Equinux has updated Mail Designer for Mac OS X (10.5.8 and higher) to version 1.3. The upgrade sports an interface to send and distribute mail designs and newsletters with Campaign Monitor. Mail Designer allows users to create individual mail designs for newsletters, offers, invitations or personal emails that can be sent to customers, colleagues or any larger group of recipients. Each design can be saved as a template and sent through Apple Mail. To keep things simple, a variety of predefined layout blocks including headlines, text objects and multicolumn layouts can be dragged, dropped and rearranged, says equinux CEO Till Schadde. Numerous textures and background patterns are also included. Artists, agents and businesses can integrate their own cooperate designs into Mail templates and integrate dynamic content. Mail Designer includes graphics, text-objects and dynamic and customizable text and image placeholders. With tools, rulers and guides, users can create customer newsletters...

Stellar Data Recovery has revved Stellar Phoenix JPEG Repair, an app for repairing damaged JPEG/JPG image files, to version 2.0. The new version sports a faster scanning and recovery engine. A free version of the software can be downloaded from www.stellarinfo.com/ .A full version of Phoenix JPEG Repair is available for US$39.

Sprint Nextel Corp. has reported operating income of $29 million for its first fiscal quarter. The company's adjusted OIBDA [operating income before depreciation and amortization] of US$1.5 billion was the highest in nearly four years. Sprint (www.sprint.com) reported smartphone sales of five million. Of that number, 1.5 were iPhones with 43% being sold to new Sprint customers. Eighty-six percent of quarterly Sprint platform postpaid handset sales were smartphones. "This is a transformative year for Sprint and we’ve gotten off to a good start," says CEO Dan Hesse. "Record Sprint platform service revenue and subscriber levels fueled our performance."

Move over, road warriors, and enter the new era of productivity warriors. Many businesses are now using mobile devices to automate inside their building or company campus, according to a recent survey by FileMaker, Inc. (www.filemaker.com). Further, businesses are building custom solutions to automate and “mobilize” processes in nearly every department. Database software maker FileMaker -- with millions of deployments, including more than 500,000 downloads of FileMaker Go, a free app for accessing FileMaker databases from iPad and iPhone -- polled customers on their use of mobile devices to boost business productivity. The research included a survey of 499 customers who have deployed FileMaker solutions on iOS devices as well as an analysis of 102 mobility case studies. "The next wave of business mobility, fueled by iPad and iPhone-equipped 'productivity warriors,' is delivering real ROI [return on investment] by automating processes in the building and on the company campus," says...

DEVONtechnologies has released maintenance updates for all their commercial products from DEVONthink over DEVONsphere to DEVONagent, as well as their freeware products EasyFind, PhotoStickies, and XMenu. The updates are free and recommended for all users. The overall reliability and performance of all apps have been enhanced, according to the folks at DEVONtechnologies. Other improvements include various minor changes to the user interface that make the workflow with DEVONthink and DEVONnote smoother. Go to http://www.devontechnologies.com for more info.

Ergonis Software (http://www.ergonis.com) has released Typinator 5.5, the latest version of its tool for auto-typing text and auto-correcting typos systemwide across all Mac OS X applications. The upgrade introduces calculation fields, which provides text expansions for users without any programming skills. With a simple inclusion mechanism, text expansions can execute external scripts and include their results in the expansion. Typinator supports scripts written in in many different languages like AppleScript, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, and arbitrary shell scripting languages. Typinator requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later. Mac OS X 10.6 or higher is recommended. Typinator can be purchased on the Ergonis Software web site for approximately US$32 for a single user license. A family pack for installation on up to five computers is $49. The upgrade to Typinator 5.5 is free for anyone who owns a license to Typinator 5.x.

Apple has announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a significant increase to the company’s program to return capital to shareholders. The company expects to utilize a total of $100 billion of cash under the expanded program by the end of calendar 2015. This represents a $55 billion increase to the program announced last year and translates to an average rate of US$30 billion per year from the time of the first dividend payment in August 2012 through December 2015. As part of this program, the Board has increased its share repurchase authorization to $60 billion from the $10 billion level announced last year. This is the largest single share repurchase authorization in history and is expected to be executed by the end of calendar 2015. Apple also expects to utilize about $1 billion annually to net-share-settle vesting restricted stock units. Additionally, the Board has approved a 15% increase in the company’s quarterly dividend and today has declared a dividend of $3.05...

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has dismissed a complaint by Google-owned Motorola Mobility accusing Apple of infringing on patented technology that makes touchscreens ignore fingers when people are holding smartphones to their ears for calls, reports "ZDNet" (http://tinyurl.com/brycsyv). The filing by acting ITC secretary Lisa Barton indicated that the investigation into the Motorola complaint filed in late 2010 has been terminated. The ITC reasoned that the technology at issue in the patents wasn't original enough to support the accusation. This is part of an ongoing battle. Apple has alleged that Motorola infringes 24 of its patents (21 of them with Android-based phones, the remaining three with set-top boxes and DVRs), while Motorola previously asserted 18 patents against a variety of Apple products (mostly but not exclusively iPhone, iPad and iPod). Litigation between the two companies has taken place in several different federal courts.

WD is shipping what it says is the world's first ultra-slim 2.5-inch, 5 mm hard drives and solid state hybrid drives (SSHD), which are designed for integration into the slimmest devices and space-constrained computing environments. With 500GB of storage capacity and models with high performance-enabling solid state hybrid drive technology, this slim product line helps to address the tradeoffs system designers often make between capacity, physical size and performance, says Matt Rutledge, vice president of WD's client computing business unit. The new drives are aimed to increase internal storage capacity while enabling it to fit into smaller device slots, he adds. Shipping today to select industrial distributors and OEM [original equipment manufacturer' customers in 500GB capacities, WD Blue 2.5-inch 5 mm hard drives have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US $89. For more info go to http://tinyurl.com/c4nz8dy .

Akitio has released a new 256GB, one-bay, bus-powered Thunderbolt storage solution. It's a follow-up to the company’s 120GB SSD solution, which was previously launched in 2012. Akitio has upgraded the 120GB SSD to meet the demand of consumers by rising up to the challenge and offering an upgraded 256 GB SSD version of the Neutrino Thunderbolt, says Richard Wright, director of Global Distribution, Akitio. In addition, the 256 GB version is the fastest one bay bus powered external storage device on the market today with 464 MB/s data transfer speeds, he adds. Akitio’s 256 GB Neutrino Thunderbolt Edition is available for purchase at an manufacturer's suggested retail starting price of US$339.99. It can be found at Akitio.com, as well as Amazon.com and other various Akitio retailers and distributors.

Logitech introduced two new products to its tablet accessories lineup with the Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad (pictured) and the Logitech Folio for iPad and iPad mini. They protect the front and back of your tablet, says Mike Culver, vice president of brand development for tablet accessories at Logitech. Both are offered in a range of colors from electric blue and sunflower yellow to Mars red orange, and in an array of on-trend fabrics from matte leather to finely woven cotton. The Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio features the first Bluetooth keyboard with its keys fused into an interior fabric. Its full-size keys give you the tactile feedback you’re used to in a traditional keyboard, but in a sleek new look, says Culver. The keyboard folio’s high-end fabrics are treated with a coating that's liquid repellent. Hidden magnets hold your iPad in two positions, snapping your tablet into typing mode and ensuring the folio stays shut when you’re moving around. Designed for...

The US$15 "AntennaGate" settlement checks have started arriving for qualifying iPhone 4 users, as noted by "TUAW" (http://tinyurl.com/dyrsbwv). The checks are a settlement for those who filed a claim in a class action lawsuit against Apple for "misrepresenting and concealing material information in the marketing, advertising, sale, and servicing of its iPhone 4–particularly as it relates to the quality of the mobile phone antenna and reception and related software." "Antennagate" is the popular term used for reported glitches with iPhone 4 call reception.The settlement comes from 18 separate lawsuits that were consolidated into one.

Intel has doubled the speed of the Thunderbolt data transfer technology, which will soon shuttle data between host computers like Macs and peripherals at a rate of 20Gbps. As noted by "Computerworld" (http://tinyurl.com/dym2qg7)) this is the first big speed boost for the interconnect, which has held steady at a 10Gbps data transfer rate since the technology's introduction in early 2011. The enhancement will give Thunderbolt an edge over USB 3.0, which transfers data at 5G bps. The speed boost comes through a new Thunderbolt controller chip code-named Falcon Ridge, notes "Computerworld." The controller chip will go into production by the end of this year, Intel said.

NEC Display Solutions of America has announced the 24-inch MultiSync P242W-BK and P242W-BK-SV, entry-level professional desktop widescreen monitors with LED backlights. The MultiSync P242W display (pictured joins the MultiSync P Series family, which features standard-gamut monitors designed for web, high-end desktop and photography. Its white LED-backlit AH-IPS panel only requires 29 watts of typical power while its ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based on lighting conditions, says Art Marshall, product manager for Professional and Medical Displays at NEC Display Solutions. The P242W offers an array of connectivity options with DisplayPort, DVI-D, HDMI and VGA inputs. Additionally, it’s USB with DisplaySync Pro feature can be used to operate two computers with only one keyboard and mouse. The MultiSync P242W-BK-SV features hardware color calibration using the NEC SpectraViewII color calibration solution. The kit, which is compatible with both Mac...

EagleTech USA is launching the Neptor NP100K external battery pack with dual USB outputs for tablets and smartphones. The company says this portable battery is designed to eliminate the hassle of having your devices shutting down at the most inconvenient times. The Neptor NP100K is equipped with 10000mAh of storage power and can charge your tablet and smart phone simultaneously. Weighing190 grams, it fits into a pocket or bag. The Neptor NP100K costs approximately US$70. For more info go to www.eagletechusa.com .

Twocanoes Software (www.twocanoes.com) has announced Boot Runner 1.4, an update to its startup control solution for dual-boot Macs. It provides complete start up management and control, including a customizable selection screen and menu bar boot selector. It also It allows administrators to manage the startup process locally or through network policies. Boot Runner 1.4 introduces several new features and various bug fixes. Boot Runner works with Mac OS X 10.6 or higher. Pricing starts at US$9.99 for a single-user license.

QuickerTek has created an external battery for all MacBook Pros. The US$299.95 EyeBattery purportedly adds up to four extra hours of battery power to the MacBook Pro. There's a model designed for MagSafe 1 and another for Magsafe 2 power connector laptops. Like the rest of QuickerTek's mobile power product line, the new EyeBattery also charges the internal MacBook battery while it powers the laptop. For more info go to http://www.quickertek.com/batteries.html .

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educators and parents are beginning to see the educational value in video games. Consequently, teens can now do more than simply play games. They can create and develop them, with help from programs like iD Gaming Academy. Powered by internalDrive, iD Gaming Academy offers courses in game programming, development, level design, 3D modeling and animation. It has also broadened its course offerings with a new course titled Game Development – Minecraft.  Held at nine different university campuses throughout the U.S., including Harvard and Stanford, iD Gaming Academy runs in a two-week format. Students stay overnight on campus. They also tour game studios, interact with industry professionals, learn tips to get into the game development field, and collaborate with like-minded peers and instructors. The Academy offers accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from Stanford Continuing Studies, enabling teens to demonstrate they've...

Graphic Node, a graphic design company that specializes in creating themes, templates, and illustrations for Mac OS X, has announced another addition to its product range -- but with a twist. All proceeds from the Mix Mail 1.0 collection will be donated to My Square charity that works to help underprivileged families in Lithuania. Mix Mail supplies users with a collection of design choices for putting their emails together. All 120 available templates are divided into five categories: Basic, Daily, Greetings, Invitations, and Travel. Most of the templates contain multiple color schemes or design variations. Mix Mail requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or higher and iWork 08 or later. It costs US$4.99 and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Productivity category (http://tinyurl.com/c5ck3p2). It is also available on Graphic Node's website (http://graphicnode.com/).

A report (http://tinyurl.com/cl9fjbo) from "DigiTimes" -- not the most reliable of sources claims that Apple has stopped placing component orders for Macs. All Macs. Quoting nnamed "sources from the upstream supply chain," the article says those sources "originally expected to finish digesting their Mac inventories in April, but are now stranded waiting for further instructions from Apple. Purportedly, the Mac orders "dropped to almost nothing after the Lunar New Year holidays." "Since Apple hardly mis-estimates its shipment forecasts, the sharp order drop may imply that Apple has underestimated the PC industry's weak status and its iPad products are affecting the PC industry more seriously than it expected," opines "DigiTimes."

Mobile game developers and publishers from all over the world will gather at White Nights, the largest European mobile gaming conference, on June 27-28, in St. Petersburg, Russia. More than 800 professionals from over 400 industry-leading companies including Supercell, Rovio, Wooga, Chillingo, Kabam, PlayFirst are expected. WN participants come from the USA, UK, Japan, China, Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, Australia, Israel, Poland and other countries. There will be two sets of lectures and panel discussions be running in parallel. There will be a night boat cruise on June 26 and a party on June 27. Early bird registration is available until April 22. For more info go to http://www.wnconf.com/en .

mix1009 has introduced FoxTube 1.0 for Mac OS X. The app is designed for YouTube video playback, as well as playing other videos and music. With FoxTube, you can create playlists that, with intelligent caching, can be viewed without interruption, despite a less than ideal Internet connection, according to the folks at mix1009. The mini player can be used alongside other apps. The FoxTube video player supports variable speed playback, bookmarks, seek in frame intervals, and mirror mode. "The player component in FoxTube has been optimized to work in cooperation with the intelligent caching component to provide seamless playback of long playlists," says Chun-Koo Park of mix1009. "The playback speed control lets movie fans analyze their favorite scenes in detail by slowing the video down to half speed or use the next/previous frame feature. Audio pitch is preserved when playing 0.5x - 2.0x speed. Users can enjoy instant picture start as they move up or down their playlist, and the search...

F.W.Roller & Associates have released vmCLIpboard 2013 Release 2. It enables building, managing and automating the execution of VMware Command Line Interface commands from any computer running Mac OS X, Windows or Linux. The latest release supports the VMware VIX API, VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit and entire VMware family of server and workstation products. Across a network of VMware hosts, vmCLIpboard can simultaneously execute custom built Command Line Interface commands to expand virtual disks, take snapshots of virtual machines, repair and defragment damaged virtual disks, mass copy files between hosts and guest virtual machines, and much more thanks to the extensive command set. Visit http://fwRoller.com/Downloads to download vmCLIpboard. It may be run for free without any time limit. Licenses are available to enable all the professional features on Mac OS X, Windows, Linux or a discounted combination of all three for cross-platform users.

Isotope 244 has released Machines at War 3 for Mac OS X and Windows. It's an US$19.99 sequel to Land Air Sea Warfare. Here's how the game is described: "Machines at War 3 is the rare indie game that offers a full single-player campaign to compliment its multiplayer and random map modes.  It reminds many gamers of Red Alert and Total Annihilation. "Using retro strategy and heart-pounding action, Machines at War 3 lets you battle and outsmart enemy forces as a military commander. You’re joined by a fiery officer named Samantha Vice, who helps you maneuver through 21 intriguing campaign missions. Your objective: Uncover why your country’s secret research team -- the Omicron Initiative -- has disappeared. A demo is available for download. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/c9e63v4 .