U.S. Department of Defense going platform agnostic
The U.S. Department of Defense will open its networks to smartphones and tablets from Apple and Android device manufacturers beginning in February of 2014, reports "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com).
One component of the DoD's plan will be to move away from its current BlackBerry standard and toward a more "platform agnostic" policy, integrating devices running Apple's iOS as well as Google's Android operating system. A DoD representative told "AppleInsider" that this does not mean a full abandonment of BlackBerry's platform, as was the case with other large organizations such as Home Depot.
Fishbone Diagram solution is free for ConceptDraw PRO 9 users
The new Fishbone Diagram solution is a no-charge download for users of ConceptDraw PRO 9 and can be downloaded from the ConceptDraw Solution Park.
It extends ConceptDraw PRO 9 giving users the ability to draw fishbone diagrams. Fishbone diagrams are often used for cause and effect analysis. The diagrams can display the identified causes of a particular event. For more info go to
www.conceptdraw.com/solution-park/business-fishbone-diagram .
Our Last Hope - XCOM: Enemy Unknown coming to the Mac
Feral Interactive says award-winning strategy game XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be released on the Mac this spring. Developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games for PC and consoles, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a re-imagining of X-COM: UFO Defense.
Here's how the game is described: "XCOM: Enemy Unknown expands on the X-COM legacy with an entirely new story, enemies and technologies to fight hostile aliens and defend Earth. In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, players oversee combat strategies and individual unit tactics, as well as base management and resource allocation while playing as the commander of a secret global military organization, XCOM. With equal emphasis on deep strategy and intense tactical combat, XCOM: Enemy Unknown allows gamers to control the fate of the human race by defending against a terrifying global alien invasion.
"The Mac release of XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the Elite Edition, and contains all previously released add-on content and updates. XCOM: Enemy Unknown – Elite Edition...
Pick a Bundle launches with 10 Mac apps
The Pick a Bundle for Mac launched this week. It's a three-week bundle sale on 30 premium Mac applications and games.
You can visit the Pick a Bundle site and browse a selection of the titles. You ocna curate a personalized bundle of 10 products that take your fancy. The Pick a Bundle promotion ends on March 18. for more info go to http://www.pickabundle.com/ .
Virtual 3D package mockup tool revved to version 4.0.22
Applications for Life has announced Boxshot 4.0.22 (http://boxshot.com/boxshot/), an update to their Mac compatible utility that makes virtual shots of 3D shapes.
Using ray-tracing rendering technology, Boxshot lets you render software boxes, book covers, magazines, CD, DVD and Blu-Ray boxes, cans, bottles, mugs, bags and more.Version 3.0 boasts a simplified lighting scheme.
Boxshot 4 features a real-time preview, runs on Mac and Windows computers and doesn't require Adobe Photoshop or any other software. It comes comes in three editions -- Home, Professional and Ultimate -- with pricing starting at US$49. A demo version is available for download.
Apple settles lawsuit over apps aimed at kids
Parents frustrated that their kids racked up iTunes bills without their permission may be in luck. Apple is offering to pay up to many of those affected, reports "Gigaom" (http://tinyurl.com/bgmb9k2).
Under the terms of the settlement, Apple will offer a $5 iTunes credit to those who claim that a minor bought in-game items without their knowledge or permission. If the amount in question is more than $5, Apple will offer a credit for that amount. If the amount in question is over $30, an Apple user can claim a cash refund.
The proposed settlement comes after parents sued Apple in 2011 upon discovering that their minor children had racked up credit card charges in supposedly free games.
AKVIS Refocus 3.0 adds new image processing modes
AKVIS has released AKVIS Refocus 3.0 for Mac and Windows systems. The software improves sharpness of out of focus images. Version 3.0 offers brand new image processing modes Tilt-Shift and Iris Blur.
The features of the previous versions are now available in the Refocus mode. AKVIS Refocus v.3.0 works in three modes. Refocus mode makes blurred photos sharper. You can re-focus the entire image or only selected parts.
Tilt-Shift mode allows leaving a sharp strip in the image, adding gradual blur at the edges, with smooth transitions between the regions and with bokeh effects. This mode gives the objects on the photo a "toy" look. It blurs the outer parts and makes the objects appear as if they are miniature models.
Iris Blur mode creates shallow depth-of-field effect, blurring the background while keeping the subject in focus. In contrast to the previous mode, this one lets you specify the shape of the sharp area (ellipse, rectangle). (This mode is only available under Home Deluxe...
Storage Made Easy adds support for Amazon Glacier
Storage Made Easy have announced that they have integrated Amazon Glacier into their Cloud Data Broker platform to enable easy archiving of data from almost any cloud directly to Amazon Glacier.
Storage Made Easy is designed to provide a secure cloud collaboration and file sharing platform that unifies data from public and private cloud providers while providing full audit and governance of all known files. Customers can now move infrequently used data from more than 35-plus clouds.
With Amazon Glacier, customers can reliably store large or small amounts of data for as little as US$0.01 per gigabyte per month, according to Jim Liddle, CEO of Storage Made Easy. Storage Made Easy provides a secure cloud collaboration and file sharing platform that unifies data from public and private cloud providers whilst while providing full audit and governance of all
Adobe announces Lightroom 4.4, Camera Raw 7.4 release candidates
Adobe has announced the availability of Lightroom 4.4 and Camera Raw 7.4 release candidates on Adobe Labs.
The release candidates provide bug fixes reported in previous releases, including a correction to the demosaic algorithms for Fujifilm cameras with the X-Trans sensor, such as the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and X-E1. In addition, the release candidates add raw file support for nine cameras: Canon EOS 1D C, Casio Exilim EX-ZR700, Fujifilm X100s, Fujifilm X20, Hasselblad Lunar, Leica M, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon 1 S1 and Pentax MX-1
Lightroom is a digital photography workflow solution designed to help serious amateur and professional photographers import, manage, enhance and showcase all their images within one application. The Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in provides access to raw image formats produced by many leading digital cameras.
The Lightroom 4.4 release candidate is available as a free download for Lightroom 4 customers, and the Photoshop Camera Raw 7.4 release candidate is available for...
Freeridecoding releases offline iPad PHP development tool
Freeridecoding has announced DraftCode 1.0, the first version of its new PHP development tool for the iPad.
The app features built-in code execution, allowing users to be creative on the iPad and start to develop PHP without requiring access to a server or the Internet, according to the gang at Freeridecoding. Users can send files from DraftCode to other iPad applications, like DropBox, and work on complex PHP projects that consist of multiple files and resources using DraftCode's file workspace.
You can create and work on your PHP code in the code editor and execute it right from within DraftCode. DraftCode will show you the output either as rendered HTML, as it would appear in Safari, or as HTML source code for debugging purposes. DraftCode supports includes and links to different PHP files during execution and the use of POST and GET forms that access PHP pages in your workspace.
DraftCode 1.0 costs US$5.99 and is available at the Apple App Store in the Productivity category. For...
Real Time Logic releases BarracudaDrive 6
Real Time Logic has released BarracudaDrive 6, a multi-platform application designed to make it simple to run your own private cloud server. BarracudaDrive lets you take control of your files, and purportedly eliminates the dangers of entrusting the privacy of your sensitive data to third-party web portals.
With BarracudaDrive, your home or business computer network becomes a secure online storage system. You can access and share files using any Internet-enabled computer, smartphone, or tablet.
BarracudaDrive can be set up and used on Mac, Windows and Linux systems -- or on a private online cloud/VPS server. The software automatically configures network routers. There's even a Dynamic DNS client that lets you use BarracudaDrive even if you have a varying IP address.
Power users can use special editions of the software to work with the Raspberry Pi computer, with Western Digital's My Book Live Network-Attached Storage (NAS), and with Marvell's SheevaPlug. BarracudaDrive also supports...
Monotype refines Fonts.com Web Fonts service
Monotype has redefined the Fonts.com Web Fonts service by pairing it with Typecast and says it's making the plan more affordable to professionals.
At US$40 per month, the Professional Plan includes a free Typecast subscription ($29 value). The plan allows Web professionals to view, pair and compare Web fonts in the full-length text without having to create screenshots, assemble comps or hand-code CSS.
Typecast + Fonts.com Web Fonts pairing allows Web professionals to export their designs and start prototyping, using Typecast to manage the font selections in the design process. Typecast will determine which fonts to serve up and create an embed code including the fonts.
Thalmic Labs announces Mac compatible gesture control device
As noted by "The Next Web" (http://tinyurl.com/a87dunw), Thalmic Labs has announced a Mac (and Windows) compatible armband dubbed the MYO that's designed to let you control and interact with technology using on your fingers and hands.
The device can be worn just above the elbow on either arm and detects the electrical activity produced by the user’s muscles. Some of the real world applications include being able to scroll up and down a webpage just by lifting or lowering your hand, as well as swiping to the left and right with two fingers in order to switch between desktop apps, notes "The Next Web."
The MYO will ship in late 2013 and cost US$149. It's available for pre-order now at getmyo.com .
Australia: two judges teaming up in Apple/Samsung case
The ongoing patent war between Apple and Samsung has taken an unprecedented twist in Australia, with two Federal Court judges now hearing the case together, according to the "Financial Review" (http://tinyurl.com/b8a6ldm).
Justice Annabelle Bennett, who has heard the case since hearings began in 2011, was joined on Monday for the first time by Justice David Yates. Apple lead counsel Stephen Burley told the "Financial Review" that it was the first time in the history of the Federal Court that two judges had heard an initial case together.
The court system typically relies on one judge for initial hearings, and panels of an odd number of judges in case of a disagreement on ruling and reasons. However, Justice Bennett had raised the notion of introducing a second judge to the hearing last year as a means of helping to understand the complex patents and mountains of documents involved, notes the "Financial Review."
This is all part of the ongoing, global legal battle. Apple and Samsung...
MatchWare revs MindView 5 for the Mac to version 5
MatchWare has updated MindView, its mind mapping software for Mac OS X, to version 5.
The upgrade boasts enhanced editing, new map styles and presentation options. Professionally designed templates give users the ability to use industry specific project templates to enhance their workflow and get started in a matter of minutes, according to MatchWare Product Manager Thomas Henriksen.
The new map styles give MindView 5 Mac a new look. Users can now create their own map style using the Custom Style Designer. Students and researchers will love the new Citation and Bibliography feature.
MindView and WorldCat.org have partnered, allowing direct access to 1.5 billion documented sources which you can add to your map as bibliography. When you export your map to Microsoft Word, all citations are automatically formatted and placed in the correct location of the Word document. A Bibliography section is created at the end of the Word document. Additional features such as Map Legends, Text to...
Phase One releases Capture One Express 7
Phase One has released Capture One Express 7, an update of the raw processing and image-editing software for photographers. It offers tools to import, convert, organize, adjust, share and print photographs.
Capture One Express includes many of the advanced features found in Capture One Pro 7, like noise reduction when shooting in low light, the ability to recover details in shadows and highlights, plus fast and flawless black and white conversions. New and improved features of version 7 include:
° The ability to get more detail out of shadows and highlights with the new HDR tool;
° The ability to punch up the color and reduce haze with the new Clarity tool;
° Automatic lens correction for selected lenses ensures image accuracy;
° The ability to convert color to black and white instantly.
Capture One Express 7 also introduces a catalog structure that helps to organize, find, compare and select your images. A catalog contains all the necessary information to find and display any image...
KoolSpan releases TrustChip family for the iPhone
KoolSpan Inc., developer of the TrustChip family of plug-in mobile security solutions, has announced availability of TrustChip for iPhone. The company says the product offers the first ever hardware-based encryption for voice on iPhone.
KoolSpan’s TrustChip is a fully hardened, self-contained security engine. The TrustChip fits into a slim, custom-designed TrustSleeve for the iPhone 4 and 4S. It acts as an adaptor between the TrustChip and iPhone. It contains a separate 1200 mAh battery pack. This purportedly provides users with extended battery life of up to 12 hours of talk or 13.5 hours of Internet use.
With the TrustSleeve attached, users can place mutually authenticated and fully encrypted phone calls with KoolSpan’s TrustCall application. TrustCall is a secure voice application based on commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) technology.
"With no other hardware-based voice encryption for iPhone on the market, TrustChip and TrustCall provide a critical security solution," saysBill...
Centrify for Mobile 2013, Centrify for SaaS available
Centrify Corp. which specializes in unified identity services across data center, cloud and mobile, today announced the general availability of Centrify for Mobile 2013 and Centrify for SaaS 2013, a set of integrated capabilities enabled by the Centrify Cloud Services platform that delivers secure, enterprise-class mobility with integrated application Single Sign-on (SSO) to improve security and increase workforce productivity in the enterprise.
Centrify says its solution goes beyond Mobile Device Management (MDM) and SaaS SSO to also provide comprehensive Mobile Application Management (MAM) and "Zero Sign-on" for browser-based applications and rich mobile applications, addressing the IT and user challenges surrounding "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) adoption and the explosion of cloud-based apps.
"While a number of point products offer simple SSO to SaaS applications and basic MDM capability, the Centrify Cloud Services platform raises the bar in providing enterprises with true...
Locked iPhone sales challenged by Hong Kong agency
Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) is seeking a judicial review of the regulator's handling of Apple's phone locking policy, according to the "South China Morning Post" (http://tinyurl.com/by5gh36).
PCCW, a Hong Kong telecom giant, says the iPhone 5 can't connect to its fourth-generation wireless network, but can connect to those of its rivals in the city. Users are restricted to PCCW's slower 3G network.
HKT complained that the Communications Authority refused to investigate its complaint that this breached competition rules. If the judicial review is granted, it would be the first legal challenge relating to Apple's locking practices in Hong Kong, says the "South China Morning Post."
Judge stops Apple shareholder vote on preferred stock vote
U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan in Manhattan handed David Einhorn, founder of the Greenlight hedge fund, a victory in his court battle with Apple on Friday, blocking the Cupertino-based company from moving forward with a shareholder vote on a controversial proposal to limit the company's ability to issue preferred stock, reports "Reuters" (http://tinyurl.com/b3tbasv)
The vote was scheduled for Feb. 27 as part of the company's annual stockholders' meeting. Greenlighthas been urging Apple to share its cash with investors by issuing high-yielding preferred shares, alleged in a lawsuit that the company unfairly lumped a stock restriction with two other corporate governance matters set for a vote by investors on Feb. 27.
Lawyers for Greenlight Capital argued that putting into one proposition three separate items -- two of which Einhorn supported and one (which barred Apple's board from issuing preferred shares without a shareholder vote) he vehemently opposed -- was a clear violation...
German court: Samsung's voice patent lawsuit likely invalid
A German court stays Samsung's voiceover patent lawsuit against Apple is likely invalid, reports "FOSS Patents."
The Mannheim Regional Court has ordered a stay of a Samsung v. Apple lawsuit over the iPhone's screen-to-speech (or voiceover) functionality pending a parallel nullity action "that appears highly likely to result in the invalidation of the patent-in-suit," writes Florian Mueller for "FOSS Patents." The court declined to adopt Samsung's proposed claim construction
Read more at http://tinyurl.com/b2s36mj .
Judge tells Apple, Samsung to narrow their lawsuits
A judge has ordered Apple and Samsung to narrow their patent infringement lawsuit case slated for trial next year, reports "Bloomberg" (http://tinyurl.com/amxrp25).
U.S. District Judge Lucy H. Koh in San Jose, California, told attorneyes from both companies that they have to "focus and streamline" their cases to 25 patent claims, or elements of the patents at issue, and 25 accused products. She made the request from the bench today in the latest of two related patent cases. The lawsuit was filed last year and covers technology in newer smartphones made by both companies, including Samsung’s Galaxy S III and Apple’s iPhone 5.
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.
Weather Tab Pro available on the Mac App Store
Pizero Design has introduced Weather Tab Pro 1.0, its new weather app for Mac OS X (10.7 and higher) that allows users to check time and weather quickly. It's available at the Mac App Store for US$2.99 in the Weather category (http://tinyurl.com/axaokj8).
Weather Tab Pro sports menu bar integration and a "tab" format. It includes current weather and 4-day forecast for unlimited cities, plus a full screen mode with HD animations.
Paddle announces The Mac Game Sale
Paddle has announced its 72-hour sale on eight Mac games available; the sale goes through Monday, Feb. 25.
Each of the titles is available at 33% off. Here's a list of the games, and their relevant discounted prices:
° Borderlands 2 (Mac) - $40.19 (usually $59.99)
° Call of Duty 2 (Mac) - $13.39 (usually $19.99)
° Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Mac) - $20.09 (usually $29.99)
° Call of Duty: Black Ops (Mac) - $33.49 (usually $49.99)
° Doom 3 (Mac) - $6.69 (usually $9.99)
° Duke Nukem Forever (Mac) - $13.39 (usually $19.99)
° Quake 4 (Mac) - $13.39 (usually $19.99)
° RAGE Campaign Edition (Mac) - $20.09 (usually $29.99)
To buy the games go to https://promo.paddle.com/mac-game-sale/ .
MacMate adds filesharing to its MobileMe replacement service
MacMate, the Mac cloud storage and hosting service launched in April of 2012 to replace Apple's MobileMe service has added its sixth key feature into the MacMate cloud service: fileSharing, the ability to easily send any file, any size, to anyone.
There's no file-size limits, no bandwidth restrictions and no limit to the amount of files that can be shared, according to Gary Hall, founder and CEO of MacMate. It's quick, secure and has some innovative features like low-resolution previewing, expiry date and download notification, as well as being able to share a file with multiple users (cc'd or bcc's) and mailing lists, he adds.
This unlimited file-size sharing service starts at US$29 for the basic cloud disk storage at 5GB, email, iCal calendar hosting and now filesharing. The top-of-the-line MacMate Pro ($99) package includes the web hosting and galleries featured. For more info go to www.macmate.me .
TextWrangler 4.5 adds Retina support, a new Go menu
Bare Bones Software has released TextWrangle 4.5, an update to its general purpose text editor for Mac OS X.
TextWrangler 4.5 now looks sharp on Macs with high-resolution Retina displays, says Rich Siegel, founder and CEO of Bare Bones Software. In addition, TextWrangler 4.5 introduces a Go menu, a new Compare Against Previous Version command, and more.
The new Go menu provides convenient access to Jump Point, Function, Line Number and Center Line locations for easier navigation within a document. The new Compare Against Previous Version command leverages OS X's file versioning to quickly access and compare the the active document's current contents with previously stored versions.
TextWrangler now requires Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later, with the new Compare Against Previous Version command requiring Mac OS X 10.7 or later. Version 4.5 includes several new command keystroke equivalents and keyboard navigation adjustments to provide additional comfort for refugees from other platforms, says...
AccountEdge Basic 2 launches on Mac and Windows
Acclivity has announced AccountEdge Basic 2 for Mac and Windows. The latest version of their basic small business accounting software is available immediately and features a long list of enhancements and improvements.
According to the folks at Acclivity, importing and reconciling bank statements is more streamlined and intuitive with the new Bank Statement Import. The new "worksheet" acts as a middle man between import and reconciliation to improve the workflow of dealing with bank statements. Plus, rules can be created to look for and match transactions.
AccountEdge Mobile 2 lets users accept credit cards directly from their iOS devices. Also included in the update to AccountEdge Mobile: quick sale, receive payment on a receivable, and mileage tracking.
AccountEdge Basic now includes mileage tracking, allowing the user to add vehicles and keep detailed notes about business-related trips. You can track date, vehicle used, trip notes, apply mileage to a specific job, and add mileage to...
Dash Icon is new case for the 13-inch MacBook Air
X-Doria has announced their newest addition to the Dash Icon line with a case for the 13-inch MacBook Air 13. The Dash Icon line features textured fabrics and vibrant colors with "puff prints" that create a slightly raised surface.
The MB Air case comes with a fabric wrapped upper shell and matching polycarbonate bottom shell, all designed to protect your MacBook Air. The MacBook Air cases will be available at X-Doria.com for US$59.99.
WinOnX optimizes performance to run more Windows apps on OS X
NES Software has announced a performance overhaul for WinOnX, the application that lets Macs run Microsoft Windows software.
According to Hisham El-Emam, CEO of NES Software, the latest version of WinOnX features: enhanced compatibility to run 80% of Windows apps; encrypted data transfer improvements; improved 3D display with OS-X 10.7.5 and 10.8.2; better support for filenames with non-ASCII characters; improved handling of LNK Windows files; and better error handling and reporting.
Now, WinOnX users can run more Windows applications more effectively than ever before, according to the folks at NES Software. WinOnX 1.5 is available for US$4.99 in the Mac App Store. For more info go to http://www.winonx.com .
Avadon 2: The Corruption coming to the Mac
Spiderweb Software has announced upcoming release of Avadon 2: The Corruption. Due this fall, it's an indie fantasy, role-playing game and the second title in their Avadon trilogy.
Here's how the game is described: "Return to Avadon, the dread Black Fortress. You are a spy and warrior, fighting the foes of your homeland. As a servant of the Black Fortress, your power is great and your word is law, but you will need all of your skill and cunning to end the civil war that is tearing your land apart.
"You are an agent of Avadon. The Black Fortress. Your job is to protect your homeland from the limitless threats that surround it. Titans and monsters. Pirates and barbarians. Avadon must keep them weak and divided. Your resources are unlimited, and all must obey you.
"But then Avadon was attacked. A sneak raid shattered the fortress, and, with it unable to keep order, madness resulted. Civil war, barbarian raids, even conspiracies to destroy your people. Avadon's power has faded, but your...
FileMaker unveils iOS demo solutions
FileMaker, Inc. today announced the FileMaker iOS Demo Solutions webpage (www.filemaker.com/r/showcase), where businesses will find free downloadable demos that highlight custom iPad and iPhone solutions created using the FileMaker Platform.
The sample solutions reflect a wide range of real-world iOS business uses and have been created by leading independent FileMaker developers.The demos, which are limited in functionality or time, include solutions for event management, point of sale, invoicing, customer relationship management, sales management, mapping, and more.
"The FileMaker Platform has become a hugely popular way for businesses to create custom solutions for the iPad and iPhone," says Ryan Rosenberg, vice president, marketing and services, FileMaker. "Companies love the fast development, quick returns, and the ability to integrate their iOS solutions with Macs, PCs, and back-end business systems. Just last month, we announced that our customers have downloaded more than a...
New Accreditation for Apple techs from Microsoft
NEW ACCREDITATION FOR APPLE TECHS: "MICROSOFT OFFICE FOR MAC ACCREDITED SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL"
- Working together, MacTech and Microsoft are making available a new accreditation program for Apple consultants and techs
This morning, MacTech, who publishes MacTech Magazine as well as produces live events, announced the event and city schedule to obtain Microsoft's new "Microsoft Office for Mac Accredited Support Professional" accreditation. This pilot program is a half day long, and will take place the day prior to each MacTech BootCamp II in 2013. This new Microsoft accreditation program is training and evaluation focused on the issues every consultant and tech should know when advising on or supporting Microsoft Office for Mac, and Microsoft Office 365 suites, with a focus on Apple users. All registered attendees to MacTech's 2013 BootCamps, are welcome to attend the course, and become accredited, at no charge. Space is limited.
The pilot accreditation program will cover topics such...
Apple rumors for Feb. 21
Here are the latest Apple-related rumors from the blog-o-sphere:
"Streaming music service Spotify is reportedly in negotiations to make its free subscription tier available on smartphones and tablets." -- "The Verge" (http://tinyurl.com/bkakopd)
"Apple manufacturing Partner Foxconn has halted recruitment of new hires until the end of March, but the decision was not made related to production of the iPhone 5." -- "Financial Times" (http://tinyurl.com/a8ccv6c)
"A report out of the Far East claims that iPad mini display supplier AU Optronics has started development of screen technology to be used in the next-generation of Apple's mid-sized tablet." -- "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com)
"Rolls-Royce Director of External Corporate Communications Josh Rosenstock is rumored to have left the auto maker to take on a new position at Apple, which will reportedly task the executive with handling corporate relations in the Europe, Middle East, India and Africa region." -- "AppleInsider" (www....
Judge (kind of) agrees with Greenlight in Apple lawsuit
A judge has agreed that Apple's proxy probably broke SEC rules, but hesitates to intercede, according to "CNNMoney (http://tinyurl.com/ab52wfg).
Greenlight, the hedge fund whose founder, David Einhorn, has been urging Apple to share its cash with investors by issuing high-yielding preferred shares, alleged in a lawsuit that the company unfairly lumped a stock restriction with two other corporate governance matters set for a vote by investors on Feb. 27. Lawyers for Greenlight Capital argued that putting into one proposition three separate items -- two of which Einhorn supported and one (which barred Apple's board from issuing preferred shares without a shareholder vote) he vehemently opposed -- was a clear violation of SEC regulations against such "bundling."
Today U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan said he was inclined to agree. However, less clear is whether Greenlight had proved that it would suffer the "irreparable harm" required for the judge to issue a preliminary injunction...
Undercover report: Apple factory conditions in China still harsh
Apple factory workers in China are still facing hefty work loads, harsh, sometimes demeaning, factory rules, and even sexual harassment, , reports "ZDNet."
The Fair Labor Association in August 2012 said Apple has been doing its part in ensuring its manufacturing partner, Foxconn, is working to improve labor conditions in its production facilities. However, in a report by Chinese new site Bandao.cn Wednesday, an undercover reporter revealed that sexual harassment and harsh regulations were still prevalent in a Shanghai factory.
According to the article, the reporter was hired an unnamed mega factory in Shanghai assembling Apple products, which was busy recruiting new factory workers days before the Chinese New Year. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/am796fm .
NeoMedia updates is self-titled software development kit
NeoMedia Technologies has unveiled an updated SDK [software development kit] for its QR and mobile barcode reader application, NeoReader.
Application developers, brands and retailers looking to engage with customers by including barcode scanning functionality into application(s), can now very get access to NeoReader’s SDK for evaluation purposes. It's available for iOS (it supports iPhones, iPods and iPads) and Android (smartphones and tablets).
NeoReader also supports enterprise Blackberry implementations with COD and ALX files and Symbian with SIS and SISX files. NeoReader SDK is available at http://www.neom.com/neoreader/sdk .
Polaroid Instant 2.0 for Mac gets Retina display
ThinkTime Creations has announced Instant 2.0, an update to its Polaroid photo app for Mac OS X.
The app brings the magic of Polaroid Instant photos to Mac. Instant lets user "re-shoot" their digital photo by drag-and-dropping it on to its "camera body." Version 2.0 includes Retina display support, a new "Special Edition" camera body theme, new fully customizable Polaroid border effects and a few other new features.
Instant 2.0 requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later,. It costs US$4.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Photography category. (https://itunes.apple.com/app/instant/id482262245).
Mail Call for OS X revved to version 1.3
Pugsley has announced Mail Call 1.3 for OS X, an update to its app that provides users with real-time, visible/audible notifications of incoming email from multiple email accounts.
Displayed in a single scrolling list, users can read, reply to, move, or delete emails sent to all of their different email addresses. Mail Call is designed for users who want to monitor, view, and respond to emails from more than one email account simultaneously. Mail Call supports IMAP/SMTP email systems.
Mac owners signed up with email services that use Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) can find in Mail Call a full feature mail notifier. Without any Internet browser or email client running, users can receive continual, updated notifications of newly received email.
Mail Call requires OS X 10.6.8 or higher. It costs US$9.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Productivity category (https://itunes.apple.com/app/mail-call/...
Boris FX rolls out new Boris Continuum Units product family
Boris FX has announced that each category of Boris Continuum Complete filters is now available as a separate Boris Continuum Unit, allowing artists to choose toolsets that are geared towards their specific needs.
Over 200 filters across 16 categories of effects include 3D particles, image restoration tools such as Noise Reduction and Flicker Fixer, lens flares and lights, chroma keys and mattes, color correction tools, blurs, glows, and film effects. Each of these 16 categories of filters is now available as a Boris Continuum Unit.
The new Boris Continuum Units product family is immediately available from the Boris FX website (www.borisfx.com) with support for Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, and Sony Vegas Pro. Pricing ranges from US$199 to $299 per Unit and upgrades from previous Unit versions are available for $49.95.
Boris Continuum Unit purchases can be credited towards a full Boris Continuum Complete license purchase at any time in the...
Magma launches PCIe expansion chassis for Thunderbolt
Magma has introduced the ExpressBox 1T, an expansion chassis with one PCIe 2.0 slot and a connection up to 10 Gbps through Thunderbolt. It's designed to enable professionals to use specialty PCIe cards with any Thunderbolt-equipped computer to achieve high performance in any working environment.
By adding a PCIe card to the ExpressBox 1T users can transform their computer into a workstation capable of HD video capture and editing, media transcoding, audio processing, data processing, or high-speed storage and networks. It's available for US$479 online at Magma (http://www.magma.com/expressbox-1t) or from an authorized worldwide reseller.
Apple rumors for Feb. 20
Here are the latest Apple-related rumors from the blog-o-sphere:
"Riding on rumors of a purported 'budget' iPhone, Morgan Stanley on Tuesday released a report estimating that Apple could add nearly $2.4 billion dollars to its handset business and triple its addressable smartphone market in China by debuting a $330 'iPhone mini'." -- "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com)
"Taiwanese newspaper Economic Times reports [Google translation, via Macotakara] that Apple is lining up suppliers for its next-generation MacBook Air for launch in the third quarter of this year." -- "MacRumors" (www.macrumors.com)
"Apple may increase share buyback at shareholder meeting next week." -- "Macworld UK" (http://tinyurl.com/b45yj2h)
"A rumor that Google is investigating opening physical retail outlets to compete with the Apple Store has resurfaced, though sources say the internet giant may not move forward with the initiative until 2014." -- "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com)
Apple posts iTunes 11.0.2
Apple has released iTunes 11.0.2. It's available at the Mac App Store.
This update adds a new Composers view for music, improves responsiveness when syncing playlists with a large number of songs, and fixes an issue where purchases may not show up in your iTunes library. This update also includes other stability and performance improvements.
Apple releases update for Java
Apple has released an update for Java. It's available at the Mac App Store for free. According to Apple, it updates the Apple-provided system Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_41 and is for OS X versions 10.7 or later.
This update uninstalls the Apple-provided Java applet plug-in from all web browsers. To use applets on a webpage, click on the region labeled "Missing plug-in" to go download the latest version of the Java applet plug-in from Oracle. This update also removes the Java Preferences application, which is no longer required to configure applet settings..
Apple attacked by hackers who infected Macs of some employees
Recently, Apple was attacked by hackers who infected the Macs of some employees, the company has told "Reuters" (http://tinyurl.com/a5cqv34).
Unknown hackers infected the computers of some Apple workers when they visited a website for software developers that had been infected with malicious software. The malware had been designed to attack Mac computers, the company said in a statement provided to "Reuters." The malware was also employed in attacks against Macs used by "other companies," Apple said.
The attacks mark the highest-profile cyber attacks to date on businesses running Macs. Apple told "Reuters" it plans to release a piece of software on Tuesday, which it said customers can use to identify and repair Macs infected with the malware used in the attacks.
iOS 6.1.2 released with fix for Exchange-related issue
Apple released iOS 6.1.2 with a fix for a Microsoft Exchange-related issue that could cause iPhone user's battery to drain quickly.
Apple's release notes on iOS 6.1.2 say that the patch "fixes an Exchange calendar bug that could result in increased network activity and reduced battery life." You can grab the update by navigating to the Settings -> General -> Software Update and tapping on Download and Install.
KineticCloud supports Mac OS for hybrid cloud backup
KineticD, known for its cloud backup and data recovery services for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), has announced that KineticCloud Backup for Mac supports end users who are looking for a solution for backing up files continuously and automatically, but more importantly restoring data lost from a total system crash.
KineticCloud Backup for Mac provides the option of backing up and restoring corporate data from the KineticD Cloud, using the KineticD centralized web portal. With this technology, SMBs are able to restore any combination of files, folders and backup sets across any number of Macs, including a complete system restore of application and data files. To further support users, KineticD¹s KineticMobile iOS app is compatible with iPhones, iPads and iPods, providing complete control over access to corporate data whenever and wherever it is needed. For more info go to www.kineticd.com .
iWeb Valet gets widget to create automatic photo slideshows
ZiggySoft has announced iWeb Valet 2.4.4, an update of the tool to enhance iWeb pages, add new interactive widgets and upload only modified files to your server.
The upgrade sports a new widget to create automatic photo slideshows. It also implements some graphical user interface enhancements.
A 30-day, fully functional demo is available for download at the ZiggySoft web site (www.ziggysoft.com/). iWeb Valet costs US$25 to register and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher.
Verdasys to launch Mac OS X agent
RSA 2013 attendees will get a first look at the only Enterprise Information Protection (EIP) platform capable of monitoring, controlling and reporting on the movement of sensitive data to and from Mac workstations, desktops and laptops when Verdasys (http://verdasys.com) introduces the Digital Guardian Agent for Mac OS X during the RSA Conference Feb. 25-Mar. 1 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
The company says Verdasys Digital Guardian, also available as a Managed Service for Information Protection (MSIP), is the only EIP platform to integrate compliance, insider threat prevention and cyber threat defense into a single solution that supports Mac OS X , Linux and Windows. RSA 2013 attendees can register daily during exhibitor hours to win a free iPad mini by stopping by Verdasys Booth #2738.
The Digital Guardian Agent for Mac OS X permits continuous forensic logging of all system, application, user and data-level events as well as data discovery, classification tagging and risk-...
BatchOutput PDF 2.0 for OS X adds hot folder processing
Zevrix Solutions has released BatchOutput PDF 2.0, a new version of its solution for printing multiple PDF documents on Mac OS X. The upgrade completely automates PDF printing workflow.
Designed as a tool for printers, publishers, ad agencies, as well as users of other trades, BatchOutput PDF allows users to batch print PDF files with the click of a button. With version 2.0, users can now define print presets for various output settings and assign a hot folder to each preset.
For example, they can create hot folders for color and black and white printers, specific types and sizes of paper, various color management profiles and so on. Users only need to drop PDF files into hot folders and the files will be printed automatically with the respective preset settings.
BatchOutput PDF can be purchased from the Zevrix website (www.zevrix.com) for US$24.95 (the server version is $99.95), as well as from authorized resellers. A demo is also available for download. BatchOutput PDF is a...
Greenlight wants judge to stop Apple adopting certain stock...
Greenlight Capital will try to persuade a federal judge to stop Apple from adopting measures it says limit the company’s ability to offer preferred stock, reports "Bloomberg" (http://tinyurl.com/bdrp348).
Greenlight, the hedge fund whose founder, David Einhorn, has been urging Apple to share its cash with investors by issuing high-yielding preferred shares, alleged in a lawsuit that the company unfairly lumped a stock restriction with two other corporate governance matters set for a vote by investors on Feb. 27.
At a hearing scheduled for today in Manhattan, lawyers for the hedge fund are expected to ask U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan to block the vote unless Apple allows the provisions to be considered separately, notes "Bloomberg."
Recently, Greenlight began uurging (http://tinyurl.com/ba2aytc) fellow shareholders of Apple to oppose the company’s attempt to amend its corporate charter. Apple has responded with the following statement:
"By early last year, Apple’s cash balance...
