NCP engineering has updated its entry IPsec VPN client and centrally managed enterprise VPN client suite, adding support for Mac OS X 10.7 ("Lion"). A free 30-day demo is available at the NCP website (http://www.ncp-e.com/); contact the company for pricing info. The NCP Secure Mac clients enable remote workers to connect to their corporate gateways via any VPN gateway with a single click. The clients support authentication and include a personal firewall.

By Greg Mills HP is getting out of the tablet business, canning its mobile computing business including cellular handsets and is spinning of the HP computer business. All of this seems dramatic, but the Apple surge in taking over the mobile computing market is shaking even seasoned competitors. I posted a story about unsold HP TouchPads yesterday and the problems at HP runs even deeper. The razor thin margins on PC has also made HP consider getting out of that business as they announced earlier to day that they were spinning off the computer business to concentrate on software. (See http://www.cultofmac.com/hp-kills-off-webos-after-atrocious-touchpad-sal... .)

Apple, Microsoft and Intel may participate in the Turkish government’s project to supply as much as 15 million tablet computers for school children over four years, state-owned Anatolia news agency said, citing Turkish Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan -- as reported by "Bloomberg" (http://macte.ch/zGDxO). Apple officials told Caglayan during his visit to the U.S. that the company may also decide to use some Turkish manufacturers to make some peripheral equipment such as covers, earphones for its iPad and iPhone models, Caglayan said at a news conference with Turkish reporters in Seattle, according to the Ankara-based agency. The winner of the government-funded project will have to produce the tablets in Turkey, says "Bloomberg."

And so the legal battles continue. In what has turned into a legal brouhaha of global proportions, Apple has filed a patent lawsuit against Samsung in South Korea, claiming that Samsung’s Galaxy line of smartphones and tablet computers copies its iPhone and iPad devices, reports "The New York Times" (http://macte.ch/8DWIY). Apple filed a similar suit in the United States in April. Samsung has filed countersuits, accusing Apple of patent violations. Meanwhile, in China, Apple stores in Beijing are being sued for selling used iPhones as new ones, reports the "People's Daily Online" (http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7572675.html). Six Beijing consumers who bought iPhones in Apple stores at Xicheng district's Xidan Joy City and Chaoyang district's Sanlitun, and some other authorized dealers have filed lawsuits against Apple. They say they bought what they thought were new phones, only to find they had a shorter warranty than the normal one-year one, says the "People's Daily Online...

A panel of Hollywood Final Cut Pro experts will gather to "answer the tough questions" on their interpretation the new -- and controversial -- Final Cut Pro X. Key Code Media will host the event in Burbank, California. The event will also be streamed live at http://www.keycodemedia.com today (Aug. 18) from 7-8pm (Pacific). Michael Kammes, MPSE, post workflow consultant at Key Code Media, will serve as moderator. The panelists' team includes the following professionals: Michael Cioni, CEO, Light Iron Digital; Michael Gossen, editor, Tosh.O; Norman Hollyn, associate professor, USC School of Cinematic Arts; Larry Jordon, Apple Certified trainer, Digital Production Buzz; and Jeremy Weinstein, assistant editor. The streaming audience can participate in the discussion directly via Twitter: http://twitter.com/keycodemedia - use (hashtag) #thefinalcutevent.

Twelve South (http://www.twelvesouth.com) has announced colorful new versions of Compass, the compact folding stand for the iPad and iPad 2. Compass is now available in three colors: iPad Silver, Tactical Black and Candy Apple Red. This versatile stand holds iPad upright as an easel or an angle for typing. All three colors are now available for US$39.99 each. The small, mobile stand lets you decide how to use and view your iPad. Use Compass upright like an easel to view iPad in both portrait and landscape positions. Position iPad in landscape mode to flip through an iBook, watch the movie you shot on iPad 2, stream iTunes shows or scan Mail. Switch to portrait view for chatting with a friend on FaceTime, playing with PhotoBooth or showing an iPhoto slideshow. Compass has a hidden flip-down secondary leg that transforms it into a mini typing stand. Work mode is also handy for Facebook updates or sending out some Tweets, says Andrew Green, creative director of Twelve South. Compass is...

Exosyphen studios has announced Hacker Evolution Duality, the latest in the hacking simulation series for Mac OS X. Hacker Evolution Duality presents a variety of puzzles and challenges. It features a single player mode where you follow the game's story and an open world mode, where you play a death match against other hackers. Here's how it's described: "You are Brian Spencer, a programmer with unmatched technical prowess. Your expertise has yielded an all-powerful Artificial Intelligence, capable of performing the tasks of an entire army of human hackers. But when an evil corporation threatens to take complete control of the Internet with this technology, you will have to go against the powers of your very own creation." Hacker Evolution Duality is now available for purchase on Steam and various other digital distribution platforms for US$24.95. For more info visit Hacker Evolution Duality online (http://www.hackerevolutionduality.com/) or visit the Hacker Evolution Duality...

Allegorithmic has released a new version of its non-linear texture and material processing software, Substance Designer 2, and the first scaled-down version of the software, Substance Designer 2 Lite. 
Available for the first time on Mac OS X, Substance Designer 2’s new vector paint, layering and cache systems improves both creative and performance capabilities so 3D artists can instantaneously create millions of dynamic textures in an interactive and collaborative process, says Dr. Sébastien Deguy, founder and CEO of Allegorithmic. 
Substance Designer 2 is a material processing solution that brings smart texturing to the heart of 3D creation pipelines. It's designed to help any artist transform all kinds of image resources, from classic bitmaps to exclusive procedural elements, into real-time dynamic and highly flexible textures and filters, says Deguy. New features in Substance Designer 2 include:
 ° Vector Paint allows users to paint dynamic masks on all channels (diffuse, spec,...

Griffin Technology has launched its newest iOS app-powered accessory: HELO TC, a remote-controlled helicopter. The HELO TC app transforms the multi-touch display of any iOS device into a remote control for the helicopter. The HELO TC is a twin-rotored, indoor helicopter built on a lightweight metal frame with a black polycarbonate body. It comes with a Flight Deck infrared module, which plugs into an iOS device to transmit control signals to the helicopter. Two modes of flight are available: Touch Control, using the Multi-Touch display to control HELO TC’s throttle and joystick; and Tilt to Steer mode, which uses the iOS device’s accelerometers. Tilting the iOS device moves the helicopter forward, back and side to side. The app can record and store up to three flight plans so you, or another pilot, can repeat a favorite flight pattern. The HELO TC’s built-in battery recharges from any USB power source, including your computer’s USB port. The Flight Deck module, powered by four AAA...

Training developer Infinite Skills has announced a new 4.5-hour tutorial video course (http://macte.ch/0Xi6d) designed to help home and business users gain a full understanding of Powerpoint for professional level use. Narrated by professional software consultant, Guy Vacarro, Learning Microsoft Powerpoint 2011 covers everything from template design to advanced graphics, effects and interactivity options. The course spans 55 video lessons and includes usable sample files. The Learning Powerpoint 2011 tutorials begin with a run-through of a simple presentation from start to finish, included to give viewers an instant familiarity with basic Powerpoint functionality and offer a frame of reference for the more detailed lessons that follow. Building on the techniques shown in the initial lessons, the next section teaches how to create effective sales presentations. The tutorials go from template selection and customization to using to adding charts, notes and enhanced graphics. Further...

Graphic Node (http://graphicnode.com/) has updated its selection of products for Apple's iWork with 50 new templates for Pages. Now its Pages Templates set includes a total of 100 templates for brochures, posters, business cards, and other documents. The set includes templates for books, brochures, business cards, invitations and posters. Most of the templates are available in both A4 and U.S. Letter paper sizes. Some templates are available in DL Envelope format. The templates include up to six different layouts; in all, the set presents a collection of approximately 200 layouts. All photo layouts feature media placeholders allowing users to crop a placed image into a custom shape. The templates require Mac OS X 10.5 or higher and iWork 08 or later. Pages Templates costs US$12.99. Users can view and purchase Pages Templates from Graphic Node online. The set is also available on the Mac App Store.

RAIDON (http://www.RAIDON.com.tw) has launched a single bay, external enclosure with USB 3.0, eSATA and FireWire interface. (Since the Mac doesn't yet support USB 3.0, attached USB 3.0 devices will run at USB 2.0 speeds). The GT1650 series comes in two models, GT1650-SB3 and GT1650-WSB3. These models accommodate 3.5-inch hard drives over 3TB each. The series is also designed with removable trays. The portable compact design of GT1650 enhances the mobility of 3.5-inch HDD and furnishes a spacious desktop, according to the folks at RAIDON. The artistic aluminum casing provides heat reduction without the need of a cooling fan to keep the device in low temperature, they add.

Spiderweb Software (http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com) has brought Avadon: The Black Fortress to Steam at a new low price of US$9.99. As an additional incentive the Mac OS X compatible game will have a 10% discount during the and launch week. 

Here's how the game is described: "Five great nations have banded together to form The Pact. The Pact is defended by Avadon, a secretive sect of spies and assassins. Its agents are everywhere, and its word is law. You have been recruited as a Hand of Avadon, charged with missions that require swift action and a heavy fist. However, the enemies of the Pact have plans of their own, and Hands of Avadon are being picked off one by one. It will fall to you to struggle to survive and to reveal that plot that could shatter the safety of The Pact and plunge your homeland into chaos.  "Embark on a whole new adventure full of danger, mystery, and intrigue. Visit the lands of the Pact and the wild, hostile lands beyond. Select one of four playable classes...

Apple is now the number five computer vendor in western Europe and France with sales growing in both areas, according to a new report from Gartner (http://www.gartner.com). The research group reports that Apple moved 879 million Macs in western Europe in the second quarter of 2011 for 7% market share. That compares to year-ago figures of 875 million Macs sold and 5.6% market share. Apple was the only computer vendor in the top five to see growth. HP is in first place in western Europe with 25.1% market share; that's down 6.1% from the year-ago quarter. Second place Acer, with 16.2% market share, has seen sales dip 44.6%. Dell's sales are down 12.75% from the second quarter of 2010; the company now ranks third among western Europe computer vendors with 10.8% market share. Fifth place Asus, with 8.1% market share, has seen sales dip 22.9% year-over-year. Personal computer shipments in Western Europe totaled 12.7 million units in the second quarter of 2011, a decline of 18.9% from the...

Another day, another lawsuit. A group of nearly 27,000 South Koreans is suing Apple for £15.8million over what they claim are privacy violations from the collection of iPhone user location information, reports "Mail Online" (http://macte.ch/LXQfW). Each person in the suit is seeking one million won (£568) in damages, according to Kim Hyeong-seok, one of their attorneys. He took Apple to court earlier this year over iPhone privacy and was awarded one million won.  Hyeong-seok told "Mail Online" that he expects the first hearing in the new case to take place in October or November. If the court in the southern city of Changwon rules in favor of the plaintiffs, the total award would come to about 27.6 billion won (approximately US$23 million).

Southern Stars, whose top-rated SkySafari astronomy app won MacWorld's 2010 best-of-show award, has now brought the best of that app to the Mac OS X desktop. However, according to the folks at Southern Stars, SkySafari for Mac OS X isn't just a straight port of an iPhone app -- it's a complete rewrite of the program. It uses 100% native Cocoa OS X controls and supports OS X 10.7 ("Lion") features, including full-screen mode, and a redesigned toolbar that fits in with Lion's new look. What's more, SkySafari supports multitouch gestures on Macs with multitouch trackpads. SkySafari's high-performance OpenGL astronomy engine was designed to run in the embedded environment of the iPhone. SkySafari for Mac OS X launches in two seconds, and renders celestial animations with frame rates approaching 100 FPS.  It can find any object in its database of 15 million stars, 750,000 galaxies, and 550,000 galaxies in milliseconds, according to Southern Stars. But SkySafari isn't just a star chart. It...

Whether you subscribe to sell-in statistics (shipments) or sell-through (sold in-store) statistics, there simply aren't enough of them to bury the fact that Nokia had a devastating second quarter (Q2), according to Strategy Analytics (http://www.abiresearch.com). Falling from first to third place in smartphones doesn't do justice to the level of damage Nokia suffered, according to the research group. While the overall handset market was essentially flat from Q1 to Q2 (0.5% growth), Nokia watched China-based ZTE and Huawei eat its lunch at both the high and low ends of the market, growing 28.9% and 26.3% QoQ, respectively, in overall handsets sales. “Despite being the number one OEM for more than a decade, this quarter shows Nokia’s position in the top five is the one most at risk,” says Kevin Burden, vice president and practice director, mobile devices, ABI Research. Nokia’s 88.5 million handsets "sold-in" during Q2 are 20 million units less than it sold in its previous quarter. It...

Kanex (http://www.KanexLive.com) has released the US$149 C24DL, a full resolution dual-link digital video inverter (DVI) to 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display (ACD).  It's a dual-link DVI with USB to Mini DisplayPort converter designed for users with legacy Macs (2006-early 2008 MacBook Pro, 2005-mid 2007 Mac Mini) or PCs with high-end graphics cards to connect specifically to a 27-inch ACD. The Kanex C247DL supports the native HD resolution (2560x1440) of the ACD not available with other standard DVI adapters.  The converter actively converts the video signal from the dual-link DVI. The included USB cable powers the C247DL, allows for audio transfer to the ACD speakers, and supports all USB 2.0 functions including use of the iSight camera. The C247DL is available now for $149 at KanexLive.com/C247DL .

Epson has introduced the VS410 and VS350W -- the newest versions of its high-brightness projector series for small businesses. The VS410 (US$899) offers 4,000 lumens of color and white light output with XGA resolution, and the VS350W ($949) delivers 3,500 lumens color and white light output with WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution for users looking to leverage widescreen notebooks and high-definition content, says Jason Meyer, product manager, Epson America. He adds that the VS410 and VS350W offer easy-to-use connectivity and control features, including USB Plug 'n Play for instantly projecting video and audio from a Mac or PC via a USB connection, as well as direct power on and off for wall switch power control and instant on/off that instantly powers the projector on and off with no cool down time. In addition, the A/V mute slide turns off the sound and images to create a quick pause in the presentation, conserving lamp life and energy, and helping to save costs. The Epson VS410 and...

Brother (http://www.brother.com) has launched a new series of small office / home office ALL-IN-ONE color inkjets priced from US$99-$149. The company says this new SOHO inkjet line is the first to offer an AiO unit for under $149 that features both easy-to-set-up wireless capabilities and built-in two-sided printing.   All models have a compact design with a decorative top panel, in abstract patterns, which makes these products an inviting addition to any work space where image is as important as performance, says Marie Le, Brother's director of marketing for color Inkjet Products. She says the new SOHO inkjets offer a variety of features including: user-friendly set-up software, Innobella quick front-loading four-cartridge ink system, toll-free technical support for the life of the machine, competitive ink pricing, and mobile device printing capabilities. The new Brother SOHO Inkjet Series MFC-J825DW will be available at national office superstores, retailers, dealers and online...

The FCPUG Network has announced the Fourth Annual FCPUG Amsterdam SuperMeet, which will take place Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Hotel Krasnapolsky in the heart of Amsterdam. The Amsterdam SuperMeet will further celebrate the tenth anniversary of SuperMeets and promises to be the single largest gathering of Final Cut, Adobe, Avid and Autodesk editors, gurus and digital filmmakers during IBC2011. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the SuperMeet web site (http://supermeet.com/). Doors will open at 16:00 with the "SuperMeet Digital Showcase" featuring over 23 software and hardware developers. SuperMeet presentations will begin at 19:00 and continue until 23:00. Tickets are on sale online for the early bird price of Euro 10.00 each, plus ticket fee, and $10.00 for students and teachers with a valid ID. Early bird pricing ends Aug. 18.

Excel Software (http://www.excelsoftware.com) has announced AppProtect 2.0 to protect Mac or Windows software. It's designed to apply protection and a vendor controlled or fully automated online activation process to a compiled application in minutes without programming. AppProtect wraps a Mac or Windows application with an activation process that requires a computer unique password or serial number on first launch. The software vendor can generate passwords with AppProtect. Alternatively, the software works with an automated activation server. Excel Software provides vendor accounts for the Safe Activation service, or a vendor can self-host an activation server using WebActivation. AppProtect can be used to protect a standard Mac OS X application (.app) or Windows executable (.exe).  A single user license is US$295 on either Mac or Windows and includes royalty-free distribution rights for any number of protected products or licenses. The tool includes a printed and PDF user guide...

SilhouetteFX (http://www.silhouettefx.com) is rolling out new 90, 180 and 270 day floating license rental options of its stereo roto, paint, keying and effects suite. New customers can now purchase a three-month 3 Floating License Rental Package, while existing Silhouette customers can add on as many additional three-month floating rental licenses as they like. One hundred percent of the 90-day rental cost can be applied toward purchase of a permanent license. Conversion of a rental to owned license must take place during the rental period -- with a one-week grace period. Floating licenses allow users the flexibility to run Silhouette on any supported machine connected to their LAN. The three-month Silhouette Floating License Server and 3 License Rental Package for new customers is available now for US$1,500. The three-month 1 Silhouette Floating License Rental Package for existing Silhouette customers is available now at a discounted price of $500. Silhouette V4 permanent...

According to a job posting (http://macte.ch/jQkh5), Apple plans to hire a signal integrity and power manager in a group that develops SOCs [system-on-chips] that will be used in Apple mobile devices. "The Signal Integrity Manager needs to have extensive experience in mobile product board designs, SI expertise in Serial links (such as DisplayPort) as well as parallel bus standards (such as LPDDR2 interface), and power integrity at package level and as well as board level," says Apple. Interested? You need "expertise in Serial links (such as DisplayPort) as well as parallel bus standards (such as LPDDR2 interface), and power integrity at package level and as well as board level." SOC refers to integrating all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single integrated circuit (IC) chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions – all on a single chip substrate. -- Dennis Sellers