iNMR for Mac OS X recompiled as 64-bit app
Nucleomatica (http://www.inmr.net/) has announced iNMR 5.0, a new version of the software for NMR processing on the Mac. It's been recompiled as a 64-bit application and the whole graphic interface has been revamped.
In iNRM 5.0, all the Carbon code has been ported to Cocoa. The interface has been redrawn, with new cursors, new icons and new dialogs.
iNMR 5.0 requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It costs approximately US$382 for a standard license. Upgrades from version 4.x to 5 are free for standard academic licenses. Students can buy a license for approximately 450. iNRM 5.0 can be used without any license, in evaluation mode, for unlimited periods.
New version of iDatabase for Mac available with 50% discount...
Apimac has updated iDatabase, a personal database management system for Mac OS X , to version 2.3.
With iDatabase you can choose from 22 ready-to-use database templates that you can personalize to fit your needs. You can manage membership lists, expenses, projects, keep track of your internet accounts and more. iDatabase for Mac can be synchronized via Wi-Fi with iDatabase for iPhone, which is sold at the Apple App Store.
To celebrate the release of version 2.3, Apimac is offering a 50% discount coupon (APIDSCT50IDATA) that's good through Jan. 15 at http://sites.fastspring.com/apimac/product/store . The software costs US$14.99 for a single user license.
New Canon camcorders sport social sharing features
Canon (http://www.usa.canon.com) has announced a new line of six VIXIA High Definition flash memory camcorders -- three compact VIXIA HF M-series models and three entry-level VIXIA HF R-series models -- for 2012.
Focusing on the social network experience, Canon has enhanced select models with Wi-Fi connectivity, the option to capture videos in MP4 or AVCHD file format and full Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) compatibility, unleashing on-the-spot creative video sharing and still-image uploads. The MP4 file format option helps make content easier to share across mobile devices and to social networks online, while DLNA connectivity allows wireless transmission of videos to DLNA-compatible HDTVs.
Encouraging users to shoot and share, the Canon VIXIA HF M52, VIXIA HF M50, VIXIA HF R3 and VIXIA HF R30 models have the ability to upload videos directly to social media sites such as YouTube and Facebook over a Wi-Fi network, or to mobile devices such as an iPhone or iPad1 utilizing a...
Type2Phone for Mac OS X add four more keyboard layouts
Houdah Software has updated Type2Phone for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher) -- an app that turns your Mac into a Bluetooth keyboard for your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad -- to version 1.3. The upgrade adds adds four more keyboard layouts, support for function keys, media keys, home and power buttons.
Every character you type into Type2Phone will appear on the mobile device it's paired with. The app also allows for pasting text from the Mac to the iOS device. Every character that could by typed can also be pasted. Just hit cmd-shift-V. Type2Phone shows every character it has sent to the iOS device.
Type2Phone also supports text selection and copy-paste operations on the iOS device. You can navigate text using the arrow key. Hold the shift key while navigating to select text. Use the cmd-C, cmd-V shortcuts to trigger copy-paste operations.
Type2Phone supports the following iOS keyboard layouts: U.S American, Dvorak, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Serbian, Slovenian, Swiss-...
Tiffen introduces Variable ND filter product line
The Tiffen Company (http://www.tiffen.com) is showcasing the new Tiffen Variable ND Filter line at this week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. It combines seven ND filters into one optical filter.
The US$45 Tiffen Variable ND is made with high-quality optical glass using Tiffen's ColorCore technology, according to says Jill Conrad, product manager for Tiffen. Many variable NDs on the market today use plastic or resin for one or sometimes both of the optical elements. In addition to showcasing new Variable ND Filter size options at CES, Tiffen is offering specially priced Digital Light Control Kits, a collection of high-performance Tiffen Optical Filters for DLSR shooters and videographers.
Timing for Mac OS X updated to version 1.1.5
Eurocomp has released Timing 1.1.5 (http://timingapp.com), an update to its time tracking application for Mac OS X (10.6.6 or higher). It's available on the Mac App Store for US$9.99 for a limited time.
Timing doesn't require users to manually operate timers. Instead, users' activities -- like editing documents, surfing the web, and playing games -- are tracked automatically and can be reviewed at a later time. The new version is a maintenance release.
The application is targeted at Mac users who are curious about how they spend time using their computer. Timing will give a detailed overview on how much time is spent playing games and browsing websites.
Apple’s 2012 Proxy Statement online
Apple says its 2012 proxy materials are now available at http://www.apple.com/investor under the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Notice and Access rules.
Apple shareholders can still receive a printed copy of the proxy materials free of charge by following the instructions provided at http://www.apple.com/investor or in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials that will be mailed to individuals who were Apple shareholders as of Dec, 27, 2011. Apple’s 2011 Form 10-K was filed on October 26, 2011 and may also be viewed at http://www.apple.com/investor .
Apple continues to dominate apps
Apps are sure to be the rage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as manufacturers look to cash in on the more than 41 billion phone and tablet downloads in 2012. And the app market is an area where Apple continues to dominate.
The average selling price of paid downloads is declining across every major platform, as competition heats up and devices move into emerging markets. To offset this loss, storefronts, carriers, and developers look to virtual goods -- an industry which will quintuple in size from 2011 to more than US$1 billion in 2012. Apple and Android look to take advantage of their positions to retain developer interest, maintain a steady flow of high quality apps, and keep consumers wedded to their ecosystems, as seen in, "Apps Forecast 2008 – 2013: Virtual Goods Drive Real Revenue," from the Strategy Analytics research group (http://www.strategyanalytics.com).
"The introduction of tablets from Amazon and Barnes and Noble and a renewed push for Windows Phone ensure an...
Apple ships 1.2 million MacBook Airs in fourth quarter
Apple is the only vendor that managed to keep its fourth-quarter notebook shipments staying at the same level recorded in the third quarter, and even saw its shipments of MacBook Air models increase to 1.2 million units in the fourth quarter from one million in the previous quarter, according to DigiTimes Research (http://www.digitimes.com).
Otherwise, shipments of notebooks by Taiwan makers posted a decline of 5.7% on quarter and 4.4% on year in the fourth quarter of 2011, affected by a downturn in the global economy and shortage in the supply of hard disc drives (HDDs), the article ads. However, the decline rate in notebook shipments by Taiwan makers was lower than that for the global notebook industry in the fourth quarter thanks to a switch of orders by Hewlett-Packard from Flextronics International to Taiwan makers, and a sharp decline in notebook shipments by Samsung Electronics that affected global notebook shipments, says DigiTimes Research.
Elgato introduces portable storage solution with Thunderbolt...
Elgato (http://www.elgato.com) has announces the Elgato Thunderbolt SSD, a portable high-speed storage solution that combines a solid-state drive with Thunderbolt technology.
Housed in a metal enclosure, the high-speed drive draws its power directly through the Thunderbolt port without needing a separate power supply. The Elgato Thunderbolt SSD will be available in February for US$429.95 (120GB) and $699.95 (240GB).
Unlike traditional portable hard drives, the design of the Elgato Thunderbolt SSD contains no moving parts, so it's more resilient to rough handling, and less prone to faults, according to the folks at Elgato. The metal enclosure doesn't just look great; it also ensures optimal heat dissipation, they add. As this design doesn't need a noisy fan, it operates silently.
Apple sued over exclusive iPhone carrier deals
Another day, another lawsuit. Four American iPhone users have launched a class action suit against Apple over its exclusive deals with carriers in the country and the way it runs the App Store, reports "The Register" (http://macte.ch/4cEYW).
Apple partnered with US carrier AT&T when it first brought the Jesus-mobe to stores in 2007, in a five-year exclusivity agreement that tied users to an AT&T SIM card with no option to use another network.
The four plaintiffs in the case are arguing that the restrictive partnership violates the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Why? It didn't give customers the "absolute legal right to modify their phones to use the network of their carrier of choice" notes "The Register."
The complaint (http://macte.ch/qUTv8) reads this way: "Prior to launch, Apple entered into a secret five-year contract with AT&T that established AT&T as the exclusive provider of cell phone voice and data services for iPhone customers through some time in 2012...
Belkin previews Thunderbolt Express Dock
Belkin (http://www.belkin.com) has unveiled new details about its upcoming Thunderbolt Express Dock. It will be on display at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock enables Macbook and Ultrabook users to instantly access multiple desktop peripherals with one cable. The dock allows users to simultaneously connect to multiple USB devices, watch movies in Full HD 1080p, transfer volumes of data in seconds, and view online content at gigabit Ethernet speeds. The dock provides an easy transition from a desktop workstation to unrestricted mobile productivity, according to Martin Avilla, general manager of Belkin's Core Business Unit.
The US$299 Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock -- due this summer -- includes three USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire 800 port, one HDMI port, one 3.5mm Audio port, one gigabit Ethernet port and two Thunderbolt ports (one upstream and one downstream) for daisy-chaining to another Thunderbolt compatible device. It utilizes...
ChangeWave: Apple begins 2012 with 'explosive' growth
A new survey of 4,000 North American consumers by ChangeWave Research (http://www.changewaveresearch.com) -- a service of 451 Research -- has found explosive momentum for Apple and Samsung as the new year gets underway. The late December survey looked at smart phone demand trends going forward, and finds Apple iPhone demand remains incredibly strong more than two months after the iPhone 4S release.
Among respondents planning to buy a new smart phone in the next 90 days, better than one-in-two say they'll get an iPhone. Apple has never dominated smart phone planned buying to this extent more than two months after a major new release, says ChangeWave Research.
The other company burning up the competition is Samsung, which has registered a huge eight point surge in planned buying since the previous ChangeWave survey. This represents nearly a tripling of consumer interest in Samsung phones since fall 2011.
Report: Apple could see 50% growth in IT spending
Forrester Research says Apple could see as much as 50% growth in global corporate IT spending on its devices in 2012.
In a new report (http://macte.ch/2AxHY) -- as noted by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- the market research firm says "Bring Your Own Device" policies have helped to open up IT departments to Macs, iPhones and iPads. Other factors cited as reasons for the growth include small businesses buying Macs and iPads for employees to use at home and work and IT departments' shifts toward mobile with the iPhone and iPad.
According to the survey, the business sector will buy US$10 billion worth of iPads this year, up from $6 billion in 2011. IT departments are also projected to spend $9 billion on Macs in 2012, up from $6 billion in 2011. Mac and iPad spending will rise to $12 billion and $16 billion, respectively in 2013, according to Forrester Research.
Chinese writers accuse Apple of illegally selling their work
China--Another day, another lawsuit. A Beijing court has accepted a case filed by nine Chinese authors against Apple, reports "ZDNet." In a case worth a projected 11.91 million yuan (approximately US$1.88 million), the Cupertino-California-based company is accused of selling the writers’ works illegally within its Apple App Store.
Apple is being taken to court by famous writers including Han Han, Li Chengpeng, and Murong Xuecun. The company is accused of having failed to block the sale of unauthorised ebook applications, and profiting from it. Read more at http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/china-next-in-line-to-sue-apple-il... .
Gametel announces support for iOS devices
Fructel, a gaming peripheral company, says the Gametel (http://www.gametelcontroller.com/) now supports iOS devices. Previously only compatible with Android smartphone and tablets, the Bluetooth controller now transforms your iDevice into a portable games console. It costs approximately US$64.
Compatible with iPhones running iOS 4.0 or later and iPads running iOS 3.2 or later, Gametel supports hundreds of arcade titles from the iCADE suite, including classics like Missile Commander, Asteroids, Centipede, Pong, Super Breakout, Lunar Lander and Warlords. Alongside these retro titles, other selected iOS games, such as No Gravity, Silverfish, Super Crossfire HD and Terra Noctis, are also available to download from the Apple App Store.
Gametel connects to the device via Bluetooth while a built-in adjustable spring-loaded clamp allows secure docking of an iPhone or iPad. Once paired the Gametel automatically connects to the device every time it's powered on.
With a familiar controller...
OWC rolls out 30GB SSD
Other World Computing (http://www.macsales.com) has announced addition of its lowest-cost- of-entry Solid-State Drive to its SSD line. The 30GB SSD costs US$67.99.
The new OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 3G SSD combines SandForce technologies and Tier 1/Grade A NAND to deliver data rates over 275MB/s in a noiseless, more reliable form factor over conventional magnetic hard disk drives, according to Larry O'Connor, founder and CEO of OWC. Consumers using a Mac or PC equipped with the Serial ATA data bus will find 30GB SSD is able to deliver near bus saturating speed with sustained
data rates of over 275MB/s, he adds.
Maxell, Wearable announce mobile flash back-up
Maxell Corp. of America and Wearable will announce and demonstrate new photo storage, sharing and backup capabilities for the second generation AirStash (US$99.99) at this week's 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
AirStash is a wireless flash drive that uses expandable SD card media to provide two-way wireless storage for the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and other wireless devices. With the upcoming version of the AirStash+ companion app, you can snap photos around the world without worrying about running out of iPhone storage or accidentally losing your captured memories, according to Wearable CEO Matthew Klapman.
If your iDevice is getting full, run the free AirStash+ app and back-up your camera roll (including video) to your AirStash for unlimited storage with interchangeable SD cards. Once your photos are transferred to the AirStash, you can share your photos with up to eight friends through any compatible WiFi-enabled device.
If you have a point-and-shoot or professional...
Marble Arena 2 rolls onto the Mac
Brightside Entertainment's 3D arcade physics game, Marble Arena 2, is now available at the Mac App Store. It requires Mac OS X 10.5 and is free.
Here's how the game is described: "The game features 50 mayhem filled levels, where players will test their skills on several types of surfaces, attempt to master a multitude of physics contraptions and go toe to toe, and sometimes toe to multiple toes, with A.I. controlled enemies bent on preventing players from achieving their goals.
"Making it through all these perils in one piece, and in a certain amount of time, has its benefits. Players are awarded upgrade points for doing so, points that they can use to improve their skills or unlock their favorite from a multitude of marble skins. If single player action is just not enough action, the game provides a fun multiplayer experience, with a dedicated server running 24/7 and gives anyone the ability to host their own server and play with their friends.
"Creative players are given all the...
Data Center is new data table creation tool for Mac OS X
Data Creator 1.0 for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher) is a new tool for creating data tables and fill them with proper random content to export to test database and various apps.
The US$5 app can create structured data table (fields) and fill them with proper random content (records). These data can be saved on disk (as text files in tab or CSV formats) and imported inside a database or various apps for testing and demonstration purpose
Data Creator can be used to create very large data sets (thousands and thousands of records) for stress tests of structures and scripts. Any developer or user can now perform serious demo and test software using realistic data and not just repetitive text fields created with copy and paste, according to the folks at Tension Software, the developers of Data Creator.
The app is available at the Mac App Store and the Tension Software web site (http://www.pomola.com/products_datacreator/).
VideoDrive 2.5 for Mac OS X adds Handbrake support
Aroona Software has released VideoDrive 2.5 for Mac OS X. With one click, the app adds your video collection to iTunes. The upgrade offers full support for video conversions with HandBrake.
By adding your video files to iTunes, you can easily organize them and watch them on the go on your iPhone, iPad or AppleTV. VideoDrive supports all current video formats, and imports videos with or without conversions. It can monitor any folder for new videos, even when it is not running. Queued videos are imported in the background.
VideoDrive 2.5 for Mac OS X (10.5 and higher) is now available for for approximately US$13. A trial version is available for free at Aroona Software online (http://www.aroona.net).
RE:Vision Effects releases RE:Map v2
RE:Vision Effects (http://www.revisionfx.com) has released version 2 of RE:Map, a kit of mapping and distortion tools, as an OFX plug-in set for use within The Foundry's Nuke, Eyeon's Fusion, and Autodesk's Composite.
RE:Map v2 OFX -- which includes five plug-ins -- is now included in the specially priced Effections bundle for Fusion, which also includes Twixtor, ReelSmart Motion Blur, DE:Noise and RE:Flex. RE:Map v2 is now part of the Effections OFX bundle for Nuke and Maya/3dsMax Composite, which also includes Twixtor, ReelSmart Motion Blur and DE:Noise.
Full version node-locked licenses are priced at US$189.95. Floating licenses are $284.93. Render-only node-locked licenses are priced at $44.95, and render-only floating licenses at $67.43.
RE:Map v2 OFX is included in the Effections bundle for Fusion: $1250 for GUI node-locked license, and $1875 for GUI floating license. RE:Map v2 OFX is now included in Effections bundle for Nuke, and Maya/3dsMax Composite: $889.95 for GUI node-...
Belkin announces new line of screen protectors
Belkin has launched a new Screen Guard collection of screen protectors designed to protect a wide range of smartphones and tablets from every day wear and tear at home, in the car, or on the go.
Screen Guard products offer maximum scratch resistance and feature Belkin’s Tru Clear technology for optimal visibility and touch sensitivity, according to says Jamie Elgie, senior director of product management for mobility. There are a variety of the new screen protectors; get details at http://www.belkin.com .
Analyst: Apple to sell 116.4 million iPhones, 54.6 million iPads...
In a note to clients -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley expects Apple to sell 116.4 million iPhones and 54.6 million iPads this year.
He sees iOS representing 18% of the mobile operating system share, behind only Google's Android with 51.9% share. Projected sales of 116.4 million iPhones would be nearly 20 million greater than Walkley estimated Apple sold in 2011, with estimated holiday sales of 30.5 million.
As for the iPad, the analyst predicts Apple's market share to dip to 52.4% of the tablet market this year with sales of 54.6 million. Walkley assumes Apple closed out 2011 with total sales of 38.1 million iPads, with 13 million sold in the last quarter of the calendar year. Those totals for 2011 would represent 63.2% of tablets sold during the year.
Apple biggest buyer of NAND flash memory
Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi told clients in a note -- as reported by "Fortune" -- that Apple bought 23% of the world's NAND flash memory last quarter and re-sold it to consumers for billions more than it paid.
The only difference between a 16GB iPhone 4S and the 32 GB model is 16GB of NAND flash memory, for which Apple charges customers US$100.
However, Sacconaghi says Apple buys that memory for a heavily discounted price of $0.67 per gigabyte, or a total of $10.72.
Read more at http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/06/apple-bought-23-of-the-worlds-nan... .
Apple to open Target stores-within-stores?
Just as there are Apple "stores within a store" at over 600 Best Buys, the company will implement the same concept in A"select Target locations later this year, enabling the company to expand its retail reach into smaller metro areas," according to "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com), quoting a "source familiar with Apple's plans."
The company plans to begin operating Apple-branded areas within 25 larger Target stores in locations which can't support a standalone Apple Store, the article adds. The initial opening would be a small start, given that Target, the second-largest discount retail chain in the US, operates 1752 stores in the US. Apple has opened 359 of its own retail stores globally, 245 of which are in the US., notes "AppleInsider."
iPad 3 in March, iPad 4 in October?
Take this with a grain of salt (or two), but "DigiTimes" is reporting that Apple will release the iPad 3 in March and an iPad 4 in October.
The former will sport a full HD display, the latter "killer applications," the report says, quoting unnamed "industry sources in Taiwan." The iPad 3 will come with a QXGA (1,536 x 2,048 pixels) display and longer battery life, and Apple will take the advantage of the iPad 3 launch to slash the price of its iPad 2 to US$399, says "DigiTimes."
As for the iPad 4, the article says it will sport "much upgraded hardware specifications and integrated applications." However, "DigiTimes" offers no details on those "killer apps."
California Supreme Court says no to Apple's tax hearing...
The California Supreme Court has left intact a US$920,000 state tax refund to Apple, but rejected the computer giant's request to take up an issue that could have spared U.S. multinationals from many millions of dollars in California taxes on income from their foreign subsidiaries, reports "The San Francisco Chronicle."
The court denied review of an appellate ruling in September that required the state Franchise Tax Board to return $231,000 in taxes that it charged Apple in 1989 and add $689,000 in interest. The San Francisco appeals panel said the board should have allowed the company to deduct interest in loans it had taken out to fund its domestic operations.
Read more at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/05/BUNL1MLGU4.D... .
iPhone 4S users demand three times as much data as iPhone 3G...
Fueled by new smartphones, apps and services consumer demand for mobile data is accelerating beyond expectations, finds a new report from Arieso (http://www.arieso.com), a provider of mobile network management software solutions. It finds that users of the iPhone 4S demand three times as much data as iPhone 3G users and twice as much as iPhone 4 users, who were identified as the most demanding in the 2010 study.
Following a similar study in 2010, Arieso’s new analysis reveals that so-called "extreme" users are becoming even more extreme, with 1% of subscribers now consuming half of all downloaded data. One thing is clear: the capacity issues plaguing mobile operators around the world will worsen in 2012.
The Arieso study, "Recent Smartphone Trends & the Extreme Data User," compares data usage across a variety of smartphones and connected devices. In a finding consistent with 2010 results, the study shows that Google Nexus One users make twice as many data calls as iPhone 3G users...
VideoBuffet is new movie browser, player for Mac OS X
Fat Apps has introduced VideoBuffet 1.0, a QuickTime movie browser and player for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher).
Just drag your movies onto VideoBuffet and start watching. The software can also search through your Movies folder, and automatically find all of your movies for you. It can search through thousands of files per second, so even the largest movie collection will open quickly, according to the folks at Fat Apps.
The software utilizes QuickTime X for optimized, hardware-accelerated video playback. It plays any movie supported by QuickTime (except DRM-protected movies). To celebrate the release, VideoBuffet is available for half price (US$4.99), for a limited time only.
Logitech releases the mouse-ish Cube
Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) has released the US$69.99 Cube, which "re-imagines the mouse." On the Mac platform, it's compatible with OS X 10.5 and later.
When used as a mouse, the Logitech Cube scrolls when you swipe your finger along the main panel, thanks to Logitech’s Flow Scroll software that delivers a smooth scrolling experience similar to your favorite touchscreen smartphone, says Todd Walker, brand manager at Logitech. It can also be used as a presenter.
To use the Logitech Cube as a presenter, all you need to do is lift it in the air and moments later it’s in presenter mode. Clicking the top of the mouse advances to the next slide; if you need to go back simply turn the mouse over in your hand and click again.
The Logitech Cube also comes with the tiny Logitech Unifying receiver, featuring Logitech Advanced 2.4 GHz connectivity and a small-enough form factor to stay plugged into your computer when you move around, says Walker. This gives you the reliability of a...
WD introduces My Book Live Duo with personal cloud storage
Western Digital (http://www.wd.com) has introduced My Book Live Duo, a personal cloud storage system that combines the benefits of shared storage and remote access with "double-safe" backup or increased capacity of a dual-drive system with RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology.
Compatible with Mac (OS X 10.5 and higher) and PC operating systems, My Book Live Duo continuously maintains a second copy of all your files for real-time data backup in mirrored mode (RAID 1). Half the capacity is used to store users' data and half is used for a second copy. In the event that one drive fails, data is protected because it's duplicated on the other drive. For automatic backup, Mac users can utilize all the features of Time Machine backup software to protect their data.
In spanning mode the two-drive system combines both drives into one large volume acting as one drive for maximum storage capacity. My Book Live Duo personal cloud delivers best-in-class read speeds faster than...
Pyramid: LTE to reach 592 million subscriptions by 2016
LTE is gaining strong momentum and is expected to reach 592 million subscriptions, equivalent to 7.3% of all cellular subscriptions, by 2016.
To date, 35 mobile operators have launched commercial LTE networks, a range of 197 devices have become available and the technology is maturing since the first network became live in late 2009, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (http://www.pyr.com).
"LTE is the technology of choice for most mobile operators, and with strong momentum, we expect it to be the long-term, next-generation network technology of choice," says Jan ten Sythoff, Pyramid Research analyst at large. LTE has already overtaken WiMax subscriptions in 2011, and the range of LTE devices has increased elevenfold in the past year.
The largest LTE device segment will be computers through 2014, as operators initially focus on mobile broadband access for computers. But after 2014, the computer segment will be replaced by smartphones, with operators announcing more and...
Wedding planning software released for Mac OS X
WeddingLan is new wedding planning software for Mac that lets couples manage wedding's contacts, invitations, RSVPs, attendees, gifts etc.
Guest information such as names and addresses can be found under Contacts. Saving them as individuals instead of couples will help you track email addresses, names of guests invited by your contacts as well their roles, meals and gifts.
You can create a master contacts list and assign contacts to individual invitations. RSVPs received can be registered in WeddingLan so that acceptances become "Attendees" within WeddingLan.
You can create a master contacts list in WeddingLan and assign contacts to individual invitations. The term "invitations" refers to the storage of outer and inner invitation envelope address information. Invitations are created individually and assigning multiple contacts is as simple as dragging and dropping them.
A demo is available for download at http://weddinglanapp.com . Registration is US$14.99
Multipage PDF to Image released for Mac OS X
Multipage PDF to Image for Mac is a new app for converting a multipage PDF to an image (in JPEG, TIFF, BMP or PNG formats). (jpg,tiff, bmp or png) on Mac OS X.
Conversion can be performing according to suitability and requirements. The software lets you convert multiple password protected PDF and encrypted PDF file into a scheduled image file format.
A demo is available for download (http://macte.ch/p5y6e). Registration is US$39.95 .
iLuv to unveil Mo-Beats speaker stand at CES
iLuv Creative Technology (http://www.i-Luv.com) will introduce the Mo’Beats Wireless Stereo Speaker Stand at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
This slim, compact device features a cradle designed to allow users to securely rest their mobile devices while easily enjoying music, movies and TV shows on the go, according to Peter Choi, marketing manager at iLuv. The iSP245 Mo’Beats Speaker Stand's cradle design allows for either landscape or portrait viewing while accommodating most cases.
The Bluetooth connected high-fidelity speakers on each end "produce unparalleled audio quality for a slender, sleek speaker stand of this size," claims Choi. ompatible with smartphones, tablets, iPads, iPhones, laptops and other Bluetooth enabled devices, the Mo’Beats Wireless Stereo Speaker Stand comes with arechargeable lithium-ion battery for on-the-go convenience.
If your mobile device isn't Bluetooth enabled, the iSP245 lets you enjoy your music using a 3.5 mm jack. The Mo’Beats...
Report: disruptive MM-MM PAs take off with smartphones
Multimode, multiband power amplifiers (MM-MB PAs) amplifiers took off in 2011 with adoption by Apple, Nokia, Samsung and LG in several popular smartphones, as seen in the Strategy Analytics RF & Wireless Components (RFWC) report (http://www.strategyanalytics.com), "Multimode, Multiband PAs Change the Game for PA Suppliers."
Strategy Analytics predicts that the market for MM-MB PAs will exceed US$150 million in 2012, growing rapidly through 2016, irrevocably transforming the PA market.
"Increasing band count in 3G and 4G mobile devices has led to adoption of MM-MB PAs to save space and reduce PA count, as in the Apple iPhone 4S," says Christopher Taylor, author of the report. "Not all PA suppliers have the broad range of process, circuit, switch, filter and module capabilities needed for MM-MB PAs. So far, Renesas, whose PA business unit will soon transfer to Murata, Skyworks, RFMD and Avago Tech, have captured the highest share with their MM-MB PAs."
Based on interviews with PA...
Tembo for Mac OS X gets Evernote support
Houdah Software has released Tembo 1.7, an update of the "friendly" find utility for Mac OS X designed to make the searching (and finding) of files, mail messages, bookmarks and more as easy as possible.7 The upgrade offers a new dedicated group for Evernote notes, enhancements and more.
Tembo is sold exclusively through the Mac App Store for US$14.99 and requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher.. A demo version is available from the product web site (http://www.houdah.com/tembo/).
Initially, you'll find Tembo to have been inspired by the original Spotlight interface as we knew it under Mac OS X Tiger. Search results are grouped by categories. Preferences allow for categories to be enabled, disabled and reordered.
Tembo may list up to 2.500 search results within each group. There are filters appropriate for the context designed to help you sort through the list of results. Messages, for example, may be filtered by subject, sender and recipient.
QuarkXPress 9.2 enhances ePUB, iPad publishing
Quark has announced the availability of QuarkXPress 9.2, an update to QuarkXPress 9 that's free to all QuarkXPress 9 customers. The upgrade adds new ePUB features, ePUB 3 audio and video support, and more options for App Studio.
QuarkXPress 9 introduced the ability for designers to export print layouts to ePUB to create traditional e-books. With version 9.2 designers can now, in addition to converting a print layout to ePUB, create a new project specifically for ePUB export.
With the new update, it’s now also possible to: add audio, videos, and hyperlinks to an ePUB e-book; create new articles, visually crop pictures, and split text components in a reflow article; re-order components by dragging-and-dropping within the Reflow Tagging Palette; create hierarchical tables of content; control the format and resolution of pictures on a global or picture-by-picture basis; and specify the default story direction for East Asian ePUB e-books.
Along with the new ePUB functionality,...
HD Pro Webcam designed for 1080p video calling
Logitech (http://www.logitech.com) has unveiled the US$99.99 Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, which lets you capture full-HD 1080p video using Skype.
Thanks to H.264 advanced compression technology, you can upload full-HD 1080p video clips or 15MP photos quickly and with one click to Facebook, Twitter or YouTube (an account is required), according to Todd Walker, brand manager at Logitech. To enjoy 1080p HD video calling you’ll need to download the latest version of Skype
The web cam boasts Logitech Fluid Crystal technology, Carl Zeiss optics and a 20-step autofocus. Two mics positioned on either side of the webcam are designed to capture natural stereo audio.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has vested shares worth about $96 million
Of all the Silicon Valley executives who have a vesting event scheduled for the first quarter of 2012, the one who stands to reap the most is Apple CEO Tim Cook, according to a new study by the Equilar research group (http://www.equilar.com) -- as reported by "The Wall Street Journal" (http://macte.ch/kz53C).
Cook has portions of two restricted-stock-unit grants -- including one he received for filling in for the late Steve Jobs when the co-founder was on medical leave -- vesting in the first quarter. Also, there's a grant of 200,000 restricted stock units awarded to Cook in September 2008 as part of a package of bonuses paid out to Apple executives to keep them from jumping ship.
As of Apple's closing stock price on Dec 30, those vesting shares of Mr. Cook's were worth US$96.2 million, according to Equilar. The vesting stock is separate from an award of one million share units given to Cook as he officially took on the role of CEO.
As noted by "MacRumors" (http://www.macrumors.com...
Italian judge nixes Samsung's request for iPhone 4S ban
Italy: Judge Marina Tavassi of the Tribunale di Milano -- the Milan-based Italian first-instance court for patent cases -- has rejected a Samsung request for a preliminary injunction against the sale of the iPhone 4S in Italy, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://macte.ch/BiQJE).
Samsung has sought to ban the iPhone 4S in France and Italy for patent infringement. The company filed motions with courts in Paris and Milan seeking the ban, each citing two patent infringements on wireless telecommunications technology.
Samsung claims the iPhone and iPad that use 3G technology infringe Samsung patents. Meanwhile, in September Apple said in a Hague court hearing that Samsung is holding them "hostage" by asking for 2.4% on each 3G chip used in the iPad and iPhone. Samsung is deliberately misusing both the royalty rate and the responsibility for its payment to try and oppose its lawsuit, says Apple.
Apple one of the 'four horsemen of tech'
Apple, Google, Amazon and IBM are the new "four horsemen of tech," "high-profile public technology companies that are sure to return strong growth to investors year after year," according to "CNN Money."
To determine the four horsemen, the publication surveyed 30 technology experts, ranging from stock analysts to tech consultants to fund managers, asking them to pick four public companies, which eliminated FaceBook. "CNN Money" also polled "thousands" of readers.
Here's what the survey had to say about Apple: "The voting wasn't really that close. Apple was the clear leader, appearing on 84% of experts' ballots. It's no surprise: Apple is the most valuable technology company on the stock market, yet it is also one of the fastest-growing.
Apple is a frontrunner in the smartphone revolution, and its iPad created a new category of mobile computing ... Apple is also embracing the other key technology trend with its high-profile iCloud."
You can read more at http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/05/...
Apple to pay $5 million to settle touch screen lawsuit
Elan Microelectronics, a Taiwanese touch design company, says Apple will pay US$5 million as part of a settlement in a patent infringement case, reports "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/6TEFU). The statement said the two companies would also exchange authorizations to use each other's patents.
Elan sued Apple in April 2009 , alleging infringement of two of its touch screen patents, The lawsuit alleges that Apple products -- including its MacBook, iPhone and iPod touch -- use technology that infringes on two of Elan’s patents.
In April 2010 Elan asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to ban the import and sale of some Apple products, including the iPad, because of alleged patent infringement. The company claims Apple “knowingly and deliberately” used Elan’s technology, while continuing to introduce infringing products The petition also seeks to ban imports of the iPhone and iPod touch products, Elan said in the complaint.
Gartner: pharmaceutical reps to go for the iPad
The Gartner research group (http://www.gartner.com) has revealed its top predictions for IT organizations and users for 2012 and beyond. Among the predictions:
° By 2013, iPad penetration among pharmaceutical sales reps will reach 85%, then shift to applications that improve delivery and interaction tracking.
° By 2016, the iPad will gain less than 50% of the K-12 market as CIOs favor devices that are deployed more readily.
° By 2016, most consumers in mature markets will consider in-vehicle Web access a key criterion in their automobile purchase.
° By 2015, new, external social Web and cloud-based services will generate 25% of consumer-driven banking products and services.
° By 2016, more than 5% of searches will be integrated using mobile devices' video/audio sensors instead of typed or spoken phrases.
Apple want to put the kibosh on Jobs action figure
The makers of an action figure with an uncanny resemblance to the late Apple founder Steve Jobs are reportedly being threatened with legal action by Apple, reports "The Telegraph" (http://macte.ch/kjwop).
Toy companies, in icons and Dragon in Dream, unveiled the figure based on the late tech icon. It features a realistic likeness and Jobs's trademark black turtleneck, jeans and sand shoes. The figure is due for release in late February for $US99.99 plus shipping.
Apple says it owns rights to the likeness of Jobs. The company reportedly stipulates in a letter to the Chinese manufacturer that any toy that resembles the technology company's logo, person's name, appearance or likeness of its products is a criminal offense, says "The Telegraph."
New Pioneer audio players support Apple's AirPlay
Pioneer Electronics (USA) has expanded its family of networking devices with the release of two new Elite branded networked audio players. Both the N-30 (US$499) and N-50 ($699) are equipped with AirPlay and DLNA 1.5 wireless technologies.
AirPlay is Apple technology for wireless music streaming. It gives music lovers complete access, control, and playback of their entire iTunes music library. It requires iTunes 10.1 or later. In addition to AirPlay and DLNA 1.5, the networked audio players feature vTuner Internet radio, iPhone and Android control apps and a 2.5-inch full-color LCD display.
The N-30 and N-50 are both "Made for iPad, iPhone and iPod" for music playback and charging. Their DLNA 1.5 Certification enables consumers to stream music from a computer or other DLNA 1.5 server via a home network. More info can be found at http://www.pioneerelectronics.com .
Cirago unveils new iPad accessories at CES
Cirago International (http://www.cirago.com) will unveil three new iPad accessories at this month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The all-in-one, US$89.99 Aluminum Bluetooth Keyboard Case features a brushed aluminum finish that matches the iPad 2 and has an integrated keyboard that pairs with the Apple tablet over Bluetooth. Aircraft-grade aluminum and high-density padding at every corner protect and cushion the screen and sides of the iPad 2 while in carrying-case mode.
To use the built-in keyboard, remove the tablet from the case and place it in a vertical or horizontal position. Perform a quick Bluetooth sync with the keyboard and it's ready for use.
Cirago's NuView Dock Charger ($27.99) doubles as a solid, portable desktop stand for the iPad and iPad 2. You can view your tablet in landscape mode by placing the iPad horizontally in the NuView and at the same time sync/charge using your own cable. Or, charge your iPad with the built-in 30-pin dock connector and 5V power...
New Hitachi drives especially designed for the Mac
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) has added two new hard drives to its portfolio: the 1TB Travelstar 5K1000 (pictured) and the 4TB Deskstar 7K4000. Both hard drives will ship in its line of G-Technology branded solutions, which are exclusively designed for the Mac and content creation community.
Designed for on-the-go Mac users, the G-Technology G-Drive mobile and G-Drive mobile USB are designed for the MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air. They boast storage capacities up to 1TB using Hitachi 5,400 RPM drives. The Travelstar 5K1000 is the first 1TB 2.5-inch drive with a 6Gb/s SATA interface and delivers the highest 5,400 RPM performance in both PCMar® Vantage and PCMark7 testing, according to the folks at Hitachi.
The G-Drive mobile offers both USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 connectivity, while the G-Drive mobile USB offers USB 2.0. Both drives are Time Machine ready and are bus powered so when you’re out and about you don’t need to add an external AC power supply to your...
Quark extends QuarkXPress upgrade program
Quark says QuarkXPress customers using any version of QuarkXPress can upgrade to QuarkXPress 9 for US$299. The special upgrade offer is now available through Jan. 31.
All current and prior users on QuarkXPress versions 3 through 7 can upgrade to the newest version of QuarkXPress 9 for the standard upgrade price, which is typically applied to upgrades from version 8. To take advantage of the special offer, users must have a valid, registered, and activated serial number for any version of QuarkXPress.
Upgrades can be purchased through Quark Authorized Resellers, the Quark Store, and Quark Customer Service. Go to http://www.quark.com/promotion to upgrade or for more info.
Customers that are unable to locate their previous QuarkXPress serial number still have the opportunity to upgrade their licenses. In these cases, customers can provide proof of purchase or complete an online "missing serial number" form at http://www.quark.com/promotion .
