Apple is fourth in 'Guide to Greener Electronics'
Apple takes fourth place in the latest "Guide to Greener Electronics," as issued by Greenpeace (http://www.greenpeace.org/).
Apple has a score of 4.6, getting most of its points on the Sustainable Operations. It gets near to maximum points on the e-waste criteria, where it reports that in 2010, its global recycling exceeded its 70% goal (as a percentage of sales seven years ago), a level that it is confident will be maintained through 2015.
Greenpeace says Apple can still make improvements by providing a breakdown of its recycling data and by further extending its take-back program. Together with HP, Apple is also a top scorer for its policies and practices on the sourcing of conflict minerals, for publishing its suppliers and engaging effectively in the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition’s conflict-free smelter program.
"Apple would score more points on the other criteria with greater transparency of its data in reporting the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of its supply chain...
Adobe to cease developing Flash for mobile browsers
Adobe plans to cease developing Flash for mobile browsers to concentrate on HTML5, reports "ZDNet," quoting unnamed "sources close to Adobe."
"Our future work with Flash on mobile devices will be focused on enabling Flash developers to package native apps with Adobe AIR for all the major app stores," an in-house Adobe email says. "We will no longer adapt Flash Player for mobile devices to new browser, OS version or device configurations. Some of our source code licensees may opt to continue working on and releasing their own implementations. We will continue to support the current Android and PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates." (Read more at http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/exclusive-adobe-ceases-development-on-m... .)
HTML5 -- preferred by Apple over Flash -- is a language for structuring and presenting content for the Web and is a core technology of the Internet originally proposed by Opera Software. Every new Apple mobile device and every new Mac...
Australian Judge" Apple must provide Samsung with carrier...
"Bloomberg Businessweek" (http://macte.ch/O77Xf) reports that Apple must provide Samsung with its contracts with Australian mobile-phone carriers as the South Korean company demanded in a patent dispute with the iPhone maker, a judge ruled.
Apple needs to produce agreements it has with Vodafone Group Plc, SingTel Optus and Telstra should Apple fail to agree on an assertion in Samsung’s patent lawsuit that the carriers are contractually obliged to subsidize iPhone sales, Australia Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett has ordered.
Samsung sued Apple in Australia, claiming the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPad 2 infringe its patents and is seeking a ban on the sale of the devices in the country. Bennett ruled the contracts with the phone operators are relevant to Samsung’s case, says "Businessweek." Apple said it would oppose the disclosure, the article adds.
Retrospect Spins out as Separate Company; Retrospect 9 Released
Retrospect, Inc. -- a privately‐held company recently founded by longtime Retrospect team members -- has released its first independent product offering, Retrospect 9 for the Mac.
It sports features like data deduplication, network backup of Mac, Windows, and Linux computers, and new support for cloud‐based storage. It provides critical functionality for professionals and small businesses that need more than basic data protection, says Eric Ullman, co‐founder in charge of products for Retrospect, Inc.
One of the new features in Retrospect 9 for Mac is support for cloud‐based storage, which provides immediate offsite backups. Retrospect 9 can target any Internet‐connected storage that has been configured to provide WebDAV (Web‐based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) access. Cloud storage providers like Egnyte (http://www.egnyte.com) and Internet hosting providers like Dreamhost (http://www.dreamhost.com) provide WebDAV‐accessible storage that Retrospect can employ for offsite...
Online music revenue to total $6.3 billion this year
Worldwide online music revenue from end-user spending is on pace to total $6.3 billion in 2011, up from $5.9 billion in 2010, according to Gartner (http://www.gartner.com). Online music revenue is forecast to reach US$6.8 billion in 2012, and grow to $7.7 billion in 2015, says the research group.
By comparison, consumer spending on physical music (CDs and LPs) is expected to slide from approximately $15 billion in 2010 to about $10 billion in 2015.
"As consumers opt for connected devices -- media tablets, smartphones and connected media players -- across world regions, their desire for access to and consumption of music and content is growing as well," says Mike McGuire, research vice president at Gartner. "Music labels, artists, publishers and new distribution intermediaries are developing new business models to address consumers' changing behavior.
He adds that the music industry was the first media sector to feel the full impact of two major forces -- the Internet and technology-...
Survey: 26% of potential Fire buyers delay buying an iPad
RBC analyst Mike Abramsky says in a note to clients -- as reported by "Fortune" -- that some folks possibly interested in purchasing a Amazon Kindle Fire tablet have delayed purchasing an iPad.
Using data from a ChangeWave (http://www.changewave.com) survey of 2,600 early adopter types, Abramsky says that 5% of those surveyed said they had pre-ordered or were very likely to buy Amazon's) new Kindle Fire, exceeding the 4% who said they were very likely to buy the original iPad in 2010. And 26% of those 5% said they would delay or put on hold the purchase of a new Apple tablet.
Read more at http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/11/09/survey-26-of-likely-fire-buyers-d... .
Ez Budget syncs between Macs, iPhones, iPads
Derek Clark has announced Ez Budget 1.1 for Mac OS X, software designed to help you implement an envelope budgeting system without having to deal with lots of real envelopes or carrying cash.
It does this by securely syncing with your bank account and downloading your transactions. You simply allocate your income to the envelopes you want and then categorize your transactions as they come in.
Ez Budget syncs between Macs, iPads, and iPhones so that you can have your budget when you need it. For example, you can sit down with your Mac and calculate how much you want to spend in each category and then when you are out shopping you can check your balance on your iPhone to see how much is left in your grocery budget.
Ez Budget requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later. It costs US$24.99 and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Finance category.
JBL OnBeat Air uses Apple's AirPlay wireless technology
JBL has released the US$249.95 OnBeat Air (http://macte.ch/OJNkh), which uses Apple’s Airplay wireless technology, so no matter where you are in your home, you can stream music from an iTunes collection or Internet radio station.
The music player features digital sound processing equalization with dual Phoenix full-range transducers. It includes an adaptable docking station to fit an iPad, iPhone or iPod in portrait or landscape mode.
The JBL OnBeat Air includes an IR remote control to navigate iTunes songs, playlists and videos. It can be used as a videoconference tool via Apple’s FaceTime or Skype.
NewerTech announces NuScribe 2-in-1 touch screen stylus and pen
Newer Technology (http://www.newertech.com) has announced theUS$19.99 NuScribe 2-in-1-touch screen stylus and pen for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.
Its soft rubber nib glides effortlessly across touch screens for easier, more enjoyable navigation, drawing, sketching, note taking, even turning pages from Apple iBook app downloads, according to the folks at NewerTech. Unlike an oily fingertip input, the NuScribe ensures a smudge-free, easy-to-view touch screen, they add.
When the setting calls for traditional pen and paper, the NuScribe’s twist-barrel operation reveals a smooth ball point tip. The NuScribe is available in silver and pink versions.
NetSpot is new Wi-Fi mapping software for the Mac
The NetSpot Team has updated NetSpot, Wi-Fi mapping software for Mac OS X, to version 1.1. It lets you run a Wi-Fi site survey and map wireless coverage of a living area, office space, new building, etc.
NetSpot Wi-Fi mapper lets you diagnose areas of poor reception in your Wi-Fi network, as well as locate troublesome areas of noise-generating machinery that could be causing wireless traffic issues.
NetSpot is compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It's free and available for download worldwide from the NetSPot App website (http://www.netspotapp.com).
Tropico 3: Gold Edition coming to the Mac in 2012
Feral Interactive says Tropico 3: Gold Edition for the Mac will be released in January 2012. Developed by Haemimont Games and published by Kalypso Media for Windows, Tropico 3: Gold Edition is a re-imagining of the construction and management simulation Tropico.
Here's how the game is described: "Tropico 3: Gold Edition is a combination of strategic city-builder and humorous political simulator that invites players to reign as El Presidente, dictator of the resource-rich Caribbean nation of Tropico. To govern is to choose, and as players build their island’s infrastructure, manage the economy and keep competing factions on side, they will have plenty of opportunity to find out whether they prefer to rule with a velvet glove or an iron fist.
"To maintain their grip on power, players will need to create a cult of personality around El Presidente, composing his silver-tongued speeches, manipulating the media and building monuments in his honor. El Presidente’s character will determine...
The TunesDoctor is in for iTunes
Candysoft has released TunesDoctor (http://www.candysoft.com/tunesdoctor/), an US$19.95 program for fixing disorganized music collections.
It can automatically fill in missing ID3 tags, fix incorrect ones, find cover art and add lyrics. TunesDoctor is compatible with iTunes, Windows Media Player, Foobar and Winamp.
The software can also find high resolution album artwork images. Missing lyrics are also added.
Monotype Imaging releases Georgia Pro, Verdana Pro typefaces
Monotype Imaging Holdings has released the Georgia Pro and Verdana Pro typeface families, available from Fonts.com.
Originally designed by Matthew Carter 15 years ago and adopted by every major computer operating system, Georgia and Verdana are now available as Pro families. Each comprises 20 weights and features advanced typographic capabilities and extended character sets.
New weights for both families include a light, semibold and black, each with matching italics, in addition to new condensed families and complementary italics. The fonts also contain enhanced kerning pair suites.
The Georgia Pro and Verdana Pro typefaces, available in TrueType® and OpenType formats, may be purchased and downloaded from http://www.fonts.com, http://www.linotype.com and http://www.itcfonts.com . In addition, the new fonts are available for web design at Fonts.com Web Fonts. Georgia Pro and Verdana Pro are also available from Font Bureau and Webtype, Font Bureau's Web font service.
Quark offers GLUON iDropper to QuarkXPress customers
Thirty years ago, Quark (http://www.quark.com) was founded in Denver, Colorado, and QuarkXPress was soon introduced. Quark is celebrating its 30th anniversary by offering QuarkXPress users a complimentary copy of iDropper, a QuarkXPress XTension, and 30% off the ProPack of XTensions.
iDropper allows designers to add colors from any graphic appearing on their screen or choose from one of 9,500 colors offered by Quark to the color list in QuarkXPress. iDropper can also copy box attributes from one box to another or to several boxes. An $89 value, current users can redeem their complimentary copy of iDropper at http://www.quark.com/Support/Downloads/Details.aspx?fid=214 .
QuarkXPress users can also celebrate Quark’s 30 years by taking advantage of 30% off ProPack 9, a bundle that contains 14 professional grade XTensions, from ProScale, Texterous and Spotcheck, to ProGrids & Guides, Greeker, and more. Visit the Quark Store (http://shop.quark.com/am/p-27-gluon-propack-9.aspx) to...
AJA releases KONA LHe Plus and 9.1 software
AJA Video Systems (http://www.aja.com) has announced KONA LHe Plus, offering more powerful video capture and playback capabilities, greater performance and a 25% lower cost than its predecessor, the KONA LHe.
The company has also released version 9.1 software for KONA, Io Express and Io HD, adding 4K and Quad HD capture to the KONA 3G’s 4K playback features.
JA 9.1 software enables 4K and Quad HD capture on KONA 3G, delivers improved RGB/YUV and RGB full range/RGB SMPTE range conversions on all KONA solutions and Io Express, and improves AES audio status bit settings on KONA 3G and audio inputs on KONA LHe.
KONA LHe Plus is available through AJA’s global network of resellers at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$995. Version 9.1 software is available as a no-cost download for all KONA, Io Express, and Io HD owners.
TexturePackerPro for OS X updated to version 2.4.0
Code'n'Web has announced TexturePackerPro 2.4.0 for Mac OS X, an update to their software development tool that creates and optimizes sprite sheets in 15 different output formats for iOS, Android, and Web frameworks.
Sprite sheets are useful thanks to their ability to speed development time, simplify graphics, minimize memory usage, and reduce load times. TexturePackerPro is a drag 'n drop solution that offers control over all variables of sprite sheet creation and image optimization.
The app supports Adobe Flash SWF (each frame is added as a single sprite), PNG, JPG, BMP, TIFF, PCT, etc. An integrated .PVR/PVR.CCZ viewer allows users to open files of that format directly into the TexturePackerPro viewer.
TexturePacker Pro requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It costs US$24.95. You can get it bundled with Code'n'Web's PhysicsEditor Bundle for 34.95. A free version, TexturePackerEssential, which includes all basic functions, is also available. All version can be downloaded directly from...
Vitamin-R for Mac OS X adds progressive screen dim feature
Publicspace.net has released Vitamin-R 1.72 (http://www.publicspace.net/Vitamin-R/index.html), an update of its Mac OS X compatible productivity tool for creative professionals. The new version adds ability to progressively dim the screen before the end of a time slice or timed break.
Vitamin-R is a collection of tools and techniques for managing attention and maintaining motivation. According to the folks at publicspace.net, it complements the task capturing and organizing features of modern to-do list managers by forcing you to concentrate fully on one task a time and keeping distractions at bay. It breaks down large, vaguely defined tasks into a series of short "time slices" of between 10 and 30 minutes, each with specific and actionable objectives.
Vitamin-R provides you with the "Now & Later Board," complete with FastType magic, to give you a place to quickly dump all those things that go through your head and allows to get back to the task at hand. It requires Mac OS X 10.6...
Boingo Wireless announces personal VPN
Boingo Wireless (http://www.boingo.com) will offer a personal VPN for customers to use when connecting to Wi-Fi networks. The VPN will be integrated into the Boingo Wi-Finder app and will use the customer’s Boingo account credentials to log in to both premium Boingo networks and free networks.
The new Boingo VPN will be available for Mac and Windows laptops, and iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. It's currently in limited beta release among select customers, and is scheduled to launch in early 2012. The personal VPN will be free to Boingo monthly subscribers.
The new personal VPN will incorporate important technological updates that leverage the power of cloud computing to deliver quality service around the world, as well as extend support to new mobile computing platforms that need secure access options, according to Niels Jonker, chief technology officer for Boingo Wireless.
Courier for Mac OS X now supports Tumblr
Realmac has updated Courier (http://www.realmacsoftware.com/courier/) -- a tool that allows you to share files, images, photos, movies and more with online services such as Flickr and Facebook -- to version 1.3. The new version lets you share your photos, videos and music files to Tumblr.
To use Courier, you create an Envelope, drag on the stamp icons for the services you want to send files to; then just drag and drop on the files you want to deliver. The stamp icons are for seven built-in plug-ins for file sharing with Amazon S3, Ember, Flickr, Facebook, FTP / SFTP, Vimeo and YouTube.
Once everything's been uploaded, Courier ensures links to the published files are ready for use. Realmac keeps the history of all uploads so you can retrieve links to each file.
Courier requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and a 64-bit Mac. It's available at the Mac App Store for US$1.99 through Nov. 11. After that the price will be $9.99
VVI begins Data Acquisition Plotting beta
VVI (http://www.vvidget.org) has started a beta period for its data acquisition application, DAQ Plot. During this period, users may participate in the following ways:
° Buy DAQ Plot direct from VVI or the Mac App Store and provide feedback to support@vvi.com for the beta and upcoming version.
° Sign a non-disclosure agreement and then receive beta versions in an iterative fashion to speed the introduction of your desired features and also discuss non-released software and features with the expert in data acquisition on Mac OS X.
The beta is intended to facilitate the introduction of features "that radically improve DAQ Plot products."
Apple's posts adapter replacement program details
Apple has published a support document that outlines the procedures of Apple's adapter replacement program for those who have faced strain relief problems with their "T" style MagSafe power cables on Apple laptops.
"Apple may provide customers a replacement adapter if the power adapter shows signs of strain relief," the company says. "Strain relief is defined as a condition where the DC cable (the thin cord that attaches the MagSafe connector to the power adapter) separates from the end of the MagSafe connector or from the other end of the thin cord, at the power adapter."
Read more about the adapter replacement program at http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4127 .
Apple working with American company on solar farm
Companies from China dominate solar panel production, but Apple has opted to partner with an American company to help build its forthcoming solar farm in North Carolina, according to "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com).
Leaf Solar Power, a renewable energy company based out of Lake Worth, Florida., is working with Apple on a new solar farm that will power its US$1 billion data center, the article says, quoting an unnamed "person familiar with the ongoing project,: Leaf Solar's involvement in Apple's North Carolina solar farm may be the the company's largest and most lucrative partnership yet, as Leaf specializes in residential and "small" commercial projects in South Florida, says "AppleInsider."
Apple has begun work on the solar farm that will apparently help power its sprawling data center in southern Catawba County, North Carolina, according to "The Charlotte Observer" (http://macte.ch/B7hdu). Permits issued by Catawba County show that the company has been approved to...
Voters in five Oregon counties to use iPads
Voters in five Oregon counties will get to vote using the iPad this year -- and Apple even donated five of the tablets to the cause, reports "Wired" (http://macte.ch/Sqxoz). Voters use the iPad to fill out their ballots, which are still printed on paper.
The iPads run special software that cost the state US$75,000 to develop, says "Wired." Voters can mail in their printed ballot, or place it in a designated ballot box. Those with poor vision can even adjust the iPad’s screen colors and text size, or have onscreen text read the ballot contents aloud.
Election officials told "Wired" they believe Oregon is the first state in the US to implement iPads as a voting tool. To roll out the program statewide, though, Oregon would need about two iPads per county, which would run the state about $36,000.
Apple to train managers on how to respond to unionization...
Apple has begun planning on how to respond if its retail employees unionize, reports "CNET," quoting an "internal document" it obtained. Apple plans a training course on the topic, which takes place tomorrow morning and is required to be taken by all new store managers, says "CNET"
"This course is intended to provide managers with a practical understanding of how unions affect the workplace, how and why employees organize, and the legal do's and don'ts of dealing with unions," the training description reads. "This is a mandatory class for all new managers, and is required biannually for all managers."
As "CNET" notes, the move comes about six months after an employee-driven effort unionize Apple's retail workers. That store-by-store effort, called the Apple Retail Workers Union, cited Apple for providing poor compensation to its part time employees, as well as calling attention to alleged deficiencies in Apple's "break schedules, training opportunities," and "the selection and hiring...
Apple Store app now supports in-store pickup
Apple has updated its free Apple Store app for iOS devices to version 2.0. The upgrade lets you order products for in-store pickup. It also adds an EasyPay feature so customers can pay for certain items in-store by scanning the product’s barcode.
Products bought via the app now include an in-store pickup option and a list of local stores where you can pick up the items you ordered. The EasyPay feature requires an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S.
The in-store option is currently available only in the US. You can obtain the Apple Store app in the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/).
'Consumer Reports' recommends the iPhone 4S
"Consumer Reports" (http://www.consumerreports.com) -- an independent organization that tests consumer products -- says the Apple iPhone 4S is among the recommended models in their newly updated ratings of smart phones.
"Apple’s newest smart phone performed very well in our tests, and while it closely resembles the iPhone 4 in appearance, it doesn’t suffer the reception problem we found in its predecessor in special tests in our labs," the publication says. "In special reception tests of the iPhone 4S that duplicated those we did on the iPhone 4, the newer phone did not display the same reception flaw, which involves a loss of signal strength when you touch a spot on the phone’s lower left side while you’re in an area with a weak signal."
The iPhone 4S also did well in the standard tests of battery life by "Consumer Reports." Like the iPhone 4, it scores Very Good overall on that attribute. And the iPhone 4S and new samples of the iPhone 4 have displayed no notable battery problems...
Alter Aeon RPG comes to the Mac App Store
The official client for the Alter Aeon Online RPG is now available in the Mac Apple Store. Allowing free access to the world of Alter Aeon for Mac users, the game world is a realm of magic and monsters, with five character classes and over 250 spells and skills available to players.
There are more than 300 quests which detail the world and provide paths for advancement, as well as single player areas for casual gamers and arenas for PvP combat.
Alter Aeon began as a single online server in early 1995, and has been under active development for more than 16 years. Originally designed with a purely text-based interface, it now features a graphical user interface when using the official client, but still retains a fully functional text-only interface for the blind and visually impaired.
Alter Aeon is compatible with Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later. It's free and available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Games category.
CopyToy lets you transfer data from iOS device to a computer
Candysoft has released CopyToy, a Mac OS X and Windows compatible app that allows users to copy music and other kinds of data from an iPod, iPad and iPhone to a computer. It costs US$19.95 and is available for download at the Candysoft web site (http://www.candysoft.com/copytoy/). All customers receive free lifetime updates.
You can copy entire music libraries, along with their respective metadata. Users retain all their artist, album, and genre information, along with all others, when copying files, according to the folks at Candysoft.
What's more, CopyToy can also handle movies, photos, games, playlists, podcasts, TV Shows, and iTunesU files. This means, for instance, that users won´t need to re-download large iTunesU files.
Autodesk 123D family expands
Autodesk has expanded its Autodesk 123D family to include Autodesk 123D Catch and Autodesk 123D Make Technology Preview.
The Autodesk 123D Catch application -- previously codenamed Project Photofly on Autodesk Labs -- is a new, public beta release that uses the power of cloud computing to transform digital photos into photorealistic 3D models.
Anyone capable of using a point-and-shoot, mobile phone or advanced digital SLR cameras to snap a series of photos of objects, people or scenes can use 123D Catch to generate 3D models, says Samir Hanna, vice president of Consumer Products at Autodesk. The app also has built-in sharing capabilities with short movies or animations for viewing on mobile devices, YouTube and other social media channels.
Autodesk 123D Make application is a free technology preview for the Mac, capable of converting digital 3D models into 2D cut patterns that can be assembled in low-cost materials, such as cardboard, wood, fabric, metal or plastic. The cut pieces...
VirtuaScore Basketball 1.0 bounces onto the Mac
Blackwood Applications has introduced VirtuaScore Basketball 1.0, a virtual scoreboard for Mac OS X (10.6 and higher). It's available worldwide for a limited-time price of US$4.99 exclusively on the Mac App Store.
Designed for schools and independent sports organizations, VirtuaScore Basketball features the functionality of a full basketball scoreboard, detailed displays, three methods of control, and more.
Users may opt between a control panel window, menu commands, and keyboard shortcuts. VirtuaScore Basketball supports both windowed and full-screen modes.
PhotoStyler 6.0 for Mac OS X adds new interface, more
Neatberry has announced PhotoStyler 6.0 for Mac OS X, an update of the app that lets you style digital photos with your Mac. Version 6.0 sports an improved user interface, new filters, dozens new pre-built templates. better iPhoto integration and sharing options like Flickr and Facebook.
PhotoStyler supports all image formats that are supported by Mac OS X, including RAW images. It uses your GPU to process the photos wherever possible.
PhotoStyler 6.0 requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It's available for US$29.99 at the Neatberry web site (http://neatberry.com/products/photostyler/).
IvySkin announces iPhone 4/4S SmartCase
IvySkin has announced the new SmartCase case for the iPhone 4/4S. It features a new Wrangler design with optional battery pack.
The SmartCase Touch-Thru boasts flowing curves and non-slip grips. It packs a 2000mAh rechargeable lithium polymer battery. The SmartCase purportedly offers: up to an additional eight hours on 3G, up to 16 hours on 2G, of talk time; up to an additional 48 hours of audio playback; and up to an additional 12 hours video playback.
An integrated LED status indicator tells you exactly how much power is left and also displays how much time remains during the charging process. The kit ships with the Wrangler case, as well as the battery pack, that enables you to use the battery pack only when needed.
The SmartCase costs US$99. It's available for pre-order at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/61050373/smartcase-iphone-4-4s-wrang... .
Hub Innovations releases REV360 for the iPad
Hub Innovations (http://www.hubinnovations.com) has released the REV360, an US$49.95 rotational and protective iPad case that spins 360 degrees.
It's designed and manufactured in the U.S. from recycled plastics and resin. The REV360's molded polyurethane cover has been redesigned to conform to the iPad’s shape. A spherical design conforms to your finger’s natural tendency to rest in a curved position adding to the comfort of the rotating hand disk, according to the folks at Hub Innovations.
The REV360 is compatible with Apple's Smart Cover for the iPad. It's available in white, black, pink, orange, green, blue, copper, grey, purple and red, as well as patterns such as animal print, carbon fiber and digital camouflage.
iClipboard 4 for Mac OS X boasts over 20 new features
Chronos has released iClipboard 4, an update to its clipboard manager for Mac OS X (10.6 and later). The upgrade contains over 20 new features and major changes, according to Jerry Halls, vice president of sales at Chronos.
Among the new features are: search clippings; a free-floating Shelf; the ability to sort sort clippings by date, application, etc.; the ability to order clippings manually via drag & drop; a project selector in Paste Blaster; options to paste rich text as plain text; 64-bit only application; and more.
iClipboard automatically keeps a history of everything a user copies to the system clipboard in any application. It then provides five different ways to paste clippings from the history. iClipboard also features an interface that shows previews of each clipping.
A fully functional 30 day trial version can be downloaded from Chronos' web site at http://www.chronosnet.com. It costs US$29.99 for a single-user license and $49.99 for a family pack. Registered...
Provo Craft's Cricut Craft Rom is Mac compatible
Provo Craft has released the Cricut Craft Room design tool, a free online design application that allows users to see and design personalized craft projects with the full library of Cricut digital images. It's compatible with Mac OS X.
To use Cricut Craft Room, consumers can either visit the Cricut Craft Room website to view and design with the entire Cricut library of artwork. Or, if they're Cricut machine owners, they can download Cricut Craft Room to their home computers and then connect to their Cricut machine to view, design, and cut with the digital images. Consumers can cut from cartridges they already own or browse the wider library of Cricut digital images to create a new project.
Switcheasy announces Lanyard for the iPhone 4/4S
Switcheasy (http://www.switcheasy.com) has announced he Laynard for the iPhone 4/4S. It's an US$19.99 thin protection solution with a lanyard attachment.
It includes one lanyard case, two anti-static screen guards, one microfiber wipe, one squeegee screen guard applicator, two power jack connector protectors and two 3.5mm headphone jack protectors. The Lanyard is available in black, white, grey, red, yellow, blue, lime and pink.
FridgePad introduces iPad MotoMount, WallMount
Woodford Design, creators of the FridgePad (iPad refrigerator mount), says the FridgePad has been liberated from the kitchen and is now part of a full iPad mounting system.
With the release of the MotoMount and WallMount you can now use your Apple tablet in the car, house, office, workshop and other locations. MotoMount installs to your car headrest and utilizes the FridgePad’s magnetic mounting system to provide iPad mounting.
The WallMount is manufactured from brushed stainless steel. It's compatible with both VESA 100mm and 75mm standards The MotoMount and WallMount cost approximately US$20 each and are available at http://www.woodforddesign.com .
Cyborg R.A.T. Contagion gaming mouse scampers onto the Mac
Mad Catz (http://www.madcatz.com) has launched the US$99.95 Cyborg R.A.T.7 Contagion Gaming Mouse, compatible with both Mac and PC and available for purchase at the Apple online stores across North America and Europe.
The Cyborg R.A.T.7 Contagion gaming mouse customizable performance and a 6400 dpi (dots per inch) sensor. It has a lightweight aluminum chassis and the ability to adjust the weight to your personal preference.
You can set your own Precision Aim speed with the Cyborg R.A.T.7 Contagion. The gaming mouse has six programmable buttons, plus custom dpi settings.
Panasonic announces new photo/video camera
Panasonic has announced the LUMIX DMC-3D1, a digital camera that employs two newly-developed lens units with folded optics design in a compact body that can capture r 3D and 2D photos and videos.
The LUMIX 3D1, with a twin-lens design, features 25mm ultra-wide angle lenses with 4x optical zoom that offer the capability to record high resolution 8-megapixel 3D photo and 1920x1080 60i high quality 3D HD video using side-by-side method. The LUMIX 3D1's optics give users a wider range of composition possibilities with approximately 169% larger viewing space compared to that of 35mm cameras, according to Darin Pepple, senior product manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
Featuring a unique shooting option, the new twin-lens system allows the LUMIX 3D1 to capture 2D images and video simultaneously. The LUMIX 3D1 can shoot 12-megapixel 2D photos and record 1920x1080i full HD 2D videos. In conventional standard digital compact cameras, users must shoot in either photo or...
ATTO announces PCIe 3.0 SAS/SATA host bus adapters
ATTO Technology (http://www.attotech.com/) has released its ExpressSAS 6Gb/s SAS/SATA H6F0 GT host bus adapters (HBA).
The company says this marks the first-to-market SAS/SATA adapter developed using the PCIe 3.0 specification, and is capable of speeds up to 8GB/s in a single PCIe slot, doubling the performance over existing HBAs. Currently offered to original equipment customers only, the ExpressSAS H6F0 will be available to the channel in the fourth quarter.
ATTO H6F0 GT HBAs are available with 16 external mini-SAS HD ports and are designed to support a dense and efficient connection to external storage from rack mount servers and workstations in data center, data warehousing, VOD and other high-availability, high-performance applications. They are bolstered by Advanced Data Streaming (ADS), a proprietary technology that controls the acceleration of data transfers to move large amounts of data more efficiently.
The H6F0 GT supports up to 512 SAS/SATA drives and is compatible...
Sennheiser introduces new headphones
Sennheiser (http://www.sennheiserusa.com/home) had introduced HD 200 and HD 400 series headphones. The line includes six new models -- the HD 219, HD 229, HD 239, HD 429, HD 439 and the HD 449 -- and range in price from US$59.95 to $119.95.
“Our new HD 200 and HD 400 series headphones offer a significant acoustic upgrade from stock headphones with fashion-forward design,” says Sennheiser product specialist Eric Palonen. “Each headphone stands out with bold colors and an intricate ear cup design, while offering a variety of sonic signatures fit for any music fan.”
All six models are also optimized for listening on MP3 players, tablets, smartphones, laptops, netbooks and Apple devices including iPods, the iPad series and all iPhone devices. Some models feature a rotating earcups or cable systems fit for portable or at home use.
Photoshop Elements 10, Premiere Elements 10 now at Mac App Store
Adobe says Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 Editor and Adobe Premiere Elements 10 Editor is now available in the Mac App Store.
Photoshop Elements 10 is photo-editing software. Premiere Elements 10 Editor is a video editing app.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 Editor and Adobe Premiere Elements 10 Editor can be downloaded from the Mac App Store immediately worldwide for US$79.99 each. The apps are available in English, French, German and Japanese.
Launch2Net update supports Huawei, Novate modems
Nova media has updated launch2net Premium (http://www.novamedia.de) its 3G connection manager with the ability to share your Mac's 3G connection with iPads and other devices. Version 2.5 offers support for additional USB modems from Huawei and Novate.
Launch2net Premium can replace different connection managers from network operators and modem manufacturers, making a mobile online experience much more enjoyable, says Jan Fuellemann, PR spokesperson at nova media. Using the integrated Mobile Hub, the 3G connection can instantly be shared with iPads, iPod touches and other WLAN capable devices, he adds. Besides the ability to establish a 3G connection with most modems and most network operators, launch2net Premium offers a full fledged SMS text message manager as well as a statistics.
Launch2net Premium 2.5 is available today for download at nova media's web site. It's a free update for current users. For new users a single license of launch2net Premium is priced at approximately US$49....
Paradigma Software releases free database and reports server
Paradigma Software (http://www.valentina-db.com/), the makers of Valentina DB, has announced the availability of their Valentina Office Server /5 product for free.
Previously sold for US$299.99, it is the fastest combined business intelligence server that runs natively on 32-bit and 64-bit Mac OS X 10.7 ("Lion"), Windows, and Linux systems, says Lynn Fredricks, president of Paradigma Software. It
brings together two technologies: the object-relational columnar database Valentina DB, and the enterprise class reporting engine Valentina Reports.
Valentina DB can store any kind of data, with optional and granular encryption and compression. Valentina Reports services let you host reporting projects. All features of Valentina DB and Valentina Reports can be fully automated.
AutoMailer for Mac OS X revved to version 1.2
Tension Software has released AutoMailer 1.2.for Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It's a maintenance upgrade.
AutoMailer allows you to send serialized emails to multiple users with a button click, starting from data imported from a text file and merging the data with a template email you can create. It merges data from the internal database with an email template creating for any recipient a personalized and custom email. AutoMailer doesn’t requires scripting or coding.
All the settings, data and email templates can be saved inside documents and retrieved and reused at any time. AutoMailer offers a preview of any email to prepare. The user has the option to send just a selection, checked records or all the record in the imported data
Serialized sending is performed in a separate thread, and is performed at a regular time interval you can set to avoid "sending locks" in case your provider doesn't allow to send more then a specified number of emails per minute or hours.
AutoMailer provides a...
Analyst: iPad accounts for 75% of all tablets sold
Apple sold 11.1 million iPads in the September quarter, accounting for about three-quarters of all tablets sold to consumers, Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley tells clients in a note -- as reported by "AllThingsD" (http://macte.ch/Nf8rR).
"We anticipate very strong sales of the iPad 2 for the holiday quarter, and we are modeling iPad units ramping from 11.1 million units in the September quarter to 14.0 million units in the December quarter," he says.
Walkley adds that new entrants such as Amazon could disrupt the completive dynamics into holiday sales, he thinks low-priced 7-inch models are a threat to other Android devices rather than to the iPad. "As such, given our updated iPad estimates, we anticipate Apple will command roughly 65% of the tablet units sold into the channel during C2011," the analyst says. "However, we believe Apple’s sell-through share of the tablet market will exceed 75 percent during C2011.”
iPhone 4S still selling like hotcakes
After becoming available for preorder in Hong Kong last Friday, the iPhone 4S sold out almost immediately, once again demonstrating Apple's continued success in China, according to Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White.
"In our view, this is a very positive sign for iPhone 4S demand in Greater China has Hong Kong represents the first entry of the new smartphone in the rapidly growing region, and we expect the 4S to reach Mainland China in December," he said in a note to investors, as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com).
Meanwhile, Chris Whitmore with Deutsche Bank told investors that a poll of about 30 retail stores revealed Apple is experiencing daily stock-outs of the iPhone 4S at most of them. He said that between 85 and 90% of stores polled continue to run out of inventory.
"Apple employees are directing customers to make an online appointment (first come first serve) for next day pickup at nearby Apple retail stores as stocks appear to be refreshed...
iOS device sales could be banned in Germany
Sales of iPhones and iPads could be banned in Germany as a result of a court battle over Apple's alleged infringement of Motorola patents, reports "Reg Hardware" (http://macte.ch/mWTfs).
The German hearing on Friday was brought about by Motorola Mobility, which is seeking an injunction to ban sales and prevent Apple gaining customers while the patent hearings continue. Apple didn't attend, which results in the German court rendering a default judgement which will see Apple products removed from sale in Germany, unless the company gets it suspended, notes "Reg Hardware."
In November 2010 Apple sued Motorola, alleging that the company's smartphone lineup and the operating software it uses infringe on the iPhone-maker's intellectual property. The two lawsuits came after Motorola sued Apple in October 2010 for patent infringement. Motorola claims that Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and certain Mac computers infringe Motorola patents.
Overall, Motorola Mobility's three complaints...
Palo Alto extends firewall visibility to Apple devices
Palo Alto Networks (http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/index.php), a network security company, has announced a new release of GlobalProtect that supports Mac OS X and iOS devices.
GlobalProtect expands the boundaries of the physical network, establishing a logical perimeter that encompasses remote laptop and mobile device users irrespective of their location. When a remote user logs into the device, GlobalProtect automatically determines the closest gateway available to the roaming device and establishes a secure connection using strong authentication. Laptop and mobile devices will stay connected to the corporate network at all times, and protected as if they never left the corporate campus, according to the folks at Palo Alto Networks.
"As a highly-regulated healthcare organization, the fact that our physicians are adopting Apple iPads at a very fast rate poses both security and compliance challenges," says Mike Wade, network system engineer at Summa Healthcare. "We're looking to Palo...
DesktopWidget is new Dashboard extension
DesktopWidget is a new, lightweight Dashboard extension for Mac OS X specifically designed for both "active widget users" and developers alike.
It lets you organize your widget collection and simulate almost every widget. You can leave the main widget collection on the built-in OS X Dashboard, and use a subset of them as desktop widgets. With Desktop Widget, you can show and hide all desktop widgets with a single hotkey.
If you are developer, you can visually check control regions and JavaScript errors while developing and inspect any parts of your widget on the fly. What's more, DesktopWidget can sync either your widgets and their preferences between all your Macs via Dropbox.
DesktopWidget is priced at US$9.99 and available directly from Deep IT (http://deepitpro.com/en/mac/index.shtml). A demo version is available for download.
