Here are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps announced. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/). Rentals.com -- a resource for single-units, apartments and houses for rent nationwide -- has announced its Rentals.com App is now available from the Apple App Store. The free app gives users the ability to search Rentals.com listings from their iPhone or iPod touch. Augmented Reality has released Poynt for the iPhone. The free app connects iPhone users to local businesses, people, restaurants and movie theaters, offering detailed listings, location information and augmented reality. TruffleSoft has introduced xSolve 1.0, an US$0.99 custom calculator utility for the iPhone and iPod touch. It lets users automatically create their own custom solutions. Enter a formula, set any desired optional settings and xSolve will create a custom utility. Dejal Systems has rolled out Tweeps 1.0 for the iPhone and iPod touch, with an iPad edition in the works. The...

Troi Automatisering has releasedTroi Dialog Plug-in 5.5 for FileMaker Pro 11. Troi Dialog Plug-in is a tool for displaying all sorts of dialogs in FileMaker Pro 11. The text of the dialog and of the buttons can be created dynamically by using a calculation. Troi Dialog Plug-in 5.5 is an update for FileMaker Pro 11. It adds support for the PNG image format, including support for transparency in the icon. The new version also implements Cococa versions of the Progress and InputDialog dialogs. A fully functional demo version of Troi Dialog Plug-in 5.5 is available for downloading at Troi's web site (http://www.troi.com/software/dialogplugin.html). It works with FileMaker Pro 9, 10 and 11. The plug-in can also be used with runtimes from FileMaker Pro Advanced 9, 10 or FileMaker Pro Advanced 11. The plug-in is available for Mac OS X and Windows.

Markzware has released PageZephyr 2.0 (http://www.pagezephyr.com), which is targeted to publishing companies, advertising firms, legal eDiscovery and other companies possessing so-called proprietary files. It captures, indexes, and converts content created in proprietary or non-common formats without the need for the original authoring application. This transformative technology substantially reduces the cost for time spent searching and cataloging unmanaged content residing within these file types on local or network drives, according to the folks at Markzware. Before PageZephyr, documents had to be opened by the original application and manually searched, one by one. Now PageZephyr 2.0, enables anyone to instantly find content in these documents by  simply typing in a search term or phrase. This new release of PageZephyr includes expanded file support for: versions of QuarkXPress 4.0 to 8.x; Adobe InDesign CS through CS4; and Microsoft Publisher 2002 to 2007. Priced at US$199,...

OnLive (http://www.onlive.com) -- which specializes in on-demand, instant-play games -- announced at this week's Game Developer Conference that Mac and PC versions of its game service will begin rolling out to consumers on June 17 during the E3 2010 show. The OnLive Game Service is a revolutionary, on-demand video game platform capable of delivering the latest and most advanced games instantly via a broadband connection on virtually any Mac or PC, via a small browser plug-in, or on an HDTV, via OnLive's MicroConsole TV Adapter. Additionally, the game service offers instant access to purchase or rent new release games on an à la carte basis from many publishers, including Electronic Arts, Ubisoft® 2K Games, THQ and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Starting on June 17, 2010, the OnLive Game Service will be available to early registrants throughout the 48 contiguous United States. The initial offering will be supported by a US$14.95 monthly service fee, which will provide access...

Game developer, Icarus Studios, has announced the beta release of its Mac-compatible platform and the Fallen Earth MMO. The software, compatible with Intel Macs, will allow players to connect to the same live server as PC users with game features optimized for their resident operating system. Fallen Earth, co-developed by Icarus Studios and Fallen Earth, is Icarus's first title to support the Mac. With plans to keep the post-apocalyptic momentum going, Icarus Studios is utilizing the open source software Wine (http://www.winehq.com) to launch the Mac-compatible version of the game. “The Mac OS X compatibility project is something we’ve been excited to see implemented for quite a while,” says Brad Lineberger, chief technical officer of Icarus Studios. “Our goal for the project is to allow Mac users to run all of our existing and future games in their native OS.” For optimal play, Mac users will need to run OS X 10.5 Leopard or later, using an Intel-based system with dedicated graphics...

Media Lab has released SiteGrinder 3.0 (http://www.medialab.com/sitegrinder/overview.php) , an update of its web site production plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, which lets you build a web site via the addition of one-word hints, such as "rollover" or "menu," to the names of layers in a Photoshop design file. Its developers say it sports over 300 new features and supports two new optional add-ons: Commerce and Control. The SiteGrinder 3 Commerce add-on builds web stores with a fully-integrated shopping cart from within Photoshop. Users can now create online stores with shopping carts from image galleries using Photoshop text and art layers. After publishing their store to the web, users can edit products, pricing, images and descriptions remotely using any web browser. The SiteGrinder 3 Control add-on enables web site content management from any Internet-connected computer through a web browser. The designer/developer (or client) can change any site content including page additions, text...

iKit (http://www.ikit.com) has launched the iPad Dura Case. It's designed, of course, for the upcoming iPad, is available in black or clear and costs US$40. The Dura Case combines a carved hard shell with a soft-grip border. The impact-resistant case is form-fitting and allows full access to all controls.

Apple has released MainStage 2.1.1 (http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/mainstage/), an update of the live performance application that turns the Mac into a streamlined live rig. It's part of the Logic Studio suite. This update resolves several issues, among them stability fixes for 32-bit Audio Unit Bridge plug-ins. MainStage 2.1 requires Mac OS X 10.5.7 or later. Logic Studio Pro costs US$499.

Boris FX, a developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, has announced that the Boris FX Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Expo, an online trade show, will take place from Monday, March 15, through Thursday, March 18. The event will feature: live webinars; new technology previews; partner presentations; daily raffle prizes; and Q&A's with product managers. For more info regarding the Boris FX Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Expo, including webinar access details, visit http://www.borisfx.com/events.php#expo .

Intego (http://www.intego.com) has released VirusBarrier X6 Dual Protection, featuring the latest version of its anti-malware and network security software together with BitDefender Antivirus 2010 so Mac users can protect their Windows installations. VirusBarrier X6 now provides protection from both malware and network threats. VirusBarrier X6 includes new threat-detection techniques, improved methods of detection, combined detection protocols, proactive behavioral analysis, and a range of defensive functions. The new version includes more than 100 new features. VirusBarrier X6 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.6. Standard licenses protect up to two Macs and one Windows installation. It's also available in family packs that protect up to 5 Macs and 1 Windows installation. For pricing and upgrade information, visit the Intego web site. Also available is Internet Security Barrier X6 DP, which includes VirusBarrier X6 and four other Intego programs, ContentBarrier, Personal Backup, Personal...

About Objects is set to offer an updated version of its iPhone development training course that now includes full coverage of iPad development. Classes will be held in Cupertino, California, on April 24-30, and in Reston, Virginia, May 24-28. The folks at About Objects say the new five-day course, "Introduction to iPhone and iPad Development," is part of a series that's proven popular with developers from such companies as Apple, eBay, Genentech, Intuit, Raytheon, NASA, and Yahoo! There are two other courses in the series: ANSI C Programming, and Objective-C for Beginners. This allows developers to "right-size" their training by choosing the mix of classes they need. Classes are taught by two well-known iPhone developers: Jonathan Lehr, founder of About Objects, and Aaron Morse, developer of numerous iPhone apps including TapDefense, and Trenches. Both have extensive training backgrounds that include years of teaching beginner-level, intermediate, and advanced development topics...

Rock band Pink Floyd has launched a High Court action in the UK against the EMI record label, involving music sold at the iTunes Store. The case concerns how online royalties are to be calculated. Robert Howe, speaking for Pink Floyd, told "The Telegraph" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/7405491/Pink-Floyd-t...) that it also involves EMI's ''entitlement to sell individual tracks, or indeed any tracks, otherwise than in the original configuration of the Pink Floyd albums." Howe says a contractual clause ''expressly prohibited'' what was referred to as ''unbundling'' -- the selling of tracks, either physically or online, ''other than in their original configuration." Pink Floyd wants its albums sold intact. However, EMI argues that the prohibition ''applies only to the physical product and doesn't apply online."

AMF Software (http://www.jamfsoftware.com/) has launched Casper Suite 7.2. The Casper Suite simplifies the lives of system administrators with one centralized framework to inventory, image, update and maintain Mac computers. Casper Suite 7.2 allows administrators to extend and automate enterprise products on Mac OS X using Extension Attributes, while unifying administration of software into a single console. Additionally, new setup assistants like the Policy Assistant have been incorporated for easier day-to-day use and unleash the depth of the Casper Suite’s capabilities within a simplified and improved user interface. Finally, version 7.2 offers the ability to use Apple's native technology in managing settings on client computers (also known as MCX) will be greatly enhanced by taking advantage of (and contributing to the expansion of) the offerings of the Manifest Destiny open-source project from the creators of AFP548.com. What's more, version 7.2 broadens the capabilities of the...

This week's "Your Mac Life" looks at iTunes TV, multitasking and more. There's also discussions on the latest Apple related lawsuits, the iPad and more. In the archive, you'll hear interviews with Adam Engst of "TidBITS," Wacom about their new Cintiq 21UX, and a video review of the Mophie Juice Pack Air! You can listen in this and every Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 8 pm (Pacific). Live video is on Your Mac Life! You can watch the show live at http://yml.macosg.com/ -- or you can listen in to the plain old audio feed at http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com/QT/stream.mov . You can join one of the two Chat Rooms that run during the live show -- on the live video site or on the dedicated IRC Server at irc.chat-solutions.org in the #yourmaclife Channel .

An executive who helped run "The New York Times" wWeb site has been hired to guide "The Associated Press" in its effort to sell consumer applications for the Apple iPad and other digital devices, the news cooperative said Tuesday. Nick Ascheim will run a newly created business unit called AP Gateway as general manager of AP Digital. When he joins the AP this week, Ascheim will report to Jane Seagrave, who became the AP's chief revenue officer last week.

According to a new Stanford University study, iPhone users are becoming so reliant on their iPhones that they are actually reporting being addicted to their the Apple devices. Almost half of the respondents in the 200 person study acknowledged an iPhone addiction, reports "The Huffington Post" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/iphone-addiction-study-pa_n_490...). Students were asked to rate their addiction to their iPhones on a scale of one to five, from "not at all addicted" to "fully addicted." 45% answered with a four or above. The "Post" notes that the iPhone is seen less as an outside device and more of an extension of the person due to the amount of personal information held on it and the ways in which students use it to organize and facilitate their social lives. Stanford esearchers were surprised by how readily students seem to anthropomorphize the device.

On April 24-25, Pearson will host the second "Voices That Matter: iPhone Developers Conference," at Seattle’s Bell Harbor Int’l Conference Center. Authors and experts will join developers to share their knowledge, and participate in discussions, how-to sessions, and networking opportunities around the topic of application development. 
What's more, the new iPad will be an integral part of conference activities. The conference is designed for: iPhone and iPad developers; long-time Mac developers wanting to leverage their existing skills; GUI designers; UX experts; and mobile application specialists. Speakers include Addison-Wesley authors Erica Sadun, "The iPhone Developer’s Cookbook, Second Edition"; Kevin Avila, "Core Audio" (publishing in November); Joe Conway, "iPhone Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide; Erik Buck, Cocoa Design Patterns"; Aaron Hillegass, "Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X"; Mike Daley, "Learning iPhone Game Programming" (Rough Cut); Suzanne Ginsburg, "Designing...

Quirky (http://www.quirky.com) has unveiled Cloak, an US$36, community-developed protective case for the iPad. It's constructed from non-slip rubber with plastic hinge mechanisms to enable viewing at different angles. The iPad slides into the Cloak through a top opening and is held in place by a sturdy friction grip. Once in place, it can be positioned to sit on a flat surface in portrait mode by folding the Cloak’s front cover behind the iPad and using the plastic support brace located on the product’s inside cover to prop up the iPad screen vertically. If you prefer landscape mode, just open Cloak’s front cover and use it to prop up the iPad’s screen from behind. Depending on your viewing preference, the cover can click into different angles by pressing a button on the hinge.

UniPrint (http://www.uniprint.net) has launched UniPrint Version 7.0.  Incorporating an enhanced printer driver, UniPrint Version 7.0 is the first printing solution that significantly improves overall printing quality, speed, manageability and security for Mac users working in a 32- or 64-bit physical or virtual desktop environment, according to Arron Fu, vice president, Software Development, UniPrint. The new version introduces a completely redesigned central management console. UniPrint can now centralize the task of managing server licenses. With the new management console, system administrators can utilize any machine that has a UniPrint component installed to apply a single license file on the designated license server, and also monitor license usage in real time from any remote location. UniPrint 7.0 also introduces a number of new features that make printing simpler and faster for the user, says Fu. This includes a unique Printer Profiler tool that allows system administrators...

Jumsoft (http://www.jumsoft.com) has announced Pages Clip 6.0, continuing its collection of add-ons for iWork, Apple's US$79 suite of productivity tools. Pages Clipart provides users with options for illustrating their presentations, invitations, Web pages, posters, newsletters, and a variety of other documents. Use of the clipart images isn't limited to Pages (the word processing/document creation component of iWork). They're also compatible with Keynote, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and various graphics editors. Pages Clipart 6.0 sports 1,000 images. They're divided into 12 categories and cover a range of topics, such as work, leisure, family, IT, nature and baby care. All image files in Pages Clipart 6.0 are available in PNG and PDF formats; the former supports more advanced options for image customization, while the PDF images can be enlarged multiple times without degrading their quality. Each image features a transparent background, which allows the user to place it over...

Araelium Group has released Querious (http://www.araelium.com/querious), an US$29 database management application for Mac OS X. It includes the ability to view, edit, and search data, manage table schema, indexes, queries, and users, and ships initially with a native connector to MySQL 5. Direct, SSH, and SSL connections are all supported. The Querious interface features a design enabling fluid navigation between viewing data, editing schemas, writing queries, and administrating users, according to Seth Willits, creator of the software. Tabbed windows allows multiple active views at the same time including multiple sessions and query results. Data searches are done with the built-in Records Filter placed above the records view, or with full SQL queries. Queries are kept in a history, or saved as favorites in user-defined folders. Previously saved queries can be modified. Data can be exported as SQL, CSV, Tab, and other formats. Full backups can be exported with optional table create...

Toon Boom Animation has announced the upcoming release of Toon Boom Animate 2 (http://www.toonboom.com/products/animate/), an update of the animation software that lets you publish animation for all types of media, from online to HDTV. Version 2.0 will offer: distribution of character parts to layers; adjustment of velocity on multiple character parts; creation of richer-looking ambiance; SWF export with effects; direct import of scanned drawings (TWAIN); and text capability. Animate can handle such formats and jobs as vector, bitmap, symbols, pegs, camera, morphing, inverse kinematics, advanced lip sync and more. It enables users to create traditional and bitmap animation as well as combine both styles. Users can access lip-sync and cell swapping tools. Buy Toon Boom Animate 2 is available now at the special pre-launch price of US$549.99 until March 21. As of March 8, all new clients will receive a Toon Boom Animate 1 product code. Their Animate 2 product code will be automatically...

WaterField Design (http://www.sfbags.com) has introduced two cases for the Apple iPad: the Smart Case and the thin iPad Slip Case. Both new cases offer protection for the iPad and come in six colors. They fit into the personal size WaterField Muzetto metro bag. WaterField now offers four iPad cases including the previously announced Ultimate SleeveCase and iPad Suede Jacket. The Smart Case (pictured) offers an Ultrasuede, scratch-free liner with a high-impact, rigid insert for screen protection. It's enveloped by a water-resistant exterior, available in six color choices. The Smart Case is flanked by naturally tanned, distressed brown leather and is custom fitted. The Slip Case for the iPad uses the same colored, water-resistant fabric on its exterior. An impact-resistant plastic protect the screen. WaterField now offers four TSA-friendly case options for the iPad -- the Ultimate SleeveCase, the iPad Suede Jacket, the iPad Smart Case, and the iPad Slip Case. You can pre-order all...

Artman21 has released an update (version 1.0.2) of the system preference pane, JeditAnywhere (http://www.artman21.com/en/jeditanywhere/), that lets you edit the selected text in mailers, word processors or other applications with the Jedit X text editor.. With JeditAnywhere, by tapping the option key twice, you can invoke Jedit X and edit the selection without the copy and paste operation. After you've finished editing, tap the option key twice again, and the results will be written back to the selected area of the target application. JeditAnywhere requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later and Jedit X Rev.2.20 or higher. It costs US$12.

Elgato (http://www.elgato.com) has announced what it says is the world’s smallest hybrid TV tuner stick. The next generation of EyeTV Hybrid introduces an ultra-compact enclosure in a matte aluminium finish. The TV tuner stick comes with EyeTV 3 software for Mac and a driver for Windows 7 Media Center. The price of the new version of EyeTV Hybrid remains the same at US$149.95. With EyeTV Hybrid, users can watch and record live television on a Mac or PC. EyeTV Hybrid works with an antenna to receive digital TV that's broadcast over-the-air for free (often in HD), and it receives unscrambled cable TV -- both digital and analog. EyeTV Hybrid comes with a video input cable so users can capture SD video from sources like a VCR or cable box. EyeTV Hybrid comes with Elgato’s EyeTV 3, TV software for the Mac. With EyeTV 3, users can watch, pause, and rewind live TV on a Mac. You can search the Program Guide and record one show or create Smart Series Guides to record an entire season. You can...

In response to a survey conducted by the The Enterprise Desktop Alliance (http://www.enterprisedesktopalliance.com) -- an organization to help IT departments integrate Macs into the corporate environment -- 260 IT administrators from large organizations with both Macs and PCs responded that Macs are less expensive than PCs to manage. In some categories such as troubleshooting, user training and help desk calls, three times as many administrators said that Macs cost less to manage. Approximately 29% of the respondents cited lower total cost of ownership as one of the key reasons their organization buys Macs. Overall 45% cited lower total cost of ownership, ease of technical support, or both, as a significant factor in their Mac purchases. The full survey inquired about buying plans, IT management and administration issues, and the cost of managing the systems. Related to the cost of managing Macs, the survey asked the respondents to estimate the relative cost of a number of factors...

Apple, Facebook, Twitter and HP declined to testify at the second session of the US Senate Judiciary Committee's second hearing on Human Rights and the Law, which looks at protecting privacy of individuals who use the Internet for political and commercial use. They declined, and Judiciary Chair Richard J. Durbin blasted the companies for this. According to a "ZDNet" report (http://government.zdnet.com/?p=7497), he had this to say: "The bottom line is this: with a few notable exceptions, the technology industry seems unwilling to regulate itself and unwilling even to engage in a dialogue with Congress about the serious human rights challenges the industry faces. "In the face of this resistance, I have decided that it is time to take a more active role. At our hearing two years ago, I indicated that Congress could step in if the industry failed to take concrete action to protect internet freedom. "Today I am announcing that I will introduce legislation that would require internet...

Badia Software has released a public beta version of Exportools Professional 3.0, its flagship software for high-end exporting and printing of multiple Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress documents. The latest version has been entirely rewritten in Cocoa, and it's the first add-on for InDesign and QuarkXPress built with 64-bit code, boosting overall performance and stability. Almost every aspect of Exportools Professional's functionality has been refined and improved, according to the folks at Badia. Exportools Professional 30. requires Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard"), Adobe InDesign CS3 or CS4, and/or QuarkXPress 8. It's currently in public beta, so users can test it and send feedback regarding its performance and usability. Just remember that beta software is unfinished software so use with care. Pre-orders are available for US$135 until March 31 with savings of 25%. For more info downloads, go to http://badiasoftware.com/ .

Well, it's official. Valve (http://www.valuesoftware.com) says it will bring Steam, Valve's gaming service, and Source, Valve's gaming engine, to the Mac. Steam and Valve's library of games including Left 4 Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, Portal, and the Half-Life series will be available in April. "As we transition from entertainment as a product to entertainment as a service, customers and developers need open, high-quality Internet clients," says Valve President Gabe Newell, "The Mac is a great platform for entertainment services." "Our Steam partners, who are delivering over a thousand games to 25 million Steam clients, are very excited about adding support for the Mac," adds Jason Holtman, director of Business Development at Valve. "Steamworks for the Mac supports all of the Steamworks APIs, and we have added a new feature, called Steam Play, which allows customers who purchase the product for the Mac or Windows to play on the other platform free of charge. For example,...

MusicSkins -- which makes vinyl skin products for iPods, MP3 players, cell phones, PDAs, laptops and gaming accessories -- has entered into a licensing deal with Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE), the licensing and merchandising arm of Adult Swim, that grants MusicSkins rights to offer skins featuring the artwork from Adult Swim’s portfolio of animated programs. Adult Swim is the late-night network for adults that shares channel space with Cartoon Network between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., whose shows are designed to appeal to a grown-up sense of humor and adult tastes and sensibilities. Under the new licensing agreement, MusicSkins has the rights to market skins featuring characters and artwork from suchAdult Swim action-adventure and comedy series such as “Aqua Teen Hunger Force," “Robot Chicken," “Metalocalypse," “The Venture Bros.," Freaknik," “Squidbillies," “The Drinky Crow Show"and more. The Adult Swim line of skins will be available online at http://www.MusicSkins.com/AdultSwim and...

Eternal Storms (http://www.eternalstorms.at) has updated their flickr client, flickery, for Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard") to version 1.8. The upgrade adds Google Maps to the search functionality to bring more powerful searches to flickery users. With flickry, you can browse flickr's photos, view and comment on pictures of your friends, or upload and manage your own photos and favorites. flickery offers three ways of viewing photos: the miniature-overview of the photos where you can see multiple pictures at a time; the full-window-view, which lets you view one photo at a time in detail; and the full-screen view. You can upload photos to your flickr.com account, as well. The app also gives you the possibility of editing your photos before you upload them. flickery costs US$19.20, though version 1.8 is a free update for registered users.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs attended the 82nd Academy Awards yesterday. He was on hand to watch "Up" win a best-animated-feature Oscar for Pixar -- the fifth for the company he bought in 1986 and sold to Disney in 2006. And the first ad for the iPad appeared during the Oscar telecast. Besides running Apple, Jobs is also the largest shareholder of Disney.

According to the upcoming April 2010 issue of GameInformer" -- as noted here (http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Portal_2_confirmed_for_Mac_Platform/5...), Valve is apparently bringing Steam, its Windows game store, to the Mac. Valve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996 and based in Bellevue, Washington. The company's titles include Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat, Team Fortress, and Portal. In addition to producing best selling entertainment titles, Valve is a developer of technologies including the Source game engine and Steam, a platform for digital content with over 10 million registered users. To use you register for an account. Once you do, you can sign in from any PC (and, apparently soon, Macs) to access your account and order games.

Microvision (http://www.microvision.com), a developer of ultra-miniature projection display products, has announced the opening of its web store for U.S. customers for the Showwx laser pico projector. Microvision plans to begin taking on-line orders through its web store at 12 noon (Eastern) starting on March 24 for the "Made for iPod" device. Microvision is introducing two product offerings in the U.S. -- the Standard Edition Showwx and the Limited Edition Showwx promotional bundle. The laser pico projector Standard Edition comes with accessories and an optional VGA dock to connect to a variety of mobile devices. The iPhone-sized Standard Edition is priced at $549. To celebrate the introduction of the world’s first laser pico projector based on Microvision’s PicoP technology in the United States, Microvision is offering U.S. customers an opportunity to purchase a $999 Limited Edition Showwx bundle. It comes with a personalized splash screen bearing the name of its owner, Showwx with...

Panasonic has announced the Lumix DMC-G2, which it says is the world's first digital interchangeable lens system camera with a movable LCD that allows for touch-control. It's the successor to the Lumix G1, which was the world's first Micro Four Thirds digital camera. The touch-control shooting lets the user adjust auto focus (AF) by touching the subject on the 3.0-inch, 460,000-dot high-resolution LCD. The Lumix G2, also shoots 720p High Definition video using the AVCHD Lite format, and joins the Lumix G10, also introduced today, as the latest models in the Lumix G Micro System. With the touch-screen operation, users can even snap a photo by touching the Lumix G2's screen.  Additionally, the touch-screen operation can be used not only for shooting but also during playback.  Users can touch one thumbnail viewed among many to see the full size of the desired photo.  Also, to view images one-by-one, photos can be dragged across the screen to browse as though flipping the pages of a book...

QNAP Systems (http://www.quap.com) has expanded their Business Series Turbo NAS lineup with two new 1U rack-mounted, 4-drive models, the TS-459U-RP and TS-459U-SP. These new models, with up to 8TB of storage (using 2TB hard drives), have been certified as compatible with VMware's vSphere4 (ESX 4.0) virtualization platform. VMware's vSphere is a cloud operating system that offers a way to reduce IT costs and increase responsiveness. The TS-459U-RP and TS-459U-SP incorporate the Intel Atom D-510 1.66Ghz dual-core processor and feature 1GB of DDRII RAM. The new models are differentiated with the TS-459U-RP containing redundant power supplies. Should one power supply fail, the other will continue to supply the power for the entire system and alert the administrator via email or SMS to the failure. The TS-459U-SP contains a single power supply, and can be upgraded to the –RP configuration with installation of a second power supply module, sold separately. Both models support RAID 0/1/5/...

Pre-orders for the iPad start Friday, March 12, and at least two analysts are predicting the new device will fly off the shelves. "I expect a surge going out the door," Ezra Gottheil of Technology Business Research told "Computerworld" (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9166958/Apple_s_iPad_Will_it_sell...). "There's a group of Apple advocates that will queue up no matter what. Apple has the most effective branding in the industry, and these people think of themselves as acolytes, they do think of themselves as the 'Mac' in Apple's 'I'm a Mac' ads." Marshall of BroadPoint AmTech added that the iPad "will definitely sell out in a matter of hours." Saturday, April 3 is when the iPad will go on sale in the U.S. At least the Wi-Fi only version will; the Wi-Fi + 3G model will hit US store sleeves in late April. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April. Beginning a week from...

Here are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps announced. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/). Zidware has announced My Colorz & Shapes, their newest educational iPhone app to join My Alphabet, My Numberz, Matheroids and ABC Invaders into the Nanoschool Kids series of personal learning for children. My Colorz & Shapes (US$0.99) offers a way for preschoolers to learn basic color and shape recognition. TAS Productions has released Sleeping Pill 1.0 for the iPhone and iPod touch devices. The $0.99 app is specifically designed to help you sleep. GeeThree Softwar has unveiled their first iPhone/iPod game, ImageQuest 1.0. It's a $0.99 pictonym puzzle game in which the player is asked to find the single word that links together a group of pictures. The challenge is to quickly identify the pictures, and keeping the question category in mind, type in the word that solves the puzzle. Players are scored for accuracy and speed, may advance...

Hot on the heels of an announced release date (Saturday, April 3) for the iPad, Apple's stock has hit a record high of US$219.70, besting a previous high of $215.59, which it hit on Jan. 5 of this year. Before today, Apple has been trading in a range between $190 and $215 since last October. Apple’s market cap is approaching $200 billion (it's $199.17 billion).

macProVideo.com (http://www.macprovideo.com) has released a new core training tutorial for Spectrasonics' new Trilian Bass Synth. This new title is called “Trilian 101: Core Trilian” and is produced by a veteran educator and synthesist named Jonathan Perl. It's available now for both HD download (US$39.59) and for streaming in macProVideo.com’s Online Tutorial Library (to which you can subscribe for $25 per month). Trillian is a bass machine with a large set of articulations and gestures that combine together utilizing Round Robin technologies to the programmer the ability to create the most realistic bass parts and outrageous bass sounds imaginable.

Smaato (http://metrics.smaato.com), a mobile ad optimizer and mobile advertising company has revealed its latest metrics to the global, mobile advertising market. It says Apple devices have dipped below the average Index of 100 and Windows Mobile has edge ahead of its rival for the first time -- though not universally. The February metrics of Smaato show the worldwide CTR Index (click through rate) by operating system, the fill rates of mobile ad networks worldwide and for the USA as well as the worldwide ad network response time. With these Metrics Smaato has unveiled for the first time the CTR Index by operating system and the fill rates for South-East Asia. Smaato’s metrics are based upon 35 mobile ad networks and over four billion ad requests served in the Smaato network of more than 3000 registered mobile publishers in February. The metrics show two strong performing networks with 90% and 87% fill rates. The average fill rate (32%) is considerably higher compared to that of India...

Critics are questioning the Alberta government's decision to spend more than $200,000 to hand out free iPod touches to passengers on a promotional train during the recent Winter Olympic Games, reports the "Global Calgary" (http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/technology/Alberta+Olympic+iPod+giveaway+...) "It's a little bit over the top to spend that much money handing out free iPods," NDP Leader Brian Mason told the publication. "I just feel a little bit annoyed that my tax dollars went to provide a great party to people I don't even know." Don Boynton, Travel Alberta's spokesman, said the iPod touches were essentially media kits. The province bought 1,400 at a total cost of $276,000.

Apps & More Software Design has released Job Timer (http://www.appsandmore.com/job_timer.html), a task time tracking and reporting solution designed to be run by Script Timer, its script, Automator workflow, and application scheduling utility for Mac OS X. Job Timer can automatically keep track of the time spent on files belonging to any number of specific jobs, with no need to have to remember to start or change timers. The user can then schedule Job Timer to produce a report that will show the amount of time each job to be tracked was active, both cumulatively and since the previous report. This makes it easy to assign billable hours. Job Timer can also keep track of, and report on, the time specific applications are the frontmost application. This provides a way to, for example, determine how much time was spent in a web browser or chat program as part of a work project. Job Timer requires Script Timer 2.6.2 and Mac OS X 10.4. It comes bundled with Script Timer. It 's...

ExactCode has updated its ExactScan Pro (http://www.exactcode.de/site/products/exactscan/) scanning software for Mac OS X (10.4 and higher) to version 2.10. The upgrade sports a new TWAIN Bridge to enable third party applications to utilize ExactScan's built-in drivers and image processing. Additionally, the new version adds automatic color detection, automatic source selection and more OCR languages. ExactScan 2.10 is currently in beta, and will be available as free update for ExactScan 2 users at the end of March. ExactScan includes built-in drivers for over 180 document scanners, including devices from Avision, Kodak, Oki, Visioneer and Xerox. Together with the Spotlight indexing services built into Mac OS X since 10.5 ("Leopard") this features form a document management solution suitable for small-office and home-office (SOHO) environments. What's more it has image enhancement algorithms that can recognize automatically how the images and documents have to be cropped and de-skewed...

Zenopolis has released Tiptoe 1.0 (http://www.zenopolis.com/software/tiptoe/), a privacy application for Mac OS X. It brings a "private browsing" like feature to all sorts of applications, enabling users to run these apps without a trail of their actions being stored. The ability to reset (remove) existing privacy data is also included. When using applications on their Mac users often leave behind a trail of information about what they have been doing. This can include recent items, history and cache. While this information can be really useful, users may not want it stored on a shared Mac. With Tiptoe the user can choose to open supported applications with privacy so no trail is left behind, but the previous, useful, information they want to keep is left untouched, according to the folks at Zenopolis. Tiptoe also enhances existing browser privacy. For the supported browsers that don't yet provide a "Private Browsing" feature (Camino, OmniWeb, Opera), Tiptoe provides it. For browsers...

Here are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps announced. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/). Vlingo has launched a new iPhone app that allows users to send voice-powered emails and text messages. You simply speak and send. Unlike speech recognition apps that offer a single use only, Vlingo delivers up to six voice-powered features including: email, SMS Paste, social site updates, maps and voice dial. The Vlingo for iPhone app is free and includes voice dial, search, maps, Facebook and Twitter update functionality. The new email and SMS Paste messaging features can be added to the app for US$6.99 each, or both for only $9.99. Ratrod Studio, with the collaboration of pro skateboarder Mike Vallely, has shipped Mike V: Do or Die. This skateboard video game costs $4.99. Mindwarm has released SwipSwap 3.0, an update of the free iPhone/iPod touch app for sharing contact information. It offers in-person, group contact exchange using Wi-Fi and...

New Potato Technologies (http://www.newpotatotech.com) has introduced FLPR, a new accessory and app that transforms iPhone and iPod touch into a universal remote control. FLPR lets users control multiple electronic devices -- including televisions, cable and satellite boxes, stereo systems, lights, ceiling fans and just about anything else that uses an infrared remote control. It's available this month from Best Buy stores nationwide and online at the New Potato Tech web site for US$79.99. After purchasing the FLPR infrared interface and popping it into the iPhone/iPod touch dock connector, users download the free FLPR app from the Apple App Store. Once the app is launched, choose the device “type,” select “brand,” “name it” and “use it.” It’s that easy. FLPR comes pre‐programmed with over 14,000 remote control codes, including all major electronics brands. FLPR purportedly has a database of over 14,000 pre‐programmed remote control codes so works with hundreds of brands of devices...

Booq (http://www.booqbags.com) has unveiled the Boa skin XS for the iPad. It costs US$29.95 and is available in five colors: turquoise, yellow, violet, "sand" and black. 
The Boa skin XS weighs 0.41 pounds and measures 10.7 x 8.66 x 0.7 inches. It's designed to offer protection for your iPad on its own or in conjunction with another bag, backpack or purse. Neoprene skin protects your gear from scratches and scuffs, while the rigid base provides impact protection from drops or mishaps. The base is wrapped in Twylon for optimum durability, The Boa skin XS's neoprene expands to accommodate additional accessories, power cords, batteries, etc.

Penguin books (http://us.penguingroup.com/) -- the U.S. affiliate of the internationally renowned Penguin Group, one of the largest English-language trade book publishers in the world -- is looking to be one of the strongest contenders when it comes to ebooks on the iPad, it seems. Recently, the company offered demos of upcoming books for the iPad. And, according to a report at "paidContent: UK" (http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-first-look-how-penguin-will-reinven...), "many of Penguin’s iPad books seem hardly to resemble “books” at all, but rather very interactive learning experiences, from its Dorling Kindersley and kids imprints --the Vampire Academy 'book' is 'an online community for vampire lovers' with live chat between readers, and the Paris travel guide switches to street map view when placed on a table." “The iPad represents the first real opportunity to create a paid distribution model that will be attractive to consumers,” CEO John Makinson said at the FTs Digital...