Jan. 10 news from CES
This week the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is in full swing in Las Vegas. There are too many announcements to list each one in a separate article, so here are some of today’s highlights:
Linksys has announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it is expanding its Velop, whole home mesh Wi-Fi line to include a Dual-Band offering and new software advancements that enhance performance with Intelligent Mesh technology, security features with advanced parental controls, network traffic monitoring, and website blocking as well as ease of use with improvements in the Linksys app. The Linksys Velop Dual-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System (available in 1-pack, 2-pack and 3-pack) is planned to be available this spring. Prices will be announced when product is available at major retail and online stores.
D-Link has announced several new networking and connected home solutions, including a new router in partnership with McAfee that automatically protects connected devices on a...
Apple releases macOS 11.13.2 Supplemental Update, iOS 11.2.2...
Apple has released macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 and iOS 11.2.2 with, among other things, security fixes for the recently reported Spectre vulnerability.
macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 is a free update for all customers who have a compatible machine. The update can be downloaded using the Software Update function in the Mac App Store.
iOS 11.2.2 can be downloaded for free on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. Go to Settings --> General --> Software Update.
Jan. 8 news update for CES
This week the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is underway in Las Vegas. Here are some of today’s highlights:
Wemo, the smart home and IoT brand from Belkin International is shipping the Wemo Bridge enabled with Apple HomeKit compatibility for the more than two million Wemo solutions on the market. With the HomeKit enabled Wemo Bridge, Wemo users can use Siri on their iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch or use the Apple Home app to control any of these devices. Users can also include Wemo products into scenes and rooms to work with more than 100 other HomeKit compatible products and access them while on the go.
The Whirlpool Smart All-In-One Care Washer and Dryer (www.whirlpool.com) won’t require a transfer between the washer and dryer, allowing for one load to be completely washed and dried in the same machine. The ventless unit will fit in a variety of places including under kitchen counters, closets, laundry rooms and bathrooms for those with limited space. And it can be remotely...
iMobie AnyTrans now supports transferring, managing all Android...
iMobie has announced today AnyTrans 6.3.0 (https://tinyurl.com/y8597na9), an update to their mobile content manager for macOS and Windows. It offers bi-directional transfer across multiple devices.
AnyTrans works with iOS and Android data. Version 6.3.0 offers the ability to transfer and manage almost all data from Android to Android or from an iOS device to an Android device.
AnyTrans 6.3.0 costs $39.99 for a single-user license, and $59.99 for a family license. A demo is available for download.
CyberByte AntiVirus 2.1 released for the Mac
CyberByte has released CyberByte Antivirus 2.1.1, an t update to their antivirus and internet security application for Macs.
The security app provides protection against threats by scanning for and removing viruses, malware, and adware. The utility also scans any local network for all connected devices, allowing users to ensure that no unknown devices are connected to their network.
CyberByte Antivirus 2.1.1 requires macOS 10.10 or higher. It’s free and is available at the CyberByte website (https://cyberbyte.org). A premium version of the app that offers additional features is available for $24.
Apple’s App Store sees a record-breaking holiday season
Apple has announced that App Store customers around the world made apps and games a bigger part of their holiday season in 2017 than ever before, culminating in $300 million in purchases made on New Year’s Day 2018. During the week starting on Christmas Eve, a record number of customers made purchases or downloaded apps from the App Store, spending over $890 million in that seven-day period.
“We are thrilled with the reaction to the new App Store and to see so many customers discovering and enjoying new apps and games,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, in a press release. “We want to thank all of the creative app developers who have made these great apps and helped to change people’s lives. In 2017 alone, iOS developers earned $26.5 billion — more than a 30 percent increase over 2016.”
Pokémon GO went back to the top of the App Store charts on Dec. 21 with the introduction of new augmented reality features, built on Apple’s ARKit framework....
Qoppa Software releases free PDF Studio Viewer for macOS High...
Qoppa Software has packaged its PDF technology in a free PDF reading application for the Mac: PDFStudio Viewer (https://www.qoppa.com/pdfstudioviewer/).
Based on the same proprietary PDF technology found in Qoppa's advanced PDF tools, the new PDF viewer works on all platforms and comes with a set of PDF viewing features. Users can y navigate through any PDF and its interactive objects using the Navigation Toolbar and Side Panels that display thumbnails, annotations, bookmarks, digital signatures, file attachments, and layers.
PDF Studio Viewer is free for personal and commercial use. It comes packaged as a single file installer for all platforms and supports five languages: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. On the Mac platform, it requires macOS High Sierra.
Apple waving Developer Program fees for certain groups
Apple has started fee waivers for its Developer Program. Certain eligible groups can avoid paying the $99 per-year fee the tech giant normally requires.
Apple says its Developer Program membership is now available at no cost for eligible organizations. Nonprofit organizations, accredited educational institutions, and government entities based in the U.S. that will distribute only free apps on the App Store can request to have their annual membership fee waived.
You can request to have the $99 annual membership fee waived if you’re a nonprofit organization, accredited educational institution, or government entity based in the United States that will distribute only free apps on the App Store. Apple will review your request and contact you to let you know whether your request is approved.
To join the Apple Developer Program as an eligible organization, first submit your enrollment. Once you receive an enrollment ID, you can submit a fee waiver, which will also require your EIN/tax ID —...
Apple posts new developer betas of iOS, watchOS, tvOS, macOS
Apple has issued the third developer betas of iOS 11.2.5, watchOS 4.2.2, tvOS 11.2.5, and macOS 10.13.3. Registered developers can download them from Apple's Developer Center — or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
B-Eng has announced Battery Health 4 iOS
B-Eng has announced Battery Health 4 iOS (https://tinyurl.com/y7mg6fhk), a $4.99, dedicated Mac app to read relevant battery data of an iOS device battery.
It’s a menu item that displays relevant statistics from your iPhone or iPad battery. When it comes to battery statistics, there's one number that is almost impossible to reveal: the loading cycles of your battery. By just plugging your iPhone to you Mac you can see all relevant data of its battery after starting the app on your Mac.
Default Folder X 5.2 for macOS adds color toolbar icons, more
St. Clair Software has released Default Folder X 5.2 (https://tinyurl.com/2gm24v), an update to their Mac utility.
Default Folder X enhances the file dialogs in all macOS applications. It provides fast navigation to your files, previews, integrated Spotlight tagging, and more. Default Folder X's custom keyboard shortcuts put your favorite and recent folders at your fingertips. Version 5.2 adds color toolbar icons, improves iCloud Drive support and fixes a number of issues.
Default Folder X 5.2 is a free update for existing version 5 users. New licenses are $34.95 and upgrades from version 4 and prior are $14.95. Default Folder X 5.2 requires macOS 10.10 or higher.
Apple to announce its first fiscal quarter of 2018 results on...
Apple will announce the results of its first fiscal quarter of 2018 after markets close on Thursday, Feb. 1. A conference call for investors and the press will bet held at 2 p.m. Pacific.
Here’s the guidance the company has provided for the quarter: revenue between $84 billion and $87 billion; gross margin between 38% and 38.5%; operating expenses between $7.65 billion and $7.75 billion; other income/(expense) of $600 million; and a tax rate of 25.5%. The quarter is expected to be the company’s biggest and most profitable quarter ever.
Apple buys Buddybuild
TechCrunch is reporting (https://tinyurl.com/y94vztsg) that Apple has scooped up Buddybuild, a company that “ties together continuous integration, continuous delivery and an iterative feedback solution into a single, seamless platform.”
The company’s tech will fold into Apple’s Xcode suite of development tools for the companies various operating systems. The Buddybuild team will keep working from their Vancouver base.
Buddybuild will continue to support existing customers of its standalone product. New customer signups ended today.
Apple to offer $29 replacement iPhone batteries regardless of...
Apple has instructed its retail store employees to offer the $29 replacement batteries to anyone who owns an iPhone 6 or newer, according to Seeking Alpha (https://tinyurl.com/y8al8sdf). The internal instructions follow reports of workers refusing the discount if a phone’s battery passed a diagnostic test.
Apple can still deny the discount if the phone has damage or third-party components that could interfere with the battery. Those seeking a replacement through an AppleCare warranty claim will need to go through the diagnostic test to see if the phone has less than 80% of its original charge capacity.
Last week Apple has published an apology letter to customers in regards to “Batterygate” for slowing down older phones to compensate for erratic battery performance and announced the battery replacement plan.
Duplicate Finder Mac revved to version 4.0
Cisdem (www.cisdem.com) has updated Duplicate Finder Mac to version 4.0. It’s a utility tool that can detect and delete duplicates from external and internal hard drives to free up the space.
The new version adds support for finding similar images.IT alsods three view does to preview found files.
Duplicate Finder Mac 4.0 requires macOS 10.10 or higher. It normally costs $29.99, but is available for $19.99 for a limited time. A demo is available for download.
Happy New Year's Day
Happy NewYear greetings to all our readers and advertisers. May you have a blessed 2018.
MacTech and MacNews won't be updated today, but we'll be back on our usual schedule tomorrow (Tuesday Jan. 2.)
Apple announces battery replacement program for iPhone 6 and...
Apple has published an apology letter to customers in regards to “Batterygate” for slowing down older phones to compensate for erratic battery performance. The letter starts off this way:
“We’ve been hearing feedback from our customers about the way we handle performance for iPhones with older batteries and how we have communicated that process. We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologize.
“There’s been a lot of misunderstanding about this issue, so we would like to clarify and let you know about some changes we’re making.”
“First and foremost, we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades. Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that.”
The tech giant is offering $29 replacement batteries for those with an iPhone 6 or later. The discount, which...
Happy holidays!
The staff of MacTech and MacNews are off today to celebrate the holidays with our families. We hope you have a blessed day as well. We’ll resume our normal publishing schedule tomorrow.
DWG Viewer 2.0 released for the Mac
Microspot (www.microspot.com) has announced DWG Viewer 2.0, an upgrade to their CAD viewing software for the Mac.
The new version allows you to more easily open, annotate and share complex DWG and MacDraft files than before. Now macOS High Sierra compatible, version 2.0 also introduces new features including automatic opening, measure tool, annotation tools and more.
DWG Viewer 2.0 requires macOS 10.10.5 or higher. It costs $49; upgrades from older versions are $29.
Mac DVD Burner upgraded to version 3.6.0.
Cisdem (www.cisdem.com) has upgraded Mac DVD Burner to version 3.6.0. It’s a multimedia tool that can burn videos to DVDs with menu, subtitle and background music.
Version 3.6.0 adds more free menu templates and support of import local images as a background. As a Christmas special, Mac DVD Burner is being offered for $39.99 (40% off). A demo is available for download.
Apple posts new public betas of iOS 11.2.5, tvOS 11.2.5
Apple has released the second public betas of iOS 11.2.5 and tvOS 11.2.5. The public betas are available at https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/. Just remember that beta software, so proceed with care.
24U announces 24U SimpleSound Plug-In 4.1 for FileMaker Pro 16
24U Software (https://www.24usoftware.com) has introduced version 4.1 of 24U SimpleSound Plug-In. It enables FileMaker Pro to play back audio in the background, without blocking the user interface, and manipulate ID3 metadata in the MP3 audio files
Version 4.1 adds: 64-bit compatibility with FileMaker Pro 14, 15, and 16;, a completely rewritten audio playback engine that takes advantage of the native audio formats supported by the host platform; and ID3 metadata support has been extended both to support wider range of ID3 tags, including lyrics and artworks, and to work on FileMaker Server as a server-side plug-in.
A demo of 24U SimpleSound Plug-In 4.1 is available. Licenses start at $49 per user, volume discounts are available for 5 or more users. Server licenses start at $499, discounted when buying for 2 or more servers. Optional Premium Support and Implementation service are available with the the purchase of 24U SimpleSound Plug-In 4.1.
Existing customers can upgrade to the new...
The Document Foundation releases LibreOffice 5.4.4
The Document Foundation has released LibreOffice 5.4.4, an update of the LibreOffice 5.x family for macOS, Windows, Linux and the cloud. The upgrade “over 80 bug and regression fixes.”
LibreOffice Online is fundamentally a server service, and should be installed and configured by adding a cloud storage and a SSL certificate. It might be considered an enabling technology for the cloud of ISPs or the private cloud of enterprises and large organizations. LibreOffice users, free software advocates and community members can support The Document Foundation with a donation.
Yummy Software releases Yummy FTP Watcher 3 upgrade
Yummy Software (www.yummysoftware.com) has rolled out Yummy FTP Watcher 3.0, an upgrade to the automated file transfer app.
The utility automates uploads, downloads and syncs between your Mac and any number of FTP/S + SFTP + WebDAV/S servers, watching chosen folders for changes and acting upon them. FTP Watcher offers menubar-app background mode, a unified watcher monitor with editor window, built-in local/remote folder browser, automatic reconnect and resume, and more. Version 3.0 offers a new Look status, new Look setup, new Watcher, and more.
Yummy FTP Watcher 3.0 costs $29.99 and is available directly from Yummy Software only. Upgrades cost $15. Customers who purchased directly from Yummy Software since Sept. 1, 2017, can obtain a free upgrade.
Apple posts new developer betas of iOS, watchOS, tvOS
Apple has released new developer betas of iOS 11.2.5, watchOS 4.2.2 and tvOS 11.2.5. Registered developers can download them from Apple's Developer Center — or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
Life is Strange: Complete Season available at the Mac App Store
Feral Interactive has announced that Life Is Strange: Complete Season, the complete first season of the episodic adventure game, is out now on the Mac App Store (https://tinyurl.com/ycq3cm9j) for $17.99. It requires macOS 10.11 or higher.
Developed by DONTNOD and published by Square Enix on console and Windows PC, it’s a five-part adventure. Set in America’s Pacific Northwest, Life Is Strange: Complete Season follows the story of Max Caulfield, a photography student who discovers she can rewind time. When Max saves the life of her best friend Chloe Price, the pair find themselves investigating the mysterious disappearance of fellow student Rachel Amber, uncovering a dark side to life in the picturesque seaside town of Arcadia Bay.
AKVIS Neon for macOS revved to version 3.0
AKVIS (www.akvis.com) has announced Neon 3.0, an update of its Mac software for transforming ordinary photos into neon images. Version 3.0 offers a new Color Variety parameter that adds more colors to photos.
In addition, the updated version offers a number of new presets, full compatibility with Photoshop CC 2018, and other improvements. AKVIS Neon allows you to enhance your photos by applying impressive glowing effects and giving them a luminescent look.
On the Mac platform, the software runs on macOS 10.7 and higher. The product is available as a standalone application and as a plugin filter for AliveColors, Adobe Photoshop and other image editors.
AKVIS Neon, Home license, sells for $39. One license key allows activating and using the software on two computers. The update is free for users who bought Neon in the last 12 months. Users, whose license is older and is not valid for the new version, can get Neon 3.0 for $14.95.
Norbert M. Doerner releases NeoFinder 7.2 for the Mac
Norbert M. Doerner has released NeoFinder 7.2 (https://www.cdfinder.de), an update of its media asset management tool for the Mac. Among other things it adds a XMP Preset Editor designed to make handling large photo or video collections easier.
NeoFinder 7.2 is a free update to all NeoFinder 7.x users. NeoFinder 7.x is a paid upgrade to licensed users of NeoFinder 6.x and the old CDFinder, upgrade price starting at $22.47 New licenses start at $34.30 for a NeoFinder Private License.
Apple releases second developer beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3
Apple has released a second developer beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3. Registered developers can download it from Apple's Developer Center — or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
Microsoft NTFS refines support for macOS High Sierra
Paragon Software (www.paragon-software.com) has updated Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software, its software utility that grants ultra-fast, transparent read/write access to Windows-formatted NTFS hard drives, SSDs, and thumb drives under macOS.
The upgrade delivers improved support for macOS 10.13 High Sierra. macOS High Sierra is designed to be secure by default and includes several architectural changes, including a new file system and user-approved, third-party kernel extensions. Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software now provides full support for Secure Kernel Extension Loading, which enables users to install the application and evaluate its benefits without any additional interaction with System Preferences.
For users of Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software, the upgrade is available at no charge. Microsoft NTFS for Mac by Paragon Software is available for download for $19.99.
Ledvance announces HomeKit-enabled smart Filament A19 bulb
Ledvance, the maker of Sylvania general lighting in the U.S., has announced what it says is the world’s first HomeKit-enabled smart Filament A19 bulb.
The HomeKit-enabled, $31.99 Sylvania Smart Soft White A19 Filament Bulb “combines the future of the Smart Home with the retro look of the past” and is available for pre order for spring 2018 delivery on Amazon.com. In addition, the company is announcing the Sylvania Smart Indoor Flex Strip Full Color ($59.99) and Soft White A19 Bulb ($25.99) are now available for purchase on Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com.
The expansion comes after the recent launch of the HomeKit-enabled Sylvania Smart A19 Full Color Bulb, the first light bulb you could buy that can be easily controlled directly using Bluetooth via Siri and Apple’s Home app and doesn’t require buying a separate hub or smart socket, or need a Wi-Fi router to function like other products.
Maintain has served up Cocktail 11.2 (High Sierra Edition
Maintain has served up Cocktail 11.2 (High Sierra Edition), a new edition of Cocktail for users running macOS High Sierra.
It’s a general purpose utility for macOS that lets users clean, repair and optimize their Macs. The new version adds the ability to clear boot caches. It also improves the “Clear system caches” procedure; the “Perform essential system maintenance” procedure, and the "Clear Apple system logs and diagnostic messages" procedure.
Cocktail costs $19 for a single user license and available for purchase from the Maintain website (http://www.maintain.se/cocktail/). When unregistered, Cocktail runs in demo mode and will expire after the tenth launch.
Planner 5D available for the Mac
Planner5D has introduced Planner 5D 3.6, an update of its app for creating interior design projects on macOS.
With the software, users can create floor plans, customize furniture and save realistic imagery of their interior design projects. Version 3.6 features include: Metal graphics technology for faster and more natural renderings; over 3000 items included in the Digital Catalog; responsive and intuitive design features; enhanced graphics; and more.
Planner 5D 3.6 requires macOS 10.12 or later. It’s offered in various packages (with in-app purchases) and available at the Mac App Store (https://tinyurl.com/y8l6myzr).
AKVIS releases MakeUp 5.0 for the Mac
AKVIS (www.akvis.com) has announced MakeUp 5.0, an update of its portrait enhancement software.
Version 5.0 offers a new portrait retouching algorithm with significantly improved results. Also, it provides the updated list of ready-to-use presets, the improved Vignette effect, the Crop tool, some interface changes, and other improvements.
On the Mac platform, AKVIS MakeUp 5.0 runs on macOS 10.12-10.13. The product is available as a standalone application and as a plugin filter for AliveColors, Adobe Photoshop and other image editors.
AKVIS MakeUp, Home license, sells for $39. One license key allows activating and using the software on two computers. The update is free for users who bought MakeUp in the last 12 months. Users, whose license is older and is not valid for the new version, can get MakeUp 5.0 for $14.95. A demo is available for download.
Logic Pro X upgraded for the iMac Pro
Apple has updated Logic Pro X, its pro audio production software, to version 10.3.3. It optimizes performance for the new iMac Pro — up to 36 cores.
It also addresses an issue which can cause user-created content to become unavailable in High Sierra. And there are the expected tability and performance improvements.
Logic Pro X 10.3.3 requires macOS 10.11 or higher. It’s available for $199.99 at the Mac App Store. Version 10.3.3 is a free update for registered users.
Artstudio Pro 1.0 launched for macOS
Lucky Clan has launched Artstudio Pro 1.0 for macOS, the successor to their ArtStudio for iOS app. Completely redesigned, it brings many new features and improvements, taking full advantage of the latest technologies like Metal, iCloud Drive, and more.
Artstudio Pro has been also optimized for 64-bit multi-core processors. Users have the ability to import resources in the most popular formats.
Artstudio Pro 1.0 costs $23.99 and is available via the Mac App Store (https://tinyurl.com/ydbgvw4s)
Final Cut Pro X introduces 360-degree VR video editing
Apple has announced a major update to its professional video editing app, Final Cut Pro X, with new features including 360-degree VR video editing, advanced color grading tools and support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) video.
Optimized to take full advantage of the performance capabilities of the all-new iMac Pro, Final Cut Pro users can now edit full-resolution 8K video for the first time on a Mac. Apple is also extending 360-degree VR video support to Final Cut Pro companion apps, Motion and Compressor.
Today, with more than two million seats, Final Cut Pro X is the most popular version of the software ever and is used by professional video editors to create incredible works of art, from award-winning Hollywood feature films and commercials, to international broadcasts and the world’s most popular YouTube videos, says Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Apps Product Marketing.
Final Cut Pro lets professional editors create VR content with the ability to import, edit and...
The iMac Pro goes on sale today
Apple has released the iMac Pro, a new product line designed for pro users who love the all-in-one design of iMac and require workstation-class performance.
With Xeon processors up to 18 cores, up to 22 Teraflops of graphics performance, and a 27-inch Retina 5K display, it’s the fastest, most powerful Mac ever made. It delivers incredible compute power for real-time 3D rendering, immersive VR, intensive developer workflows, high megapixel photography, complex simulations, massive audio projects and real-time 4K and 8K video editing, says John Ternus, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering.
Apple says it’s the first all-in-one built from the ground up to deliver true workstation-class performance. Featuring an all-new thermal architecture, the iMac Pro delivers up to 80% more cooling capacity in the same quiet, thin and seamless aluminum and glass enclosure customers.
Still just 5mm at its edge, iMac Pro comes in a new space gray finish with a matching Magic Keyboard, Magic...
True North releases Station 1.5 for macOS
True North Software has announced Station 1.5, an update to their multilevel (hierarchical) launcher for macOS. It promotes a more natural organization of applications and documents into folders.
With nested folders, you can arrange items in Station in a way that fits your workflow. Scalability is greatly increased through logical groupings. With version 1.5, you can can lock Station to a specific screen. In the preferences you can specify if you want the app to center a new panel over the originating folder item.
Station 1.5 requires macOS 10.11 or higher. It costs $14.99 and is available through the Mac App Store (https://tinyurl.com/ybzbj893). A demo version is available from the True North website (www.truenorthsoftware.com).
Apple posts new developer betas of iOS, watchOS, tvOS
Apple has released new developer beta versions of iOS 11.2.5, watchOS 4.2.2, and tvOS 11.2.5. Registered developers can download them from Apple's Developer Center — or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
Apple releases iOS 11.2.1 and tvOS 11.2.1
Apple has released iOS 11.2.1 for the iPhone and iPad, and tvOS 11.2.1 for the Apple TV.
Both fix bugs, including an issue that could disable remote access to shared users of the Home app. iOS 11.2.1 is available via the Software Update function in the iOS Settings menu. Fourth generation Apple TV or Apple TV 4K owners can nab the tvOS 11.2.1 update through the Settings menu.
Eltima Software updates CloudMounter for the Mac to version 3.0
Eltima Software has upgraded CloudMounter (https://cloudmounter.net), its cloud manager for macOS, to version 3.0. The app mounts cloud storages on your Mac saving your disk space and protects your online files with the encryption feature.
With version 3.0, it’s now possible to mount your main Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive accounts with encryption for free. Support for Box and Backblaze B2 clouds is now available, as well as the connection to Amazon S3-compatible cloud solutions.
CloudMounter 3.0 is compatible with macOS 10.10 or later. It costs $44.99; a demo is available for download.
Joyoshare Introduces HEIC Converter for the Mac
Joyoshare Software has released HEIC Converter (http://www.joyoshare.com/heic-converter-for-mac/), its new multimedia utility for macOS. It was developed to help users convert iOS 11 photos from HEIC to JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, WEBP for use on any computer and device.
In addition, the app allows you adjust the output image quality in your own way, including changing resolution, aspect ratio, keeping EXIF metadata info, and more. With HEIC Converter, you can transfer an manage any HEIC/HEIF picture on any platform.
Joyoshare HEIC Converter is compatible with macOS 10.8 and higher and costs $9.95 for a single license copy with one-year free support and update. There are other license types available as well, including $19.95 for 2-5 computers and $29.95 for unlimited use. A demo is available for download.
Apple awards Finisar $390 million from its Advanced...
Apple has announced the latest award from its $1 billion Advanced Manufacturing Fund. Finisar, a manufacturer of optical communications components, will receive $390 million as part of Apple’s commitment to support innovation and job creation by American manufacturers.
The award will enable Finisar to exponentially increase its R&D spending and high-volume production of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). VCSELs power some of Apple’s most popular new features, including Face ID, Animoji and Portrait mode selfies made possible with the iPhone X TrueDepth camera, as well as the proximity-sensing capabilities of AirPods.
VCSEL technology is a better performing, more compact and cost-efficient solution compared to traditional edge-emitting lasers for many emerging applications. Apple has rapidly adopted depth-sensing technology in recent years, leading to the development and production of the most advanced VCSELs used in the history of consumer electronics. In the fourth...
PortraitPro Body for macOS revved to version 2
Anthropics Technology has upgraded PortraitPro Body (www.portraitbody.com), a standalone full body retouching software and plugin for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Elements.
Version 2 offers Warp Fixer controls, Photoshop Smart Filter, a Lite Mode, and more. The software is designed to make it quick and easy to retouch full body portraits to industry standards. According to the folks at Anthropics Technology, it requires no painting skills or “tedious selections.”
On the Mac platform, PortraitPro Body requires macOS 10.7 or later. It’s available in $39.95 and $59.95 editions. The former is standalone, dedicated software for professional full body retouching. The latter orks as standalone software and as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Lightroom, handles camera RAW files, supports conversion between different color spaces, provides JPEG/TIFF embedded color profile support. A demo is available for download.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided arrives on the Mac
Feral Interactive has released Deus Ex: Mankind Divided for the Mac. It’s available for $59.59 at the Feral website (www.feralinteractive.com) and Stream.
The Desperate Measures in-game mission and the Covert Agent pack, which includes various weapons and items, are available for free. In Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, you’re in the damaged world of Adam Jensen, where the decisions you make and the actions you take will play a crucial role in humanity’s future.
The game is compatible with: all 15-inch MacBook Pros released since late 2016; all 21.5-inch Retina 4K iMacs released since 2017; all 27-inch Retina 5K iMacs released since late 2014; and all Mac Pros released since late 2013. The 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro released in mid 2015 with an AMD Radeon R9 M370X can run the game but doesn’t consistently meet the standards required for official support.
iMac Pro can be ordered on Dec. 14
Apple’s iMac Pro will be available to order on December 14 with pricing starting at $4,999. Announced in June, with its 27-inch Retina 5K display, next generation Intel Xeon processors up to 18 cores, up to 22 Teraflops of graphics computation, up to 16GB of VRAM, up to 128GB of memory, built-in Ethernet, and support for one billion colors, it’s most powerful Mac ever made.
It comes in a new space gray enclosure. The iMac Pro with the Vega GPU delivers up to 11 Teraflops of single-precision compute power for real-time 3D rendering and immersive, high frame rate VR. For half-precision computation, ideal for machine learning, the pro all-in-one delivers up to 22 Teraflops of performance.
The iMac Pro also supports up to 4TB of SSD and up to 128GB of ECC memory, and with four Thunderbolt 3 ports can connect to up to two high-performance RAID arrays and two 5K displays at the same time.
Apple, Chicago join forces to bring coding opportunities to city...
Apple announced that it’s working with the city of Chicago to bring coding opportunities to Chicago’s nearly 500,000 students through a citywide expansion of Apple’s Everyone Can Code program.
The initiative in Chicago was designed in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges of Chicago, local businesses and non-profit organizations. Together, Apple and local organizations are helping expand opportunities for students to build the skills they need to pursue careers in the app economy by becoming proficient in Swift, Apple’s programming language.
“At Apple we believe coding is an essential skill, so we’ve designed Everyone Can Code to give everyone the power to learn, write and teach coding,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “We’re thrilled to be working with our friends and partners in the great city of Chicago on this initiative. Together with Mayor Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges, we look forward to helping students learn Swift...
Apple releases developer’s beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3
Apple has released the first developer’s beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.3. Registered developers can download it from Apple's Developer Center — or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
Troi releases Troi Activator Plug-in 4.5.1 for FileMaker Pro 16
Troi has released Troi Activator Plug-in 4.5.1 for FileMaker Pro 16. It’s an update of the tool for triggering scripts remotely. It’s a maintenance update with some bug fixes and performance tweaks.
Licences for Troi Activator Plug-in 4.5.1 are $89 per user. A demo is available at https://www.troi.com/products/activatorplugin/ .
