Luxology announces imageSynth 2
Luxology, an independent technology company developing 3D content
creation software, has released imageSynth 2, the newest version of
its image processing tool. It offers up to 10 times faster
performance, and is now available in both a standalone version and as
a plug-in for Adobe Creative Suite 4.
The imageSynth software allows users to create a new synthetic image
based on areas of interest that are identified in one or more source
images. imageSynth can handle a range of image subjects, and is
especially useful when working with "noisy" images such as crowds or
beach pebbles, says Brad Peebler, president and co-founder of
Luxology. The royalty-free images that imageSynth creates are
derivations and will tile together seamlessly, making them ideal for
use as backgrounds, brushes or texture maps, he adds.
ImageSynth 2 sports a new algorithm is threaded for use on dual-core
systems. It also offers improved memory management that enables
handling of larger scenes and has new control...
QuickerTek releases MacBook External Battery/Charger
QuickerTek has announced the US$449.95 MacBook External
Battery/Charger
(http://www.quickertek.com/products/macbook_air_charger.php) for the
15-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook laptops. It either charges or powers
MacBooks with up to 10 additional hours of computing power.
QuickerTek built MagSafe compatibility into the product, says
President Rick Estes. "We use the regular MagSafe connectors coming
out from the Battery/Charger, so you don't have to do anything
different," he adds.
While the stock MacBook Pro recharges in five hours using the AC wall
adapter, the MacBook Pro External Battery/Charger purportedly
recharges in only three hours. It uses a Li-ion Polymer battery,
measures 9 x 6 x 1 inches and weighs five pounds.
Marware releases new iPod cases
Marware (http://www.marware.com) has announced several new iPod
cases. One is the US$24.95 Glide (pictured) is designed to be a
pocket, bag or purse case and works with both the new iPod touch 2G
and the original touch.
The Glide is a textured leather case with microfiber interior and
Velcro closure system. It sports a built-in, recessed pull-tab for
iPod retrieval and includes a leather sleeve, clear protective film,
and microfiber cleaning cloth.
The $34.95 Sportsuit Convertible for the 2G iPod touch is a
three-in-one case. Its multidapt system offers use as an armband,
belt clip, or low profile sleeve. The Sportsuit Convertible has a
Lycra and Orca-skin construction. Clear vinyl protects the screen,
and the case offers access to all touch functionality. It comes with
a Multidapt base, armband, belt clip, and key pocket.
Marware has also released a version of the Sportsuit Convertible for
the fourth gen iPod nano. It costs US$29.99.
Toolbox for Leopard adds Light block
Opcoders has updated Toobox (http://toolboxapp.com/) -- a visual
programming tool that enables the combination of bitmaps, vector
graphics and effects into digital art -- to version 0.8.2. A new
Light block has been added that has 12 parameters. The ight block
accepts up to four inputs for fine grained control of ambient,
diffuse and specular.
Toolbox's modeless vector editor allows for a realtime feedback
experience while drawing and manipulating shapes, according to the
folks at Opcoders. You can start by drawing any vector shape, then
try out different shape filters, merge with other shapes, and finally
do post-processing with bitmap filters. Vector tagging is
Toolbox'automated selection mechanism. Each shape or point can be
tagged for further processing, mounting of other shapes and
controlling the softening of edges.
Toolbox 0.8.2 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher. The software costs
approximately US$30 for a single user license.
(I)"Macsimum News" is a proud supporter of (a
href...
Scosche Industries unveils line of iPhone, iPod accessories
Scosche Industries (http://www.scosche.com) has announced its latest
cases, chargers, in-vehicle mounting devices and home integration
systems developed specifically for the iPhone 3G and Apple's newest
iPod models. Among the products are a line of protective cases.
Scosche's IP3GC clear case has an integrated kickstand for widescreen
viewing and rubber traction cleats to protect the phone and case from
scratches. Each product also has a laminate screen protector, and the
rubber corners of the case are flush with the curved corners of the
phone to prevent any feeling of bulkiness, according to Kas Alves,
vice president, sales and marketing, Scosche Industries. This
specialized iPhone 3G and iPod case is also available in pink, in
addition to the standard clear option. Additional iPhone 3G cases
include: IP3GSC, a clear case and silicone skin two-pack; IP3GS, a
clear silicone skin; and IP3GSP, a pink silicone skin.
Scosche has developed new car chargers that allow consumers to...
Fretlight Interactive Guitar Learning System for the Mac is
Optek Music Systems (http://www.fretlight.com), a company dedicated
to the development of interactive musical instruments and software,
has announced a solution for Mac users that are also struggling
guitar players. The company has released a version of the Fretlight
Lesson Player software for the Mac.
It comes with 30 interactive beginner lessons, MIDI play-along tracks
and MP3 files for learning how to play the guitar. The Fretlight
Lesson Player for Mac works in conjunction with Fretlight, a series
of guitars that feature LED lights that are embedded in the guitar's
fretboard. These lights signify finger placement, illuminating notes,
chords and scales. Purchasers of a Fretlight guitar will now have the
option of choosing Lesson Player for the Mac or for the PC.
Fretlight Lesson Player is a universal platform that consists of
individual lessons. Once individuals move beyond the complimentary
initial 30 beginner lessons, which covers everything from how to hold
the guitar to tuning...
DAZ 3D, GoFigure launch aniMate plug-in for DAZ Studio
Playing with blocks isn't just for kids anymore. The aniMate plug-in
for DAZ Studio, which allows artists to animate 3D characters through
drag and drop animation modules called aniBlocks, which blend into
any DAZ Studio project.
Created by GoFigure, producer of viral applications for Internet,
computer and mobile social networks, and DAZ 3D, developers of 3D
software and models, aniMate offers an extremely easy approach to
building animation sequences that is ideal for beginners, yet capable
of producing professional results, says Dan Farr, president and
co-founder of DAZ 3D.
Using aniBlocks, animated behaviors such as dancing, walking,
fighting and gesturing are dragged from the aniBlock library and
dropped into the animation timeline, blending automatically to any 3D
character within DAZ Studio. Behavior lengths may be set and modified
in real-time by pulling the edge of the aniBlock. Upon purchase,
aniMate comes equipped with a library of aniBlocks, while additional
aniBlocks may...
First Class Flurry game released for the Mac
Viqua Games has released First Class Flurry for Mac OS X. It's a new
time-management casual game that lets players experience the job of a
flight attendant as they help bring a bankrupt airline back to the
top of the airline industry.
In First Class Flurry, players control the airline's top flight
attendant Claire as she attends to the needs of passengers. The
in-game tasks are what you'd expect for a flight attendant including
activities such as serving drinks, preparing meals, handing out
pillows, and helping passengers find their seats.
The game begins with Claire working in Economy Class and then
advancing to Business Class, First Class and beyond. As players play
through all five classes in the game, they will meet more than 20
different types of passengers, many of which provide new twists to
the game. 'We tried to make each passenger type add something new to
the gameplay. ' said Chanon Sajjamanochai, the game's producer.
A free trial of First Class Flurry for Mac and...
FairCom releases c-treeACE Professional
FairCom Corp., a provider of database technology, has released the
latest generation of their database development toolkit, c-treeACE
Professional, in conjunction with new releases of their c-treeACE
database servers. This release marks a debut of enhanced productivity
tools, a full featured ADO .NET Data Provider and numerous new
deployment options.
c-treeACE (Advanced Core Engine) is designed to increase the
productivity of development teams by offering a shorter learning
curve, an assortment of productivity enhancing tools, and a multitude
of application programming interface technologies. Based on FairCom's
c-tree database engine, c-treeACE offers a solution that the company
says allows developers to be up and running in a matter of minutes.
c-treeACE Professional (formerly the c-tree Plus Professional
Edition), designed for the experienced c-tree developer, offers a
database solution for sophisticated applications. c-treeACE
Professional provides a range of development options to...
InstantAction now available for Mac gamers
InstantAction, the web site for gamers that combines the intensity of
videogames with the accessibility of the web, announced the
introduction of the InstantAction open beta for Mac OS X users. Mac
gamers can register and play Rokkitball, Marble Blast Online, Think
Tanks and the new FPS, Fallen Empire: Legions at
http://www.instantaction.com/mac.
"Mac gamers have always been underserved by the games industry," says
Andy Yang, general manager of InstantAction.com. "We plan to infuse
the large Apple community with console quality games playable at work
and at home through their laptops or desktops."
InstantAction will also allow cross platform compatibility between
Mac and PC users. Players from either operating system can join the
same game and battle each other. InstantAction makes challenging
friends as simple as instant messaging a link, taking all the
complicated matchmaking out of the process. The site offers an
entirely new way to "hang out" with friends by allowing you to...
Escape Studios launches new online learning tool
Students now have access to training in Autodesk Maya at the click of
a mouse, with the launch of Escape Studios' computer graphics (CG)
online learning tool. It's designed for a wide range of students --
from beginners to seasoned production professionals.
For more information on Escape's Maya Core online courseware, or to
access two-and-a-half hours of free 3D tutorials and courseware,
please visit http://www.escapestudios.com/en_GB/school/maya-core.html
"Training the next generation of CG creative's via the internet is a
very exciting development for us and for the industry," says Dominic
Davenport, founder and CEO of Escape Studios. "When people learn
things the right way from the start, as they do in our program, they
are prepared for any production challenges they might face."
Escape's online training program is designed to be both flexible and
robust allowing entry-level students or those wanting to re-train to
learn in their own time and at their own pace, and receive instant...
HSC Edit for Aperture revved to version 1.5
Human Software (http://www.humansoftware.com) has updated HSC Edit
for Aperture (Apple's software for pro photographers) to version 1.5.
HSC Edit is an edit plug-in to Apple Aperture that offers more than
4,000 effects to apply on one or a set of images.
Version 1.5 is now made of 15 modules that can be purchased
separately or as a whole. HSC Edit also now features high quality
image resizing without leaving Aperture.
HSC Edit 1.5 is available for download at US$69.95 per module, 29.95
for the Multi-Curves module and 49.95 for the image enhancer or
$299.95 as a bundle.
Native Instruments releases REAKTOR ANIMATED CIRCUITS
Native Instruments has just released REAKTOR ANIMATED CIRCUITS, a new
KORE SOUNDPACK that explores the world of complex self-generating
soundscapes, textures and rhythms. Powered by several highly advanced
REAKTOR-based sound generators including the innovative "Spiral"
sequencer, REAKTOR ANIMATED CIRCUITS provides a literally endless
resource of unique atmospheric sound material for various electronic
music styles, movie and game scoring, art projects, and more.
The sonic arsenal of REAKTOR ANIMATED CIRCUITS is based on 200
carefully designed KoreSounds that take advantage of the unparalleled
capabilities of the REAKTOR engine embedded in KORE 2 and the free
KORE PLAYER. The unconventional REAKTOR sound generators "Newscool",
"Metaphysical Function", "Spacedrone" and "Skrewell" are utilized to
produce deep, constantly fluctuating soundscapes that range from dark
to meditative and from moody to abstract.
REAKTOR ANIMATED CIRCUITS also introduces the new sequencing
instrument "Spiral...
GiantCrayon Games releases GiantCrayon SudokuArcade
GiantCrayon Games releases GiantCrayon SudokuArcade, a game that
combines falling blocks, a ticking clock and the brain puzzles of
Sudoku.
"We're incredibly excited," says Tim Goggin, vice president, Sales &
Marketing for GiantCrayon Games. "You can play this falling block
game using your arrow keys of course. But newer MacBook and MacBook
Pro notebook computers have special chips designed to protect the
hard drive in the event of a sudden drop. We use this sudden motion
sensor to read the computer's physical movements through the air."
Users can move the falling Sudoku blocks by lifting their Mac
notebooks to the left, the right, forwards and backwards. GiantCrayon
SudokuArcade works on Mac OS X 10.5.x ("Leopard") and retails for
$9.95.
More information and a downloadable demo about the GiantCrayon
SudokuArcade can be found at
http://www.giantcrayon.com/product_detail.php?prodid=48
23 Launches Visualblog, a photo/video blogging tool
23 is introducing Visualblog (http://www.visualblog.net/f), a new
hosted blogging service that allows you to "have a photo/video blog
up and running in minutes and push-button easy publishing of your
photos/videos with one click."
It allows you your own domain, your own design, and control over the
user experience. Features include: support for slideshows, tags,
calendar and embedding; support for RSS, trackbacks, spam monitoring,
etc.; multiple authors for group blogging; visual comments; and the
ability to do mobile uploads from your mobile phone.
Pricing plans for Visualblog run from US$15-150 dollars per month. A
30-day free trial is available from 23.
PDO ships Sleek Crystal Case for iPhone 3G, announces cases for
PDO (http://www.pdostore.com ) is releasing the US$24.99 Sleek
Crystal Case for the iPhone 3G. It's a hard protective case made of
clear polycarbonate material that features press-thru rubber covers
for the power button and volume switch.
The earphone jack and dock connector are also protected with rubber
inserts that can be opened for access to the ports. The two-piece
Sleek snaps together to form a tight fit. The entire front, except
for the screen and home button is covered by the Sleek. The iPhone
screen can be protected using the included film screen protector.
PDO announced similar Sleek Crystal Cases for the 2G iPod touch and
4G iPod nano. The iPod touch model will sell for $24.99, while
the iPod nano model will sell for $19.99. Both will be available in
mid-October.
PDO has also announced the TopSkin line of silicone cases for the new
iPod touch and iPod nano. The TopSkin for iPod Touch covers the
entire device except for the screen and sensor. The dock connector
and...
Big Nerd Ranch Europe offers iPhone Bootcamp in December
Boost your iPhone Apps with iPhone Bootcamp in
Frankfurt, December 8-12, 2008 Big Nerd Ranch
Europe, premier provider of week-long, intensive
training classes for programmers, web developers
and system administrators, announces an
additional new date for its leading iPhone
Bootcamp. December 8-12, 2008 is the next
opportunity to learn iPhone development from
scratch at the distraction free environment of
Kloster Eberbach, near Frankfurt, Germany.
After the first European iPhone Bootcamp sold out
within just weeks after being scheduled, Big Nerd
Ranch Europe meets the high demand with two new
iPhone training classes. The second new class
date is February 9-13, 2009.
Students signing up at least five weeks before
the class starts apply for the early bird price
and save Euro 200.
Since its release in 2007 the iPhone created an
immense interest in the new mobile device and a
desire on the part of innovative developers and
companies to begin creating applications for it.
With the new...
65bit Software announces InDesign CS4 compatibility
65bit Software (http://www.65bit.com) has announced that their
products will be available for InDesign CS4 when it begins shipping
later this year. The latest EasyCatalog module, the Relational
Module, will also be available for InDesign CS4.
The Relational Module allows users to work with data sources of
almost unlimited complexity within EasyCatalog and can be used to
connect to relational databases such as MySQL or Microsoft SQL
Server, says Mark Haden, Director of 65bit Software.
EasyCatalog provides two-way, linking of data from a CSV file, XML
structure or ODBC database to text or images in InDesign documents.
If the source data changes -- such as last-minute price updates --
all fields in the document can be updated automatically.
EasyCatalog also offers semi-automatic and automatic creation (using
the optional Pagination Module) of structured documents. EasyCatalog
is available for InDesign CS, CS2, CS3 and CS4. The CS2, CS3 and CS4
versions are localized in English, French...
Sonnet announces 802.1n wireless PCI adapter card
Sonnet Technologies has released the US$99.95 Aria Extreme N PCI
802.11n wireless PCI card
(http://www.sonnettech.com/product/ariaextremenpci.html), which
delivers draft 802.11n wireless network connectivity to Power Mac G5,
Power Mac G4, and Windows desktop computers with an available PCI or
PCI-X slot. It's backward compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g routers
and other equipment.
Draft 802.11n networking offers enhanced performance compared to
802.11g, the previous wireless network standard. When used in 802.11n
networks, Aria Extreme N PCI can purportedly achieve up to 2.5 times
the speed and twice the range than when used in an 802.11g network.
Sonnet's Aria Extreme N PCI features three antennas (2TX/3RX) to
maximize its performance with 802.11n routers that also feature
multiple radios and antennas.
802.11n devices utilize MIMO (multiple input, multiple output)
technology that enables multiple concurrent data stream transmission,
and provides enough bandwidth to allow...
GeoEdu is new educational game for the Mac
Benoit Kaisin, a Mac software specialist in
databases, has launched GeoEdu
(http://www.geoedu.info), software that generates
more than 90.000 questions on the basis of an
Atlas he developed by gathering thousands of data
including the populations from 2000 to 2008 and
the member states of international organizations.
He drew all the interactive maps of the
continents and territories which can be
countries, dependencies, divisions and even
sub-levels territories such as atolls, islands,
communes, etc. Kaisin says his objective is to
propose an educational game to:
° Families, parents who would like their children
to play a game while learning more about this
global world they live in;
° Adults who would like to search for information
on the worldwide geography in the atlas and test
or improve their knowledge by playing the game;
° Schools who would like to use a software to teach geography.
To play the game, the user chooses the
continent(s) and the topics for the questions
among...
Deadbeat Software ships The Tagger 1.0
Deadbeat Software has released The Tagger 1.0
(http://getthetagger.com/), an MP3 and AAC tag editor for Mac OS X.
It supports batch editing of audio files and supports a wider range
of ID3 tags than iTunes and other editors, making it possible to
catalog one's music with more information than ever before, according
to the folks at Deadbeat.
iles are selected for editing using the built-in file browser and
changes are saved instantly. The Tagger boasts a variety of features
for streamlining tag editing. Built-in tools can change the case of
individual tags, trim tags, or add and remove prefixes and suffixes.
The Tagger also features a multi-file Find and Replace tool that can
search using regular expressions.
The Tagger can search for and retrieve tag information from
Discogs.com, a community-built music database with listings for over
one million artists. The Tagger also supports multiple artwork images
for each file and can delete the personal information hidden inside
iTunes Plus...
QuVIS, Paragon partner to help digital cinema content...
Paragon Software Group
(http://www.paragon-software.com/), which makes
Mac cross-platform technology, has announced that
QuVIS (http://), a provider of high fidelity
motion imaging technology, has selected its
Universal File System Driver (UFSD) technology to
embed within their new Wraptor DCP (Digital
Cinema Package) mastering plug-in for Apple Final
Cut Studio.
Paragon's technology fulfills the
high-performance requirements for creating a
digital cinema content distribution hard drive
according to the DCI (Digital Cinema Initiative)
specifications by enabling a Mac with Wraptor and
Final Cut Studio to:
° Create a Linux ext2/3 File System partition on
a USB2.0 external hard drive suitable for use as
a DCI-compliant distribution hard drive;
° Verify the integrity of the ext2/3 File System partition;
° Write a clear-text (unencrypted) or
AES-encrypted DCP, created using Wraptor, to the
distribution hard drive using a file system
format that's universally supported by all major
digital...
Apple Drops iPhone NDA
From http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/
We have decided to drop the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for released
iPhone software.
We put the NDA in place because the iPhone OS includes many Apple
inventions and innovations that we would like to protect, so that others
don't steal our work. It has happened before. While we have filed for
hundreds of patents on iPhone technology, the NDA added yet another level
of protection. We put it in place as one more way to help protect the
iPhone from being ripped off by others.
However, the NDA has created too much of a burden on developers, authors
and others interested in helping further the iPhone's success, so we are
dropping it for released software. Developers will receive a new agreement
without an NDA covering released software within a week or so. Please note
that unreleased software and features will remain under NDA until they are
released.
Thanks to everyone who provided us constructive feedback on this matter.
Ekim Software ships BuildMate 1.0
Ekim Software (http://www.ekimsoftware.com) is shipping BuildMate
1.0, a free, cross-platform build process automation tool for
REALbasic projects. It allows you to set properties and constants in
a project with static and dynamic values from the build configuration
file, moving the resulting built applications to a builds directory.
Many different situations, like running a schedule to perform nightly
builds to reducing a complicated build process down to a single
command, can benefit from the use of BuildMate, therefore saving
developers a lot of time. The app lets you: build multiple projects
from a single configuration file; set constant and property values
before building; copy resource files into your built application
package; replace the Info.plist file with your own in a Mac built;
and move built applications into a builds direction when complete. It
offers cross-platform configuration files, and the build can be fully
automated.
iTask for Mac OS X updated to version 2.5
echno-Grafik eU (http://www.itaskx.com) has released iTaskX 2.5, an
update of the project management solution. The new version offers a
number of new features and improvements like, opening native
Microsoft Project files in the .mpp format, multiple task splits, new
interface, improved support for Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard') and more.
iTask 2.5 is a free update for current users. For new users the cost
is US$112 for a single-user license.
Intelli introduces Barcode Automator for Mac OS X
Intelli Innovations has introduced Barcode Automator
(http://www.intellisw.com/barcodeproducer/), giving designers, small
businesses, and inventory control specialists the ability to create
thousands of barcodes at once. It's a plug-in for Barcode Producer,
the Mac OS X (10.4 and higher) barcode creation tool.
Barcode Producer and the Barcode Automator plug-in let you create a
barcode; simply select the type from the interactive Symbology Guide
barcode encyclopedia, then customize the barcode with a live preview
and finishing tools like borders, colors, and scaling. Barcode
Automator gives users the option to make sequential or custom
barcodes in any quantity, outputting EPS, TIFF, or PDF images.
Finished barcodes are ready for use in third-party graphics
applications like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. The
Barcode Automator plug-in is US $299. A license to Barcode Producer
5.0 or later ($199.00) is required for use
Congress+ released for iPhone, iPod touch
Congress In Your Pocket
(http://www.congressinyourpocket.com/about.cfm) has released
Congress+, an iPhone/iPod touch app that offers info on US
Congressmen (and women), including their contact info, full committee
assignments and more.
Congress+ is directed at voters and political professionals who want
to have information about Congress at all times during this campaign
season and throughout the next session. This special version includes
yearly updates in 2009 and 2010.
It costs US$9.99 and is available at the Apple App Store.
Griffin Technology releases new iPod cases
Griffin Technology
(http://www.griffintechnology.com) has expanded
its line of cases for Apple's new iPod nano 4G
and iPod touch 2G. Griffin has introduced Elan
Form, FlexScreen, Reflect and iClear with Belt
Clip and Armband for the new iPod models.
Griffin's latest additions to its iPod case
collection include:
° Elan Form with EasyDock (US$29.99): Elan Form
is a hard-shell leather case that snaps snugly
around your iPod and offers triple protection in
a slim, no-clip design. It bonds top-grain
leather to hard-shell polycarbonate material,
encasing your iPod nano 4G or iPod touch 2G in
two layers of protection. A screen protector is
included to keep your multi-touch display free of
smudges and dust. Elan Form incorporates
Griffin's EasyDock design, allowing convenience
in docking your iPod without removing the case.
Elan Form will be available for iPod nano 4G and
iPod touch 2G.
° FlexScreen ($24.99): FlexScreen covers the
entire face of your iPod nano 4G with a
crystal-clear,...
eMedia Music to distribute iZotope iDrum
eMedia Music Corp. (http://www.emediamusic.com) and iZotope have
announced an agreement for eMedia to distribute iZotope's new iDrum
1.7 Virtual Drum Machine software. Version 1.7 is a customizable,
expandable virtual drum machine. It includes an enormous sound
library and allows you to add your own sounds.
iDrum can be used on its own or with GarageBand, Logic, Abelton Live,
Pro Tools, SONAR, Cubase, Digital Performer and other host programs.
New for version 1.7 of iDrum is the ability to create rhythms in
different time signatures -- 4/4, 3/4, 5/4, 6/8, 9/8 and beyond. You
can even share your sounds and beats with iDrum Editions for iPhone
and iPod touch.
iDrum 1.7 will be released in October and be available at computer
and music retail stores nationwide at an estimated retail price of
US$59.95. The CD-ROM is a hybrid for both Mac OS X (10.4 or later)
and Windows (XP/Vista).
EditShare releases Flow and XStream
EditShare (http://www.editshare.com) has released Flow and XStream.
The former is an acquisition solution that captures in one format and
simultaneously outputs to multiple formats including Apple ProRes 422
and Avid DNxHD as well as low-res proxy formats.
Features include multi-channel ingest with independent control over
each channel, full metadata capture, and edit-while-recording
capabilities. All EditShare Flow systems are ready for EditShare's
forthcoming Universal Media File technology, which creates a single
media file that can be used in both Avid and Final Cut Pro editing
environments. Universal Media File support will ship in a free
upgrade to Flow 1.0 customers later this year.
The EditShare Flow Browse application is designed to simplify and
accelerate media searches within the EditShare storage environment.
Users can locate media among hundreds of thousands of clips.
EditShare Flow Browse supports proxy viewing outside the nonlinear
editing application for optimal...
Gene Construction Kit receives an upgrade
Textco BioSoftware has released an enhanced
version of their DNA plasmid mapping software,
Gene Construction Kit (GCK 3.0). Included among
the enhancements in GCK 3.0 are three brand new
modules:
° The new PCR Analysis module allows a user to
select a region of DNA, choose the amplification
parameters desired, and have the program suggest
the best matching primers surrounding the target
region. The primers can then be added to the
construct display as selectable, graphic
elements. Amplified regions can be selected
through a double-click, and copied to the
clipboard for insertion into other constructs via
a simple paste command.
° A Shotgun Cloning module is designed to save
users hours of copying and pasting between source
and target vectors to produce a library. You can
choose a source vector, define a digestion
enzyme, and GCK automatically generates all the
possible fragments -- then inserts the fragments
into the correct site on the target vector. A
library of all possible...
Write Brothers releases Screenwriter for Mac OS X
Write Brothers (http://www.screenplay.com) announces a technological
first: a patent-pending software technology that scans a script
document and identifies critical words, lines or paragraphs that
affect the script's page count. In a world where a script's length
can mean the difference between being produced or being tossed in the
trash, Streamline for Movie Magic Screenwriter gives writers a new
and powerful way to save hours when trimming their scripts to
professional standards.
Most writers expend considerable effort to reduce their page counts,
and often have to resort to a laborious manual search to locate edits
that can yield results. Out of desperation they may resort to
"cheating the script": techniques that involve manipulating
formatting, margins or font point size. These antiquated techniques
are easily detectable by professional script readers and are rarely
employed effectively.
Streamline is the first automated tool to help writers quickly and
honestly trim excess...
LightWork Design announces new release of LightWorks
LightWork Design has announced the release of the
latest version of LightWorks
(http://www.lightworkdesign.com/features/lightworks_7.9),
the company's rendering engine. The upgrade
focuses on introducing new ambient occlusion
functionality to the LightWorks product set, as
well as improving support for real-world
materials in both hardware and software rendering.
According to the folks at LightWork Design, key
developments within LightWorks 7.9 include:
° Ambient occlusion: this new feature in
LightWorks adds intelligent and predictable
ambient lighting to models for greater depth,
performance and realism. It's particularly useful
for the lighting of interior scenes.
° High Dynamic Range images (HDRI's): LightWorks
has created a variety of their own HDR images to
enable users to get even more realistic lighting
within their scenes. These are included within
this release of LightWorks 7.9. LightWorks will
be producing further HDR collections in upcoming
releases as part of their on-...
New PandaWare TimeCache Manager gives Mac-based workgroups
The PandaWare Company has released TimeCache Manager
(http://www.pandaware.com/manager/), a companion application to its
Mac OS X time and expense billing application, TimeCache 7.0.
TimeCache Manager is aimed at the needs of workgroups that bill their
time and expenses with TimeCache.
TimeCache Manager is designed to help everybody in a group stay
synchronized with the same Client, Project and Category listings that
are used for billing clients. It also consolidates multiple users'
time and expense data into a single database. Once user data has been
added to the database, managers can create reports and invoices that
reflect all users' time and expense entries.
Time data can also be exported to accounting applications such as
MYOB AccountEdge, Intuit Quickbooks for Windows. A Universal Binary
application, TimeCache Manager runs natively on both PowerPC and
Intel Macs.
Mac OS X users can try PandaWare TimeCache Manager for free by
downloading it from the PandaWare web site. TimeCache...
WD unveils ShareSpace network storage products
Western Digital (http://www.wdc.com) has introduced its new WD
ShareSpace high-speed network storage systems that provide
centralized storage for small office and home networks. WD ShareSpace
represents WD's first entry into the small-office network storage
market, where it plans to bring to a new class of users the
ease-of-use, design and value enjoyed by millions of WD My Book and
My Passport customers.
The WD ShareSpace 4-bay storage systems with Gigabit Ethernet (GigE)
interface provide up to 4TB of storage capacity and multiple RAID
configurations. Small offices and workgroups often employ cumbersome
methods for sharing data, either by sending large files via e-mail or
by sharing thumb drives. WD ShareSpace network-attached storage
systems make it simple for small offices and workgroups to centralize
storage for easy accessibility -- both within the network and
remotely via WD's MioNet remote Web access service.
Popularity of home networks is growing worldwide, with penetration...
Applied Answers releases FileGenius 2.0
Applied Answers has released FileGenius version 2.0, a feature-level
upgrade to the business-grade, Mac OS X and Windows-compatible
web-based file transfer solution. More upgrades will be released
before the end of 2008, according to Diane Miller, media liaison for
Applied Answers.
All upgrades are instantly applied to all FileGenius customers and
trial users, with no increase in their monthly or annual contract
fees. FileGenius offers a range of web-based file transfer and
management features. Additional version 2 phased releases are slated
for October, November, and year end. Miller says they include
an-integrated Move, Copy, Rename feature, as well as powerful batch
function versions of their current file actions.
By early 2009, Applied Answers promises that full audit features, as
well as a richer set of direct send features, will be available. In
2009, FileGenius will fully utilize Adobe's AIR technology, blurring
the lines between Mac OS X and Windows desktop applications and...
Boris FX plug-ins to support Adobe After Effects CS4, Premiere
Customers who own Continuum Complete 5 AE, Final Effects Complete 5
AE, RED 4.x, Boris FX 9.x, Graffiti 5.x., Blue 2.5, or any Boris
Continuum Unit will be eligible to receive free updates from Boris FX
(http://www.borisfx.com) to Adobe CS4-compatible versions of their
plug-ins.
SanDisk announces higher capacity mobile phone memory card
SanDisk (http://www.sandisk.com) is bringing to market its 16GB
microSDHC and Memory Stick Micro (M2) mobile memory cards. The
company says they're the world's largest removable storage capacity
for mobile phones.
Best Buy Mobile and Verizon Wireless stores are the first major
retail outlets in the United States to carry the 16GB capacity. The
fingernail-sized 16GB memory cards allow consumers to "wake up" the
many storage-intensive features offered by today's portable handsets
such as music and video playback, high-definition digital camera
functions, gaming and GPS applications, says . In addition to the
mobile phone, consumers can use the 16GB microSDHC card in a
multitude of other devices, including video cameras, GPS receivers or
MP3 players with a microSD slots.
SanDisk's 16GB microSDHC card has a manufacturer's suggested retail
price of US$99.99 and the 16GB M2 card has an MSRP of $129.99. The
new 16GB capacity will be available at Best Buy Mobile stores in
October and Verizon...
SMTPit Pro update fixes lots of bugs
Comm-Unity Networking Systems (http://www.cnsplug-ins.com/) as
released SMTPit Pro 4.1.4, a new version of the email plug-in for
FileMaker Pro 7 and greater that provides a variety of email options.
The upgrade works on the client side as well as the server side with
Scheduled Scripts and the Web Publishing Engine (including Instant
Web Publishing).
This update fixes several bugs ranging from correctly saving
preferences to disconnection issues to bugs with the
VerifyEmailAddress function. The Server Config database now can also
be used through Instant Web Publishing. SMTPit Pro is available
immediately at http://smtpit.cnsplug-ins.com/ for both Mac OS X and
Windows.
SMTPit Pro is ann email plug-in that provides an array of email
options. You can send simple text based messages or you can send
complex HTML messages. You can send a single message or an entire
mail out. You can customize your messages with special header and
footer functionality to aid with email greetings and...
SimpleTech pumps up Pro Drive external storage family
SimpleTech (http://www.SimpleTech.com) has announced the 1.5TB
SimpleTech Pro Drive and the first 3TB two-drive RAID 0/1 solution,
the SimpleTech Duo Pro Drive. Each ships with a reinforced design for
added reliability and durability and a quad interface (eSATA,
FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0) /
With data transfer rates up to 3 gigabits per second (3Gbps), eSATA
is three times faster than USB 2.0 (480 Megabits per second). If your
computer doesn't have an eSATA port, you can add one with the new
USS$69.99 SimpleTech ProSpeed eSATA PCI Adaptor Card.
With two drives in one, the SimpleTech Duo Pro Drive gives you two
ways to save: Speed Mode (RAID 0) and Copy Mode (RAID 1). Speed Mode,
or striping, leverages both hard drives to read and write your files.
If using eSATA in Speed Mode (RAID 0), you can receive six times the
speed of USB 2.0, ideal for home video editing and streaming or
working with graphic-intensive files, according to the folks at
SimpleTech.
For added data...
Magic Stones is turn-based RPG card game for Mac OS X
Magic Stones is a Mac OS X compatible game that's a mix between a
role-playing game and a card game game with fantasy setting from
Winter Wolves (http://www.winterwolves.com). It's available for Mac
and Windows systems for US$24.95.
Here's how the game is described: "It is situated in the land of
Aravorn, where you can find many hidden treasures in the darkest,
most menacing places, where druids are challenged to duel every year
in the Black Tower, in a fight to the death that will declare the
absolute winner. Three playing styles, 20 different avatars
available, each one with his unique skills, 17 different spells, and
over 15 total enemy druids.
"Gather Artifacts -- If you choose this option, you will be able to
roam freely throughout the entire kingdom of Aravorn in search of
interesting places, like abandoned temples, enchanted forests, cursed
islands, and so on. Each of these special places has hidden
treasures: whether a magic formula, an amulet, a rune, or something
else, each...
Expressivo for Mac OS X updated to version 1.4.3
IVO Software has released Expressivo 1.4.3
(http://www.expressivo.com), an update of the Mac OS X application
that can read any text aloud. After you install the new Expressivo it
integrates with MS Outlook and other e-mail applications adding to
them voice functionalities.
With Expressivo you can now listen to e-mails on a computer or save
them as sound files and play them later; for example, on an iPod.
What's more,, a new e-mail monitoring plug-in has been added to tell
you that there are new messages in the mail box.
With the Expressivo 1.4.3 you can save speech recordings as sound
files just by clicking a button in the main window's toolbar. Users
of MP3 players can take advantage of the option of reading out file
names -- it's enabled in the speech recording settings. When you've
enabled it the name of a sound file will be read out before it's
played.
Expressivo costs US$49, though version 1.4.3 is a free update for
registered users. A demo is available for download.
Incipio unveils new line of iPod cases
Incipio Technologies (http://www.myIncipio.com) has introduced its
new and expanded line of cases for the four generation iPod nano and
second generation iPod touch. Available for the iPod nano and touch,
the Incipio dermaSHOT is a tight fitting anti-slip silicone case.
It's smooth to the touch and precision molded to the shape of the
iPod.
iPod nano colors include: Black, Light Blue, Fresh Pink, Molina Red,
Submarine Yellow and Safety Orange. iPod touch color are Black,
White, Little Blue Box Blue, Magenta & Safety Orange.
Available for the iPod nano and touch, the underGROUND felt textured
pouch is achandmade protective case. A button top closure and soft
suede lining is designed to keep your iPod safe from scratches and
dings. Colors offered are Charcoal, Heather Gray, Safety Orange and
Brown Corduroy
Available for the iPod nano, the Stilo Leather Flip Case is a
leather flip case that provides protection while allowing access to
all the iPod features. The Stilo is lined in a...
Deliver2Mac announces Dream Pinball 3D
Deliver2Mac, the dedicated Mac digital download hub for games and
applications, has added Runesoft's Dream Pinball 3D
(http://www.deliver2mac.com/software/pinball) to its digital download
catalogue. It's compatible with Mac OS X 10.4.11 or higher and costs
US$29.95.
Dream Pinball 3D sports six tables with various themes. 6 tables with
various themes Balls are made out of six materials (steel, two kinds
of wood, marble, ivory, gold) with various ballistic characteristics.
Dream Pinball 3D supports multi-ball action with up to three balls at
once.
There is individual sounds and music for each table. Dream Pinball 3D
offers a multiplayer mode for up to four gamers, six dynamic and one
fixed camera position, and individual graphic settings for less
powerful systems.
TransGaming launches into iPhone marketplace
TransGaming (http://www.transgaming.com/) has announced its expansion
into the development of applications for Apple's portable devices
commencing with Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords from
D3Publisher for the iPhone and iPod touch.
Here's how the game is described: "Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the
Warlords offers players a unique combination of classic RPG elements
and fun puzzle mechanics. Designed specifically to entertain both
casual and hardcore gamers Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the
Warlords incorporates strategy, role-playing elements and a
persistent storyline in a puzzle board setting that is sure to
deliver an immersive gaming experience."
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is rated "E 10+" (Everyone 10
and older--suggestive themes) for most platforms by the ESRB and is
rated "RP" (Rating Pending) for iPhone. The game was originally
developed by Infinite Interactive Pty. and published by D3Publisher.
The game is being customized for the iPhone by TransGaming and...
Game Club Cafe is new portal for casual Mac games
Game Club Cafe (http://www.gameclubcafe.com), Codeminion's casual
games portal, now features a collection of over 50 titles for the Mac
user base. Independent casual game developer and distributor
Codeminion, known for the Ancient Quest of Saqqarah and Magic Match,
has expanded its offer with over 50 Mac casual games now available on
the Game Club Cafe portal.
Game Club Cafe is a fairly new casual gaming portal built with
"quality over quantity" attitude in mind, says Konrad Olesiewicz,
Codeminion co-owner. He says Codeminion wants to feature games they
feel are exceptional and outshine the crowded casual market.
Currently, GCC features over 130 titles, ranging from the
Codeminion's flagship hit, Saqqarah, to the shareware classic
Crimsonland.
The portal offers over 130 games on try-before-you-buy basis, all at
the standard casual game price of US$19.95.
Kupuk releases Zones 1.2 for iPhone and iPod touch
Kupuk has released Zones 1.2 (http://kupuk.com/zones) an update of
their Sonos remote control utility for the iPhone and iPod touch. By
using the iPhone/iPod touch WiFi connection, Zones lets anyone
control their music from every room of the house and offers a
convenient way to change songs, pause or adjust the volume.
Zones uses the open standard UPnP over a WiFi network to discover and
control Sonos players. Zones lets anyone control their music from
every room of the house. Wherever you are, Zones offers a way to
change songs, pause or adjust the volume.
With version 1.2 you can now browse and play your favorite list of
Internet radio stations. Zones also adds support for playlists, and
displays album art while playing. Additionally, Zones includes
support for selecting Line-In to take advantage of other equipment,
such as DVD players and computers, that may be connected to Sonos
players.
Zones costs US$ and is available at the Apple App Store. Version 1.2
is a free update for...
eMedia Music announces new Guitar Master CD-ROM
eMedia Music Corp. (http:www.emediamusic.com) has announced the
upcoming release of eMedia Guitar Master CD-ROM. This new
instructional release includes songs featured in Guitar Hero and Rock
Band. eMedia Guitar Master teaches how to play for real, with over
100 step-by-step audio- and video-enhanced guitar lessons.
eMedia Guitar Master lets you train to songs by Black Sabbath, The
Kinks, Nirvana, Green Day and more.Features include: the Animated
Fretboard, large screens and a variety of audio clips. eMedia Guitar
Master also includes an Automatic Tuner, a multi-media Chord
Dictionary, a Digital Recorder and a Digital Metronome. Priced at
less than one or two private lessons, eMedia Guitar Master makes a
great gift for the beginner or aspiring guitar player.
eMedia Guitar Master will be released in October at an estimated
retail price of US$39.95. Guitar Master is an upgrade to the eMedia
Rock Guitar Method release. Registered users of eMedia Rock Guitar
Method may purchase a reduced...
EasyDraw for Mac OS X beefs up text layout and management
EasyDraw (http://www.easydraw.com) has updated its flagship product,
EasyDraw, to version 2.7. The upgrade beefs up its text layout and
management capabilities.
The new capabilities include text linking, text flow, grammar
checking, full tab management with leaders and more. Also, there's a
new 300+ page user manual in French.
EasyDraw costs US$95 for a downloadable version and $119.05 for a CD
version. Version 2.7 is a free update for registered users of version
2.x. The software is Universal Binary so runs natively on both
PowerPC and Intel Macs.
Livestation releases user-generated rating, alert system for live
Livestation (http://www.livestation.com/downloads), the new,
interactive way to enjoy live TV and radio over broadband, has
introduced the first user-generated rating and alert system. The
company recently released a Mac player with some new features.
When a Livestation viewer or listener sees or hears something
interesting being broadcast on the player, they can hit the "What's
Hot" button and buzz their comments. If others are buzzing about the
same content, the rankings for that channel will rise to the top of
the What's Hot list, enabling everyone to see what is popular and, if
they like it, to tune in.
Once they've selected the channel they will also be able to chat in
real time with others who have created or followed the What's Hot
buzz. What's Hot desktop alerts will be added soon so that
Livestation users can keep up-to-date about topics they are
following. Also launched is a breaking news alerting system allowing
Livestation's viewers and listeners to receive desktop alerts...
