WaterField Designs has unveiled the MacBook Air Travel Express (http://macte.ch/RYSas), a compact, stylish case to protect and carry not only the MacBook Air, but also the power adapter, the SuperDrive, the mouse and additional accessories. Three custom sizes are available: for the 11- and 13-inch Airs and for the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The MacBook Air Travel Express can be stashed inside a bag or, with the optional strap, worn over the shoulder. You can pre-order now for shipping on May 1. The 11-inch Air model costs US$79. The 13-inch Air Model is $89. The 13-inch MacBook Pro model is priced at $89. A simple strap costs $12, a suspension strap is $22 and optional D-rings are $5. The MacBook Air Travel Express comes in a variety of colors.

Qoppa Software (http://www.qoppa.com) has announced their PDF libraries and components. They include annotation groups and unlimited file size access across all major operating environments, including Mac, Windows, Linux, and web-based operating systems. With them, developers can add PDF document capabilities such as viewing, printing, signing, form filling, markup and manipulation. jPDFViewer, Qoppa's Java component to display PDF documents, as well as jPDFPrint, Qoppa's Java library to print PDF documents, now offer support for unlimited PDF file sizes as well as a faster document loading time. jPDFNotes, Qoppa's Java component to display, mark up and sign PDF documents, now offers full support for group annotations. Grouped annotations can be copied, moved, deleted, reviewed or flattened at once. Performance has also been improved in Qoppa's PDF engine, especially when rendering graphical documents with transparency.

Nomad Factory (http://www.nomadfactory.com) has released Echoes, a new analog echo box plug-in designed to reproduce the warmth and richness of classic vintage delay effects. Echoes requires an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.5 or higher. It's compatible with AudioUnit --RTAS (Pro Tools) and VST plug-ins (all plug-in formats are included). Also, 32-bit and 64-bit are supported. Echoes will be sold at introductory price of US$49 for a limited time; it will normally be priced at $129. Echoes can also be purchased with Nomad Factory's Magnetics software in an exclusive bundle offer called "Magnetic Bundle," which is also promoted at an introductory price of $99 (it's normally $158).

Rage Software (http://www.ragesw.com/) has released Rage WebCrusher 1.9, an update to the web site optimizer for Mac OS X. The upgrade adds a feature that improves the compatibility of iWeb built websites for Internet Explorer users. iWeb sites have always had problems displaying properly, even in the latest version of Internet Explorer. WebCrusher can automatically fix many of the problems iWeb users have been experiencing. The software is an utility for web site owners to reduce their site's load time. WebCrusher scans entire web sites, including web page files and image files, to remove all unneeded code. Rage WebCrusher runs on Mac OS X 10.5 or later. It costs US$49, though version 1.6 is a free update for registered users.

The PandaWare Company has updated PWStyleHTMLField, its set of classes for REALbasic developers who want to convert styled text to HTML. PWStyleHTMLField provides a drop-in solution for turning styled text in a REALbasic or Real Studio project into HTML, and can generate an HTML email message with embedded images in one line of code. The update offers some new convenience features and includes an improved demo project. More information is available, and a compiled demo application can be downloaded for free at http://pandaware.com/RB/pwhtmlfield.html . Licenses for using PWStyleHTMLField in compiled applications are US$50.

Apple has released iPhone 9.1.2. It adds new card themes to iPhoto '11. It also improves overall stability and addresses a number of other issues. It's a 106.32MB 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.

Quark says QuarkXPress 9, the newest release of Quark’s page-layout and design software, is now available to purchase directly from Quark (http://www.quark.com) and through authorized Quark resellers worldwide.

QuarkXPress 9 is built to help designers create content that can be published to digital devices — e-readers, smartphones, and tablets — with one tool, and without coding. Features include: ° Export to ePUB: QuarkXPress 9 includes an option for exporting to ePUB, the free and open e-book standard developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). Designers can create traditional text-based e-books and publish to e-bookstores such as Apple's iBookStore, Barnes & Noble NOOK, and Amazon Kindle. ° Design for the Blio eReader: The Blio eReader is a free, multi-platform, multi-device application that presents eBooks just like the printed versions, in full-color. The Blio eReader for Windows can be downloaded free from www.blio.com and is also being pre-installed on...

According to The Nielsen Company’s (http://www.nielsen.com) monthly surveys of U.S. mobile consumers from July-September 2010, consumers planning on getting a new smartphone had a very clear preference: a third (33%) wanted an Apple iPhone. Slightly more than a quarter (26%) said they desired a device with the Google Android operating system (OS). And 13% said they wanted a RIM Blackberry. But consumer preferences can be fickle. Those same surveys for January 2011- March 2011 show just how much things have changed. According to the latest figures, 31% of consumers who plan to get a new smartphone indicated Android was now their preferred OS. Apple’s iOS has slipped slightly in popularity to 30% and RIM Blackberry is down to 11%. Almost 20% of consumers are unsure of what to choose next. Those dynamics are already translating into sales. Half of those surveyed in March 2011 who indicated they had purchased a smartphone in the past six months said they had chosen an Android device. A...

Attorney General Lisa Madigan has called for a meeting with Apple and Google executives in the wake of reports that iPhones, iPads and Google Android devices are collecting and storing detailed information about users’ locations. Madigan sent a letter to both technology manufacturers in response to press reports that Apple and Google mobile devices store user location information that can be transmitted back to the companies. The information -- latitude and longitude coordinates coupled with a timestamp -- is reportedly unencrypted and unprotected. The Attorney General has asked the companies to detail what information the company is storing, for how long and what it is used for. “I want to know whether consumers have been informed of what is being tracked and stored by Apple and Google and whether those tracking and storage features can be disabled,” Madigan says. “It’s important that these companies ensure that their users’ private information is protected.”


Apple has released iMac Hard Drive Firmware Update 1.0 for 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs that debuted in mid-2010. The update addresses an issue that was prevents some computers from booting properly. It's a 767KB download and requires Mac OS X 10.6.7. You can obtain it here (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1378) or via the Software Updates component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app.

Conceited Software (http://conceited.net) has introduced Rubbernet 1.0, a network monitoring solution for Mac OS X. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and costs approximately US$44. A 15-day demo is available for download. Rubbernet provides real-time monitoring of your network-enabled apps running on your Mac so you can keep an eye on the exact state of your live network connections. Real-time charting displays download and upload transfer rates for all active apps. Rubbernet provides a breakdown of per-app network usage, and automatically assigns every incoming and outgoing connections to the users they belong to. It provides a breakdown of per-app network usage, so you can detect apps that phone home, connect to certain servers without your knowledge, or blame the app that's slowing down your network. Real-time charting displays download and upload transfer rates for all active apps on all monitored Macs. You can visualize your network usage and get a bead on network hogs before...

Gray Design Associates says Jigsaws Galore -- now up to version 7.0.9 -- has come to the Mac. It's available at the Mac App Store in the Games category for US$2.99. Jigsaws Galore is a jigsaw player and creator that can purportedly handle jigsaws from 4 to 64,000 pieces. It's configurable; almost every facet of the game can be adjusted while solving a jigsaw, even down to the thickness of the pieces. A large number of additional jigsaws is also available at the game's website (http://www.jigsawsgalore.com). Jigsaws Galore requires an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher.

ProjectWizards (http://projectwizards.net/ ) has updated Merlin, its project management software for the Mac, collaborates, to version 2.7.9, which now integrates even better with other applications. What's more, new workflows are introduced in the latest version 2.7.9 enabling it to connect to the personal task management Mac software, Things by Cultured Code. Further enhancements are also implemented for the collaboration with the project management software for Windows MS Project. Finally, there are several improvements under the hood. Merlin 2.7.9 costs US$199. ProjectWizards also offers Merlin Server ($995), which allows you to centrally manage Merlin projects and secure access to project data at any time for multiple team members. It's enabled to provide connections over local networks, via the web or on the iPhone. Merlin iPhone, iPad or iPod touch puts project management on the smartphone iPhone, iPad or iPod touch from Apple. This Merlin app allows mobile editing of Merlin...

Lexmark (http://www.lexmark.com) has introduced two new color laser multifunction products (MFPs) targeted to the growing mid-size workgroup segment. Accentuated by a 7-inch color touch screen, US$1,339 Lexmark X548 color laser MFP family (pictured) comes standard with pre-loaded applications and can be customized with tailored workflows based on unique business needs. A step up from the Lexmark X548de base model, the Lexmark X548dte adds a hard disk to enable extra features, as well as a 650-sheet Duo Drawer for additional media handling capabilities. The $1,399 Lexmark X548 color laser MFP family is included in the exclusive Lexmark Rewards program, which rewards customers with free genuine Lexmark toner and imaging kits for sending their empty cartridges back to Lexmark for recycling or remanufacturing. Additionally, both models include the Lexmark Supplies Price Guarantee, a program through which Lexmark pledges never to raise the price of toner cartridges for the life of these...

Another day, another lawsuit -- but you probably saw this one coming a mile away. Apple is being sued for alleged privacy invasion and computer fraud, reports "Bloomberg" (http://macte.ch/0yUAt). The filers are two customers -- Vikram Ajjampur of Florida and William Devito of New York -- who claim the company is secretly recording and storing the location and movement of iPhone and iPad users. The federal complaint was filed Monday in Tampa, Florida. The lawsuit asks the court to bar the data collection on iPhones and 3G-equipped iPads. The customers seek refunds for their purchases, because they said they would not have bought Apple's products if they had known of the location tracking. The plaintiffs said they were unaware of the tracking and never consented to it, says "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com). 


You could see it coming, couldn't you? The law firm of Wohl & Fruchter LLP has commenced an investigation into Apple’s collection of users’ location data on iPhone and iPad devices in a hidden file stored on the devices and on synced computers. As first reported on April 20 by independent computer programmers, Apple’s iOS 4 operating system continuously collects user location data, up to 100times per day or more, and stores this data for months or years, together with time stamps of the locations recorded. The firm’s investigation concerns whether Apple’s undisclosed collection and storage of user location data violates its legal obligations to users, including the terms of Apple’s privacy policy. Additional information is available at www.wohlfruchter.com/cases/apple-location-tracking.

Refreshed iMacs are en route to the United States for a late April or early May launch, reports "9to5 Mac" (http://macte.ch/mnAZR), quoting a source they call "Mr. X." Mr. X says to expect new iMacs the week of May 2nd as Apple will officially stop shipping iMacs to resellers this week. Since Apple tends to release new products on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the likelihood of new iMacs with Thunderbolt I/O and Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge processors is high for May 3 or 4, says "9to5Mac."

It seems the white iPhone 4, as rare as an albino rhino, will ship this week, 10 months after it was originally announced. It's expected to retail the same price as its black flavored sibling. According to a plethora of online reports the device will go on sale this Wednesday. The white iPhone will reportedly be available in both Verizon/CDMA and AT&T/GSM versions.

This past holiday season, e-readers were found under many a tree and downloads of digital books followed with glee, according to the findings of a new student survey conducted by OnCampus Research, the research division of the National Association of College Stores (NACS).   The March 2011 OnCampus Electronic Book and E-Reader Device Report (http://www.nacs.org/) backs predictions that we could be approaching the tipping point for digital reading materials among this demographic. The latest report, the product of a survey of 655 students, explores their e-book usage as well as their interest in e-reading devices.   The results showed a 6% increase in e-book purchases of any kind when compared to a similar study done in October 2010, while fewer students are relying on laptops or netbooks to read the material. Nearly 15% fewer students said they used those devices to read e-books, while 39% said they used a dedicated e-reader, up from 19% just five months ago. “Although the vast...

JixiPix has introduces Hand Tint 1.0 (http://www.jixipix.com/handtint/handtint.html), a professional level photo colorizing app. It's now available on the Mac App Store in the Photography session. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and costs US$19.99. Hand Tint was specifically developed for hand tinting and coloring photography. With it you can add multiple layers that support opacity, visibility, and multiple custom compositing modes developed specifically to match the hand tinting process. Hand tinting adds soft, otherworldly colors to a photo, and can also lend an antique feel. With Hand Tine you can brush on color to add a life-like blush to the cheeks of a child, or draw attention to a single element, like a flower or a sunset sky. Hand Tint will start the process by converting the photo to black and white, vintage, or luminosity. After this step, painting can be used to tint areas back onto the photograph and bring color back into the aged photo. Layers provide a way to...

O'Reilly Media has published "iPad 2: The Missing Manual" (http://macte.ch/inWjg). The 336-page book costs US$19.99 for the ebook edition and $24.99 for the print edition. "New York Times" tech columnist and iPad expert J.D. Biersdorfer shows you how to get the most out of the Apple tablet to surf the Web, send and receive email, watch movies and TV shows, read ebooks, listen to music, play games, and even do a little iWork. Topics covered include: tips and tricks; building and playing your media library; getting on-line; e-reading; consolidating your mail accounts; shopping in the iTunes and App stores; and more. Biersdorfer is a best-selling, veteran Missing Manual author. J.D. He wrote "Best iPad Apps and iPad: The Missing Manual (First Edition)," and co-wrote "iPod: The Missing Manual and iPhoto: The Missing Manual," and is the author of "Netbooks: The Missing Manual," "Google: The Missing Manual," and "The iPod Shuffle Fan Book." She has authored a weekly technology column for...

iOrgsoft has released RMVB Converter for the Mac. It's an US$29.95 utility to convert RealMedia (.rmvb and .rm) file to other popular video formats with high quality on Mac OS X. RMVB Converter support salmost all the RM/RMVB formats without installing RealPlayer and outputs MP4, AVI, DivX, Xvid, H.264/AVC,WMV, MOV (QuickTime), 3GP, MP3, Flash FLV and SWF. It also supports ripping the audio data from RMVB video and convertingto MP3, FLAC, AAC, M4A and WMA audio files. RMVB Converter for Mac lets you clip, merge, crop, split RMVB videos, as well set frame size, video encoder, audio encoder and audio sample rate from the supported list for a better effect. You can trim the video to have certain length of clip converted, crop out the unwanted parts in the frame, apply video effect like brightness, contrast, saturation. You can also capture your favorite views from the previewing window and save them as the background of your computer.

RMVB Converter for Mac is available for purchase...

Another day, another lawsuit. Samsung Electronics Co has filed patent lawsuits against Apple over the U.S. firm's iPhone and iPad after Apple claimed Samsung's smartphones and tablets "slavishly" copied its products, reports "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/Lh0Le). Apple's lawsuit filed on April 15 in the U.S. claims Samsung's mobile phones and Galaxy Tab. Apple says Samsung "slavishly" copied the iPhone and iPad. "Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple's technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products," the lawsuit reads. The lawsuit, filed April 15 in US District Court in Northern California, alleges Samsung copied the look, product design and product user interface of Apple's products. Samsung violated Apple's patents and trademarks, the suit alleges. “It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad,...

Good Technology -- a provider of secure and managed enterprise mobility for iPhone, iPad, Android and other leading smartphone platforms -- has released its quarterly data report detailing the changing landscape of IT and mobile enterprise technology. The trend of personal smartphones infiltrating the workplace is being led by both Apple's iOS and Google's Android smartphone platforms. In quarter one of 2011, both platforms were widely deployed by Good's enterprise customers, but with the launch of the Verizon iPhone 4 and the iPad 2, Apple's iOS devices had an especially strong quarter, according to Good Technology. "The one-two punch of Verizon's long-awaited iPhone 4 launch and Apple's iPad 2 release made it an especially strong quarter for Apple," says John Herrema, senior vice president of corporate strategy at Good Technology. "AT&T's price drop on the iPhone 3GS to $49 also had a strong impact on overall iPhone activations. We still predict that Android activations will...