinctive pen and brush strokes.
Bamboo Splash comes with a software bundle that includes ArtRage Studio and Sketchbook Express. The tablet works with Mac and PC operating systems. Bamboo Splash is currently available at most consumer...
M-Edge releases SuperShell case for the iPhone
M-Edge (http://www.medgestore.com/_ has launched the SuperShell for iPhone 4/4S. It's designed to absorb shock and bounce when dropped. Available at medgestore.com, it costs US$29.99.
The SuperShell is made with"ultra-protective closed-cell foam." Weighing just one ounce, it won't add extra weight to your phone. The squishy foam material wraps around the edges of your iPhone for a secure fit, while the dimpled texture and ridges allow for a better grip, according to the folks at M-Edge.
Kensington offers new iPad accessories
Kensington (http://www.kensington.com) has announced a new line of accessories for use with the new iPad and iPad 2. These products are available for pre-order online at Kensington.com and Amazon.com.
The US$79.99 Kensington Folio Trio Mobile Workstation (pictured) is designed for the mobile professional iPad user. The protective, zippered case keeps your iPad safe from damage and includes a removable three-ring binder, two-position iPad stand, loops for pen and stylus, and pockets to organize business or credit cards.
Kensington is also offering a new Executive Family of styluses. Two new Kensington Virtuoso Pro Styluses ($39.99) feature a choice of either a Rollerball pen or fine tip nib. The Virtuoso Pro Stylus Fine Tip Stylus ($19.99) sports a fine tip and lightweight barrel.
Additionally, a new variety of KeyFolio Pro 2 Removable Keyboard, Case & Stand join the latest collection of Kensington accessories built for the iPad 2. Available in black or white for $99.99, the...
D-Link ships SharePort for instant USB sharing capabilities
D-Link is now shipping the SharePort (http://www.dlink.com/shareport/), which offers instant USB sharing capabilities with the free D-Link SharePort Mobile app, enabling users to share videos, music, and photos from an external hard drive or thumb drive to any iPad, iPhone or Android device.
In addition, SharePort provides wireless access wherever an existing network is available and adds instant storage to a mobile device, says Daniel Kelley, associate vice president of marketing, D-Link North America. Smaller than a standard mouse, it offers instant Wi-Fi coupled with a range of features designed for today’s mobile professional.
The SharePort Cloud app for both iOS and Android offers access to videos, music, photos, and files on iOS and Android mobile devices. Simply plug SharePort into an outlet, wait for the red light to turn green and insert a thumb drive to join a network or access media via the SharePort app. SharePort also features a USB port for sharing content from a USB...
Good Call iG1 rings up on the iPhone
Good Call has launched its debut product: the Good Call iG1. It's a Bluetooth handset for iPhone designed to combine the ergonomic comfort of a landline with the untethered experience of a cell phone.
The iG1 automatically picks up any calls you make or receive on your iPhone and imitates your iPhone’s ringtone. Siri can be activated from the handset, enabling s voice dialing.
The base of the iG1 functions as a docking station, so you can charge your iPhone while making calls. The docking station includes a USB connector that allows owners to sync their iPhone with iTunes. Fully charged, the iG1 handset will purportedly last four hours.
The iG1 is available exclusively on the GoodCallBro website (http://www.goodcallbro.com/store/) in black and white for US$79.99.
id America introduces Hue Soft Grip Case for the new iPad, iPad...
id America (http://www.idamericany.com/) has introduced the US$29.95 Hue Soft Grip case for the new iPad and iPad 2.
This case is precision made to be form-fitting with a rubberized surface coating that improves grip. It also features a special cut-out designed to work with the Apple Smart Cover to provide full protection of your device. The soft, form-fitting snap-on case is available in six pastel colors, including gray, pink, blue, green, white and violet.
TwelveSouth rewrites its BookBook for the iPad
Twelve South (http://www.twelvesouth.com) has rolled out a new version of BookBook for iPad, exclusively for the iPad 2 and new iPad.The completely redesigned BookBook is 33% thinner and weighs just 358 grams.
Features include an all-new interior frame that creates a multi-angle display and a built-in typing stand, all while holding the Apple tablet securely inside. BookBook for iPad is available in three editions, including Classic Black volume, and retains the same vintage style as its predecessor.
Dual zippers allow access to the dock connector port, letting you charge and sync iPad while leaving it safely inside the case. BookBook for iPad is available now for US$79.99.
PerfectTablePlan for Mac revved to version 5
Oryx Digital has released PerfectTablePlan 5 for Mac OS X. The new version has over 40 improvements and new features, including a digital seating chart which displays table/seat assignments as continuously scrolling text.
"There has been a general trend from paper to electronic devices, for example from mail to email and from books to ebooks," says Oryx Digital founder, Andy Brice. "We expect seating charts to follow the same trend. The problem with paper seating charts is that people always cancel after you print your seating chart. You are then left with an out-of-date chart or gaps in the seating. Many venues now have large plasma screens, so it makes more sense to display the seat assignments electronically. We don't expect paper seating charts to disappear any time soon, but we do think electronic charts have significant advantages."
PerfectTablePlan 5 integrates with barcode scanners and can push seat assignments to any device with a web browser. This means that PerfectTablePlan...
SOS Online Backup releases version 2.0 of Mac app
SOS Online Backup has released SOS for Mac 2.0 (http://www.sosonlinebackup.com/mac), the latest version of its software for backing up Macs.
The new application is easier to use, more intelligent, faster and allows access to backups from other Macs as well as Windows PCs, smart-phones and tablets, according to Ken Shaw, founder and CEO of SOS Online Backup. The first time SOS runs, the Smart Scanner automatically detects important data that is exposed to loss like photos, documents and music; it can be customized to include/exclude any data the user chooses.
The software then visualizes how much of each type of data will be protected; the user can start the backup instantly or schedule it to recur at another time; files are encrypted and stored in the secure SOS cloud. A single SOS for Home account can protect five Macs and PCs, including an unlimited number of smart-phones and tablets without any per-computer fees. Using SOS for Mac, subscribers can easily restore and manage data...
ReelSmart Motion Blur, DE:Noise released for Final Cut Pro X,...
RE:Vision Effects (http://www.revisionfx.com ) has released ReelSmart Motion Blur and DE:Noise for Apple's Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5.
ReelSmart Motion Blur (RSMB) automatically adds more natural-looking motion blur to a sequence. Proprietary tracking technology is at the heart of RSMB, so there's no handwork involved, according to the folks at RE:Vision Effects. You can add as little or as much blurring as you need and even remove motion blur. Also included in the Pro version is a plug-in for Motion that allows you to blur with user-supplied motion vectors. The standard version is US$89.95; the pro version is $149.99.
DE:Noise ($149.95) handles spurious frame-to-frame defects ranging from fine digital/electronic noise to blotchy spots (e.g. dirt on the film). DE:Noise combines motion estimation techniques with edge-preserving spatial filtering methods to reduce the visual impact of various problems such as: noisy video (that can happen with low-light capture), excessive film...
Civilization V: Gods & Kings expansion pack comes to the Mac
Aspyr Media, in partnership with 2K Games and Firaxis Games says Sid Meier's Civilization V: Gods & Kings, the expansion pack for Civilization V, is now available for the Mac in North America and will be available internationally on June 22.
Sid Meier's Civilization V: Gods & Kings enhances the Civilization V experience with new gameplay content and provides even more ways for players to achieve world domination, according to Ted Staloch, executive vice president of Aspyr Media. Spanning the breadth of human civilization, the Gods & Kings expansion pack takes players from founding the first Pantheon of the Gods and spreading religion across the world, to deploying spies in enemy cities to steal information and technology, and much more., he adds.
Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gods & Kings is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB and is available now for download for US$29.99. Gods and Kings is also available as an in-app purchase in Civilization V: Campaign...
Mac OS X software updates for June 20
Here are the latest incremental updates for Mac OS X apps:
Paragon Software Group (PSG) has released an update to Hard Disk Manager 12 Suite and Professional editions. The latest enhancements include new incremental imaging capabilities boosting the efficiency of the network backup and updated data wiping for Professional edition users, and HFS file system conversion for both editions. For more info go to https://www.paragon-software.com .
CS Odessa (http://www.conceptdraw.com) has given us an updated version of its mind mapping tool, ConceptDraw MindWave for SAP StreamWork. The upgrade sports a new menu, topic hyperlink capability and more.
Unmarked Software (http://www.unmarked.com/) has served up TextSoap 7.3, an update to its text processing and editing utility for OS X. The update brings support for silent launching with Services and AppleScript, hi-res image support for Retina displays, Gatekeeper support and various bug fixes.
SintraWorks has announced PDF Nomad 1.4, an...
iPhone/iPod touch/iPad apps for June 20
Here are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/)
DS Corporation has announced Snap Clap for iOS. The US$0.99 allows taking pictures or making videos using the back as well as the front camera of the device.
Metabling has released FlexiForm 1.0 for iOS. It's a $6.99 app to create forms to store different kinds of data in your daily life, such as contacts, tasks, notes, web bookmarks, etc. Users are able to install a set of common pre-designed form templates to use, and they can customize the look and feel of a form the way they want.
IntSquare has introduced Combo Slash 1.0 for iOS. As a fantasy hero in the $1.99 game, the player's goal is to find and rescue mystical fairies who are being held helplessly captive in crystal prisons.
Neowiz Internet has unveiled London 2012 -- Official Mobile Games, the mobile game of the XXX Olympiad.
Blank Space has produced PhotoCrash 1.0 for iOS. It's a $1.99 photo...
Apple developers get beta of OS X 10.7.5
Apple has supplied developers with the first beta of OS X 10.7.5, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com). Those testing the software have reportedly been asked to concentrate on testing graphics performance and quality along with networking reliability and performance, the article adds.
Importing, editing and viewing of images and media are also areas of focus, notes "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com). Details on what exactly has been changed in the first beta of OS X 10.7.5 remain unknown, "but any fixes or updates are likely to be relatively insignificant with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion set to hit the Mac App Store in July," the article adds.
Fitch: Microsoft Surface seen as defense of PC business
Fitch Ratings (http://www.fitchratings.com) -- a global rating agency "dedicated to providing value beyond the rating through independent and prospective credit opinions, research and data" -- believes Microsoft Corp.'s announcement Monday that it plans to offer its own tablet PC is a defense of its core Windows PC business in the face of growing consumer and enterprise adoption of Apple's iPad and Android-based tablets.
"While details of the new tablet product are scarce, as price and certain performance capabilities are unclear, we would expect this product to offer similar functionality to a Windows Ultrabook computer with touch capabilities," says Fitch Ratings. " In this sense, the market for this type of tablet would include users that need the capability to run Microsoft Office or other applications unavailable on competing OS tablets. The availability of apps will be critical its success, particularly in the consumer market."
Fitch expects enhanced security features will also...
Remotix is new remote activities app for the Mac
Nulana has released Remotix 1.0, the Mac OS X Lion version of their VNC client. It's available for US$24.99 n the Mac App Store under the Utilities category.
Remotix features complete Apple screen sharing support, login, server scaling, Apple adaptive codec, clipboard synchronization and multiple monitor configurations. It offers hardware-accelerated rendering and optimized decoders to free up the CPU.
Remotix provides iCloud support and clipboard synchronization to make all your devices work as a team. Once configured, Remotix settings become available on other computers and iOS devices. The software keeps the clipboard in sync across computers.
Kodak suing Apple in patent sale dispute
Eastman Kodak is suing Apple (again) in a bid to "quash a dispute over patents," reports "Bloomberg." It's part of an ongoing legal battle.
Kodak plans to sell its patents as part of a bankruptcy reorganization in New York and Apple is a potential purchaser, Kodak said in court papers Monday. Apple claims it owns 10 of the patents in Kodak’s portfolio.
“Apple’s strategy has been to use its substantial cash position to delay as long as possible the payment of royalties to Kodak and to interfere” with the planned sale, Kodak said.
Kodak is seeking a court order declaring Apple has no interest in the 10 patents and that the photo company has permission to sell them, as well as an injunction barring Apple from asserting ownership, notes "Bloomberg." Read more at http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-19/kodak-sues-apple-in-bid-to-quas... .
Apple sued Kodak in April 2010, about three months after Kodak accused Apple and Research In Motion of infringing a patent related to ways of previewing...
Senator concerned over Apple, Google mapping plans
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer has raised concerns over Apple’s and Google’s reported digital mapping plans that use military-grade spy planes with enough precision to see through windows, catch detailed images of private backyard activities, and record images as small as four inches.
In a letter to the companies, Schumer called for Apple and Google to put measures in place that require prior notification of mapping, blurs photos of individuals, gives property owners the ability to opt out from mapping of their homes, and that requires coordination with law enforcement to blur our sensitive infrastructure details.
While programs like Google Maps and Google Earth have provided satellite imagery in the past, the level of precision that is reported to be obtained with these newly employed technologies, and potentially made available to the public, is unprecedented. Schumer is asking for both companies to more fully explain the safeguards they intend to put in place to protect privacy...
Apple posts Thunderbolt Software Update 1.2
Apple has released Thunderbolt Software Update 1.2 on Monday. The update adds support for the US$29 Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter.
The adapter is especially designed for the new Retina display MacBook Pro, which has Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 ports, but no Ethernet or FireWire ports. Thunderbolt Software Update 1.2 -- which can be obtained via the Software Update component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app -- fixes an issues with boot-related problems on some Macs.
Apple posts new iPad ad
Apple has posted a new iPad ad called "Do It All."
The slogan is "Whatever you do on iPad, do it all more beautifully than ever with the stunning Retina display." You can find the ad at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RksyMaJiD8Y .
'iFixIt': Retina display on new MacBook Pro is '...
The gang at "iFixIt' has torn apart the new Retina display MacBook Pro and is really impressed with the display.
Here's their prognosis: "Today we took a closer look at the component that makes the new model MacBook Pro so groundbreaking: the Retina display. Apple claims that the Retina display in the MacBook Pro is the most stunning display to ever grace the lid of a notebook computer.
"Honestly, we agree. The Retina display is an engineering marvel. Its LCD is essentially the entire display assembly. Rather than sandwich an LCD panel between a back case and a piece of glass in front, Apple used the aluminum case itself as the frame for the LCD panel and used the LCD as the front glass. They've managed to pack five times as many pixels as the last model in a display that's actually a fraction of a millimeter thinner. And since there's no front glass, glare is much less of an issue.
"But at what cost? The kind that's green and has dead presidents on it. There's no way to replace just...
ACDSee Pro 2 for Mac targeted to photographers
ACD Systems International has announced ACDSee Pro 2 (Mac), a Mac-based photo editing and management software designed to reduce the time, cost and complexity of creatingphotography.
ACDSee Pro 2 (Mac) is designed to meet the exacting needs of the professional, yet it is simple and affordable enough for the passionate amateur photographer, says Doug Vanderkerkhove, founder and CEO of ACD Systems. As with other ACD products, it incorporates the company’s patented technology and user-focused design.
New features in ACDSee Pro 2 (Mac) include:
° The ability to import files from a connected device or access files from their original locations. When a folder is opened on a laptop or connected device, Pro 2 will begin to display thumbnails of photos.
° Customizable batch presets that apply rules as photos are imported. You can save, back-up, rename, resize, set metadata information and apply edits across any number of photos, all at once.
° A more intuitive user interface allows...
Bento 4 for iPad lets you create personal productivity apps
FileMaker has released Bento 4 for iPad, the new version of the personal database app. It now allows you to create your own personal productivity apps on iPad. Apps are both created and run within Bento 4 for iPad.
New features of Bento 4 for iPad include:
° One-tap linking to the Bento Template Exchange to access hundreds of free, ready-to-use templates to get started in seconds;
° Design tools that let users customize templates, create forms and organize information with a tap;
° 40 retina display-ready themes that add coordinated backgrounds, fonts, and shading to mirror a user’s personal style;
° New ways to see and interact with your information such as Table view, Split view and Full Screen view;
° The ability to add calculations, encrypted fields and GPS location fields.
Bento 4 for iPad can be used by itself to create apps for personal use on iPad. Bento 4 for iPad can also be synchronized with Bento 4.1 for Mac. Bento 4.1 for Mac is available as a free update and provides...
Application Wizard for OS X gets improved previews features,...
MaBaSoft (http://www.mabasoft.net/) has updated Application Wizard -- Mac OS X software that provides easy access to your applications, documents, folders, and disks -- to version 3.3, improving the previews features and more.
Application Wizard 3.3 is a free update for registered version 3.x users. The cost is US$7 for users who purchased version 2.x and $19 for new users. Family and site licenses are also available. You can purchase Application Wizard at
https://store.kagi.com/?2H_LIVE .
Application Wizard -- which requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher -- lets you quickly open, quit, and make applications active, run AppleScripts, and turn single application mode on to reduce screen clutter. You can also browse volumes and favorite folders to quickly open enclosed items, eject and mount disks, check memory usage, and easily access recent documents, Address Book contacts, and your iPhoto or Aperture library. Finally, Application Wizard lets you preview images, music, movies, and...
MagCast publishing platform launched for Apple's Newsstand
30 DC, founder of the online Internet marketing course The Challenge, has launched MagCast, a digital magazine publishing platform. MagCast is now available to the public under a one-year license for a single payment of US$1,997 or three payments of $897 at http://www.magcast.co .
Included in this price is MagCast's turnkey template designer, publishing tool, and WYSIWIG editor, along with a full MagCast educational course on everything necessary to launch a magazine, including selecting a magazine niche, creating quality content, and how to deliver a magazine app on Apple's Newsstand.
Buyers also receive a complimentary three-month subscription to 30 DC's Internet marketing program, Immediate Edge. This program, normally priced at $97 per month, is created to help publishers learn techniques for marketing their magazines.
Apen A5 Digital Pen comes to the iPad
E Fun is shipping the A5 Digital Pen for the iPad in time for summer. The newest addition to its Apen line of digital pens offers a way for users to take notes, draw, or sketch directly on an iPad screen.
Designed to look and feel like a normal pen, the APEN delivers a natural writing and drawing experience where users can lean a hand on their iPad screen, just as they do on paper, according to Jason Liszewski, managing director and vice president of sales for E Fun. The A5 augments the standard touch input of the iPad and enhances the way a user interacts with the screen, he adds.
The E Fun Apen A5 Digital Pen is compatible with all three Apple iPad versions. It's available in the U.S. at RadioShack for US$99.99. For more info go to http://apenusa.com/productdetail.php?product_id=5 .
Mac OS X software updates for June 19
Here are the latest incremental updates for Mac OS X apps:
Version 4.2.9 of Helicon Focus for Mac (http://d-studio.com.ua/products/helicon_focus/index.html) has been released and is compatible with Lion. This program -- designed for micro, macro, and landscape photography -- creates one completely focused image from several partially focused images by combining the focused areas.
Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) says all its products are now compatible with the Adobe Creative Suite 6 software. Zevrix products include solutions for Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, such as Output Factory, LinkOptimizer and InPreflight. The Zevrix products allow to automate printing, exporting and file delivery from InDesign; save disk space and production time through image optimization and automated packaging; and eliminate errors with preflighting.
SintraWorks has updated PDF Nomad (http://macte.ch/uiF4v), a PDF editor for Mac OS X 10.7 ("Lion"), to version 1.4. The upgrade adds support for...
Ex-AT&T employee pleads guilty of leaking insider info
A former employee of AT&T has pled to providing inside information to clients of a so-called expert-network firm, including details about the phone company's sales of Apple's iPhone and RIM's Blackberry products, reports "The Wall Street Journal" (http://macte.ch/ukCCM).
Alnoor Ebrahim, 57, admitted Monday that he worked as a consultant for an expert-network firm, while employed by AT&T, and shared material, nonpublic information about the phone company with clients of the firm between 2008 and 2010, the article adds. Ebrahim said he received about $180,000 for sharing information during that period.
Liquidmetal, Apple extend intellectual property agreement
Liquidmetal Technologies announced in a Securities & Exchange Commisson filing -- as reported by "MacRumors" (http://www.macrumors.com) -- that it has extended its agreement with Apple to effectively license its ongoing intellectual property development for an additional two years.
The agreement, which is funneled through a subsidiary known as Crucible Intellectual Property, provides Apple with a full license to all of Liquidmetal's intellectual property for commercialization in consumer electronics, the article adds. The original deal required that Liquidmetal submit all of its intellectual property discoveries to the subsidiary through February 5, 2012, but the new amendment effective as of last Friday extends the agreement through February 5, 2014, notes "MacRumors."
In 2010, it was found announced that Apple struck a deal with Liquidmetal Technologies (http://www.liquidmetal.com/technology/default.asp), a California-based company that holds patents on new metal and alloy...
