WD now features Dropbox integration
WD has unveiled WD SmartWare Pro, a software tool that gives customers the power to back up their files to any USB external hard drive or the cloud using their personal Dropbox. Additionally, in the event that a file is deleted, lost, or a previous version of a file is needed, WD SmartWare Pro lets you restore and retrieve backed-up data.
Once the software is setup and the drives are connected, WD SmartWare Pro visually presents customers' files and folders in a control center where they can manage multiple external hard drives and their Dropbox account. WD SmartWare Pro is compatible with WD products such as My Passport and WD Elements portable hard drives, as well as external USB drives from other manufacturers. Additionally, WD SmartWare Pro works with WD network attached storage drives such as My Book Live.
WD SmartWare Pro is currently available as a free 30-day trial at www.wdstore.com. After the 30-day trial a standard license, valid for use with up to three computers, is...
Logitech introduces two new Harmony Universal remotes
Logitech (www.logitech.com) has expanded its universal remote control lines with the Logitech Harmony Ultimate (pictured) and the Logitech Harmony Smart Control.
Both products feature Logitech’s Harmony Hub and Harmony Smartphone app to enable closed-cabinet control and one-touch entertainment access to game consoles from your universal remote or smartphone. The Harmony Hub takes personalizing your activities a step farther into home control with the ability to program your Philips Hue lights to the desired brightness and color with a tap of the Logitech Harmony Ultimate, says Joerg Tewes, vice president of Logitech's digital home business group.
The Logitech Harmony Ultimate and Logitech Harmony Smart Control are reportedly compatible with more than 225,000 home-entertainment devices and more than 5,000 brands. Both include the Harmony Hub, which uses Bluetooth wireless technology to power on game consoles such as the Sony PS3, Nintendo Wii and Wii U.
The Harmony Hub also controls...
Apple to set up custom chip development in Florida
Apple's hardware development operations are expanding to the Orlando, Florida, area, where the company "apparently plans to design, build and test custom chips for future devices," reports "AppleInsider" (www.appleinsider.com).
Most of Apple's internal hardware development is housed out of the company's corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California. However, "AppleInsider" discovered several Orlando-based job openings, including seven positions related to developing and testing processor hardware. Apple is also looking for Orlando area employees who can develop drivers for graphics processors.
Apple releases Xcode 4.6.2
Apple has released Xcode 4.6.2, an update to its set of developer tools for Mac OS X.
Apple says it's been updated to improve LLDB performance when debugging Objective-C code. It also addresses several bugs that impacted stability including a problem that could cause the crash log database to bloat to a very large size.
Xcode 4.6.2 is a 1.65GB download. It's free at the Mac App Store.
Bubble Chart Pro revved to version 4.3
Bubble Chart Pro, which lets you create bubble charts, has been revved to version 4.3. The upgrade combines charts and business analytics.
Bubble Chart Pro is available in three versions. With Bubble Chart Pro, managers can create bubble charts in as few as four clicks. They can modify and drill-down into the underlying data by directly interacting with the bubbles on the chart so they can model different scenarios. In addition, the bubble charts are fully-customizable, so managers can get the look that they want.
Bubble Chart Pro PLUS adds a SMART prioritizer that assigns an objective value score for each project based on the business' strategy and goals. The SMART prioritizer is built on research by scientists from Harvard, MIT, and the University of Southern California. Bubble Chart Pro OPTIMAL adds a fast optimizer.
Bubble Chart Pro has editions for both Mac and Windows. A free demo version can be downloaded at Bubble Chart online (www.bubblechartpro.com). All editions of Bubble...
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 public beta available
Adobe has announced the availability of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 beta for Windows and Mac. Adobe Lightroom is a photography workflow application that allows photography enthusiasts and professionals to enhance, organize and share photos.
The Lightroom 5 beta offers a free, public preview of new features and tools that will be offered in the final release, expected later this year. Winston Hendrickson, vice president of digital imaging products, Adobe, says the Lightroom 5 beta offers photographers and enthusiasts many new features including:
° Advanced Healing Brush allows customers to heal imperfections and remove distracting elements;
° Upright tool analyzes an image to automatically level horizons and straighten objects like buildings to correct a keystone effect;
° Radial Gradient tool creates off-center or multiple vignette effects;
° Smart Previews allow customers to edit images without needing the original raw file;
° Video slideshow enables customers to combine still...
Dynamsoft’s Image Capture SDK adds Mac support and Sandbox
Dynamsoft has made available a new software development kit (SDK) that adds to its existing Mac features for cross-platform support and also adds Sandbox for increased security.
The SDK, ImageCapture Suite 9.0, enables development of web applications for image acquisition, processing and management. It’s designed for programmers, R&D managers and CIOs in industries requiring heavy scanning for digital document management. Such industries include healthcare, finance, government and others that require processing paper documents to digital formats.
ImageCapture Suite 9.0 boasts compatibility with all mainstream browsers for use on Mac or Windows platforms. The SDK enables developers to create image acquisition apps using just a few lines of code.
ImageCapture Suite 9.0 is available starting April 16 and is licensed per web server. A royalty-free option is also available. There are three general versions. The Plugin Edition starts at US$1,199. The ActiveX Edition also starts at $1...
New touchscreen systems for slim iMacs announced
Troll Touch, a manufacturer of custom touchscreen solutions for Mac and PC computers and displays, ha sannounced the availability of its latest product offering: a custom designed touchscreen system for the new 21.5 and 27-inch ultra slim (2012) iMacs.
The latest iMac systems feature an internally integrated, analog resistive touchscreen overlay coupled with the company's high resolution 12-bit USB controller and custom cabling. Delivery is slated to begin on or before April 19. The price for factory installed, single unit orders is US$999 for the 21.5-inch and $1399 for the 27-inch. Quantity discounts and Troll Touch affiliate pricing is available.
Troll Touch factory installed internal touch conversions feature a proprietary, custom designed scratch resistant, contrast enhanced analog resistive touchscreen overlay. All Troll Touch products are warranted for one year, extendable to three years. For more info go to http://www.trolltouch.com/ .
AOC releases 29-inch ultrawide display
AOC (us.aoc.com) has unveiled the Q2963PM, a 29-inch, 21:9 super wide screen HD monitor that combines IPS LED technology with a variety of connectivity options.
The Q2963PM is equipped with dual three-watt enclosed speakers and WFHD 2560x1080 resolution. With multiple inputs like DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI, the display will also enable you to multiply your screen with Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture capabilities. This means you can watch a movie through a connected Blu-ray player on one half of the screen and browse the Internet through your connected laptop on the other half, and more. MHL technology will also allow you to mirror your smartphone on the monitor’s 29-inch wide screen. The AOC Q2963PM is now available for US$499 at Amazon, Microcenter, New Egg, Tiger Direct, Canada Computers and other national retailers.
The panoramic Q2963PM display offers a 21:9 aspect ratio, which allows widescreen movies to be viewed without black bars on the top and bottom of the screen....
Foxconn reportedly hiring for upcoming launch of new iPhone
Foxconn Technology Group has resumed hiring at a Chinese factory as it prepares to make a new iPhone, reports "Bloomberg" (http://tinyurl.com/cajs4t9), quoting an unnamed "person familiar with the plans."
Workers have been recruited at Foxconn’s plant in Zhengzhou, eastern China, for the past month, ending a hiring freeze imposed in February, said the person, "who asked not to be named because the plans haven’t been made public." The extra workers will assemble the new device as well as existing models and have been added at Apple’s request to boost capacity, according to "Bloomberg."
'Wired': Apple settles class action suit involving...
Apple has agreed to pay US$53 million to settle a class action accusing the company of failing to honor warranties on iPhones and iPod touches, according to an agreement obtained by "Wired" (http://tinyurl.com/cmnabxy).
The article says the settlement, set to be filed in a San Francisco federal court in the coming weeks, provides cash payouts to "potentially hundreds of thousands" of iPhone and iPod touch consumers who found Apple unwilling to repair or replace their faulty phones under Apple’s one-year standard, or a two-year extended, warranty.
Apple chief litigation counsel Noreen Krall signed the agreement Wednesday. Apple admits no wrongdoing in the settlement, which needs a judge’s approval, sys "Wired."
AirBrush is new airbrush drawing app for the Mac
Akvis has released Akvis AirBrush 1.0. The Mac OS X compatible software makes photos look as if they're airbrush paintings made with a special airbrush tool.
The program is designed to help users create a piece of art out of any picture. Akvis AirBrush is available in versions for Mac OS X (10.4 and higher) and Windows, and can be used as a standalone program and as a plug-in to photo editors.
Airbrushing is a painting technique based on the use of a special tool called an air brush or spraying gun. Since it’s a touch free technique, it allows the painter to add light strokes, minor details, and blurry edges.
Akvis AirBrush is equipped with 40 presets to help you get started. They can be applied "as is" or can be modified. The software lets you save your favorite photo-to-painting settings as a preset and use them further. It's possible to import and export your presets. You can share your favorite settings with other fans of this technique. What's more, the software offers a batch...
Hypnosis Lite is new game for Mac OS X
Nevosoft has introduced Hypnosis Lite 1.0 for Mac OS X (10.7 or higher).
Here's how the game is described: "Hypnosis invites players into a world of surprises, mini-games, and puzzles. The game is played from the perspective of hypnotherapist Maya Anderson, a smart, just, and statuesque woman. When Mark Blanche, the chief physician at a psychiatric clinic, mysteriously disappears the police suspect murder and call Maya in to help with their investigation and Dr. Blanche's patients. She arrives and discovers that the patients are behaving stranger than usual. As a skilled hypnotist, she enters the subconscious of the patients and experiences their inner worlds.
"In the psyches of the patients, players will be attacked by their phobias, which they battle in mini-games that serve as pleasant distractions from the main adventure. All of the characters are exceptionally brilliant: a painter, a musician, a scientist, a businessman, and others, each with their own bright mind, full of...
Sinusoid releases VideoSpeak for the Mac
Sinusoid has released VideoSpeak, a new Mac OS X app for adding synthesized speech audio tracks to existing videos and movies. It allows you to create a voice-over without the use of a microphone or other audio equipment.
You can use as many voices as you wish within a video -- and even have different voices talking to each other. Novelty voices can be used to add interest to funny videos. VideoSpeak is designed for people producing instructional videos, according to the folks at Sinusoid.
Once the user has finished adding the voice tracks, the video is exported to a QuickTime movie file. The original video is never edited; it's only read and a new video produced with the new synthetic spoken voice tracks.
VideoSpeak uses Apple's Speech Synthesis system for Mac OS X, which has a wide range of voices available as standard from the operating system. In addition to the standard voices, users can download localized voices from Apple with accents for the local language or dialect....
Horus News Reader 1.0 released for Mac OS X
Fallen Leaf Soft has announced Horus News Reader for Mac OS X. It's a news reader "that brings a tablet/smartphone experience to computers."
Thanks to the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad all news are two swipes away with Horus News Reader, according to the folks at Fallen Leaf Soft. You can scroll vertically to navigate through the different feeds and horizontally to read all the news of a feed. As all the feeds are available without selecting them or their categories, the user can customize the color of every feed to organize them. Developed using OpenGL.
Horus News Reader can also manage podcasts and videopodcasts, providing a link to the media file associated in a news item. The user can also share his favorite news using the integrated Share Sheet available since OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
Horus News Reader is available in the News category of the Mac App Store (http://tinyurl.com/bpmhlye) for US$7.99. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.
Powerocks introduces Tarot power bank
Powerocks (www.powerocks.com) has announced the US$34.99 Tarot, which it describes as the world’s thinnest portable power bank. It's designed to fit in a wallet, pocket, or small purse to provide an emergency charge for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.
Available in black, silver, or pink, the Tarot is about the same size as a credit card (but thicker), weighing just 1.79 ounces with measurements of 3.5 x 2.1 x 0.28. Its 1500mAh capacity gives you power to recharge smartphones and tablets with one emergency charge.
To charge your devicet, just connect the included Micro USB cable from Tarot to the phone/device. For the iPhone or other devices that don’t use Micro USB, attach the device’s USB adapter to the Tarot’s USB cable to charge. To recharge the Tarot after use, connect its USB Cable to a USB computer or outlet. The Tarot’s four blue LED lights will tell you how much power is remaining, so you always know when it’s time to recharge.
Kensington docking, adapter products now Mac OS X compatible
Kensington says its line of USB 3.0 Docking Stations and Multi-Display Adapter products are now compatible with Mac OS X devices.
Designed with DisplayLink‘s new driver for Mac, Kensington’s productivity devices will work with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard through OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. The new compatibility enables Apple computer users to supplement connectivity to their devices, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or iMac.
Using either of the Kensington USB 3.0 Docking Stations and Multi-Display Adapter, Apple users can now add multiple monitors, use additional USB ports, and leverage Gigabit Ethernet for fast data connection. The products are designed to help increase productivity and are ideal for hot desk environments where you aren't restricted to one make or model of laptop. For more info go to www.kensington.com .
G5 Entertainment, Funzai introduce Art Mogul for the Mac
G5 Entertainment and Funzai have teamed up for Art Mogul on the Mac. It's available at the Mac App Store. The price is normally US$4.99, but it's on sale for a limited time for $2.99.
Here's how the game is described: "Art Mogul tests you to see if you have an artistic eye required to be a world-renowned mogul of the arts. You will travel around the world, bidding at exciting auctions, exposing fakes and masterpieces as well as acquiring priceless collections. Find over a thousand objects, open your very own art gallery and build your art empire that will stand the test of time.
"One of the distinguishing features of Art Mogul is uniqueness of game sessions. It's up to you to buy a famous artwork in the gallery that is a guaranteed original, or look for masterpieces in the cafes, though they often host skilled counterfeits. To lower the price of the painting you need to find various items on it. If you find all the hidden objects, you'll get a large discount. Then you can visit...
Wanderful releases interactive storybook collection for Macs
Wanderful Interactive Storybooks has announced interactive storybook apps for Mac OS X. They're available in the Mac App store for US$9.99.
These apps, including the award-winning "Harry and the Haunted House" and "Arthur's Teacher Trouble," are part of the Wanderful storybook collection for iOS originally published by Living Books. The eight apps are in US English. Most come preloaded with story content in English, Spanish and French although several have different language configurations.
Users can toggle instantly between languages with either a mouse click or a tap on the keyboard. These Wanderful apps also include a Classroom Activities guide developed for each app. For more info go to http://www.wanderfulstorybooks.com .
Apple wants $85 million in damages against Samsung reinstated
Apple is requesting that US$85 million in damages against Samsung be reinstated as the judge erred in dismissing jury-awarded damages for two Samsung devices, reports "CNET" (http://tinyurl.com/cpj4n2q).
In a March ruling in the case, U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh cut damages on some Samsung products found to infringe Apple's patents, carving $450.5 million off the original $1.05 billion judgment and calling for a new trial on the damages to recalculate them.
However, Apple has complained that Koh made a mistake in reducing at least part of the damages by excluding two devices.The company has filed a conditional motion with U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asking Koh to reconsider her order granting a new trial on the jury-awarded damages she tossed related to the Galaxy S2 sold by AT&T and the Infuse 4G.
This is all part of the ongoing, global legal battle. Apple and Samsung have filed more than 30 lawsuits against each other across four...
Nektony releases VSD Viewer for Mac OS X
Nektony has introduced VSD Viewer 1.0 for Mac OS X (10.8 and higher). It costs US$9.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the AppStore in the Business category (http://tinyurl.com/c2ba83y).
Designed for anyone who use Visio drawings as a reference, VSD Viewer allows Mac users to open vsd files created with Visio 2000 - 2010, a file extension for a vector graphics format developed and owned by MS Visio.
Opening a Visio drawing on Mac with VSD Viewer is as simple as drag and dropping the file to its application window. VSD Viewer allows viewing of common document formatting.
Star Walk updated with Ultimate stargazing calendar, iSON comet...
Vito Technology (http://vitotechnology.com/) has announced an upgrade to Star Walk, the augmented reality iOS app for spotting over 200,000 stars, planets, constellations, satellites and galaxies in the night sky.
The new version includes comprehensive stargazing calendar that shows all visible celestial events for your area, explains their nature and sets a reminder in iCal for ones you chose to see. Other additions include comet tracking and iridium flares.
Star Walk is a astronomy guide that shows celestial objects (stars, constellations, satellites, etc.) in the exact positions on the sky above you, providing information about them. It's designed to help anyone even remotely interested in astronomy find their way across the sky, determine where to look for any chosen object, rewind or fast-forward time to see how celestial bodies move. It inspires curiosity about the Universe and helps understand amazing cosmic phenomena.
The new Calendar of celestial events suggests the best...
InspectorPro updated to version 4.1
Beezwax Datatools (www.beezwax.net) has released InspectorPro 4.1, an update to the leading tool for analyzing FileMaker databases. Now developers can host InspectorPro on FileMaker Server for multi-user development teams to collaborate on database analysis.
Also, InspectorPro 4.1 is extendable, allowing developers to add scripts, layouts, file references and value lists to create custom workflows supporting their FileMaker development projects. It also adds new Detection and Display types for Layout Objects, provides user interface and performance improvements, and offers various fixes to address known issues.
InspectorPro 4.1 is the first product version available for use with FileMaker 12 on Windows, and also updates the OS X version. It works with FileMaker 12 databases and is available now for Mac OS X 10.6 or higher and Windows Vista, 7 and 8.
FileMaker Pro 12 Advanced is required for a developer to generate the DDR (Database Design Report) to be used for analysis. The...
MOSO releases version 1.3 of the Xmplify XML Editor
MOSO has announced version 1.3 of the Xmplify XML Editor (http://xmplifyapp.com). It's a XML editor built specifically for Mac OS X 10.6 and higher and provides a fully XML-aware editing environment with DTD and XML Schema-based auto-completion.
Version 1.3 is the first 64-bit release of Xmplify. It also brings other improvements and fixes.
Xmplify is available for US$59; both volume and educational discounts are available. Version 1.3 is a free upgrade for Xmplify 1.x users.
PC Shipments Post the Steepest Decline Ever in a Single Quarter
Worldwide PC shipments totaled 76.3 million units in the first quarter of 2013 (1Q13), down -13.9% compared to the same quarter in 2012 and worse than the forecast decline of -7.7%, according to International Data Corporation (IDC).
Apple fared better than the overall U.S. market, "but still saw shipments decline as its own PCs also face competition from iPads," says the research group.
The extent of the year-on-year contraction marked the worst quarter since IDC (www.idc.com) began tracking the PC market quarterly in 1994. The results also marked the fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year shipment declines.
Despite some mild improvement in the economic environment and some new PC models offering Windows 8, PC shipments were down significantly across all regions compared to a year ago. Fading Mini Notebook shipments have taken a big chunk out of the low-end market while tablets and smartphones continue to divert consumer spending.
PC industry efforts to offer touch capabilities...
Splash Colors FX 1.0 comes to Mac OS X
Appsoft Studio has released Splash Colors FX 1.0 for Mac OS X. The tool turns color photos into black and white ones and can help highlight certain objects by revealing their original colors.
Users can highlight the most important parts of photos and give them new looks. Users may refresh the details and share photos on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or send them via Mail and Messages.
Splash Colors FX uses a dynamic brush to reveal the original colors of photos. It also contains adjustable effects for putting some final touches to your photos.
Splash Colors FX requires Mac OS X 10.7 or later. It costs US$0.99 and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store in the Photography category (http://tinyurl.com/ccxlxr7).
Boinx Software releases SandboxCleaner for Mac OS X
Boinx Software has introduced SandboxCleaner 1.0 for Mac OS X. The tool looks for incompatible QuickTime components that cause crashes with popular video and photo apps on the Mac.
When QuickTime components are incompatible with OS X sandboxing, problems, like crashing, with many popular video and photo apps ensue, says Oliver Breidenbach, founder and CEO at Boinx Software. SandboxCleaner helps users find and disable these components, keeping systems up and running without a hitch, he adds.
"Our users were experiencing baffling crashes with FotoMagico and iStopMotion," Breidenbach says. "It took us quite a while to figure out what was wrong. When we finally identified the issue, we realized the only way to deal with it was to scan for problematic components and provide the user with suggestions on how to resolve these issues. We spent months collating data regarding issues with outdated or incompatible QuickTime components reported by our users. Now, users can perform scans with...
Kenburg releases pocket-sized charge/sync cable for iOS devices
Kenburg Technology has announced LightLinez, a pocket-sized (12 cm) Apple Lightning to USB 2.0 charge and sync cable for the iPhone 5, iPad mini, and all Apple Lightning devices.
It has the complete charge and sync functionality of a full length cable. The Lightning connector housing is small enough to fit into a protective case, such as the LifeProof or Otterbox, eliminating the need to remove the case to charge and sync.
Designed for use at home or on the move, LightLinez's shorter length allows you to slip the cable into a pocket, purse or small storage space for transport and reduced clutter and tangle. It's 88% shorter than the standard 1-meter cable.
The LightLinez is available at www.kenburgtech.com and http://www.radtech.us/products/kenburg-short-lightning-to-usb-cable for US$18.95.
BrainDistrict releases RaySupreme for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux...
BrainDistrict has released RaySupreme, a 3D modeling and rendering program for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux systems. It costs US$39.99 and is available at http://www.braindistrict.com .
RaySupreme enables users to create 3D work by simply typing English text. People who are not experienced in 3D can quickly and easily create complex scenes and environments, according to Ritchie Lopez of BrainDistrict. This new approach to 3D graphics is called Text-to-3D.
"Imagine the possibility of creating a complete 'modern day' scene like a living room environment by typing your text description of it," says Ritchie. "Now imagine typing an alternative year like the 1920's, then watching while your scene renders to another time in history. No programming, no special skills is required."
RaySupreme includes: primitive objects, polygonal modeling, lathe, extrude, Boolean operations, smoothing, materials, and more. The rendering engine includes final gathering for global illumination, caustics, photon...
FileMaker Go 11 leaving the iTunes Store as of Sept. 30
FileMaker Inc. says that, as of Sept. 30, 2013, FileMaker Go 11 for iPad and FileMaker Go 11 for iPhone will no longer be available for purchase on the iTunes App Store.
Customers who purchase FileMaker Go 11 before that date will still be able to download it from the iTunes App Store when, for example, replacing an existing iPad with a new iPad. However, after Sept. 30, FileMaker Go 11 will not be available for purchase for new devices. FileMaker Go 12 for iPad and FileMaker Go 12 for iPhone continue to be available free on the iTunes App Store.
FileMaker Go 11 for iPad and FileMaker Go 11 for iPhone (formerly named FileMaker Go 1.2) only open databases that use the .fp7 file format. Databases with .fp7 file format are created with FileMaker Pro/Pro Advanced 11, 10, 9, 8.5, 8, and 7. FileMaker Go 11 is not compatible with databases created with FileMaker Pro 12.
FileMaker Go 12 only opens databases that use the .fmp12 file format. Databases with .fmp12 format are created using...
SimCity coming to the Mac
For more than 23 years, SimCity has entertained over 30 million fans worldwide and it returns to the platform that started it all on June 11. Electronic Arts has announced that SimCity will be coming to the Mac on June 11 exclusively as a digital release via Origin and other online retailers.
Fans who purchase SimCity will be able to play the game on Mac and PC, regardless of which version they buy, as well as access their cities from across both platforms. Players who have previously purchased SimCity for PC, either as a physical or a digital copy will receive the Mac version as a free digital download on Origin on June 11.
Players will be able to play both versions with the same Origin account, allowing them to continue their cities, achievements and leaderboard progress across the PC and Mac. SimCity has been rated E10+ by the ESRB. For more info go to www.SimCity.com .
NAB: Adobe launches Primetime
At the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference, Adobe announced the general availability of Adobe Primetime (formerly Project Primetime), a TV publishing and monetization platform for programmers and pay TV service providers.
The company also announced technology collaborations with dozens of industry leaders, including encoders, cloud platform providers, and content delivery networks (CDNs) to pave the way for TV content across every connected screen. Ecosystem partners include Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cisco Systems, Elemental Technologies, Envivio, Harmonic, iStreamPlanet, RGB Networks, thePlatform and others. Comcast Cable and NBC Sports Group have signed on as first Adobe Primetime launch partners.
Adobe Primetime enables programmers and pay TV service providers to capitalize on the rising consumer interest in watching and engaging with digital video while helping protect and maximize the value of their content, David Karnstedt, senior vice president, Media and...
Apple licenses Access (formerly PalmSource) patents
According to "9to5Mac" (http://tinyurl.com/clg8vla) --based on documents published on the Access (formerly PalmSource) -- Apple has licensed patents from the portfolios of several former technology companies including some from Palm/PalmSource which were originally bought by HP.
Access appears to own patents from Palm, Bell Communications Research and Geoworks and has licensed them to Apple for 1B Yen, the article adds. Microsoft previously took out a license on these same "foundational patents."
T-Mobile offers $0 down trade-in offer for the iPhone 5
T-Mobile USA says it will supplement its iPhone 5 upfront pricing with a special trade-in offer when the Apple smartphone arrives in T-Mobile stores this Friday, April 12.
"Our message to iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 customers is simple: bring in your device and trade up to iPhone 5 on T-Mobile," says Mike Sievert, chief marketing officer for T-Mobile.
The special trade-in offer, which lasts through Father’s Day on June 16, enables qualified customers who bring in their iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 to get an iPhone 5 for $0 down plus monthly payments, with a no annual service contract. Depending on the trade-in value of their device, customers will also receive a credit of up to US$120, which can be used toward monthly payments, an existing T-Mobile bill, or the purchase of accessories or another device.
Through its Simple Choice Plan, T-Mobile is the only major U.S. wireless company offering iPhone 5 with no annual service contract plus unlimited talk, text and Web on a nationwide 4G...
Korg unveils KROSS keyboard
Korg (www.Korg.com) has announced the Kross keyboard. It will be available in August for US$699 for a 61-key model and $999 for a 88-key version.
Kross is a mobile, affordable, keyboard workstation with audio/MIDI recording capabilities, AC or battery operation (6xAA), and a selection of cutting-edge sounds. Available with 61 keys or 88 fully weighted keys, it’s the first battery-powered, full-featured Korg keyboard workstation, according to the folks at Korg.
The Kross sports analog-style step sequencing and a built-in audio recorder. The piano, electric piano, and drum sounds have been taken from some of Korg’s flagship instruments.
Kross includes a 6-track MIDI sequencer as well as an analog-style step sequencer. The sequencer design features 16 buttons that are used to turn individual notes on or off for creating original rhythm patterns. SMF-format data can be exchanged with a computer via an optional SC card. A set of workstation and production tools include a stereo audio...
Report: Apple preps Macs with 802.11ac Gigabit wireless support
Apple is preparing to release new Macs that support 802.11ac Gigabit wireless, reports "9to5Mac" (http://tinyurl.com/cpx77lf), basing the prediction on code-findings inside of Mac OS X 10.8.4, which was recently released to developers.
The code "was located by a tipster inside of the operating system’s WiFi-frameworks folder," says "9to5Mac." 802.11ac code isn't found in OS X 10.8.3, which is the latest public release of Mac OS X.
Mac search utility, Disklens receives update, adds tags support
microLARGE software has announced Disklens 1.1, an improved version of the menu bar search utility for MacOS X.
Disklens combines Apple's Spotlight search technology with a different user interface. Version 1.1 brings support for Spotlight comments, adds preferences for customizing search result presentation, brings a few user interface improvements like grouping search results by month, and extends the list of supported languages with French and Spanish.
Disklens reqquires Mac OS X 10.7.4 or higher. It can be purchased for US$4.99 at microLARGE Software's online store (http://microlarge.com). A fully functional 15-day trial is available for download.
SecuritySpy for Mac OS X revved to version 3.0.3
Bensoftware has announced SecuritySpy 3.0.3, an update to the multi-camera video surveillance software for the Mac. The new version includes support for more network cameras and sports user interface improvements.
SecuritySpy boasts features such as motion detection, real-time compression of multiple video and audio feeds, and network video and audio streaming, SecuritySpy is designed for demanding video surveillance applications. The software supports a variety of network cameras and video servers, including the popular ACTi, Axis, Panasonic, Sony and Vivotek ranges, as well as FireWire, USB, and PCI video input devices.
SecuritySpy features motion detection, which can be used to trigger recording as well as email alerts and audio alarms. The built-in web server allows remote viewing of live video and audio, previously captured footage, as well as configuration of the software, from over the internet using a web browser or a mobile device such as the iPhone.
SecuritySpy can be...
Mergemill Pro for OS X updated to version 4.5
Cross Culture has released Mergemill Pro 4.5, an update of their app for cleansing and de-duplicating data. The latest release is an enabler that automates many of the data extraction and processing steps in data mining.
Mergemill Pro takes diverse sources of data -- such as databases, web pages, e-mails and more -- and merges them with templates to produce the desired output, from web pages to customized e-mails. The program features data-processing capabilities such as data filters, multi-level data sorting, BASIC scripting, and multiple search-and-replace actions.
Mergemill Pro supports Unicode and other text encodings, and has project scheduling and auto-run functionality. Users can control output in templates through scripting with tags for content insertion, arithmetic expressions, looping, branching, statistic calculations and for marking text blocks for variable assignment or special output actions.
Mergemill Pro 4.5 is available for Macs running OS X 10.5. It can be purchased...
Splother announces music licensing plug-in for Final Cut Pro X
Splother (http://splother.com), an online destination for branding and sync licensing of independent music for film, TV, advertising and products, has announced an upcoming Splother plug-in for Final Cut Pro X that allows editors to browse and select music, add it to the timeline, and immediately obtain an affordable license for use in video projects.
"The integration with Final Cut Pro X is a tremendous opportunity for all existing and future Splother artists," says Splother CEO Dave Durocher. "Their music will now be available to all Final Cut Pro X users around the world through a new plug-in that offers fast, affordable music licensing."
The Splother plug-in for Final Cut Pro X will be released in conjunction with a cloud-based redesign of the music licensing platform. The back-end has been completely redesigned to handle the increased traffic from this software integration.
RunRev releases first Open Source version of LiveCode
RunRev has announced LiveCode 6.0, the first open source edition of its rapid application development platform that allows you to create your own mobile and desktop apps.
LiveCode 6.0 comes just five weeks after the close of one of its Kickstarter campaigns. RunRev raised nearly half a million pounds (US$750,000) to fund the development of the next generation app development platform.
LiveCode 6.0 represents the company’s first Community Edition, free to anyone wanting to access the LiveCode engine for custom development of full-featured mobile and desktop apps. Educators, students and business professionals have put support behind the development of open source LiveCode, recognizing the platform’s ability to change the face of programming in learning and commercial environments, according to the folks at RunRev.
LiveCode 6.0 is released under the GPL3 license, which allows anyone interested in developing mobile apps to do so with the LiveCode Community Edition -- provided users...
eMedia Intermediate Piano & Keyboard Method 2 revved to...
eMedia Music Corp. (www.eMediaMusic.com) has presented eMedia Intermediate Piano & Keyboard Method 2.
New features include interactive Note Tracker and Finger Tracker tools, which listen to and display the note being played as music notation and on an on-screen piano keyboard. Instant Feedback is also included on selected lessons. These interactive features work with both acoustic pianos and electronic keyboards. What's more, eMedia Intermediate Piano & Keyboard Method 2 features remastered higher-quality video and audio and fully-scalable lesson screens.
It's available at retail stores and online the eMedia site at an estimated retail price of US$59.95. The CD-ROM is a hybrid for Mac and Windows platforms. eMedia Intermediate Piano & Keyboard Method 2 is also available together with eMedia Piano & Keyboard Method 3 in a value-priced two CD-ROM set, eMedia Piano & Keyboard Method Deluxe, which retails for $99.95.
Boris FX expands real-time performance of Boris Continuum...
At this week's National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) event, Boris FX (www.borisfx.com) announced Boris Continuum Complete (BCC) 8.2.
The upgrade features up to 100% improvement in render time for OpenGL-accelerated filters. In addition, nearly all BCC AVX for Avid filters can now be rendered in real-time.
BCC 8.2 FxPlug for Apple Final Cut Pro and Motion is available now as a free download from www.borisfx.com for BCC v8.x FxPlug users. BCC 8.2 AE for Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, BCC 8.2 AVX for Avid, and BCC 8.2 for Sony Vegas Pro will be available as free downloads for BCC v8.x users during the second quarter of the year.
MacBook Pro sales weaker than expected?
MacBook Pro shipments may only see single-digit growth in 2013, as related upstream component suppliers still haven't seen major increases in orders, claims "DigiTimes" (http://tinyurl.com/chasuuo), quoting unnamed "sources from the upstream supply chain."
The orders may increase slightly after Apple releases its new MacBook products at the end of the second quarter, the article adds. Apple was confident about its 13-inch MacBook Pro performance for 2013, "but the device's actual sales turn out to be weaker than expected," per "DigiTimes."
Founder of Apple retail employee union leaves the company
Cory Moll, the founder of a union for Apple's retail employees is leaving the company after deciding to pursue other options, reports "CNET" (http://tinyurl.com/bqfpzss).
He's been with Apple since 2007 and founded the Apple Retail Workers Union. He's leaving his job by his own choice as of today, notes "CNET."
"I feel that the time has come to go explore the world, discover new opportunities and learn new skills," Moll said in an e-mail.
Nektar introduces 49 note USB keyboard
Nektar has announced the Impact LX49, the first in a new range of Nektar USB controller keyboards.
With intelligent mapping for major DAWs, Impact LX49 is designed for musicians and producers to get up and running without having to worry about MIDI assignments to get started. Based on the technology developed for the Nektar Panorama series, Impact comes pre-mapped and configured.
Just like Panorama, which features multiple modes for main control navigation, Impact LX49 allows the user to switch between Mixer, Instrument and Preset modes. Presets include five memory locations for users to store their own setups. Navigation options include track change, patch change and a plug-in button that opens or closes the currently controlled plug-in window on the computer display.
Impact LX49 also features eight velocity sensitive pads that also can be used as MIDI buttons. A pad learn function enables pad presets to be programmed by pressing the target note on the keyboard. Four pad memory...
DB-Text for Mac OS X updated to version 1.2
Tension Software has updated DB-Text -- a tool to import, edit and manage text based archives -- to version 1.2. The upgrade offers new export functions with new dialog and selection of exported fields.
DB-Text 1.2 also sports improved iImport functions, a Sandbox release, advanced preferences, auto detection of CSV or TAB file format to import, and minor bug fixes. DB-Text is available for US $6.99 both from the Mac App Store and the Tension Software web site (www.pomola.com/products_dbtext/ ).
CampTune for Mac OS X revved to version 10.2
Paragon Software has introduced CampTune X 10.2 to ensure the most up-to-date dual-boot user experience possible. The upgrade solves the maintenance problem that Mac Boot Camp users encounter when they run out of free partition space.
With Camptune X, Mac users can redistribute available space between Mac and Windows partitions without data loss, adding free megabytes to partitions on either operating system quickly and easily. Camptune X is a native utility that adjusts volume size in a few simple clicks without the need to boot to a special environment.
It costs US$19.95. More info can be found at www.paragon-software.com.
Intel announces Thunderbolt updates
At the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show this week in Las Vegas, Intel made some key announcements regarding Thunderbolt technology, the fastest data connection available in your personal computer.
Intel introduced the Intel DSL4510/4410 Thunderbolt controllers which add DisplayPort 1.2 capability when connecting to native DP displays, improve power management, and reduce platform bill of materials cost.
Intel (www.intel.com) also previewed early prototype silicon of its next-generation Thunderbolt controller codenamed Falcon Ridge, which runs at 20Gbs, enabling 4K video file transfer and display simultaneously. Initial production is expected before the end of this year, with ramp in 2014.
Boris announces new VFX browser for BCC
At this week's National Association of Broadcasts (NAB) event, Boris FX unveiled a new VFX browser for its flagship Boris Continuum Complete (BCC) plug-in collection.
Available as a free download, the new BCC Effects Library Browser plug-in allows editors and motion graphics artists to instantly preview thousands of BCC presets via animations that integrate timeline video. The free plug-in can be used on any system with a BCC-compatible host application even if BCC isn't installed.
Any of the thousands of factory-installed BCC presets can be previewed in real-time with host application video, giving artists the ability to quickly find their desired look. Presets are sorted by filter and filter category for maximum convenience. In addition, custom-made BCC presets immediately appear in the BCC Effects Library Browser plug-in and can be previewed alongside factory-installed presets.
All factory-installed presets are completely customizable and can be shared with other BCC...
