Infusions of Grandeur releases Giftory 3.5 for Mac OS X
Infusions of Grandeur (http://www.infusionsofgrandeur.com/) has released Giftory 3.5, an update to their US$19.95 gift buying and tracking utility for Mac OS X. The new version offers enhanced budgeting, including an all-new Budget Manager interface.
There's also Improved online shopping integration with Amazon.com and eBay, including a completely re-designed shopping interface. Giftory 3.5 improves the storing and management of hiding places and stores for faster, more convenient gift entry. Also, there are new keyboard shortcuts for faster, more convenient data entry.
Giftory helps keep track of gift giving and receiving for multiple people, on multiple occasions, over a period of years. The upgrade offers online shopping integration with Amazon, eBay and Yahoo Shopping, as well as integration with Apple's MobileMe service.
Giftory can also help with setting and keeping detailed budgets for any gift-giving occasion. You can create entries for gifts exchanged between two people, and...
PC Publishing releases 'Logic Pro 9 Tips and Tricks'
PC Publishing has released "Logic Pro 9 Tips and Tricks," an US$19.95, 192-page book that covers the new features introduced in Logic Pro 9.
The tips and tricks are culled from author Stephen Bennet's long familiarity with Logic in music production, multimedia work and audio restoration, from his columns for several music technology magazines and from the results of research arising from the many questions he receives from Logic users. "Logic Pro 9 Tips and Tricks" looks at how to: optimize Logic Pro 9; organize your work; get Logic to work your way; record, edit, and mix; use plug-ins; and learn the Logic Environment
Bennett is a composer and post-production engineer who uses Logic every day. He says "Logic Pro 9 TIps and Tricks" is the book he wishes had been available when he first got to grips with the fascinating software that is Logic.
For more information about the book, including table of contents, author bios, and cover graphic, see: http://oreilly.com/catalog/9781906005153...
BOH game for the Mac updated with new missions
BOH has released an update of its self-titled game (http://www.bohthegame.com) for Mac, Windows and Linux systems. It now offers a total of 50 missions.
The update also: reworks the advanced automapper; improves the video modes suggestions; allows terminating map lines with CR+LF; improves error logging; improves the graphics of blocks in theme "C64"; updates the manuals; and more.
BOH is available on a CD-ROM in a DVD box along with a 24-page, full-color, English manual for approximately US$18. A downloadable version is available for approximately $15.
Here's how the game is describe: "BOH is an original, retro-flavoured game of exploration and action. You move in claustrophobic, traps-packed, mind-boggling battlefields searching for the Evil Masters, who throw countless enemies at you until you discover and face them in the final battle. Although your quests are made slightly less hard by the bonuses and power-ups scattered all around, carrying out the missions demands lots of...
Land Air Sea Warfare comes to the Mac, iPhone, iPad
Isotope 244 today has released Land Air Sea Warfare 2.0 for Mac OS X (10.2) Windows, iPhone and iPad platforms. The computer versions costs US$19.95, the iPhone version is $4.99 and the iPad version is priced at $9.99. Version 2.0 contains over 1,000 changes since the previous release.
Here's how the game is described: "Command a force of thousands of units into strategic warfare in this new real time strategy game. Fortify your base with turrets, surface to air missile launchers, torpedo launchers, and long range cannons. Next create factories to pump out enormous legions of vehicles, aircraft, and ships to wage war with, you decide what to build. Form groups with the easy to use grouping interface and transport units to prepare for an assault on the enemy! Finally execute your strategic battle plan and enjoy the immense carnage that ensues. With unique explosions, wreckages, sound effects, and animations for every unit the carnage is as beautiful as it is deadly. Discover and mine...
Comic Life 2.0 for Mac OS X adds full template support
Plasq has introduced Comic Life 2 (http://plasq.com/comiclife2), the latest version of the photo comic creation software for Mac OS X. Version 2 introduces full template support, which means users get a head start on their projects; advanced balloon control and text flow for precision layout; predefined and freeform shapes for more creative expression, integrated Facebook uploader for sharing with the world and an enhanced user interface.
The full template support allows you to get your project jump started with full page layouts including panels, titles and captions along with complementary styles for a professional look, says plasq CEO Robert Grant. You can also create your own templates with all your favorite font and style choices.
You can use the new Facebook exporter to upload and share your comics with your friends and family. Comic Life 2 automatically creates an album to contain the pages in your comic and uploads the images.
Advanced balloon tail controls let you precisely...
Best Buy offers 'free' iPhone on Friday
On Friday, Dec. 10, you can get a free iPhone 3GS at Best Buy. Well, it's "free" when you sign up for a two-year plan with AT&T.
Also, note that Best Buy is offering the iPhone 3GS, not the latest iPhone. That would be, of course, the iPhone 4.
Apple extends iTunes song samples to 90 seconds
Apple has begun extending the length of song samples from 30 seconds to 90 seconds at the iTunes Store in the U.S. Many samples of the site's top-selling singles -- such as The Black Eyed Peas' "The Time (Dirty Bit)" and Coldplay's "Christmas Lights," -- are available in the longer format, reports "CNET" (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20025106-37.html?part=rss&subj=news&ta...).
The length of song samples has been found to be key to a consumer's decision to purchase music online, the article adds. Researchers at Robert Morris University reported last year that consumers were more likely to buy songs if allowed to sample the music for about 60 seconds and if provided access to a "high-quality" version of the music.
Apple iPhone gaming head departs -- to make iOS games
Graeme Devine, who joined Apple's iPhone Game Technologies division last year, tells the "Kotaku" site (http://kotaku.com/5708642/apple-loses-its-iphone-game-guru) that his last day at the company was Friday. He says he left the company to return to game development, concentrating specifically on the iPhone and iPad.
"My job there was basically to make gaming on the iOS devices fantastic," Devine said. "Basically that meant looking at the technologies involved and making sure the software played well with the hardware, to look at upcoming hardware/API and say 'Yup, that is a good thing'."
Devine told "Kotaku" that he can't comment on whether his position will be filled. But he says Apple gamers shouldn't worry.
"Apple has the smartest and most talented group of people I have ever worked with," he told "Kotaku." "Every day I would walk in and feel I was working alongside geniuses and I the guy with crayons in the corner."
iPads, smartphones, laptops higher on consumer Christmas wish...
Despite a massive media frenzy for tablets such as the iPad, the latest research from Broadbandgenie.co.uk has shown old favorites such as smartphones and laptops are still just as high on consumer Christmas wish lists in 2010.
In its latest survey, the website asked visitors, 'What is top of your Christmas list?' Surprisingly, laptops edged ahead of tablets by just 1%, with smartphones just 1% behind the latest gadget to capture the public's imagination. The result follows a recent Broadband Genie poll that found around 80% of UK consumers were not prepared to pay pounds Sterling 400 or more for an iPad.
"This Christmas, many are continuing to fall back on gadgets they trust and understand, such as traditional laptops and smartphones," says Broadband Genie editor Chris Marling. "For a lot of consumers, it is difficult to see what practical purpose a tablet currently provides beyond what other devices can already do extremely well. However, it is also clear the tablet concept is...
iPod among top 10 brands for 8-24 year-olds
Global market research firm, Harris Interactive (http://www.harrisinteractive.com) has released the 2010 results of the first annual Youth EquiTrend study, which asks 8-24 year olds to rate between 98 and 125 brands on several key elements of brand equity including familiarity, quality and purchase consideration. Apple's iPod ranked number five overall.
The top 10 brands, based on equity, are M&Ms, Google, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Oreo's, iPod, Target, Subway, Hersey's Milk Chocolate, Doritos and Pixar.
"Today's youth are not just tomorrow's consumers; they are already consumers in their own right with their own money to spend," says Regina A. Corso, SVP, Youth and Education Research at Harris Interactive. "What companies need to remember is that if brand loyalty is built in these early years, that brand loyalty will remain for years to come. At this stage, the brands that resonate the most with youth are mostly ones that involve food – six of the top ten are candy, snacks or...
Decimus releases Synk 7 featuring Live Sync
Decimus Software has rolled out Synk 7, an update of its file synchronization and backup software for the Mac.
Building on the success of the ZeroScan feature introduced in Synk 6, Synk 7 has been rebuilt from the ground up around synchronizing live as files change. This makes it faster, safer, and more convenient than ever before to keep your files in sync and backed up, says Benjamin Rister, Decimus's president.
"Live synchronization means that syncs and backups will always be up-to-date," he adds. "You'll always be ready to pick up the laptop and walk out the door on a moment's notice, and if your system fails you won't lose any more than seconds of work from your backup. What's more, live sync also improves the performance of syncs, and minimizes the window of vulnerability to sync conflicts (when a file is edited on both sides of a sync).
Beyond live synchronization, Synk 7 still includes many features from previous versions of Synk, such as rules, archiving of changed and...
Apple releases MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.0
Apple has released MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.0 (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1337) for the MacBook Air. The 2.4.1 update is recommended for MacBookAir (11-inch and 13-inch, late 2010) models and requires Mac OS X 10.6.5.
According to Apple, this update resolves a rare issue where MacBook Air boots or wakes to a black screen or becomes unresponsive. You can obtain it via the Software Updates component of Mac OS X's Systems Preferences app.
SMEStorage supports Webdav for DropBox, Google Storage for iWork
SMEStorage (http://www.smestorage.com) says its CloudDav offering has been updated to support WebDav access to DropBox and Google Storage.
CloudDav adds a WebDav access layer to any cloud that SMEStorage supports though its Cloud Gateway, even if the underlying Storage Provider doesn't support WebDav. The service already supported over 10 other Clouds including Amazon S3, Google Docs, and Microsoft SkyDrive.
As well as iWork other iPhone/iPad WebDav-enabled applications can be used such as Readdle Docs, and Office2 HD. CloudDav is also designed for other mobile platforms such as the Nokia N8 Smartphone, which features a native WebDav client on the phone; this can be used with CloudDav to enable native access to many file clouds.
CloudDav is a onetime US$5 purchase for SMEStorage users. Users can register free for single file cloud support directly from the SMEStorage web site. Users who purchase or have purchased the iSMEStorage iPhone or iPad Application can send a screenshot of the...
Latexian is new LaTeX Editor for Mac OS X
Taco Software has released Latexian 1.0, a new LaTeX editor for Mac OS X. Latexian can be used with the LaTeX and XeTeX typesetters, and also includes support for working with BibTeX documents.
Latexian's signature feature is Live Preview, which allows you to see how your document typesets while you're editing it; the PDF preview updates automatically. Latexian features include Project files, Navigator, Code Folding, Error Tokens, Spell Checking and more.
Latexian costs US$24.95 per license, and can be downloaded from Taco Software's web site (http://tacosw.com/latexian/). It requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later. A free, 30-day trial is availab
PhotoLooks 1.5 supports Aperture, Lightroom, Photoshop CS5
Red Giant Software (http://www.redgiantsoftware.com) has released Magic Bullet PhotoLooks 1.5, an update of the software that adds support for Photoshop CS 5, Apple's Aperture and Adobe Lightroom.
This new support provides more options to create color treatments for your photographs. Other 1.5 features include new color management support, support for 16-bit TIFF files and multi-image support.
PhotoLooks lets you manipulate and experiment with color while preserving photographic detail. Sophisticated Look presets and customizable tools let you control lighting conditions and create stylized effects. You can use the software as a standalone application or as a plug-in for Photoshop, Lightroom or Aperture.
Version 1.5 is a free update for registered users of version 1.x. For new users the cost is US$199.
Sonnet introduces SDHC Memory Card to SxS Adapter
Sonnet Technologies has introduced its SDHC Adapter for SxS Camera Slot, designed expressly for use in Sony XDCAM camcorders, which use SxS memory cards for recording.
This Sonnet adapter enables the use of Class 10 and faster SDHC memory cards in place of SxS memory cards, supporting the performance required for HD recording modes while, according to the folks at Sonnet, allowing users to save hundreds of dollars on the purchase of memory cards in equivalent capacities.
Sonnet's SDHC Adapter for SxS Camera Slot offers Sony XDCAM camcorder users an alternative to using SxS memory cards for recording. Available at the price of a single SxS card, the Sonnet adapter and several high-quality SDHC memory cards are designed to empower users to shoot longer without having to offload footage, reformat, and reuse the same SxS card.
Sonnet's SDHC Adapter for SxS Camera Slot is the same size as an SxS memory card and, unlike standard memory card adapters, allows the SDHC card to fit flush...
Study: Android users are more 'data hungry' than...
A series of studies, undertaken by Arieso (http://www.arieso.com) -- a provider of customer centric network management software solutions -- comparing subscriber demand for mobile data has shown that different users and different devices exhibit markedly different demands on mobile networks.
The findings of this analysis -- using Arieso’s edge location-aware and customer-centric network management solution, ariesoGEO -- uses the iPhone3G as a benchmark and shows that data call time on certain handsets can increase by as much as 250%. It also shows that the actual number of data “calls” can increase by more than 130%. In addition, uplink and downlink data volumes can increase by as much as 130% and 40% respectively.
“Smartphone subscriptions are rising and so too is subscriber appetite for mobile data," Arieso Chief Technical Officer Michael Flanagan says. "Since the launch of the iPhone3G, we’ve seen a multitude of popular new smartphones arrive on the market, successfully driving...
Absoft releases Pro Fortran Performance Pack
Absoft Corp. -- a developer of compilers and high performance computing tools for Mac OS, Windows and Linux -- has announced general availability of a new Performance Pack for Absoft Pro Fortran v11.1 customers on Mac OS X and Windows.
The performance pack is included with the new v11.1.1 service pack. Absoft says the performance pack is the result of improved tuning of algorithms used in the new Load Balancing (–05 ) optimizer. In addition to the performance improvements, the service pack includes a variety of fixes.
The Service Pack can be downloaded at no charge by registered Absoft Pro Fortran v11.1 customers from: http://www.absoft.com/download/downloads.html .
Analyst: Mac sales to surge 16% in December quarter
Barclays Capital Analyst Ben Reitzes wrote in a note to investors -- as reported by "Forbes" (http://blogs.forbes.com/briancaulfield/2010/12/08/subsidized-ipads-sizzl...) -- that he expects Mac unit sales to surge 16% for the quarter ending in December, compared to the same period a year-ago.
Apple, meanwhile, seems to be preparing for the launch of the iPad 2 by the end of the first quarter of 2011. This could limit how much iPad inventory Apple wants to have on hand going into next year, says Reitzes.
iPads, Beatles on iTunes among recommended gifts for those 50+
You might want to rethink that Christmas tie for Dad or that bottle of perfume for Mom. Just in time for the holidays, 50+ marketing specialist DMW Direct (http://www.dmwdirect.com) says consumers over the age of 50 are recasting our images of what growing older looks like. Consider putting an iPad in their stocking.
DMW Direct compiled a list of top holiday gifts for 50+ Moms and Dads:
° iPad. Unlike the stereotype of older consumers being averse to new things, Boomers are among the biggest buyers of new technology.
° Facebook 101. A Pew Internet and American Life study says almost half of adults 50–64 are now using social networking -- older adults are the fastest growing group signing on.
° E-reader. Forget about a book with oversize print. Sure, Dad may be having trouble with his eyesight -- but adults 50+ are 10 times more concerned about the environment than their parents were and 20 times more likely to be comfortable with technology.
° Travel guide book. Adults 50+ account...
Stem Innovation releases new Mac, iOS products
Stem Innovation (http://www.steminnovation.com/) has released the Tandem USB Digital Desktop Speakers for Macs and the TimeCommand audio alarm clock for the iPhone, iPod touch and ipad.
Tandem features proprietary Stem:Sonic iQ technology, a DSP-enhanced amplifier and performance tuned bass-reflex ports. The speaker system features a sleek enclosure, cloth grille and black acrylic top to perfectly complement any Mac, according to Gary Bart, founder of Stem Innovation. In addition to the USB digital pathway that delivers ideal audio throughput, additional audio sources may be connected using the auxiliary audio port on the back, he adds.
Tandem's speakers enable the main unit to be placed on either the left or right of a Mac notebook or desktop by taking advantage of a simple left/right swap switch. There's a headphone port on the main unit for personal listening.
Tandem is currently available through Apple retail and online stores for the holiday shopping season. The suggested...
Jobs is "CEO of the Decade'
Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been named CEO of the Decade in the MarketWatch 2010 CEO Awards (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apples-jobs-rock-star-of-corporate-amer...). "MarketWatch" calls him the "rock star of corporate America."
Here's what the publication has to say about Jobs: "Jobs’s tenure as the chief executive at Apple Inc. during the past 10 years is well-documented. After pulling his own company back from the brink of bankruptcy before the decade started, he almost single-handedly went on to save the recording industry with the iPod and iTunes.
"He revolutionized handheld devices and touch-screen technology with the iPhone. And he may well usher in a post-PC era of computing with his latest gadget, the iPad."
“The resurrection of Apple is just the most astounding story that’s probably happened in business in at least a decade -- you might be able to go further and say it’s a half-century,” adds Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies, a technology-industry think tank. “...
Apple drops challenge against OPTi patent verdict
Apple dropped its challenge of an US$19 million patent verdict lost to OPTi Inc. a day before a court was to hear the appeal, reports "Bloomberg" (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-08/apple-tesla-moneygram-leisure-w...).
OPTi, which reported $3.25 million in sales for the three months ended Sept. 30, jumped 15 percent in over-the-counter trading after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington granted the companies’ joint motion to dismiss the appeal, the article adds. According to the case docket, the reason behind the request for dismissal wasn’t made public.
On Jan. 16, 2007, Opti announced that it had filed a complaint against Apple, in the Eastern District of Texas, for infringement of its U.S. patents covering its “pre-snoop” technology. The complaint alleged that Apple infringed its patents by making, selling, and offering for sale various products based on and incorporating "Predictive Snooping" technology.
In the 2009 verdict, jurors found that Apple...
Steve Jobs in IT Hall of Fame
Apple CEO Steve Jobs will among those honored as the "best the information technology (IT) industry has to offer" in a new IT Hall of Fame created by CompTIA (http://www.comptia.org), a non-profit trade association for the IT industry.
“Some of the iconic figures of the American business scene have emerged from the IT industry and the intent of the IT Hall of Fame is to recognize these game-changers,” says Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA.
The IT Hall of Fame consists of two wings: the IT Channel Wing for individuals who have made outstanding contributions or provided outstanding service to the IT channel; and the IT Innovators Wing, recognizing individuals responsible for outstanding technology innovations. Jobs is in the latter.
Chinese housewives caught smuggling iPads
Customs officials in Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city just across the border from Hong Kong, recently caught 14 housewives trying to carry 88 iPads and 340 mobile phones into China, in a bust worth 950,000 yuan, or roughly $143,000, the Guangzhou Daily reports -- and as noted by "The Wall Street Journal" (http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/12/08/china-detains-ipad-smuggli...).
One woman had 65 mobile phones strapped around her waist and over 20 more in a handbag, according to the newspaper. Apple already sells the Wi-Fi version of the iPad in China, but the 3G version isn’t available yet on the mainland. Buyers who want 3G-capable iPads must get the device from overseas -- fueling demand for mules to carry the tablets from Hong Kong to China, says the "Wall Street Journal."
Phone companies want Apple, others to help with bandwidth costs
European phone operators want Apple, Google and Facebook to pitch in and help pay for the billions of dollars of network investments needed for their bandwidth-hogging services, reports "Bloomberg Businessweek" (http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-08/apple-google-asked-to-pay-up...).
As mobile and Web companies add videos, music and games, operators including France Telecom SA, Telecom Italia SpA and Vodafone Group Plc want a new deal that would require content providers like Apple and Google to pay fees linked to usage.
“Service providers are flooding networks with no incentive” to cut costs, France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard said last month. “It’s necessary to put in place a system of payments by service providers as a function of their use.”
Richard, who addressed the issue at the “Le Web” conference in Paris today, has joined Telecom Italia CEO Franco Bernabe and Telefonica SA CEO Cesar Alierta in what could turn into a "cold war with Web companies," "Bloomberg Businessweek...
SubRosaSoft releases MacForensicsLab Web Agent
SubRosaSoft (http://www.macforensicslab.com/) has released MacForensicsLab Web Agent 1.0, an automated web site crawler designed to hunt child pornography, with a built-in skin tone analyzer to identify images of evidentiary value.
MacForensicsLab Web Agent can be utilized by anyone with any level of technical abilities, according to the folks at SubRosaSoft. Only a couple of clicks are required for setup; a fetching and analyzing engine takes care of the rest and locates images of interest.
Web Agent is a tri-platform product that works with Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux systems. SubRosaSoft.com's MacForensicsLab Field Agent, has also been updated to include the option to save images of interest and now includes hashing within reports which is becoming more and more essential in computer crime investigations. It's a free upgrade for all Field Agent 2.9 users.
Pricing for MacForensicsLab Web Agent and Field Agent is $39.95 each or bundled together for $59.95. Trial versions of both...
Countries and Capitals is new interactive atlas for young...
Geo4Kids (http://geo4kids.com), a developer of educational geographic software, has released Countries and Capitals, an interactive world atlas intended for learning the locations of the world countries and the names of their capital cities. It's compatible with Mac OS X, Windows and Linux systems.
The program features colorful maps of all six continents and also offers a challenging quiz mode where the user needs to guess either the location of a specific country or the name of the country by its capital. At the end of each quiz session, the user sees the quiz statistics and can identify his or her weak areas. If the task seems to be too hard, the user can click the compass in the lower left corner of the screen to see a tip.
Since the product is primarily intended for children, it´s extremely easy to use, says Andrew Steinberg, a project manager at Geo4Kids. The user can see the name of a country, its capital and flag simply by placing the mouse cursor over its image on the map....
Tools lets you transfer company catalogs, more onto the iPad
MaximumSoft (http://www.maximumsoft.com) has released tools that help to transfer company online catalogs, web sites, and presentations to Apple's iPad and view them at any time -- even when an Internet connection isn't available.
The tools allow users to download HTML-based materials either directly to iPad, or to their desktop computers and then upload downloaded files to their mobile devices. MaximumSoft Corp. tools include:
° iSaveWeb Pro and iSaveWeb apps that are available in the Apple App Store for US$4.99 each;
° WebCopier Pro ($40), an offline browser that runs on Mac and Windows desktops and whcih downloads web sites and transfers them to the iPad (or iPhone);
° iDreamPublisher ($40), a Dreamweaver extension that publishes sites directly to the iPad.
Customers can use iSaveWeb Pro app to download company online catalogs, web sites, presentations directly to the iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. For greater control over the download process, customers can use WebCopier Pro to...
Stem Innovation launched to develop iOS accessories
Product designer Gary Bart has launched his latest venture, Stem Innovation (http://www.steminnovation.com/). The Florida-based company will focus on the development of iOS accessory products.
"Exciting opportunities now exist for forward-thinking manufacturers to deliver compelling solutions driven by mobile devices," says Bart, founder and former CEO of XtremeMac. "Stem's mission is to enable users to connect their mobile products to their personal environment using the power of apps."
Stem is introducing the first of its new products through Apple retail and online stores for the 2010 holiday shopping season.
Apple updates QuickTime, VoiceOver Kit
Apple has updated QuickTime and its VoiceOver Kit for iPod nanos (fifth generation) and iPod shuffles (third and fourth gen).
QuickTime 7.6.9 (for Mac and Windows) sports updated security measures and improvements to file handling for JP2, GIF, PICT and FlashPix images, along with several video formats including AVI, MPEG, Sorenson, and QTVR. You can obtain it via the Software Updates component of Mac OS X's Systems Preferences app.
VoiceOver Kit has been updated to version 1.4. Enabling VoiceOver for iPod allows you to hear the names of songs, artists, and playlists spoken when listening to content on your iPod. If you have the Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic or the In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic, you can also use VoiceOver to navigate playlists. Version 1.4: enhances pronunciations for artists and song names; improves voices in Korean, German and Russian, and adds Hungarian, Romanian, Slovak and Thai language support to the fourth-gen shuffle.
Tapeless workflows discussed in 'Class on Demand'...
Class on Demand, a provider of professional educational products for creative markets, has released the newest "Class on Demand Legends Series" weekly training webinar, featuring digital media instructor Larry Jordan, titled "Creating a Tapeless Video Workflow in Final Cut Pro."
Since Jordan's first Final Cut tutorial on tapeless media "Working with Tapeless and DSLR Media," he has received numerous requests for a second webinar catered specifically to new users. This week "Creating a Tapeless Video Workflow in Final Cut Pro" does just that. Tapeless newbies can now learn the entire media process: from set-up, ingest, and configuring scratch disks, to editing, rendering, and exporting for the web. Users do not need access to tapeless media to watch this tutorial.
An expansion of the current Class on Demand training lineup, "Class on Demand Legends Series" provides an exclusive "inside look" at the inner workings of influential industry experts and figureheads. "Creating a Tapeless...
iPresentee adds Premium iWeb themes
iPresentee (http://www.ipresentee.com/) has announced iWeb Themes 11.0 to be used with Apple's web site building application. iWeb Themes 11.0 adds five original themes: Happiness, Personal Page, Black Style, Old Fence and Village.
The new release extends iWeb themes collection up to 110 themes. The themes' backgrounds are customizable. Instead of using a static background image that iWeb doesn't allow users to edit or replace, iPresentee's themes incorporates a series of layered images which are editable, replaceable or removable.
iPresentee themes require Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later and iWeb 2.0 (iLife '08) or iWeb 3.0 (iLife '09 or iLife '11). Each theme is available for US$10. The set of five new iWeb Themes 11.0 may be purchased for $25.
The iWeb Suite bundle may be purchased for $70. It includes 75 iWeb themes, 35 iWeb themes for business, 15 iWeb intros, 75 iWeb animations and 181 Keynote 3D stuff objects.
Tidy Up for Mac OS X gets smart basket creation feature
Hyberbolic Software (http://www.hyperbolicsoftware.com) has released Tidy Up! 2.3.1, the latest version of their disk, file and folder processing utility for Mac OS X.
Tidy Up! can find duplicate files and packages using any criteria. Version 2.3.1 adds the ability to create six new smart baskets. The new option is accessible from the File menu and allows for the creation of the smart baskets using the selected folder and file as a filter. There are also bug fixes.
Tidy Up 2.3.1 requires Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard") or higher. Upgrades from version 1.x are $20, and upgrades from version 2.x are free.
Spot Documents cloud-based storage system
Spot Documents (http://www.spotdocuments.com/) is a new alternative to Apple's iDisk, DropBox and other cloud based file storage systems, offering a desktop-like searching and browsing experience.
It leverages the security and redundancy of Amazon's S3. The iPad, iPhone, OS X and Web clients are all free to use. A single account can host multiple repositories, and any number of users can be assigned read only or read/write access to each repository.
"The 'hole' for Apple when it concerns documents is that there is no fast, simple way to browse and search a companies documents from iPhones, iPads and Web," says Spot Documents Founder Tom Anderson. "The current solutions from DropBox and iDisk, and others offer no content searching -- but perhaps more importantly, they offer no real icons or previews. Spot Documents offers icons and 'Quick Look' like previews as have become familiar and expected on the Desktop, extending these to the iPhone, iPad and Web clients."
Test driving the Mac...
Ansca Mobile updates Corona SDK platform
Ansca Mobile (http://www.anscamobile.com) has released Corona SDK, a new version of its Mac-based industry standard mobile development platform. With Corona SDK, developers can write code once and build apps and games for both iOS and Android at the touch of a button.
The new release includes new APIs [application programming interfaces] that support, among other functionality, OpenAL audio, Facebook integration and MapView. In addition, Ansca merged all features of its Corona: Game Edition product into the core CoronaSDK product, with the latter now boasting all features and serving as the single product SKU offered by the Company.
The new Corona SDK audio engine is built on the industry standard OpenAL, designed for low-latency, high performance mixing and supporting 32 audio channels. Corona SDK now integrates the latest version of the native Facebook library (which is currently iOS-only).
A new MapView feature lets developers integrate one or more Google Map views into apps, and...
BatchOutput for InDesign updated to version 3.9.10
Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has released BatchOutput 3.9.10, an update to its professional solution to automate printing and exporting from Adobe InDesign. The update improves PDF preflight options and offers enhanced support for multiple versions of InDesign.
BatchOutput is designed to automate and simplify InDesign production workflows of service providers, printers, ad agencies and publishers. With BatchOutput, users only need to select the files to output and adjust the settings, and the rest will be done automatically.
BatchOutput 3.9.10 can be purchased from the Zevrix web site for US$129.95, as well as from authorized resellers. A demo is available for download. The upgrade to BatchOutput 3.9.10 is free for users of version 3.x, and $51.98 from earlier versions. It includes the Deliver application (a $19.95 value). Users who purchased BatchOutput 3.7 and earlier can contact Zevrix to receive a free Deliver license. BatchOutput is available for Mac OS X 10.4.2 and...
FileMaker delivers FileMaker Go training
FileMaker, Inc. has announced FileMaker Go training, now available in the updated FileMaker Technical Resource Kit (http://www.filemaker.co.uk/trk/).
The free downloadable kit’s four self-paced training modules include the new FileMaker Go module, which teaches users how to optimize and deploy FileMaker Pro databases on the iPad and iPhone. It also provides recommendations for using calculations and scripts in FileMaker Go, and covers passing data between FileMaker Go and other mobile applications.
The FileMaker Go training module and three modules covering some of the hottest FileMaker topics (Working with Layouts, Reporting and Security) are sold as part of the £65 FileMaker Training Series, but are available free, along with a 30-day trial of FileMaker Pro, in this kit, says Ryan Rosenberg, vice president of marketing and services for FileMaker, Inc.
In the kit’s Working with Layouts module, users can discover tools and techniques for creating layouts in FileMaker Pro 11,...
Beta of DaisyDisk 2.0 for Mac OS X available
The DaisyDisk Team has released a beta of DaisyDisk 2.0 (http://www.daisydiskapp.com), a scanning/mapping system utility for Mac OS X. Just remember: beta software is unfinished software so use with care.
The beta features built-in file deletion, can scan several disks at a time, has brand new UI based on Core Animation, and more. In DaisyDisk, disk contents are displayed as an interactive sunburst map, revealing large files that may no longer be necessary. The sunburst map provides a color-coded overview of disk usage, and can be navigated to preview deeper levels of data.
DaisyDisk supports all kinds of drives, including Time Machine volumes, network share drives, FTP drives, USB thumbsticks, FireWire drives, CD/DVD drives and images, FUSE drives, SATA drives, IDE/ATA drives and RAID drives. When the application is launched an overview of all mounted disks is displayed, with graphical indicators of how full each is. Choosing the Scan button next to any displayed disk begins the...
RadTech rolls out ProCable Shortz
RadTech (http://www.radtech.com) has introduced the US$19.95 ProCable Shortz, an Apple 30-pin dock extender adapter.
The male-to-female dock connector extender fits most cases with small or restricted access to the docking port -- including the Apple Bumper case. You can connect all of your 30-pin cables and peripherals without having to remove your case.
Zulu now syncs FileMaker events with Google Calendar
SeedCode says the new version of Zulu now syncs FileMaker events with Google Calendar. Zulu is an extension for FileMaker Server that lets users see and edit FileMaker data from iCal or Google Calendar, as well as from the calendars on their iPhones or iPads.
There are no scripts to run when you edit records, and no need to manually keep iCal and FileMaker in sync. With Zulu, iCal is reading your FileMaker records from the server, just like FileMaker does.
Zulu requires FileMaker Server 9 or higher and works with any FileMaker table containing dates. Pricing starts at US$299 for publishing up to five calendars to any number of users. A demo, more info, and a video of Zulu in action is available at the SeedCode web site (http://www.seedcode.com). Zulu is a collaboration between SeedCode and the brilliant developers at 360Works.
Url Extractor X gets more international Google sites
Tension Software has released Url Extractor X 3.2.1 (http://pomola.com/products_urlextractor/urlextractor.html). The new version adds more international Google sites to extract starting form search keywords.
Url Extractor X is a Mac OS X app for extracting emails address and generic URLs from files on the HD or directly from the web using a list of "starting" web addresses and working unattended after the startup. You can now retrieve and start search from web pages using keywords from various international Google sites.
Url Extractor can extract thousands of URLs from the web starting from a single web page and using "cross navigation" and extraction. It requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and costs US$50. It's Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. Version 3.2.1 is a free update for registered users of version 3.0.
Analyst: Apple products face big demand in China
Several Apple products are facing significant demand in China, with the 11-inch MacBook Air, certain versions of the iPad, and the iPhone 4 all facing shortages, Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White told clients in a note today, as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com).
In a tour of the Far East, he noted the iPad and 11-inch MacBook Air are hard to find. But White found the iPhone 4 to be Apple's most difficult product to purchase.
He said wait times are around two months and carrier China Unicom is unable to fulfill about a third of preorders. Apple's interest in the market is seen as positive because of the growth opportunities in China, notes "AppleInsider."
Analyst: Apple made two mistakes when it launched the iPhone
In a note to clients -- as reported by "Fortune" (http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/12/07/munster-apple-made-two-big-mistak...) -- Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says Apple made two big mistakes when it launched the iPhone.
Mistake one: Apple didn't originally subsidize the iPhone, but it quickly corrected this error by offering the original iPhone at a lower price shortly after its release, and offering the iPhone 3G at a subsidized price one year after the original iPhone launched
° Mistake two, per Munster: Apple's exclusive agreement with AT&T has limited demand for the device.
"We expect Apple to correct this issue by the end of [the first half of 2011] and add Verizon to the list of carriers that sell the iPhone in the US.," he says.
The analyst notes that that the U.S. is the only remaining country of the 89 countries in which the iPhone is sold that involves an exclusive agreement. (Some countries, such as China, have only one carrier, but those deals aren't exclusive...
FontXChange 3.0 converts web fonts
FontGear (http://www.fontgear.net) has released FontXChange 3.0, an update of the font conversion tool for Mac OS X 10.4 and higher. It converts font files from one format to another.
Version 3.0 includes expanded web font support for conversion to WOFF, SVG, and EOT font formats, and new features to create HTML examples using the “@font-face” tags for converted web fonts for easy font support on your web sites. Other features include a completely updated user interface and font previewing, conversion support for OpenType, TrueType, and PostScript Type 1 for Mac and Windows.
FontXChange 3.0 costs US$99 for a single-user license. A site license is $350. A demo is available for download.
iPad 2 to ship in February 2011?
Foxconn Electronics' plants in Shenzhen, China have recently been notified they will ship Apple's iPad 2 within the next 100 days with initial shipments to reach 400,000-600,000 units, according to "DigiTimes" (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20101206PD224.html), quoting "sources from Taiwan-based component makers."
The article says the "iPad 2" will ship as soon as the end of February in 2011. Apple originally planned to start mass production in January, but because the device's firmware is currently still in testing, Apple has been postponing the schedule, "DigiTimes" says.
Apple now top smartphone maker in Australia
Apple has overtaken Nokia for the first time to become the number one smartphone vendor in Australia, reports the "Sydney Morning Herald" (http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/apple-pips-nokia-to-become-no...).
The iPhone now accounts for 36.5%of the smartphone market, compared to Nokia's 30.5% share, according to IDC's "Q3 Mobile Device Tracker" report. However, Google's Android platform is growing even faster than Apple's iOS with a 21%, up from 7.1% in quarter two (Q2) and only 2.1% in Q1.
"It's looking like next year it's going to be close between Android and Apple but I would be inclined to say that Apple will keep its lead, although we have been under pretty much every quarter with our Android forecast so anything really is possible at this stage," IDC Australia telecommunications analyst Mark Novosel told the "Herald." "Given the way that it is growing, this time next year Android could be number one. It really depends how next year will pan out."
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm now shipping
Blizzard Entertainment is now shipping World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm/), the third expansion for the subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game.
The expansion is available on DVD-ROM for Mac OS X and Window at a suggested retail price of US$39.99 and is also offered as a digital download from the Blizzard Store. A special Collector’s Edition packed with bonus items will be available exclusively in retail stores for a suggested retail price of $79.99.
Here's how the expansion pack is described: "In Cataclysm, the face of Azeroth will be forever altered by the return of the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing. Players will explore once-familiar areas of the world that have now been reshaped by the devastation and filled with new adventures. In an effort to survive the planet-shattering cataclysm, two new playable races -- worgen and goblins -- will join the struggle between the Alliance and the Horde.
"As players journey to...
Survey: healthcare industry adopting the iPad
BoxTone (http://www.boxtone.com), which specializes in proactive Mobile Service Management (MSM) software, today announced results from a survey of nearly 950 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) members, which indicates that iPad deployments are accelerating in large part due to the mobile device’s compelling point-of-care applications and uses.
Key findings include:
° More than 25% of the HIMSS respondents plan to deploy the iPad and other iOS devices immediately, and nearly 70% plan to deploy the devices within the next year.
° One-third identified point-of-care applications -- including lab order visualization and results, clinical decision support and medical image viewing applications -- as top priorities, while 18% identified general administration including billing, coding and claims applications as top priorities.
° When provided with a choice of options for potential iPad IT management challenges, nearly 75% identified secure configuration and...
iPad Lock is new anti-theft accessory for the Apple tablet
The iPad Lock from Maclocks (http://www.maclocks.com/i-pad-lock.html) is a new iPad cable lock. With it you retain all of your mobility, and you can lock and unlock it in seconds, taking it with you wherever you go, according to the folks at Maclocks.
The iPad Lock also doubles as a security solution for retailers. The first component of the patent-pending iPad Lock is a hard, clear plastic case you can leave on for everyday protection. And since the iPad has no security slot, the case has one built in. That way you can lock the security cable to the case, and loop the cable's other end around a fixed object (like a table).
Once the case and cable are locked together, thieves can't detach the case without damaging the iPad. Weighing less than one pound, the cable's lock-head purportedly has the smallest diameter of any computer lock in the world.
The product has a suggested retail price ranging from US$39.95 to $79.95, and comes in three variations: a stand-alone case:, a security...
