Weather app Wx comes to the Mac App Store
Hunter Research and Technology has released version 6 of its weather app Wx (http://www.hrtapps.com/wxmac/), which is now available in the Mac App Store at an introductory price of US$9.99.
Wx 6 was reinvented from the ground up for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, but brings its new design and features to OS X 10.6 as well.
Wx displays current conditions, forecasts, warnings, and radar for U.S. locations using XML data from the National Weather Service. The app is designed for two types of customers: serious weather watchers who want detailed information and facts with no fuss, and casual users who want a fast, clean, and functional weather app.
Wx helps users set up locations on an embedded map, guiding them to choose nearby NWS observation sites, nearby NEXRAD radar, and nearby city- and county-based alert zones. The app sets up a seven-day summary "point" forecast customized for the specific latitude and longitude of the location, and a seven-day "pro" forecast that graphs temperature (actual...
TileWindows for Mac OS X adds three new functionalities
Carsten Mielke has updated TileWindows, a Mac OS X toolbar application for moving and zooming multiple application windows simultaneously, to version 1.2. It requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher on an Intel-based Mac.
TileWindows is a window management tool developed to provide a quick way to rearrange and resize windows as and when required. Three new functionalities have been added to the new version that give users more options to tailor window sizes and positions to their individual needs.
The new features -- "Up and down," "Side by side" and "1 Left 2 Right" -- let users organize the last two or three active windows on the screen in a preset pattern through a menu command or a keyboard shortcut. The "Undo" function, which also has been added, lets users try different window arrangements with fewer clicks.
Getting support or giving comments on TileWindows 1.2 has also been improved. A built-in emailing function "Send me an email" opens a new message addressed to the developer in the...
SweetP bakes up Cookie 1.8 for Mac OS X
SweetP Productions has announced Cookie 1.8 (http://www.sweetpproductions.com), an update to their cookie and browser history management utility for Mac OS X (10.6.6 and higher). It's available at the Mac App Store for US$14.99.
Cookie is designed to help you to manage exactly who can access information about your online activities. It scans your computer for all types of cookies, from all the top browsers, and can be configured to remove all unwanted tracking-advertising cookies.
Data can be stored on your computer without you even knowing in a multitude of different formats: cookies, Flash cookies, databases and local storage. Cookie scans your computer for all types of cookies.
Version 1.8 adds UnWanted Cookie Counts to the menu and a favorite definition to the Startup wizard. It also fixes some bugs.
Amadeus Pro for Mac OS X gets 64-bit processing support
HairerSoft has updated Amadeus Pro, their multi-track audio editor for Mac OS X, to version 2.0. The update includes native support for 64-bit processing and 32-bit floating point sound files, the ability to split tracks into multiple clips on the same timeline, and sophisticated multi-band de-noising.
Amadeus Pro features: real-time audio analysis tools, batch processing, live multi-track recording, digitizing tapes and records, conversion between many different audio formats, and extensive sound repairing and de-noising. The software is optimized for complex audio tasks through the use of direct-to-disk recording and waveform caching during editing.
The app also extensive support for markers and video soundtracks. As found in high-end audio editors, such as Apple's own Soundtrack Pro, Amadeus includes the following sound analysis tools: Spectrum, Sonogram, Waveform Statistics, Multi-Band RTA, Real-Time Spectrum, Oscilloscope, and Real-Time Waveform.
The app also supports standard...
Moog Music debuts new Cluster Flux
Moog Music (http://www.moogmusic.com), an electronic musical instrument manufacturer, has announced the MF-108M Cluster Flux, the newest addition to the MoogerFooger line of analog effects.
The Cluster Flux is a sound-sculpting tool for use live or in the studio. According to the folks at Moog Music, it's capable of providing classic flanging, chorusing, and vibrato effects, but is also capable of a much wider range of modulated delay line effects than traditional stomp boxes in this class due to the wide range of the front panel controls, the multi-waveform LFO, as well as CV and MIDI Control.
It offers musicians the added modulation of multiple LFO waveforms: Sine, Triangle, Square, Saw, Ramp and Random, to create many kinds of new modulated BBD Delay effects. MIDI IN allows control of Delay Time, Range, Feedback, Output Level, LFO Waveform, LFO Rate, LFO Amount and Mix. The Cluster Flux FM-108M will be available at Moog Dealers worldwide in the third quarter of the year at a...
Default Folder for Mac OS X gets new features, speed...
St. Clair Software has updated Default Folder (http://www.stclairsoft.com/DefaultFolderX/index.html), its utility for enhancing Open and Save dialogs in Mac OS X, to version 4.4. The upgrade adds new features, speed improvements, and compatibility fixes, including support for Lion developer preview 4.
Default Folder X 4.4 is a free update for registered users of version 4.x. The upgrade is US$14.95 for users who bought their copies before June 1, 2007. Default Folder X costs $34.95 for a new license. Installers are available now in English and German and will be released shortly in Japanese, French, and Danish.
Vidconvert for Mac OS X gets maintenance update
Independent software developer Reggie Ashworth has updated VidConvert, his video converter for Mac OS X, to version 1.0.6. It's primarily a bug fix release and fixes a bug that could cause the software to crash when using the Same folder as source setting. Also, a bug was fixed that could cause a video to be converted to the wrong directory.
VidConvert It will convert just about any type of video into one of the a variety of formats, allowing you to create videos for your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV. To use you add a file, select a format and a quality, and click convert. Optionally you can change your save folder from the main window.
For advanced users you can select the Advanced quality if you choose to allow such options as custom Frame Rate, Bit Rate, etc. But for most users simply choosing Normal or High quality should be sufficient. After your conversion is finished simply add more files or quit VidConvert and the job is done.
Supported formats include iPhone, iPod, iPad,...
SyncMate 3.1 adds Phone, iPad, iPod, Dropbox account syncing
Eltima Software has released SyncMate 3.1, new version of their sync tool for the Mac. It adds iPhone, iPod, iPad, any mounted storage devices and Dropbox account sync.
Users of SyncMate 3.1 can sync contacts, calendars, images, videos, Entourage and Mail notes, Folders and Stickies between Mac and any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad (iOS 3 or iOS 4). Users can also mount iOS running devices as Mac disks, view iPhone's calls history and SMS messages directly on Mac.
As for the Dropbox account sync, Mac users can sync contacts, calendars, Safari bookmarks, To Dos, Entourage and Mail notes, folders, images, music and videos. It's also possible to protect data with a password when syncing.
What's more, with SyncMate 3.1 one can sync images, videos, music and folders on Mac with am iPod nano and any mounted storage device (Mac partition, portable USB storage, any locally connected disk, devices connected via FireWire, etc.).
SyncMate is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 and higher. It costs US$39...
WWDC Interview: Bare Bones Software
While in San Francisco, TUAW and MacTech Magazine teamed up to speak to developers at Apple's WWDC 2011 about the keynote and how Apple's new technologies will help them and their customers. In the weeks following the event, we'll bring you those videos on TUAW, MacTech and MacNews.
If you aren't currently a reader of MacTech Magazine, check out the special WWDC free trial subscription offer for MacTech Magazine here.
This video features Neil Ticktin (Editor-in-Chief, MacTech Magazine and MacNews) and Rich Siegel of Bare Bones Software at WWDC. Rich was kind enough to tell us about their thoughts on the announcements on WWDC, and how it will affect their plans moving forward.
OWC expands solid state drive line
Other World Computing has announced the OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD, a new consumer/prosumer targeted SandForce Driven SATA Revision 3.0 6Gb/s Solid State Drive.
Designed and built in the USA utilizing such components as Tier 1/Grade A NAND, the OWC Mercury Electra delivers 556MB/second read and 523MB/second write sustained data rates for over 7X faster performance than a standard factory hard drive found in Mac and PC computers.
According to the folks at OWC, offering the SATA Revision 3.0 performance of a 6G SSD, the Mercury Electra 6G is ideal for high speed personal computing, home office environments, gaming, and production workstations, can be incorporated into a RAID 1 or SPAN configuration, and is available for immediate ordering in three capacity sizes:
° 120GB OWC Mercury Electra 6G with Tier 1/Grade A NAND, US$229.99;
° 240GB OWC Mercury Electra 6G with Tier 1/Grade A NAND $479.99;
· 480GB OWC Mercury Electra 6G with Tier 1/Grade A NAND $929.99.
For more information...
Three sentenced for stealing iPad 2 info
A Chinese court has sentenced three people to prison terms for collaborating to steal information from a key supplier regarding the iPad 2 several months before its release, reports "The Wall Street Journal" (http://macte.ch/GErr3).
The Shenzhen Bao'an People's Court, in announcing its decision, said the head of a Chinese electronics-accessories manufacturer allegedly paid a former employee and a then-active employee of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. for information about the iPad 2 in order to produce protective cases for the device, the article adds. Hon Hai, known by its trade name Foxconn, manufactures the iPad 2 and other Apple products.
Apple targeted in 'Location Privacy Protection Act of 2011...
U.S. Senators Al Franken (D-Minn) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) have introduced legislation that would require companies like Apple and Google, as well as application developers for platforms like iOS, to get permission from users before sharing geo-locational data with third parties, reports "Gigaom" (http://macte.ch/h2CTM).
The bill is based on hearings held in May by the Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law. The bill, called the "Location Privacy Protection Act of 2011," aims to close what the senators view as a loophole that allows “smartphone companies, app companies and even phone companies offering wireless Internet service to freely share their customers’ location information with third parties without first obtaining customers’ consent.”
Cable and phone companies are already barred from doing so, and Franken and Blumenthal think that restriction should apply to mobile users as well, says "Gigaom." The proposed law would cover both device manufacturers...
WWDC Interview: Widget Revolt
While in San Francisco, TUAW and MacTech Magazine teamed up to speak to developers at Apple's WWDC 2011 about the keynote and how Apple's new technologies will help them and their customers. In the weeks following the event, we'll bring you those videos on TUAW, MacTech and MacNews.
If you aren't currently a reader of MacTech Magazine, check out the special WWDC free trial subscription offer for MacTech Magazine here.
This video features Neil Ticktin (Editor-in-Chief, MacTech Magazine and MacNews) and Brian Chen of Widget Revolt at WWDC. Brian was kind enough to tell us about their thoughts on the announcements on WWDC, and how it will affect their plans moving forward.
Apple likely licensing PowerVR GPU
Imagination Technologies, the company behind the iPhone and iPad's PowerVR graphic processor unit (GPU), says six "lead partners" have already selected their next generation PowerVR Series 6 GPU (codenamed Rogue) for licensing. Apple, which users the company's graphics processing units, to power their mobile devices and is probably one of the unnamed licensees.
The POWERVR Series6 GPU family delivers "unrivaled GFLOPS per mm2 and per mW for all APIs, delivers not only a clear technology advantage and exceptional roadmap, driven by one of the largest teams of graphics engineers in the world, but also an extensive ecosystem of third party developers which has created hundreds of thousands of apps optimised for POWERVR enabled devices to date," says Imagination CEO Hossein Yassaie The announced partners include ST-Ericsson, Texas Instruments, MediaTek as well as three "yet to be announced" licensees.
Apple is an investor in Imaginationi Tecnhologies. The iPad 2 currently uses the...
Millennial Media: iPad impressions grew 29% month-over-month
Mobile ad network Millennial Media says its latest figures show that, for May, 70% of impressions came from MP3 players and gaming devices, while 29% came from tablets, and 1% from other devices such as e-readers.
Impressions on the iPad grew 29% month-over-month. In the last year, connected devices as a category are up 190% in impressions.
According to Millennial Media's latest stats, tablets made up 29% and Windows Phone 7 impressions grew 92% month-over-month. When breaking down all the revenue driven by apps on their network, iOS apps and Android apps were very close, with 45% coming from iOS and 43% from Android, says Millennial Media.
The iPhone maintained its position as the top individual phone on the network for the 20th straight month. Apple was also the leading manufacturer on the Millennial Media network with a 30% share.
Android maintained its position as the leading smartphone OS on the network for the sixth consecutive month with a 53% impression share. Music and...
Apple: Samsung's request to see upcoming products is...
Apple is seeking to deny Samsung's request in May to see the "final, commercial version(s)" of the "iPhone 4S," "iPhone 5," "iPad 3" "third-generation iPad" and their retail packaging, reports "ZDNet" (http://macte.ch/vgy4U).
Apple filed a motion in the District Court for the Northern District of California asking the judge to refuse Samsung's request. The filing says Samsung's request "is not a good faith attempt to obtain information needed to defend against a preliminary injunction". "Rather, it is a transparent and improper attempt to harass Apple by demanding extremely sensitive trade secrets that have no relevance to Apple's infringement claims or to Samsung's defenses to a preliminary injunction," the documents add.
Last month Samsung Electronics sought a court order to force Apple to disclose iPhone and iPad models under development, claiming it needs the information to defend against allegations of copying. Samsung must see the final versions of the iPhone and iPad to “...
Analysts: Apple has plenty of managers to fill Ron Johnson'...
Yesterday it was announced (http://macte.ch/xdw59) that Ron Johnson, Apple's retail guru, was departing to become CEO of J. C. Penney. However, JP Morgan analyst thinks that Apple should have plenty of managers that can continue to carry out the vision that Johnson and others started.
Apple's stores have become "a way of life," the analyst said in a note to clients, as reported by "International Business Times" (http://macte.ch/kibat). "In our view, his consistent execution, messaging, and Apple's retail revenue growth in the oft-challenging retail segment are without rival," he said. "The silver lining in the departure is that we believe Mr. Johnson's retail team has plenty of managers that can carry the torch."
While Johnson's departure is "a meaningful loss -- especially considering his impressive execution to date," Ben Reitzes of Barclays Capital told "International Business Times," there's still plenty of work in the pipeline. He noted that Apple's plans are still in play, and...
Apple releases AirPort Utility 5.5.3
Apple has released AirPort Utility 5.5.3. The update fixes a problem where the application could crash when configuring a Basestation or Time Capsule.
The update requires Mac OS X 10.5.7 or newer. You can obtain it via the Software Updates component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app.
Joerg Piringer introduces RealBeat 1.0 for Mac OS X
Joerg Piringer has introduced RealBeat 1.0 (http://apps.piringer.net/realbeat-mac/), a music creation app for Mac OS X (10.6.7 and higher). It's a software based sampler that enables anyone to record sounds, cut and loop and create rhythms out of them.
RealBeat provides access to sampling and manipulating recorded sounds live or at home. It also features an easy way to let the computer speak in different voices and use it as a source material for loops.
RealBeat for Mac isn't a fully fledged sequencer or sound software. Rather it offers simple and fast access to sampling and manipulating recorded sounds live or at home.
RealBeat 1.0 for Mac costs US$5.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies). It's available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Music category.
'AppleInsider': Final Cut Pro X screenshots obtained...
Screenshots of Apple's upcoming Final Cut Pro X software that leaked onto the Internet were allegedly obtained without permission from the servers of a company that contracted with Apple to create tutorial videos for the new software, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com).
Cease and desist letters have gone out in an attempt to recall the screenshots, which were originally posted publicly on the social networking site Twitter Sunday, the article adds. The legal threats were sent out this week by Ripple Training at the demand of Apple, says "AppleInsider."
Google given green light to pursue Nortel patents purchase
U.S. antitrust enforcers have given Google the green light to pursue its US$900 million opening bid for high-tech patents being sold next week by Canadian telecommunications-equipment maker Nortel Networks, reports the "Wall Street Journal" (http://macte.ch/4UvrH), quoting "people familiar with the matter." Apple has also shown interest in the patents.
After an antitrust review, the Justice Department concluded that Google's potential ownership of the patents wouldn't raise any major competitive concerns, these people said. The clearance "could give Google a leg-up against rivals in its bid for the patents, part of its effort to acquire an arsenal of patents that could help it ward off lawsuits by competitors," according to the "Journal."
Last year Nortel sold its optical networking and carrier ethernet business to Ciena for US$769 million and its wireless business to Ericsson for $1.3 billion. Soon it will sell off its patents as well, "among them some thought to be essential 4G...
Cocoon releases tablet, notebook sleeve and wrap lines
Cocoon Innovations (http://www.cocoonbags.com) has released the Grid-It Wrap and Grid-It Sleeve.
The sleek neoprene Grid-it Wrap is available in 7-inch tablet, iPad, and both 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air models. Users simply slide their mobile device into the Wrap’s cushioned back pocket and flip down the cover for protection and organization. The included Grid-It organization system serves as a companion to the Wrap, storing chargers, power cables, earbuds, sunglasses and more. The fashionable Grid-It Wrap is available in black, red, and grey, all with a dark grey interior.
Designed to fit both a 13-inch MacBook and an iPad 2, the Sleeve is made with Defleixon, a shock resistant textile. Zippers provide access to the bag’s two pockets and the included, removable Grid-It. The Sleeve sports a padded, adjustable arm strap and elastic hand strap. It's available in black and red, each with a dark grey interior.
The Grid-It Wrap models range in price from US$24.99 for the 7-inch...
IOGEAR releases Multi-Link Bluetooth Mini Keyboard
IOGEAR (http://www.iogear.com) has announced the US$79.95 Multi-Link Bluetooth Mini Keyboard, a mobile solution with toggling and data input for up to six devices.
The wireless keyboard can pair with Macs, PCs, smartphones, iPads, game consoles and other HID profile supported devices. It measures 9.13 x 4.5 inches and weights 0.35 pounds.
The Multi-Link Bluetooth Mini Keyboard sports an arc to ensure comfortable typing angles. Adding to the form is a patented scissor key structure. The Multi-Link Bluetooth Mini Keyboard comes with a cloth travel pouch for protection when you're traveling.
Jumsoft launches Stationery Set for Pages
Jumsoft (http://www.jumsoft.com) has expanded its range of templates with the release of Stationery Set. The new pack for Apple's Pages has been adapted from Jumsoft's stationery templates for Mail and contains 100 designs.
The new collection allows users of Mail Stationery to assemble a line of traditional letters coordinated with the previously purchased email templates. Stationery Set is also available on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.
Stationery Set allows users to exploit the printing capabilities available in Pages. Users can also attach their invitations, greetings, or newsletters to their emails in the form of Pages or PDF files or post a PDF version of their newsletter on a Web site.
Stationery Set 1.0 requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher and costs US$14.99. It's available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Graphics & Design category. Stationery Set is also available for iOS for $2.99 in the Apple App Store.
Avernum 6 available at the Mac App Store
Spiderweb Software (http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com) has released Avernum 6 on the Mac App Store. It requires Mac OS X 10.6, costs US$19.99 and can be found in the Games category.
Here's how the game is described: "Avernum 6 is set in the world of Avernum, an enormous series of caves far below the surface of the world. Travel into the strange subterranean land of Avernum, full of dungeons, labyrinths, and constant warfare. This update moves the game to a newer engine, which should result in better performance and fixes to a number of irritating bugs.
"Avernum is a world underground. It is a nation of people living in an enormous warren of tunnels and caverns, far below the surface of the world. Once a prison colony for rebels and thugs, it is now a wild frontier, full of adventurous souls looking for wealth, fame, and magical power.
"And then the Blight came. Almost overnight, the mushrooms Avernum needed to feed itself withered and died. Then the denizens of the low tunnels, the...
DiskRadar 1.1 for Mac OS X has new disk space usage map
Binary Fruit has updated DiskRadar 1.1 (http://www.diskradar.com) for Mac OS X (10.6 and higher) -- an utility featuring hard disk fault prediction, infographic usage data, cleanup function, and HD temperature monitoring to prevent overheating -- to version. The upgrade -- free to registered users -- sports, among other things, a new disk space usage map (diagram) coloring scheme based on a "heat map" concept.
Designed for use by non-technical users, the application provides access to sufficient hard drive diagnostic data to satisfy any system administrator, according to the folks at Binary Fruit. Additional features include: 64 bit, multi-core optimization; 100% safe in-app file removal; and history-based disk health evaluation.
DiskRadar is compatible with all: standard internal hard drives (IDE/ATA/SATA and RAID); external hard drives (FireWire drives, USB drives, thumbdrives); CD/DVD drives and images; network share drives and FUSE drives; and Time Machine volumes. It requires...
Southern Stars releases SkySafari 3
Southern Stars, a 2010 MacWorld Best of Show winner, has just launched a major new version of its SkySafari astronomy app for iOS.
Southern Stars also announced that SkySafari has now been downloaded more than 400,000 times. To celebrate, the company is making the new SkySafari 3 release free around on June 15 (that's today). That date is SkySafari's second anniversary, and it coincides with the longest, deepest total lunar eclipse in more than a decade.
To download SkySafari 3 now, click this link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skysafari-3/id437108143?mt=8 . SkySafari 3 now comes in three versions -- basic (US$3), Plus ($15), and Pro ($60). The basic version is free until June 18; Plus and Pro are at half-price on the Apple App Store until June 21.
Feeder 2.2 for Mac OS X supports new iTunes podcasting tags
Reinvented Software has updated Feeder -- a Mac OS X RSS editor for creating news feeds, podcasts and appcasts-- to version 2.2. The upgrade includes support for new iTunes Podcasting tags, improves Twitter and Facebook announcements, adds FTP-SSL publishing and faster SFTP uploads.
Feeder purportedly makes working with RSS as straightforward as writing email and is packed with features such as templates, previews, HTML editing and auto-completion. In version 2.2, the app supports new "order," "isCloseCaptioned" and "complete" iTunes Podcasting tags. Publishing the feed and media files has been enhanced with support for FTP-SSL and faster SFTP uploads.
Feeder 2.2 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later and a Mac with an Intel processor. It's available on the Mac App Store and as a 15-day trial that can be unlocked upon purchase from the Reinvented Software site (http://reinventedsoftware.com/). Feeder 2.2 is a free upgrade for registered Feeder 2.x users; a full license costs $39.95 and an...
Southern Stars Gives Away SkySafari 3 for Total Lunar Eclipse
Southern Stars has announced a promotion of its new SkySafari 3 iOS astronomy app, timed to coincide with tonight's total lunar eclipse. Although not visible from North America, the June 15/16th lunar eclipse will be seen almost everywhere else - over Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It is the longest total lunar eclipse since 2000. To celebrate the eclipse and SkySafari's second birthday, the basic version of SkySafari 3 will be free until June 18th. The timing couldn’t be better.
In addition to the basic version, SkySafari 3 comes in Plus ($15) and Pro ($60) versions. And until June 21, those versions are half-price as well. SkySafari's creators designed the application to be accurate. According to Southern Stars, it was the only iOS astronomy app that correctly reproduced the total lunar eclipse that occurred last December. The Plus and Pro versions add telescope control with SkyWire (http://www.southernstars.com/products/skywire/index.html), an...
WWDC Interview: Push IO
While in San Francisco, TUAW and MacTech Magazine teamed up to speak to developers at Apple's WWDC 2011 about the keynote and how Apple's new technologies will help them and their customers. In the weeks following the event, we'll bring you those videos on TUAW, MacTech and MacNews.
If you aren't currently a reader of MacTech Magazine, check out the special WWDC free trial subscription offer for MacTech Magazine here.
This video features Victor Agreda, Jr. (Editor-in-Chief, The Unofficial Apple Weblog) and Joe Pezzillo of Push IO at WWDC. Joe was kind enough to tell us about their thoughts on the announcements on WWDC, and how it will affect their plans moving forward.
WWDC Interview: 99Games
While in San Francisco, TUAW and MacTech Magazine teamed up to speak to developers at Apple's WWDC 2011 about the keynote and how Apple's new technologies will help them and their customers. In the weeks following the event, we'll bring you those videos on TUAW, MacTech and MacNews.
If you aren't currently a reader of MacTech Magazine, check out the special WWDC free trial subscription offer for MacTech Magazine here.
This video features Neil Ticktin (Editor-in-Chief, MacTech Magazine and MacNews) and Rohith Bhat of 99Games at WWDC. Rohith was kind enough to tell us about their thoughts on the announcements on WWDC, and how it will affect their plans moving forward.
Decision makers choosing Android products for IT?
Take it with a grain of salt if you will: Rove (http://www.roveit.com), a provider of mobile IT management solutions, says IT decision-makers are increasingly turning to Android smartphones and tablets to manage their networks using the company's remote monitoring system, Mobile Admin.
“Android tablets provide users with a device that is a serious competitor to the iPad in the tablet space,” says Matt Moore, Rove’s director of Development.
Rove Mobile Admin is a secure tablet- and smartphone-enabled IT management solution giving IT staff mobile access to incident detection, diagnosis, triage and resolution. Rove Mobile Admin uses agentless technology and enables network administrators to access and perform management operations on an extensive array of IT servers and services.
Ron Johnson leaving Apple for J. C. Penney
Myron Ullman, III, chairman and CEO of J. C. Penney Company says Ron Johnson, Apple's senior vice president of Apple retail and the mastermind behind Apple's wildly successful retail strategy, has been named the company's next chief executive officer, succeeding Ullman in that role.
Johnson will assume the CEO position on Nov. 1, and report to Mr. Ullman, who will become executive chairman. Johnson will also join the J. C. Penney Board of Directors, effective Aug. 1.
Johnson, 52, has served for the past 11 years as senior vice president of retail at Apple., where he led its retail strategy, which from its start in 2001 now numbers over 300 stores in the U.S. and abroad. He joined Apple after 15 years at Target Corp., where he was a key merchandising executive.
"I've always dreamed of leading a major retail company as CEO, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help J. C. Penney re-imagine what I believe to be the single greatest opportunity in American retailing today, the...
Nokia enters into patent license agreement with Apple
Nokia says it's signed a patent license agreement with Apple to settle a long-running legal battle. The agreement will result in settlement of all patent litigation between the companies, including the withdrawal by Nokia and Apple of their respective complaints to the US International Trade Commission.
The financial structure of the agreement consists of a one-time payment payable by Apple and on-going royalties to be paid by Apple to Nokia for the term of the agreement. The specific terms of the contract are confidential.
"We are very pleased to have Apple join the growing number of Nokia licensees," Stephen Elop, president and CEO of Nokia, said in a press release. "This settlement demonstrates Nokia's industry leading patent portfolio and enables us to focus on further licensing opportunities in the mobile communications market."
As part of the deal, the two sides are licensing some, but not all of each other’s patents. Nokia first sued Apple in 2009 over fundamental cellphone...
Apple selling unlocked iPhone
Apple is now selling an unlocked iPhone (http://macte.ch/68LQS). It's an US$649, 16GB black model.
If you don’t want a multiyear service contract or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the unlocked iPhone 4 is the best choice, according to Apple. It arrives without a micro-SIM card, so you’ll need an active micro-SIM card from any supported GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) carrier worldwide.
The iPhone 4 works with micro-SIM cards from supported GSM carriers. A micro-SIM card is a small memory card used in the iPhone 4 and other cellular devices that stores your wireless account information. With an unlocked iPhone, you will need to obtain a micro-SIM card directly from your GSM carrier.
The unlocked iPhone will work on supported GSM carrier networks around the world. Because the unlocked iPhone is sold without a contract commitment, you can establish service and use a micro-SIM card from a local carrier at your destination. Or check with your U....
Logitech HD webcam lets you shoot video on the go
Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) has announced the HD Webcam C615 video calling and HD recording on the go on a Mac or PC. It's expected to be available in the U.S. in June for a suggested retail price of US$79.99.
The webcam has a fold-and-go design, coupled with autofocus capabilities and a 360-degree swivel rotation. Also, the Logitech HD Webcam C615 lets you make video calls in HD 720p on Skype, FaceTime for Mac, Logitech Vid HD and Windows Live Messenger, as well as video calls on Yahoo! Messenger, iChat, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) and other instant messaging applications.
It also includes one-click HD video and photo upload to Facebook, as well as HD video upload to YouTube and Twitter, so you can share your video recordings. The webcam comes with a three-foot USB cable with an extender, and has a tripod-ready design so you can easily capture video from any vantage point.
The Logitech HD Webcam C615 features built-in autofocus and a built-in mic. With Logitech’s newest...
Raidon releases new RAID storage module
Raidon (http://www.RAIDON.com.tw) has released the iR2620, an internal two-bay, 3.5-inch RAID storage module offering RAID 0 and RAID 1 functions, with an integrated RS232 port for connection to industrial controls and IPC facilities.
The iR2620 integrated with the Raidon self-developed RAID chip, gives stable RAID 1 real-time backup to help maintain continuous operation of the system. The iR2620 brings management via the front panel LCD display, which provides an initial configuration and the convenience of status monitoring. The iR2620 is made available for data integration through the embedded RS232 port to facilitate with the management demands of industrial control systems. System status is provided via e-mail notification from the RAIDGuide software to instantly report any malfunction which may occur.
The iR2620 is designed to fit into two of the 5.25-inch CD-ROM bays with swappable trays and can be installed into any general IPC case. This RAID storage module also supports...
CasaTunes extends iTunes in the Cloud to the home
CasaTunes, which specializes in multi-room music solutions, has announced support for Apple’s iTunes in the Cloud beta. It will automatically and instantly detect when a new song or other audio file is added to your iTunes in the Cloud account and enables those tracks to be accessed and played via CasaTunes anywhere in the home.
“With CasaTunes support for iTunes in the Cloud, our customers can add a song to their iPhone while on-the-go, or download a track from the iTunes Store while at work and these songs will be immediately available in their CasaTunes library to play when they get home, without having to manually synchronize music libraries and devices,” says David Krinker, CEO for CasaTunes. “It’s a great new feature for our users – the time-savings and convenience is what makes the difference.”
CasaTunes will also support iTunes Match when it is released this fall. iTunes Match, is a fee-based service that allows customers to maintain a single music library in the cloud, that...
WD releases Nomad case for My Passport drives
WD (http://www.westerndigital.com) has introduced the US$29.95 WD Nomad, a case designed to protect My Passport portable hard drives from drops as high as seven feet, moisture and spills and other mishaps associated with active, on-the-go lifestyles.
The WD Nomad rugged case features a polycarbonate exterior and shock-absorbing elastomer cushion inside. It conforms to military standards for ruggedness. The heavy-duty latch and silicon liner seal out dirt, dust, and moisture.
The WD Nomad rugged case is designed for hikers, business travelers, outdoor and travel photographers, and others who professionally or personally bring their digital equipment and assets with them. The design includes an opening for the drive's USB connector, so the user can access the drive while it remains in the case. In addition, a molded exterior ring allows users to attach a carabiner, cable, or nylon strap for convenient accessibility.
Ultrablast HD available at the Macgamestore
The Ultrablast HD game is now available at the Macgamestore (http://www.macgamestore.com). It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and costs US$4.99.
Here's how the game is described: "Follow the story of four characters as they investigate a mysterious phenomenon affecting their home planet. Perhaps you will be able to solve the mystery. By shooting things. And lots of them. Ultrablast brings old-school shoot' em up action to your Mac. It will remind you of the good old painful days of arcade gaming."
Cerwin-Vega! introduces XD3 powered desktop speakers
Cerwin-Vega! (http://www.cerwin-vega.com/) has announced the XD3 Powered Desktop Speaker, a compact desktop speaker system.
Initially available in June at all U.S.-based Best Buy retail and online outlets, the XD3 features self-powered cabinets in a master/slave configuration with low noise and 15-watt amplifiers. The integrated three-inch woofer and three-quarter inch tweeter are fed via passive crossovers, so that the proper frequencies are represented in each driver for a smooth transition from mid-range to high frequency, according to the folks at Cerwin-Vega!.
The XD3 cabinets are 8 x 5.5 x 6.5 inches. Each cabinet is made from wood and the cabinets are magnetically shielded to maximize speaker placement options near computer monitors.
The XD3 was also designed to be a flexible desktop media device by offering external inputs. An one-eighth inch stereo auxiliary input has been provided to interface with other portable and personal platforms such as MP3 players, smartphones and...
ArtOptimizer ready for Illustrator CS 5.1
Zevrix (http://www.zevrix.com) has updated ArtOptimizer, its workflow automation solution for Adobe Illustrator, to version 2.5.1 The new version is compatible with Illustrator CS 5.1.
ArtOptimizer eliminates the excess image data of document links and performs image adjustments, reducing the size of an Illustrator job. In order to eliminate excess image data, the app automatically scales the images in Photoshop to match their dimensions in Illustrator, changes resolution according to the target resolution specified, and reimports images to Illustrator at 100%.
ArtOptimizer is available for Mac OS X 10.4.2 and higher and Adobe Illustrator CS-CS5.1. It costs US$119.95; a demo is available for download.
Mac sales up 15% year-over-year in April, May
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com), Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says that domestic Mac sales are up 15% year-over-year for April and May.
Munster says Mac sales were up 28% in the April quarter. NPD figures showed Mac sales up just 16% after the first two months of the April quarter.
The latest number, representing both April and May, is also a marked improvement from the April-only numbers previously reported by NPD, says "AppleInsider." In that data, "the tough comparison from 2010 left Mac sales up just 9% year-over-year," the article adds.
Citing the latest research from the NPD group, he adds that Mac sales face a favorable comparison in the month of June. In 2010, new MacBook Pros in April led to a 38% year-over-year increase in sales, while a MacBook refresh in May helped push sales up 35% from 2009. Mac sales should get a boost from 2011 MacBook Pro and iMac updates.
Apple to overtake Nokia in smartphone sales this quarter
Samsung will become the world's largest smartphone maker this quarter, overtaking struggling Nokia Oyj, which has lead the market since 1996, per the Nomura research group, as reported by "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/1xnm7). Nomura also sees also Apple overtaking Nokia in the next quarter, pushing the Finnish company to No. 3 in the rankings.
"Nokia looks set to relinquish its smartphone crown to Samsung and Apple," Nomura analysts said in a research note. "Further emphasizing the shift in power to Asia is our forecast for HTC to almost match Nokia during 2012."
Research firms Gartner and Canalys both said they saw Nokia -- which created the smartphone market with its 1996 launch of the Communicator model -- losing smartphone volume leadership later this year. Nokia has lost initiative in the smartphone market to the iPhone and Google 's Android devices, and at the lower end to "more nimble Asian rivals," notes "Reuters."
Websearch Pro 1.0 introduced for OS X
Independent developer Linus Winterseel has introduced Websearch Pro 1.0 (http://macte.ch/Uvth8), a search utility for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher). For the next few days the app is being offered for US$0.99 in the Mac App Store. After that, the price will raise to $1.99 USD.
Websearch Pro offers a solution to search anything via its toolbar application. It features switching between different search engines, as well as the possibility to create your own search sources. You can navigate through the search engines with the arrow keys, type in your search term, press Return, and you're done.
With Websearch Pro you can add and edit nearly every search engine or website you need. You can also choose a keyboard shortcut and use it to call the app, as well as activate autostart at log-in.
JixiPix announces Simply HDR for Mac
JixiPix (http://www.jixipix.com/) has introduced Simply HDR 1.0, a photography app for Mac OS X. It normally costs US$7.99, but is being offered at a launch special of $5.99 through June 18.
Designed for both professional and amateur photographers, Simply HDR creates High Dynamic Range photos out of a single shot. A typical workflow requires the photographer to take three shots and combine them. Simply HDR does this process with only one image, according to the folks at JixiPix.
The software includes five styles of effect: High Dynamic Range; Black and White HDR; Contrasted HDR; Shadows and Lights; and Contrasted Light. Simply HDR requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later. It's available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Photography category.
Pundit: next gen MacBook Air to sell 1.5 million units per...
The next gen MacBook Air -- expected to arrive soon with Sandy Bridge processors, Thunderbolt technology and the Lion operating system-- will sell to the tune of 1.5 million units per quarter, Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore thinks.
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- he says Apple has placed orders for a total of 380,000 Sandy Bridge-based MacBook Air models this month. Roughly 55%, or 209,000, of those are expected to be the 11.6-inch models, while the remainder will be the larger 13.3-inch models. They're expected to go on sale next month.
A MacBook Air refresh, along with the impending release of Mac OS X Lion, is expected to boost Mac sales even more, as Apple's computers have consistently outgrown the rest of the PC market for years now. Whitmore has forecast sales of 18 million Macs in calendar year 2011, but he said Monday that he now believes his estimate is conservative.
'The Economist': Apple will likely be around in 100...
"The Economist," a London publication, says Apple will probably be around 100 years from now, reports "The Daily Feed" (http://macte.ch/Hg6kL).
The economic magazine took a look at today's top performing tech companies and pondered who will make it to the other side of the 21st Century. "The Economist" thinks Apple will be around for a looooong time due to its philosophy: "Take the latest technology, package it in a simple, elegant form, and sell it at a premium price."
Amazon and Facebook are also on the publication's list of centennial survivors. However, "The Economist" doesn't see bright futures for Dell, Cisco, Microsoft or Google.
Analyst's survey: developers prefer iOS
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster attended Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last week and surveyed 45 developers on their operating system preferences. In a letter to clients -- as reported by "Fortune" (http://macte.ch/jPXVO) -- he found:
° Only 7% are also developing apps for the Mac, down from 50% in 2008.
° Nearly half (47%) write apps for Android, 36% for Research in Motion's (RIMM) BlackBerry, 13% for Microsoft (MSFT) Windows Phone 7 and 7% for Hewlett-Packard's (HPQ) WebOS.
° Asked which platform had the highest potential for future growth, none mentioned the BlackBerry, WebOS or Nokia's (NOK) Symbian.
° Although 100% preferred iOS for ease of development and monetization, they did have some complaints, chief among them Apple's "strict limitations" (38%) and the App Store approval process (11%).
Apple retail store employee wants to unionize
An Apple retail store employee has started a drive to unionize retail workers, according to "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/ma6Bj). Cory Moll, a part-time employee at an Apple store in San Francisco, is working to form a union to fight for better wages and benefits and to address what he says are unfair practices in the company's glass-and-steel retail showrooms, the article adds.
Moll, who has been working at Apple for four years, told "Reuters" he makes US$14 an hour at the San Francisco Apple store. The minimum wage for 2011 in San Francisco is $9.92 an hour.
The 30-year-old employee primarily communicates with other Apple store employees through Twitter, Facebook and the "Apple Retail Workers Union" website, which he created in May, without disclosing his name. "Reuters" says Moll has received little public support from employees so far, though he said he has emails expressing support.
