Reggie Ashworth releases VidConvert 1.4.1
Reggie Ashworth has announced VidConvert 1.4.1, an update to his video converter for Mac OS X. The upgrade fixes some localization bugs along with other miscellaneous bug fixes.
VidConvert is a video converter designed to make converting your videos simple and easy. The software will convert just about any type of video into one of the many popular formats of today.
VidConvert requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher. It costs US$7.99 for a single user license. A demo is available for download at the product web site (http://www.reggieashworth.com/vidconvert).
Apple rumors for Feb. 5
Here are the latest Apple-related rumors from the blog-o-sphere:
"Apple is recruiting for two Senior Software Engineers for the iLife development team and is looking for individuals who will be able to help “re-imagine how user interfaces should be built and work”. The positions, posted today and yesterday, are based in in the California Campus and seem to be focused upon reinvigorating the UI for the iLife suite, which incorporates iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand." -- "AppleBitch" (www.applebitch.com)
"With construction of Apple's $304 million Austin, Tex. complex underway, one website has reportedly come across new build plans for the site, revealing additional details about the campus' layout." -- "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com)
"iPad mini shipping times have today been reduced to just 1-3 business days at the Apple online store, which is the shortest wait the device has seen since it made its debut back in November. The new timescale currently applies only to the U.S. and...
Court: Apple, others didn't break California law
Apple and other online retailers didn't break California law by requiring consumers to provide their address and phone numbers as a condition of accepting credit card payments, the state's high court has ruled, reports "Reuters" (http://tinyurl.com/ajge3xd)
The California Supreme Court, in a split decision, said state privacy protections for credit cards don't apply to online purchases that are downloaded electronically. The ruling comes after the same court in 2011 said that those privacy protections do apply to brick and mortar retailers, finding that they could not request a customer's ZIP code during a credit card transaction, notes "Reuters."
Appeals court denies Apple's 'fast-track' appeal...
A U.S. appeals court has rejected Apple's request to fast-track its bid for a sales ban on several Samsung phones, ruling the iPhone maker could not argue its case to the full appeals court right away," reports "Reuters" (http://tinyurl.com/agx3kec)
A lower court judge had rejected Apple's bid for a permanent injunction following a jury trial last year. In its ruling on Monday, the Federal U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., said a three-judge panel will first consider Apple's appeal, and the full appeals court would not decide whether to hear the case until after that, notes "Reuters."
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.
evasiOn jailbreak released for iOS 6.x
A group of iOS hackers who call themselves the Evad3rs team has released a usable jailbreak for the iPhone 5, as well as any other iOS device capable of running iOS 6.0 or 6.1, with the exception of the Apple TV (third generation), reports "TechCrunch" (http://tinyurl.com/agkc7se).
The evasiOn jailbreak works on Mac, Windows and Linux systems. You can find it at http://www.evasi0n.com .
Cricket Coach is new cricket simulation game for the Mac
Rockingham Software has released Cricket Coach, a cricket simulation game fr the Mac.
Cricket Coach lets cricket fans manage their favorite teams through their favorite competitions. The game sports a detailed player database and strategic options. Both international cricket and domestic cricket are included.
A fully featured trial version is available from the game's website (/www.cricketcoachgame.com). Registration is US$32.99.
SchwanSongs announces Whirlwind WordSearch for OS X
SchwanSongs Software has announced WhirlWind WordSearch 1.0, a word-search puzzle maker for Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It costs US$9.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Education category (http://tinyurl.com/bj4hls7).
WhirlWind WordSearch is tailored to create professional-looking word-search puzzles aimed at beginners or advanced puzzle solvers. Using the software, the user can generate many puzzles from their own word sets, choose the difficulty and the size of the puzzle, and choose from a wide variety of built-in shapes.
Flying Pig updates Edouard for OS X to version 1.2
Flying Pig has released Edouard 1.2, an update to its business management system for Mac OS X. The upgrade introduces new accounting features, new export schemes, a new template picker, new statistics reports and more.
Designed for small and medium-sized businesses, Edouard supports classic business needs such as inventory management, contacts, purchases, sales, production, accountancy and more. Version 1.2 also adds support for Retina displays.
Edouard 1.2 is available for existing customers who purchased it outside the Mac App Store as an automatic and free update. It's been submitted to Apple reviewing staff and will be available soon exclusively on the Mac App Store for US$799.
Due to legal entity changes in the Mac App Store administration and technical reasons directly related to Apple policies on the Mac App Store for such situations, the free update, existing customers are entitled to won't work, according to the folks at Flying Pig. Existing Mac App Store customers should...
Apple allows Java back on the Mac
Apple has issued an update to Java, returning it to the Mac, reports "Macworld UK" (http://tinyurl.com/au2maq7). Apple had barred Java from running on Macs due to security issues.
On Jan. 31, Apple blocked Java 7 Update 11 by adding it to the banned list in XProtect. Java quickly released an update -- which Apple promptly banned, again for security reasons. On Feb. 1 Oracle released yet another updated version of Java 7, which Apple seems to have okayed.
You can download it for the Mac at http://tinyurl.com/ahf6mjk . It requires Mac OS X 10.7.3 or later and a 64-bit browser.
Foxconn to allow union elections for the first time
Foxconn, the manufacturer of iPhone and iPad, among other products, will allow workers to elect union representatives for the first time, reports "The Telegraph" (http://tinyurl.com/aqop3qp).
The firm said it would hold elections for a chairman and 20 members of its Federation of Labour Unions Committee every five years. Taiwan-based Foxconn employs around 1.2 million workers across China. The move comes in response to pressure on Foxconn from Apple and its own workers over pay and conditions, notes "The Telegraph."
Wedding Planner for OS X revved to version 1.0.5
Rbcafe (www.rbcafe.com) has announced Wedding Planner 1.0.5 for Mac OS X, an update to its lifestyle app that allows users to plan and budget all aspects of their upcoming wedding.
It has separate categories for the Bride, Groom, Administration, Decoration, Miscellaneous, Invitations, Flowers, Honeymoon, Music, Photography, Venue, Theme, and Caterer. Wedding Planner includes separate tools for Budget, Ideas, and Notes, and Preferences.
The app employs custom 3D graphics as icons and buttons. From the Preparations window, users can choose any of the above categories by clicking its icon. From the Tool window, users can select any tool by its icon.
Each of the 13 Preparations Categories has its own page, where planners can add appropriate items and each item's budget. There are also check boxes for completed tasks and the date, plus a a section for notes. Automatically, the multi-colored bar graph in the Budget window includes the total expenditures in each Category. Also in the Budget...
Cineversity introduces tutorials on 3D animation filmmaking
MAXON (www.maxon.com) -- a developer of professional 3D modeling, painting, animation and rendering solutions -- has announced the availability of the new 3D filmmaking tutorial series for users of Cineversity, MAXON USA’s online education and training resource.
Created by Dr.-Ing.V.Sassmannshausen, JET Production Notes is a collection of instructional videos and tutorials documenting the entire 3D animation filmmaking process from conception to execution. The series is aimed at motion graphics artists, independent filmmakers and those collaborating in large film studio production teams and use MAXON CINEMA 4D.
JET Production Notes is comprised of four sections with a focus on topics ranging from cinematography, integration, speed modeling and more. In addition, there are three additional series focused on animation techniques, lighting and industrial modeling. The entire collection will be released over the next few weeks, one new section each week, starting today.
Semiconductor industry posts near-record sales tota
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, announced that worldwide semiconductor sales for 2012 reached US$291.6 billion, the industry’s third-highest yearly total ever -- but a decrease of 2.7% from the record total of $299.5 billion set in 2011.
Total sales for the year narrowly beat expectations from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization’s industry forecast. Global sales for the month of December 2012 hit $24.7 billion, a decline of 3% from the previous month when sales were $25.5 billion. Fourth quarter sales of $74.2 billion were 3.8% higher than the total of $71.5 billion from the fourth quarter of 2011. All monthly sales numbers represent a three-month moving average.
"Despite substantial macroeconomic challenges, the global semiconductor industry outperformed forecasts and posted one of its highest yearly sales totals in 2012," says Brian Toohey, president and CEO, Semiconductor...
Wacom announces DTH-2242 pen, touch display
Wacom has announced the DTH-2242, a 21.5-inch, interactive pen and touch display for the healthcare and presentation marketks.
The DTH-2242's direct pen-on-screen input is designed to allow users to interact and communicate more effectively with their patients as well as other medical personnel. For example, during discussions with patients or medical colleagues, healthcare professionals can add notes or draw pictures.
The 21.5-inch IPS LCD panel sports 1920x1080 and has five user-customizable ExpressKeys, located on the display's bezel. They provide access to commonly used shortcuts and functions. Additionally, there are USB ports on either side of the DTH-2242.
The pen can be tethered to the unit and stored in the dedicated pen compartment. A security slot has been designed into the product to prevent theft. The LCD panel of the DTH-2242 features anti-glare properties and is scratch resistant. The integrated stand can be adjusted to support inclination angles from 15 to 72 degrees...
FTC staff report recommends ways to improve mobile privacy...
The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s chief privacy agency, issued a staff report recommending ways that key players in the rapidly expanding mobile marketplace can better inform consumers about their data practices.
The report makes recommendations for critical players in the mobile marketplace: mobile platforms (operating system providers, such as Amazon, Apple, BlackBerry, Google, and Microsoft), application (app) developers, advertising networks and analytics companies, and app developer trade associations. Most of the recommendations involve making sure that consumers get timely, easy-to-understand disclosures about what data they collect and how the data is used.
"The mobile world is expanding and innovating at breathtaking speed, allowing consumers to do things that would have been hard to imagine only a few years ago," says FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. "These best practices will help to safeguard consumer privacy and build trust in the mobile marketplace, ensuring that...
Oracle releases another update of Java 7
Oracle has released an updated version of Java 7 to address security vulnerabilities. You can download it for the Mac at http://tinyurl.com/ahf6mjk . It requires Mac OS X 10.7.3 or later and a 64-bit browser.
Yesterday it was disclosed that Java 7 Update had been blocked by Apple via its XProtect anti-malware feature in Mac OS X. Oracle released the update in January to address a security vulnerability.
Apple execs, Turkish prez meet to discuss education initiative
According to "MacRumors" (www.macrumors.com) Apple executives including vice president for education John Couch have met with Turkish president Abdullah Gül today to discuss several issues, including an iPad education initiative.
The US$4.5 billion program, if actually green-lighted, would provide as many as 15 million tablets to Turkish schoolchildren, the article adds. Also discussed was the layout of the older Turkish "F-keyboard" on iOS devices, which has several keys located in the wrong positions.
Dukane announces new DLP projectors
Dukane (www.dukane.com) has announced new DLP projectors: the Dukane 8420 (2500 lumens) and the 8421 (3000 lumens).
The 8420 and 8421 DLP projectors boast XGA performance. They offer 2500:1 contrast ratio. Performance versatility is enhanced by HDMI terminals, which accommodate many types of AV devices. Dukane’s Intelligent Eco Mode saves energy.
iPhone now has 12% of mainland China smartphone market
Mainland China smartphone shipments grew 64% annually to reach 53 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the Strategy Analytics research group (www.strategyanalytics.com).
Android phones accounted for a record 86% share of all smartphones shipped in China this quarter. Apple iOS followed with 12% share. That's up from 7.5% a year ago.
Apple in talks to bring HBO Go to the Apple TV?
Apple is negotiating to bring HBO Go to the Apple TV, reports "Bloomberg" (http://tinyurl.com/akeqfac), quoting two, unnamed "people familiar with the matter."
HBO GO is a free online service available to HBO subscribers that delivers HBO programming to your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, Kindle Fire, Xbox 360, Roku player, Samsung smart TV, or computer. It includes over 1,400 titles of HBO programming.
If Apple does add HBO Go, it would join services such as Netflix and Hulu Plus on Apple's set-top box. Apple TV would let Time Warner, which already offers HBO Go for Roku and Microsoft’s Xbox, deliver another option to consumers who are increasingly shunning broadcasts in favor of on-demand viewing and streaming video over the Internet," notes "Bloomberg."
Apple rumors for Feb. 1
Here are the latest Apple-related rumors from the blog-o-sphere:
"The next full-sized iPad will adopt the same GF2 DITO display technology that Apple introduced in the iPad mini, sources claim. The new thin-film process will allow Apple to make significant reductions to the thickness and weight of the forthcoming fifth-generation iPad." -- "The Mac Observer" (www.macobserver.com)
"Apple has posted a pair of new job listings in the last week that suggest the company will be making further use of plastics in future products, supporting rumors that have circulated about the company producing a lower-cost iPhone that would prominently feature plastic in the body of the device. The job listings themselves suggest Apple is looking more for engineers that can help it push forward in "non-traditional" ways of using, shaping and controlling the material on behalf of suppliers as well as itself." -- "MacNN" (www.macnn.com)
"Because Apple lets users upgrade to the latest version of iOS on all...
Court bans Apple appeal in patent fight against Samsung
A U.S. appeals court has rejected Apple's request to revive its bid for a sales ban on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone, reports "Reuters" (http://tinyurl.com/ap57os8).
Apple had asked the full Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., to revisit a decision in October by a three-judge panel of the same court. The panel rejected Apple's request to impose a sales ban on Samsung's Nexus smartphone ahead of a trial set for March 2014.
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.
Softpress releases Freeway 6
Softpress has announced the immediate availability of Freeway 6 Pro and Express, the latest in their line of visual web-design applications.
New features in this version include HTML5 and CSS3 output, automatic form handling and visitor comments, along with other improvements and enhancements. Both Pro and Express versions now output HTML5 as standard, allowing users to add mobile-friendly multimedia to their sites. Pro users have the ability to use new HTML5 element types and form controls.
Along with added CSS3 styling, modernized code-generation, greater control over the appearance of form items, built-in form-processing, visitor comments, new social media sharing buttons, enhanced CSS layouts for creating flexible and fluid layouts, improved mobile support, and more, this new version is not one to be missed.
A full list of Freeway Pro and Express features can be found on the Softpress website (www.softpress.com). The software requires Mac OS X 10.6.8 or higher.
Freeway Pro is...
Apple to quit selling Mac Pros in Europe
Apple has issued a notice to European distributors indicating that it will halt sales of the Mac Pro in Europe and select other countries as of March 1 due to new regulatory requirements going into effect on that date, notes "MacRumors" (www.macrumors.com).
The move will affect all European Union countries, as well as EU candidate countries and the four European Free Trade Association countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Here's what Apple's note says: "As of March 1, 2013, Apple will no longer sell Mac Pro in EU, EU candidate and EFTA countries because these systems are not compliant with Amendment 1 of regulation IEC 60950-1, Second Edition which becomes effective on this date. Apple resellers can continue to sell any remaining inventory of Mac Pro after March 1.
Apple will take final orders for Mac Pro from resellers up until February 18th for shipment before March 1, 2013. Countries outside of the EU are not impacted and Mac Pro will continue to be...
SCSC updates Scannerz Lite for OS X
SCSC (www.scsc-online.com) has released an update for Scannerz Lite. Scannerz Lite differs from Scannerz in that it is intended to be used primarily for testing and evaluating the hard drive.
Just like its big brother Scannerz, Scannerz Lite now offers full support for all CoreStorage related components, including full volume encryption under File Vault 2, Fusion Drives, multiple drive and volume spanning under a single logical volume, as well as full support for Apple RAID. For more info go to http:// .
There's no price change in the product line. The cost of Scannerz Lite is US$17.95, Scannerz with FSE-Lite is $34.95 and Scannerz is $44.95.
Business Card Shop for Mac OS X gets new user interface
Chronos (www.chronosnet.com) has announced Business Card Shop 4.5, an update to its business card software. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.
The new version sports an overhauled user interface and includes over 10 new features to make designing and printing business cards faster and easier than ever. Current Business Card Shop 4.x customers can update to Business Card Shop 4.5 for free. Customers who own earlier versions of SOHO Business Cards can upgrade to Business Card Shop 4.5 for US$25.
A fully functional 30 day trial version can be downloaded from Chronos' web site. For new users the price is $39.99; a family pack is also available for $69.99.
Cheetah 3D 6.2 for OS X gets ADB unwrapping support
MW3D-Solutions has announced Cheetah3D 6.2 (http://www.cheetah3d.com), an update to its 3D modeling solution. The upgrade adds support for ABF unwrapping, improves loop/ring selection, improves support for Retina displays and fixes bugs.
Cheetah3D requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. It costs US$99 for a single-user license. Customers may upgrade from Cheetah3D 1.x - 5.x for $69.
Chimp Studios releases Print Selection for OS X
Chimp Studios has released Print Selection 1.0 for Mac OS X. It's an app designed to save ink, paper and time.
Accessible from the menu bar, the dock, or the Services menu, Print Selection provides a solution for users seeking to print snippets from webpages, emails, and documents. The printing utility can either display a window where users can edit snippets before printing or immediately show the standard print dialog. The OS X Services integration allows Print Selection to serve users even when it is not running.
Print Selection requires Mac OS X 10.7 or later. It costs US$1.99 and is available through the Mac App Store in the Utility category. For more info go to www.chimpstudios.com/printselection.html .
ProjectWizards announces Merlin 2 websharing bundle
ProjectWizards has announced the Merlin 2 Websharing Bundle. It combines a Merlin for Mac OS X license and the Merlin for Web Browsers module.
Users will be able to leverage the power of the professional project management software for Mac OS X and share projects with Mac, Windows, and Linux users via Web access. The Web Browser Module ensures that Merlin projects are always up-to-date and synchronized with each other. The bundle is available for February and March for US$260.
The bundle requires Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later and any of the following web browsers (or higher versions): Safari 3, Firefox 3, Internet Explorer 7, Chrome 17 or Opera 11. For more info go to http://projectwizards.net/bundle .
Apple blocks Java 7 Update 11 in Mac OS X
The Java 7 Update 11 has been blocked by Apple via its XProtect anti-malware feature in Mac OS X, notes "AppleInsider' (www.appleinsider.com).
Oracle released Java 7 Update 11 earlier this month to address a security vulnerability. Now that Apple has disabled it, Mac users can't run Java on their systems.
Mac OS X software updates for Jan. 31
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Apple has rolled out three SMC updates. Each addresses an unexpected shutdown issue on MacBooks containing batteries with over one thousand charge cycles. The updates are available now for the non-Retina MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and legacy MacBook via the Software Updates component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app.
CS Odessa (www.conceptdraw.com) has announced a new version of ConceptDraw Note Exchange Solution. The new version provides integration with Evernote Windows and Mac Client.
MacAppware (www.macappware.com) has released MacOptimizer 1.3, an update to its disk utility application. It can help you clean, repair and organize your Mac. Speed up your Mac, fix common problems on your computer, and organize your Mac desktop. Version 1.3 includes the ability to clean font caches, verify checksums for disk images, as well as fixes several minor bugs.
publicspace.net has launched A Better Finder Rename 9.18, an update to the...
Apple rumors for Jan. 31
Here are the latest Apple-related rumors from the blog-o-sphere:
"Slightly smaller Apple TV 3,2 (A1469) contains A5X SoC, BCM4334 combo" -- "AnandTech" (http://tinyurl.com/as3joe9)
"The facility Apple is establishing in Shanghai is actually a supply chain management center, not for research and development, a source tells Tencent. Apple is allegedly hiring supply chain management experts for the project. Tencent moreover claims that Apple China's marketing department has denied the Shanghai facility being for R&D, and stated that CEO Tim Cook didn't promise an R&D complex while he was in the country earlier this month." -- "MacNN" (www.macnn.com)
Voice-changing software comes to the Mac
Screaming Bee (www.screamingbee.com/mac/) has released a new voice-changing product that runs on Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. MorphVOX Mac costs US3$9.95 and provides voice modification to online games, instant messaging, and the multimedia studio.
Online players can sound like the character they play. Additional voice, sound, and background packs provide even more content for the program. The software can be integrated with VoIP solutions such as Skype or Google Voice allowing customers to modify their voice during any call.
MorphVOX Mac can also morph an existing audio file or record a voice directly to file. The software supports many audio formats native to the Mac environment including AIFF, AAC, MP3 and more.
MorphVOX Mac also provides management of the growing list of voices and sound effects with the MorphVOX Content Manager. This allows customers to browse, download and install new content directly within MorphVOX Mac. In addition, users can tweak any of the current voices to...
New standard editions of onOne photographic software released
onOne Software has released Standard Editions of Perfect B&W, Perfect Effects 4, Perfect Portrait 2, and Perfect Mask 5.2.
Designed for photographers of all skill levels to enhance, stylize, and improve images, these Standard Editions work as standalone applications. They allow for direct photo editing without the need for additional software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, or Apple Aperture.
Photos open directly through the Standard Edition browser. One-click effects, presets, or automated adjustments may be applied to create new looks, solve problems, or act as starting points for creative inspiration, according to Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. Each product includes the best tools that address specific digital photography needs and assist with the creation of the most popular and sought-after looks seen today, he adds.
Perfect B&W converts images to black and white and offers dozens of presets that replicate both traditional and...
Winter Wolves unleashes Heileen 3: Sea Maidens
Winter Wolves has released Heileen 3: Sea Maidens. It's an expansion of the standard game Heileen 3.
It adds four new female characters to date, each one with her own personality, life goals, and associated ending images, increasing the original number of romanceable characters to eight. The game has been updated with several new scenes added to the original game story, which now consists of over 180,000 words of text. New additional scenes show the player's progresses through the 14 unique job careers, and at same time reveal more of some secondary characters' past.
The expansion and the standard game are now an unique installer, and you can choose to purchase both versions or only one. You can download the demo and buy the game from Winter Wolves website at www.winterwolves.com .The game uses a one-time online activation so there are no extra downloads required.
SilhouetteFX LLC releases Silhouette V5
SilhouetteFX has released version 5 of Silhouette, its stereo roto, paint and keying software. The upgrade sports a new raster/vector hybrid paint system, semi-automatic 2D to 3D conversion, a fresh look at shape-based warping and morphing, and the inclusion of planar tracking technology from Imagineer System's mocha Pro.
An option available at an additional cost of $3,995 (for a limited time; it's regularly $5,995), a S3D node for Silhouette 5 facilitates 2D to 3D conversion and stereoscopic processing in six ways. Silhouette’s roto tools have become depth-enabled (in the S3D option). Every shape has a depth that can be keyframed.
New roto tools such as ramps, hallways, tunnels and more have been added. Depth maps can be built semi-automatically from both mono (non-stereo) as well as stereoscopic images. Existing stereoscopic content can be depth analyzed and re-rendered for different display sizes taking into account the 3D geometry of the target display.
Parallax and convergence...
KeyCue teaches Avid Technology's Pro Tools keyboard...
Ergonis Software has published extended shortcut descriptions for Avid Technology's Pro Tools. The descriptions can be imported in KeyCue 6 to reveal 189 hidden keyboard shortcuts in Pro Tools.
KeyCue is a tool for learning and remembering keyboard shortcuts. Whenever the command key is kept pressed for a while, KeyCue displays a table with all keyboard shortcuts available in the currently active application. Similar add-ons are available for InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and more.
The shortcut descriptions mentioned in this release are not functional as stand-alone tools, but require a licensed version of KeyCue 6.0 or newer. KeyCue 6 requires Mac OS X version 10.5.8 or newer and is fully compatible with OS X Lion. KeyCue can be purchased on the Ergonis Software website (www.ergonis.com/). See the company's web site for information about purchases, including enterprise licenses, volume discounts, and upgrade pricing offers.
Nattress has released two new transition effects
Noise Industries, developer of visual effects tools for the post-production and broadcast markets, has introduced two new transition plug-ins from Nattress to FxFactory for Final Cut Pro X, Motion, After Effects and Premiere Pro.
A package of four bouncy effects, Bounce Transitions lets editors bounce footage on and off the screen using realistic motion algorithms for natural bounce or spring movement. It costs US$29 and is available at http://www.nattress.com/?q=Bounce .
Nattress Shatter Transitions lets you create transitions based on either breaking apart the outgoing video or bringing together the incoming video. It costs $49 and is available at http://www.nattress.com/?q=Shatter .
Monotype launches Typecast web design app
Monotype Imaging Holdings (www.monotype.com) -- a provider of typefaces, technology and expertise for creative applications and consumer devices -- has announced the commercial launch of its Typecast application, a browser-based tool for designing Web pages with Web fonts. It launches commercially after a year and a half in private and public beta programs.
Web designers are able to combine, compare and style Web fonts without performing screen captures in third-party applications or through hand coding. Users can visually style text directly within the browser. As designers work, Typecast software generates production-ready HTML and CSS code behind the scenes. When designers are ready to start building their sites, they can export that HTML and CSS, plus generate embedded code that will serve their project’s typefaces to their site.
Designers can set styles such as font size, line spacing and coloring, and also apply OpenType features such as ligatures, small caps, fractions,...
Judge says Samsung didn't willfully violate Apple patents
Judge Lucy Koh, the federal judge presiding over two Apple v. Samsung lawsuits in the Northern District of California, has entered four more post-trial orders. The biggest news is that, unlike the fury, she found that Samsung's infringement of Apple's patents wasn't willful.
As reported by "FOSS Patents" (http://www.fosspatents.com) the judge:
° Reversed the finding that Samsung's acts of patent infringement were willful (because Samsung had reasons to believe that what it was doing was legal) and overruled the jury with respect to a patent exhaustion question (which has no effect because the related patent was not deemed infringed by Apple), but otherwise upheld the jury's liability findings against Samsung, denying further modifications as well as a new trial;
° Denied Apple any damages enhancements for willful infringement (which could have resulted in a tripling of parts of the award); she also denied enhancements of trade dress damages on other grounds;
° Declined to overrule the...
Judge says Apple patents not invalid due to 'indefiniteness...
U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh has ruled that neither an Apple utility patent nor four design patents are invalid due to indefiniteness, reports "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com).
The issue of indefiniteness was first entered during the Apple v. Samsung trial over Apple's U.S. Patent No. 7,864,163, otherwise known as the "tap to zoom" patent, when Samsung took issue with the term “substantially centered.”
In the patent language, Apple refers to graphical assets being "substantially centered" on a portable device's display. Samsung argued that the term was indefinite and thus the patent should be invalidated, notes "AppleInsider." Koh disagreed and denied the invalidation by citing a number of federal court cases that set precedent pertaining to the term "substantially."
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-...
MacTech Releases Comprehensive Virtualization "Treatise...
The large suite of over 3000 tests was performed comparing the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro Retina, iMac and Mac Pro. The purpose of the testing and the article are to answer the questions about a variety of different kinds of performance for the different virtualization solutions available, as well as the differences between Windows 7 and 8 in virtual machines, graphics, gaming, and more.
"MacTech Labs has been doing product evaluations and testing for over 20 years," says said Neil Ticktin, publisher/editor-in-chief of MacTech Magazine. "Our focus is to help consultants and IT pros not only in making tough decisions, but with real-world and how-to answers. In this case, we wanted to help people decide which product has the best performance for them ranging from speed to operations to battery life, and more. Which virtualization solution to use is a complex decision including which Macs to use, whether to run Windows 7 or 8, virtual machine memory, gaming, Retina and small...
Mac OS X software updates for Jan. 30
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Aquafadas (www.aquafadas.com) has announced MotionComposer 1.6, an update of its visual-based authoring and effects tool. The new version lets you add sound to your animation and more.
Zengobi (www.zengobi.com) has released Curio 8.1, an update of their note taking, mind mapping, brainstorming, and task management application. The update has new PDF highlighting colors, a new single page spread PDF, a new Insert Space Menu Item option and more.
Mariner Software (www.marinersoftware.com) has revved Paperless, its digital document solution for the home and business, to version 2.2.2. The upgrade adds support for the ScanSnap iX500 scanner.
iDrive (www.idrive.com), an automatic backup tool, has driven to version 3.0. It's a maintenance upgrade.
Apple rumors for Jan. 30
Here are the latest Apple-related rumors from the blog-o-sphere:
"An historic landmark building at the epicenter of San Francisco's gay district is rumored to become the city's fourth Apple Store." -- "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com)
"Apple is apparently working to make the next generation of Numbers for iWork a reality as they looking to hire a Software Engineer to work as part of the Numbers team. The position, posted on Apple’s recruitment site, offers the opportunity ‘to deliver beautiful and engaging applications on the Mac and iPad platforms’ for the future direction of the software." -- "AppleBitch" (www.applebitch.com)
"iPad mini shipments rumored to hit 12 million in Q1 2013" -- "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com)
Smith Micro Software releases Manga Studio 5
Smith Micro Software's Productivity and Graphics group has announced the general availability of Manga Studio 5, a solution for drawing, laying out, illustrating and publishing manga comics.
Manga Studio 5 allows artists to create professional comic and manga-style art. The new version boasts a new user interface and a new graphic engine. Manga Studio 5 also adds 64-bit architecture and multi-core CPU support to handle high definition and multi-layer artwork.
You can scan in existing artwork or draw from scratch within the application using a mouse or the natural feel of drawing on a tablet. You can add styles and effects to any project with Manga Studio 5’s screen tones or create a unique background with the pattern brush. Artists can customize projects and save hours of work using the large collection of special effects and features.
Manga Studio 5 costs US$79.99. Upgrades from previous versions are $49.99. Manga Studio 5 requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.
Bretford publishes iOS Deployment Guide
Bretford Manufacturing, which specializes in tech-enabled furniture, has announced the interactive book, "iOS Deployment: A Guide to Managing iPad, iPhone and iPod touch in Your Organization." It's available for free on the iBookstore.
The book, which was created with iBooks Author, provides a picture of how Apple iOS devices can be integrated and managed effectively within an organization. Readers will learn what they can expect during the critical initial setup and how to avoid possible pitfalls throughout deployment. The intuitive guide was designed to receive updates as the family of Apple iOS devices continue to evolve, says Huey Ng, the book’s author and business development manager at Bretford.
"As Apple iOS devices become ubiquitous in industries such as education, healthcare, enterprise and government, the need for such a guide became apparent," he says. "Whether a person has dealt with challenges in the past or is new to the process, they will find the insight they need...
RunRev launches campaign for Open Source programming language
RunRev (www.runrev.com), maker of LiveCode cross-platform programming environment, plans to introduce an open source version of the LiveCode platform free to anyone interested in programming.
The company’s Kickstarter campaign launching represents the first Kickstarter project to create an open source programming language, and the first to take a commercial product to the open source community, according to RunRev CEO Kevin Miller. A successful campaign will bring one of the easiest languages to learn, teach and use to even more small businesses, students, educators, entrepreneurs and major enterprises through open source development collaboration, he says.
LiveCode is currently available as a commercial, closed-source product. With a successful Kickstarter campaign, the LiveCode open source edition will include the entire code base for all platforms, including the development environment and documentation.
RunRev also will offer LiveCode Commercial for closed source application...
Samsung wants Japan judge to dismiss Apple appeal
Samsung wants a judge in Japan to dismiss Apple's appeal in a patent infringement case Samsung won in August, reports "Bloomberg" (http://tinyurl.com/ajjo76m).
Samsung and Apple representatives made their first oral arguments before Judge Shuhei Shiotsuki at the Intellectual Property High Court in Tokyo today. The next round will be on March 21.
Last August Apple lost a patent lawsuit in Japan as a Tokyo judge ruled that Samsung's smartphones and a tablet computer didn’t infringe on an Apple invention for synchronizing music and video data with servers. Apple was ordered by Tokyo District Judge Tamotsu Shoji to pay costs of the lawsuit after his verdict, the article adds.
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.
Microsoft releases Office 365 Home Premium
Microsoft has released Office 365 Home Premium, a "reinvention" of the company’s flagship Office product line for consumers.
Office 365 Home Premium is a cloud service designed for households and people juggling ever-increasing work and family responsibilities, according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The new offering: includes the latest a set of Office applications; works across up to five devices, including Macs, Windows tablets, and PCs; and comes with extra SkyDrive storage and Skype calling. The cost is US$99.99 for an annual subscription.
Microsoft also announced it will now deliver many new features and services to the cloud first, transforming the company’s traditional three-year release cycle. Now, new features and services stream to subscribers as soon as they're ready.
Simultaneously, Microsoft today released Office 365 University for college or university students, faculty and staff at a price of $79.99 for a four-year subscription. Globally, the company also released...
Parallels releases new Management Suite for Microsoft System...
Parallels has announced Parallels Management, a plug-in for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) that lets enterprises extend System Center capabilities to efficiently and cost-effectively manage the growing number of Macs on their network.
Parallels Management extends System Center to become a universal and complete cross-platform solution for managing both Macs and PCs, as well as virtual machines running on Macs. This new software adds to the growing list of cross-platform solutions Parallels offers that are paving the way for Macs in business environments -- including Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition.
This first component of the Parallels Management Suite enables CIOs and IT administrators to solve the problem of full Mac management, letting enterprises leverage the existing infrastructure and extend it to Macs without costly build out, as well as giving them the power to gain complete control of the Macs on their network.
"IT departments are...
