Yesterday, HostGator (one of MacTech's providers) experienced yet another long period outage that affected customers across their base. While HostGator stayed initially quiet on the outage, they continued to say throughout the outage that only a "small number" of customers ... given the number of complaints now posted, that was clearly not the case. Only MacTech's periphery sites were impacted, and those sites are now fully back up (if you continue to see a "Yeah, we know." page talking about the outage, please let us know. We apologize for the inconvenience.

According to data published by Twitter analytics firm Twopcharts, Twitter may have a stickiness problem. According to the data there is a large discrepancy between the number of accounts created and the number of accounts that actually remain active. Of the 284 million accounts created in 2013, only 37 million (12.9%) were still actively tweeting in February 2014. On the other hand, of the 4 million accounts created in 2008, 1 million were still tweeting in February 2013, indicating that early Twitter adopters are more likely to stick with the service. The accompanying chart is provided via Statistica.com .

In the wake of the Heartbleed Bug, some inexperienced vendors are suggesting users change their passwords, but this won't protect them from further attacks. Last week, the Heartbleed bug was discovered. Since then, many companies and a few inexperienced security vendors have rushed to put out ill-advised statements. One of those theories is that users need to immediately change their passwords so they can maintain their online security. According to LogmeOnce CEO and security expert Kevin Shahbazi, this will not only not protect you, it could increase your risk of a cyber attack. "Users should not change their passwords right now, it will not help the situation," says Shahbazi. "The problem with sites affected by the Heartbleed Bug is that hackers can visibly see your passwords. And until the infected sites clear up the problem themselves, it is advisable not to change your password. And be careful because the Heartbleed Bug affects more than just websites, it can also get into smart...

Native Instruments has released RISE & HIT, an instrument dedicated to creating tension and suspense with build-ups and climatic hits. It uses a range of over 8GB of recorded and studio-produced sounds. The RISE & HIT interface offers editing with integrated effects and mastering tools for sound design capabilities. It includes an extensive sample library of produced sounds. 
RISE & HIT runs in KONTAKT 5 or the free KONTAKT 5 PLAYER. It cots US$149 and is available at www.native-instruments.com/riseandhit .

G5 and Serpent Creek have teamed up to bring 9 Clues: The Secret of Serpent Creek to the Mac. It's available on the Mac App Store. Here's how the game is described: "Your closest friend, journalist Helen Hunter, traveled to the coastal town of Serpent Creek to report on the Serpent Festival. Now she's missing, and the last phone call she made was to you. As a paranormal private investigator, Helen wanted you to weigh in on some frightening things she'd discovered. She asked you to come immediately.   "The first thing you see upon arriving in Serpent Creek is a humanoid, snake-like creature. Clearly, Helen's fears were not groundless. It seems the town's streets are crawling with snakes, the ground shakes with violent tremors, people are sleepwalking and to make matters worse, no one remembers a blonde journalist. You'll have to investigate mysterious locations and solve challenging puzzles to piece together clues about what happened to your best friend. Reveal the evil that clutches...

Tension Software (www.tensionsoftware.com) has revved DB-Text, its general use tool for opening and editing CSV and TSV files on Mac OS X — to version 1.4. DB-Text can enlarge or shrink all the columns in a single step from the toolbar. It allows you to move and adjust columns as you need. In version 1.4, the import function now has the ability to auto-detect the file encode format. Plus, there are new file encode formats for text files to import: nine accepted formats such as (UTF8, ASCII, UTF16, UTF32, OLD MAC OS 9) and others. DB-Text costs US$5. It's available at the Tension Software web site and the Mac App Store.

Twelve South ash introduced the US$79.99 BookArc möd, its first product created in wood. It's a hardwood version of the company's BookArc stand. 

The stand is compatible with all current MacBook models and is available in three finished: birch, walnut, and espresso. It's available now; go to http://bit.ly/1t5Je0Sfor more info.

Corning has announced the availability of its USB 3.Optical Cables by Corning , capable of sending up to five 5 gigabits per second of data at distances up to 30 meters. Compatible with most USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices, the cables extend data transmission beyond the 3-meter limitation of comparable copper cable. The USB 3.Optical Cables by Corning are up to 50 percent thinner and up to 80 percent lighter than comparable copper cables. With a "zero-bend" radius, they can withstand bending, squeezing, and tangling without damage or loss of function, making them ideal for routing through the harsh environment of a crowded workspace, says Bernhard Deutsch, vice president, product line management, Optical Connectivity Solutions for Corning Optical Communications USB 3.Optical Cables by Corning currently come in lengths of 10 meters with "A-to-receptacle-A" connectors for maximum flexibility to connect devices with different USB connector form factors, such as B or Micro B with short...

Google, the company who's famous mantra is "Don't be evil", has grown to become one of the largest spenders on lobbying in the United States. Once surely considered "evil" by the company's idealistic founders, lobbying has become essential to the search giant, that has repeatedly been subject to antitrust allegations. In 2013, the company spent a total of US$15.8 million on lobbying, making Google the fifth largest corporate lobbying spender in Washington D.C. The accompanying graphic is courtesy of Statistica (http://tinyurl.com/l8eun6m).

Vasilek Games has announced Slots Tale 1.3.1, an update of their slot game for Mac OS X. It's a free casino game based on myths and legends. Version 1.3.1 is a maintenance upgrade. Slots Tale requires Mac OS X 10.7 or higher. It's available free at the Mac App Store. Go to http://vasilek-games.com for more info.

Theme Inn has expanded its productivity templates with the release of the iOS version of Bundles for Microsoft Office. It requires iOS 6.1 or later. The new pack of designs is designed to complement the newly released Microsoft Office Mobile with 200 assorted designs for Word, 20 matching template lines for Word, 40 spreadsheet designs for Excel, and 40 slideshow themes for PowerPoint. Bundler for MS Office costs US$10.99 and is available at the Apple App Store in the Productivity category. Go to www.themeinn.com for more info.

Sinisa Drpa has introduced Effect Stack, a non-destructive image editor for Mac OS X. It requires Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks or later and costs US$9.99. Effect Stack allows users to chain multiple image filters. It offers a choice of a variety of filters that can be stacked together and saved as pre-sets that can be re-used. The filters' effects ripple downward through the stack, changing the current stack of the selected image or images. Effect Stack supports all image formats supported by OS X. Go to http://tinyurl.com/n838vwj for more info.

According to data released by Gartner this week, global PC shipments declined by 1.7% in the first quarter of 2014. While a few years ago, this number would have been considered catastropic, now it's actually good news. As a matter of fact, it's the smallest decline the PC industry has suffered since early 2012. According to Gartner, the end of Windows XP support in early April has boosted replacement buys and could continue to do so in the current quarter. While it's unlikely that PC sales will suddenly start growing again, the trend of the past few quarters suggests that the industry may finally have bottomed out and sales might stabilize around the current level. The graph is courtesy of Statistica (http://tinyurl.com/l9eogdr).

 Zevrix Solutions (www.zevrix.com) has launched LinkOptimizer 4.8.13, a maintenance update to its workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. The software allows you to reduce the size of InDesign links and speed up processing by eliminating excess image data. It also performs image color conversion and sharpening, converts file formats and more. The new version improves the app's startup process and ensures that LinkOptimizer menu in InDesign can be created when multiple versions of InDesign are open. LinkOptimizer can be purchased from the Zevrix website for US$259.95 (there's a "lite" version for $179.95) as well as from authorized resellers. A demo is available for download. The update is free for LinkOptimizer 4.x users and $130 to upgrade from previous versions. LinkOptimizer is available for Mac OS X 10.5-10.9 and works with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop CS3-CC.

Microlab has announced the FC60BT HA audio wireless Bluetooth/NFC 2.1 Subwoofer Speaker System, featuring the company's patented HC2D Technology, a subwoofer, and two stereo satellite SQ speakers. The system serves up 105-watt output with EQ parameter for automatically balanced sound, a 360 degree remote control, and white acrylic styling. The speakers are "clear, see-through" models, and the subwoofer has a Lycosa mirrored design. The remote controls on/off, input choice (Bluetooth, NFC, or optical), volume, bass, pause/stop, and track selection. Priced at US$449, the Microlab FC60BT will be available next month. For more info go to http://www.microlab.com .

Fishcow Studio and Daedalic Entertainment have teamed up for Gomo, a point and click adventure game. It costs US$7.99 and is available at the Mac App Store. Here's how Gomo is described: "Gomo is a hand-drawn exploration-game, featuring its very own art style. Players take control of Gomo, who's out to rescue his dog Dingo from an alien abduction. A great adventure awaits Gomo and the player, as they point, click and puzzle their way through the comic-style world. "There are many obstacles to face and overcome with creative solutions, like, for example, a self-made balloon. Gomo's world is also full of secrets, waiting to be discovered. The game is about gameplay and problem solving, focusing on puzzles and exploration in a visually unique world."

Google released its latest Transparency Report this week, in which the company discloses how many user data requests it received from law enforcement agencies around the world. U.S. government agencies are by far the most eager for Google's user data. In 2013, they filed 21,492 requests with Google, 83% of which the search giant at least partially complied with. Today's chart is furnished by Statistica (http://tinyurl.com/m9qstwa).

Scorpion Research (http://www.scorpionresearch.com) has announced Scorpion BarCode 2.50, an update to its barcode creation software for Mac OS X. Scorpion BarCode helps you create and print major barcode symbologies in EPS or PDF file formats. You can integrate barcodes into database, spreadsheet and word processor applications. A command line version is also provided to build scripted solutions. Version 2.50 is designed for OS X 10.9 Mavericks but works with OS X 10.6 or later. Scorpion BarCode 2.50 costs US$165 for a single user license. A demo is available for download.

According to PiperJaffray's latest report on the preferences of American teens, Instagram has leapfrogged Facebook and Twitter in popularity among teenagers. According to the report, 30 percent of U.S. teens named Instagram the most important social network, while Facebook and Twitter were chosen by 23% and 27%, respectively. Especially Facebook has recently lost popularity among younger audiences. A year ago, 33% of teens had named it as their favourite. Many saw Facebook's acquisition of Instagram as an attempt to re-connect with the youth. If that was the case, Instagram appears to have been a good choice. Today's chart is courtesy of Statistica (http://tinyurl.com/ogda87e).

Blackmagic Design (http://www.blackmagicdesign.com) has announced 10 new products at this year's National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show, including new camera models, six new Ultra HD product lines (including the world’s first 12G-SDI product with the Teranex Express), the latest version of Resolve and the introduction of our Cintel Film Scanner. Following is a list of the products and their summary by Blackmagic: Blackmagic URSA - A new high end digital film camera designed to revolutionize workflow on set. Built to handle the ergonomics of large film crews as well as single person use, URSA has multiple accessories built in, including a massive 10 inch fold out on set monitor, large user upgradable Super 35 global shutter 4K image sensor and internal dual RAW and Apple ProRes recorders. DaVinci Resolve 11 - A major upgrade with more than 100 new editing and color grading features. This new update includes major improvements in online editing plus context sensitive trimming...

Tension Software (www.tensionsoftware.com) has updated Data Extractor, its OS X tool for extracting data from files and collecting them in exportable tables, to version 1.3.1 The new version sports improved auto-detection of file encoding to extract (UTF8, ASCII, UTF16, UTF32, OLD MAC OS 9) and others. Data Extractor 1.3.1 requires Mac OS X 10.8 or higher. It costs US$40 and is available from both the Mac App Store and the Tension Software website.

TLA Systems has announced PCalc 4.0, an update to their scientific calculator for Mac OS X. The company took the latest code from the iOS version and ported it back to the Mac. It has every feature from the iOS version, and new ones, including: ° The ability to show multiple lines on the display, including the RPN stack; ° An optional "Ticker Tape" that shows a history of recent calculations underneath the main display; ° Editable user functions and conversions, which sync via iCloud with all your other Macs and iOS devices; ° Redesigned tape and register windows that can be torn off from the main calculator and resized; ° Smart searching for conversions, constants, and functions; ° Enhanced AppleScript support to call any command, perform conversions, run functions, and apply constants; ° All the keyboard layouts from the iPhone and iPad versions; ° All the themes too, including the iOS 7 style Samurai and Samurai Night themes. ° An accounting display and number entry mode; ° Trend...

Adobe has announced the availability of Lightroom mobile, a companion app to Lightroom desktop software, only available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud. The new Lightroom mobile app brings Lightroom tools to the iPad. It delivers photography essentials – such as non-destructive processing of files – and utilization of new Smart Preview technologies to the Apple tablet. Lightroom mobile is built on a synchronization architecture, designed specifically for photos, and provides the most efficient way to manage and edit images across desktops, mobile devices and the Web. Lightroom mobile is available as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop Photography Program. For USD$9.99 per month, photographers have access to Lightroom 5 and Photoshop CC on the desktop as well as Lightroom mobile on iPad. Go to www.adobe.com/go/lrmobile for more info.

EditShare says its Flow Media Asset Management (MAM) and Ark archiving/backup solutions now now integrate with the Avid ISIS 5500/5000 and 7500/7000 shared storage families. The new integration lets Avid ISIS facilities add EditShare asset management, ingest and archiving tools to their workflow. EditShare Flow’s integrated asset management and ingest capabilities turn Avid or EditShare storage systems into end-to-end file-based workflow solutions. Ark Tape provides an integrated solution for customers who want to have a safe copy of their media that can be transported off-site — or for those who want an easy and energy-efficient solution for archiving media and projects from their Avid or EditShare storage systems. Ark Disk is based on hard disks that are spinning all the time. Go to www.editshare.com for more info.