QuickUML 2.0 UML tool released

Excel Software today began shipping QuickUML 2.0 for Mac OS X, Linux, and Microsoft Windows. The UML tool provides a tabbed window for integration and synchronization to an entire project through use cases, class models, object models, dictionary, and code. Each use case is designed to capture the essence of a user-visible function that the system must perform, and class models show package and class objects in the system, as well as various kinds of static relationships. Sequence diagrams illustrate how instantiated objects interact and emphasize the order in which things occur, while a design project is saved as a platform independent XML file. QuickUML 2.0 is available for $300 (system requirements were unavailable).

AOL Memos with Spotlight functionality

Midnight Mage Software today announced the beta release of AOLMemoImporter, a Mac OS X Tiger Spotlight import application. The software allows AOL client customers can use Spotlight to search the content of all AOL Memos. Upon installation AOLMemoImporter places components in the correct folder, and sorts any existing AOL Memo files. New files are automatically sorted into the Spotlight database for quick searches after installation. AOLMemoImporter requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later, and is available for $20.

Apps: ShowMacster, Cheetah 3D

• ShowMacster 1.7 ($20) is an extension to Apple's iChat AV enabling users to stream pictures, QuickTime movies, and live screen captures during video conferences. Version 1.7 offers a "live zoom" feature during live screen captures, as well as a "flip stream" option allowing users with up-side-down iSight installations to use ShowMacster. [Download - 1.4MB]


• Cheetah 3D 2.6 ($100) updates the 3D modeling, rendering and animation tool for Mac OS X. Much-improved Javascript integration allows scripts to run embedded in the user interface, while users can write parametric spline or polygon objects with Javascript. The update supports custom tool creation using Javascript, and renderings with transparent backgrounds are now anti-aliased correctly. [Download - 14.6MB]


• Master the Facts Multiplication 4.0 ($10) is a drill-and-practice program to aide students in learning multiplication facts. Version 4.0 allows users to toggle between English and Spanish program prompts, adds a math facts chart, and offers other various interface enhancements. The update is compiled as a Mach-O application, and requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later. [Download - 2.1MB]


• Mount Manager 1.0 (unknown) is a utility that allows users to mount network shares with a single mouse click. Shares can be set to mount when the application launches, and as a startup item users can have their favorite shares mount upon login. Mount Manager supports AppleTalk, Windows, and Apple's iDisk protocols. [Download - 2.5MB]


• Screen Mimic 1.2 ($25) is a desktop recording program that encodes files in Macromedia Flash (SWF), Flash Video (FLV), and QuickTime (MOV) formats. The software allows users to record demonstrations of software applications, create Web-ready walkthroughs of complicated tasks, and more. Users can select an area of the screen, a particular window region, or the entire desktop to be captured. [Download - 513KB]

InfoWorld honors Mac OS X Tiger, G5 Quad

IDG's InfoWorld today officially announced the recipients of its 2006 Technology of the Year honors, recognizing 46 products across 45 categories and naming Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger the best client operating system. Mac OS X Server 10.4 won the title of best server operating system, while Apple's Power Mac G5 Quad stole the show for the best workstation category. The awards span a broad range of categories in the IT sector, ranging from "Applications and Middleware" to "Virtualization." Apple won two awards last year, as InfoWorld recognizing Mac OS X 10.3 Panther as the best operating system, even as Apple's Xserve G5 won in the best server hardware category.

Patent Grabber 4.0 eases patent downloads

Blazing Dawn Software today released Patent Grabber 4.0, an application that automates the process of downloading patent documents from free public patent archives. The update adds ability to download INPADOC (International Patent Documentation Center) legal status summaries for multiple patents, as well as patent applications. The application allows users to specify a list of patents and click the "Get Patents" button to automatically download every page of all desired patents. Patent Grabber 4.0 is available from Blazing Dawn's website (pricing was unavailable), and requires any version of Mac OS X, or Mac OS 8.6 or later.

OnSet Office supports Mac OS X

OnSet Software today released OnSet Office 1.1 with native support for Mac OS X. The software helps film and television professionals in lighting, grip, and camera departments with creating equipment lists, managing time cards, tracking kit-rental invoices, and more. OnSet Office standardizes submitted forms, and offers the ability to send lighting orders or tech-scout related forms directly from email. Onset Office 1.1 requires Mac OS X 10.3.9, and is available for $170.

Kodak debuts dual-lens 5MP camera...

Kodak today introduced the world’s first dual-lens digital still camera, the Kodak Easyshare V570 zoom digital camera. Using proprietary Kodak Retina Dual Lens technology, the five megapixel V570 camera wraps an ultra-wide angle lens (23 mm) and an optical zoom lens (39 – 117 mm) into a small, sleek package less than an inch thin. The camera features an ultra-wide angle lens coupled with an optical zoom lens that produces a total 5X optical zoom range using the non-extending all-glass, stacked Schneider-Kreuznach C-Variogon prism lenses. The camera features a 30 fps video mode, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, 22 scene modes, 32MB of internal storage, support for SD media, and photo tools such as automatic red-eye reduction, on-camera cropping, picture blur alert and auto picture rotation. It will ship later in January for $400.

Briefly: MacPractice wins trademark

In brief: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has ruled in favor of MacPractice regarding the use of its name, which HealthWare also filed to use in July of 2004.... One user at the O'Reilly Mac DevCenter has pointed out a humorous passage in Apple's documentation of the SyncServices folder in Mac OS X 10.4.... Philoneist has disclosed the details of its first concept competition, based on Apple's iPod.... Apple's iPod is among the top ten marketing ploys used by spammers in AOL's third annual Top 10 Spam List.... Surrey Satellite Technology has launched the first Galileo satellite using parts from consumer electronics devices, including the iPod.... Apple's Dot Mac service has suddenly raised the transfer limit of data from 10GB per-month to one terabyte per-month. [updated]

Dot-Tunes 2.0.2 shares music via iTunes

The WAM Communications Group today released Dot-Tunes 2.0.2, a suite of internet-based enhancements for iTunes including an iTunes Web server that allows users to publish selected artists, albums or playlists over the internet. Dot-Tunes can also control iTunes from any internet-enabled device, such as a Sony PSP or a Web-capable mobile phone. The software creates all of the necessary HTML for people browsing music via a Web browser, as well as the XML required for RSS 2.0 podcasts. Version 2.0.2 offers an SQL backend, customizable HTML templates, router/firewall checks, user authentication, and a built-in Web server that features resumeable downloads. Dot-Tunes 2.0.2 is available for AU $30 (system requirements were unavailable).