Miko Mole goes gem hunting in new Mac arcade puzzler
EnsenaSoft has released Miko Mole 1.0.3 (https://itunes.apple.com/app/miko-mole/id1057333338), a stealth-action gem collecting title for Mac OS X.
Here’s how the game is described: “Miko Mole is a great arcade puzzler suitable to players of all ages and experience levels. Featuring the charismatic Miko with a passion for shiny gems, this game is a lot of fun with its stealth-action gameplay and mind-bending puzzles. The ability to grab and move objects, and the ability to blow-up stuff is not just insanely cool it is a recipe for success.”
Miko Mole 1.0.3 costs $6.99 and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Games category. It requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher.
SCSC launches Performance Probe 2.1 for Mac OS X
Software and Computer System Company has announced Performance Probe 2.1 for Mac OS X (http://tinyurl.com/zjjec3g).
The tool is designed to help users find the sources of bottlenecks and performance problems with their systems. Version 2.1 includes a heads-up display that can perform loading measurements, dynamically graph drive and network activity, provide quick snapshots of the systems highest CPU and memory consumers. And it’s fully El Capitan capable.
The price for the standalone version of Performance Probe is $14.95. The tool is now a standard part of both the Scannerz with FSE and Scannerz with FSE-Lite packages.
PFiddlesoft ships version 3.6.1 of its PFAssistive Framework
PFiddlesoft (http://pfiddlesoft.com/frameworks/) has released version 3.6.1 of PFAssistive Framework. The PFiddlesoft Frameworks help developers write assistive Mac applications for persons with disabilities using Apple's Accessibility and Quartz Event Taps APIs [application programming interfaces] on OS X.
It was updated to complete the implementation of full support for subclassing by client applications that need special or additional features. The PFAssistive Framework was created in 2003 as the engine driving PFiddlesoft’s UI Browser application for developers and for users of Apple’s AppleScript GUI Scripting technology.
The framework supports and enhances Apple's Accessibility API. The PFEventTaps Framework was created in 2007 as the engine underlying PFiddlesoft’s free Event Taps Testbench utility for developers. The framework supports and enhances Apple's Quartz Event Taps API.
The frameworks are written using Objective-C. They support the Intel 64-bit architecture using...
Public betas of iOS 9.3 and OS X 10.11.4 available
Apple has released the first public betas of iOS 9.3 and OS X 10.11.4. Corresponding developer betas were released earlier this week. They’re available to those registered in Apple's Beta Software Program (https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/).
The first beta of iOS 9.3 adds: new features for the Health, Wallet, Notes, and Settings apps; the ability for students to share iPads; an enhanced Managed Apple ID function; and new 3D Touch shortcuts. It also adds a new feature called Night Shift, which is is designed to cut down on the amount of blue light an iOS device is putting out during the evening hours.
Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 beta (and the Server version) are the fourth updates to the El Capitan OS. We can find no notes on what the updates entail.
Medieval II: Total War now out on Steam for the Mac
Feral Interactive says Medieval II: Total War Collection (http://tinyurl.com/z6halef) is now available on Steam for both Mac and Linux. Developed by Creative Assembly, it was published by SEGA for Windows in 2006.
Here’s how Medieval II: Total War is described: “The Medieval II: Total War Collection combines thrilling real-time battles and sophisticated turn-based strategy in a vast campaign that spans five centuries and encompasses the Crusades, the spread of plague and the proliferation of gunpowder. As a warrior king, players will lead one of 17 factions to supremacy in the medieval world with an artful mix of diplomacy, commerce and war.
“On the campaign map, players will build their empire’s infrastructure, cities and trade routes, then master the art of diplomacy to disarm enemies, empower allies and gain the favour of the Pope. On the battlefield, they will conduct siege warfare, command thundering cavalry charges and lead their armies into epic clashes that will bring entire...
Excel Software rolls out RbApp 4.0 for Xojo programmers
Excel Software has introduced RbApp 4.0 for Xojo programmers. These pure Xojo code components require no plugins.
RbApp is used to build Mac or Windows desktop applications with Xojo 2013, 2014, 2015 or later. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit applications including both Carbon and Cocoa frameworks.
RbApp 4.0 adds new enhancements to the RbGrid and RbChart components to create flexible programmatic or human controlled grids, tables, charts and graphs. The RbGrid component adds cell range selection properties and methods to easily implement copy, paste, undo and other functions across a range of cells.
RbChart lets users create dynamic charts and graphs from programmatically controlled definition and data files. A new area bar chart was added to the supported chart types as of version 4.0. Charts can be resizable with programmatic control over variables, axis values, colors, fonts, styles, keys and other presentation parameters. RbApp 4.0 adds new source code sample applications...
MailButler assistant for Apple Mail coming Jan. 18
Feingeist Software says MailButler (https://www.feingeist.io/mailbutler/), a new Apple Mail assistant, will be released on Jan. 18. It’s designed for both business and private purposes. Pricing and system requirements haven’t been announced.
MailButler allows you to schedule an email to be sent at a specific date and time. You can compose birthday emails ahead of the actual date. Simply define the exact date when to send the email, and MailButler will make sure that your email arrives just in time. Working late? With MailButler, you can compose emails whenever you like and make sure that they’re not sent before the next working day starts.
Markzware releases MarkzTools2 for Mac
Markzware (www.markzware.com), a developer of data conversion software and desktop publishing tools, has released MarkzTools2. This new technology converts Adobe InDesign (INDD) files to IDML, using a stand-alone application.
MarkzTools2 features include: the ability to batch convert InDesign files into IDML files, the ability to create low resolution image previews, so users do not have to look at gray tinted place holder boxes, and the ability to display the version of a selected InDesign file. All these features are available without requiring Adobe InDesign to be present on the user’s computer.
MarkzTools2 conversion software is a Mac-only application and runs under Mac OS X 10.6.8 or higher. AnIinternet connection is required to activate the application.
MarkzTools2 is available as part of the MarkzTools Annual Subscription Bundle, which retails for $149/ year. This bundle also contains existing MarkzTools for InDesign CS6, CS5.5 and CS5 Mac InDesign plug-ins. Customers who...
SecureMac Launches MacScan 3
SecureMac has introduced MacScan 3, the next generation of its anti-malware software for Mac users.
It protects against trojan horses, keystroke loggers and adware. Automatic malware definition updates are designed to ensure that you're protected against the latest threats. MacScan 3 includes a streamlined user experience, new features, and major improvements to speed and stability.
MacScan 3 requires Mac OS X 10.8. It’s available for $49.99/year. Each MacScan subscription includes protection against the latest malware threats, automatic cleaning of blacklisted tracking cookies, product updates, knowledge base access, online tech support, and security advisory notifications.
A 30-day trial of MacScan 3 is available for download directly from SecureMac (http://tinyurl.com/jgbpjcv). Existing MacScan users may be eligible for discounted pricing, including free upgrades for those who purchased MacScan 2 within the last three months. Existing users may check their upgrade eligibility and...
Fixstars launches 10TB and 13TB SSDs
Fixstars Corp. (http://www.fixstars.com/en/ssd/) has launched two new products: the 10TB Fixstars SSD-10000M, and the Fixstars SSD-13000M, which the company says is the world's largest SSD with 13TB of capacity. Starting today, Fixstars is accepting orders; the drives are expected to ship to US customers in late February.
The SSD-13000M and SSD-10000M are equipped with Fixstars' proprietary SSD controller, which enables the fast, sustainable I/O performance (read speeds of up to 540 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 520 MB/s) throughout the lifetime of the SSD, according to CEO Satoshi Miki. The combination of such high performance and enterprise-grade reliability is e highly sought after in applications such as object storage, streaming content distribution, CG/VFX productions, 4K/8K video processing and various other use cases in which steady sequential access is critical, he adds.
Seagate unveils 10TB Helium Enterprise Drive
Seagate (www.seagate.com) has launched its first 10TB enterprise capacity hard disk drive (HDD): the Enterprise 3.5 Capacity HDD.
It provides maximum storage capacity for easy system integration by using the standard 3.5-inch CMR design. Incorporating seven platters and 14 heads, says Mark Re, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Seagate. The drive seals in helium to create a turbulence-free, quiet environment, decreasing both friction and resistance on the platters and delivering the industry’s lowest power/TB ratio and weight specifications for a 10TB HDD, he adds.
What’s more, the Enterprise Capacity 3.5 HDD improves performance by using advanced caching algorithms to help cloud data center managers manage the increasing volume of data more quickly, he adds. It features Seagate’s PowerChoice technology, which helps manage and reduce the ongoing costs associated with power and cooling during idle time. Seagate’s PowerBalance feature helps optimize the IOPS/Watt for...
Keith McMillen Instruments releases K-MIX
Keith McMillen Instruments has released K-MIX, a Mac OS X compatible, next-generation audio interface and programmable mixer for studio and stage.
The USB bus-powered K-MIX is a go-anywhere, fully-programmable mixer that features flexible routing, per-channel DSP (Digital Signal Processing) — three-band, semi-parametric EQ, compressor/limiter, gate, master reverb (with individual sends per channel), and surround (Quadraphonic, 5.1, 7.1, and Octophonic) output — and can also function without a computer, courtesy of the included USB power supply (with international convertor blades).
The K-MIX has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$599.99 and is available to purchase from any authorized Keith McMillen Instruments dealer or directly from Keith McMillen Instruments(http://www.keithmcmillen.com/shop/).
Avenza Launches PDF Maps Affiliate Program
Avenza Systems, a developer of cartographic software—such as MAPublisher for Adobe Illustrator and Geographic Imager geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop—has launched an affiliate program for PDF Maps, its consumer and enterprise mobile map app.
Any retailer or business, including both online and physical stores, blogs, portals and information sites, can earn revenue by promoting and selling maps directly to its customers using affiliate links on websites or by using signage with QR codes. Each map sale conducted in this manner will earn the affiliate a share of the revenue.
The PDF Maps Affiliate program is free to join with no application or setup fees or ongoing costs. Existing PDF Maps Store vendors can opt-in to the affiliate program and earn commission in addition to their normal revenue share.
Retailers and businesses interested in joining the affiliate program can sign up for free and can get in contact with the PDF Maps team at http://www.pdf-maps.com/affiliates. The PDF...
Philosophy of Scripting FileMaker 14 remote training courses...
FileMaker author John Mark Osborne announces that he’s teaching his intermediate and advanced scripting courses titled the Philosophy of Scripting. These two courses will be taught in a remote setting via GoToMeeting at half the normal cost.
Remote classes are taught twice a week for a total of four hours per week. This allows for better absorption of the material as well as the advantage of homework assignments. The times are:
° Philosophy of Scripting 101 (2/2/2016 to 3/9/2016)
° Philosophy of Scripting 201 (3/15/2016 to 4/6/2016)
° Philosophy of Scripting 101 & 201 (2/2/2016 to 4/6/2016)
The Philosophy of Scripting courses focus on the single area of scripting and moves from an intermediate to an advanced level over the course of five days. Calculations, relationships and interface design are also covered but only as they pertain to scripting, says John Mark Osborne. To find out more information or register for a class, visit the Database Pros web site (http://tinyurl.com/...
Kensington launches new Secure Cabinet Trolley
Kensington (www.kensington.com) has launched its Secure Cabinet Trolley for the safe and easy movement of Kensington Charge & Sync Cabinets, Universal Tablet.
Designed especially for teachers and school administrators, as well as small and medium businesses that need to transport up to 20 tablets at a time, the new Secure Cabinet Trolley can stack up to two Charge & Sync Cabinets, Universal Tablet that hold the iPad, Galaxy Tab, Microsoft Surface 3 and other tablets.
It costs US$79.99. You can buy the Kensington Charge & Sync Cabinet, Universal Tablet and Trolley Bundle for $779.98.
Seagate launches new NAS HDD
Seagate Technology (www.seagate.com) has launched the Seagate NAS HDD 8TB, which it says is the world’s highest-capacity drive optimized for RAID, Network-Attached Storage (NAS) and server storage. It’s targeted to the small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB), small office/home office (SOHO) and creative professional segments.
The new 8TB drives are designed for tower enclosures with one to eight bays, delivering up to 64TB in a single eight-bay desktop form factor. They’re optimized for a diverse set of NAS use cases including backup and disaster recovery, print and file servers, multimedia storage, archiving, file sharing and virtualization. In addition, NAS manufacturers including ASUSTOR, QNAP, Synology and Thecus have qualified the NAS HDD 8TB for compatibility in a number of their
The new Seagate NAS HDD 8TB has shipped to select customers, with wide-scale availability at the end of the current quarter.
WaterField Designs debuts Staad Attaché
WaterField Designs has announced the US$229 Staad Attaché (http://tinyurl.com/hqmadrz), a bag for the new Apple iPad Pro and 13-inch MacBooks. Its padded tablet and laptop compartment fits the super-sized iPad along with the Apple Smart Keyboard or Logitech keyboard or Apple’s 13-inch laptops, says WaterField Designs owner Gary Waterfield.
A full-grain, distressed leather flap closes with a clip developed by the military—once used to instantly access ammunition—that opens with a “quick flick.” Premium, full-grain leather adorns a black ballistic nylon or tan waxed-canvas base. A customized internal pocket protects the iPad Pro or 13-inch MacBook with dense foam on all sides and is covered by a scratch-free liner.
It also sports a dedicated Apple Pencil pocket and two additional interior pockets. The Staad’s slim main compartment features a gold liner for quick access to contents such as files, a sketchpad, or notebooks. A large front pocket opens on two sides with sleek waterproof...
Easy Audio Converter 4.0.9 released for OS X
AppleMacSoft has rolled out Easy Audio Converter 4.0.9 (http://www.audio-converter.com), the latest update to its audio conversion utility for Mac OS X.
It lets you quickly and simply convert any music or sound file to all popular formats. The app provides full iTunes integration and lets you edit the album, artist and track information. Easy Audio Converter is multi-thread supported, so you can batch encode multiple files at once.
A demo of Easy Audio Converter 4.0.9 is available for free download. The full version costs $14.95 for a personal license.
xDev Magazine Year 13 coming in printed book format
xDev Magazine (http://www.xdevmag.com) is reprinting the past year's issues into a bound book that will ship later this month. The 510-page book contains the full contents of Year 13 of the magazine, and features a full-color cover, black ink interior, and perfect-binding.
Through Jan. 22, the book may be pre-ordered for $44.99; that’s 25% off the normal price of $59.99. Current subscribers can save even more with an additional subscriber-only discount. The 510-page book contains the full contents of Year 13 of the magazine (issues 13.1-13.6, Jan. 2015-Dec. 2015), and features a full-color cover, black ink interior, and perfect-binding.
Apple releases new OS X, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, Xcode, Configurator...
Apple has released a slew of new betas for developers today at the Apple Developer Center (https://developer.apple.com).
Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 beta (and the Server version) are the fourth updates to the El Capitan OS. We can find no notes on what the updates entail.
The first beta of iOS 9.3 adds: new features for the Health, Wallet, Notes, and Settings apps; the ability for students to share iPads; an enhanced Managed Apple ID function; and new 3D Touch shortcuts. It also adds a new feature called Night Shift, which is is designed to cut down on the amount of blue light an iOS device is putting out during the evening hours.
The tvOS 6.2 beta adds support for pairing Bluetooth keyboards, Folders organization for home screen apps a new App Switcher user interface, more Siri dialects, a native Apple Podcasts app.
The watchOS 2.2 beta, in conjunction with the new tvOS beta, lets you pair multiple Apple Watches to a single iPhone.
Apple Configurator 2.2 beta, which is used to set...
Rogue Amoeba releases Loopback for Mac OS X
Rogue Amoeba has introduced Loopback for Mac OS X is a tool for enabling audio routing between applications and audio devices on your Mac. In just a few clicks, you can pass audio directly between apps.
Loopback (http://rogueamoeba.com/loopback) is designed for anyone working with audio on the Mac, from podcasters to gamers, Internet radio hosts to regular folks chatting via Skype. It requires Mac OS X 10.9 or higher, with a free fully-functional demo version available on the Rogue Amoeba site.
While in trial mode, the quality of audio passing through Loopback's virtual devices will be degraded after 10 minutes. Loopback is regularly-priced at $99. For a limited time, it can be purchased at a special introductory price of $75.
St. Clair Software has announced Default Folder X 5.0 (http://www.stclairsoft.com/DefaultFolderX/index.html), an upgrade to the utility for Mac OS X. Default Folder X enhances the file dialogs in all Mac OS X applications.
Addonics announces High Density Removable Disk Array System
Addonics Technologies (www.addonics.com) has announced the $75.95 Addonics 2.5 inch Disk Array, a high density removable hard drive system that allows you to install up to six 2.5 inch SATA/ hard drives or SSD’s into one standard 5.25-inch drive bay.
By using Addonics’ family of 2.5 inch flash drive kits, various form factor SSDs such as CFast, mSATA, M2 or CF can be loaded into this Disk Array, creating a large capacity, low power and shock resistant solid state storage system. The removable drive tray is designed to allow users to load drives into the Disk Array without any mounting screws.
For mobile applications or installation in environments with frequent shock and vibration, the drive can be secured to each drive tray with mounting screws to prevent drive movement. Each drive slot is equipped with its own power and drive access LEDs as well as a latch on the drive tray to secure each hard drive in the Disk Array unit.
The drives can be hot-swapped when connecting to...
Default Folder X 5.0 delivers El Capitan compatibility, new...
St. Clair Software has announced Default Folder X 5.0 (http://www.stclairsoft.com/DefaultFolderX/index.html), an upgrade to the utility for Mac OS X. Default Folder X enhances the file dialogs in all Mac OS X applications.
It provides fast navigation to your files, convenient previews, integrated Spotlight tagging, and more. Default Folder X's custom keyboard shortcuts put your favorite and recent folders at your fingertips.Version 5.0 delivers compatibility with El Capitan and new and improved features.
Default Folder X 5 is a $14.95 paid upgrade for version 4 users who purchased their licenses before June 1, 2015. For users who purchased on or after June 1, the upgrade is free. Default Folder X costs $34.95 for new users.
PopChar X 7.4 supports Apple Color Emoji flags with searchable...
Ergonis Software has revved PopChar X, its OS X tool for finding and inserting special characters and exploring fonts, to version 7.4.
Version 7.4 adds support for the flags available in the Apple Color Emoji font, which have been added in OS X 10.10.3, comes with fine-tuned metrics adjustments for certain fonts, and offers further enhancements. It’s compatible with OS X 10.6 or higher.
PopChar X can be purchased on the Ergonis Software website (www.ergonis.com) for approximately $32 for a personal license and $49 for a family license. The upgrade to version 7.4 is free for anyone who owns a license for PopChar X 7 or purchased a license for PopChar X 6 on or after March 1, 2014. Upgrade paths are available for customers who purchased their license before that date.
Sync for Mac OS X revved to version 2.0
DevStorm Apps has developed DSync 2.0, an update to their file synchronization software developed exclusively for Mac OS X.
The app integrates nicely with OS X 10.7 and higher, allowing you to select cloud folders in addition to local and network folders. Advanced algorithms in the latest version streamlines synchronizing large folders with many files, according to the folks at DevStorm Apps.
Sync costs $9.99. A demo is available for download (http://devstorm-apps.com/dsync/).
Medieval II: Total War coming to the Mac via Steam on Jan. 14
Feral Interactive says Medieval II: Total War Collection (http://tinyurl.com/z6halef) will be released on Steam for both Mac and Linux on Jan. 14. Developed by Creative Assembly, it was published by SEGA for Windows in 2006.
Here’s how Medieval II: Total War is described: “The Medieval II: Total War Collection combines thrilling real-time battles and sophisticated turn-based strategy in a vast campaign that spans five centuries and encompasses the Crusades, the spread of plague and the proliferation of gunpowder. As a warrior king, players will lead one of 17 factions to supremacy in the medieval world with an artful mix of diplomacy, commerce and war.
“On the campaign map, players will build their empire’s infrastructure, cities and trade routes, then master the art of diplomacy to disarm enemies, empower allies and gain the favour of the Pope. On the battlefield, they will conduct siege warfare, command thundering cavalry charges and lead their armies into epic clashes that will...
CES: TP-Link announces new smart router with touchscreen
At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, TP-LINK (www.tp-link.us) announced the SR20 Smart Home Router with Touchscreen, an all-in-one router and Internet of Things (IoT) hub with ZigBee and Z-Wave.
The SR20 Smart Home Router provides centralized control for your entire smart home. In addition to compatibility with devices from other manufactures, TP-LINK is introducing a full line of home automation devices for security, lighting and energy management that will work with SR20. This includes HD day/night security cameras, tunable Wi-Fi lightbulbs, smart plugs and a smart switch with energy monitoring.
The TP-LINK SR20 Smart Home Router with Touchscreen is the central intelligence hub for devices throughout the home, enabling consumers to control their devices and automate functions tailored to their preferences. With the SR20, consumers can use their smartphone, tablet or the router’s user-friendly touchscreen to monitor and customize interactions between their...
Media 100 announces El Capitan support
MacVideo Promo has announced Media 100 Suite 2.1.7, an update of its video editing software for Mac OS X. The upgrade adds support for Mac OS X El Capitan.
Media 100 Suite v2.1.7 is available for purchase from the Media 100 website (www.media100.com) for $99. Version 2.1.7 is a free update for Media 100 Suite 2.1.x users. A free 60-day demo is available for download.
CES: TRENDnet launches AC1900 USB Adapter
At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, TRENDnet (www.TRENDnet.com) launched its new AC1900 USB Adapter, model TEW-809UB, which upgrades the wireless speeds of your laptop or desktop computer.
The new AC adapter supports speeds up to 1300 Mbps on the less congested 5 GHz band, and 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. The four detachable, high-gain antennas and high-performance amplifiers upgrade speeds and expands range. Beamforming technology improves your overall Wi-Fi signal by directing stronger Wi-Fi signals to specific device locations, says Sonny Su, technology director at TRENDnet.
TRENDnet's TEW-809UB comes with a 3.3 feet USB cable. The SuperSpeed 5 Gbps USB 3.0 cable maintains a high-speed connection to your computer. The adapter supports both Mac OS X and Windows systems.
TRENDnet's AC1900 USB Adapter, model TEW-809UB, will be available worldwide through major retailers and other authorized TRENDnet partners in early spring. It will have a manufacturer’s...
AnyTrans for Mac OS X can now transfer app data, game progress
iMobie has updated AnyTrans (http://www.imobie.com/anytrans/), its iOS transfer software for Mac OS X (10.11 and higher). The app was specifically created to clone all types of items including contacts, photos, music, messages, notes, calendar, even customized settings like wallpaper, iCloud account, sounds, and more.
The new version allows users to transfer app data and game progress between iPhones/iPads running all iOS versions, including iOS 8.3 and above. A demo of AnyTrans is available for download. Register is $39.99 for a personal licenseand $59.99 for a family license.
Apple CEO Tim Cook makes $10.3 million in 2015
Apple CEO Tim Cook's compensation rose 11.5% to $10.3 million in 2015, despite the stock's first negative year since the global financial crisis. According to a regulatory filing, Cook's base pay increased about 14.4% to $2 million, while non-equity incentive compensation rose about 19% to $8 million.
Apple shares dropped below $100 for the first time in nearly five months on Wednesday. This comes on reports of slowing shipments of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. Yesterday Apple closed at $100.70.
CES: Nyko announces new wireless charging cases
At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Nyko Technologies (www.nyko.com) announced details about their new line of power accessories for the iPhone. The Los Angeles-based battery solutions expert is now expanding to offer power cases for the iPhone 6 and 6S.
The new products include the Power Shield case, coming in a variety of power capacities up to 3500 mAh, and the Power Shield Q case with Qi inductive wireless charging and 2200 mAh capacity. The Q Shield was also announced, which simply adds Qi inductive wireless charging capabilities to an iPhone 6 or 6S in a slim design.
The Power Shield for iPhone 6 and 6S is a charging case available with a battery capacity of 2500 mAh, 3000 mAh, and 3500 mAh, supporting more than double the usage time over the standard iPhone battery. The case is durable and streamlined, includes a 3.5-inch pass-through headphone adaptor, and features a light-up charge indicator to illustrate the amount of charge. The Power Shield is anticipated to...
Reflector 2 update adds iPad Pro support, more
The latest Reflector 2 update brings mirroring and streaming support for Hulu, Vimeo and YouTube videos, along with complete iPad Pro support. iOS and OS X device owners can now mirror or stream content from these video platforms to any Mac or Windows computer running Reflector 2.4.
Reflector is a wireless mirroring and streaming receiver that works great with AirPlay, Google Cast, and AirParrot 2. Version 2.4 is available now as a free update for current Reflector 2 users. It can be downloaded from the Reflector 2 preferences menu or from the Reflector 2 (http://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/).
Patriot releases new Viper USB, Mega USB devices
Patriot has announced their latest additions to company’s steadily growing line of consumer flash drives, the Viper and Mega USB.
The Viper USB — with prices ranging from $34.99 to $94.99 — joins the expanding lines of the company’s brands of computer memory and now gaming peripherals. With USB 3.1 Gen 1 connectivity and backwards compatibility with USB 2.0, the Viper USB will be available in three capacities of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB.
The Viper USB comes in red and black with the Viper logo stamped on the front. A swing feature offers protection for the drive’s connector while not in use and the key ring loop at the top makes it portable for gamers to take on the go
Patriot designed the Supersonic Mega USB with the impressive performance of the high end Magnum as the standard, but with a more affordable price for the consumer ($49.99 to $229.99). Built with an industrial, zinc alloy casing, the Mega comes with a removable cap to keep all of life’s most important data safe from the...
CES: STACKED expands its wireless ecosystem of iPhone accessories
STACKED has announced its latest products at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES): the Audio Dock and Boost Speaker are designed to be used in tandem with the company’s Stack Pack to cut cords, eliminate wires and simplify the lives of consumers.
The $129 Stack Pack is an iPhone charger. The Audio Dock, designed to declutter work spaces and replace bulky conference call systems, allows users take calls and listen to music, while simultaneously and wirelessly charging an iPhone.
The Audio Dock features an integrated 2000mAh charge base that magnetically connects with the Stack Pack to achieve wireless charging and avoid running out of battery during a call. It will be available in the second quarter for $79.99 at poweredbystacked.com.
STACKED’s Boost Speaker is designed to replace consumers’ portable Bluetooth speakers. It magnetically connects to a Stack Pack and amplifies the iPhone’s sound. It features two 30mm drivers. Rather than carry both a phone and a speaker, the Boost...
CES: Lutron announces HomeKit compatible products
(www.lutron.com) announced that its Caséta Wireless smart home system now offers the ability to control Lutron shades using its HomeKit-enabled Caséta Wireless Smart Bridge providing users with control of some of the most frequently-used products in their homes.
Earlier this year, Lutron released one of the world’s first Apple HomeKit-enabled products – its Caséta Wireless Smart Bridge, which allows users to control their lights conveniently and securely via Siri using their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple Watch. Adding Lutron shade support to the HomeKit-enabled Caséta Wireless Smart Bridge provides a more streamlined user experience and a third option for controlling Lutron devices in the home. The other two options – the Lutron App and Pico Wireless remote control – were introduced last year.
The HomeKit-enabled Caséta Wireless Smart Bridge (a do-it-yourself solution) supports Serena battery-powered shades, while the Smart Bridge PRO (a professionally-installed solution)...
CES: re-fuel Introduces eight new extended power accessories
At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, re-fuel (www.re-fuel.com) is introducing a new line of extended power accessories with eight new products for iPhones, GoPros and mobile devices. The line-up includes:
° Action Pack extended batteries for GoPro Hero 3 & 4 cameras that extend recording time up to 6, 12 or 24 hours. The all-weather Action Packs are rugged, dustproof, dirt proof, and waterproof to 131 feet (40 meters), withstand extreme heat and cold providing steady power from -22 to 122 degree Fahrenheit (-30 to 50 Celsius), and are sealed against the elements, no matter where you take it.
° Go Charger to simultaneously charge two GoPro Hero 4 batteries and smartphone.
° Quikpod Dynamic Power Selfie Stick and Quickpod Power Grip with built-in power banks for an extra 10 hours of filming on smartphone, GoPros and cameras.
° PowerBiner, a clip-on power carabiner with built-in rechargeable power bank that provides 3000mAh of power. PowerBiner refuels...
Lexar announces new JumpDrive C20i, a 3-in-1 iOS Flash Drive
Lexar (www.lexar.com) has announced the Lexar JumpDrive C20i flash drive. Featuring two connectors – Lightning and USB 3.0 – the new flash drive is designed for the iPhone or iPad and lets users offload content, add storage, back up files, and charge iOS devices on the go with no battery or network required.
The flash drive offers USB 3.0 performance with read speeds up to 95MB per second and write speeds of 20MB per second. It enables users to automatically sync photos and videos, as well as back up files, with the use of a free file management app from the Apple App Store. The JumpDrive C20i is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 devices and is available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB capacities.
The drive is compatible with Mac OS X and Windows systems and comes with a three-year limited warranty. The new JumpDrive C20i flash drive will be available in the first quarter of the year and have manufacturer’s suggested retail prices of $34.99 (16GB), $49.99 (32GB), $69.99 (64GB), and $...
Apple announces record-breaking holiday season for the App Store
Apple has announced that customers around the world made this holiday season the biggest ever for the App Store, setting new records during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s.
In the two weeks ending Jan. 3, customers spent over $1.1 billion on apps and in-app purchases, setting back-to-back weekly records for traffic and purchases. Jan. 1, 2016 marked the biggest day in App Store history with customers spending over $144 million. It broke the previous single-day record set just a week earlier on Christmas Day.
“The App Store had a holiday season for the record books. We are excited that our customers downloaded and enjoyed so many incredible apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV, spending over $20 billion on the App Store last year alone,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We're grateful to all the developers who have created the most innovative and exciting apps in the world for our customers. We can't wait for what's to...
CF Card Recovery for OS X gets new interface, more
AppleXsoft has updated CF Card Recovery for Mac, its data rescue software for Mac OS X, to version 5.1.3. The tool was specifically developed to help anyone recover images, documents, video, music or just about anything from CF card, memory card, USB flash drives and all other types of digital media.
The software has been completely rewritten from scratch. and completely redesigned wizard-style interface,. Version 5.1.3 also adds support for larger capacity memory cards. New video and image formats added include RAW image and HD/UHD/3D for video.
CF Card Recovery works with Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It's available for $49.95 for a single-user license. A free trial version may be downloaded from the product website (http://www.cfcardrecovery.com/).
SCSC Releases Phoenix 2.1 for Mac OS X
Software and Computer System Company (http://scsc-online.com) has released version 2.1 of Phoenix, an update to their operating system tool for Mac OS X. Phoenix allows users to clone volumes, create emergency boot volumes, and attempt to recover data from drives and SSDs with bad blocks.
Phoenix is offered as a standalone product and is a standard component in the company's main product, Scannerz for Mac OS X. Version 2.1 offers several performance improvements. Phoenix may be obtained as a stand-alone product for $13.95. Or it may be obtained as part of the either of the fully featured versions of Scannerz (but not Scannerz-Lite).
TypeIt4Me celebrates 25 years on the Mac with a new version
Ettore Software has released TypeIt4Me version 5.5 for Mac. This update coincides with the 25th anniversary of the original version 1.0 release. To celebrate this milestone in the app’s long-running development, for a limited time TypeIt4Me 5.5 licenses can be bought for $4.99; that’s 75% off the regular price.
TypeIt4Me is a typing shortcut tool. With it you can type abbreviations that instantly expand to longer words, paragraphs, pictures and more. You can create short, expandable abbreviations for email signatures, greetings, commonly repeated phrases, formatted text and images.
TypeIt4Me 5.5 provides the syncing of snippets via Dropbox, iCloud Drive, Google Drive and shared network folders for use on more than one Mac. The upgrade also sports an user interface refinements, a redesigned app icon, and performance and stability improvements
TypeIt4Me 5.5 requires a Mac running OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later. A demo is available for download (http://tinyurl.com/ht9cty4).
Braven unveils smart modular backup battery
BRAVEN (www.braven.com) has unveiled the he BRAVEN BRV-BANK PRO LE, an “ultra-rugged” modular backup battery with an ecosystem of accessories designed to adapt to even the most extreme outdoor environments.
An even more rugged version of BRAVEN’s acclaimed BRV-BANK, the original Bluetooth Smart portable outdoor backup battery, the BRV-BANK PRO LE can now survive full submersion with an IPX7 waterproof rating, features a built-in 300-lumen LED flashlight, and is protected by an aircraft-grade aluminum housing for extra versatility and durability says says BRAVEN CEO Andy Fathollahi. It’s also compatible with all accessories from the BRV-PRO modular rugged-speaker, including the solar charging panel, multi-tool, GoPro compatible action mount, and stacking plate, which allows users to stack multiple BRV-BANK PRO LE batteries on top of each other for even more power.
Similar to its predecessor, the BRV-BANK PRO LE is Bluetooth SMART enabled, and can be remotely controlled through BRAVEN’s...
Seagate rolls out the Backup Plus Ultra Slim
Seagate Technology has launched the Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim, which it says is the world’s thinnest 2TB mobile hard drive. This new product builds on the award-winning Backup Plus Slim drive, delivering a new design with the same leading capacity in an even slimmer profile.
Available in golden or platinum metal finish, the drive includes Seagate Dashboard software, which offers users either one-click on-demand or customizable, scheduled backups for their devices. The Backup Plus Ultra Slim comes with 200GB of free Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage for two years.
The Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim gold and platinum finishes will be available this quarter from Amazon and Seagate.com.
LaCie previews Chrome desktop storage solution
At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, LaCie (www.lacie.com) unveiled the LaCie Chromé desktop storage solution, which sports USB 3.1 Gen 2 technology, USB-C connectivity and SSDs housed in an aluminum enclosure by Neil Poulton.
The LaCie Chromé features a pair of 500 GB M.2 SATA SSDs in RAID 0. Working together, these components deliver speeds of up to 940 MB/second. According to the folks at LaCie, this performance lets users ingest two hours of 4K GoPro footage in a little over one minute, makes architectural and 3D modeling tasks smoother and faster, and enables the editing of hi-res video without first needing to convert footage to a lower resolution.
The elevated form is an homage to a 1935 bronze statue from Constantin Brâncuși, one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century. Once machined, the enclosure is hand assembled, then chromed to a mirror polish. Forged from solid chromed zinc, the stand securely docks the product with neodymium magnets...
LaCie announces mobile, desktop versions of USB-C drives
At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, LaCie (www.lacie.com) announced a new line of LaCie Porsche Design Drives. Housed in all-aluminum enclosures that reflect the signature Porsche Design style, the new Mobile and Desktop Drives feature USB-C connectivity (as found on the 12-inch MacBook) with the highest capacities on the market in a compact form factor.
By harnessing the power of USB 3.1, the LaCie Porsche Design Desktop Drive will charge a compatible laptop’s battery when the drive’s power supply is connected to the wall outlet. Via a single USB-C cable, users can power their notebook and access their drive at the same time.
Both the Mobile and Desktop Drives feature all-aluminum enclosures that are scratch resistant and dissipate heat. The LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive will be available in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities starting at $109.95; the LaCie Porsche Design Desktop Drive comes in 4TB, 5TB and 8TB capacities starting at $209.95. The drives will be...
DupHunter for OS X offers a way to deal with ‘garbage’ photos
A new cross-platform app by Teorex, DupHunter (http://www.duphunter.com) scans photos on a user´s computer and gets rid of all duplicates leaving only the best images in each group of similar pictures.
The program automatically detects series of photos taken with continuous shooting or locates similar images based on their content. You set the program against folders on your computer, and it reveals all doubling images it finds. Then you select the best photos in each group of duplicates; DupHunter discards others.
DupHunter is available for Windows and MacOS. The price for a single license is $19.99.
Akitio unveils the Thunder3 Duo Pro
AKITIO has unveiled the Thunder3 Duo Pro, which it says is the industry's first hardware RAID and display dock solution designed to unleash the groundbreaking speed and simplicity of Thunderbolt 3.
Developed to handle the data protection and performance requirements for today's ever-growing media libraries, the Thunder3 Duo Pro offers fast transfers with the added flexibility of a DisplayPort video output in a form factor small enough for a desktop, says Richard Wright, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Akitio.
Utilizing Thunderbolt 3, the Thunder3 Duo Pro can deliver transfer speeds up to 770 MB/s while simultaneously providing two 4K video streams to connected displays, roughly 8x faster than USB 3.1 Gen 1 and 4x faster than USB 3.1 Gen 2. Thunder3 Duo Pro is ideal for consumers and professionals who desire high capacity external storage with advanced RAID support and robust data protection, says Wright.
The Thunder3 Duo Pro is offered as a 2-bay RAID enclosure...
Patriot announces the Hellfire M.2 and PCIe AIC
Patriot (www.patriotmem.com) has released its latest solid-state drive offerings, the Patriot Hellfire M.2 PCIe SSD and the Hellfire PCIe AIC (Add-in Card).
Hellfire M.2 PCIe SSD.
The Hellfire will be Patriot’s first M.2 PCIe SSD. With a Gen 3 x 4 interface and NVMe 1.2 compliant, the Hellfire M.2 reportedly reaches speeds of up to 2,500MB/s read and 600MB/s. Hellfire will lower latency while increasing the productivity and response times of any PC, laptop or notebook, says Les Henry, vice president of Engineering at Patriot.
The Hellfire M.2 will be released in capacities of 240GB, 480GB and 960GB in a M.2 2280 form factor. It’s powered by the Phison 5007 controller and MLC NAND.
In addition to the Hellfire M.2, Patriot will also launch the Patriot Hellfire PCIe AIC. The Hellfire PCIe AIC with a Gen 3 x 4 interface is Patriot’s top-of-the-line choice for a storage solution with sequential read speeds of up to 3000MB/s and write speeds of up to 2200MB/s.
With varying speeds between...
Amped Wireless debuts HD Wi-Fi cameras
At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Amped Wireless announced the latest solutions for consumer and business security, the APOLLO and APOLLO PRO Long Range HD Wi-Fi Cameras. According to Lacey Limbrick, Amped Wireless’ Brand and Marketing manager, they provide three times the Wi-Fi range of any other cameras of their kind.
Accompanied by a mobile app and cloud recording, these Long Range HD Wi-Fi Cameras combine high powered amplifiers and a high gain antenna. This High Power technology enables the cameras to be installed in the outer corners of a home or office, outside of the garage, near the pool or in other areas that standard cameras can’t reach. The APOLLO and APOLLO PRO can be installed anywhere without the need to be close to a Wi-Fi source.
The APOLLO PRO is equipped with a wide viewing angle for optimal viewing dimensions. Advanced Night Vision provides clear viewing in dark conditions. The APOLLO PRO is also equipped with two-way Audio that allows...
