Researchers at SourceDNA, an analytics service that profiles the Apple and Android app stores, say they've found more than 250 iOS apps that violate Apple's App Store privacy policy forbidding the gathering of e-mail addresses, installed apps, serial numbers, and other personally identifying information that can be used to track users, reports Ars Technica (http://tinyurl.com/op75nc9). However, Apple has noted the problem and taken action. The apps “are significant because they expose a lapse in Apple's vetting process for admitting titles into its highly curated App Store,” the article adds. They also represent an invasion of privacy to the one million people estimated to have downloaded the apps. Apple has released the following statement confirming the SourceDNA findings: "We’ve identified a group of apps that are using a third-party advertising SDK, developed by Youmi, a mobile advertising provider, that uses private APIs to gather private information, such as user email addresses...

Nextep has released CodeSwitch 1.0, a development code converter for Mac OS X. It converts legacy Objective-C code into Apple's Swift programming language. Converting legacy code to Swift with CodeSwitch is as simple as performing a simple copy-and-paste of the code, says John Stickle, the developer of CodeSwitch. Users need only to highlight the declaration (.h files), statement (.m files), or Type/Operator code they wish to convert, copy it to the Mac's clipboard, and then paste it into The CodeSwitch editor. Conversion is then as simple as pressing the "Convert" button. Once the code is converted into Swift syntax, all that is then needed is to copy the converted code to the Mac's clipboard, and then paste it into a new Swift-based Xcode project. CodeSwitch 1.0 costs $8.99 and requires Mac OS X Yosemite or El Capitan. It’s available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store (http://tinyurl.com/pvdjwzv) in the Development category.

DEVONtechnologies has updated all editions of its intelligent information and document manager DEVONthink as well as the smart notebook DEVONnote. Version 2.8.7 brings compatibility changes for OS X El Capitan, a faster and more reliable synchronization, and improved Evernote import. The updates are free and recommended for all users. In addition the built-in synchronization both between Macs and from Mac to iOS has been overhauled for reliability and speed. Importing or indexing files is up to twice as fast as in previous versions. DEVONthink 2.8.7 improves taking over notes from Evernote by grouping attachments and cross-linking them. It imports all images regardless how they were originally created by Evernote. Other improvements in DEVONthink 2.8.7 include more comfortable navigation within PDF documents, better PDF printing, and fullscreen support for videos from web views. The extension of text files containing tabular data is no longer changed which increases the compatibility...

Apple has announced that ResearchKit (www.apple.com/researchkit ) is enabling new research studies on autism, epilepsy and melanoma. ResearchKit turns an iPhone into a tool for medical research by helping doctors, scientists and other researchers gather data more frequently and more accurately from participants using iPhone apps. With ResearchKit, study participants can review an interactive informed consent process, easily complete active tasks or submit survey responses, and choose how their health data is shared with researchers, making contributions to medical research easier than ever. Researchers and developers have already contributed to ResearchKit, with more than 50 researchers adding to the open source framework. "We’re honored to work with world-class medical institutions and provide them with tools to better understand diseases and ultimately help people lead healthier lives," says Jeff Williams, Apple’s senior vice president of Operations. "In just six months,...

Chronos has announced Business Card Shop 7, an upgrade to its business card software for Mac OS X (10.11 or later). The new version includes a completely redesigned interface plus maps integration so users can more easily show their customers exactly where their place of business is located. Business Card Shop supports 700-plus card stocks, including those from Avery, PaperDirect, NEATO, and more. It comes with over 210 pre-designed templates for over 210 different professions. It also comes with a collection of artwork (over 1.4 GB in size) from artists all over the world.   A fully functional, 30-day trial version can be downloaded from Chronos' website (www.chronosnet.com). It costs $39.99 for a single user license and $69.99 for a family pack. Registered customers of SOHO Business Cards 1.x to 3.x or Business Card Shop 4.x to 6.x can upgrade to version 7 for $25. See the Chronos website for family pack upgrade pricing. Customers who purchased Business Card Shop 6.x after Aug. 5,...

MCE Technologies (http://www.mcetech.com) is shipping a 1TB and a 500GB Flash Drive Upgrade Kit for the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (mid 2012 - early 2013). Each kit includes a USB 3.0 enclosure for the original flash drive to facilitate data transfer, all tools required to perform the installation, an illustrated installation guide, and drive cloning software. The 1TB Flash Drive Kit retails for US$479 and the 500GB Kit for $279. The upgrade kits install in place of the existing flash drive in the Mac laptops. They're based on the SATA-III architecture in those machines and can transfer data at speeds of up to 550MB/sec when reading, and 520MB/sec when writing.

FileMaker, Inc. (www.filemaker.com) has announced a Buy One, Get One Free promotion for FileMaker Pro 14 and FileMaker Pro 14 Advanced. This worldwide limited-time offer allows those who purchase either product to receive a second downloadable copy of the same product for free (valued at US$329 or US$549, respectively) from FileMaker. Now, those who purchase FileMaker software through Dec. 18 can provide a copy of FileMaker Pro 14 or FileMaker Pro 14 Advanced to new staff members and teams or as a gift to a favorite charity. The offer applies only to FileMaker Pro 14 or FileMaker Pro 14 Advanced and is limited to one gift request per person, household or company. The promotion is valid only for the downloadable versions of the products purchased from the FileMaker Store. The free versions are fully working, not-for-resale versions of FileMaker Pro 14 or FileMaker Pro 14 Advanced for Windows and Mac. The offer isn't valid in connection with any other rebates, discounts or...

Web Information Solutions (http://www.webis.net/) has upgraded Desktop Informant, a calendar/task app for Mac OS X, adding support for El Capitan and a new Stacked Week View. There are also companion products available on iOS and Android so you can sync your data across myriad devices. Desktop Informant requires Mac OS X Yosemite. It costs US$29.99.

Along with revving the iMac line with all Retina displays, Apple has updated iMovie for Mac OS X to version 10.1, adding support for creating, editing, and sharing movies at 4K resolution (3840 x 2160). You can view pixel-for-pixel 4K video while editing a movie on an iMac with Retina 5K display. (4K export requires a Mac from 2011 or later with at least 4GB of RAM. Full resolution 4K display id supported on an iMac with Retina display or a Mac Pro (2013 or later) when connected to a 4K display. According to Apple's notes, the upgrade allows you to: ° Create and share movies with 1080p HD video at 60 frames per second; ° Import movies and trailers from iMovie for iOS (version 2.2 and later), so you can start editing on an iOS device and finish on your Mac. iMovie 10.1 has a redesigned media view that lets you see more of your library while browsing videos and photos. The Projects view has been tweaked to make it easier to find and open your movies and trailers. Tabs in the browser...

Apple has updated the entire iMac family, bringing a Retina 4K display to the 21.5-inch iMac for the first time and the Retina 5K display to every 27-inch iMac. The revved all-in-ones also sport more powerful processors and graphics, two Thunderbolt 2 ports and new storage options. The 21.5-inch iMac is available with the all-new Retina 4K display featuring 4096 x 2304 resolution and 9.4 million pixels, 4.5 times more than the standard 21.5-inch iMac display. Every 27-inch iMac now comes with a Retina 5K display with 14.7 million pixels, seven times more pixels than an HD display. The new Retina 5K and 4K displays feature a wider P3-based color gamut that provides a 25 percent larger color space, and with more available colors, images are more vivid, reveal even greater detail and appear more lifelike than ever, says Schiller. The new 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display now comes with sixth-generation Intel Core processors and the latest AMD high-performance graphics that deliver up...

The U.S. Justice Department said it’s satisfied that Apple has implemented reforms to comply with antitrust laws even though it fought with a monitor appointed to oversee its sale of electronic books, reports Bloomberg (http://tinyurl.com/nv42dp7). The government has recommended that the monitoring not be extended. In a letter to the Manhattan federal judge who found in 2013 that Apple illegally conspired with publishers to set e-book prices, the U.S. said Apple has “now implemented meaningful antitrust policies, procedures, and training programs that were obviously lacking at the time Apple participated in and facilitated the horizontal price-fixing conspiracy found by this court.” The Justice Department said Apple “never embraced a cooperative working relationship with the monitor.” Apple acknowledged its relationship with the monitor was “rocky at times,” but disagreed that it wasn’t willing to cooperate. Bloomberg reports that Apple said in Monday’s joint letter to U.S. District...

PFiddlesoft has updated its PFAssistive Framework to version 3.5.0. The PFiddlesoft Frameworks are two frameworks that help developers write assistive Macintosh applications for persons with disabilities using Apple's Accessibility and Quartz Event Taps APIs (application programming interfaces) on OS X. The PFAssistive Framework has been updated to add support for client applications that are written using the new Swift programming language. It also adds support for new accessibility features introduced by Apple late last month in OS X El Capitan, improved power, speed and efficiency, and a few minor bug fixes. The frameworks are written using Objective-C. They support the Intel 64-bit architecture using reference counted memory management or ARC, and they support client applications written in Objective-C or Swift. Developers can now license the PFiddlesoft Frameworks for distribution or for use with their own products that use Apple's Accessibility and Quartz Event Taps technologies...

Zevrix Solutions has released LinkOptimizer 4.9.49, a compatibility update to its workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. LinkOptimizer allows to reduce InDesign link size and speed up processing by eliminating excess image data, perform essential image adjustments, convert image formats and more. The new version makes LinkOptimizer compatible with the recently released Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan. LinkOptimizer can be purchased from the Zevrix website (www.zevrix.com) for US$259.95 (there's a "lite" version for $179.95). The update is free for LinkOptimizer 4.x users and $130 to upgrade from previous versions. LinkOptimizer requires Mac OS X 10.6-10.11 and Adobe InDesign and Photoshop CS3-CC 2015.

Apple's online store (http://tinyurl.com/ngpzjdv) is now offering SIM-free iPhone 6s and 6s Plus models. Pricing for the former starts at US$649 ($32.45 with Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program). Pricing for the latter begins at $749 ($37.45 per month with the upgrade program. "The SIM-free iPhone comes without a wireless contract commitment or carrier financing. It doesn’t come with a nano-SIM card for iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, or iPhone 5s," says Apple. "And because it’s unlocked, it isn’t tied to one carrier, so you can get a nano-SIM from any supported carrier worldwide, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or Sprint in the United States." Of course, the plan also means that you have to pay the full price for the Apple smartphone upfront. On the bright side, SIM-free iPhones work on a variety of networks including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint in the U.S. International support is also available via the iPhone's multi-band LTE radio

Eltima Software has announced Elmedia Video Player, a free, all-new universal media player is now available for download from the Mac App Store. The utility is equipped with audio and video options to improve playback experience for Mach users. Elmedia Video Player supports a variety of video and audio formats, including MP4, MOV, MKV, FLV, WMV, MP3, and more. It's also possible to specify preferred audio and subtitles languages for files with multiple subtitles and audio streams. Elmedia Video Player requires OS X 10.7 or later. It's free and available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Entertainment category. A pro version is available for $9.99 via in-app purchase.

BinaryFruit has driven DriveDx, its Mac OS X solution for SSD and HDD health diagnostics and monitoring, to version 1.4.1. The upgrade supports external USB/FireWire drive S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic on OS X El Capitan. DriveDx 1.4.1 requires Mac OS X 10.6.8. It can be purchased from the BinaryFruit website (http://binaryfruit.com/drivedx). The Mac App Store update is coming soon. A 10-day trial version is available for download.

Elgato (www.elgato.com) has announced the availability of their HomeKit-enabled Eve Room and Eve Weather sensors in Apple stores worldwide and on Apple.com. The new Eve HomeKit accessories gather data on air quality, temperature, humidity and air pressure to gain insights that help make your home a smarter place. Eve Room and Eve Weather offer advanced security, and tight integration with Siri.   The Eve Room monitors indoor air quality, temperature and humidity usingsophisticated sensors that analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Eve Room goes beyond CO2 by analyzing substances that directly affect your well-being, like alcohols and chemicals, molds, paints, smoke, and more to ensure users keep their home safe.   Eve Weather is a wireless outdoor sensor that monitors temperature, humidity and air pressure to help users better prepare for the day. Eve Weather is built to live outside, and with IPX3 water resistance, even a little rain won't hurt.  
Due to energy efficient...

ooVoo has updated its Mac app with a complete interface redesign and new features. ooVoo 6.0 now offers an integrated video calling and messaging experience in an one-window design and sleeker interface. This brand new look is fully reflective of the experience found in ooVoo's award winning mobile app. Chief Product Officer Rajesh Midha says the ooVoo for Mac interface redesign encompasses all of ooVoo's most popular features, including: high-definition one-on-one video calling, 12-way group video calling, voice calls, and screen sharing. This release also includes an in-app purchase option for ooVoo Premium, which provides users an ad-free experience. ooVoo 6.0 requires Mac OS X 10.9 or higher. It's available free at the Mac App Store (http://tinyurl.com/or5dq55).

Apple has announced that enhanced editions of all seven books in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series are now available exclusively on the iBooks Store for readers around the world to enjoy on their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac. Customers can download individual books featuring full original text, interactive animations and elaborate artwork. Harry Potter fans will also find annotations throughout their literary journey, written by the author herself.    "I’m thrilled to see the Harry Potter books so beautifully realised on iBooks for the digital world; the artwork and animations in these enhanced editions bring the stories alive in a delightful new way," says J.K. Rowling.   Until now, the Harry Potter digital books have only been available for readers to purchase through the Pottermore Shop. Starting today, iBooks users can experience the books with all new exclusive custom covers for each title, and typography including the custom Harry Potter typefaces and new section headers...

Brett Terpstra has announced Marked 2.5 for OS X. It's a live-updating Markdown preview application with a full set of tools for writers. Users can edit text documents in their favorite editor and Marked will provide the tools needed for previewing, proofreading, and polishing. Version 2.5 adds multilingual spelling and grammar checking, support for new applications, expanded export options, and advanced features for integration in writing workflows. Marked 2.5 requires OS X Yosemite or higher. It's available on the Mac App Store (http://tinyurl.com/pt88avq). Normally priced at US$13.99, Marked 2.5 is available for $11.99 for a limited time. The update is free to all existing Marked 2 users.

Apple's antitrust compliance program has improved, but the company continues to impede a court-appointed monitor overseeing the program, acting as "its own worst enemy," the monitor told a federal judge in a report made public on Tuesday. According to Reuters (http://tinyurl.com/ourjomn), Michael Bromwich, who was assigned to monitor Apple’s internal antitrust policies after U.S. District Judge Denise Cote found the company liable for conspiring to raise e-book prices, said Apple persisted in raising objections to his requests for information. "In this respect, Apple has been its own worst enemy," he said. "This lack of cooperation has cast an unnecessary shadow over meaningful progress in developing a comprehensive and effective antitrust compliance program." In March a three judge panel in the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York questioned (http://bit.ly/1GFfgco) some of the actions Bromwich has taken in his role as a court appointed monitor inside Apple. Bromwich was...

Ergonis Software has launched Typinator 6.7, a new version of their text expander for Mac OS X 10.6 or newer. The upgrade is scriptable. This means that you can control many aspects of Typinator via AppleScript or JavaScript. Typinator 6.7 also expands the range of possibilities for using scripts in your expansions. Scripts can now be stored in compiled form. In addition to AppleScript, these scripts can now also be written in JavaScript. Typinator can be purchased on the Ergonis Software website (www.ergonis.com). The upgrade to Typinator 6.7 is free for anyone who owns a valid license for Typinator 6. Upgrade paths are available for owners of older licenses.

Brawer Software has introduced uBar 3.0, an update to their app and window manager for Mac OS X 10.9 and higher. The app allows users to quickly launch and manage their apps, all via a convenient visual interface. Users can create shortcuts, and quickly open files with a simple drag 'n drop of a file or folder onto the bar. Version 3.0 brings the ability to position uBar on any side of the screen, offers custom dial timepieces, and visual window previews. uBar 3.0 costs $20 and is available exclusively through the Brawer Software website (http://brawersoftware.com). Current uBar 2 users can purchase version 3.0 for $10.

NetSpot, a wireless network survey app for the Mac, has been revved to version 2.4. The update includes three new features: AP indicators in three new sizes, option to export only the surveyed part of your map, and the ability to copy network's name MAC-address into clipboard. NetSpot 2.4.623 also has enhanced how you add custom aliases to networks in the sidebar, map calibrations usability, and how the heatmap is generated on Retina displays. NetSpot is available in free, pro and enterprise editions. The free version is designed for the home user who doesn't need advanced features like report exporting, AP alias management and active scanning. The pro version offers advanced features for network professionals. The enterprise version is designed for companies that need multiple users and installations. For more information visit NetSpot online (www.netspotapp.com).