PDFPen for Mac Os X gets new security features
SmileOnMyMac has updated PDFPen (http://www.smileonmymac.com/PDFpen/download.html), its PDF editing and form-filling tool for Mac OS X, to version 5.3. The update adds adds new security features, including 128-bit and 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption.
The changes in PDFpen 5.3 have also been made in PDFpenPro 5.3, the pro version that can also convert websites into PDFs, create fillable PDF forms, and construct document table of contents.
PDFpen costs US$59.95, and PDFpenPro is $99.95. Family pack licenses, which cover up to five computers in one household, are $74.95 for PDFpen and $129.95 for PDFpenPro. Upgrades from earlier versions of either application are $25, and free to users who purchased after Feb. 14, 2010. Upgrades from any version of PDFpen to PDFpenPro 5.0 are $40.
PDFpen 5.3 and PDFpen Pro 5.3 require Mac OS X 10.6 or later. Demo versions are available for download.
iWebTemplate releases 10 new iWeb templates
In collaboration with iPresentee and iWebThemesPro, iWebTemplate (http://www.iwebtemplate.com/) has announced the addition of 10 new iWeb templates to be used with Apple's website building application.
The new templates are Sky Town, Sky, LightCardboard, Japanese, Interior, Fresco, DJ, Code, Brown and Blue themes. All can be customized. The new iWeb templates include an installer to make sure the templates end up in the right place.
The iWebTemplate templates require Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later and iWeb 2.0 (iLife '08) or iWeb 3.0 (iLife '09 or iLife '11). Each is available from US$9.99.
CDFinder for Mac OS X gets better cataloging features
Norbert M. Doerner has released CDFinder 5.7.2 (http://www.cdfinder.de), an update to the disk library cataloger. The new version can now catalog thumbnails of Adobe InDesign CS5 files and more RAW photo formats.
There are also improvements for cataloging and overall stability. CDFinder keeps track of your digital files, photos, songs, movies, on hard disks, CD-ROMs, Blu-ray disks, DVD-ROMs, server disks, and any other digital media.
CDFinder requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. Version 5.7.2 is a free update to licensed users of CDFinder 5.x. Cross-grades for users of competing applications (DiskLibrary, Canto Cumulus, iView Media Pro, and more) are available. A free demo version can be downloaded from the CDFinder website, and the price for new users starts at approximately US$41. Multiple user packs are available for network users.
Apple releases Digital Camera RAW, ProKit updates
Apple has released Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.7 and .
The former (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1386) adds RAW image compatibility for new cameras to Aperture 3 and iPhoto '11. It's a 6.62MB download and requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or higher.
ProKit 7.0 (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1385) resolves a number of minor issues, according to Apple. It's a 15.7MB download and requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher.
You can obtain the updates via the System Preferences component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app.
Apple looking for a media streaming engineer manager
An Apple job posting (http://macte.ch/WXkDY) shows that the company is looking for a media streaming engineer manager. This is likely in conjunction with the rumored "iCloud" streaming service Apple is expected to announce as part of its plans for the ginormous data center its building in North Carolina.
The media streaming engineer manager will be part of the Interactive Media Group (IMG), which provides the media and graphics foundation across all of Apple's innovative products, including the iPhone, AppleTV, iPad and iPod, as well as professional and consumer applications from Final Cut and Aperture to iLife and iWork. Apple says the "IMG takes the media experience to the next level on both Mac OS X and Windows platforms with technologies such as QuickTime X and Core Animation."
"Our team is responsible for implementing software services around linear audiovisual media," says Apple. " This includes local media playback, video-on-demand and live streaming of multimedia content. Our...
Apple exhibiting at BookExpo America
Apple will exhibit this year at BookExpo America, the largest trade book fair in the United States to promote its iBookStore, reports "paidContent" (http://macte.ch/Y4JnB).
The iBookstore features books from major and independent publishers. Once you’ve bought a book -- or download a free one -- it’s displayed on your Bookshelf in an iOS device. Just tap it to start reading.
The company has a large booth in a prime location, next door to Scholastic and in the same area as major publishers including Random House, Disney Book Group and Macmillan, the article adds. BEA’s website (http://www.bookexpoamerica.com) notes that Apple will be represented by Scott Simpson from Apple’s iBookstore.
The BookExpo America will be held May 23-28 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. It is an exclusive convention for book industry members only.
In February Bloomberg cited a Goldman Sachs report that said Amazon.com had 58% of ebook sales, followed by Barnes & Noble at 27%, Apple at...
Apple profit averages to $419,528 per employee
Apple earned a massive profit of US$419,528 per employee in the past 12 months (not, of course, that most make anywhere close to that), handily beating Google, Microsoft, Intel, HP, Dell and other tech firms, reports "pingdom" (http://macte.ch/rgGKV), a site that covers "the uptime monitoring needs of 90% of the companies in the world."
"One reason (of several) that profit per employee is such an interesting metric is because it gives you a number that doesn’t depend so much on the size of the company. In other words, it becomes easy to compare companies of different sizes," says "pingdom." "Apple is not only in the lead, it is in the lead by quite some margin. Its profit per employee is 1.25x that of Google’s and 1.71x that of Microsoft’s. This is of course a direct result of Apple’s rapidly growing profits. Apple has never been as profitable as it is now, not even close."
Apple’s profit per employee has grown 2.8x since 2008. Also, "pingdom" notes that company has added more than...
Apple looking into Lodys patent infringement claims
Apple's legal department is "actively investigating" claims by Lodsys, a patent holding company that's suing some iPhone and iPad developers using in-app purchase systems, reports "The Guardian" (http://macte.ch/6bcDZ).
So far Lodsys has served papers on about a dozen iOS developers. Last week patent holding firm Lodsys began targeting small iOS developers with notices of patent infringement for providing in-app purchase and/or Apple App Store purchase links within their apps. The company said developers had to obtain a license within 21 days or face the prospect of a lawsuit.
Lodsys has been criticized by some for targeting app and website publishers instead of Apple itself. Apple isn't expected to respond to the claims until later this week, says "The Guardian."
-- Dennis Sellers
Flexibits releases Fantastical, a flexible calendar for the Mac
Flexibits has introduced Fantastical, a flexible calendar application for Mac that lets you create, view, and search their events.
Using a natural language engine, Fantastical is "expressive," allowing users enter event text in their own style. For example, enter a sentence such as "Lunch with John at 123 Main Street on Tuesday" and Fantastical will translate the sentence into an event and add it to their calendar.
Users can use the event list and calendar to locate and plan all of their events. Color-coding helps make quick sense of a user's schedule. Even the number of events displayed can be changed so the user can focus on a specific range of events, says Michael Simmons, co-founder of Flexibits.
Full CalDAV support is included, allowing users of services such as MobileMe, Google Calendar, and Yahoo! Calendar to use their calendars with Fantastical once they have been added to iCal.
Fantastical for Mac is available for a special introductory price (until June 1) of US$14.99 (US)...
Apple planning smaller SIM?
Apple has proposed a standardized SIM card smaller than those it currently uses in the iPhone and iPad in order to be able to produce thinner devices, Anne Bouverot, Orange's head of mobile services, tells "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/SIIst).
"They have done that through the standardization route, through ETSI, with the sponsorship of some major mobile operators, Orange being one of them," she told the Paris leg of the Reuters Global Technology Summit.
She said the process would take time and that the first devices using such SIM cards could come out next year. Believe it or not, Apple has no comment.
D-Link's new Cloud Managed solutions sport expanded...
D-Link -- a standards-based unified networking solutions provider -- has announced new Cloud Managed products for small and medium-sized businesses looking for a better way to manage their networks.
The D-Link DAP-3525 AirPremier N Dual Band Exterior PoE Access Point powered by CloudCommand, D-Link Insight, and D-Link DIR-605 Fuzion Broadband Aggregation Router leverage Cloud-based automation for remote configuration and monitoring, resiliency, load balancing, and security management that can be outsourced or handled internally, allowing businesses with limited IT resources and budgets to improve the uptime and cost-effectiveness of their networks, says Joe Melfi, director of technical marketing and product manager for Cloud Solutions, D-Link Systems.
D-Link’s Cloud Managed solutions allow small and medium businesses -- or the value-added reseller (VAR) or managed service provider (MSP) of their choice -- to manage one or many networks remotely via a Cloud portal, he adds. Using the...
Goal of 45 million iPads this year out of reach?
FBR analyst Craig Berger told clients in a note -- as reported by "Business Insider" (http://macte.ch/bBelq) -- that Apple's internal goal of selling 45 million iPads this year is "out of reach" due to production problems.
He says his sources tell him that for the second calendar quarter of 2011, production targets are 6.2 million units, and Apple could sell 6.4 million iPads for the quarter, below current expectations. Berger says touchscreen availability and Hon Hai production problems are limiting Apple.
For the third quarter, the analyst sees production dropping off to 5.2 million units thanks to component shortages and production problems. He also says the effects of the Japanese earthquake could be felt in the third quarter though this could change if touchscreen supplies improve.
Apple rep to appear at second Senate hearing over location...
A second U.S. Senate hearing over location privacy has been scheduled with Apple and Google reps participating. The goal is to "highlight how well companies notify their customers about when and how their whereabouts are stored and transmitted," reports "CNET" (http://macte.ch/KT8Pi).
Following the U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing about mobile privacy last week, representatives from the two companies are expected to again appear in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to answer questions from U.S. lawmakers. "CNET" says that the topic of a hearing, put on by the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance, is "consumer privacy and protection in the mobile marketplace."
It's being led by chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia). On the docket to testify as part of a witness panel is Catherine Novelli, Apple's vice president of worldwide government affairs. Last time Guy "Bud" Tribble, Apple's vice president of software technology, around...
Brosix releases Web-based instant messaging client
Brosix has announced an online version of their Brosix Instant Messaging program. This program allows Brosix users to log into their account and contact their IM friends and colleagues without downloading Brosix Instant Messenger.
This web client is free to use and users will only need an account, which is also free through Brosix Personal. This web version of Brosix offers the same level of encryption, according to Stefan Chekanov, owner of Brosix.
In order to use the Brosix Web Client to carry on instant messaging conversations, go to "Direct Download Link" (http://www.brosix.com) and click on Start. The web client only allows users to carry on conversations, not use any of the features that are available on the downloadable program version.
The web client also allows users to set their status to Online, Not Available, or Do Not Disturb. This can be found by clicking the green check mark once a user has signed into the web client.
HP announces 'micro thin' 23-inch display
Hewlett Packard (http://www.hp.com) has announced the 23-inch x2301 Micro Thin display. The "micro thin" (approximately 0.4 inches) will go on sale June 10 for US$279.99.
It's an HD (1,920 x 1,080), LED_backlit display that boasts 72% of the color gamut, a 8,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 3ms GtG response time, and BrightView technology. The x2301 is also mercury- and arsenic-free with Energy Star 5.0 and EPEAT Silver certifications.
The x2301 packs the power and connectivity to the bottom of the display in the base. Connectivity options include HDMI, VGA and DVI-D.
Dolly Drive offers bigger online Time Machine back-up
Dolly Drive, an online backup for server for Apple's Time Machine from Cirrus Thinking, has announced storage plans up to 2TB and a seeding program with its upgraded version 1.2.
The latest release of the SaaS and HaaS cloud and clone backup application adds incremental cloning and a new multi-site Dolly Grid infrastructure for faster upload speeds and increased stability.
Dolly Drive is an online storage service designed for the Apple community. In addition to Time Machine integration, the application allows users to duplicate their entire computer on an external hard drive for fast recovery in the event of a hard drive failure or disaster.
Dolly Drive subscriptions can be purchased at http://www.dollydrive.com in packages from 50GB to 2TBs for US$5 to $55 per month. This includes online storage, backup through Apple’s Time Machine, and software to create bootable clones on a local external hard drive.
Seagate debuts first mobile wireless storage for iOS
Seagate (http://www.seagate.com) has announced GoFlex Satellite mobile wireless storage, the first battery-powered external hard drive to wirelessly extend the storage capacity of any Wi-Fi enabled mobile device.
It sports 500GB capacity and Wi-Fi access over 802.11 b/g/n and a rechargeable battery. Devices are wirelessly connected directly to the GoFlex Satellite drive by use of the free GoFlex Media app, available at the Apple App Store.
GoFlex Satellite is available immediately for pre-order from Seagate.com, Amazon and BestBuy.com for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$199.99. It's scheduled to arrive in Best Buy stores in July. Global availability is planned for later this summer.
WD launches 3TB SATA hard drives
Western Digital (http://www.wdc.com) has announced the addition of 2.5TB and 3TB versions to its family of WD AV-GP SATA hard drives, serving the audio-video (AV) market.
The WD AV-GP family of drives delivers 24X7 reliability along with power-saving WD GreenPower Technology. The WD AV-GP drives are field tested to have a 1.0 million hour MTBF rating, says Jim Welsh, executive vice president and general manager, of WD's branded products and CE business units. Drives with capacities in excess of 2.19TB currently present barriers for certain computer hardware, firmware and software.
For example, drives larger than 2.19 TB are not supported by systems running Windows XP; and systems with 32-bit versions of Windows Vista or Windows 7 relegate drives larger than 2.19TB to be used as secondary drives. So it's important to review existing computer specs prior to installation of either the 2.5TB or 3TB WD AV-GP drives, Welsh says.
The WD AV-GP 2.5TB and 3TB hard drives are available now in...
Redfish Instruments introduces iPhone-enabled, wireless...
Redfish Instruments (http://www.redfishinstruments.com), has introduced the iDVM Digital Multimeter. It wirelessly connects to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch via an ad hoc wireless network allowing users to acquire, visualize, and share electrical measurement data on their Apple devices. The iDVM app can be downloaded free from the Apple App Store.
Traditionally, multimeters have not provided an easy method of exporting or saving data. The iDVM permits a user to log data over an extended period of time using the iPhone or the iPad as the storage device. For example, service engineers can use the iDVM to collect data and store it in a report for submission to their clients, or keep the data on the voltmeter for their own records.
Using the GeoTag feature of the iPhone or iPad, service engineers can even identify their location as part of the data. The iDVM is built in the USA using all USA-made parts, and uses rechargeable batteries, says Patrick O’Hara, Redfish Instruments’ president...
yType is new typing accelerator for Mac OS X
Plum Amazing Software has released yType (http://plumamazing.com/mac/ytype), a new productivity tool for Mac OS X 10.5 or higher that runs in the background to amplify your typing ability.
You type a few characters (a shortcut) to paste a much larger block of text (called an expansion) like your name, an URL, picture or even several pages of formatted text instantly anywhere on your Mac in any application. Another way that yType can save time is in typing symbols and other difficult to find Unicode characters.
The app and manual is in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Swedish, and Russian. yType costs US$10 for a single user license ; a demo is available for download.
Zengobi Introduces Curio Core at the Mac App Store
Zengobi has announced the availability of Curio Core -- a personal, app-sized edition of their high-end Curio 7 Professional digital notebook application -- at the Mac App Store. It costs US39.99 and requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher.
The Core edition delivers "one of the most amazingly intuitive integrated environments for freeform information gathering, brainstorming, and creative exploration to an even broader audience," says George Browning, founder of Zengobi. Features include:
° The ability to place "anything anywhere" in idea spaces with texture, notepaper, and grid styles;
° Rich text figures with flowcharting border shapes, multipoint gradient fills, and shadow effects;
° Support for aliased or embedded files of any type, including documents, images, movies, and other mixed media;
° Integrated mind mapping with radial map, left map, right map, and org chart layouts;
° Lists, hierarchical outlines, and to-do lists;
° Index cards and note cards;
° Styleable tables for...
Avenza releases Geographic Imager 3.0 for Photoshop
Avenza Systems -- producers of MAPublisher and MAPublisher LabelPro cartographic software for Adobe Illustrator as well as MAPdataUSA, MAPdataCanada and MAPdataWorld royalty-free GIS data sets -- has released Geographic Imager 3.0, which adds geospatial functionality to Adobe Photoshop.
This release of Geographic Imager also adds support for 64-bit operating systems, improved DEM import support, and an enhanced user interface and tools, according to Doug Smith, Avenza’s director of sales. The software enhances the Adobe Photoshop imaging environment by adding tools and technology necessary to support geospatial images such as aerial and satellite imagery, he adds.
In addition to allowing the use of Adobe Photoshop and its native imaging functions such as cropping, transparencies and layer adjustments, Geographic Imager adds the ability to import and recognize common industry raster image formats, automatically mosaic and tile images, reproject and transform images, georeference...
X4Shortcuts update adds new Reference-Search, more
Linus Winterseel has released X4Shortcuts 1.1 (http://macte.ch/sUA06), an update to his development utility for Mac OS X. It's a lightweight tool that offers iOS and Mac Reference, Google and over 300 keyboard shortcuts for Xcode4. Version 1.1 offers a new iOS and Mac Reference-Search, a new web based search, with several bug fixes and code tweaks.
X4Shortcuts is a menu bar app that runs in the background until you need it. Winterseel says the reason for developing this was the fact that you need four types of information during development: keyboard shortcuts, iOS reference, Mac reference and google.
This four sources are far away from each other and X4Shortcuts makes it easier to access them. You can access the app with a lick at the symbol in the menu bar, or just hitting the shortcut Ctrl Alt Space on your keyboard. After that you can type in your request and hit the Return key, or navigate between the different search modes (iOS Reference, Mac Reference, Google and Xcode4...
Mac compatible Verismic software adds iOS support
Verismic Software (http://www.verismic.com/), which specializes in computer power management, has launched Verismic 3.1 which has been designed to further drive energy and cost savings from computer power management. It's Mac OS X compatible.
The new release provides customers with the ability to manage the energy used by desktop and notebook computers via mobile devices, and use remote access tools added features and functionalities. The core upgrade in Power Manager v3.1 is its mobile platform, which enables users to access the Wake-on-Web functionality to "wake up" devices that have been turned off, also allowing the user to launch specific desktop computer-based applications and tools remotely, and on demand. This application is compatible with iOS, Windows Phone 7 and Android.
Other enhancements include hardware inventory and querying capabilities, which enable users to gather all inventory information for a single device, within a single portal. The hardware querying capability...
FX Photo Studio released for the Mac
MacPhun has released FX Photo Studio for Mac (http://www.fxphotostudioapp.com), the "supercharged" version of the FX Photo Studio mobile franchise. With access to over 150 photography effects, users can blend filters while mastering styles of photography art such as lomography, analog effects, vignettes, tilt-shift, sketches, textures and many more.
FX Photo Studio for Mac is available in standard and pro editions. They support image resolution up to 16 and 32 mega-pixels respectively. And both sport photo editing tools including sharpening, shadowing and color adjusters.
FX Photo Studio for Mac requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later and is available at the Mac App Store in the Photography category. FX Photo Studio Standard is US$14.99, and FX Photo Studio Pro is $29.99.
Company defends its practice of targeting app, website...
Last week patent holding firm Lodsys began targeting small iOS developers with notices of patent infringement for providing in-app purchase and/or Apple App Store purchase links within their apps.
The company said developers had to obtain a license within 21 days or face the prospect of a lawsuit. Lodsys was criticized by some for targeting app and website publishers instead of Apple itself.
In an online blog (http://www.lodsys.com/blog.html) the company has this to say: " The economic gains provided by the Lodsys inventions (increase in revenue through additional sales, or decrease in costs to service the customer) are being enjoyed by the business that provides the product or service that interacts with the user. Since Lodsys patent rights are of value to that overall solution, it is only fair to get paid by the party that is accountable for the entire solution and which captures the value (rather than a technology supplier or a retailer).
"As a comparative example, it is the...
Ad network: iPhone has 23.5% of total ad impressions
InMobi (http://www.inmobi.com), an independent mobile ad network, has revealed its monthly network data analysis findings in its "Mobile Insights Report: North American and Global Editions April 2011."
The report is based on data from the InMobi network which currently serves 35 billion monthly mobile advertising impressions to over 314 million consumers globally. This report highlights the continued growth of mobile advertising, as the InMobi network grew by 17% in North America (900 million monthly impressions) and 11% globally (3.4 billion monthly impressions) in just three months.
This growth was largely driven by the continued growing trend towards smartphones, which grew by 20% globally or 2.3 billion monthly impressions over the same time period. Total mobile advertising impressions on the InMobi network in North America grew by 17%, which continues to be driven entirely by smartphone impression growth of 37%.
A significant eight out of every 10 mobile impressions in North...
The MPV Hub is free educational resource for Mac users
macProVideo.com, an online education company specializing in tutorial-videos for Mac users, has launched a new educational portal called The MPV Hub (http://www.macprovideo.com/hub/).
It's a free resource developed for the Mac creative community. You can use the MPV Hub to find written articles about how to use software, short tutorial-video tips & tricks, interviews with industry experts, product reviews, and other article.
The Mac Hub is especially geared to editors and producers using Logic Studio, Final Cut Studio, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Cubase, Adobe CS5, and other audio, video, and graphics software. All articles are written by software users, for software users.
The MPV Hub launches with a library of more than 300 articles, all written by macProVideo.com's roster of professional software experts. New articles are added to The MPV Hub every day.
Motorbike game roars onto the Mac
BaKno Games has announced a casual motorcycle skills game dubbed, well, Motorbike. It's available for Mac OS X and Windows.
Here's how the game is described: "Motorbike offers a great number of original tracks, the ability to load a growing number of online tracks, and baKno's own track editor to create custom tracks. Special detail was placed when designing the physics interactions between obstacles, bike and pilot, all complemented with nice sounds and effects. Motorbike was developed to provide a blast gaming experience.
"Motorbike comes with 40 original tracks, a growing number of online tracks, and a track editor to create custom tracks and share them with other players. Additionally, Motorbike offers some interesting options such as different landscapes for each track, and male or female pilots, each with different outfit colors and bikes."
Motorbike is available as as free demo from the baKno Games website (http://www.bakno.com). Single seat licenses can be purchased for US$9....
AppyDays for Mac is new app tracking tool
Indie developer Slappstick has released a Mac version of their iOS-application AppyDays. AppyDays for Mac tracks currently discounted apps in the Mac App Store as well as the iOS App Store.
With AppDays one click directs you to the Apple App Store or Mac App Store immediately. The small application window can be left open while people work on their computers.
AppDays displays discounted apps in the stores. It sports filters available for price (Mac and iOS) and category (iOS only).
AppyDays for Mac requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later. It costs US$0.99 and is available at the Mac App Store in the Reference category.
Trucks and Skulls now available at the Macgamestore
Appy Entertainment's Trucks and Skulls are now available at the Macgamestore (http://www.macgamestore.com). It requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later and costs US$4.99.
Here's how the game is described: "Demolish skull fortifications on Hell's Highway, The Haunted Wastelands, Industrial Armageddon and the airless wastes of the Moon! Rev up your engines and launch your trucks from the Screamstrip Ramp, then click to make them pull stunts and EXPLODE as they crash into buildings and scaffolds to destroy lurking, leering skulls."
Foxlink to double number of Far East Apple outlets
Taiwan-based Foxlink -- an Apple component supplier and retail partner -- plans to expand the number of its exclusive stores for Apple products in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea to 100 outlets by the end of the year, from 50 currently, reports "DigiTimes" (http://macte.ch/KUYoW).
In addition to Foxlink, Cybermart, the Foxconn Group's retail chain in China, will also open a new store in Changchun, Jilin province, China, in July with the store to also set up an exclusive outlet of 200 square meters to sell Apple product, the article adds. What's more, the Foxconn Group is purportedly set to expand the number of its Cybermart shopping malls in China by 7-9 this year, and is expected to build these stores in the locations such as Xiamen, Zhengzhou, Changchun, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Xinjiang, Kunming.
Macrisk is new Mac security information source
A new website (http://www.macrisk.net/) has been launched that serves to keep Mac users informed on latest security threats. Macrisk provides reviews of antivirus program that are available for Mac users.
You can also make a contribution to the Mac community at the site by commenting on these security solutions and sharing your experience. Macrisk's main purpose is to inform Mac users on malware and misleading security programs.
Token for Mac OS X updated to version 1.0.2
Dale Gillard has updated Token(http://dalegillard.com/token.html), a menu bar app that interacts with iWork '09, to version 1.0.2. This latest update localizes Token for Dutch, French, German, Italian and Portuguese languages and makes improvements to the Recent menu.
Token will be available on the Mac App Store for US$3.99 through May 17. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.
Recent iWork documents and templates open directly from Token in the Mac menu bar. Token automatically saves your iWork documents every 10 minutes.
Prime World coming to the Mac
Nival is bringing Prime World (http://en.playpw.com/) to North America and Europe, according to "Inside Mac Games." The game is cross-platform, with features available on Facebook, Mac, and Windows PC as well as iOS and Android-enabled platforms.
Here's how "Inside Mac Games" describes Prime World: "Prime World combines elements of social and strategy games, challenging players to engage in both competitive PvP battles and collaborative castle-building sessions."
Nival will unveil Prime World for the first time in North America at the the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2011, June 7-9. Pricing hasn't been announced.
Demo of Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy available
Combat Mission has returned to the Mac. Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy, the first release, is now fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 and higher. A demo is available for download, and it's available for pre-order immediately (http://www.battlefront.com/).
You can pre-order CM:BN in a special SteelBook Limited Collector Edition for US$55 (plus shipping and handling). It sports a retail-style package, fitting up to four discs inside (the game disc as well as up to three future modules that can be purchased separately at a later time) as well as the full, printed 200-page manual.
Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy recreates the experience of tactical land warfare in Western France during World War Two. Players have access to an array of US and German Army formations, equipment, and vehicles.
Particle SDK enables translation of object-oriented languages...
Particle Code (http://www.particlecode.com) has announced the availability of the Particle SDK (software development kit) Free Public Beta to the mobile app development community.
The Particle platform allows developers to write complex applications and games once, then deploy both HTML5 and native apps to the entire smartphone and tablet ecosystem -- including iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and more - from one codebase.
The Particle platform is built on top of the Eclipse IDE and supports software development inprogramming languages including Java, C# and ActionScript3. With its WYSIWYG editor, isometric and physics engines, backend and translation technologies, Particle is designed for software development that requires constant iteration, powerful performance and wide platform coverage, according to Particle CEO Galia Benartzi.
HTML5, a series of web standards being pushed by a consortium of companies including Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Apple and the Mozilla...
Adobe posts Flash Player 10.3
Adobe has posted Flash Player 10.3 (http://macte.ch/UQdgG), which lets you manage Flash Player privacy, security, and storage settings more easily with streamlined controls.
Users can access the Flash Player Settings Manager directly from the Control Panel or System Preferences on Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. Also, on the Mac you can stay current more easily with new features and capabilities thanks to support for automatic notification of software updates.
SMEStorage open cloud platform now supports Google sites
The SMEStorage Open Cloud Platform (http://www.smestorage.com) has now added support for Google Sites so that Google Sites users can access, modify, and upload data to to Google SIies from a variety of desktop and mobile clients.
Google Sites can be used with the SMEStorage Open Cloud Platform for free by registering a free account at SMEStorage. The free windows dashboard and Linux tools can be used to work with Google Sites but certain tools and features.
Google Sites can be used with the SMEStorage Open Cloud Platform for free by registering a free account at SMEStorage. The free windows dashboard and Linux tools can be used to work with Google Sites but certain tools and features, such as the CloudFTP and CloudDav access are for business or lifetime users only.
Complain to FTC says Dropbox data not secure
Dropbox, the online storage system with over 25 million users, deceived users about the security and encryption of its services, putting it at a competitive advantage, according to an FTC complaint filed Thursday by a prominent security researcher, reports "Wired" (http://macte.ch/horD2).
The FTC complaint charges Dropbox with telling users that their files were totally encrypted and even Dropbox employees could not see the contents of the file. Ph.D. student Christopher Soghoian published data last month showing that Dropbox could indeed see the contents of files, putting users at risk of government searches, rogue Dropbox employees, and even companies trying to bring mass copyright-infringement suits.
"Wired" says Dropbox dismissed the Soghoian’s allegations, but has cahnged its data security claims from "All files stored on Dropbox servers are encrypted (AES256) and are inaccessible without your account password" to "All files stored on Dropbox servers are encrypted (AES 256)."
Apple offers free service, repair to tsunami, earthquake victims
Apple is offering free service and repair to Mac users who were affected by the Japan tsunami and earthquake in March.
As stated in a Support & Information Services note -- as reported by "TUAW" (http://macte.ch/iFcbj) -- on Apple's Japanese website, the company is offering free repairs of any Macs, Cinema Displays, iPhones, iPads or iPod touches damaged in the disaster. Apple's offer applies to those directly affected by the earthquake who primarily live in municipalities covered by the Disaster Relief Act of 2011.
iPhone 4, Apple App Store set Guinness World Records
The iPhone 4 and Apple App Store have both received Guinness World Records, with the iPhone 4 becoming the fastest selling portable gaming system and the App Store getting named the most popular application marketplace, reports "CNET" (http://macte.ch/utGPg).
Based on analyst estimates of 1.5 million units for first day sales, Guinness has dubbed the iPhone 4 to be the "fastest-selling portable gaming system," topping first day sales of Sony's PlayStation Portable. "For comparison, the PSP shifted 200,000 units on its launch date in 2005, and the DS took a week to move 500,000 consoles in November 2004," Guinness said in a statement.
"CNET" notes that the Apple App Store picked up three records, nabbing the "most popular application marketplace" at 6.5 billion downloads since launch, the "largest downloadable video game store" record with 37,362 games (as of September 2010), and "the largest launch line-up of any gaming system" at 145 games out of the 500 apps at launch.
Analyst: no LTE, but new carriers, when the next iPhone debuts
Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek told clients in a note -- as reported by "Forbes" (http://macte.ch/nqxFF) -- that the iPhone 5, which he expects to debut in September, won't include LTE functionality -- and may not even be called the iPhone 5.
“According to our industry checks, the device should be called iPhone 4S and include minor cosmetic changes, better cameras, A5 dual-core processor, and HSPA+ support,” Misek says.
The analyst also thinks that Sprint, T-Mobile and China Mobile will be announced as new carriers with the next Apple phone debuts. As for LTE, Misek says the Qualcomm LTE chipset Apple would have used “is currently not achieving yields sufficient for inclusion" in the next iPhone.
Intermedia: business pros choose iPhone over Android
Android market share and popularity among consumers continues to climb, but business professionals generally prefer the iPhone, according to Intermedia, a Microsoft Exchange hosting provider.
Intermedia, which manages 320,000 premium hosted Exchange email accounts, reviewed the number of ActiveSync-based smartphones its customers activated. Sixty-one percent choose the iPhone, while only 17% prefer the Android. This is in stark contrast to recent reports showing Android market share beating iPhone. Intermedia also finds that the iPad is a business favorite with 99.8%t of tablet customers picking the Apple brand over the Samsung Galaxy or Motorola Xoom. The total breakdown of ActiveSync-based smartphone's activated on Intermedia's service:
° 61% on the iPhone;
° 22% on "Other" (primarily Windows, followed by Symbian and Palm);
° 17% on Android.
When it comes to ActiveSync devices activated in April, iPhone is still in the number one spot and increased its share to 64%. But Android...
Two iOS developers sued over in-app purchasing
The lead developer behind the Mac dock replacement DragThing and the iOS scientific calculator app pCalc is about to be sued for patent infringement because his software uses Apple’s own in-app purchasing mechanism, reports "Cult of Mac" (http://macte.ch/RAJ1E). The company who filed the lawsuit claims that the developer's use -- and that of others -- of Apple’s in-app purchase system violates a patent it owns.
Developer James Thomson of TLA Systems first broke the news that the latest version of PCalc would be delayed due to the threat of a lawsuit Friday morning on his Twitter feed. Thomson -- who hasn't named the company suing him -- is currently working with Apple as a first step to knowing how to address the issue, says "Cult of Mac." The company suing him wants a "hefty" licensing fee.
Not only will the lawsuit delay the latest update to the free version of pCalc, pCalc Lite, it may just be the opening shot in an IP war, not just against Apple, but against the developers who...
Apple excels in IDEAL Employers survey
Universium (http://www.universumglobal.com) --a web site focusing on career and employment preferences -- has released the IDEAL Employers for Undergraduates based on responses from 61,726 students. And Apple did very well indeed, as evidenced by the following lists. (In parenthesis is the company’s rank from 2010).
Top 10-- Business:
1. Google (1)
2. Apple (8)
3. Walt Disney Company (5)
4. Ernst & Young (2)
5. PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (3)
6. Deloitte (4)
7. J.P. Morgan (7)
8. Nike (10)
9. KPMG, LLP (6)
10. Goldman Sachs (9)
Top 10 -- Engineering:
1. NASA (1)
2. Google (3)
3. Boeing (4)
4. Lockheed Martin Corp (2)
5. Apple (10)
6. Microsoft (6)
7. General Electric (5)
8. U.S. Department of Energy (7)
9. Walt Disney Company (12)
10. Intel (14)
Top 10 -- IT:
1. Google (1)
2. Microsoft (2)
3. Apple (3)
4. Facebook (new entry)
5. IBM (4)
6. Electronic Arts (8)
7. Walt Disney Company (11)
8. Amazon (19)
9. Cisco Systems (5...
Kodak wins ruling over Apple in patent case
A U.S. International Trade Commission judge said Eastman Kodak's digital-camera technology doesn’t violate Apple's patent rights, reports "Bloomberg" (http://macte.ch/CL9sF).
Neither of the two patents in Apple’s case before the ITC were being infringed, and one of the patents is invalid, Judge Robert Rogers in Washington said yesterday. The judge’s findings are subject to review by the six-member ITC, which has the power to block imports of products that infringe U.S. patents, notes "Bloomberg."
Apple sued Kodak in April 2010, about three months after Kodak accused Apple and Research In Motion of infringing a patent related to ways of previewing images. Apple's countersuit said Kodak devices copy the technology that it uses in Macs, iPhone, iTunes and Photo Booth involving image processing, energy management and memory design.
The ITC in March said it would review a judge’s findings in that case, which went in favor of Apple and RIM. The reasons behind the judge’s opinion today won’...
Microsoft, others file challenge in Europe over 'App Store...
Microsoft, HTC, Nokia and Sony Ericsson have filed a challenge in Europe today seeking to invalidate Apple’s trademarks on the phrases “App Store” and “Appstore," reports "GeekWire" (http://macte.ch/RDiNz).
The companies argue in the European filings that the trademarks shouldn’t have been granted to Apple because they lack distinctiveness, the article adds. Apple has argued that the public associates “App Store” with its own mobile marketplace, and that many of its competitors have had no problem finding alternative terms — including Microsoft with its own Windows Phone Marketplace.
Microsoft has also filed opposition to Apple's efforts to trademark the phrase "App Store" in the US. In a March reply filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to get Apple's trademark application refused, Microsoft rebutted an Apple's rebuttal from earlier that month.
"The undisputed facts establish that 'app store' means exactly what it says, a store offering apps, and is generic for the retail...
Memory Cleaner available at the Mac App Store
Memory Cleaner (http://memorycleaner.alicedev.com/) is now available at the Mac App Store. It costs US$5.99 and requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.
Memory Cleaner frees wasted memory in your computer to prevent your applications from slowing down. Every time you open a file on your hard drive, your computer uses up some memory. This is usually a good thing, but it can become full of stuff you don’t even need anymore. Memory Cleaner gets rid of this stuff.
OWC announces SuperSlim optical drive enclosure
Other World Computing has announced the US$49 OWC SuperSlim, a USB 2.0 optical drive enclosure for turning any 9.5mm SATA slot loading internal optical drive, even those with mounting tabs, into an external plug and play CD, DVD, and/or Blu-ray disc burning /playing solution for Macs and PCs.
Available for immediate ordering at http://macte.ch/5BZQO, it's thin, weighs only 4.2 ounces, and is bus powered (no AC adapter is needed). The OWC SuperSlim is designed especially for MacBook and MacBook Pro owners that installed the OWC Data Doubler to replace their infrequently used optical drive. Now, while enjoying up to 750GB additional internal storage capacity in the optical drive bay, users can install the replaced Apple SuperDrive into the OWC SuperSlim to create an external plug and play CD and DVD burning/playing solution.
The custom engineered, blue anodized aluminum OWC Data Doubler gives 2008-2010 MacBook and 2009-2011 MacBook Pro users the flexibility to onfigure their computer’s...
