SmileOnMyMac (http://www.smileonmymac.com) has updated TextExpander, a Mac OS X utility that lets users define abbreviations for frequently-used text strings and images, to version 3.1. The new version adds hotkeys to activate TextExpander and to search snippets.

Also, the TextExpander icon can now be hidden in both the Dock and the menu bar. Search has been improved with highlighting of matched text and inclusion of snippet label text in the search.

The regular cost is US$34.95 for a single user license or $44.95 for a five-pack family license. A 30-day fully-functioning demo of TextExpander can be downloaded at the SmileOnMyMac web site. Upgrades to TextExpander 3.1 from earlier versions costs $15. Version 3.1 is a free update for registered users of version 3.0. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later.