WMF Converter Pro 3.0.0 released for Mac OS X
Cristallight (http://www.cristallight.com/) has announced WMF Converter Pro 3.0, an update to its professional level image tool for Mac OS X 10.5 and higher. It costs US$19.95, which includes the lifetime license with free upgrades, and free tech support.
WMF Converter Pro allows you to render and convert single or multiple WMF files, preview them, change colors in vector based WMF files, and save either all of them or selected ones as Mac native images in one of 10 file formats, including both vector and raster formats. The image resolution setting can also be used when saving in raster image formats.
You can open one or more WMF file(s), or just drag files or folders with WMF files to the WMF Converter window and the images will appear in the Image Preview Area. Set the Export format and resolution, if necessary, and click one of the export buttons on the toolbar. Other features include the ability to replace color functionality, customizable image preview size, WMF file information...
Moneydance boogies to version 2011
The Infinite Kind has released Moneydance 2011 (http://www.moneydance.com), an update to their personal financial management application.
Moneydance combines a familiar checkbook-register interface with features such as online banking and bill payment, investment management, budgeting, scheduled transactions, detailed graphs, reports, and more. The 2011 version includes direct data import from Quicken Essentials for Mac, additional reports and graphs and more. Moneydance 2011 also includes a completely redesigned interface for confirming and editing downloaded transactions, including an intelligent automatic transaction categorization engine.
Moneydance 2011 can be purchased for US$49.99, with a free upgrade available to those who purchased Moneydance 2010. Users who purchased earlier versions of the software may upgrade for $24.99. A free, fully-functional trial is also available, allowing users to enter up to 100 manual transactions before requiring a purchase. Imported and...
Graphic Node releases 10 new themes for Keynote
Graphic Node (http://graphicnode.com/) has announced an addition to its range of themes for Keynote, the presentation component of Apple's US$79 iWork suite.
The themes include up to 21 master slides, a mix of bullet text and photo-oriented layouts. Available in the five standard slide sizes, the layouts sport custom bullets, matching tables, and charts.
Users can view samples of the themes and purchase Still Themes on the Graphic Node website. After the product is downloaded and installed on a computer, the new themes will automatically appear in Themes Chooser of Keynote. The themes require iWork '08 or later and cost US$19.
New Take Control book teaches writers to use Scrivener 2
TidBITS Publishing has released "Take Control of Scrivener 2," a new ebook designed to help readers harness the power and enjoy the flexibility of Scrivener, a Mac writing tool by Literature & Latte.
Written by Kirk McElhearn and created in collaboration with Literature & Latte, the 105-page ebook costs US$10 and is available now at http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/scrivener-2 . Using Melville's Moby-Dick as his exemplar, McElhearn pilots writers through the process of using Scrivener for a writing project. Ports of call on this voyage include: set-up, organizing, composing, revising, and submitting & publishing.
Photoshop Touch training classes offered
Ledet Graphics Training -- a provider of Adobe and Apple Authorized graphics training programs -- is incorporating the latest Adobe Photoshop Touch apps for the iPad at all six of its facilities across the country. The addition of the new Adobe Nav, Color Lava, and Eazel iPad apps means students can now learn to transform their tablets into a direct input device for Photoshop projects.
For additional information on how customers are using Photoshop Touch Apps for iPad in the everyday business world or for a direct quote from one of Adobe's first Photoshop trainers, contact Sterling Ledet at Ledet Graphics Training (http://www.ledet.com/). The organization offers instructor-led training in other cities through a network of demand-driven locations. Custom, personalized training is also available at the client's location. Live, online instructor-led training is offered in virtual classrooms.
ALT Systems offers Autodesk Smoke for Mac training
ALT Systems, a full service systems integrator and workflow solutions provider, has expanded their training programs and appointed Brent Gilmartin as Artist Advocate and Senior Trainer.
Gilmartin, a certified Autodesk trainer, will lead ALT Systems' efforts in developing and implementing proprietary courses for Autodesk Creative Finishing Products, beginning with the company's new Smoke for Mac curriculum for professionals new to finishing or unfamiliar with the Smoke interface.
ALT's new Smoke for Mac University program starts by assisting participants with loading a trial license on their own Mac Pro or MacBook Pro. During class meetings, students will have the opportunity to drive one of ALT's professionally configured workstations.
The training program consists of a free orientation on June 1 for anyone interested in hearing more about the classes and registering. The first full-day course will be held June 11, introducing users to the software, its interface and tools. A second...
Demo of Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy available
Battlefront.com has released a demo for the upcoming Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy. The World War II war game demo features three scenarios designed for the demo version as well as multiplayer modes.
Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy requires Mac OS X 10.6 and higher. 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. The game recreates the experience of tactical land warfare in Western France during World War Two.
Handyscope is new skin cancer exam device for the iPhone
Handyscope (http://www.handyscope.net) from FotoFinder is a new device for mobile skin cancer examinations with the iPhone. This digital handheld dermatoscope allows doctors capturing and saving microscopic pictures of moles using the iOS device and a corresponding app.
Handyscope -- which costs approximately US$840 -- gives a magnified, polarized view on the skin, combining skin surface microscopy with mobility and communication technology. It enables doctors to capture and save pictures of moles for skin cancer examination. As opposed to examinations with conventional handheld dermatoscopes, doctors can keep distance during the skin check and evaluate moles on-screen, according to FotoFinder CEO Andreas Mayer.
The handyscope device is attached to the iPhone and directly put on the patients’ skin. High resolution mole images are directly captured and managed in the password protected app and can be shown to the patient. With up to twentyfold magnification, the polarized photos show...
Miraizon releases Cinematize 3
Miraizon has released Cinematize 3 for Macintosh, a new version of the DVD clip extractor and converter.
Cinematize 3 is an introductory product that includes everything necessary to start DVD extraction and conversion projects, says Miraizon founder and CEO, David Salamon. It allows users to extract audio and video clips off of DVDs and convert them into many popular formats.
Those include QuickTime, iMovie, Final Cut, iDVD, DVD Studio Pro, Keynote, PowerPoint, iTunes, iPods, iPhones, and iPads as well as formats suitable for web sites such as YouTube. Cinematize 3 is a subset of Cinematize 3 Pro, released earlier this year, but offers the same enhanced output and accelerated extraction speed as in Cinematize 3 Pro.
Cinematize 3 users will enjoy a variety of new features that make the clip selection process a whole lot easier, Salamon says. With background reading of DVD data, movies load up faster in Cinematize 3. With the larger resizable application window and new audio preview...
Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery Software 4.0 launched
Stellar Information Systems has launched version 4.0 of Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery (http://www.stellarphotorecoverysoftware.com). The new release comes with several new features to further enhance the photo/video/music/picture recovery of the users.
There's a new Recover button that spins giving a visual appeal of the recovery process. Previews of the recovered files automatically shown as the recovered files are added to the tree-view. The Shopping Cart icon added in the software interface itself so that users don't have to navigate away from the software
Along with this, the following new image, audio, and video file formats are added in the new version of the software.
° Image file types: MOS, PSP, PCT;
° Audio files: M4P, RA;
° Video files: M4B, DIVX, OGM, OGM, MKV, ASX, VOB, MOI, MTS
A demo is available for download. Registration is US$39 for a small home/home office license.
Apple to spend over $5 billion on capital investments this year?
Apple is estimated to be spending up to 5% -- or over US$5 billion -- of its expected annual revenue this year on capital investments, most notably in a North Carolina data center that will dwarf its current one, reports "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/fewVI).
Andrew Fitzpatrick, director of investment at Hinsdale Associates, told "Reuters" that, as an investor he would be encouraged by Apple moving into the streaming video business. Peter Misek, Jefferies & Co analyst, is expecting a fee-based video service from Apple in about a year.
Apple has only provided content, through its iTunes store, as a support service so far for its core hardware business. But a more aggressive move would help the technology icon capitalize on a lucrative market opportunity, says "Reuters."
Bernstein Research's Toni Sacconaghi estimates Apple will spend $2.6 billion in fiscal 2011 on information technology assets. Even if only half of that went to its data center, that would mark an aggressive push, he...
About 50% of iOS users opt in for sharing data with publishers
According to "Forbes" (http://macte.ch/A7GGp), about 50% of iOS users say it's okay for Apple to share some of their personal data with magazine publishers who offer their publications on the Apple App Store.
There's been concern that publishers wouldn't get the consumer data they need for business and advertising as Apple devices users have to opt in for that info to be shared. For example, if you buy a subscription to "The New Yorker" or "Popular Science" in the Apple App Store, you're greeted with a dialogue box asking if it’s all right if Apple shares some of your personal information with the publisher.
And as reported previously, some publishers seem to be coming around to Apple's way of working. Hearst Corp. recently said it agreed to sell subscriptions to the iPad editions of a range of its magazines through iTunes.
Starting with their July issues, iPad apps for "Esquire," "Popular Mechanics" and "O, The Oprah Magazine" will be available through a service from Apple that...
OWC: Apple further restricts new iMac upgrade options
In an online blog (http://macte.ch/8eKVk), Other World Computing says Apple has made further restrictions on ways to upgrade the latest round of iMacs.
Here's what OWC has to say: "For the main 3.5″ SATA hard drive bay in the new 2011 machines, Apple has altered the SATA power connector itself from a standard 4-pin power configuration to a 7-pin configuration. Hard drive temperature control is regulated by a combination of this cable and Apple proprietary firmware on the hard drive itself.
"From our testing, we’ve found that removing this drive from the system, or even from that bay itself, causes the machine’s hard drive fans to spin at maximum speed and replacing the drive with any non-Apple original drive will result in the iMac failing the Apple Hardware Test (AHT).
"In examining the 2011 27″ iMac’s viability for our Turnkey Upgrade Service, every workaround we’ve tried thus far to allow us to upgrade the main bay factory hard drive still resulted in spinning fans and an Apple...
Beatles on iTunes, resurgence of vinyl help beef up music sales
The arrival of the Beatles' catalog on iTunes, along with the resurgence of vinyl (yes, vinyl), are credited with a 1.6% increase in total music sales so far in the U.S. in 2011, according to the Nielsen research group -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com)
In a look at domestic music sales in 2011 through May 8, Nielsen found that digital album purchases were up 16.8%, while individual digital track sales were up 9.6%. Catalog album sales were also up 5.4 percent at the start of 2011, a boost credited to the arrival of the entire catalog of The Beatles on iTunes in late 2010.
Digital music sales through services like iTunes accounted for more than half of all music transactions. In all, digital music sales have increased 12.4% over sales in 2010. Also, vinyl sales were up 37% at the start of 2011 over the same period a year prior. That represents the largest increase of any format.
At the iTunes Store, you can download individual Beatles songs, the legendary...
Apple planning campus 'mini-stores'
On the heels of Apple’s plans to open a retail store in a campus building at Yale University, the University of Delaware Board of Trustees have announced that a new bookstore opening this fall will include an Apple store, reports "ifoAppleStore" (http://macte.ch/m1cEz).
The board provided no details, and it’s not clear if the store will be a full-size, full-service company store or a smaller campus-style, reseller store, the article says. Insiders say Apple had plans to locate several of its mini-stores on college campuses back in 2006, "but for some reason the entire mini-store concept went dormant," says "ifoAppleStore."
Foxconn problems could adversely affect iPhone, iPad shipments
Taiwan-based electronics manufacturing service provider Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) is facing a shortage of both labor and materials at its plants in Chengdu, China, which is likely to affect shipments of iPad 2 and iPhone 4 orders in the second quarter, reports "DigiTimes" (http://www.digitimes.com), quoting "sources from upstream component makers."
Apple sold 18.6 million iPhones in the first quarter of 2011. That's up 14.9% from 16.2 million units in the fourth quarter of 2010. However, as Apple estimates sales of 20-22 million iPhones in the second quarter of 2011 with a sequential growth over 7%, its demand for more shipments has started to give its upstream assembly partners, Foxconn and Pegatron Technology stronger pressure, the article adds.
As for Foxconn's plants in Chengdu, which are used mainly for iPad 2 manufacturing, although the company planned 52 production lines at the plants for manufacturing iPad with annual capacity already surpassing 40...
Apple posts iPhoto 9.1.3
Apple has released iPhoto 9.1.3 late on Wednesday. The update fixes a problem that could cause some events merged in iPhoto to be split back into multiple events on iOS devices after being synced.
It's a 106.29MB download and requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later. You can obtain it via the Software Updates component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app.
Trend Micro SafeSync for business is Mac, Windows compatible
Trend Micro (http://www.trendmicro.com), which specializes in Internet content security, has released Trend Micro SafeSync for Business. The Mac and Windows compatible product is designed to help even the smallest companies securely save, manage and access their digital files from anywhere at any time, while increasing productivity by enabling file sharing between co-workers and clients, says Dan Conlon, engineering director and developer at Trend Micro.
Using secure cloud-based technology, SafeSync for Business is designed to let users easily access and share all their data while ensuring that they are protected, saved and up to date across multiple computers and mobile devices via the innovative synchronization technology, he says. SafeSync also keeps an additional, up to date, copy in the cloud that can be accessed from any web enabled device or used in case of hardware failure or loss.
Conlon says SafeSync eliminates the need to manually move files from one computer to another,...
Walden University debuts on iTunes U
Walden University has expanded MobileLearn with its new site on Apple's iTunes U, an exclusive community of colleges and universities from around the world that shares its content for free.
First launched in 2009, MobileLearn gives Walden students the flexibility to decide where and when they learn, and choose how they learn to match their preferred learning style. Visitors to Walden's new iTunes U site can find course content, experiential videos, highlights of the achievements of Walden students, faculty and graduates and other resources all available for download in the same way that individuals access music and movies using iTunes.
"For Walden students, learning doesn't stop when they're away from their computer because they can take their course materials wherever they go," says David L. Clinefelter, Ph.D., Walden's chief academic officer. "This increased access is part of our commitment to make it more convenient for our students, especially busy working professionals, to...
Carousel lets you experience Instagram on your Mac
Mobelux has introduced Carousel 1.0, a third party Instagram app that allows Mac users to view their feed, popular photos, photos they posted, photos taken at a location and save their photos and more.
Carousel features a vintage presentation aesthetic in a minimal desktop footprint, according to Jeff Rock, co-founder of Mobelux. Users can see likes and comments on photos with the ability to moderate comments, see who you follow and who's following you, and more.
Carousel 1.0 lets you save photos to your Mac. It supports full view resolution photos, even in full screen. Carousel is being offering at an introductory price of US$4.99, half off its retail price. A15-day demo is available at the product web site (http://carousel.mobelux.com).
PDF Image Extract available on Mac App Store
iFunia says PDF Image Extract 2.0 -- a Mac OS X PDF utility for the export of images from Adobe PDF documents and saving to JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP image files -- is now available at the Mac App Store for US$6.99 for a limited time. That's 75% off the regular price.
PDF Image Extract is a standalone solution and doesn't require Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader. It can also extract images from batches of PDF files at high speed. Users have a choice of converting the whole PDF documents or select the page rage to decide which page to be converted.
PDF Image Extract for Mac requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later. More info can be found at the iFunia web site (http://www.ifunia.com).
Better Finder Rename for Mac OS X revved to version 8.81
PublicSpace.net (http://www.publicspace.net) has released A Better Finder Rename 8.81, the latest version of its contextual menu plug-in that allows users to rename multiple files. The new version sports a renaming engine capable of handling very large renaming jobs.
The renaming engine leverages all the latest Mac OS X technologies by using a 64-bit multi-threaded garbage collected architecture based around Leopard's Core Data database system. A Better Finder Rename sports an instant preview feature.
The tool features capture time and date extraction (EXIF JPEG and most RAW formats) for digital photographers, ID3 tag extraction for music lovers, regular expression support, plain-text file import for renaming from databases and many other features.
A Better Finder Rename is US$19.95 shareware for a single user license. Family, business and enterprise licensing is also available. Customers may chose to include a "forever upgrade" with their purchase. A Better Finder Rename requires...
Maintain serves up Cocktail 4.9.2 (Snow Leopard Edition)
Maintain has released Cocktail 4.9.2 (Snow Leopard Edition), the latest maintenance update of Cocktail (http://www.maintain.se/c) for users running Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard") and higher.
The new version improves the clear potentially harmful files procedure, adds clearing of the latest variants of the MAC Defender (Mac Protector, Mac Security) trojan and adds the "Purge Inactive Memory" Automator action. The update is highly recommended for all users of Cocktail (Snow Leopard Edition).
Cocktail 4.9.2 (Snow Leopard Edition) requires Mac OS X/Mac OS X Server 10.6 or later and is tested for compatibility with Mac OS X/Mac OS X Server 10.7 Cocktail (Leopard Edition) for Mac OS X 10.5 and Cocktail (Tiger Edition) for Mac OS X 10.4 are available for download from the Maintain web site.
Cocktail is a general purpose utility for Mac OS X that offers a variety of practical features designed to simplify the use of advanced UNIX function. A single user license costs US$14.95
Flash Decompiler Trillix 5.0 with XFL files support released
Eltima Software has released an updated version (5.0) of Flash Decompiler Trillix for Mac. The app is a SWF to FLA converter that also allows decompiling SWF files and exporting SWF file elements to various file formats.
Enhancements in version 5.0 include: SWF files conversion to XFL, binary tag support in SWF elements tree, and data binding support for Flex applications. Also, SWF to FLA conversion process is even faster now.
Flash Decompiler Trillix is compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and costs US$79.95. Registered customers are entitled to free upgrades within one major version and in case of buying within the grace period. Volume discounts and discounts when buying other products by Eltima Software (http://www.eltima.com) are available too.
Blizzard releases StarCraft II patch
Blizzard Entertainment has released version 1.3.3 of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.
The patch features adjustments to race balance and several bug fixes. You can obtain it at http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/2766005#blog .
Apple updates Apple TV software to version 4.2.2
Apple has released a software update (4.2.2) for the latest generation Apple TV. It involves bug fixes and performance improvements.
For example, it resolves issues where audio and video are occasionally missing when playing back certain content. Also, a new audio output setting allows you to switch to 16-bit audio, for increased compatibility with some TVs and AV receivers.
You can install the update on your Apple TV by going to to Settings -> General -> Update Software and following the directions there.
Apple sued (again) for privacy violations
Another day, another lawsuit. Apple, Pandora Media and The Weather Channel have been named in a lawsuit alleging that the companies didn't disclose the fact that personal data -- specifically location -- was being shared with third-party advertising networks, reports "CNET" (http://macte.ch/aF26o).
The suit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Puerto Rico by Lymaris Rivera Diaz. "Because the UDID is unique to each iPhone and iPad, it is an attractive feature for third-party advertisers looking for a means of reliably tracking a mobile device users' online activities," the new suit says. "Because the UDID is not alterable or deletable by a iPhone or iPad user, some have referred to the UDID as a 'supercookie.' This description aptly summarizes the desirability of access to the UDID from an advertising perspective."
The tracking is possible because Apple assigns a UDID (Unique Device Identifier) to each iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and apps can access that number. Advertising...
Microsoft: no patch yet for PowerPoint bug on the Mac
Microsoft tells Mac Office users it doesn't yet have a fix for a PowerPoint bug that it patched for Windows customers, notes "Computerworld" (http://macte.ch/GoANo).
"Security updates for Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, and Open XML File Format Converter for Mac are unavailable at this time," the company's MS11-036 security bulletin said. "Microsoft will issue updates for these software when testing is complete, to ensure a high degree of quality for their release."
MS11-036 was part of May's two-update Patch Tuesday, and closed a pair of holes rated "important" in PowerPoint 2002, 2003 and 2007 on Windows. Only one of the two bugs affects Office for Mac 2004 and Office for Mac 2008, says "Computerworld." Office for Mac 2011 doesn't contain the vulnerabilities.
Senator wants Apple, Google to remove DUI checkpoint apps
Apple and Apple are under pressure from Senator Charles Schumer to remove smartphone apps that alert users to the locations of nearby police DUI checkpoints, according to "PC World" (http://macte.ch/qoP6d).
These apps typically use your device's GPS capabilities to alert you to nearby speed traps, red light traffic cameras, and DUI checkpoints from a database of user-generated locations. Schumer asked Apple and Google to consider whether these apps violate the companies' respective terms of service by facilitating illegal activity, notes "PC World."
These apps "endanger public safety by allowing drunk drivers to avoid police checkpoints," Schumer said during a hearing for the new Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy and technology. During his remarks, Schumer specifically called out two iOS apps, Buzzed and Fuzz Alert, as examples of applications that in his view should be pulled from smartphone application stores.
University of Kentucky students, faculty evaluating the iPad
For the past few months, 50 students and faculty at the University of Kentucky's Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce have been participating in a trial to assess the viability of Apple's iPad as a tool to support them in their graduate program.
Among the hardware and software products the students are evaluating is the PressReader iPad app (http://www.pressreader.com/) from NewspaperDirect. PressReader gives students and faculty members instant access to more than 1,800 full-content digital replicas of newspapers and magazines from 94 countries, often before they hit the newsstands in their local markets.
Over the next few weeks, the students will fan out to various countries (including Belgium, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, France, Macedonia, Nicaragua, Rwanda, South Africa and Switzerland) to embark on summer internships that will challenge them to apply and hone the skill of statecraft. First, though, they must immerse themselves in the politics, culture and...
Corel Painter 12 released for Mac OS X, Windows
Corel Painter 12, the newest version of the art studio software, is available starting today for Mac OS X and Windows systems. Among other enhancements, it sports a new, customizable interface.
Corel Painter 12 also comes with new real brushes, progressive art tools, customizable workspaces and faster performance. New features include Real Watercolor, Real Wet Oil, Mirror Painting and the Kaleidoscope tool. These brushes recreate the liquidity and viscosity of flowing and blending paint, water or solvent and textures with a new and astounding level of realism, says Andy Church, product manager for Corel Painter.
Corel Painter 12 offers new progressive art tools for creating designs. New Kaleidoscope or Mandala Painting enables artists to transform brushstrokes into a balanced spectrum of colorful shapes or blends from three to 12 planes. New Mirror Painting lets artists create automatic symmetry by mirroring the plane vertically and horizontally. Mirror placement can also be moved or...
'Apple Barometer' shows Apple sales up 113% in April
Using the "Apple Barometer," Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White told clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- that sales within Apple's overseas supply chain show the iPhone maker continuing its tremendous growth in the month of April, with sales increasing 113% year-over-year.
The "Apple Barometer" tracks monthly sales trends in the Taiwan tech supply chain. Apple's presumed 113 percent year over year growth remains strong, though it is less than the 141% that White tracked in March.
The Apple Barometer shows that sales in April over the last six years have, on average, increased 0.4% month-over-month, and in 2010 they rose by 4.4%. However, in 2011, sales decreased by 7.5% month-over-month.
US lawmakers 'scold' Apple, Google
U.S. lawmakers considering new privacy laws "scolded" Apple and Google Tuesday for not doing enough to guard mobile device users' location data, despite executives' assertions that they don't abuse the information, reports "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/m9bOS).
"I have serious doubts about whether those rights are being respected in law or in practice," Democratic Senator Al Franken said at a hearing of a new subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law.
Senators accused the tech industry of exploiting location data for marketing purposes without getting proper consent from millions of Americans, notes "Reuters." However, lawmakers said they would be cautious about drafting privacy rules that could stifle innovation in the space. Mobile device users' personal information helps companies tailor coupons, advertisements and weather information, among many other things.
BeamItDown shutting down; blames Apple's in-app payments...
BeamItDown Software -- which developed the iFlowReader app for the iPhone, iPod and iPad -- says in an open letter on its site that Apple’s in-app purchasing policy -- in which Apple takes a 30% cut of all in-app purchases -- has all but obliterated its margins on books, reports "mocoNews.net" (http://macte.ch/Z3v4P). Sot eh company is ceasing operations as of May 31.
Here's a segment from the open letter from BeamItDown: "The crux of the matter is that Apple is now requiring us, as well as all other ebook sellers, to give them 30% of the selling price of any ebook that we sell from our iOS app. Unfortunately, because of the “agency model” that has been adopted by the largest publishers, our gross margin on ebooks after paying the wholesaler is less than 30%, which means that we would have to take a loss on all ebooks sold. This is not a sustainable business model.
"Where did the agency model come from and what is it? The agency model was created by Apple who made it a requirement...
Apple nixes iAds targeted to kids
Apple has temporarily ceased filling ad slots in iPad apps for children with advertisements from advertisers that participate in iAd, reports "Macstories" (http://macte.ch/nh4Dt).
Mike Zornek, developer of the free Dex app for iPhone and iPod touch (a Pokèmon browser application), tells "Macstories" that he received an email from the iAd Network Support team. The letter says iAds may not be displayed anymore in apps targeted to “young children” because of the advertisers’ preference to not show ads to this particular audience.
"We periodically review the apps in the iAd Network to ensure that all apps receiving ads are aligned with the needs of our advertisers," the letter reads. "Currently, our advertisers prefer that their advertising not appear in applications that are targeted for users that are young children, since their products are not targeted at that audience."
iAds combine the emotion of TV advertising with the interactivity of Internet advertising, according to Apple CEO...
NPD: Computer market may be weak, but don't blame the iPad
The consumer computer market isn't floundering because of the iPad; in fact, the rate of cannibalization is actually declining among more recent purchasers, according to market research company The NPD Group's (http://www.npd.com) "Apple iPad Owner Study II report."
According to the report only 14% of early iPad adopters (iPad owners of six months or more) abandoned a computer purchase for an iPad, and that dropped to just 12% of iPad owners who purchased over the past holiday season. In fact, cannibalization of netbooks is actually down by 50% among more recent iPad buyers, when compared to early adopter buyers.
"The explosion of computer sales when Windows 7 launched, as well as the huge increase in netbook sales at that time, are much more to blame for weak consumer computer sales growth than the iPad," says Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD. "Overall it appears that the vast majority of iPad purchases to-date have been incremental to the consumer technology...
Apple sued for violating fraud, anti-hacking laws
Another day, another lawsuit. Apple and other companies are being sued for US$5 million in a class action lawsuit filed last week.
Jarret Ammer, an Orange County, New York, resident and the lead plaintiff in the case, is suing Apple, Pandora and Backflip Studios, the designer of the time killing game, Paper Toss, saying the app developers passed along his location information using his "Unique Device ID" -- a numerical codes specific to his phone -- to advertisers without his permission, reports "AdWeek" (http://macte.ch/Dy72O). If that's true, it's a violation of federal computer fraud laws and New York state anti-hacking laws, Ammer's attorneys say.
"From the perspective of advertisers engaged in surreptitious tracking, this is a perfect means of tracking mobile device users’ interests and likes on the Internet,” Ammer’s lawyers charge in the suit.
Apple isn't accused of selling the info itself, but of not properly policing app developers who pass the information along to ad...
Websites built in Sandvox 2.0 are HTML5 compatible
Karelia Software has updated Sandvox (http://www.karelia.com/download/sandvox.html), their web creation software for Mac OS X, to version 2.0. The upgrade has more than 60 new features and improvements.
For one, websites built in Sandvox 2.0 are compatible with the HTML5 web standard. The upgrade also introduces a completely new architecture and new editing engine, which allows customers to mix and match web page content "objects" in a much more naturally expressive and creative way, according to Dan Wood, president of Karelia Software.
For example, photography and video can now both reside on the same page, along with text, custom HTML and various other "objects." Sandvox 2.0 also introduces a completely new design chooser and a more powerful Inspector that makes it easier to selectively adjust page layout, modify objects, and apply modern page features.
Sandvox features drag and drop web site assembly, live editing without a preview mode, 50 designs, 11 page types, and 19 different...
LogMeIn debuts iPad and iPhone VoIP options
LogMeIn’s free screen-sharing service, join.me (https://join.me/), has added new iPad and iPhone capabilities to simplify collaboration with mobile colleagues and customers.
The updated join.me mobile viewer iOS app debuts a new VoIP option that lets users listen in and converse during an online meeting or screen-sharing session. Like the join.me web service, the iPad and iPhone viewer app is free and doesn't require registration. The join.me iPad/iPhone app is available as a free download or update from the Apple App Store .
Launched in October 2010, join.me is a screen sharing product designed for informal online meetings and ad hoc "show-and-tell" collaboration. The service offers free screen sharing and online meetings for both personal and commercial use for up to 250 participants. A pro version of the service with extended functionality is available for a monthly or annual subscription.
Updated Zulu syncs FileMaker to Google Contacts
SeedCode says the new version of Zulu now syncs FileMaker contacts with your Google Contacts. Zulu is an extension for FileMaker Server that syncs Calendars and Contacts automatically.
Users can see and edit FileMaker data from iCal or Google Calendar and from the calendars on their iPhones or iPads. Now Zulu offers the same thing for contacts so you can work with them online in Google, in the iPhone's address book, and in the Mac Address Book app.
Zulu requires FileMaker Server 9 or higher and works with any FileMaker table containing dates or contacts. Pricing starts at US$299 for a workgroup license. A demo, more info, and a video of Zulu in action is available at the SeedCode web site (http://www.seedcode.com/).
Graphic Node releases 10 new Keynote themes
Graphic Node (http://www.graphicnode.com) -- a graphic design company that specializes in creating themes, templates, and illustrations for Mac OS X -- has announced addition to its range of themes for Keynote, the presentation component of Apple's US$79 iWork suite.
The Still Themes pack includes 10 themes, including Cherry Blossom, Purple Hint, and the Clean Space. It's intended for Keynote users looking for diverse ways to save time on a presentation layout and be able to focus on the content instead.
The themes include up to 21 master slides -- a mix of bullet text and photo-oriented layouts. Users can view samples of the themes and purchase Still Themes on the Graphic Node website. After the product is downloaded and installed on a computer, the new themes will automatically appear in Themes Chooser of Keynote.
The Still Themes pack requires Apple iWork '08 or later. It costs US$19.
Typinator 4.4 sports 35 enhancements
Ergonis Software (http://www.ergonis.com) has released Typinator 4.4, the latest version of its tool for auto-typing text and auto-correcting typos system-wide across all Mac OS X applications. It comes with a list of 35 enhancements, including a new preference setting to control the volume of the expansion sounds, several fine-tuned enhancements of Typinator's Quick Search and Quick Define feature and more.
Typinator requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. Mac OS X 10.6 or higher is recommended.
Typinator can be purchased on the Ergonis Software web site for $19.99 for a single user license. A family pack for installation on up to five computers is $29.99. The upgrade to Typinator 4.4 is free for anyone who purchased Typinator in the last two years.
HOARD for Mac OS X comes to Macgamestore
Big Sandwich Games' HOARD is now available at the Macgamestore (http://Macgamestore.com). It costs US$9.95 and requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or higher.
Here's how the game is described: "Every action you take will have an effect on your score in this 'stratecade' game that 1UP observes “hides a surprising layer of complexity and strategy.” To be the best, you'll need to fly deftly, upgrade smartly, and use power-ups to your advantage. Most of all, you’ll need to control the kingdom around you: Burn the crops to the ground or let them grow? Keep towns in ruins or let them flourish? In HOARD, the dragon is in charge."
HOARD has four game modes: Treasure Collect, Princess Rush, Survival and Co-oP. There are over 35 unique kingdoms, support for 1-4 players and upgradeable dragons.
Boinx announces Home Improvement promo
Boinx Software (http://www.boinx.com) has announced a special Home Improvement promotion. All Home products -- including FotoMagico Home, BoinxTV Home and iStopMotion Home -- are now available now through May 15 for US$9.99 each at the Mac App Store.
FotoMagico Home lets you compose a moving slideshow from photos and movies, then add titles and music. BoinxTV Home is a video editor/producer with tools such as lower thirds, to adding text and titles, tickers, green screen backgrounds, and more on video captured live by a camera, such as the one built right into your Mac, at a resolution of up to 960x540.
StopMotion Home allows you to create your own movie using traditional stop motion animation (also sometimes called claymation). A tilt shift filter allows you to make a time-lapse movie where real life people look like miniature toys.
Snapz Pro X updated to version 2.3.0
Ambrosia Software has updated their screen capture utility, Snapz Pro X (http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/utilities/snapzprox/), to version 2.3.0. This updated version, which is free to all registered users of Snapz Pro X 2.x, features the following changes/enhancements:
° Added support for additional audio formats;
° Better handling of multiple monitors. Especially unplugging and plugging during record;
° Improved robustness of video capturing;
° Added Sparkle auto-update;
° Addressed audio lag in lengthy recordings;
° Numerous other fixes and enhancements.
Snapz Pro X 2.3.0 is a Universal Binary, and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. For new users the cost is US$69.
Apple exec: we don't track users' locations
Apple Vice President of Software Technology Guy "Bud" Tribble spoke to members of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, reiterating the company's position that it makes user privacy one of its highest priorities, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com).
He repeated points the company made in a public statement in late April that Apple doesn't track users' locations, and doesn't share personally identifiable information with third parties for marketing purposes without a user's consent. Tribble pointed out that Apple has a privacy policy available from a link on every page of Apple's website. He also said that Apple devices, like the iPhone, don't transmit to Apple any data that can be uniquely associated with the device or that customer, notes "AppleInsider."
"Apple is strongly committed to giving our customers clear and transparent notice, choice and control over their information, and we believe our products do so in a simple and elegant way," Tribble said. "Apple was never...
Apple exec: we don't track users' locations
Apple Vice President of Software Technology Guy "Bud" Tribble spoke to members of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, reiterating the company's position that it makes user privacy one of its highest priorities, reports "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com).
He repeated points the company made in a public statement in late April that Apple doesn't track users' locations, and doesn't share personally identifiable information with third parties for marketing purposes without a user's consent. Tribble pointed out that Apple has a privacy policy available from a link on every page of Apple's website. He also said that Apple devices, like the iPhone, don't transmit to Apple any data that can be uniquely associated with the device or that customer, notes "AppleInsider."
"Apple is strongly committed to giving our customers clear and transparent notice, choice and control over their information, and we believe our products do so in a simple and elegant way," Tribble said. "Apple was never...
NewerTech introduces replacement battery for MacBook Pros
Newer Technology has announced the US$99 NuPower 52 Watt-Hour High Capacity Replacement Battery for Late 2008/Early 2009 15-inch MacBook Pro "Unibody" laptops. The company says it offers up to 4% greater capacity over the factory original battery for longer runtimes.
The battery is available immediately at http://www.newertech.com/products/macbpro_batt_15_uni.php. NewerTech NuPower high capacity replacement batteries are available for nearly every Mac notebook computer model produced from 1998 to 2008 including G3 PowerBooks with up to 87% more capacity, G4 PowerBooks with up to 50% more capacity, and iBooks with up to 67% more capacity.
A one year NewerTech Warranty is included with all NuPower replacement batteries. For more info on the complete NuPower battery line for Apple notebooks, go to http://www.newertech.com/products/laptop.php .
In letter Apple defends customer-location data practices
Apple defended how it gathers and uses customer-location data in a letter to a House lawmaker Friday as it prepares to testify at a Senate hearing today on mobile privacy, according to the "SF Gate" (http://macte.ch/Ueweh).
"Consumers are increasingly demanding accurate location information from their handheld devices," including directions to the nearest coffee shop or gas station, Bruce Sewell, Apple's general counsel, wrote in a letter to Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs. The letter was released Monday by Bono's office.
Apple and Google are scheduled to testify at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on mobile privacy today. The two companies have been at the center of a debate over whether the practice of collecting location data on mobile devices violates users' privacy.
Adobe releases CSS Regions on Adobe Labs
Adobe has released CSS Regions on Adobe Labs. CSS Regions are a prototype that allows designers to build sophisticated, magazine-style layouts on the Web.
Previously, intricate print-style layouts seen in magazines, newspapers and textbooks could not be duplicated in website form, according to Paul Gubbay, vice president of Engineering, Design & Web at Adobe. CSS Regions are a proposed addition from Adobe to the CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) Web standard, which is at the core of website formatting. Adobe first proposed CSS Regions in March to the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) and the CSS Working Group.
"Initially we are working to bring CSS Regions to Webkit, because we would like to see the open Web platform offer even more sophisticated document layout features than today," says Gubbay. "Adobe engineers have developed a prototype implementation of CSS Regions in a customized version of WebKit, now available on Adobe Labs for developers to experiment with. Also live are several...
