Apple wins evidence bid against Proview in Hong Kong court
According to the "Shanghai Daily" (http://macte.ch/vMdkb), Apple has won a bid in a Hong Kong court to exclude some evidence that was previously filed by Proview International Holdings. The two companies are in a legal battle over the iPad trademark on the Chinese mainland.
Two expert reports filed by Proview in October failed to comply with Hong Kong court instructions, making the evidence inadmissible in an upcoming trial between the company and Apple, according to a ruling yesterday by Judge Justin Ko, notes the "Shanghai Daily." Proview hasn't decided whether to appeal the ruling, Chairman Sun Min said.
Earlier this moth a California judge tossed out a lawsuit in which Proview accused Apple of tricking them into selling the "iPad" name for less than it might have. Judge Mark Pierce dismissed the case, agreeing with Apple's argument that the two parties had agreed to settle any disagreements in Hong Kong, the article adds.
Steve Jobs honored at annual Webbys awards
During the annual Webbys award show nearly a dozen high profile celebrities, politicians, and people of note gave a huge tribute to the late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, reports "iMore" (http://macte.ch/bxZiM). The tribute was shown on a huge video screen and simultaneously streamed over the web.
John Hodmgan and Justin Long introduced the segment, paying homage to their long-running series of "Get a Mac" ads. They introduced Richard Dreyfuss, who'd narrated the famous "Think Different" ads. Jobs was thanked for a hand held internet, for saving lives with Product Red, for spreading American ingenuity world wide, and for exploring beyond our reach, notes "iMore."
Apple tried to lure away Google exec
Apple reportedly tried to lure away Google executive Dennis Woodside, who was just named Motorola’s new CEO, according to "Bloomberg BusinessWeek" (http://macte.ch/JL1VP).
Citing two unnamed "people familiar with the matter," the article says Apple CEO Tim Cook was personally attempting to poach Woodside away from the online search giant to install him as Apple’s head of sales. However, "Google convinced Woodside to stay, in part by promising him greater responsibility at the search company," the article adds.
Woodside, 43, oversaw Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility, and is former president of Google's Americas region. He has worked with partners, governments and advertisers in more than 30 countries. Most recently, Dennis was responsible for Google's Sales & Operations in the Americas.
Apple is number one brand in the world (again)
The number one brand in the world for the second year in a row is Apple, according to WPP company Millward Brown’s annual "BrandZtm Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands" study. (http://macte.ch/6nldr).
BrandZ evaluates brand strength among category users. By asking consumers to compare brands within a specific competitive frame, BrandZ can determine market dynamics based on the way consumers shop the category.
Apple, rose 19% in value and is now worth US$182.9 billion. IBM grew 15% in value to $115.9 billion and overtook Google, which dropped to third place in the ranking and is now worth $107.8 billion. The top 10 brands, in descending order, are Apple, IBM, Google, McDonald's, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Marlboro, AT&T, Verizon, and China Mobile.
Analyst: tech supply chain would be in trouble without Apple
The tech electronics supply chain -- an "amorphous collection of manufacturers, many located in Asia" -- is barely showing year-to-year growth and would be in the red if it wasn't for Apple, according to a research note today from Citibank analyst Jim Suva, as reported by "CNET."
"Projected annual sales growth in the supply chain has slowed significantly and is expected to be +1.5% y/y in June, well below the 5-year and 10-year averages of +4.2% year-over-year and +6.8% year-over-year, respectively," Suva tells clients. "... Year over year, Apple on a dollars basis is expected to [be] outgrowing overall tech supply chain in the June quarter or, in other words, without Apple the supply chain is actually shrinking."
Read more at http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57438846-92/without-apple-supply-chain-... .
Apple tops 2012 supply chain top 25 for fifth time
The Gartner research group (http://www.gartner.com) has released the findings from its eighth annual Supply Chain Top 25. Apple topped the list for the fifth time in a row.
The goal of the Supply Chain Top 25 research initiative is to raise awareness of the supply chain discipline and how it impacts the business. Analysts announced the findings from this year's research at the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference (http://www.gartner.com/us/supplychain), which is being held at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa through May 23.
"Last year, we noted that companies were starting to invest in resources and assets again, reflecting a newly recovering economy," says Debra Hofman, managing vice president at Gartner. "This year, that trend continues even more strongly, with many companies investing for growth. The global economic recovery has been uneven and halting in some cases, but, on balance, the result has been expansionary for companies' bottom lines and outlooks."...
Apple maintains top mobile computer share
Apple shipped nearly 17.2 million mobile computers in the first quarter of 2012 (Q1’12), accounting for 118% year-over-year (Y/Y) shipment growth, according to preliminary results from the latest "NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report" (http://www.displaysearch.com).
Nearly 80% of Apple’s mobile computer shipments were iPads, which reached over 13.6 million units in the quarter, for 162% Y/Y growth. Total mobile computer shipments in Q1’12 were 76.2 million units, a seasonal drop of 15% compared to Q4’11. Shipments grew 30% Y/Y, with tablet computers growing 124% Y/Y and notebooks and mini-notes growing 12%.
From the regional perspective, the China market stood out with Q/Q shipment growth. The China region had sequential quarter shipment growth, achieving 13% for mobile compuers overall, 12% for notebook and mini-notebooks, and 16% for tablets, says Richard Shim, NPD DisplaySearch senior analyst.
Tablets fueled Apple’s mobile computer growth, enabling...
PlayGo AP1 wirelessly streams audio from iOS devices
Bicom has announced the next generation playGo USB, the playGo AP1. playGo AP1 is an AirPlay-enabled receiver that wirelessly streams audio from iOS devices to speaker systems through Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
The playGo AP1 automatically syncs with iOS devices in your home network without the need for additional apps or wires. It creates an audio platform to transfer lossless audio from music libraries such as iTunes, Pandora, Rhapsody, and Spotify.
Unlike Bluetooth wireless audio, the technology in the playGo AP1 supports lossless audio, according to the folks at Bicom. This means the music is transferred bit-by-bit, preserving the original file format to recreate crisp sound quality, they add.
The playGo can be used to transmit audio from movies, TV, or games being viewed from an iOS device such as an iPad. What's more, the playGo audio platform has built in USB for compatibility with older iOS devices, as well as DLNA audio streaming support for synching with DLNA-compliant computers...
Elgato Game Capture HD lets you record, capture your gameplay
Elgato (http://www.elgato.com) has announced the Game Capture HD, a solution for recording and sharing PlayStation or Xbox gameplay using a Mac or PC. It will be available June 1 for US$199.95.
With Elgato Game Capture HD, gameplay videos are easier to record, edit and share than ever before thanks to its innovative hardware design, powerful H.264 encoder, and software that is specifically tailored to gamers' needs, says Adam Steinberg, vice president of Marketing at Elgato. It records in HD quality, all without burdening the computer hard disk with large files, he adds.
At the same time, gameplay is passed through to the TV via HDMI. The hardware connects directly to the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 using a single cable.
Elgato Game Capture HD comes with a Quick Start Guide, a USB cable, an HDMI cable, and a PlayStation 3 cable. It accepts the input of Xbox 360 (unencrypted HDMI) and PlayStation 3 (A/V In) video signals at 480p, 576p, 720p, and 1080i. Mac OS X 10.7 and a 2.0GHz Intel...
Native Instruments introduces The Giant
Native Instruments has introduced The Giant, a new instrument based on the world's biggest upright piano. For use in Kontakt 5 or the free Kontakt 5 Player, The Giant features the sound of the Klavins Piano Model 370i, a super-sized instrument.
Produced by sampling expert Uli Baronowsky, the creator of the Galaxy piano series, The Giant captures the sound of the original instrument in meticulous detail, according to the folks at Native Instruments. This upright piano stands over three meters high and weighs over two tons, with a soundboard roughly twice the size of a typical nine-inch concert grand piano soundboard. \
The Giant comprises two separate instruments in one, each with its own graphical user interface and detail controls. The piano sound of the "day" version is designed for a wide range of styles and genres; the "night" version turns The Giant into a cinematic tool suited to atmospheric scores, sound design and avant-garde productions.
With Tone, Color and an XXL button,...
Deal Spotlight: Design Box
Today's special deal is Porthole for Mac OS X. It's being offered for US$9.99; the regular price is $19.99. To take advantage of this special pricing go to http://mupromo.com/deal/11096/6603 .
DesignBox is a one-stop design shop if you want to change image effects, batch resize, rotate, add a watermark, convert format, make GIF animations, create iOS icons, Generate QR codes or draw the shapes you want.
Mac OS X software updates for May 22
Here are the latest incremental updates for Mac OS X apps.
Jason Fuerstenberg has updated Accent (http://www.jayfuerstenberg.com/accent) -- a tool for translators, developers, web designers or anybody to find and copy accented characters and symbols on the Mac and iPad -- to version 1.1.The update sports a new icon, localized to Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish as well as minor optimizations.
Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has announced LinkOptimizer 4.7, a compatibility update to its workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. The new version makes LinkOptimizer compatible with recently released InDesign and Photoshop CS6.
Reggie Ashworth has introduced AppDelete 3.2.7 (http://www.reggieashworth.com/appdelete), an update to his application deletion utility for Mac OS X. The new version is optimized for Lion and supports six new languages, among other improvements.
Fortunate Bear has acquired Pandora, an image and media search...
Tim Cook is America's highest paid CEO
Apple CEO Tim Cook had the highest compensation for the CEO of a large American company in 2011, according to the annual Wall Street Journal/Hay Group survey, as reported by "The Mercury News" (http://macte.ch/YoDrQ). His one-time restricted stock award gives him nearly five times the remuneration as the second CEO on the list: Oracle's Larry Ellison.
When Cook replaced Steve Jobs as CEO, Apple awarded hime one million restricted share units, which were then worth US$376.2 million. At Friday's closing price, the shares would be worth more than $530 million. This in in addition to his annual $900,000 salary and equal incentives.
ALJ announces initial determination in Apple/RIM/Kodak brawl
Eastman Kodak Company says it's received notice of the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) initial determination in the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) action brought by Kodak against Apple and Research In Motion Limited (RIM).
The ALJ concluded that the Apple iPhone 3G and the accused RIM BlackBerry devices infringe Kodak’s patent, although his recommendation is that the patent claim is invalid. The patent at issue (US Patent No. 6,292,218) relates to a technology invented by Kodak for previewing images on a digital camera-enabled device that is fundamental to how those devices take pictures.
In the face of two separate challenges, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office analyzed this particular Kodak patent and confirmed its validity in December 2010. The final decision of the ITC, based on the deliberation of the full Commission, is expected by Sept. 21.
Apple sued Kodak in April 2010, about three months after Kodak accused Apple and Research In Motion of infringing a patent...
Foxconn investing $210 million in new plant for Apple products
Foxconn, the China-based facility that makes iPhones and iPads for Apple (among other products), is investing US$210 million to build a new factory in October to specifically serve Apple, according to "China Daily" (as noted by "CNET").
The facility will be in China's eastern Jiangsu province, will cover an area of 40,000 square meters and employ 35,800 worker. It's unknown exactly what products and/or components the factory will make.
For more info go to http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57438132-37/apple-partner-foxconn-invests-$210m-in-new-plant/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title
Lawyers: Apple, Samsung unlikely to make peace in court-ordered...
Lawyers following the case say you shouldn't expect Apple and Samsung to settle their global legal battle over mobile device patents in court-ordered talks that start today between their chief executive officers, reports "Bloomberg" (http://macte.ch/OumPl).
U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, ordered Apple CEO Tim Cook and Samsung CEO Choi Gee Sung to meet face-to-face to try and settle their differences. The general counsels of both companies also were directed to participate in the two-day mediation session to try settle Apple’s claims that Samsung’s smartphones and tablet computers infringe patents covering the design and feel of iPhones and iPads, as well as Samsung’s infringement counterclaims related to its Galaxy smartphones.
According to "Bloomberg," Koh is trying to avert a July trial that she said this month would amount to “cruel and unusual punishment” for a jury because of the broad scope of the dispute. "While the meeting may lay the foundation for an...
Mac Expo Show redubbed Appule Expo
Apple has sent legal correspondence to the organizer of a London based Apple Expo warning them that use of the name Apple is a trademark infringement., reports "Macworld UK" (http://macte.ch/a5UpH).
The redubbed Appule Expo that will take place in London this October. This will be the first Mac show to run in London since 2008, notes "Macworld UK." The Mac Expo show was last run London in 2007, then renamed Creative Pro Expo in 2008 before ceasing. The Apple Expo show last ran in Paris in 2008.
The Appule Pro User Live Expo (http://www.mactechnology.co.uk/appule-16-w.asp) will take place at The Barbican in London on 11 and 12 October 2012. According to the website it is "strictly for professional Apple Computer users only".
Analyst: 28nm chip shortages unlikely to impact next gen iPhone
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says 28nm chip shortages at Qualcomm aren'r likely to keep Apple from releasing its next gen iPhone with a "completely redesigned body style" in October.
"The bottom line is that we remain comfortable with an October iPhone 5 launch despite the reported 28nm chip shortage at Qualcomm," he told clients.
Qualcomm is widely expected to provide the baseband chip for the next-generation iPhone, notes "AppleInsider." Both the iPhone 4S and the third-generation 4G iPad make use of Qualcomm cellular chips.
Munster gives an 80% chance that iPhone sales will meet its forecast of 49 million units in the December 2012 quarter. Even if Apple was affected by shortages, the analyst thinks Apple smartphone sales would simply be shifted into the March 2013 quarter and beyond.
Apple files for US ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1
Apple has filed a motion for a U.S. preliminary injunction against Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://macte.ch/gLFzY).
The motion is based on a ruling by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC), which came down four days earlier and sided with Apple on the question of whether an iPad-related design patent (U.S. Patent No. D504,889) is likely valid, the article adds. Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four continents.
Apple and Samsung CEOs are slated to meet on May 21 and 22 to try and settle the global, ongoing patent battle. The meetings will take place in a San Francisco courthouse, while the litigation itself is before the San Jose division of the court.
"Jobs: Get Inspired" to use some actual locations from...
Five Star Feature Films, the company behind Ashton Kutcher's made-for-TV movie "Jobs: Get Inspired," says it will use several actual locations for filming Steve Jobs' story as head of Apple, including the original company garage, reports "CNET." For details go to http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57437566-37/steve-jobs-tv-movie-to-fil... .
That particular location is at 2066 Crist Drive in Los Altos, California and it served as the company's official headquarters before it moved into its Cupertino campus.
It saw the invention of the first Apple computer as well as the Apple II.
"Jobs: Get Inspired" is an indie film. Meanwhile, a motion picture based on Walter Issacson's best-selling "Steve Jobs" is also in the works. Aaron Sorkin, who won an Oscar for screenplay of "The Social Network, is the screenwriter.
ResourceHelper is new image resource management tool for OS X
HiddenMemory has introduced ResourceHelper 1.0, its new image resource management tool for Mac OS X (10.7 and higher)
Developed specifically for developers and designers who want to create iOS software, ResourceHelper helps you ship software with all the correctly scaled image assets required. The app features image checking, batch image conversion,
To celebrate the launch, ResourceHelper 1.0.1 is offered at the introductory price of US$9.99. It's available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Developer Tools category.
Analyst: iPhone 3GS will live on in developing markets
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- Jefferies analyst Peter Misek thinks the iPhone 3GS will stay in production even after the next gen iPhone is introduced this fall. He thinks the phone will remain on sale for under US$300 in developing markets where pre-paid smartphones are popular.
Misek tells clients that Apple has inked an agreement with "a leading distribution and logistics company" that will push the iPhone 3GS in prepaid markets around the world. He thinks Apple will reprice the iPhone 3GS, which currently costs $375 without a contract. He expects that the third-generation iPhone will be priced between $250 and $300, which would allow someone to buy it with no subsidy for around the cost of an on-contract iPhone 4S.
Lemke Software releases GraphicConverter 8 for OS X
Lemke Software (http://www.lemkesoft.com/) has announced GraphicConverter 8, an update to its image utility for Mac OS X. It's been completely rewritten and now supports 64-bit and 32-bit Intel-based Macs.
The upgrade allows you to work with larger files and in less time. Also added is import support for EMF, EMZ, cpbitmap , FLIR raw data to context menu, interpolation of EXIF date function and more.
GraphicConverter 8 requires Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later. It's a free download for all existing 7.x customers. For new users the cost is US$38.99. GraphicConverter is available at the Mac App Store.
Mysteryville 2 comes to the Mac App Store
Nevosoft's Mysteryville 2 for Mac OS X (10.6.6 or higher) is now available at the Mac App Store. It costs US$6.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Games category.
Here's how the game is described: "Mysterville 2 is an original adventure game with intriguing storyline, and hours of seek-and-find fun. Return to Mysteryville in this amazing sequel, as journalist Laura Winner returns for a visit. She comes to Mysteryville on the invitation of old acquaintance Bill Witowsky, and finds as she arrives that Bill is missing and an art and jewellery auction organized by the town's new priest is about to take place.
"Could Bill's disappearance and this auction, which is totally out of character for a small town like Mysteryville, be somehow tied together? It's up to Laura to find out, with your help of course.
"Over the course of the game you'll get to interact with several of the town's inhabitants, including some new faces and some who will be familiar...
Theme Inn launches line of templates for MS Office for Mac
Theme Inn (http://www.themeinn.com/) has launched a three collections of templates for MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint, as well as combining all three sets into the Bundle for MS Office.
The Templates for MS Word pack is a collection of 411 templates for creating business and personal documents with Word. Templates for MS Excel offers 50 diverse templates for Excel. The MS PowerPoint set consists of 25 designs for PowerPoint presentations.
The templates require Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher and MS Office 2008 for Mac or later. They're US$19.99 each; the MS Office bundle costs $39.99.
O'Reilly Media publishes 'Photoshop CS6: The Missing...
O'Reilly Media has published "Photoshop CS6: The Missing Manual," an US$49.99 book by Lesa Snider.
"This edition features all new screen shots, new and updated practical techniques, as well as a new chapter on video editing," notes Snider, founder of the creative tutorial site www.GraphicReporter.com. "It's simply the most comprehensive yet conversational, Photoshop book on the market and I'm incredibly proud to have it available upon ship date of the software."
For more information about the book, including a table of contents, author bios and more go to http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920022718.do
Sonivox releases new Dubstep software package
Sonivox (http://www.sonivoxmi.com) has released Dubstep Destruction Tools, a software package that includes the Wobble, Pulse, Vocalizer and Twist virtual instrument plug-ins.
Dubstep Destruction Tools comes with: Wobble, a dubstep virtual instrument; Twist, a spectral synthesizer; Vocalizer, an audio re-synthesizer for reprocessing, re-pitching, and synthesizing vocals and drums; and Pulse, "the Swiss Army Knife" of drum machines that reads any MPC, MP3, Aiff, or WAV file format, and comes complete with its own library of sounds
Dubstep Destruction Tools is now available from musical instrument retailers. It has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$599 and an estimated street price of $249.
Deal Spotlight: Fumy for OS X
Today's special deal is Fumy for Mac OS X. It's being offered for US$8.99; the regular price is $19.99. To take advantage of this special pricing go to http://mupromo.com/deal/1859/6603 .
Fumy (previously called Smoke) is an unusual bitmap editor with tools that allow you to brush and render graphics that resemble smoke. You can create abstract background, lighting texts, art-house drawings and more.
Crucial.com serving up dinner with 'Woz' for one lucky...
Crucial.com, an online destination for memory upgrades, is inviting all Mac enthusiasts to enter the "Dinner with the Woz" sweepstakes for a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet, greet and eat with Apple co-founder Steve "Woz" Wozniak.
The package that includes a trip to California’s Silicon Valley for an unforgettable meeting with one of the most influential pioneers of the technology industry. To enter the "Dinner with the Woz" sweepstakes, contestants may visit the sweepstakes page at http://www.crucial.com/mac2012 from now until June 15.
After answering a few questions about their Mac computer usage, visitors will then be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win the grand prize trip to meet and dine with Woz. In addition to one Grand Prize winner, entrants are also eligible to win a First Prize package consisting of a DRAM and SSD upgrade for their computer, as well as several runner-up prize packages that include individual SSD and DRAM upgrades. Visit...
Mac OS X software updates for May 21
Here are the latest incremental updates for Mac OS X apps.
STA Software (http://STA-Software.com) has released version 1.2 of its SiteSaver productivity code. SiteSaver is an application that collects, organizes, saves and retrieves information from the Web and integrates it with local files and folders. Version 1.2 is a maintenance update.
SecureMac has announced MacScan 2.9.3 (http://macscan.securemac.com/), the latest version of its aanti-spyware and security software, which features tracking cookie detection and cleaning for Google’s Chrome browser. The latest version adds additional browser support for the SeaMonkey web browser, scheduler bug fixes, interface changes and the latest definitions to protect against malware affecting Mac OS X.
Red Sweater Software (http://www.red-sweater.com) has updated MarsEdit, the weblog publishing software from NewsGator Technologies, to version 3.5.2. It offers bug fixes and a live-updated word count feature.
Cleverflies (http://www....
Apple sued for 'deceptive' practices regarding iCloud
Another day, another lawsuit. A complaint was filed this week in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by plaintiff Danyelle Comer accusing Apple of participating in "unfair, unlawful, deceptive, and misleading practices" in promoting the simplicity and reliability of its iCloud service, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com).
The lawsuit claims that Apple "misrepresented" its iCloud service in advertising it to customers. Specifically, it argues that paying MobileMe customers experienced "devastating consequences," and that Apple should have been better prepared for the transition, notes "AppleInsider."
The lawsuit blasts iCloud occasional downtime, which means users can get their e-mail and other services. It accuses Apple of indicating that iCloud and MobileMe e-mail accounts are online and operational, when in fact users are unable to send or receive e-mails, says "AppleInsider."
'iTV' could double annual household spending on Apple...
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty says if were to launch a full-fledged television set (the rumored "iTV"), it could cause total average annual U.S. household spending on Apple products to double to US$888 by 2015.
She said that Apple's U.S. household spending doubled following the launch of the original iPhone, from $150 per year in 2007 to $295 in 2010. She expects that the iPad will double that spending again, to an average of $635 per household, per year by 2013.
"Given a 97% TV household penetration and a 61% broadband household penetration in the US along with an expected high price (and value) point, an Apple TV is likely to generate a similar increase in average household spend, with some help from iPad and iPhone growth," Huberty wrote.
RIM, Motorola update nano-SIM proposal
"The Verge" (http://macte.ch/kIDd4) reports that RIM and Motorola have submitted an updated proposal for the design of the so-called 4FF nano-SIM, a smaller replacement for the 3FF micro-SIM used in many phones.
Debate between competing nano-SIM designs -- one from Apple, another from a joint group of RIM, Motorola, and Nokia -- has grown intense over the past several months within the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the body ultimately responsible for SIM standardization worldwide, the article adds. Apple is competing with Motorola Mobility, Research in Motion and Nokia on a smaller SIM card standard.
Apple wants a "nano-SIM" that would let it design even smaller products.The MicroSIM card, with a design smaller than traditional SIM cards, was pushed by Apple in 2010 with the launch of the iPhone 4. However, a nano-SIM would shrink further -- to about a third the size of the MicroSIM. Apple's keen on adopting the new standard, but the other companies aren't...
Screenwriter: Job's movie wont' be straightforward...
Aaron Sorkin -- who has been hired to write a screenplay based on Walter Issacson's best-selling "Steve Jobs" biography -- hasn't yet figured out how to put the life of the Apple co-founder on the silver screen, but he's certain it's not going to be a straightforward biography, notes "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/D0QYQ).
Sorkin, who won an Oscar for his screenplay of Facebook film "The Social Network," says he'll be looking for an element of tension or an obstacle in Job's life on which to hang the movie, the article adds. He also said that Apple co-founder Steve "Woz" Wozniak has been hired by the film studio as a "tutor" on all the technical aspects of computers and on Jobs himself.
The movie project is being produced by Mark Gordon, Scott Rudin and Guymon Casady. Published late last year, "Steve Jobs" was Amazon’s best-selling book of 2011. In addition, the biography ranked #1 among bestselling hardcover books by a 2:1 margin, with sales of 2,246,569 in 2011, according to "Publisher’s...
Kodak: Apple is trying to devalue our patents
Kodak says Apple is trying to devalue the worth of its patents so that it can buy them for less than their worth (which the company estimates at US$2.6 billion), reports "Total Telecom" (http://macte.ch/uwlqc).
Kodak says it plans to seek approval of its patent auction timeline "in the near future." The company is asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan to pave the way for that sale by ruling that Apple has no interest in 10 specific patents among those Kodak is looking to sell, notes "Total Telecom."
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 images. Apple's countersuit said Kodak devices copy the technology that it uses in Macs, iPhone, iTunes and Photo Booth involving image processing, energy management and memory design.
Beauty Box Video now supports Final Cut Pro X
Digital Anarchy has announced Beauty Box 2.0, an update of their skin retouching product. Version 2.0 boasts a speed increase by using OpenCL, technology that runs on ATI and Nvidia cards.
The new product also introduces a new smoothing algorithm that improves automatic masking, and adds shine removal for hot spots on skin areas. Host app support now includes Final Cut Pro X, and support for OpenFX applications is in development.
"Our biggest request has been for increased speed, and this 2.0 release delivers on that," says Digital Anarchy President Jim Tierney. "Beauty Box is now about 300% faster on most video cards. The best part is that it’s as great as ever at producing subtle skin smoothing that looks beautifully realistic."
Beauty Box Video 2.0 is regularly priced at US$199, but will be on sale for $139 until June 1. Upgrades are priced at $59 (regularly $89) until June 1. Beauty Box Video runs in After Effects 7.0–CS6, Final Cut Pro X, Final Cut Pro 7, and Premiere Pro CS4–...
Kodak rolls out ESP 3.2 all-in-one
Kodak (http://www.kodak.com) has introduced its new Kodak ESP 3.2 All-in-One Printer, due next month for US$99.99. The company has also revealed its new Kodak Pic Flick HD app, which lets consumers create personalized photo cards, collages, and prints on an iPad and send them to their Kodak Printer.
The ESP 3.2 All-in-One Printer is targeted to photo-centric consumers and families. It offers Kodak’s easy Wi-Fi set-up and a 2.4-inch color touchscreen.
Consumers can print on the go from their smartphone, tablet or computer using Google Cloud Print and Kodak Email Print Service. Kodak is now offering consumers the ability to customize their printer’s email address. Consumers can also save time with additional advanced features like smart sensor technology that predicts supplies and time needed to complete a job and automatically adjusts printer settings based on paper size and type, according to Brian Cruz, director of Marketing and Vice President, Consumer Inkjet Systems, Kodak.
Coming...
LaCie rolls out 2big NAS
LaCie (http://www.lacie.com) has announced a new 2-bay network-attached storage solution (NAS): the LaCie 2big NAS with a design by Neil Poulton. It's available in 0TB and 6TB capacities with pricing starting at US$299.
Powered by a 2GHz processor and improved file system, the 2big NAS delivers speeds up to 100MB/s, ensuring employees can share files from any Mac, PC or Linux workstation, according to Erwan Girard, Professional Business Unit manager at LaCie. It offers multiple levels of security including RAID 1 for data mirroring.
LaCie 2big NAS ensures a complete backup of any Mac, PC or Linux workstation. Users can choose from the popular Time Machine and Windows 7 Backup software, or the included LaCie backup software. Consistent automatic backup means users can restore lost files instantly, says Girard.
iHome introduces color-changing speaker tower
Adding a spectrum of colors to home audio systems, iHome has announced the iP76 LED Color Changing Speaker Tower with Bluetooth technology. It will go on sale in July for US$199.92.
Available in July 2012, the showpiece is packed with 16 multi-color LED clusters to create light effects; four speakers in Reson8 speaker, and the latest in Bluetooth technology. The three-foot high iP76 LED Color Changing Tower Bluetooth Stereo Speaker System packs the ability to stream music from Bluetooth-enabled devices; charge iPhones and iPods when docked, and send video content from your device to your television via the built-in component video outputs.
The unit can be customized to feature your favorite color and boasts a variety of options such as color fade, pulse to music and strobe effect for the ultimate music and light show, according to Evan Stein, director of Marketing, iHome. For more info go to https://www.ihomeaudio.com/iP76WZ/ .
Tiffen Dfx 3 adds support for Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5
The Tiffen Company (http://tiffen.com/) says its digital filter suite, Tiffen Dfx 3, is now available for use on Apple Final Cut Pro X (10.0.4) and Motion 5 (5.0.3).
The Tiffen Dfx digital filter solution simulates 2,000 popular Tiffen glass filters, specialized lenses, optical lab processes, film grain, exacting color correction plus natural light and photographic effects. It's targeted to video editors, directors of photography and still photographers.
Tiffen Dfx for FCP X and Motion 5 is available for US$599. In addition to supporting Apple Final Cut Pro 10.0.4 and Motion 5.0.3, one Tiffen Dfx 3 video/film plug-in license will also run in Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro 6 & 7 and Avid editing systems if installed and activated on the same machine.
The Tiffen Dfx 3 photo plug-in is available for $199.95. One Tiffen Dfx photo plug-in license will run in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, and Apple Aperture if...
IK Multimedia Rig MIX shipping for iOS devices
IK Multimedia is shipping iRig MIX, a compact DJ and audio mixer for the iPad, iPhone, and the iPod touch. It designed for use with IK’s included DJ Rig free app and other DJ apps to provide a portable DJ system for practicing, rehearsing, performing and recording.
iRig MIX features include full EQ adjustment, a crossfader, headphone cue and a mic input. It allows users to record their performance and share with friends, publish or distribute it. DJs can choose either a traditional setup with two devices (one plugged into each of the independent channels) OR a single iOS device.
Plus, iRig MIX can be used for mixing any type of audio source (coming from MP3 players, CD players, etc.) with an iOS device using automatic tempo matching and beat syncing. This is accomplished with X-Sync, a feature that works in combination with the DJ Rig Free app.
iRig MIX costs US$99.99 and is available from electronic and music retailers around the world. For more info go to http://www.irigmix.com .
PDF2Office Pro 6.0 converts Windows XPS files
Recosoft Corp. (http://www.recosoft.com) has released PDF2Office Professional 6.0, an upgrade to its PDF conversion solution for Mac OS X. The new version contains a modern 64-bit conversion core and over 200 new features and enhancements.
PDF2Office converts PDF and XPS files into editable Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OmniGraffle and other common file types by recreating the intended construction and layout of the document. Version 6.0 supports Windows XPS documents and converts them to Excel, Word, PowerPoint and other formats. PDF2Office Professional 6.0 now also converts PDF files and XPS files to layered OmniGraffle documents where text, tables and graphics are placed on separate layers.
PDF2Office requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 and higher. It's available in the following configurations: PDF2Office Professional 6.0 ($99); PDF2Office Professional 6.0 Education license ($69); and PDF2Office Professional 6.0 upgrade license ($59.99 ). Customers who purchased PDF2Office Professional 5.x...
Theme Inn presents new templates for MS PowerPoint for Mac
Theme Inn has introduced Templates for MS PowerPoint 1.0, a new addition to its popular assortment of PowerPoint templates. It has 25 new templates.
They include the dramatic Edgy Carmine, modern Pale Mint and crisp Origami. The templates include up to 20 master slides -- a mix of bullet text and photo-oriented layouts.
Users can type or paste in their own text, add and remove text boxes, change fonts, and drag their photos or pictures onto presentation slides to replace the placeholders. The themes are available in 4:3, 16:9 and 16:10 ratios.
Templates for MS PowerPointOS X require Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later and MS Office 2008 for Mac or later. It costs US$19.99 and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Productivity category.
Excel Software announces Safe Activation Service 3
Excel Software (http://www.excelsoftware.com) has announced Safe Activation Service 3 for software activation and licensing.
The Safe Activation service launched in 2007 was later expanded with advanced license release, restore, suspend, reset and subscriptions features in 2009. Safe Activation Service 3 adds integrated order processing, event driven actions, daily account backups, additional licensing, vendor branding and customization features. The online service is used by software publishers to automate software protection, activation and license management.
Service 3 adds a modular order processing system to existing license management capabilities. A configurable order completion process can be integrated with any shopping cart or payment processing system. Serial numbers can be automatically assigned to purchased products and presented immediately to a customer by web page or customized email message. endors configure orderable items, associated serial numbers, allowed...
PortAuthority 5.0 released for Mac OS X
CodeByKevin has updated PortAuthority (http://www.codebykevin.com/portauthority.html), which provides a graphical user interface for the MacPorts software management system for Mac OS X 10.7 ("Lion"), to version 5.0. The new version adds support for installing port variants.
MacPorts is a command-line tool for installing and updating a variety of Unix-based applications for the Mac. In the past the only way to utilize MacPorts was to type in various commands into the Mac's Terminal application, which can be intimidating for those users without a Unix background.
PortAuthority aims to bring the power of MacPorts to the traditional Mac user by providing a user-friendly graphical interface to MacPorts, according to the folks at CodeByKevin. Using a combination of windows, icons, and menus, PortAuthority users can search, install, update, and remove MacPorts programs and the MacPorts infrastructure itself.
In PortAuthority 5.0, port dependency command now lists dependencies recursively...
iLuv shipping premium audio cables, charging/sync solutions
iLuv Creative Technology (http://www.i-Luv.com) is shipping their new line of premium audio and charge/sync data cables, including DualJack. The line includes:
° DualJack, an US$29.99 combination sync and charge cable for both Apple mobile devices and most smartphones. The hinge design houses both connectors, an Apple connector and a micro-USB, so you don’t have to carry two different cables.
° Stereo Audio Cable ($19.99), designed for optimal acoustic delivery for Apple and other mobile devices. Available in three-foot and six-foot sizes, these straight shielded aux-in cables are built for connecting your device to your car or home audio system.
° Coiled Stereo Audio Cable ($19.9) -- a six-foot coiled shielded aux-in cable designed for use at home or on the go. The coil design helps resists tangles.
Deal Spotlight: Goldfish Professional
Today's special deal is Goldfish Professional for Mac OS X. It's being offered for US$63.29; the regular price is $129. To take advantage of this special pricing go to http://www.mupromo.com/deal/1868/6603/goldfish+professional or http://www.mupromo.com/deal/1869/6603/goldfish+standard .
Goldfish is a solution for creating individual websites in little time. In the last few years Goldfish developed from a small tool to a widespread website creator with a growing user base. The standard version is a basic WYSIWYG editor. The pro version adds personal email support, Web 2.0 AJAX support, fully customizable HTML and CSS, development of php, JavaScript and more.
See Sunday's solar eclipse with SkySafari 3.5
On Sunday, May 20th, 2012, the first annular solar eclipse in the United States since 1994 will take place. To celebrate this spectacular celestial event and help millions of people follow it across the world, Southern Stars has released a major update to its SkySafari apps for iOS, Mac OS X, and Android.
SkySafari 3.5 is the only iOS astronomy app that correctly displays both solar and lunar eclipses from any place on Earth, according to Southern Stars founder Tim DeBenedictis. Now, the Plus and Pro versions of SkySafari 3.5 add a new twist, he adds.
"You can now leave the surface of planet Earth, and view eclipses and other celestial events from any place in the solar system," Tim DeBenedictis says.
With this new ability to fly into orbit around other objects in the Solar System, SkySafari Plus and Pro give you a unique perspective on events like this Sunday's solar eclipse, he adds. By watching an eclipse from the Moon, for instance, you can visually see where the Moon's shadow...
Optrix wide-angle iPhone sports case available for pre-order
Optrix has announced the pre-order availability of the Optrix Wide-Angle at Kickstarter. It's the second version of their iPhone 4, 4S and iPod touch case that allows extreme sports enthusiasts to shoot, edit and upload 1080P videos from their mobile device.
The Optrix Wide-Angle allows users to capture images and videos using a 175 degree wide-angle lens, resulting in a panoramic, wider viewing area. It's also bump, spill, splash and drop proof, making it ideal for extreme sports such as mountain biking, skateboarding, skiing and more, according to John Willenborg, founder of Optrix.
The Optrix Wide-Angle is available with a variety of accessories, including a chest mount and multiple industrial base mounts that adhere to any surface. More info can be found at http://www.optrix.com and http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/577741828/optrix-iphone-action-sport... .
Mac OS X software updates for May 18
Here are the latest incremental updates for Mac OS X apps.
Pixelmator, the image editor for Mac OS X, has been updated to version 2.0.4 Available at the Mac App Store, it offers improved workflow, minor user face improvements and more.
Macoscope has announced HUDTube 1.4.1 (http://hudtu.be/), an update of the Mac OS X software that lets you enjoy browser-free videos. With the new version you can send your .mov and .mp4 movies to Apple TV without having to add them to iTunes.
Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has released Output Factory 1.2.1, a feature update to its professional solution to automate output from Adobe InDesign. The new version adds support for PNG transparency in InDesign CS6 and introduces new file queue management options.
Remoter Labs (http://remoterlabs.com) has launched Remoter VNC 3.6, an update to their productivity app that allows users to remotely control Macs via screen sharing, and Windows or Linux PCs using the VNC or RDP standards right from their...
