Apple has updated Backup (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3991), a MobileMe component, to version 3.2. It's recommended for all users of Backup 3.

According to Apple, this update improves the overall reliability of Backup and uses space more efficiently on your iDisk or local storage by automatically recycling older backup data. When backing up to iDisk, older backups are recycled every 30 days for daily backup plans and every 12 weeks for weekly backup plans.

For example, if you are backing up to your iDisk on a daily basis, Backup will maintain a minimum of 30 days of backup history. You may choose not to recycle when backing up to a hard disk, CD, or DVD, but recycling is recommended as it uses storage space more efficiently and improves reliability when restoring your data, says Apple.

DIGLLOYD, a resource for Mac configuration and performance optimization, and hardware vendor Other World Computing (OWC) have announced a new Mac laptop upgrade service, the MPG Pro Laptop.

Following on the heels of the MPG Photo Workstation, the MPG Pro Laptop upgrades any recent model MacBook Pro to 8GB of memory and dual internal drives, offering any of the following combinations:

° Dual 100GB or 200GB enterprise-grade solid state drives, for a 200GB or 400GB capacity;

° One 100GB or 200GB solid state drive paired with a 500GB 7200 hard drive, allowing internal Time Machine backup capability and/or additional data storage;

° Dual 500GB 7200 rpm hard drives as a RAID-0 mirror, so that either drive can fail without loss of functionality.

The MPG Pro Laptop targets Photoshop and Lightroom users, professional photographers, graphic designers, and audio/video producers. For details, including technical specifications and the ordering process, go to...

Comm-Unity Networking Systems has released FTPit Pro 2.0.6 for FileMaker Pro. The new version brings the plug-in to full compatibility with the recently announced FileMaker Pro 11.

It also has several bug fixes improving the overall stability of the plug-in as well as fixes for some networking issues. FTPit Pro is available immediately at http://ftpitpro.cnsplug-ins.com/ for both Mac OS X and Windows platforms.

With this plug-in you can transfer files, text, and entire directories to and from your computer using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) all from within FileMaker Pro. Version 2.0.4, which is available immediately for both Mac OS X and Windows, enhances a few functions and includes bug fixes.

A single-user license for the client version of FTPit Pro is US$65. To use the Server Edition of FTPit Pro, you'll need to purchase at least a 10-User...

Pro Softnet Corp. has released IDrive Portable for Mac (http://www.idrive.com/portable/mac_download.htm) that allows for a "quick and easy" backup of a Mac to a portable drive. It's an external drive that can be plugged directly into your Mac and works right off the box since it comes preloaded with the IDrive Portable backup software. 

IDrive Portable is comprised of features such as automatic selection of your most commonly used folders for backup with options to customize, multiple Mac backup, search for backed up data, and Smart Sync. The latter brings the data on your portable drive in sync with that on your Mac, mounted drive backups, an intuitive interface to select files/folders, etc.

The US$69 IDrive Portable drive comes with 320GB of storage space. That's enough space to carry almost 10,0000+ pictures of your Photo library, 150 hours of your...

Acme Made (http://www.acmemade.com) has released two new iPad cases: the Skinny Sleeve and the Slick Case. Crafted "StretchShell" neoprene and employing a stretch-stitch seam, the Skinny Sleeve is able to hug the iPad, purportedly making it one of the thinnest sleeves available.

To protect the iPad’s large screen the case includes a protective insert sewn directly into the lining that guards the large screen against scratches. The Skinny Sleeve is available in Gloss Black and Gloss White, and carries a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$29.99.

The Slick Case is a compact, zippered case with a internal divider that offers scratch-protection for the screen while providing a safe place to store cables and accessories. Additional holders can secure the iPad into the case or users can simply zipper the case around the iPad.

It's designed with Acme Made’s StretchShell neoprene that'is...

AEC Software, a developer of project management business solutions, today announced the release of FastTrack Schedule 10 (http://www.aecsoftware.com/project-management-software/fasttrack-schedul...), the latest version of the company’s flagship project management (PM) software, which includes a redesigned interface.

FastTrack Schedule’s new user interface closely resembles iWorks and also includes capabilities previously found only in more expensive project management suites, says Dennis Bilowus, president and CEO of AEC Software. Among them are:
 
° Work Usage Inspector -- using this feature, managers can manage employee workloads and assign resources as new business arrives and tasks are completed.

° Advanced work calendars -- integrated project, task, base, and resource work...

The iPhone OS is the clear favorite smartphone platform for developers, according to Ovum’s first mobile application developer survey. While all five major smartphone platforms score well, it is BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile that currently lead the opposition, rather than Android or Symbian.

Overall, Java ME remains the leading mobile development environment, showing there’s still life -- if not necessarily big profits -- in an old and rather neglected technology. Ovum’s 2010 survey of 217 mobile application developers exposes a wide range of important trends that are either already having or will have a profound bearing on the future of device manufacturers, mobile operators, software platform vendors, and content providers.

Among the most pertinent is the varying degree of support for different mobile device operating systems and associated developer environments -- whether mobile-specific or web-oriented. Among smartphone platforms, iPhone OS garnered most...

Apimac has announced Timer 7.0 (http://www.apimac.com/timer), an update of the freeware stopwatch, alarm clock, countdown and clock utility for Mac OS X (10.4 and higher). The upgrade offers, among other things, support for multiple timers.

The new version offers the: ability to save the state of a timer; the ability to navigate between running timers in full-screen mode using the contextual menu or keyboard's arrow keys (Pro feature); user interface changes; an various code optimizations and improvements to product stability.

Apimac Timer features include a log (also automatically updated when some event occurs) and tickers that remember user that some timer is running every specific amount of time. Events include the ability to play alarms with your favorite sound, play song files, speak a specific message, or announce the time. The stopwatch lets you specify events occurring after a...

Monkeybread Software has released version 10.2 of the MBS plug-in for REALbasic. The MBS plug-in comprises a collection of several plug-in parts that extend the REALbasic development environment with 1,300 classes featuring over 28,000 documented functions.

Monkeybread has updated DynaPDF to use all the new functions there. Also they have more classes for GraphicsMagick, improvements on the SQL Plugin and a few additions to the QTKit classes.

Plugin licenses are available for components or for the complete collection. Starting at US$29 for one component. The complete package costs $284.20 for commercial usage.

If you buy a current license, you will get free updates for one year. After that year, you can update your license to cover an additional year. The plugins can be downloaded on MBS' website as one big package or several smaller ones:...

Belkin (http://www.belkin.com) has released nine cases for the iPad. The US$39.99 Cap Sleeve (shown) is a close-fitting knit design that provides access to all the device's functions.

The $59.99 Contour Sleeve sports a contoured, reinforced, fused-rubber design. The $49.99 Grip Vue is a translucent case that provides protection and grip-ability. The Grip Ergo is a $49.99 case with an ergonomic design built to offer comfort while reading, gaming, or surfing the Internet.


The $49.99 Grip Swell is made with snug layer of rugged silicone for shock absorption. The $49.99 Grip Groove features a grip-able textured surface with in-molded pattern to protect iPad and made with durable silicone.

The $59.99 Leather Sleeve is made with luxury leather and offers access to the iPad's functions. The $59.99 Leather Folio is made with luxury leather and features a soft inner lining. The $49.99 leather Envelope...

Proavio, U.S.A. (http://www.proavio.com), a developer of storage systems and tools for digital media production, has introduced the new EditBox EB8Sx, a3G SAS expansion solution for video.

Featuring a native internal 3G SAS design, the EB8Sx offers users the choice to use SATA disks for most media applications or enterprise SAS hard disk for DI, VFX and full resolution grading requirements. Designed for today’s commercial post facilities in mind, the EB8Sx is capable of scaling capacity to over 100TB or RAID-5 protected storage.

Powered by an 8x PCI-Express storage controller, the EB8Sx is designed to fully support editing, grading and VFX environments. An Intel RAID core delivers an excess of over 750MB/second of storage bandwidth (this requires compatible PCI-e RAID controller). EditBox EB8Sx supports DVCPro HD, Pro Res 422(HQ), ProRes444, uncompressed 8-bit 1080i HD, uncompressed 10-bit HD (4:4:4)...

Here are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps announced. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/).

Opera has announced that its mobile browser, Opera Mini has been approved for iPhone and iPod touch, and is available for free.

Hypercom Corp. has announced the first two members of a product family that enable smartphones to accept card payments. The two SmartPayments Mobile payment solutions are for merchants with iPhones who need flexible and secure card present processing capabilities on the smartphone platform. They're due in June; pricing hasn't been announced.

Panacea Solutions has released iStudy PMP Exam for iPhone and iPod touch users studying for their Project Management Professional exam. It's a free download.

PLR Concepts has announced Name That Jersey Pro Football for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's a $0.99 pro...