CES: Belkin updates Thunderbolt Express Dock
Belkin has announced upgrades to its Thunderbolt Express Dock. The latest version of the Thunderbolt Express Dock will be on display at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show in the Belkin booth ( #30651), in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 8-11, 2013.
The US$299.99 dock eliminates the need to constantly plug and unplug numerous cable connected peripherals to your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. It provides portability and enables users to instantly access multiple desktop devices with one cable.
The dock allows users to simultaneously connect up to eight desktop devices, watch movies in Full HD 1080p, transfer volumes of data in seconds, and view online content at gigabit Ethernet speeds with just one cable. For more info go to www.belkin.com .
CES: BuQu previews Magnetyze charging system for the iPhone 5
At this week's Consumer Electronics Show, smartphone users will get a sneak peak at the new Magnetyze by BuQu Tech (www.BuQuTech/Magnetyze.com): the Magnetic Charging System for the iPhone 5.
Scheduled for pre-sale availability in the second quarter of the year, it's the latest addition to the Magnetyze family of magnetic charging accessories. Magnetyze by BuQu Tech applies patent-pending magnetics technology to keep iPhone and Android smartphones charged, synchronized and ready to "grab and go," according to BuQu CEO Ophir Marsh. When you upgrade to a new smartphone, only the Magnetyze protective cover needs to be replaced.
Tailored to the iPhone 5’s larger form factor and new Lightning connector, the iPhone 5 bundle contains a Magnetyze protective case, desk stand and magnetic charging and data sync cable. As with the previously released iPhone 4/4S, users simply slide the iPhone 5 into the lightweight Magnetyze protective case and attach the polycarbonate bumper over their...
SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) performance to double with new...
The USB 3.0 Promoter Group has announced development of a SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) enhancement that will add a much higher data rate, delivering up to twice the data through-put performance of existing SuperSpeed USB over enhanced, fully backward compatible USB connectors and cables. This supplement to the USB 3.0 specification is anticipated to be completed by the middle of this year.
Key characteristics of the higher-rate SuperSpeed USB solution include:
° New 10 Gbps USB data rate;
° Compatibility with existing cables and connectors;
° Improved data encoding for more efficient data transfer leading to higher through-put and improved I/O power efficiency;
° Compatibility with existing USB 3.0 software stacks and device class protocols
° Compatibility with both existing 5 Gbps and new 10 Gbps USB 3.0 hubs and devices, as well as USB 2.0 products.
The 10 Gbps SuperSpeed USB update is targeted for industry review during the first quarter of this year. More info regarding the...
Canon introduces imageFORMULA P-208 Scan-tini
Canon (www.usa.canon.com) has announced a new addition to its Scan-tini lineup, unveiling a compact yet powerful device designed to make scanning documents easy and convenient for users' business and personal lives. It's due later this month for US$229.
The new imageFORMULA P-208 Scan-tini personal scanner handles a variety of documents, such as receipts, business cards, photographs, bills and contracts. These documents are converted into digital information that can easily be searched, stored, and shared.
In addition, when connected to the optional WU10 Wireless Adapter & Battery Pack, the P-208 scanner offers enhanced connectivity, enabling scanned files to be sent wirelessly to a variety of devices and operating systems. This recently introduced adapter allows the P-208 scanner to work wirelessly with Mac and Windows environments, and can also send files to smartphones and tablets when you download the free Canon CaptureOnTouch Mobile app.
The P-208 scanner measures about two...
GrandSoft releases ACCDB Explorer for Mac OS X
GrandSoft has released ACCDB Explorer for Mac OS X. It's available in the Mac App Store for US$19.
ACCDB Explorer is a tool designed to provide a way to view ACCDB and MDB database files without an Access license. The app can be used to open tables from multiple access databases having table structure described in term of column, index and relation.
Data can also be exported into formats such as CSV, TXT, XML and XLS. In addition, users will be able to generate SQL files that are compatible with database systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite and SQL Server. For more info go to www.accdbexplorer.com/ .
To buy go to http://tinyurl.com/bg3t3un. A demo is available at http://www.accdbexplorer.com/
G-Tech revs G-DRIVE mini and G-RAID mini drives
G-Technology (http://www.g-technology.com) is shipping its G-Technology G-DRIVE mini and G-RAID mini external storage solutions with new 1TB, 2.5-inch 7,200RPM hard disk drives from HGST.
Delivering up to 136MB/s performance, the G-Technology G-DRIVE mini is designed for users demanding high performance and high capacity from their portable storage device, says Mike Williams, vice president and general manager, G-Technology/HGST Branded Business. It features a compact all-aluminum enclosure and storage capacities up to 1TB using HGST Travelstar 7,200 RPM drives. The G-DRIVE mini offers both USB 3.0 and FireWire 800 connectivity and an integrated heat-sink.
Pre-formatted for Mac users, the drive works with Macs right out of the box and is Time Machine ready. The new 1TB G-Technology G-DRIVE mini is now available for a suggested retail price of approximately US$196 for the 1TB version.
The G-Technology G-RAID mini is designed as a companion for video and still shooters or editors...
App Store tops 40 billion downloads
Apple says customers have downloaded over 40 billion apps, with nearly 20 billion in 2012 alone.
The App Store has over 500 million active accounts and had a record-breaking December with over two billion downloads during the month. Apple’s developer community has created over 775,000 apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users worldwide, and developers have been paid over US$7 billion dollars by Apple, according to Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services.
The App Store offers more than 775,000 apps to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users in 155 countries around the world, with more than 300,000 native iPad apps available. App Store customers can choose from a range of apps in 23 categories, including newspapers and magazines offered in Newsstand, games, business, news, sports, health & fitness and travel.
Seagate announces Central storage device, Wireless Plus
Seagate Technology (www.seagate.com) has announced its next-generation, networked home storage solution, the Seagate Central shared storage, and the Seagate Wireless Plus mobile device storage device.
Seagate Central is the first storage device to feature a Smart TV app for access to files on the big screen. It delivers automatic backup for the entire home, access to digital movies and music from networked devices, as well as remote access from outside a home network.
Seagate designed a centralized backup for each computer in the home, regardless of operating system. Seagate retooled the software and user experience for the Seagate Central shared storage so that it provides a backup for each system on a home network, even in a mixed platform environment of Mac and Windows computers. In addition to automatic and continuous backup of all the computers in a home, Seagate Central can also backup photos and videos directly from Facebook.
In addition to its primary role as a total home...
LaCie announces new digital storage solutions
LaCie (www.lacie.com) is rolling out three new digital storage solutions at this week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The 5big Thunderbolt Series (pictured) -- which pricing starting at US$1,199 -- is designed to complement to a Thunderbolt-compatible computer for professional creative workflows. It boasts speeds up to 785MB/s and five-disk capacity up to 20TB.
The LaCie 5big NAS Pro -- powered by Intel’s dual-core 2.13GHz processor and LaCie’s NAS OS 3 -- is a solution for small business storage needs. Thanks to hybrid cloud technology, it lets users collaborate using a single interface for both network/cloud storage as well as remote access. It also lets admins control folder access on the cloud and on the NAS. All with complete data security. Pricing starts at $549.
The $299 LaCie Blade Runner -- imagined by designer Philippe Starck, combines a sharp, cage-like enclosure surrounded by an almost anthropomorphic, liquid metal interior. It sports a 4TB drive and USB 3.0 interface.
Mac OS X software updates for Jan. 7
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Trailrunner (www.trailrunnerx.com), a Mac OS X solution for folks doing long distance sports, has been updated to version 3.7.710. The upgrade fixes stability issues.
Dropbox (www.dropgox.com), an app/service that lets people store and share data, has been revved to version 1.6.13. It fixes a web log-in that wasn't working in certain cases.
iTrash (www.osxbytes.com), an uninstall utility, is now up to version 1.9.3. It sports an optimized search algorithm, faster searching and more.
CloudPull (www.goldenhillsoftware.com), which lets you back up your Google account to your Mac, has been upgraded to version 2.1.8. The update adds the ability to purchase the app from inside the app itself.
Fusion Drive now available on entry-level iMacs
Apple's Fusion Drive Apple is available as a build-to-order option for the 21.5-inch, 2.7GHz 21.5-inch iMac model. Previously, it was only offered for the high-end 21.5-inchers and the 27-inch iMac.
Apple says the Fusion Drive gives customers the performance of flash storage and the capacity of a hard drive. It combines 128GB of flash with a standard 1TB or 3TB hard drive to create a single storage volume that intelligently manages files to optimize read and write performance. Apple says the Fusion Drive adapts to the way you use your iMac and automatically moves the files and apps you use most often to flash storage to enable faster performance and quicker access.
Best Buy, other retailers accuse Walmart of misleading ads
Best Buy and other retailers have complained to attorneys general in several states, accusing Walmart of misleading advertising in the holiday shopping season, including a discount on Apple's iPhone 5, according to "The Wall Street Journal" (http://tinyurl.com/aar2bxn).
The targeted retailers, including Toys "R" Us and several regional supermarket chains, claim Wal-Mart cites inaccurate prices and compares differing products, such as laptop computers with separate specifications. Wal-Mart defends the ads, begun last year, as accurate.
Best Buy was especially hacked off by a sale in which Walmart sold the 16GB iPhone 5 for $150 -- $50 off its regular price. Best Buy claims it was forced to match Walmart's advertised price, even though the retail giant didn't have enough iPhone 5 inventory to meet demand. Naturally, Wal-Mart denies this.
Apple: we paid $6 billion in federal corporate income taxes in...
Apple has defended its tax arrangements in the U.S. ahead of a Congressional report into corporate finance structures, reports "Sky News" (http://tinyurl.com/apdtmks). In a statement Apple said it paid "an enormous amount of taxes" to local, state and federal authorities.
"In fiscal 2012 we paid $6 billion in federal corporate incomes taxes, which is 1 out of every 40 dollars in corporate income taxes collected by the US government," Apple said.
The statement was prompted by the year-long Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations inquiry into at least six of America's leading technology firms, reports "Sky News."
An estimated 103 million 4G LTE mobile devices shipped in 2012
Apple’s iPhone 5 and Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones have provided LTE-enabled handset shipments a substantial lift in 2012 -- even if it has not necessarily assisted the 4G mobile operators with "each and every" LTE handset sold.
When 3G handsets came into the market in 2003 and 2004, there was pretty much a 1:1 correlation between a 3G handset sold and a subscription upgraded from 2G to 3G.
"That is not happening with every LTE handset sale," says Jake Saunders, vice president of Forecasting at ABI Research (www.abirsearch.com). "But carriers should not be panicking -- it is seeding the market with 4G handsets"
All this purchasing momentum is expected to have boosted LTE-enabled handsets to 91 million units by the end of2012 and the balance coming from other mobile devices. Almost 95% of handsets shipped can be attributed to the North American and Asia-Pacific market. LTE USB-Dongles may have found their way under the Christmas tree for consumers, and also put on IT Department...
JBL unveils OnBeat Mini with Lightning connector
JBL will unveil the first portable speaker dock with a Lighting connector designed specifically for Apple’s latest line-up of iOS devices, including the iPad mini at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The JBL OnBeat Mini fits into a backpack or travel bag, providing a portable charging dock for the office, dorm room, business trip or bedroom. The JBL OnBeat Mini includes two full-range transducers and built-in digital signal processing to deliver crisp, room-filling sound.
The JBL OnBeat Mini provides up to five hours of playback when used with batteries and charges the iPad mini, iPhone 5, iPad 4 and new iPod models when used with the included AC adapter. The portable speaker also includes a built-in USB connector to power and play other portable devices.
The JBL OnBeat Mini has a suggested retail price of US$149 and will be available from select retailers or JBL.com in March. For more info go to www.harman.com .
Ross Flint releases BitSafe for Mac OS X
Ross Flint has introduced BitSafe 1.0.1, a new personal information manager for Mac OS X. It's available at the Mac App Store at an introductory price of US$6.99 for a limited time; it's normally $13.99.
BitSafe is designed to store and organize sensitive information such as passwords and financial details in a safe and secure format. It includes a range of note types, allowing users to store login information, credit cards, software licenses and images, as well as other textual information and even store whole files, inside documents. Documents can also be stored in iCloud or Dropbox.
BitSafeArchiver provides full read/write support for BitSafe Archive files for OS X 10.6.8 and higher. It's available at the Mac App Store for $1.99. BitSafeArchiverLE is a free version that provides read-only support. It's also available from the Mac App Store and the Ross Flint web site (http://www.echomist.co.uk/software/BitSafe.html).
Mac OS X software updates for Jan. 4
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Econ Technologies (www.econtechnologies.com) has updated ChronoAgent for Mac to version 1.4. ChronoAgent for Mac is a utility that runs on the destination Mac and communicates directly with ChronoSync giving you a direct connection between two Macs. This update features the addition of ChronoAgent to the menu bar and the transmission of sync and backup results sent directly to ChronoMonitor running on an iPhone.
Paul Software Engineering has revved HourWorld (www.hourworld.com), a program with graphics that can show you what time it is in a certain part of the world, to version . It's a maintenance upgrade.
Richmond Mathewson has released Devawriter Pro 1.1.5 (http://andregarzia.on-rev.com/richmond/dwriterpro.html), an update of the tool for teaching Devanagari or self-study. The demo now has no time limits. Also, there's now a special interface to help people learn the Devanagari abugida.
VisualDiffer (http://visualdiffer.com) -- which...
Apple apparently not buying Waze app/service
Rumors that Apple is considering buying Waze, a community-based traffic and navigation app/service for iOS, are apparently false. Waze (www.waze.com) allows drivers to share real-time traffic and road info. The folks behind the app claim it has approximately 30 users.
However many it has, Apple's not buying it, according to "TechCrunch" (http://tinyurl.com/arg5wqv). Quoting unnamed "multiple sources close to the situation," the article says that there's no deal happening "at least not now or anytime soon." A deal involving someone like Foursquare (which Apple is also interesting in buying, per the rumor mill) probably makes more sense," says "TechCrunch."
'jOBS' to be released in April
Open Road Films (www.openroadfilms.com) will be releasing "jOBS," one of two films coming abut the late Steve Jobs, reports "Deadline Hollywood" (www.deadline.com).
The film stars Ashton Kutcher and will be the closing film of the upcoming Sundance Film Festival. "jOBS" should hit your local theater in April.
The film will chronicle Jobs from "wayward hippie to co-founder of Apple, where he became one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of our time." "jOBS" is the second movie based on the life of Jobs that's in the works. Sony Pictures is currently developing its own Steve Jobs pic, based on the bestselling book by Walter Isaacson.
Belkin debuts HD Bluetooth Music Receiver
Belkin has rolled out the US$59.99 HD Bluetooth Music Receiver, which lets you stream content from smartphones and tablets directly to a home stereo system or standalone speakers via Bluetooth wireless technology. An embedded NFC chip also gives NFC-equipped phones tap-and-play functionality -- instant connectivity by tapping the device to the receiver.
The HD Bluetooth Music Receiver even stores settings for up to eight different devices. It sits near your home stereo setup and features a variety of connections for audio output -- digital coaxial, digital optical, or a traditional 3.5 millimeter-to-RCA connection for older stereos. Using Bluetooth or NFC, pairing your device to the receiver can be done from up to 30 feet away.
The Belkin HD Bluetooth Music Receiver is available now at Verizon stores and online at Belkin.com and Amazon.com.
Apple to announce latest financial results on Jan. 23
Apple will announce the financial results of its first fiscal quarter on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific).
Last quarter Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppeheimer provided guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 for revenue of US$52 billion and earnings per diluted share of $11.75. If this occurs, it would be the strongest quarter in Apple's history.
Apple: Samsung should withdraw request for U.S. import ban
Apple has filed documents with the International Trade Commission (ITC) opposing Samsung's motion to strike what it called "highly inconvenient facts" in their mobile device patent infringement fight, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://tinyurl.com/au7n6u9).
On the procedural side Apple argues that its Dec. 21 notice was not too late. "Because these are new facts, Apple could not have raised them during the earlier briefing to the Commission," the company says, citing ITC precedent allowing such notices.
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.
BuQu Tech unveils Magnetyze Magnetic Charging System
Android platform and Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone users can now share a charge with iPhone users with BuQu Tech’s (www.BuQuTech.com) launch of the first in a family of Magnetyze magnetic charging accessories for Android.
Magnetyze by BuQu Tech applies patent-pending magnetics technology to keep smartphones charged and synchronized. When the magnetic charging system for the Samsung Galaxy S III is available in late January, Magnetyze will purportedly become the first charging platform to enable Android and iPhone users to share a charger.
When it’s time to upgrade to a new smartphone, only the Magnetyze protective cover or back plate needs to be replaced. The desk stand, magnetic charging cable and other Magnetyze-branded accessories will continue to work with any available
The system announced today will be available at the end of the month for purchase at www.buqutech.com/Magnetyze in US$59.99 and $69.99 version. Both bundles include a magnetic cable and the Magnetyze desk...
Canon introduces WU10 Wireless Adapter and Battery Pack
Canon U.S.A. (www.canon.com) has announced the WU10 Wireless Adapter and Battery Pack, and CaptureOnTouch Mobile app for iOS devices.
The WU10 Wireless Adapter and Battery Pack can attach to the imageFORMULA Scan-tini (P-150 and P-215) mobile document scanners, creating a wireless connection to computing devices. On a full charge, the WU10 can purportedly deliver enough power to scan hundreds of images.
Canon CaptureOnTouch Mobile is a free downloadable app that allows users to easily scan, save, and send paper-based information to other supported applications, including third-party cloud-based applications. It works with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to operate the imageFORMULA Scan-tini mobile document scanners, expanding connectivity possibilities.
Mac OS X software updates for Jan. 3
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
MaBaSoft (www.mabasoft.com) has revved World Clock Deluxe, its global time-telling app, to version 4.9. The upgrade sports redesigned clocks, cities, time zones and more.
Realmac Software has announced the availability of Socialite 1.5.2
(http://www.realmacsoftware.com/socialite/). Socialite (previously
known as EventBox) is a multi-service social network client for Mac
OS X that lets you stay up to date with the latest RSS articles and friends' status updates on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr. Version 1.5.2 is now 64-bit.
CrystalMaker (http://www.crystalmaker.com/crystalmaker/), a program for building, displaying and manipulating all kinds of crystal and molecular structures, has been bumped to version 8.7.1. The online help system is now indexed. Users can search for terms in the Help menu's search box, and a list of appropriate topics is displayed in the menu.
RoadMovie (http://www.bitfield.se/roadmovie/index.html), which lets you...
Apple: the 'Do Not Disturb' bug will self-correct Jan...
Apple has posted a support document that telsl users that a bug with the "Do Not Disturb" feature in iOS 6 will automatically be resolved after Jan. 7.
The problem began with the debut of 2013. The Do Not Disturb mode in iOS 6 stays on past its scheduled end time.
"Do Not Disturb scheduling feature will resume normal functionality after January 7, 2013," says Apple. "Before this date, you should manually turn the Do Not Disturb feature on or off."
Amazon gets a legal win in 'app store' battle with...
Amazon.com has won a dismissal of a of a claim by Apple Inc. that the online retailer’s use of the term “app store” for Android device software constitutes false advertising, reports "Bloomberg" (http://tinyurl.com/aox784e).
U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, granted Amazon’s request to toss the claim. She said in an order that she found "no support for the proposition that Amazon has expressly or impliedly communicated that its Appstore for Android possesses the characteristics and qualities that the public has come to expect from the Apple APP Store and/or Apple products."
Last year Apple sued Amazon, saying the online retailer is using Apple’s “App Store” trademark for a mobile-software developer program. In a complaint filed March 18, 2011, in federal court in northern California, Apple accused Amazon.com of trademark infringement and unfair competition and asked for a judge’s order to prevent the company from using the "App Store" name, as well as for...
ITC pushes back Apple-Samsung ruling to Feb. 6
The International Trade Commission (ITC) has pushed back its scheduled Jan. 14 final ruling an Apple and Samsung patent infringement case to Feb. 6, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://tinyurl.com/afrmm3x).
Originally, the U.S. trade agency was scheduled to hand down its final ruling on Jan. 14, which would have been four months after Administrative Law Judge E. James Gildea's September 14, 2012 preliminary ruling that recommended the wholesale dismissal of Samsung's complaint. However, in a determination signed on Friday (which entered the electronic docket of the case only today), it extended the target date for this investigation until Feb. 6.
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.
iBookstore reportedly coming to Japan
Apple is reportedly set to introduce the iBookstore, its e-book service, in Japan soon.
The Japanese language "Nikkei" -- as noted by "PC Mag" (http://tinyurl.com/axlmdgh) -- says Apple will launch an e-book service sometime this month in partnership with Japanese publishers such as Kadokawa, Shogakukan, and Kodansha. According to the report, Apple will introduce about 80,000 Japanese-language titles upon the store's debut.
Apple's ownership of page-turn design disputed
The WHDA US PTO Litigation Alert blog has listed last week's reexamination requests filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the targets of those filings include two Apple design patents covering the on-screen representation of a page turn, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://tinyurl.com/akpp8sf).
One of these patents was granted on Nov. 13, 2012 and "provoked quite some outrage because the idea of a page-turn animation appeared too basic and the resultant monopoly too broad to many observers," the article adds. The other one, granted on Oct. 30, 2012, raises the same questions. "Someone is now trying to shoot both these design patents down before they ever get asserted in litigation," writes Florian Mueller for "FOSS Patents."
Samsung loses bid to keep sales data sealed
Samsung has lost a bid to keep sales data of some of its products sealed in a U.S. patent dispute with Apple, reports "Bloomberg." (http://tinyurl.com/aosz3rl).
U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, has denied Samsung’s request to keep the sales figures secret while the company appeals an earlier sealing order. The judge ruled on Dec. 10 that Samsung must file an exhibit which lists the total number of units of certain Samsung products sold during certain time periods, the judge wrote in yesterday’s order without providing further details.
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.
Mac OS X software updates for Jan. 2
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
TapMedia has announced Instamac 1.1 (www.instamacapp.com), an update to their Instagram client for the Mac. The upgrade brings an updated profile view and more.
Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has updated BatchOutput PDF, a solution to printing multiple PDF documents, to version 2.0b9. It adds an option to start watching automatically on launch.
ClickToPlugin (http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/), which prevents Safari from automatically launching plug-ins, has been revved to version 2.7.2. It offers updated "killers."
Library Books (http://librarybooksapp.com), which lets you track your borrowed library books, has been updated to version 3.21b36. It's a maintenance upgrade.
Obscurity (http://www.mednotes.net/about/portfolio/programmer/), a utility for hiding private files, is now up to version 1.2. It's now open source and published under a "Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License."
Happy New Year
MacTech.com and MacNews.com wish you a very happy new year -- and the very best for 2013.
Hackulous web site shuts down
The Hackulous team announced today on its web site (http://hackulo.us) that it's closing up shop. It's the iOS piracy community behind the Installous jailbreak app.
"We are very sad to announce that Hackulous is shutting down," the Hackulous team writes. "After many years, our community has become stagnant and our forums are a bit of a ghost town. It has become difficult to keep them online and well-moderated, despite the devotion of our staff. We're incredibly thankful for the support we've had over the years and hope that new, greater communities blossom out of our absence."
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 31
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Trailrunner (www.trailrunnerx.com/), a Mac OS X solution for folks doing long distance sports, has been updated to version 3.7.709. The upgrade removes Wi-Fi syncing with iOS apps.
Moth Software (www.mothsoftware.com) has announced Mail Archiver X 3.0.0.2.566, an update to their app designed as a companion to the user's email application, allowing consolidation, archiving, cleaning, formatting, and permanent storage of emails. The buttons in the mailbox list are now disabled when no archive is open. Mail Archiver X no longer crashes after getting the number of mails for Apple Mail in some cases. The application no longer is started every minute when the option "Start missed" wasn't selected.
WeatherCat (http://trixology.com) weather station software, has been revved to version 1.1.2. It adds a DAYSAGO() function that can be used as a time period specifier with the STAT$ custom web tag. This can be used to query data from a given day in...
ITC judge wants Samsung to post substantial bond
An ITC judge wants Samsung to post a bond of 88% of its U.S. smartphone sales due to Apple's patent case, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://tinyurl.com/cc3c8d7). The article says that Samsung also faces the following sanctions:
° An U.S. import ban that would enter into effect after the 60-day Presidential review period following a final ITC decision;
° Asimultaneous cease-and-desist order that would prohibit the sale of any commercially significant quantities of the imported infringing accused products in the United States (this remedy was denied against HTC);
° The requirement to post a bond of 88% of the value of all mobile phones, 32.5% of the value of all media players, and 37.6% of the value of all tablet computers found to infringe Apple's patents-in-suit during the Presidential review period.
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...
Apple withdraws patent complaints against new Samsung phone
Apple has agreed to withdraw patent claims against a new Samsung phone with a high-end display after Samsung said it was not offering to sell the product in the crucial U.S. market, reports "Reuters" (http://tinyurl.com/cjutrdy).
Apple announced the agreement in a filing on Friday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, California. Last month Apple asked to add the Galaxy S III Mini and other Samsung products, including several tablet models, to its wide-ranging patent litigation against Samsung.
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.
Radiant Optoelectronics looking beyond Apple for customers
Radiant Optoelectronics is looking for more non-Apple customers in 2013 to provide backlighting units (BLUs) due to an expected rise in non-Apple tablet sales, reports "DigiTimes" (http://tinyurl.com/d5obygt) quoting unnamed "industry sources."
Radiant is currently Apple's main supplier of backlighting modules for the iPad and iPad mini. Approximately 80% of the company's shipments were to Apple in 2012 with the rest going to Samsung Electronics and Amazon for use in their tablet products, according to "DigiTimes." However, Radiant is reportedly expecting to see an increase in non-Apple tablet product demand in 2013, the article adds.
Lemke Software releases GraphicConverter 8.5 for Mac OS X
Lemke Software (www.lemkesoft.com/) has released GraphicConverter 8.5, an update to its US$39.95 image utility for Mac OS X. It's been completely rewritten and now supports 64-bit and 32-bit Intel-based systems.
GraphicConverter is a tool for image conversion from more than 200 file formats. Version 8.5 adds support for retina displays, a slideshow with find feature, and more.
Version 8.5 is a free update for users of version 7.x and 8.x. It's downloadable from the Updater within the application menu.
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 28
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
Koingo Software has introduced AirRadar 2.2.7 (www.koingosw.com/products/airradar.php), an update of its free software that allows users to scan for wireless networks in range of their computer, compile favorite and filter lists, and view detailed network information. The upgrade fixes a damaged app warning bug.
Koingo has also given us Amnesia 1.4.1. The software performs a smart scan to determine all related files to be removed. Amnesia 1.4.1 sports various Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion bug fixes.
Rogue Amoeba has rolled out Airfoil 4.7.5 (www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/mac), an upgrade to the tool for streaming audio around the house. The new version now properly restricts its search to the LAN, preventing possible issues with Back to my Mac and iCloud.
CineScope (http://www.einsteinslegacy.com/products/cineScope.html), a collection of video tools for measuring and analyzing video being captured by your Mac, has been revved to version 1.0...
Apple/Foxconn reforms could have a 'ripple effect'
"The New York Times" (http://tinyurl.com/chu26bl) says Apple and Foxconn's commitment to "wide ranging reforms" in China-based manufacturing facilities "could create a ripple effect that benefits tens of millions of workers across the electronics industry."
The companies have cut workers' hours, increased wages, instituted more stringent safety precautions and more, the article adds. The changes also extend to California, where Apple is based.
"Apple, the electronics industry’s behemoth, in the last year has tripled its corporate social responsibility staff, has re-evaluated how it works with manufacturers, has asked competitors to help curb excessive overtime in China and has reached out to advocacy groups it once rebuffed," adds "The New York Times."
DiskAid 6 for the Mac adds Wi-Fi iPhone file transfer
DigiDNA (http://www.digidna.net/products/diskaid) has announced DiskAid 6 for Mac OS X. The new version sports a user interface redesign on the outside and some under-the-hood tweaks.
DiskAid continues to provide music and video copying from iPhones, iPads or iPods to the iTunes' library. However, version 6 allows access to the iOS file system from a computer wirelessly. Files, folders and documents are transferred between a Mac and any iOS device via any Wi-Fi network.
The latest version also allows simultaneous transfers with multiple devices. It's now possible to manage numerous devices and documents from a single computer, all at the same time. What's more DiskAid 6 no longer needs the device's connection to transfer all data contents such as SMS text messages, contacts, notes, voicemail, voice memos and call history back to a computer.
All DiskAid 5 licenses purchased after Oct. 1qualify for a free upgrade to DiskAid 6 Mac version. For new users the cost is normally US$29.90;...
Apple fined for violating rights of some Chinese authors
Apple has been fined US$165,908 by a Chinese court for allegedly selling unlicensed electronic versions of books online, reports the "Business Standard" (http://tinyurl.com/c9ypgem).
The Beijing No.2 Intermediate People's Court ordered Apple to pay a total of 1.03 million yuan ($165,908) to eight Chinese writers and two companies for violating their copyrights. Three separate lawsuits were filed with the court on behalf of 12 writers who allege 59 of their titles were sold unlicensed through the iTunes Store.
Apple wants all eight board of directors members to return
In a a regulatory filing with the SEC -- as noted by "The Next Web" (http://tinyurl.com/c98vofw) -- Apple says it wants all eight members of its board of directors re-elected.
Those members include CEO Tim Cook, Chairman Arthur Levinson, Al Gore, William Campbell, Millard Drexler, Robert Iger, Andrea Jung, and Ronald Sugar). Cook and Iger are the only ones who are "new" to the board. Both were appointed in 2011; each of the other six persons have been a director since before that, notes "The Next Web."
Tim Cook paid $4.17 million in 2012
Apple CEO Tim Cook will receive compensation for 2012 valued at US$4.17 million after his salary was raised by 51% in his first full year in the job, reports "Bloomberg" (http://tinyurl.com/bprfzle). However, he gets no stock awards.
The total includes $1.36 million salary and $2.8 million in incentive plan compensation, Apple said today in a regulatory filing. Cook’s 2011 compensation of $378 million, one of the biggest pay packages on record, was boosted by $376.2 million in stock awards that he’ll get over a decade, notes "Bloomberg."
Apple moving ARM chip production from Samsung to Unimicron?
There are reports that Apple is moving its A-series ARM chip production from Samsung to Unimicron Technology Corp., according to "The MacObserver" (http://tinyurl.com/bqd9b9k).
Purportedly, Unimicron has already started small scale chip production for Apple, and will ramp up to full scale production in 2013 after completing construction on a new factory, the article adds. This fall Samsung confirmed that its involvement in Apple chip production had been scaled back and that it was no longer involved in the design process.
If Apple is indeed dropping Samsung chips, it's no surprise. The two companies are involved in an 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.
Mac OS X software updates for Dec. 27
Here are the latest updates for Mac OS X apps:
MaBaSoft (www.mabasoft.net) has announced World Clock Deluxe 4.9, an update to their world time utility for Mac OS X. The upgrade revises the appearance of the Clocks, Cities & Time Zones, and Time Converter panes and introduces several new Time Converter features.
Koingo Software (http://www.koingosw.com) has released MacPilot 5.0.4, an update of the tool that enables hidden features built into Mac OS X and lets users modify preferences to streamline performance. The new version is a maintenance release with some bug fixes.
Koingo has also revved Librarian Pro -- which lets you manage your collection of books, magazines, games, CDs, software titles and movies -- to version 2.2.4. Toolbars can now be customized again.
Simple Envelope (http://www.simpleenvelope.com) -- an app for printing addresses on envelopes -- has been upgraded to version 2.0.5. It fixes some glitches with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
SAGE (http://www.sagemath.org...
iWatch is new crimefighting app for Marion, Virginia, residents
Marion, Virginia, police is offering a free app called iWatch Marion for iOS and Android devices. It's designed to help fight crime.
Lt. Andrew Moss told "The Bristol Herald Courier" (http://tinyurl.com/cvfhsbh) that residents can use the app to report crimes and suspicious activities to police. Residents also can sign up for text alerts for weather, school closings, missing children, crime alerts and other items.
Samsung sues Apple over notification center patent
Samsung has filed a new patent infringement lawsuit against Apple in South Korea over the iPhone and iPad's Notification Center feature, reports "FOSS Patents" (http://tinyurl.com/cp9z9z8).
Florian Mueller of "FOSS Patents" writes: "In all likelihood this is a non-standard-essential patent. Clearly, Samsung needs to step up its non-SEP assertions against Apple because its original SEP-centric litigation strategy has been a near-total failure: it obtained injunctive relief only in Korea (but enforcement has been stayed for the duration of the appeal), an entitlement to damages (which have yet to be determined but will be modest) in the Netherlands, lost out on various claims in the U.S. and several European countries, received a skeptical initial indication by an Australian judge, and yesterday found itself at the receiving end of a Statement of Objections, a preliminary antitrust ruling, by the European Commission despite having unilaterally dropped its European SEP injunctions...
Mophie releases OutRide waterproof mounting system
Mophie (www.mophie.com) has released the US$149.95 OutRide, a wide-angle, waterproof mounting system that eliminates the need for a dedicated action sports camera.
The OutRide, when paired with the free Outride 1.0.1 app, leverages the existing technology of the iPhone and gives users the ability to record, edit and immediately share their point-of-view, no matter how extreme the conditions. OutRide is now available at mophie.com and the app is immediately available for download in the Apple App Store. An Apple-exclusive edition of OutRide is also available, in all white with a silver aluminum bezel.
