Facebook is planning to start selling 15-second video ads to marketers, sources tell Bloomberg. The clips would be inserted directly into a person's news feed, and at least initially sold on a full-day day basis, with targeting based solely on a person's age and gender. A video would show no more than three times per person, per day, and cost marketers between $1 million and $2.5 million each day....  ...

Alex Seropian, founder of Bungie Software, is back with a new venture called Industrial Toys, and he’s trying to reinvent the shooter genre for iPads.

∞ Read this on The Loop

PluralEyes will synch your audio and video in seconds

Videographers and filmmakers win by telling a good story. Now you can win at the workflow behind that story too. By synchronizing audio and multi-camera video automatically, PluralEyes revolutionizes post-production and speeds your sync in seconds rather than days. The new PluralEyes for Mac is a standalone application with a new timeline, visual feedback, and ‘test-and-tweak’ features for quality control. PluralEyes 3 is up to 20x faster than PluralEyes 2, and can easily prepare an audio/video sync for any NLE. For a faster, less tedious and more accurate workflow, use PluralEyes 3 to put the focus back onto creative storytelling.

Version 3.2.0:

• Support for the just-released Avid Media Composer 7
• Using MP3 files as external audio is now supported
• Added an option to save...

iBoostUp is a mac system optimizer that monitors and corrects system performance problems.

Has your Mac become slow and unresponsive? Has it lost some of the zing it used to have? Are you getting unexpected crashes and error messages? Is your Macbook getting hot and the fan running constantly? Then iBoostUp is right for you!

iBoostUp tunes up and optimizes your Mac by purging unneeded files, fixing your hard disk, giving you performance recommendations, protecting your privacy by removing cookies, displaying system information and much more!

For more information or to contact us please view the features page which links to our forum and FAQ

Version 3.7: Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated.

• OS X 10.6 or later

...

Google recently claimed that its Nexus 7 tablet was the most popular tablet in Japan, beating even the iPad. It turns out the claim was based on study that ignored sales from Apple's seven Apple Store locations, as well as sales from two large Japanese wireless carriers. On a more definitive note, IDC specifically refuted Google's claim, saying that iPad outsold Nexus 7 by more than two to one.

A few things you should note about yesterday's Xcode beta release...

First, new sizes and naming updates apply to asset catalogs. Here's my latest list of what I believe you need to be building on a per-app basis for icons. No, none of this is documented anywhere. I also believe there were no changes to launch images.

• AppIcon40x40@2x~ipad.png
• AppIcon40x40~ipad.png
• AppIcon29x29@2x.png
• AppIcon60x60@2x.png
• AppIcon29x29@2x~ipad.png
• AppIcon76x76@2x~ipad.png
• AppIcon29x29~ipad.png
• AppIcon76x76~ipad.png
• AppIcon40x40@2x.png

Second, pay special care to the beta API diffs -- especially anyone doing view controller layout. I just spent 4 hours updating a common pattern throughout several books of sample code.

Finally, is it just me, or is that the ugliest Xcode...

If needed, you can reduce Dock clutter by hiding the icon for persistent background and helper applications.

Unity delivers a stable and scalable platform for creating captivating content. Content that is efficient to create, and that works on low as well as high-end hardware.

Unity is the only Mac-based high-end game development tool sporting a stylish pro-app GUI, no-friction workflow and top-of-the-line technical features such as extensible graphics, great particle effects, highly optimized scripting, the Ageia physX Engine, skinned character animation and ragdolls, and making standalone games for Mac and Windows (and Dashboard Widgets and web-plugins).

Unity is a 3D game editor which happens to contain one of the most advanced game engines out there. Packed with power it is built to meet the demands of next-generation game developers.

Create dazzling, different, captivating games with state of the art technology such as the Ageia physX Physics Engine, the most modern...

LoudLAB is an audio application designed to monitor and control loudness levels. LoudLAB can be used to measure: long-term, short-term, and momentary loudness, LRA (Loudness Range) and true-peaks. (EBU R 128)

This application also incorporates an innovative level-compression system. The loudness compressor is based on psychoacoustic principles and therefore ideal to control loudness levels. Furthermore, LoudLAB offers an array of mastering tools, designed to improve the final audio product.

• It is now possible to run LoudLAB as a 64- or 32-bit application (default is 64-bit)
• The DSP chain is now much more efficient and precise, using considerably less CPU than the previous versions
• The interface was redesigned to be more efficient, precise and easy to use
• You have now more dither options
• You can now control the Buffer...

Note: The application is a free download, but implementing the service requires additional costs. Visit the pricing page for more information.

Microsoft Lync is the new rich client for Lync users on the Mac platform and offers integrated functionality for instant messaging, presence, conferencing and voice.

Lync for Mac is designed to work with both Lync Server 2010 and Lync Online to help you:

• Control communication costs
• Improve user productivity
• Gain operational efficiencies
• Collaborate effectively

Version 14.0.5:

• Error message when you enter a plus sign on the dial pad in Lync for Mac 2011
• You cannot join an online meeting on a...

This week in the MacNN Forums, one Professional Poster announced the release of a new game for iOS that they had been working on. The game is free, so they wanted to get the word out about it, and they are also looking for feedback. Earlier this week, Forum Regular "gangster" had some questions about RAM for a Mac Pro and turned to the forums for some advice....  ...

Today at Apple's online store, find a selection of refurbished Mac minis starting as low as $509. The Mac mini with a 2.5GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive is $509 after a $90 discount. For $679 is the refurbished Mac mini with a 2.3GHz Intel quad-core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive....   ...

Amazon has just released version 3.9 of its free Kindle app. The app now allows for a free sample search — using the existing Library Search, customers can now search books and download free samples from within the app. Also notable in the new update is the ability to…

So much for the 'can't create content on your iPad' naysayers. Flowboard is a well thought out, free app that lets you create presentations with text, video, or graphics. I could see this being very useful for teachers, artists, photographers, people in PR and students.

You can add videos, PDF files, cloud content, and even search Google Images online, or connect to SkyDrive, Dropbox, and Instagram for content. The app is template driven, and there are many professional-looking templates to get you started. Each template can be modified to taste.

All your drafts can be saved to the app's own cloud servers, and anything you create can be shared via the web, Facebook, Twitter or Email.

Gallery: Flowboard

...

At a mere $35, Google’s new Chromecast is a tempting alternative to the Apple TV, but how does it stack up for Apple users, including educators and business professionals? Josh Centers put it through the wringer, and even tried a game to see how it compares to the Apple TV.

Read the full article at TidBITS, the oldest continuously published technology publication on the Internet. To get a full-text RSS feed, help support our work and become a TidBITS member! Members also enjoy an ad-free version of our Web site, email delivery of individual articles, the ability to make long comments with live links, and discounts on Take Control orders and other Apple-related products.

Though Amazon has long remained apparently content to abide by Apple’s rules about in-app purchases, the retail giant’s latest update to its Kindle app for iOS devices remains true to the letter of the law, if not the spirit.

As good as the Kindle app on iOS is for reading, the inability to search for and purchase books right in the app has made it at times frustrating. The fault, though, lies not in Amazon, but in Apple, which has mandated that anything sold in the App Store—including in-app purchases, subscriptions sold through apps, and so on—is subject to the company’s 30-percent cut.

Now, if you’ve purchased ebooks from Amazon before, you’ll know that you can download a free sample of most ebooks on the store, and then opt to...

Facebook will be publishing mobile games, in a new program it announced today at the Casual Connect conference. The new pilot program will "help small and medium-sized developers take their mobile games global," with the company blog post suggesting it is aimed at indie developers that need help in marketing and tailoring their games to more lucrative customer markets....  ...

Details are starting to appear about MacTech Conference 2013, so if you’re an Apple developer or IT professional looking for training, learning, and networking opportunities, join us in Los Angeles in early November.

Read the full article at TidBITS, the oldest continuously published technology publication on the Internet. To get a full-text RSS feed, help support our work and become a TidBITS member! Members also enjoy an ad-free version of our Web site, email delivery of individual articles, the ability to make long comments with live links, and discounts on Take Control orders and other Apple-related products.

“The fact is that Forbes, as a corporate communication enterprise, is now consumed by a mathematical game of just generating ‘hits,’ he writes. His base pay of $200 month worked out to less than $3 an hour for the 40 hours he spent on writing his agreed-upon four posts, Monagan says.

Clearly the writer made a mistake in this case, but the way Forbes and others do business is leading to more of this happening.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Apple currently supports over 50 languages and varying script systems with its system-wide keyboard in iOS, but a new job listing hints that it is working to add support for additional languages and writing systems. Apple is looking to add engineers to its iOS keyboard and text team, and its UIKit Frameworks team, to “work closely with international teams and native speakers to accommodate all the world’s script systems.”

Apple has done a lot of work on the iOS keyboard...

CalendarMenu is an OS X menu-bar application, which provides a small calendar showing all the information you need to keep track of all upcoming appointments, birthdays, and reminders in the blink of an eye.

Calendar:

• Shows all iCal calendar events.
• Calendars and (on OS X 10.8 and newer) reminder lists can be selected individually.
• Highlights birthdays from the OS X Address Book or the iCal birthday calendar.
• Differentiates between normal and all-day events.
• Can indivually hide normal events and/or events spanning multiple days.
• Shows an overview of all events of the selected calendar day or week.
• Supports US and ISO calendar layout irrespective of the current system locale.

Tasks:

• Allows to quickly mark tasks as completed or pending without leaving CalendarMenu.
• Lists all...

If you're seeing unwanted iMessages (spam) in Messages app, you can report those to Apple.

Way back when I was a kid growing up in the 60's, I loved the unique and comforting feel of the upholstery of the time. Whether it was sitting on the "tuck and roll" upholstery in the back seat of Dad's Oldsmobile, or being snuggled between my parents on a diamond-tucked bench seat in a restaurant somewhere, the cushioned patterns brought life to the rather pedestrian vinyl material that was being used to cover the seats. So imagine my surprise when design house ADOPTED announced the Cushion Wrap line of iPhone 5 cases (US$49.95 each), bringing the look and feel of...

Pro Versioner (was FCP Versioner) is an extensive backup and versioning tool for your project, event and bin files. It creates a backup whenever you save and is a useful way of keeping track of versions over time.

Versioning

Every time you save, Pro Versioner backs up your project file. Unlike regular autosave, this gives you a wide time range if you need to restore an earlier version.

Annotations

Differentiate between backups with annotations and screenshots.

Backup Management

Extensive backup management options give you maximum control over disk usage.

Cloud Sync

Protect your data from hard drive failure, fire or theft by automatically syncing backups to Dropbox.

Peace of Mind

Pro Versioner works in the...

Flavours lets you design and share themes for your Mac.

Create beautiful themes with ease and quickly apply them to give your Mac a unique new look.

• Simply beautiful. Create a new theme in only minutes, but maintain the classy OS X polish forever.
• Share and borrow. Let the world view your creations and browse themes designed by others.
• Powerful editing. Take control of your Mac's style with an in-depth, Retina optimized theme editor with built-in live preview features.

Version 1.0.12

• Tab theming support in TotalFinder 1.4.15+ (Tabs plugin changed)
• Aqua theme is changed after creating a theme based on Aqua
• Missing top separator on Messages buddies windows
• Other minor bug fixes and improvements

• ...

iPhone and iPod touch photographers who want to get twice as close to the action and get clear close-ups now have a solution: the new olloclip telephoto lens and circular polarizing  lens (CPL).

It's designed for capturing a close-up photo or video at half of the effective distance. The fixed 2x magnification optical lens slides on and off. Available for the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S and iPod touch (fourth and fifth generations), the olloclip telephoto lens is manufactured using a multi-element coated, optical quality, precision-ground glass lens and aluminum body. 
 

read more

BlackBerry is definitely not in trouble, not at all. The world is full of rainbows and unicorns.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Monotype Imaging Holdings has introduced the 26-font Metro Nova typeface family. Designed by Monotype’s Toshi Omagari, Metro Nova is the next-generation version of William Addison Dwiggins’ Metro design, released into the Linotype library in 1930.

read more

StrictCode is a source code formatter for Objective-C developers. Uncompromising simplicity makes StrictCode easy to implement into a workflow immediately while maintaining a direct and flexible definition of the formatting style, without INI-configs or preferences dialogs. Use predefined formatting styles, or create your own styles, rename it, tune it - and share it for all developers in your team.

• OS X 10.7 or later

More information

Download Now

Google has pulled the original version of an Android app called Control Center from Google Play, following a copyright claim by Apple. The app is a free download, and mimics the style of its namesake feature in iOS 7. A message from Google, forwarded by developer Hi Tools Studio, explains that "Apple owns the copyright in its iOS software and each of the features thereof. The aforementioned application infringes Apple Inc.ís ('Apple') copyright rights in the iOS 7 software."...  ...

This is what they created firmware updates for…

Per CNET, Apple’s mid-2013 MacBook Air appears to be suffering from a bug that results in intermittent loss of video output. When using an affected system, the screen may randomly blink to black for a brief second, or go to sleep and require a button be pressed for the system to wake again.

There is no indication on how widespread this bug is, but a number of affected users have noted the problem in a lengthy...

You’re at a fine establishment which offers delicious, free Wi-Fi in addition to delicious, for-pay food. Perhaps served in bread bowls. But like your soup, the Wi-Fi eventually dries up: Restaurants and coffee shops that want to get customers out so that new ones can come in might boot you off the Wi-Fi automatically after thirty minutes.

But you’re not like other customers! You’re going back up to the line to buy another beverage and perhaps a scone. You deserve to get back on that Wi-Fi, dagnabbit. And there’s a way.

We’ve covered changing your MAC address via Terminal before. But now you know that you can use this trick to get back online at Panera Bread and other establishments with time-limited Wi-Fi.

First, get your current MAC address. You can find it in many places; one such place is System Preferences -> Network -> Wi-Fi -> Hardware tab. But since you’re...

Apple introduced file tagging in OS X Mavericks, letting you assign custom metadata to a file that you can retrieve using Finder. According to our own Brett Terpstra, tagging may be difficult at first, but once we adopt the practice, it may change the way we think about the filesystem of an OS.

With iCloud and sandboxing, Apple is distancing us from the folders that hold our data. In this folder-less existence, Tags will become the glue that holds our data together and lets us organize our files. It'll be an iOS-like experience in which you don't have to worry about where files are being stored. You can find files by their tags and don't have to dig through folders and Finder windows to organize your work.

You can read more about tagging and OS X in his "Mavericks and Tagging" article on his blog.

...

FlashFrozen is a menu item that allows you to quit the Flash plug-in in a browser if a Flash animation is hogged your Mac's CPU cycles or freezing the loading of Web pages.

Version 1.3.3:

• Improved support for Chromium browsers, including Opera.

• OS X 10.6.6 or later
• Safari, Firefox or Chrome browser.

More information

Download Now

Google Chrome is a Web browser by Google, created to be a modern platform for Web pages and applications. It utilizes very fast loading of Web pages and has a V8 engine, which is a custom built JavaScript engine. Because Google has used parts from Apple's Safari and Mozilla's Firefox browsers, they made the project open source.

Version 28.0.1500.95:

• Medium CVE-2013-2881: Origin bypass in frame handling.
• High CVE-2013-2882: Type confusion in V8.
• High CVE-2013-2883: Use-after-free in MutationObserver.
• High CVE-2013-2884: Use-after-free in DOM.
• High CVE-2013-2885: Use-after-free in input handling.
• High CVE-2013-2886: Various fixes from internal audits, fuzzing and other initiatives.

OS X 10.6 or later

Download Now

ClickTime is a web-based time tracking service with an optional desktop application. Features include:

• Desktop application syncs up with online timesheet.
• Instant time sheet reporting over the internet.
• Simple setup; clear instructions; user friendly.
• Email reminders of any incomplete timesheets.
• Expense tracking; timesheet approvals; billable time entries.
• Integration and export to various billing and accounting services (ie. QuickBooks)

Version 7.33:

• Design Preview of Employee Detail Page. We are pleased to offer a first look at the new UI for our employee detail page. This preview is the first installment in our upcoming series of improvements to detail pages in ClickTime. The new Detail Page offers:
• Enhanced support for mobile devices and tablet devices like...

iVideo is the best way to find, play, and share your videos.

Version 6.2:

• You can now swipe left or right over the thumbnails to switch between playlists (on 10.6 or newer).
• Video names now wrap to multiple lines as needed.
• iVideo can now find files in areas Spotlight does not index.
• Added "Add videos from everywhere, except: Private folders" to the Library pane.
• Added "Use larger text in list views" to the Preferences.
• Added "Show Formats" to the View menu.
• Added the ability to rearrange libraries in the Preferences.
• Local network sharing works again (sorry about that).
• You can now keep the Preferences window open in the background.
• Changed the Remove Library dialog to a popover panel.
• The resizer for making the sidebar wider or thinner now extends to the bottom of the window....

I’m going to try this one.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Attachment Tamer gives you control over attachment handling in Apple Mail. It fixes the most annoying Apple Mail flaws, ensures compatibility with other email software, and allows you to set up how attachments are displayed and sent.

Attachment Tamer can:

• Display (and print) images, PDFs, audio, and video as icons with an optional file size limit and exceptions;
• Send messages compatible with Microsoft Outlook, Exchange, and other software, preventing the superfluous "ATT0001" attachments;
• Send images as regular attachments, making it easier for the recipient to manipulate the image files;
• Send images embedded in HTML layout and safely, mix embedded images with other attachments;
• Display full attachment names regardless of length instead of truncated names;
• Prevent unwanted image resizing or set a default size for...

You’ve got to love a program that updates frequently.

On Tuesday, Dropbox released version 2.2.12 of its cloud-based storage client for Mac OS X. The new version, a 31 megabyte download (via MacUpdate), which adds the following fixes and changes:
- Fix an issue that could cause high CPU usage during reindex.

- Fix an issue with the tray icon on Mac.

- Fix a rare issue that caused unnecessary reindexing of the entire contents of a Dropbox.

- Fix a rare issue with Selective Sync.

- Other minor fixes.

Dropbox 2.2.12 requires Mac OS...

The rumors about the new "plastic" iPhone (may be called the iPhone 5C, according to a recent leak) have been ramping up over the past couple of days, and now an enterprising case manufacturer has released a set of "iPhone 5C" cases on Amazon.com (via Nowhereelse.fr).

The three cases, which are available in black, navy, and white, appear to be in line with low-cost iPhone dimensions that were leaked by another case maker in June.

The low-cost iPhone is expected to be similar in size to the current iPhone 5, though with a rounded polycarbonate...

Apple and Google's Motorola have dropped 14 patents from litigation in the Southern District of Florida, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://tinyurl.com/l866olz). This narrows the claims to a total of eight patents in the lawsuit, which is slated to go to trial next year.

read more

Showtime updated its “Showtime Anytime” app today with live TV feeds that allow users to watch what’s currently airing on both SHOWTIME East and SHOWTIME West. That’s in addition to the on-demand content it previously offered.

The app is available for free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, and available to subscribers of AT&T U-verse, Comcast XFINITY, DIRECTV, Optimum and Verizon FiOS.

What’s New in...

Imagine having a way to access shared files from your Mac, PC, or iOS devices without needing to tie up a computer to act as a file server. That's the idea behind the Kanex meDrive (US$79), a tiny box that connects to your Wi-Fi router and any USB flash or hard drive, and then works with a free companion app to give you your own "personal file server" at home or office. Read the review, and then enter for a chance to win a meDrive courtesy of Kanex and TUAW.

Design

The meDrive is tiny and lightweight, measuring in at only about 2.25" x 3.5" x .88" and weighing just 5.4 ounces. On the meDrive are three ports -- a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port for connecting to a Wi-Fi router, a USB 2.0 port for connecting storage, and a mini-USB port for power. You'll need to supply your own USB power adapter and your own storage, the meDrive's firmware does the rest.

Gallery:...

The life of a crime fighter comes at a price, and thanks to inflation that price is going up, up, and away all the time. To illustrate just how expensive it is to be a superhero Emil Lendof put together a series of infographics showing the cash you'll need now compared to to be the likes of Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the Hulk compared to when each character was first introduced. Batman is the most expensive coming in at nearly US$135 million today, and Superman is the cheapest at $29,434. In 1939, Batman's expenses came in at $10,253 and Superman's at $994, which apparently means Kryptonians are fine with a frugal lifestyle.

Google owned Motorola Mobility and Apple have agreed to drop a combined total of 14 patents from litigation that were part of a Florida lawsuit scheduled to go to trial in 2014. Apple dropped 6 patents in the pending case, while Motorola dropped 8, leaving 8 total patents to be tried in court, reports FOSS Patents. Yesterday (Monday, July 29 2013) Apple and Motorola filed a stipulation to dismiss a total of 14 patents from the Miami case. Apple had previously dropped two patents (though it reserved some rights subject to what happens on appeal), so the case was down from 24 to 22 patents. Under yesterday's stipulation, Motorola drops eight patents and Apple withdraws six, restoring parity. Subject to the court's (very likely) approval of this stipulation, either party will be asserting four patents going forward. The lawsuit history between the two companies started in October 2010...

Vinotekasoft is the ultimate wine cellar management software for Mac. In a unique and gorgeous interface showing bottles, cellars, wine fridges and tasting notes, Vinoteka brings the best wine cellar management experience to Mac users.

Now featuring the complete synchronization with the iPhone/iPod Touch application Vinoteka Touch, Vinoteka has become the most advanced wine and cellar management software for the Mac platform. From now on, synchronize both applications and transfer data to your iPhone/iPod touch in few clicks. Its very easy, it's secure, you can now carry your cellar in your pocket, have a look at it and modify it everywhere, any time.

Extremely easy and fun to use, Vinoteka offers a fantastic and realistic environment to manage your references, your bottles (wine, liquors or spirits), recreate your cellar or wine fridge, save your tasting notes and add your...

World Clock Deluxe is a reliable and easy-to-use time tool. With World Clock Deluxe you can display multiple clocks in a horizontal or vertical palette, in the menu bar and in the Dock, show Greenwich Mean Time and Coordinated Universal Time, easily identify the best time for conference calls or videoconferences across multiple time zones, quickly calculate time conversions between different cities or time zones, and show the current weather all over the world.

Version 4.11:

• World Clock Deluxe now has a Meeting-Planner pane that allows you to easily find the best time for an online chat, a conference call, or videoconference across different time zones. To display the new pane, choose View > Meeting Planner.
• The Meeting Planner is very easy to set up: after having picked a date from the calendar, you can quickly add two, three, or more cities,...

Apptivate lets you assign a system-wide shortcut for any application, script, or other file on your system for easy access at any time. Simply launch Apptivate, select an application or any other file, choose a key combination, and there you have it! Instant access any time.You can also take a quick peek at any application by pressing and holding the hotkey. When the hotkey is released, the application is hidden.

Version 2.1:

• Now free!
• It's now possible to resize the window (hold Shift while resizing to freely resize the window).
• You can click on an item's icon to launch/open/execute it.
• Added support for executing Ruby, Python and shell scripts. Any output from the script will be shown in a notification.
• A "Suggestions" window can now be displayed. Read more at...

MacUpdate Desktop is the best way to automatically keep all the software on your Mac up-to-date. The Mac App Store only updates apps that you bought from that storefront which is likely a fraction of your apps. MacUpdate Desktop updates everything on your Mac with a single click, keeping your Mac running more smooth and problem free.

MacUpdate Desktop also connects to your web browser allowing you to automatically Install apps directly from the MacUpdate.com website. This means you no longer have to download files from the web browser. Desktop will clean up the installation afterward and keep the apps up-to-date in the future - far better than what a browser can offer!

When you purchase a MacUpdate Desktop Membership, you'll not only have full access to the simplest way to keep your Mac up-to-date, but will enjoy many other member only features as well. A fully-functional...

Apple's anti-theft procedure for its employees is the topic of a class action lawsuit filed by two former Apple employees, according to a report in AppleInsider. The lawsuit was filed last week by Amanda Frlekin and Dean Pelle in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Like many retailers, Apple has a security checkout procedure that requires employees to submit to a personal package and bag search whenever they clock out for a break or leave at the end of the shift. The search can take up to 15 minutes, which is time not compensated by Apple. According to the complaint, "[one plaintiff] worked approximately 50 minutes to 1.5 hours of uncompensated overtime. By conservative calculations, this equated over the course of...

Sprint has expanded the reach of its 4G LTE service into a number of new markets, following on from adding coverage to parts of New York City and revealing its 20,000 Network Vision sites achievement as part of its quarterly report. The extra 41 new markets across the US brings the total Sprint footprint of LTE to 151 markets....  ...

In perhaps yet another sign that the premium smartphone market may be maturing, struggling handset maker HTC has predicted its first-ever operating loss, and revealed it plans to concentrate more on mid-range phones.  ...

FancyPDF is a simple and intuitive application for applying text, image, color and texture watermark on PDF documents in batch fashion. FancyPDF provides easy and effective ways to apply watermark with extensive set of options and presets. Personalize your PDF by batch exporting multiple watermark presets on a PDF, each PDF will be watermarked with individual preset options. FancyPDF makes your life easy by defining true means of batch exporting PDF files with watermark, batch exports multiple PDF files with multiple watermark presets at once.

Key Features

• Batch export list of presets on a set of PDF files to generate each PDF with individual watermark.
• Customize your Text Watermark by changing drawing type (Single, Double, Triple and Tile), font, size, color, opacity, angle, fill type and drop shadow.
• Customize your Fill Watermark by...

PS-to-PDF is a standalone OS X application to batch-convert Adobe PostScript (.ps) and Encapsulated-PostScript (.eps) files to PDF documents. Converts one PostScript file into one PDF file. PS-to-PDF has advance feature to set a watch folder, where any incoming .PS and .EPS files will immediately be converted into PDF documents automatically.

Watch Folder: The automation feature.
Individuals, business or organizations are challenged to perform repetitive task like PS to PS conversion. PS-to-PDF solves it with powerful, time saver watch folder automation feature. Set watch folder options and conversion settings. Where any incoming PS files into assigned watched folder invokes PS to PDF conversion in background and automatically gets converted as PDF files into target folder.

Key Features

• Batch conversion of hundreds of .PS...

Splunk is available in a limited free version and an enterprise version. Contact a sales representative for pricing info.

Splunk Server indexes logs from ANY source (apache, OS X, sendmail, routers). No need to configure it for specific formats, write regular expressions or change your logging output.

Search mountains of data by time, keywords, type of event, source, host or relationships to other events. Note: Splunk is server software. You configure and use the software via a Web browser.

Version 5.0.4:

Data input issues

• Adding an input using the CLI results in different capital case in source name if you use monitor vs oneshot. (SPL-54816)
• If you edit indexes.conf by hand to add an index with a mixed-case name, you cannot add an input...

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. recently held a job fair in upstate New York, helping to drive up expectations that the chipmaker is planning to open a chip fabrication plant in the area to build mobile processors for Apple.  ...

Metro is a fast-operating, easy-to-learn high-powered sequencer for the design of professional audio projects. It stands alone as a complete and integrated MIDI, audio and video production system.

The audio system supports up to 64 audio tracks. Each track can have its own effect chain. Eight aux busses are also supported. Each with their own chain. Chains can be made up of VST effects and/or AudioUnits (OS X only). VST 2.0 is supported. All effects can be automated. Real-time editing is encouraged. Software audio play-thru allows the original audio to be recorded regardless of what plug-ins are currently in use.

Version 7.1.1:

New

• Support for VST plug-ins that change the number of parameters on the fly like these from Cockos.
• Automatically set the initial category of a VST plug-in when it is instantiated for the first...

StockMarketEye is an easy-to-use investment tracking tool that helps you keep an eye on your investments and the stock market.

• Track the performance of your 401(k) and other investments with portfolios.
• See how your investments are performing with tools such as portfolio charts and CAGR.
• Keep your eye on the market with watchlists.
• Stay informed with Alerts.
• See the performance of all of your investments at a glance with the investment tracking overview.
• Find ticker symbols with the built-in symbol search.
• Get free quotes, updated automatically or on-demand.
• View basic fundamental ratios.
• Access stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, indexes or currency pairs from most major world exchanges.
• Keep your investing ideas on your desktop, not on the Internet.

...

iSoftPhone Pro is an advanced softphone with video for OS X using VoIP to provide crystal clear voice quality in an attractively sleek interface. The quick configuration will allow you to get talking to other iSoftPhone users in seconds. iSoftPhone is integrated with the OS X address book to make calls and manage contacts. Simply dial the number of the person you wish to talk with or select them from contacts to call.

Version 3.4237: Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated.

OS X 10.7 or later


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Epson America has expanded its lineup of professional-grade scanning solutions with the introduction of the WorkForce DS-510 sheet-fed scanner. It comes with a software package including Epson Document Capture Pro, color and image adjustment capabilities, OCR software, and TWAIN and ISIS drivers.

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SanDisk Corp.'s Connect Wireless Media Drive is designed to be a companion for road warriors or parents who need entertainment ready to enjoy. Users can take content such as high-definition (HD3) movies, videos, music and photos with them wherever they go.

read more

Sprint has recorded high revenues in its latest quarterly results, though it is not plain sailing for the carrier. While it has achieved $7.2 billion in earnings for the period, an increase of eight percent compared to last year and a minor drop compared to the $8.8 billion in the previous quarter, it still managed to make a loss overall....  ...

According to MarketsandMarkets (www.marketsandmarkets.com) the total hardware encryption market is expected to reach roughly US$166.67 billion by 2018, growing at an explosive CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 62.17% for the period of 2013 to 2018.

Encryption of data is a process of converting it into a form, where it becomes unintelligible to any person without access to a key/password to decrypt the data. The two forms of encryption that exist currently are the hardware-based encryption and software based encryption.

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Antetype UI designer is a brand new, ground-breaking design application that supports user-interface designers at every step of their work. Design beautiful interfaces, invent new widgets, style them, and put it all together in an interactive prototype!

Features:

• Multiple Looks and Feels: Looks and feels are stored globally in the shared library and can be applied with one click. Any project can be shown in any Look and Feel.
• Advanced Layout Engine: Any complex layout can be realized with nesting, tables, and flow layouts. Elements can stretch and shrink to adapt to the available space or their content's size.
• Platform-Independent Web Viewer: Screens designed with the Mac version can be viewed in the free Web viewer. Enjoy Antetype's advanced layout engine right in the browser.
• Shared...

MacBreakZ is a sophisticated personal ergonomic assistant designed to promote healthy and productive computer use. It offers a unique way of acquiring ergonomic skills that can save you a lot of discomfort and shield you from serious health- and career-threatening disorders.

MacBreakZ features sophisticated keyboard and mouse monitoring (without invading your privacy) that allows it to react to the way you are using your computer. What's more, MacBreakZ provides you with instant feedback on how you are doing and thus lets you find out more about your work practices.

Based on your actual keyboard and mouse use, and the time you have spent in front of the screen, MacBreakZ suggests rest and microbreaks at appropriate intervals. MacBreakZ includes a set of 30 fully illustrated stretching exercises that are designed to reduce muscular tension, improve posture, and...

With BrainsBreaker you can create and play with jigsaw puzzles on your Mac with photo-realistic pictures, yet it's very easy to use. Almost everything can be done with a click of mouse. Enjoy the pleasure of puzzle-solving with more advantages:

• it allows you to create your own jigsaw puzzles with any image you can view on your system;
• from four to more than one thousand pieces with assorted shapes;
• rotatable pieces, resizing the puzzle while playing, nails, boxes, scores, even a magnifying glass to inspect pieces;
• save your job and resume it when you wish, exactly as you left it.

Fun for all ages! Evaluation program comes with puzzles to play free.

Version 5.2.8.3:

• Maintenance

• OS X 10.5 or later

...

ChromaPhoto Pro is green screen (chroma key) software that lets you replace green and blue backgrounds in your photos. You can move the foreground relative to the background by just a simple click-drag action. The chroma key engine will automatically adjust for wrinkles and variable lighting and even correct green spill on the talent. You can set your photo subjects to various locations in the world.

The software also come bundled with a variety of photos that can be used as backgrounds

Version 3.0: Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated.

OS X 10.4.11 or later


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MDB/ACCDB Viewer lets you open Microsoft Access databases on your Mac -- regardless if they are in the older MDB or the newer ACCDB format.

This app makes viewing Access file quick and easy. A convenient search function lets you find what you are looking for. Double clicking rows brings up a record window perfect for reading long text or inspecting images.

MDB Viewer plays nice with others: export your database as Excel files, as CSV files, convert it to SQLite, or create SQL dumps. Because all apps have their unique intricacies, the documentation includes detailed instructions for transferring your data to Filemaker, Bento, Excel, Numbers, Open Office, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite and Address Book.

While MDB Viewer shows all the data stored in the database, it can not display forms or queries, and it can not modify...

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday granted Apple a patent for a camera system that uses three separate sensors, one for luminance and two for chrominance, to generate images with both higher resolution and color accuracy.  ...

4getMeNot is an electronic agenda to store email/Web addresses, phone numbers, and text-data (postal-addresses, personal/confidential data, etc.). It dials phone/mobile numbers and launches your emailer/browser. It can import relevant data from Address Book, Eudora, vCards, and LDIF/CSV formats (e.g., Thunderbird, etc.), and export data in vCard and LDIF/CSV formats (importable by Address Book, Thunderbird, etc.).

Supported features:

• All user-entered data are encrypted.
• Data backup (encrypted).
• Dialing via modem or through the speakers (when modem is not available).
• Reduced rate code (012) supplied when necessary.
• Phone-line security by relevant code.
• Portability (i.e., moving from one country to another will set the right country code).
• Printing of mailing labels and envelopes supported.
• 'Reminder'...

A report early Tuesday claims Apple chief Tim Cook was recently in China to meet with partner carrier China Telecom, possibly to discuss the upcoming debut of a rumored low-cost iPhone and declining sales growth in the region.  ...

In its quarterly earnings announcement early Tuesday, Sprint said it sold 1.4 million iPhones for the July quarter, but lost almost 2 million subscribers as a it shuttered the Nextel iDen network in late June.  ...

In a filing on Monday, Apple and Google's Motorola agreed to drop a combined 14 patents from a Florida case slated to go to trial in 2014, narrowing claims to a total of 8 patents-in-suit.   ...

In addition to the iOS 7, Apple TV and iTunes 11.1 betas issued earlier today, Apple has also updated the forthcoming Xcode 5, OS X Server and Remote Desktop betas for developers. The Xcode update (Developer Preview 4) fixes a number of crashing bugs and polishes up the interface, with OS X Server update (also at Developer Preview 4) offering much the same in the way of changes. Apple Remote Desktop 3.7 was also updated, but with no reported changes apart from a lack of any known major issues....  ...

HoudahSpot is a flexible file-search tool based on Apple's powerful Spotlight engine.

• Keep frequently used files within reach
• Retrieve the files you didn't know you still had
• Don't waste time filing. Save time finding

What a pity, the "Finder" name is already taken.
This application would have deserved the appellation!

HoudahSpot unleashes the power of Spotlight. It makes good on the promise of quickly finding the files you search for.

• Create detailed queries to pinpoint the exact file you want to get to
• Narrow down searches. Step by step, zero in on files
• Save active queries as documents for direct access to your favorite files
• Set up templates for frequently performed searches
• Tag files for easy retrieval
• Do some housekeeping: Have HoudahSpot find music files not yet in your Music folder. Drag them to where they belong

Beyond the discovery earlier today of biometric and fingerprint-sensor data buried inside the latest beta of iOS 7, researchers examining the new update have found lots of other tweaks and refinements -- everything from the return of Apple TV iTunes music buying to a subtle shift in gradient on the Mail icon, and much more. The evolution of iOS 7 reinforces early comments from veteran developers that every design element in the first beta that was publicly demonstrated at the Worldwide Developer's Conference wasn't set in stone, and that the update would evolve.... ...

In 2011 Google bought the restaurant review site Zagat. Now, with the relaunch of Zagat's app, the service is free to use without registering for the first time. The service is getting an across-the-board update from its website to its apps for iOS and Android.

At the moment Zagat's relaunch only covers nine cities, providing reviews of restaurants and nightlife attractions. Google has plans to add more cities but currently only offers Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C..

The relaunched Zagat app includes the standard reviews and ratings along with a few new additions. It provides articles and video content daily based on the locations you're searching, along with the ability to check menus or make reservations through OpenTable.

If you live in or are...

BlueHarvest is an exterminator for your Mac's unnecessary Desktop Service Store (DS_Store) and resource fork (_AppleDouble) files.

Whether you manage a version control system or just want to maximize your available memory, DS_Store and _AppleDouble files are a nuisance. Get BlueHarvest, and give those superfluous files the boot.

A clean Mac is a happy Mac

• Keep it clean. Blue Harvest does more than remove existing files -- it blocks new ones from being created.
• Easy interface. With BlueHarvest, a less cluttered Mac is only two clicks away.
• Instant access. Want to clean up a folder without launching BlueHarvest? Simply control-click.

Version 5.5.4:

• Added support for Livedrive Briefcase.
• Performance optimizations to reduce disk...

ChronoSync easily synchronizes or backs-up files and folders in a variety of ways.

Synchronize files between folders, hard drives, removable media, laptops, file servers, or any computer, not just a Mac. Features include:

• Fully customizable toolbar.
• All synchronization settings are stored in separate, self-contained, double-click- able documents that can be run or modified at any time.
• Synchronize files in any direction or bi-directionally.
• Establish simple, intermediate, or advanced rules to include or exclude files by name, size, date, extension, plus other more advanced options.
• Compare files before and after synchronizations to see the status of every file.
• Run trial synchronizations to check results before committing.
• Special options that ignore invisible files, resolve alias, preserve folder attributes and...

iRepo X is a very easy to use iPod utility to recover songs off iPods and iPhones. You simply connect your iPod or iPhone and iRepo X will show you all the songs on the iPod/iPhone. You can then easily select which songs you want to transfer and then tell iRepo X to start transferring. This is very useful in the following situations:

• Recover from computer crash If you've lost all your songs on your Mac due to a computer crash, iRepo X can let you copy the songs back from your iPod. This is impossible using iTunes alone.
• Load songs onto new computer When buying a new computer, iRepo X makes it possible to easily transfer your songs to your new computer from your iPod or iPhone.
• Copy songs from any iPod or iPhoneiRepo X gives you the ability to copy songs onto your computer from any iPod. If your friend has songs...

Grammarian Pro2 X contains an arsenal of professional writing tools to combat those embarrassing writing errors that everyone tends to make, a universal interactive spelling checking, grammar checking, dictionary, thesaurus, autocorrect, and autotype tool that works with virtually every program on your computer.

Version 2.0.7:

General Fixes:

• Fixed: An Input Menu interactive checking keydown check for Get_Text_Position in which a double break command would stop the function early.

• Fixed: Interactive apostrophe replacement -- key conversion.

• Fixed: Mouse down word cancellation and interactive window cancellation by adding NSRunLoopCommonModes timer to loop.

• Fixed more Retina Display compatibility issues

• Deactivate floating interactive check window under Apple Mail. (override Apple input method...

Apple appears to be using a novel device setup method to ease initial configuration of Apple TV under iOS 7, using an NFC-like touch without NFC hardware.  ...

A closer look at the Apple TV beta software released on Monday shows Apple is looking to bring iTunes music purchasing functionality back to its set-top streamer, allowing iTunes users yet another place to preview and buy songs.  ...

Even after browsing the description of Pixlgun 3D on the app store, you may still not know what to make of it. It looks like Minecraft, but it's a shooter. It emulates analog sticks on a touchscreen, but boasts fantastic control. And it looks cartoony, but offers a very real sense of panic and dread. In short, it's a game that will pleasantly surprise you on several fronts.

Pixlgun 3D bills itself as a "survival shooter," and that label describes the game's action quite well. With no story or plot to speak of, you are tossed into a blocky world where you must defend yourself against a wide array of enemy types ranging from bouncing blobs to skeletons to blood thirsty birds. Almost everything that moves can kill you and should be treated as a threat.

The arenas that make up the game world are modeled after settings like hospitals, deserted streets, and Egyptian ruins. Various power-ups such as health boosts and weaponry litter the levels and your time will be split...

What’s going on with Apple’s Bob Mansfield? Will the new iPhone know you—I mean, really know you? And when is it okay for Apple to search its employees’ belongings? These questions and more answered in the remainders for Monday, July 29, 2013.

‘Everybody Loves Bob’ (Daring Fireball)

Relax, folks. Big Bob Mansfield may no longer be listed as part of Apple’s executive team, but the former senior vice president of hardware engineering isn’t going anywhere—he’s just heading up special projects for the company. “How special?” you ask. Very special episode of Blossom special. That’s how special, my friends.

New iPhone with biometric fingerprint sensor seemingly confirmed by iOS leak (9to5Mac)

...

I love my Canon DSLR for the flexibility of selecting high-quality lenses, a plethora of shooting modes, the faithful color renditions, and the high storage capacity I can get with inexpensive SD cards. But I find myself also shooting a lot of photos with my iPhone simply because I want to share those images with the world immediately. The Eye-Fi Mobi Wi-Fi memory card (starting at US$49.99 for an 8 GB capacity) offers a simple way to quickly "shoot and share" from a DSLR through your iOS device.

I'm no stranger to Eye-Fi cards. I currently use the company's Connect X2 card when I'm shooting review photos for TUAW, since I can have them automatically transferred to my Mac without needing to remove the SD card and put it into the computer's SD card reader. You can find out if your DSLR or point-and-shoot is compatible with Eye-Fi's products through a compatibility program that's available through any of the Eye-Fi product pages...

A group of former retail employees of Apple Stores in Los Angeles and New York have filed a class-action suit against Apple, saying that the company demands employees submit to extensive anti-theft searches and other security measures, but doesn't pay them for the time involved. The security checks, which happen whenever an employee leaves the store, take 10 or 15 minutes according to the claim filed, adding up to millions of dollars in uncompensated employee time -- possibly as much as $1,400 per employee per year.... ...

Pegatron, which is reportedly making a new, less-costly plastic iPhone, has become the latest Apple supplier to be accused of labor violations, in a report published by China Labor Watch on Monday. Pegatron has denied the allegations, and both it and Apple have announced they will investigate the claims. Apple has conducted 15 comprehensive audits at Pegatron facilities since 2007, including surprise audits at two Pegatron subsidiaries within the past 18 months, the company said.

From 9to5Toys.com:

A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to round up the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys.com so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.

Also check out the latest...

This update adds support for the Apple Magic Trackpad and 27-inch LED Cinema Display on Windows operating systems for use with Boot Camp.

Video Lan Client, the nigh-indispensable open source media player for multiple audio and video formats (MPEG, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Divx, ogg, etc.), was updated to version 2.0.8. The new version, a 41.9 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and changes:
- Fixes some regressions of the 2.0.x branch of VLC.

- Fixes numerous crashes and dangerous behaviors.

- Fixes ISDB-S tunning and some OS X issues.

VLC 2.0.8 requires an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.6 or later to install and run.

If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback to offer, let us know in the comments.

Apple on Monday seeded the latest builds of the forthcoming Xcode 5, OS X Server, and Remote Desktop, adding to a glut of beta software released earlier today as the company works to bring its developer center systems back online from an extended downtime.  ...

Ever since Apple's purchase of biometric sensor company AuthenTec last year the rumor mill has been abuzz with predictions that a future iteration of the iPhone would employ built-in fingerprint authorization. Now, as 9to5Mac reports, Twitter user Hamza Sood has discovered a folder in the newly released iOS 7 beta 4 that references a biometric user interface, complete with descriptions of a setup process that includes images of a color-changing fingerprint and a person holding an iPhone with their thumb on the Home button.

Earlier this month Apple...

Apple has pushed iOS 7 beta 4 to developers, a release that had been delayed for a week while the company took its developer site down over security concerns. The new build has several interface tweaks and refinements as the operating system heads towards an expected release to the public in September.

You've got to love Chinese entrepreneurs. Today the Beijing Morning News reported on how scalpers are grabbing all of the Genius Bar appointments at Chinese Apple Stores, then selling those appointments on the black market.

Getting an appointment at one of the crowded stores apparently costs about ten yuan (about US$1.60), which sounds like a bargain compared to waiting all day in the store without an appointment to talk to a Genius. The reporter who wrote the story noted that there were no appointments available on the Apple site, but that they were available for purchase on the black market.

Apple's apparently looking into the issue; the reporter asked if they will cancel the online concierge service in China because of the scalping, but had not yet received a response from Apple.

It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world.

You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here.

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Daily Update for July 29, 2013 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our...