MPEG2 Works for Mac OS X gets improved DVD to QT conversion
MPEG2 Works -- a Mac OS X tool for video formats re-conversion, encoding and manipulation -- has been revved to version 5.0.2. The upgrade offers improved DVD to QuickTime conversion, improved audio conversion and some minor internal fixes.
MPEG2 Works 5 is available at the product web site (www.mpeg2works.com). It costs US$25 and requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.
Expeditions: Conquistador Steams onto the Mac
Expeditions: Conquistador is now available on Steam for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux platforms for US$19.99. To celebrate the successful release, you can get a 10% discount until June 5.
Here's how the game is described; "It is the 16th century -- an era of intrepid explorers and adventurers. In Expeditions: Conquistador, the player takes on the role of a famous -- or infamous -- conquistador, landing on the shores of the New World. On the search for gold, fame, and adventure, the player and a few companions venture into regions never before explored by Europeans.
"In single or multiplayer mode, Expeditions: Conquistador offers the opportunity to conquer an unknown continent, or to fight on the side of the indigenous people as they defend their homeland from the invaders. This will require not only tactical skills in battle, but also diplomatic finesse. In Expeditions: Conquistador, the variety of tactical possibilities in turn-based battles, the numerous role-playing elements, and the...
Update to Adobe Kuler available
Adobe has announced updates to Adobe Kuler, a cloud-based application for making and exploring color themes. Announced at Adobe MAX, The Creativity Conference, the Kuler Web app has been revitalized.
The new website takes advantage of the latest Web standards to provide users with a richer experience when experimenting with colors. Additionally, the new Kuler iPhone app enables users to snap color inspiration on the go. Creatives can also now sync and immediately use their themes right in Adobe Illustrator CC, part of Adobe Creative Cloud.
"With the new Kuler iPhone app and tablet-friendly website, designers and color enthusiasts can extract colors from virtually any scene: a piece of art, a garden, an outfit in a fashion store ," says Jill Soley, director of product management for Touch Apps and Services at Adobe. "Kuler now provides creatives with multiple options to capture inspiring color themes whenever they come across them."
The new free Kuler iPhone app allows users to catch...
Apple introduces 16GB iPod touch
Apple has introduced a 16GB iPod touch for US$229 alongside its 32GB and 64GB models.
Like its bigger siblings, it sports 4-inch Retina display and dual-core A5 chip. However, as noted by "Macworld" (http://tinyurl.com/oqckzm6), it lacks a few of its siblings’ features: For one thing, you’ll find no rear-facing camera on the model. Apple dropped the fancy 5-megapixel iSight camera from the 32GB and 64GB models, leaving only the front-facing FaceTime HD camera, with its 1.2MP photo and 720p video capabilities.
New WD Sentinel RX4100 offers advanced network storage features
WD has expanded its product portfolio addressing small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB) with the addition of WD Sentinel RX4100, its first 1U rack-mount small business storage server.
"Following upon the success of our first SMB storage server, the WD Sentinel™ DX4000, we are responding to customer and partner requests to expand our portfolio with a solution for customers that have a rack based computing infrastructure," says Thomas Gallivan, vice president of marketing for WD's SMB solutions group.
The WD Sentinel RX4100 lets SMBs to centralize and store all of their documents and digital assets in one secure location. While installation and setup is simple and intuitive, the product delivers enterprise-class features such as RAID protection, automatic server-based backup and restoration capabilities, redundant network and power options, as well as integrated network attached storage (NAS) functionality and iSCSI SAN capabilities for virtualized network environments, says Gallivan...
Fan favorites to headline iTunes Festival in London
Apple has announced that fan favorites including Justin Timberlake, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Jack Johnson and Jessie J are among the headliners at this year’s iTunes Festival in London. Running every night in September at the Roundhouse, the iTunes Festival features over 60 acts performing at the legendary venue.
Performances can be watched live or on-demand by millions of iOS users around the world on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, as well as by music fans with iTunes on their Mac or Windows PC or in HD with Apple TV. Tickets are free for competition winners only.
"This year’s iTunes Festival is the best ever with an incredible lineup of global superstars and stellar emerging artists," says Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. "Music fans around the world are going to love watching this incredible month of music, whether in London at the Roundhouse or on their iOS device. We’re honored so many renowned artists are part of this year’s lineup."...
NetSpot adds more Wi-Fi site survey features for the Mac
NetSpot has announced NetSpot 2.1, an update of the Wi-Fi site survey software for Mac users. New features and improvements include the ability to create detailed custom reports, the capability to visualize frequency band and PHY mode coverage, the ability to import zones and snapshots from other projects, and calculation speeds that are purportedly 2-3 times faster.
NetSpot allows visualizing their networks, identifying areas of weakness and correcting problems. Premium paid additions are offered for users who need more advanced Wi-Fi survey features. NetSpot works over any 802.11 network on MacBook running Mac OS X 10.6 and higher.
The Free edition of NetSpot is geared toward the home user. The Pro edition gives network experts features such as multi-floor scanning, active scanning, the ability to scan hidden networks, and automated troubleshooting. The Enterprise edition includes all the features of the Prp edition and provides licenses to all users within a company, along with...
MotionArtists adds HTML 5 commands, more
Smith Micro Software Productivity and Graphics Group (http://motionartist.smithmicro.com) has updated MotionArtist -- an US$59.99 tool that lets users add motion to their comics, create interactive HTML5 presentations as well as uniquely styled photo-shows -- to version 1.1. The upgrade, free to registered users, adds new tap or click "trigger" commands for HTML 5.
MotionArtist 1.1 also adds Artboard and Timeline navigation to support gesture controls on multiple devices. Plus, there are visual effect improvements, including default panel styles, sequence for blur and fade, improved arrange in 3D and auto-camera.
It's a composition and presentation application unlike anything that exists in the world of digital comic creation, says Steve Yatson, senior director of Product Marketing at Smith Micro Software. It boasts GPU acceleration for a fast work environment and 3D layering for that cool parallax effect, he adds.
Artists of any skill-level can quickly convert their work into digital...
ITC panel to review ruling in Apple, Samsung legal battle
The International Trade Commission said late Tuesday it would take a second look at an ITC judge's decision that Samsung had infringed one Apple patent for a text-selection feature in its smartphones and tablets, reports "Reuters" (http://tinyurl.com/o234kxb)
The ITC panel will also look at the judge's decision, made in March, that the South Korean company, which supplies some Apple chips, did not infringe a second patent which detects if a microphone or other device is plugged into its microphone jack, reports "Reuters." A final decision is due on Aug. 1.
This is all part of the ongoing, global legal battle. Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four continents. For example, Apple alleges that Samsung copied the slide-to-unlock technology of its iPhone and iPad devices.
ZAGG launches the Origin two-in-one sound system
ZAGG has released the Origin, a two-in-one sound system that combines a desktop speaker and portable speaker into one unit.
The Origin’s travel-size speaker offers crisp, high-fidelity sound on-the-go, and works with any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, tablet, or device, including Mac OS X, Windows, iOS and Android, according to Kent Wuthrich, executive vice president of marketing for ZAGG. The portable speaker connects magnetically to the larger desktop speaker where sound output is transferred.
With full battery power, the portable speaker purportedly offers 10-15 hours of continuous play and is recharged when docked. The Origin’s desktop speaker provides room-filling sound with full dynamic range and rich, deep bass, says Wuthrich. Powerful audio drivers allow the volume to increase without losing sound clarity or quality. he adds. The Origin comes complete with a remote control and USB ports for auxiliary use.
Available online at ZAGG.com and ZAGG retail locations, the Origin...
'Early Bird' discount ends June 18 for FileMaker...
FileMaker says attendees registering for the annual FileMaker Developer Conference have until June 18 to take advantage of the "early bird" discount and save US$300 off registration.
After June 18, the full conference fee of $1,595 for the Standard Registration package and $2,195 for the Gold Registration package applies. The 18th annual FileMaker Developer Conference, Aug.12-15, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel in San Diego.
Attendees will discover new, innovative technologies in the FileMaker Platform to help them build powerful, robust solutions for iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac and the web, says Ryan Rosenberg, vice president, marketing and services, FileMaker Inc. Conference highlights include:
° 80 sessions covering core basics, design, development, integration, the web, iOS, and business;
° Updates on future FileMaker software development;
° Hands-on tips for developing iOS, desktop and web solutions;
° "Under-the-hood" technical knowledge;
° Networking opportunities with...
Tim Cook speaks at AllThingsD conference
"We have some incredible plans that we have been working on for a while," Apple CEO Tim Cook said at his AllThingsD conference talk.
Some of those plans could still involve a TV. Cook reiterated the market is of "great interest" to Apple and that the current experience is outdated. Cook also declared Google Glass to be a niche product, while adding (in a possible iWatch hint) the broader wearable computing market is a very interesting area.
The Apple CEO said Apple will likely offer more developer options for customizing iOS, while preserving the user experience. He also hinted that Apple isn't opposed to a bigger iPhone per se, only one that doesn't meet its standards. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/ornqjgp .
Napoleon Total War: Gold Edition comes to the Mac on July 3
Feral Interactive says the historical strategy game Napoleon: Total War™ - Gold Edition will be released for the Mac on July 3. Developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA for Windows, the game is the latest Mac installment of the Total War series to be launched by Feral Interactive and follows Empire: Total War - Gold Edition.
Here's how the game is described: "Napoleon: Total War -- Gold Edition is a sophisticated combination of real-time battle tactics and turn-based political strategy that immerses players in a meticulous re-creation of the Napoleonic wars that wracked Europe in the early 19th century. The Mac version of Napoleon: Total War - Gold Edition comprises the base game and all the game updates, improvements and downloadable content, including The Peninsula Campaign, which sees Napoleon battle for control of the Iberian Peninsula against the allied forces of Spain, the United Kingdom and Portugal.
"It also includes three unit packs, the Imperial Eagle Pack, the...
Basil Salad Software releases Scuttlebutt Pro for Mac OS X
Basil Salad Software has introduced Scuttlebutt Pro 1.0, a new Yammer client designed specifically for Mac enthusiasts. It requires Mac OS X 10.8.3 and higher, a Yammer account, and an Internet connection.
Written with the Mac power users in mind, Scuttlebutt Pro supports Yammer external networks and allows simultaneous log-ins using multiple Yammer accounts. The client allows people from different locations and time zones to share workplace-sensitive information.
Scuttlebutt is a native Cocoa application written with the Mac power user in mind. The folks at Basil Salad Software say it was developed in response to people's requests on Yammer's user support forums (which is now offline) to have a native client for the Mac and not a cross-platform application based on Adobe AIR.
Scuttlebutt Pro debuts at US$49.97. It's available from http://scuttlebuttapp.com with a 30-day free trial.
App Studio package for education available
App Studio is introducing a new package that enables higher education institutions to incorporate digital publishing into curriculum and equip students to create apps for tablets and smartphones.
Customers can also use the new education plan to create digital marketing and campus communications. App Studio is software that uses HTML5 to transform InDesign and QuarkXPress projects into native apps for iOS, Kindle Fire, and Android devices.
The new App Studio Education Plan includes: 250 user subscriptions to App Studio; up to 100 course projects; 4 x Multi-Issue Pro plans (four different digital publications for the iPad and iPhone); 1 x Multi-Issue Premium plan (one digital publication for iPad, iPhone, Kindle Fire, Android tablet, and Android smartphone); optional 250 QuarkXPress licenses; and Bronze App Studio support
The ongoing price of this package is US$4,995 per year. However, for a limited time App Studio is offering the package for a special launch price of $2,497.50. For...
StockXloader 4 for OS X gets a free update
BragIt has released version 4.1 of StockXloader (http://stockxloader.com), a native Mac OS X application for fully automated downloading of stock market quotes and indexes to the technical analysis program ProTA or ProTA Gold from BeeSoft, or to MS Excel or Numbers. Or you can drag & drop a text file for import into other applications. It collects quotes for almost any stock exchange in the world. The free update expands its use and simplifies current usage.
StockXloader 4.1 offers two new choices of what to do with the downloaded and converted data. One is "Default Text App", which will open the final resulting file in the application you've set as the default for text files. The other is "Show File in Finder," which will select and show the final resulting text file.
StockXloader is fully optimized for Retina Macs with high-resolution graphics and text. It's compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 and higher.
You can download a 60-day demo version at the product web site. Registration is...
Output Factory for InDesign revved to version 1.3.19
Zevrix Solutions (http://zevrix.com) has announced Output Factory 1.3.19, an update to its professional output automation solution for Adobe InDesign. The new version lets users apply specific HTML export settings across batches of InDesign documents in addition to the option to export each file with its current HTML settings.
With Output Factory, users can output hundreds of documents or just single files with full control over batch printing, layer versioning, automatic preflighting, file delivery, and more. All they need to do is select the desired InDesign files and adjust workflow settings.
Output Factory can be purchased from the Zevrix website for US$169.95; a "lite" version costs $119.95), as well as from authorized resellers and Adobe Exchange. A demo is available for download. BatchOutput users can upgrade to Output Factory for 4.97. Output Factory is available for Mac OS X 10.5-10.8 on Intel-based Macs and works with Adobe InDesign CS3-CS6.
CAVU Media Launches Brushmarket.com
CAVU Media has announced BrushMarket.com, a custom Adobe Photoshop Brush resource for graphic designers using Macs or Windows systems.
The ecommerce store offers graphic designers, artists and creative professionals brush options to complement their design efforts. With each purchase, the customer accumulates points that can be applied to future purchases or merchandise that is made available.
All downloads are $0.99 USD and royalty-free (personal and commercial). Art students and alumni of art schools can register and receive a 20% lifetime discount of each order placed. For more info go to http://www.brushmarket.com .
Commonwealth Bank CEO sees Apple as a competitor
CEO Ian Narev says the competitive threat posed to the Commonwealth Bank by the likes of Apple and Google is as great as that of its big three rivals, according to ZDNet" (http://tinyurl.com/q7qocyw).
"We consider we have got very, very good competitors in the major banks, we have got very good competitors in the next tier banks," Narev told the G100 Congress in Sydney on Tuesday. "We worry every day about all those competitors, but we worry equally about the niche players, many of them well resourced, many of them international. The Apples, the Googles, the Samsungs, the PayPals, the credit card companies, who can pick particular slivers as a result of the application of technology into financial services and compete. We need to be prepared for that."
According to "ZDNet," he says he welcomed competition. However, he added that it was unclear how regulation of the financial services sector was going to adapt to the participation of so-called niche players.
Computer outlook falls as market increasingly looks to tablets
Worldwide computer shipments are now expected to fall by -7.8% in 2013 according to the IDC research group (www.idc.com) The new forecast reflects a shift in computer buying trends as users increasingly consider alternatives such as delaying a computer purchase or using tablets and smartphones for more of their computing needs.
In place of a limited decline of -1.3% in 2013 followed by a gradual increase in volume, the new outlook calls for a more substantial decline of -7.8% in 2013 and -1.2% in 2014 with shipment volume reaching only 333 million in 2017 – still below the 349 million shipped in 2012 and a peak of more than 363 million shipped in 2011.
The updated forecast reflects the significant drop in volume during the first quarter of 2013 as well as the transitions happening in computer design as vendors bring products to market that are optimized for Windows 8, including more thin, convertible, touch, and slate models.
"As the market develops, usage patterns and devices are...
Widget Press introduces FormEntry 2.3
Widget Press has announced an update to its FormEntry family (www.widgetpress.com/formentry) of software. FormEntry for Mac, FormEntry Server and the all new FormEntry Touch have all been updated to version 2.3. These applications are designed exclusively for iOS, Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server, and allow for custom iOS form app creation and deliver to any iPad, iPhone and iPod touch device.
FormEntry 2.3 features image, barcode, PIN, ratings, web browser controls and WebDAV, SFTP, Open In, Save Transmittal plug-ins. The software allows Mac authors can develop rich form based applications for their iOS users. Once created on a Mac, the authors can send their forms over Wi-Fi to any iOS device to be completed.
FormEntry for Mac 2.3 can be purchased for US$99 from the Mac App Store and FormEntry Server 2.3 can be purchased for $199. FormEntry Touch is the free iOS app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store; it works exclusively with FormEntry for Mac and Server.
MaBaSoft conjured up version 3.3.4 of Application Wizard for OS...
MaBaSoft (http://www.mabasoft.net/) has conjured up Application Wizard 3.3.4, an update of the Mac OS X software that provides access to your applications, documents, folders, and disks. Now, on Mac OS X 10.6 or later, the Recent Folders submenu of the Special menu lets you browse the folders you have recently opened using the Finder.
The Background-only Applications submenu of the Quit menu in Application Wizard 3.3.4 now shows process identifiers so that you can distinguish multiple instances of a same process. The clickable area of the Application Wizard buttons in the menu bar has been slightly increased. Finally, a bug that could cause Application Wizard to quit unexpectedly when particular processes were launched has been fixed.
Application Wizard -- which requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher -- lets you open, quit, and make applications active, run AppleScripts, and turn single application mode on to reduce screen clutter. You can also browse volumes and favorite folders to quickly...
Judge: court will likely rule Apple worked to inflate ebook...
In a pre-trial "tentative view," Judge Denise Cote said the U.S Department of Justice will likely be able to prove that Apple colluded with major book publishers to falsely inflate the prices of e-books sold through the iBookstore, reports "Reuters" (http://tinyurl.com/nfw824c).
While she stressed that the view was not final and that she had read only some of the evidence so far, her comments could add to pressure on Apple to settle the lawsuit, in which the Justice Department accuses the company and five publishers of conspiring to fix e-book prices, the article adds.
"I believe that the government will be able to show at trial direct evidence that Apple knowingly participated in and facilitated a conspiracy to raise prices of e-books, and that the circumstantial evidence in this case, including the terms of the agreements, will confirm that," Cote said.
Orin Snyder, a lawyer for Apple, said in a statement, "We strongly disagree with the court's preliminary statements about the case...
Disk Order for Mac OS X gets a Dropbox plug-in
LikeMac Group (www.likemac.ru/english/) has released Disk Order 3.2.4, an update of the double-pane file manager for OS X with advanced features. A Dropbox plug-in is now included.
It makes it possible to browse through files on a server, download and upload, or even view and edit them. Simple file dropping is also supported.
Disk Order is designed to makes file management easy. It lets you browse archives like regular folders, connect to FTP(S) servers, view/edit files and other. It's also supplied with plugins which allow to download music from iPod/iPhone/iPad, provide Dropbox support and enable other useful features.
Disk Order 3.2.4 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher and an Intel Mac. It can be downloaded free of charge on 30-day trial term basis. The full version can be purchased for US$29.95.
Spatial Infographics Solution comes to ConceptDraw Pro
CS Odessa (www.conceptdraw.com) has introduced a Spatial Infographics Solution for ConceptDraw Pro 9. The new solution permits users to draw professional infographics that orient viewers so they can be self-directed to a point of interest.
The maps and images are scalable vector images that can be exported to Adobe PDF format, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Visio, graphic image file, or HTML. ConceptDraw Pro 9 supports Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. The ConceptDraw products are licensed per user and users have the capability of running ConceptDraw on either supported operating system with their purchased product.
ConceptDraw Pro has a suggested retail price of US$199. It's available as a standalone product. It's also included in ConceptDraw Office suite ($499), which in addition to ConceptDraw PRO, the ConceptDraw Office suite includes ConceptDraw MindMap and ConceptDraw Project.
PDF Nomad 2.0 adds scanning, OCR, more
SintraWorks has updated PDF Nomad, a PDF editor for Mac OS X (10.7 and higher), to version 2.0. The upgrade adds scanning, OCR, AppleScript support, automatic page deskewing, bookmarks management and more.
PDF Nomad's features include simple text search and extraction, file merging, page splitting, form creation, markup and annotation, booklet/magazine creation and more. You can create and fill out PDF forms, mark-up text and annotate pages with rectangles, ovals, arrows, lines and more.
With PDF Nomad, you can resize whole documents to a different page size with a single command, or resize individual pages with drag and drop, shifting page contents as needed. You can export individual pages as bitmaps (jpg, png etc.) or create spoken audio files from the document's text.
PDF Nomad 2.0 is normally available as a single-user license for US$49.99 from both the Mac App Store and from the SintraWorks website (http://tinyurl.com/otysszw), but throughout the rest of May and June...
Akvis Retoucher 6.0 gets batch processing
Akvis has released Akvis Retoucher 6.0 for Mac OS X and Windows systems (http://akvis.com/en/retoucher/index.php), an update of the app for restoring damaged photos by removing dust, scratches, stains, and by reconstructing the missing parts of a photo automatically.
Version 6.0 adds a Batch Processing feature that lets you automatically process a series of images. Also, there are some bug fixes.
Registered users of Retoucher can upgrade to version 6.0 for free, except the owners of the old Business version. They must pay $19 for an upgrade to the new version. A free evaluation download of Akvis Retoucher 6.0 is available at the Akvis web site. It sells for US$87.
The software can be used as a standalone application and as a plugin to image editors (Adobe Photoshop, Corel PaintShop Pro, and other image editors). It runs on Mac OS X 10.4-10.8, both 32 and 64 bit, and Windows XP/Vista/Win7/Win 8.
WWDC keynote to take place Monday, June 10
Apple today said the keynote address for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference will occur on Monday, June 10, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, reports "All Things D" (http://tinyurl.com/oqp7syh). However, the speakers haven't been announced.
Apple will hold WWDC 2013 June 10-14 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. At the five-day conference, developers from around the world will learn about the future of iOS and OS X.
WWDC will also feature more than 100 technical sessions presented by over 1,000 Apple engineers, hands-on labs to help developers integrate new technologies, as well as the Apple Design Awards, a showcase of the most outstanding apps available through the Mac App Store and Apple App Store. For more info go to developer.apple.com/wwdc .
Security expert: Mac users too lax in security measures
A report from Norman Shark’s security analyst team entitled Operation Hangover details a cyber campaign that is believed to be gathering information from national security targets and private sector companies mostly based in Pakistan, but also in the UK and United States. The Operation Hangover campaign is reliant on previously identified vulnerabilities in popular software (such as Word) and browsers (including Java).
If left unaddressed Operation Hangover will purportedly cause "lasting damage" to UK businesses. What's more, the failure of Mac users to recognize that there may be a threat to their systems, Kaspersky security expert David Emm told "Macworld UK."
Ireland: we didn't give Apple any special tax treatment
Remarking on a U.S. Senate investigation that claims Apple avoided taxes on tens of billions of dollars by holding significant profits in three Irish subsidiaries, Ireland’s Finance Minister Michael Noonan said the country did not work out special corporate tax rate of only 2% with Apple as rumored, according to "All Things D" (http://tinyurl.com/q52z832).
"I do not want to be the whipping boy for some misunderstanding in a hearing in the U.S. Congress," Noonan said during a parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday.
In other words, if Apple was able to markedly reduce its tax bill in the U.S. and the rest of the world, "it was because of a gap between different tax jurisdictions, not some magic deal with Ireland," notes "All Things D."
"Maybe there was a magician, but the magician wasn’t living down in Cork,” Noonan said. "Because [Apple] is not tax resident in Ireland, [it is] not liable to Irish tax."
WaterField Designs debuts leather Finn wallet
WaterField Designs has unveiled its new fine leather Finn wallet. It costs US$29.90 and is available at http://tinyurl.com/qamsm6e .
The naturally deer-tanned leather Finn comes in six color choices and two sizes: a compact version for cash and cards and a slightly longer version sized to also fit an iPhone 5 or similar-sized smartphone. The Finn is designed to fit into men's pants pockets without causing "wallet bulge."
Self-locking zippers secure all contents. Two interior side pockets organize cash, cards, ID and receipts.
ChronoSync for Mac OS X updated to version 4.3.8
Econ Technologies has updated ChronoSync to version 4.3.8, which contains several new features and fixes. ChronoSync is the automated synchronization and backup application for Mac OS X that can synchronize, backup, and create bootable backups.
Version 4.3.8 changes the logic that tests to confirm an SMB volume is still mounted to improve compatibility with certain NAS devices.
All existing ChronoSync users update for free. For new users the cost is US$40. A demo is available for download from the Econ Technologies web site (http://www.econtechnologies.com).
TrendNet ships AC1200 dual band wireless router
TrendNet has shipped the AC1200 Dual Band Wireless Router (model TEW-811DRU), which is designed to easily handle multiple HD streams in a busy connected home. It costs US$157.99
It generates an ultra-high performance 867 Mbps Wireless AC network and a 300 Mbps Wireless N network to connect mobile devices and computers to the Internet, according to Zak Wood, director of marketing at TrendNet. Beamforming technology boosts connectivity by directing the strongest signal to the location of each connected device.
You can plug in a USB flash or network attached storage drive to share HD videos and music across the network. Gigabit ports on the back of the router maintain high speed wired connections. You can create a secure isolated guest network for guest Internet access. Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) connects other WPS supported wireless adapters at the touch of a button. For more info go to www.trendnet.com .
The Omni Group releases OmniPresence
The Omni Group has released OmniPresence, a new way for users to sync documents. This completes the effort to bring full synchronization to each of the Omni Group’s five applications.
OmniPresence syncs everything within a folder between many devices using a standard web server. Because of the way OmniPresence was designed, customers also have the advantage of being able to keep all data under their own control, says says Ken Case, CEO of the Omni Group. This is sometimes a necessity for confidential data within companies, he adds.
The Omni Group today also released a free and open-source framework for iOS developers to add support for OmniPresence to any document-based application on the iPad or iPhone. OmniPresence is a free download for the latest version of OS X, and is built into each of the Omni Group’s document-based apps on the iPad: OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner and OmniGraphSketcher.
These apps join OmniFocus and OmniPlan, bringing syncing to the Omni Group's entire family of...
Data Rescue 3 named 'Best Mac Hard Drive Recovery Software...
Prosoft Engineering's Data Rescue 3 has been named "The Best Mac Hard Drive Recovery Software" by the review site TopTenReviews. It was rated number one out of the other seven recovery programs.
Data Rescue 3 scored a perfect 10, meeting all the criteria in the review at 100%. The utility was launched in 2002 and has continued to be the most-awarded Mac hard drive recovery software on the Mac market.
Data Rescue 3 works even when your hard drive fails to mount or boot. It's available for purchase at www.prosofteng.com for US$99.
Apple: Samsung's Galaxy S4 infringes on five patents
Apple wants to add the new Galaxy S4 to an ongoing case involving Apple and Samsung being heard in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division, according to a new filing with that court, reports "Macworld" (http://tinyurl.com/p4fww6e)
"Apple obtained the Galaxy S4 on April 27 and immediately began its infringement analysis, including Samsungs customizations of the Android Jelly Bean platform, covering the eight asserted patents," Apple stated in the filing, adding that it tested S4's sold by AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. "That analysis revealed that the Galaxy S4 infringes five of Apples asserted patents in the same ways as Samsungs already accused products," it added.
This is all part of the ongoing, global legal battle. Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four continents. For example, Apple alleges that Samsung copied the slide-to-unlock technology of its iPhone and iPad devices.
Oscar Winner Tom Rolf to headline the London SuperMeet
The Creative Pro Group Network have announced that the London SuperMeet will return to the Great Hall at the Kensington Conference and Event Centre in London, England on Friday, June 28.
This SuperMeet follows the success of the recent Las Vegas SuperMeet held in April during NAB Show 2013. Tickets are on sale now. Oscar winning film editor Tom Rolf is set to headline. Doors to the SuperMeet will open at about 17:00 with the SuperMeet Digital Showcase.
Rolf is perhaps best known for editing Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" (for which he received a British Film Academy nomination). He was awarded an Academy Award for Best Film Editing for Philip Kaufman's "The Right Stuff." In addition to ACE Eddie nominations for "The Horse Whisperer" and "The Right Stuff," Rolf also received the ACE Eddie Award in 1984 for his work on "WarGames" and a Career Achievement Award from ACE.
The final agenda will not be announced until shortly before the event date; however there will be USER driven...
EPI unveils three extended resolution displays
Philips Monitors's brand licensing partner, EPI, has announced three new extended resolution Philips displays that offer multiple simultaneous inputs, allowing users to see more and do more on one screen.
The US$799 P-Line 27-inch Quad HD Monitor (272P4QPJKEB) is designed for professionals who require a display with image definition and greater content density within the conventional 16:9 screen shape. The $699 P-line 29-inch UltraWide Monitor (298P4QJEB) is also aimed at the professional user, but provides an expanded UltraWide 21:9 screen space with an ergonomically adjustable stand .
Bringing movie-watching and gaming to the next level, the Philips Brilliance 29-inch $599 UltraWide Monitor (298X4QJAB) also provides an UltraWide panoramic view and brilliant colors but is designed specifically for the home user, according to the folks at EPI.
Both of the P-Line professional displays are available through CDW and other resellers, the leading provider of technology products and...
Autodesk Announces Smoke 2013 Extension 1
Autodesk ha announced Autodesk Smoke 2013 Extension 1 professional video editing software, which is due to ship May 29. The upgrade will feature enhancements to help improve functionality, add flexibility and increase speed.
The Smoke 2013 Extension 1 release will introduce support for Blackmagic video IO devices: DeckLink (PCIe video boards); UltraStudio (Thunderbolt boxes) and the Intensity product line. Other new features and improvements include:
Trim View and new dynamic trimming tools for faster editing
° Support for SonyRAW footage from Sony F5 and F55 cameras;
° Improved conform workflow with Apple Final Cut Pro X allows more accurate translation of speed changes and ability to conform ARRI Alexa ProRes files;
° Improved feedback mechanisms to help editors better track background processes, monitor renders and identify errors;
° Improved performance in MediaHub when navigating large data sets;
° Improved 3D compositing performance in Action when working with 3D objects,...
CheckBook Pro for Mac OS X now supports iCloud syncing
Splasm Software has updated CheckBook Pro (http://www.splasm.com/checkbook/), its personal finance manager for the Mac, to version 2.5. You can now sync accounts with iCloud on Mac OS X Mountain Lion and sync accounts with others on a local network.
Version 2.5 offers full Retina display support. It's also "sandboxed" for the Mac App Store on OS X Lion and Mountain Lion.
This update is free for all licensed users. Fully functional free trials for CheckBook 2.5 and CheckBook Pro 2.5 allow unlicensed users to create 100 entries per account. Both applications have special pricing for a limited time from Splasm Software. CheckBook is available for US$11.99 USD (regularly $14.99), and CheckBook Pro is on sale for $19.99 (regularly $24.99).
JAK streaming USB gadget ready for iOS devices
bCODA, a manufacturer of wireless accessories and devices, has announced the availability of its new smartphone app for the JAK streaming USB product. The free app is used in conjunction with the JAK to wirelessly stream content from a smartphone or tablet to an audio/video system, PC or a mobile entertainment system via Wi-Fi.
The JAK multi-share, streaming USB is a portable content streaming device for smartphones and tablets. The JAK works with any USB 3.0-enabled host device and is backwards compatible with older USB versions. With its plug and play interface, the app is available for free from the Google Play or iTunes stores.
You can create playlists for music and videos, sync the playlist to JAK and stream to a big-screen product. The JAK can be connected to as many as 20 other devices for continuous streaming with no loss in audio or video quality, and no need for extra cables or time to transfer files, according to Hugh Park, president of bCODA USA. The JAK only streams and...
KeyCue 6.5 teaches Sibelius shortcuts
Ergonis Software has announced KeyCue 6.5, an update to the cheat sheet for learning and remembering keyboard shortcuts. It includes shortcut descriptions for the popular music notation software Sibelius. The descriptions can be imported in KeyCue to reveal 272 hidden keyboard shortcuts in Sibelius.
With KeyCue, whenever the command key is kept pressed for a while, the software displays a table with all keyboard shortcuts available in the currently active application, systemwide hotkeys, as well as key combinations for triggering macros in Keyboard Maestro, QuicKeys and iKeys.
KeyCue requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or newer and is fully compatible with OS X Mountain Lion. The upgrade to version 6.5 is free for anyone who owns a valid license for KeyCue 6. Upgrade paths are available for owners of older licenses. For information about purchases, including enterprise licenses, volume discounts, and upgrade pricing offers, go to the Ergonis Software web site (www.ergonis.com).
Avenza releases Geographic Imager 4.2 for Photoshop
Avenza Systems -- producers of MAPublisher and MAPublisher LabelPro cartographic software for Adobe Illustrator as well as MAPdataUSA, MAPdataCanada and MAPdataWorld royalty-free GIS data sets -- has released Geographic Imager 4.2, which adds support for new formats.
This includes writing to the DEM TIFF format that saves raw DEM values and exporting web tiles to Google Maps or Microsoft Bing Maps format. In addition, there are a number of new features and enhancements.
This release also is also available at the Geographic Imager Basic license level which provides support for the geospatial framework in Adobe Photoshop as well as limited import and export abilities at an introductory price level. Also new in this release is the addition of the Georeference feature with the Geographic Imager Basic license.
Geographic Imager 4.2 is and free to all Geographic Imager Maintenance Program members and at US$319 for non-maintenance upgrades. New fixed licenses start at $699. Geographic...
No one 'laid a glove' on Tim Cook at his Senate...
No one laid a glove on Apple CEO Tim Cook, not even the subcommittee's "hostile chairman," in his appearance before the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to explain the company's offshore tax practices, according to "CNNMoney" (http://tinyurl.com/lbfvd5x).
Cook's testimony was "calm and precise," and "the senators, for their part, were mostly respectful -- and on occasion fawning," the article adds.
"Claire McCaskill (Dem., Mo.) couldn't say often enough how much she loved Apple," notes "CNNMoney. "Ron Johnson (Rep., Wisc.) praised the company's tax minimization strategies as shareholder friendly. Rob Portman (Rep., Ohio) only wanted to talk about his tax reform proposals. Rand Paul (Rep., Ken.) thought the committee owed Apple an apology. John McCain (Rep., Ariz.), after a bout of tax dodging rhetoric, wanted to know why his iPhone was constantly updating its apps."
The "hostile chairman," Carol Levin (Dem., Mich.) spent the last long minutes of Apple's appearance...
Native Instruments introduces Abbey Road 50s Drummer
Native Instruments has introduced Abbey Road 50s Drummer, a new Kontakt instrument featuring the sound of two classic drum kits from the 1950s.
The kits provide the distinctive drum sound of the era. Recorded with both state-of-the-art and period equipment at Abbey Road Studios in London, 50s Drummer also includes a groove library, mixer presets, and a new set of brush articulations, delivering the authentic feel of rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country, and jazz from the 1950s.
Abbey Road 50s Drummer is available at the NI Online Shop for US$99. For more info go to http://tinyurl.com/mg2byeu .
I.R.I.S. releases IRISScan Book 3, Executive
I.R.I.S. has released the IRIScan Book 3 and IRIScan Book 3 Executive. These portable scanning solutions are battery‐powered, enabling mobile users to easily capture paper documents, receipts, photos and more without the use of a computer.
The IRIScan Book 3 and IRIScan Book 3 Executive scan directly to an included MicroSD card in black/white or color with 300, 600 and 900 dpi scanning resolutions. No driver installation is required; simply connect the scanner with the included USB cable or insert the MicroSD card into the computer.
The IRIScan Book 3 is powered by 3 AAA batteries and comes with Readiris Pro 12 to convert the paper documents, PDFs or image files into editable and searchable digital text.
IRIScan Book 3 Executive is Wi-Fi compatible and, by using the IRIScan Book app, users can send PDFs or JPEGs to the cloud, smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop. The IRIScan Book app can be downloaded for free for both iOS and Android devices.
The Executive comes with a one-year...
RE:Vision Effects releases RE:Match for Nuke and Fusion
RE:Vision Effects has released RE:Match for The Foundry's Nuke and eyeon Fusion. It addresses common problems on multicam and stereo shoots.
RE:Match is a set of plug-ins to match one view of video or film to another so that it looks as if it was shot with the same camera and settings. The software assumes that both image sequences are taken roughly at the same location, but perhaps were not shot at the same time or from the same point-of-view.
For general multicam shoots RE:Match matches, as best it can, one sequence's overall color appearance to match that of another. For stereo pairs, RE:Match can further refine the overall color match by taking into account that the two views are captured at the same time with a relatively small distance between the views.
In addition, RE:Match is also able to propagate color changes into areas that are present in only one view. RE:Match can also make other details, such as reflections, specular highlights, and lens flares be consistent between...
Bracketron releases new USB charger
Bracketron has released the Twist & Charge USB Charger, a solution to overcrowded outlets that provides an USB charging port for mobile devices without blocking or taking up an AC outlet.
It allows users to add an USB charging port to any standard AC outlet. The design features one surge-protected USB outlet that rotates up to 270 degrees. The device is compact and small enough to toss into suitcases. The Twist & Charge USB Charger will be available for purchase on June 19 for US$17.95 at Bracketron.com .
CS Odessa rolls out new tools for ConceptDraw Project
CS Odessa has unveiled a new set of tools and features for ConceptDraw Project to give users more control over project views and resource-allocation. ConceptDraw Project 6.4 is being enhanced with the addition of new resource types, custom filter tools, and a new set of printing options.
The upgrade has enhanced options for selecting resource types. The newly defined resource types will allow users to better describe their resources and resource behavior within a project, according to Olin Reams, general manager, CS Odessa. The additional resource types provide better insight into the resource components that compromise a working project, he adds.
To complement the new task and resource features in ConceptDraw Project, there are newly designed filtering tool that allows users to make custom views for their projects. ConceptDraw Project 6.4 allows for custom views to be created and saved for use later on.
ConceptDraw Project 6.4 has also been updated to allow for more options while...
HGST introduces Travelstar 5K1500 for the mobile market
HGST says it's offering the highest storage density (MB/mm3) of any hard disk drive (HDD) today. The new Travelstar 5K1500 is the industry's first 9.5mm, 1.5TB mobile hard drive and features the industry's highest capacity in a standard 9.5mm design, the company says.
The Travelstar 5K1500 delivers high shock protection, low power and solid performance to meet the growing demands for a variety of market segments, including notebooks, external hard drives, gaming consoles and all-in-one desktop, according to Brendan Collins, vice president of product marketing at HGST. It offers 50% more capacity than currently shipping 1TB 2.5-inch 9.5mm HDDs and 200%more capacity than single-disk 500GB 7mm or 5mm 2.5-inch HDDs, he adds.
Smaller than current 15mm or 12.5mm 2.5-inch HDDs, the Travelstar 5K1500 drive features a standard 9.5mm form factor. It has 0.5 watt low power (idle) consumption and 5,400RPM performance
Travelstar 5K1500 drives are expected to ship in June. For more info go to http...
