Pew Internet: 19% of cell phone owners use an iPhone
Nearly half (46%) of American adults are smartphone owners as of February 2012, an increase of 11 percentage points over the 35% of Americans who owned a smartphone last May., according to Pew Internet (http://pewinternet.org/), a project of the Pew Research Center.
Forty-five percent of of cell owners say that their phone is a smartphone, up from 33% in May 2011; 49% of cell owners say that their phone operates on a smartphone platform common to the US market, up from 39% in May 2011
Since 88% of US adults are now cell phone owners, that means that a total of 46% of all American adults are smartphone users. Two in five adults (41%) own a cell phone that is not a smartphone, meaning that smartphone owners are now more prevalent within the overall population than owners of more basic mobile phones.
Pew Internet also notes that:
° Twenty percent of cell owners now describe their phone as an Android device, up from 15% in May 2011.
° Nineteen percent of cell owners now describe their...
Apple to start making 'iPad mini' in the third quarter...
Partners in Apple's iPad supply chain have started delivering samples of 7.85-inch iPads for verification, with volume production likely to begin in the third quarter of 2012 at the earliest, reports "DigiTiimes" (http://macte.ch/eLJP8), quoting unnamed industry sources.
The article says the 7.85-inch iPad is apparently "to take on Amazon's US$199 7-inch Kindle Fire as well as a comparable model from Barnes & Noble." Expect the "iPad mini" to sell for US$249-$299.
NetMarketShare: Mac OS X, Safari, iOS up in February
According to the latest market share survey from NetMarketShare (http://www.netmarketshare.com), the market share for Mac OS X, Safari and iOS all rose last month.
According to the report, among desktop operating systems, Mac OS X had 6.92% of the global market share in February compared to 6.36% in January (that's global market share; in the US it's over 10%). Windows remains dominant with 91.92% as of January. That's down from 92.05% in January.
When it comes to browsers, Safari had 5.24% in February. Internet Explorer had 52.84%, Firefox had 20.92% and Chrome had 18.90%. That compares to, respectively, January percentages of 4.90%, 52.96%, 20.88% and 18.94%, respectively, for the browsers.
The iOS's still dominated in February, according to NetMarketShare. It had 60.90%, compared to 19.02% for Java ME, 14.16% for Android, 2.77% for Symbian and 2.15% for Blackberry. That compares to 53.65%, 19.19%, 18.21%, 5.20% and 2.59, respectively, in January.
NetMarketShares' monthly surveys...
Apple released iMac Graphic FW Update 3.0
Apple has released iMac Graphic FW Update 3.0. According to Apple, it "fixes a graphics issue that may cause an iMac to hang under certain conditions.”
The firmware update requires Mac OS X 10.7x ("Lion"). You can obtain Mac Graphic FW Update 3.0 via the Software Updates component of Mac OS X's Systems Preferences app.
Verto Studio is new 3D design app for the Mac
Developer Michael L. Farrell has introduces Verto Studio 3D 1.0 for Mac OS X (10.6 and higher). It's available now at the introductory price of US$24.99 (the normal price is $49.99) exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Productivity category.
Verto Studio supports import of OBJ and 36 other file formats, allowing users to download thousands of wire mesh models or create their own. Powerful enough for professionals doing mobile 3D content creation and easy enough for beginners, it features 3D modeling, dynamic lighting, texture mapping, iOS/OS X file sharing and multi-touch gestures in Mac OS X 10.7.x ("Lion"), according to Farrell.
Verto Studio 3D 1.0 offers real-time Gouraud shading, dynamic lighting, self illumination, vertex editing, multiple camera angles, and an Auto mode for manipulating every object in a scene simultaneously. Plus, it offers a pipeline, via email or Dropbox, for the conversion of almost any 3D file into a Verto Studio 3D mobile file for an iPhone or...
Wacom introduces Intuos5 pen tablet
Wacom (http://www.wacom.com) has announced the Intuos5, the next generation lineup of tablets for professional photographers, designers and artists.
Features include multi-touch gesture support for input, an Express View display to facilitate workflow and wireless capabilities, as well as Wacom's well known pen pressure and tilt sensitive pen. The Intuos5 sports an ergonomic, ambidextrous, slim profile design.
The professional matte-black, soft-touch finish and illuminated accents reflect a modern and durable design, according to says Don Varga, Professional Products Brand Director for Wacom Technology Services Corporation. To meet the workflow and workspace needs of Wacom's diverse professional customer base, Intuos5 models are being introduced in the Americas in three different sizes (small, medium and large).
The addition of multi-touch to the Intuos5 provides a complementary input method to the pen that is natural to use in the creative process, according to Varga. One of the...
Zevrix releases Output Factory Light for Adobe InDesign
Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has released Output Factory Light 1.0, a simplified, low-cost version of its solution to automate output from Adobe InDesign.
Output Factory Light automates printing, exporting to PDF and PostScript, as well as post-processing from InDesign. In addition to output of multiple files, single page export and variable file names, it offers layer versioning, preflighting, workflow presets, processing history and other tools to streamline prepress and publishing workflows.
The new light version provides automation of printing and exporting to PDF and PostScript. The full version also supports EPS, Flash, INX, IDML, EPUB and several image formats.
In addition, Output Factory can skip files with specific errors, preflight final PDF automatically using Acrobat Pro's droplets, and send output files over the Internet and locally through integration with Zevrix file transfer solution Deliver. The history feature lets users keeps track of all processed...
Better Finder Rename 9 gets new interface, more
PublicSpace.net (http://www.publicspace.net) has released A Better Finder Rename 9 the latest version of its contextual menu plug-in that allows users to rename multiple files. The new version features a redesigned single window user interface, drag 'n drop manual ordering and access to over 100 image, photo, color, camera, lens, music and date meta-data tags.
Better Finder Rename's renaming engine leverages all the latest Mac OS X technologies by using a 64-bit multi-threaded garbage collected architecture based around Leopard's Core Data database system. A Better Finder Rename sports an instant preview feature.
The tool features capture time and date extraction (EXIF JPEG and most RAW formats) for digital photographers, ID3 tag extraction for music lovers, regular expression support, plain-text file import for renaming from databases and many other features.
A Better Finder Rename is US$19.95 shareware for a single user license. Family, business and enterprise licensing is also...
Luxology ships Parasolid-based CAD Loaders for modo 601
With the release of the new CAD Loaders for the recently announced modo 601 software, CAD designers working with XT, IGES, and STEP files will now be able to use Luxology’s 3D software to create photorealistic images and animations.
CAD Loaders for modo are based on Parasolid technology, a geometry kernel whose data files, according to Siemens, account for over 40% of all 3D model data stored worldwide. As models are loaded into modo, the CAD surfaces can be dynamically tessellated for optimum use in modo’s modeling and rendering operations.
Real-time rendering previews and dynamic editing tools in modo can then be used to turn base designs into immersive, photorealistic graphics, says says Brad Peebler, president and co-founder, Luxology.
CAD Loaders for modo are available immediately from authorized Luxology resellers and on Luxology’s website. The Advanced CAD Loader for modo 601 includes XT, IGES, and STEP file loaders priced at US$695, while the Basic CAD Loader is a Parasolid...
Roads of Rome 3 now at Macgamestore
Realore Studios' Roads of Rome 3 is now available at the Macgamestore (http://www.macgamestore.com). It requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and costs US$6.99.
Here's how the game is described: "The Roman Empire is flourishing, everything seems to be quiet and peaceful. Our well-known characters Julia and Victorius are absolutely happy awaiting the birth of their first child, and it looks like there’s nothing threatening the glory of the Great Kingdom. However, one day a messenger arrives in Rome spreading the bad news about Barbarians that are destroying the Roman provinces. No one but Victorius and his army can resist the enemy and protect Rome from the forthcoming disaster.
"There is nothing else left out for Victorius, but to set off on a journey to fight the enemy! Be brave and the good luck won't leave you, clear up your way and build roads, help the Romans gain their prosperous and peaceful life back! Restore broken roads and settlements, save the Roman Empire from barbarian...
Synology presents DiskStation DS1512+
Synology has announced DiskStation DS1512+, a five-bay, next generation NAS server. It features a passive CPU cooling technology and a fan redundancy mechanism of two user-replaceable 80mm fans, eliminating a single point of failure and ensure continuous system uptime during malfunction.
The dual LAN network failover support allows DS1512+ to sustain the potential of one network discontinuity while maximizing system availability at all times, according to Peter Chen, product manager of Synology. Among the first to support the industry’s latest 4TB hard drives, the DS1512+ scales up to 15-bay for 60TB of maximum storage capacity by leveraging the expansion capabilities of Synology DX510.
Equipped with a 2.13 GHz dual core processor with Link Aggregation enabled, the DS1512+ achieves read and write speed at 200.31 MB/sec and 194.83 MB/sec, respectively, in RAID 5 configuration. Synology DS1512+ operates on DiskStation Manager 3.2 (DSM 3.2), the operating system of every Synology NAS...
Barbarian--The Death Sword coming to Macs
Anuman Interactive will release Barbarian--The Death Sword for the Mac next month. Pricing and system requirements haven't been announced, but the game will be available at the Macgamestore (http://www.macgamestore.com).
Here's how Barbarian--The Death Sword is described: "The game offers four different game modes: Story, Arcade, Survival and Multiplayer. Iin Story mode, the adventure unwinds as the player begins a journey in the search of the beautiful Princess Mariana, kidnapped by evil wizard Drax. During his journey around the world (represented by 5 different combat arenas), various enemies under Drax's command appear along the Barbarian’s route to try to stop him from completing his quest.
"Just as in the original version, the player has a wide choice of attack and defense moves at his disposal during combat (rolling, kicking, head-butting etc.), including the famous decapitation move, which requires excellent timing and involves a certain amount of risk, to end the battle in...
Mac OS X software updates for March 1
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps.
The PandaWare Company has announced a free maintenance update to its time billing application TimeCache. Version 8.0.16 primarily fixes bugs. It can be downloaded for free from The PandaWare Company's web site (http://www.pandaware.com/downloads.html).
URL Extractor (http://www.pomola.com/products_urlextractor) -- which lets you extract URLs and emails from the web, search engine and local files -- has been revved to version 3.4. The upgrade offers improved email extraction from the web and from local files and is fully optimized for Mac OS X 10.7 ("Lion").
DEVONtechnologies (http://www.devontechnologies.com) has released maintenance updates for all editions of DEVONthink and DEVONagent, for the brand new search app DEVONsphere Express, as well as for its freeware Mac apps EasyFind, PhotoStickies, and XMenu.
Macoscope has given us Invoices 1.5.1 (http://getinvoices.com), an update of the Mac app designed to make invoicing workflow easy...
Apple, Jigsaw Entertainment settle lawsuit over iOS app
TV production company Jigsaw Entertainment sued Apple when it found that a 16-year-old boy had created and sold an iOS soundboard app using its audio and images. However, a settlement between Apple and Jigsaw has been reached out of court, "whereby it's understood Apple retrieved the thousands of dollars made from the app by both it and the boy and paid it to Jigsaw," reports the "Sydney Morning Herald" (http://macte.ch/dgJGs).
The "Chopper Soundboard" app contained audio files from the sketch comedy created by Heath Franklin for The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. The settlement over the $1.19 iPhone app was finalized in a document this month by Jigsaw chief executive Nick Murray and by Apple Australia's managing director, Anthony King, and finance director, Paul Whittingham, the article adds.
School of medicine to study effectiveness of iPads in education
Long Island, New York: The Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine’s (http://medicine.hofstra.edu/) Health Sciences Library has received an US10,000 Technology Improvement Express Award grant from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region, for iPads that will be loaded with medical textbooks and other related applications as part of a study to determine the usefulness of the new technology in the medical school’s curriculum.
The iPad pilot program will train and track users to determine the effectiveness of the iPad and apps as a tool for medical education. The grant will pay for the purchase of 10 iPads and cases, along with textbook, productivity and medical applications.
"We are honored to have received this award," says Dean Lawrence Smith. "It presents an exceptional opportunity for our new medical school to further enhance the learning experience for our students."
Ten out of the 40 current first-year medical students and 10 out of approximately...
Survey: A cheaper iPad would win over those not planning to one
A RCB Capital Markets survey of 1,100 consumers not planning to buy an iPad shows that 20 % would change their minds and buy an iPad 2 if Apple continues to sell last year's model for US$100 (that would be $399) less when the iPad 3 is released.
Apple's entry-level, 16GB, Wi-Fi-only iPad 2 currently costs $499. But, as noted by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) there have been suggestions that Apple could continue to offer its second-generation model at a reduced price after the third generation tablet is released.
Analyst Mike Abramsky tells clients that if Apple were to continue to sell the iPad 2 at a reduced price, it could allow the company to not only expand its addressable market, but also head off lower-priced competitors like the $199 Amazon Kindle Fire.
New, thinner MacBook Pros coming in April (maybe)
Apple is expected to launch new MacBook Pro notebooks with an even thinner and lighter design than existing models in April "at the soonest," according to "DigiTimes" (http://macte.ch/wQ7YZ), quoting unnamed "sources from the upstream supply chain." Think bigger MacBook Airs.
"DigiTimes" says Apple is expected to launch upgraded 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros in April with initial shipments estimated to reach 900,000 units. (There's no mention of 17-inch models). The updates are expected to, among other things, jettison the optical drive a la the MacBook Air.
There is a potential problem, however. Intel is delaying the mass supply of its Ivy Bridge CPUs from April to June. Apple could be affected. Or it could be that, per "DigiTimes," notebook vendors are concerned about that the postponed launch schedules of their ultrabooks, as it may give Apple advantages in terms of time-to-market."
Apple TV stocks low; is a refresh looming?
For three consecutive weeks, Apple has failed to make good on its promissory to restock indirect channel partners with fresh inventory of the existing US$99 Apple TV product, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com), quoting unnamed "people familiar with matter."
According to rumors, Apple will unveil a new Apple TV along with the iPad 3 at next week's March 7 media event. Whether that's the case or not, it's widely expected that the next rev of the set-top box will offer high resolution, 1080p support at last. The Apple TV was last updated in late 2010 with a completely redesigned model based on Apple's custom processor and a version of iOS.
Apple defends claim to iPad name in China
Apple defended its claim to the iPad name in China before a high court Wednesday, alleging that Proview Technology knowingly signed away the Chinese rights to use the trademark and is trying to unfairly reap financial benefits, reports "The Wall Street Journal" (http://macte.ch/XNRSl).
Apple argues that it previously purchased all of Proview's rights to the iPad trademark, including one for the name "IPAD" in mainland China owned by another subsidiary of Proview International Holdings. Apple says it legally owns the iPad mark throughout Asia, and that Proview is squeezing it for additional money to use the trademark in China, despite the fact that it has already purchased those rights.
"We bought Proview’s worldwide rights to the iPad trademark in 10 different countries several years ago," Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet told "AllThingsD" (http://macte.ch/dzKoZ). "Proview refuses to honor their agreement with Apple in China, and a Hong Kong court has sided with Apple in this matter...
Apple's stock market value tops $500 billion mark
Apple's stock market value topped the $500 billion mark in early trading Wednesday. The half-trillion dollar valuation makes it one of the five most-valuable companies at any point ever.
Only Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Cisco and General Electric have ever surpassed that mark, notes "CNN Money." Apple's valuation is now higher than the gross domestic product of Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, or Taiwan, the article adds. For more info, go to http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/29/technology/apple_market_cap/index.htm?so... .
Mercedes-Benz puts the iPhone on wheels
According to parent company Daimier (http://www.daimler.com/) Mercedes-Benz is making smartphones mobile and ensuring that such electronic assistants will in future be fully linked into the car's infotainment system.
First off the blocks is the Apple iPhone, which Mercedes-Benz has now integrated comprehensively into the user experience concept of the new A-Class, which the company says is the first automotive manufacturer in the world to take this step. Thanks to a new "Digital DriveStyle App," developed in-house, together with the "Drive Kit Plus for the Apple iPhone," drivers can now access all the key content of their Apple smartphone through the in-vehicle display and operate the device via the controller on the center armrest.
What's more, Mercedes-Benz will enable access to the voice-based intelligent companion Siri in the vehicle. This allows natural speech input, without the need for specific commands, to send messages, select music tracks and check the weather forecast or...
Analyst: iPad 3 to drive sales of 55 million in 2012
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu says the third generation iPad 3, expected to be unveiled on March 7, at an Apple special event -- will drive sales of 55 million in 2012.
He says that, per his checks with (unnamed) industry sources, the iPad 3 will be a "significant" hardware update with a Retina Display, Siri voice recognition and 4G LTE connectivity. Wu believes the inclusion of 4G long-term evolution data connectivity will be the key feature.
The analyst says his sources say Apple has made "notable progress" in improving battery life with 4G LTE devices. Power consumption issues with the high-speed wireless standard have been an issue for some of the first LTE smartphones to hit the market.
Apple eyeing 14-inch MacBook Air for the Asian market?
Take this one with a grain of salt, but "DigiTimes" (http://macte.ch/5Owa4) says Apple is considering a 14-inch MacBook Air for the Asian market.
Currently, 14-inch panels are the mainstream specification of the Asia notebook market, while consumers in Western countries prefer 15-inch models, the article says. In the global market, 14-inch models have an about 20-25% market share, but in Asia, the market share is about 35-40%, an indication of Asia consumers' fondness for 14-inch models, unnamed "sources from the upstream supply chain" told "DigiTimes."
"The sources analyzed that Apple is currently turning its targets from North America and Europe, to Asia and is eyeing the China market as its major market since the company still has strong potential in the country," the article says. "The consideration of launching a 14-inch MacBook Air would be an indication the company will become even more aggressive about the China market."
Our take: Apple is certainly becoming more aggressive...
FileMaker Developer Conference to feature over 70 sessions
FileMaker, Inc (http://www.filemaker.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple, has announced schedule highlights for the FileMaker Developer Conference 2012 (http://www.filemaker.com/developers/devcon/), the largest annual gathering of worldwide FileMaker independent and corporate database developers, trainers and users. It will be held July 16-19 at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, Florida.
Attendees will see demonstrations by FileMaker staff and exhibitors and learn about creating custom FileMaker apps for the iPad and iPhone, building better databases and extending solutions to the web. In addition to increasing their technical expertise, developers can mingle and network with over 1,100 FileMaker enthusiasts from more than 35 countries during the four-day event.
Due to escalating demand for solutions that run on FileMaker Go, the business database app for iPad and iPhone, this year’s conference will offer attendees an expanded selection of FileMaker Go related sessions. The...
Apple posts MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update
Apple has released MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.8, which addresses a display flickering issue on the late 2008 15-inch MacBook Pro.
The update is for MacBook Pros running Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later -- IF they're running the latest or last updated versions of their respective operating systems. You can obtain the update via the Software Updates component of Mac OS X's Systems Preferences app.
StreamEZ is new wireless HDMI streaming kit
Warpia (http://www.Warpia.com) has announced the US$219.99 StreamEZ, a wireless HDMI streaming kit that allows users to wirelessly bring audio and video content to their HDTV via an HDMI output.
Users will be able to connect the StreamEZ to their computer or any device with an HDMI port such as cable/satellite boxes, Blu-ray/DVD players and game consoles to enjoy wireless high definition streaming, says Mike Walsh President of Warpia. For computer users, the StreamEZ allows any content such as videos, pictures, movies and presentations to be viewed via an uncompressed HDMI signal in full 1080p (1920 x1280) resolution.
Additional content from video streaming sites such as Hulu, Netflix, CinemaNow, YouTube and Amazon Video on Demand can also be streamed. In A/V applications such as Cable set top boxes or Blu-ray players, the unit will no longer need to be close to the HDTV; just plug the StreamEZ into the unit's HDMI output.
With the Mac, the StreamEZ requires a Mini Display Port to...
Eco Terra Boombox waterproofs your iPhone, iPod
Grace Digital (http://www.GraceDigital.com) has unveiled the submersible, waterproof and shock resistant Eco Terra Boombox for your smartphone or MP3 player.
It's IPX7 waterproof tested and approved, equipping your music with true 100% waterproof protection from rainstorms, ocean waves, pool parties or kayaking trips down the river, according to Grace Digital Audio CEO Greg Fadul. Eco Terra also floats, safeguarding your music player against a dip in the pool or a fall off the boat.
The internal waterproof casing houses your music player or smartphone, as well as some extra cash, credit cards, car key or driver’s license. The outside poly-carbonate shell with rubberized impact bumpers, fortifies your device and the boombox’s two three-inch, full-range forward firing speakers. Fully submersible, the Eco Terra also floats. When dropped into water the case will always rotate to point the speakers up, so there is no unwanted interruption while enjoying your tunes. (Not that we'd advise...
EaseUS Mac Data Recovery Wizard makes its debut
EaseUS Software, a provider of data recovery, partition manager and backup utilities, has launched its first Mac data recovery software solution.
EaseUS Mac Data Recovery Wizard provides Mac data recovery solution under Mac OS X 10.5 and higher. It has four different recovery options: Photo Recovery, Deleted File Recovery, Deep Scan Recovery, Lost Partition Recovery.
You can recover data from deleted, lost, formatted, and/or corrupted Mac hard drives and any other media storage device(s). You can preview your recovered photos, audio and videos. The EaseUS Mac Data Recovery Wizard supports HFS, HFS+, HFSX, HFS Wrapper and FAT file system.
There are three different versions: EaseUS Mac Photo Recovery Free (http://www.easeus.com/mac/mac-photo-recovery-free/), EaseUS Mac Data Recovery Wizard for $89.95 (http://www.easeus.com/mac/mac-data-recovery/), and EaseUS Mac Data Recovery Wizard Technician for unlimited usage for $399 (http://www.easeus.com/mac/mac-data-recovery-technician/).
NameFind ready for Mountain Lion
Code by Kevin has released NameFind 6.0, a fast file-search tool that is an alternative to Spotlight on Mac OS X (10.7 and higher). Of special note: the software has been withdrawn from the Mac App Store because of the forthcoming sandboxing requirements in OS X. It will be available exclusively from the the Code by Kevin website for US$9.99.
NameFind is designed to be an alternative to the Mac's built-in Spotlight search technology. It uses a different file search algorithm to find files, either on your entire hard drive or in a specific directory.
"In some cases, an application simply cannot function within the sandbox--its functionality requires access to a wider range of system resources than the sandbox allows. NameFind, an application that quickly searches your entire hard drive to find files matching a specific name, is such an application," says Kevin Walzer, lead developer of Code by Kevin. "If an application's core function cannot work in the sandbox, that makes...
Treehouse Labs grows BiKN for the iPhone
Treehouse Labs has announced the availability of the US$99.99 BiKN (pronounced "beacon") for the iPhone. It combines a radio-enabled smart case for iPhone driven by the myBiKN app and clip-on tags.
BiKN technology allows users to not only find tagged items, but for tagged items to help find the user’s iPhone, whether the phone is dead or in sleep mode. Additionally, if other friends or family members have a BiKN smart case, the group can create a network within which any of the users’ cases can find each other providing an answer to the question, "Have you seen my iPhone?"
The BiKN smart case can be configured to each user’s personal taste. People can choose either a black or bright-white gloss base case and pair it with one of six soft-touch, snap-on matte color highlights. The electronic-enabled base slides into the color piece accessing the iPhone 30-pin connector. The micro-USB port allows users to charge and sync the iPhone while in the BiKN smart case.
BiKN tags are designed...
MEWshop brings post-production training to NAB 2012
Manhattan Edit Workshop (MEWshop) has announced their participation in the NAB 2012 exhibition held in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 16-19.
Bringing their video and film training to the world's largest broadcast event, MEWship will offer training on Adobe Creative Suite, Apple Final Cut Pro X, Avid Media Composer, and Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve applications for free.
"The MEWshop Edit House at NAB is an extension of our training center which offers professional, certified training nationally on leading post-production technology," says Josh Apter, founder and president, Manhattan Edit Workshop. "However, we are offering more than just training at NAB 2012. We are offering editors, videographers and filmmakers a destination to come together, hear from their peers -- unwind and network right in the midst of the action on the show floor. The MEWshop Edit House will feature special presentations from creative notables, offer tons of cool prize giveaways, and host a pretty awesome happy...
Mac OS X software updates for Feb. 29
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps.
Smile has released TextExpander 3.4.1 (http://www.smilesoftware.com/TextExpander/), its customizable typing shortcut tool for Mac OS X. The update is signed with a Gatekeeper-friendly Developer ID from Apple, which is necessary for the recently-released OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) beta.
MacItBetter has announced BetterZip 2.2 (: http://macitbetter.com/), an update to their archiving solution for Mac OS X. Sporting a new user interface, it lets you quickly inspect archives without first extracting their contents.
Sprint to purchase $15.5 billion in iPhones
In its Sprint’s 10-K report -- as noted by "Barron's" (http://macte.ch/kSPs7) -- for the fiscal year ending in December, Sprint said its sales of Apple’s iPhone will cause its profit in wireless to decline this year, because of a higher average subsidy on the iPhone than for other mobile handsets. Still, it's planning on buying a lot more Apple smartphones.
During 2011, Spring entered into a purchase commitment with Apple to purchase a minimum number of smartphones, which on average, is expected to carry a higher subsidy per unit than other smartphones the telecom sell. Sprint said it has an obligation to purchase at least US$15.5 billion worth of iPhones from Apple under their agreement, and said it expects to purchase more than that:
"In September 2011, we entered into a four year commitment with Apple, Inc. to purchase a minimum number of smartphones, which on average, are expected to carry a higher subsidy per unit than other smartphones we sell," Sprint says in its 10-K report...
iYogi Insights: 33% of parents willing to buy their kids an iPad
Despite the price tag and debate surrounding this iPad, the latest research conducted by iYogi Insight -- based on a survey of 2,000 customers -- found that 33% parents are willing to buy or have already bought their children iPads. The study also shows that parents are willing to let kids spend an average of US$14 a month and at least two hours on the device every day.
However, there is still a reluctant majority of 67% parents who aren't willing to buy an iPad for their children. Of these, 67.2% would rather buy them a computer/laptop/netbook and 26.5% are ready to buy a Kindle. A significant 34% of the unconvinced are concerned that owning iPad will keep their children from making more friends, and 50% believe that their kids are better off playing outdoors.
However, iYogi says that Apple’s strategy of entering the home via school and through making learning fun is likely to pay dividends as:
° 92% of the parents who are all for the iPad approve of its use as a homework tool...
NewerTech expands Guardian MAXimus RAID 1 to 4TB capacity
Newer Technology (http://www.newertech.com) has expanded the storage capacity of its Guardian MAXimus desktop storage solution line to 4B. By utilizing two 3.5-inch, 4TB SATA 6Gb/s hard drive in a hardware RAID 1 (mirror) array, the Guardian MAXimus storage solution delivers 33 percent more storage/backup capacity per each of the installed drives over current 3TB hard drives, the company says.
With up to a "quad interface"of FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 3.0, and eSATA connections, the Guardian MAXimus line offers plug and play data transfer speeds up to 300MB/second with Mac and PC computers. It allows full data accessibility to protect users against system downtime. If a user experiences a drive issue, the affected drive need only be replaced with the same type of drive while the user continues to work and Guardian MAXimus automatically rebuilds the mirror by writing the contents of the remaining original functional drive to the replacement drive.
The new 4TB hard drives built...
Apple to hold iPad 3 event on March 7
Apple has sent out a press invitation to certain media outlets announcing a special event for 10 am (Pacific), Wednesday, March 7. It's almost certainly to announce the iPad 3.
The invitation reads: "Please join us for an invitation-only event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco on March 7 at 10:00 a.m. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Please arrive early."
The kicker line on the invitation is "We have something you really have to see. And touch."
Apple working on new streaming audio format?
Apple is working on a new audio file format that will offer "adaptive streaming" to provide high- or low-quality files to users of its iCloud service, reports "The Guardian" (http://macte.ch/qxRrV).
The new format could mean that users can get "high-definition" audio by downloading to an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, the article adds. Or Apple\t could offer a streaming service -- like that of Lala.com, the music streaming and online storage company that Apple bought in 2009 -- according to "The Guardian."
The new system would purportedly adjust itself to the bandwidth and storage available on the receiving device. "The Guardian" says Apple is expected to use the new file type to upgrade its iTunes Match service, which allows users to re-download music from iCloud to their Apple devices.
Apple rolls out Developer ID program
Apple’s developers have now been introduced to the company’s new Developer ID program, and have been asked to ready their applications in anticipation of the program’s launch, reports "Technology Tell" (http://macte.ch/Z7bEw). The Developer ID system allows Apple to distribute certificates to registered developers which they can sign their apps with in order to avoid being blocked by Gatekeeper, the article adds.
Gatekeeper is a new security feature in Mountain Lion that, according to Apple, gives you control over which apps can be downloaded and installed on your Mac. You can choose to install apps from any source, just as you do on a Mac today, or you can use the safer default setting to install apps from the Mac App Store, along with apps from developers that have a unique Developer ID from Apple. For maximum security, you can set Gatekeeper to only allow apps from the Mac App Store to be downloaded and installed.
Mac business sales grow 51%
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- Needham & Company analyst Charles Wolf says Mac business sales grew 50.9% at the end of 2011, outpacing Apple's market leading overall growth in Mac sales.
He adds that that sales in the business market represented 20.5% of total Mac sales in the December quarter. However, business sales accounted for 34.9% of year-over-year total shipment growth for the Mac platform.
"AppleInsider" says Apple has 2.9% of total business computer sales worldwide, more than double its share of 1.3% in the first quarter of 2010. However, Apple's presence in the enterprise is even greater in the U.S., hitting 5.8% in the December quarter, up from 3.1% in the first quarter of 2010.
'Project Phenix' launched to advance digital ownership...
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, SanDisk (http://www.sandisk.com), and Western Digital (http://www.wd.com) have revealed "Project Phenix" (a working title), an initiative designed to give consumers an easier and faster way to organize, store and move their high definition digital movies and TV shows -- including new releases in up to full 1080p quality - across multiple devices.
In addition to local storage, the content will also be backed up via the UltraViolet industry standard as well as other cloud-based services. The project is being developed by the newly formed Secure Content Storage Association (SCSA). \
Established as an LLC, this coalition's goal is to create and license solutions that secure high definition and other premium copyright-protected content on local and portable hard drives, and flash memory products such as USB flash drives, SD cards and solid state disk drives (SSDs). Once content is downloaded to a hard drive...
iPeekCam is live surveillance App for Mac OS X
Sheng Apps has released iPeekCam, a live surveillance app for Mac OS X (10.6 or later) and its related web portal. It costs US$9.99 and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Video category.
iPeekCam turns your Mac's webcams into a wireless security camera station. Point your computer's webcam into the area you're interested in. From the company's free web portal, you can view your home live from anywhere in the world using a web browser. iPeekCam supports security features such as motion detection, night vision, automatic recording, email and DVR.
It provides a professional grade security camera solution using your existing computers, mobile devices, and network, according to the folks at Sheng Apps. There's no additional hardware to purchase or install.
Romeister sport clip available for the iPhone 4/4S
iPhone 4 and 4s owners now have a way to keep their iPhone hooked to their pocket, belt or whatever with the US$29 Rokmeister sport clip from Rokform. It's designed specifically for the $39 Rokbed 3 case
"Our customers have been requesting a way to secure an iPhone inside their pocket so they could have fast access to it," says Joel Albrecht, R&D director of Rokform. "Our clip and attachment design allows for quick easy access, security and versatility without the bulk of a traditional belt mount, and as a bonus we integrated a bottle opener right into the clip."
Designed, manufactured and assembled in the USA, the Rokmeister boasts a machined Billet 6061 T-6 aluminum mount and stainless steel clip. It has a low profile design and integrates with an anti-slip grip and optional magnet kit.
Plustek scanner scans to the cloud
Plustek (http:www.plustek.com/usa) has launched the US$160 MobileOffice S410 portable USB-powered scanner. It converts paper documents, rigid embossed cards, expense reports, business cards and more to searchable PDF with the touch of a button in six pages per minute, according to Mark Druziak, Plustek’s director of marketing and business development.
The MobileOffice S410 can scan documents to Evernote and photos to Google Picasa by pressing a button. The included document management and Optical Character Recognition software suite allows for scanning and management of documents. Druziak says that DocAction single touch scanning and industry standard TWAIN drivers ensure compatibility with thousands of scanning and imaging programs including: document management, healthcare electronic medical records, financial, and thousands of other image enabled applications.
The built in automatic image processing enables the scanning of mixed sized documents with no adjustments. Images are...
MEI integrates ad-layout products with QuarkXPress 9
Managing Editor Inc. (http://www.maned.com) has released new XTensions that allow its ad-layout solutions to work with QuarkXPress 9.
MEI’s flagship Page Director Advertising Layout System (ALS) for magazines and AdForce handle issue creation and advertising layout for newspapers and magazines. These ad layouts can then be opened in QuarkXPress for editing and output. MEI also offers Plug-Ins that connect its ad-layout solutions with Adobe InDesign.
With ALS XT, QuarkXPress users can import all ALS and AdForce issue information, including issue size, ad file paths and other placement details, plus folios, to a Quark document. FiFi (short for “Find Files”) XT finds and links ad files that weren't available during the initial import, and also hunts down missing, misnamed or misplaced ads to complete the publication.
ALS XT 9 and FiFi XT 9 are available free to customers who participate in MEI’s Ad Layout and FiFi Premium Site Support Agreement program. Other customers should contact...
Mac OS X software updates for Feb. 28
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps.
Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has announced Output Factory 1.1, a feature update to its solution to automate output from Adobe InDesign. The new version introduces actions -- workflow sequences that run automatically and let users output InDesign files to multiple formats with just a click of a button.
Kinemac (http://www.kinemac.com/products/kinemac), 3D animation software for Mac OS X, has been revved to version 1.9. The free upgrade features improvements, new features and bug fixes.
Apple, Google sued over mapping technology
A company called PanoMap Technologies is suing Apple and Google for patent violation, reports "paidContent.org" (http://macte.ch/wbqBP). The patent involves an "interactive system for displaying detailed view and direction in panoramic images.”
PanoMap says the use of the Google Maps “Street View” feature in the iPad and iPhone violates said patent. The Street View function of Google Maps allows users to see a photograph of locations like houses or street corners.
PanoMap says both Apple and Google should pay triple damages because they knew about the patent but ignored it. As proof, the company claims that Apple visited a website that displayed the patent in 2007 while Google cited the ‘529 patent in a recent patent application of its own, reports "paidContent.org."
Proview: Apple was 'deceptive' in acquiring the iPad...
China-based Proview Technology has accused Apple of "deception" in the way it acquired rights to the iPad name, reports the "BBC" (http://macte.ch/Qax1g). In Californian court filings, Proview claims Apple created a UK-registered "special purpose company," IP Application Development Ltd (IPADL).
The court papers allege that IPADL said the trademark was needed because "it is an abbreviation for the company name." Proview is seeking damages and to void a 2009 deal in which it sold its rights to the trademark for US$55,000 (£35,000). The "BBC" reports that, a month after that deal, the court documents note, Apple launched the iPad.
Last week, Proview filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara County that brings their legal dispute to Silicon Valley. The legal brouhaha has now gone international.
Apple has threatened to take legal action against the Chinese tech firm known as Provide Techonlogy for inflaming an ongoing dispute over the iPad trademark. For more info go to http://macte.ch/mGgLH .
Pyle announces five-speaker iOS sound bar docking system
Pyle (http://www.PyleAudio.com) has announced its iOS Sound Bar Docking System (PSBM60I) featuring one 5.25-inch woofer, two 3-inch full range speakers and two 1-inch tweeters. The built-in FM stereo features autosearch functionality and 20 presets for access to your favorite tunes.
Powered via the included AC plug, the iOS Sound Bar Docking System can also charge iPod, iPhone and iPad while simultaneously delivering 300 watts of amazing sound. It comes with a special iPad stand to keep the touch screen device stable when docked.
The front panel contains system controls, including volume, input, mute and standby. Users can also control functions using the included battery powered remote (AAA included), which can also control tuning and bass, among others.
The iOS Sound Bar Docking System comes with a 3.5 mm mini cable for connecting to additional sound sources like computers or MP3 players. You can even enhance the audio of existing TVs or DVD players by connecting the included RCA...
VibeStationLE comes to the Mac App Store
VRSonic has released flagship 3D sound design software, VibeStationLE, on Apple's Mac App Store. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and costs US$79.99/
VibeStationLE is designed for sound designers, musicians, DJs, as well as virtual environment developers who need to create 3D and surround sound content for their projects. With its 3D sound canvas users can create dynamic sound environments simply by dragging objects onto the scene.
These can be audio sources from sound files and mic or line inputs, room geometry that creates physically based reverb and occlusion effects, as well as path motion animation. Designers can control every aspect of how the sound is rendered by manipulating a set of parameters for each object.
VibeStationLE is completely interactive so designers can audition their scene as they're editing it. For live applications, VibeStationLE provides an Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol that allows users to control every aspect of the audio scene by sending OSC...
At least some Ivy Bridge chips to be delayed
An Intel exec has confirmed delays in Ivy Bridge chips by 8-10 weeks -- although it is still unclear exactly which processors the delay applies to and how this will affect Apple.
Sean Maloney, executive vice-president of Intel and chairman of Intel China, tells "The Financial Times" (http://macte.ch/K5eUa) that at least some of the processors have been pushed from an April to June debut. He said the adjustment was not caused by a lack of demand but came because of the new manufacturing process needed to make the smaller chips.
However, "The Financial Times" says Intel is still sticking its official plans to start shipping Ivy Bridge in the second quarter. Will Apple be among the first to get the chips? Can Mac users can expect Ivy Bridge for updates to their Macs closer to April or June? Stay tuned ....
