Apps: NoteList, GraphicConverter

• NoteList 1.1 ($15) stores notes in a free form using text and images with full word processing capabilities in RTF format. The application displays a list of notes on the left side of the window, and the content of each selected note on the right. Notes are searchable, and the contents of all notes is offers Spotlight support. [Download - 402KB]


• GraphicConverter 5.7.4 ($30) updates the graphic conversion software, adding local email support, print preview, and import analysis. Version 5.7.4 can also merge all frames of a movie into a single image, allows the tool size to be modified, adds an option to display the preview window in a browser on a second monitor in full-screen mode, and more. The new release also incorporates many updated features, as well as numerous bug fixes. [Download - 8MB]


• disclabel 3.0.1 ($30) updates the CD labeling software with media list interface enhancements and better montage performance. Disclabel offers the ability to import tracks from iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, Finder, and Toast, as well as images from iTunes, iPhoto, and Finder. The application can print to a wide array of label and paper types, while also making use of direct-to-CD printers and printable CD's and DVDs. [Download - 6.5MB]


• Process 2 Beta ($40) is a project management application that features a one-window concept of merging outlines with the resource materials needed to implement them. The update includes a radically redesigned process interface, and the software's shared project capability allows a project to be instantly shared with all Macs on a local area network. New "Smart Projects" offer Spotlight integration, and are kept up-to-date as necessary, automatically. [Download - 3MB]


• RadThumbnailView 2.0 ($30) is a control for displaying thumbnails of pictures in a customizable way, released as part of the Radical Breeze Developer Pack. The REALbasic control uses no delcares or plug-ins, while size, color, and spacing can be defined and modified at runtime. Version 2.0 supports thumbnail sizes between 5-200 pixels, and the picture property of RadThumbnailPicture is automatically scaled down to a maximum of 200 x 200 pixels when a picture is added. [Download - 607KB]


• DragThing 5.6.3 ($30) updates the alternative dock software, adding support for Intel Macs. Version 5.6.3 requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 on existing PowerPC Macs, due to changes required for Intel support. DragThing makes various items such as files, folders, applications, disks, URLs, and more easily accessible while taking up very little space on the desktop. The application's docks are highly configurable, and offer hotkey support. [Download - 5.6MB]

New SanDisk USB smart drives released

SanDisk Corporation introduced a new, gaming-oriented USB smart drive at the CES in Las Vegas. The SanDisk Cruzer Crossfire is intended to serve as a method of accessing stored information for use on the new generations of multi-purpose gaming consoles. Users can save game levels and interactive game content on the Crossfire as well as their other digital files. "The new gaming consoles are multimedia centers," states SanDisc. "As such, people can also use them to view their digital photos and play digital music, and a smart drive is a fast and convenient was to access this content." The Cruzer Crossfire can be plugged into the USB port of any gaming console, and information stored will display on any TV screen connected to that console. It is U3 enabled, providing a platform to store a variety of applications. Suggested retail prices for the SanDisk Cruzer Crossfire are $55 for 512MB, $100 for 1GB, $170 for 2GB and $330 for 4GB.

IDG announces Macworld Expo line-up...

IDG World Expo today officially announced that Macworld Conference and Expo is set to kick off next week in San Francisco at the Moscone Center, featuring over 300 exhibiting companies and hundreds of new product introductions. Macworld will include five days of educational content with conference sessions appropriate for Mac users of all levels and backgrounds. The conference program runs Monday through Friday, January 9-13th, while the exhibit hall opens on January 10th at 11 a.m. and runs through January 13th. The exhibit hall is expected to feature the latest products and software for the Mac from companies such as Adobe, Canon USA, Epson America, FileMaker, Harman Multimedia, HP, Microsoft, Nikon, Quark, Xerox, XtremeMac and many others. Exhibit hall passes are available for $30 until January 8th, or $45 at the door.

Briefly: 1GB Shuffle in stock; review

In brief:The 1GB iPod shuffle is back in stock at the Apple Store with shipment times of 3-4 days, following its discontinuation--which lead to much speculation about a new Shuffle model.... MacNN has reviewed the Insten Battery Charger Kit ($60), designed to handle most digital camera, camcorder, and digital video batteries.... Recosoft is expected to preview PDF2Office Professional 3.0 at MacWorld Expo San Francisco.... Sirius is introducing a new satellite radio receiver designed to interface with multiple radios, audio systems and home theater systems.... Bruji.com recently sold its time management application, MyTime, to another shareware development company dubbed Kakuweb.

Google to sell video content online

Google is expected to announce an upgrade to its video-search service, and will soon allow users to purchase videos from content partners in direct competition with Apple's iTunes Music Store. The Wall Street Journal reports that the search giant will unveil the plan at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on Friday, in Las Vegas. Google will likely reveal partnerships with CBS and the National Basketball Association (NBA), allowing customers to purchase television shows and other video content that can be downloaded onto PCs. Additionally, Google plans to introduce a software package dubbed "Google Pack" with offerings from Google and other companies, according to the report.

Interactive math plugin for NoteTaker...

MATTI Math today announced the release of the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) Plug-In for AquaMinds NoteTaker. The plug-in enables NLVM’s interactive math activities to be used within NoteTaker notebooks, enabling student math lessons to be stored and saved as interactive portfolios. “The NLVM’s interactive Java ‘applet’ activities cover such math principles as number operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and probability, with adaptations for students from kindergarten through high school,” said Heal. “Making these available from within the framework of NoteTaker opens the door to expanding their application by enabling connection to related resources.” It is available for $30 and requires NoteTaker.

New Shuffle, Intel Macs at MWSF?...

Investment research firm PiperJaffray today issued some new predictions regarding Apple's highly-anticipated announcements at Macworld Expo next week. Apple CEO Steve Jobs will deliver a keynote address in San Francisco to Mac fans and the press on Tuesday, January 10th, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. The firm believes Apple will introduce an updated iPod shuffle, an Intel-based Mac mini and iBook, iTunes video content, and a new consumer electronics device. The firm also expects nearly all Macs will be updated with Intel by the end of calendar year 2006 or early 2007.

PhotoVu upgrades digital photo frame

PhotoVu has launched an upgraded version of its digital picture frame. The 19-inch PhotoVu PV1955 comes with built-in support for Apple's iPhoto photo management software, as well as Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 and can be controlled remotely from the browser of any computer on the consumer's network. The PV1955 displays thousands of photos from any Macintosh computer that has a network connection. The digital frame features a 24-bit color, high resolution LCD TFT display that supports sizes up to 1280x960 (4:3 ratio); it also features secure wireless WEP transmission via 802.11b standards. The new version also adds support for more powerful digital cameras (up to 16.7 megapixels), USB 2.0, optional upgradeability to Wi-Fi wireless-G networking and WPA security, advanced screen transitions, commercial applications, and Internet services. An optional 1GB USB flash drive or USB 80GB removable hard drive can also be used for stand-alone play. PhotoVu PV1955 retails for $1200.

Insider look at Jobs' MWSF keynote...

A week before Steve Jobs delivers another keynote address at a Macworld Expo, an ex-Apple employee has offered an inside look at the preparations that lead up to the presentations. Mike Evangelist, in an article for UK publication The Guardian, offers readers an insight into the world of Steve Jobs, glowingly portrayed as a "perfectionist" who has "little or no patience for anything but excellence from himself or others." Evangelist describes the events that lead up to the main event of the Expo, in which thousands of hours are spent on a few minutes of presentation--minutes that will be discussed for months after. Teams of Apple employees make last minute adjustments to various products to be unveiled and slideshows which will be witnessed by not only the thousands of fans actually at the Expo, but the tens of thousands participating via webcast.

Electric Sheep Screen Saver for OS X

ElectricSheep.org today released latest version of the Electric Sheep Screen Saver for Mac OS X. Electric Sheep, created by Scott Draves, is a free, open-source screen saver run that can be installed on any ordinary PC or Mac. "When these computers 'sleep', the screen saver comes on and the computers communicate with each other by the internet to share the work of creating morphing abstract animations known as 'sheep'. The result is a collective 'android dream', an homage to Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep." Version 2.6.4 delivers smooth animation with no delay between movies, options to randomly choose the next or replay the last sheep (using the right/left arrow key), and more. It is free and runs on Mac OS X 10.3 or later.

Miglia debuts USB 2.0 HDTV recorder

Miglia Technology today announced TVMini HD, a new desktop device that allows users to watch, pause record and rewind HDTV on any Mac. Powered by Elgato’s EyeTV software, the new TVMini HD is "smaller and less expensive than any comparable product, and compact enough to take with you on any journey." Miglia’s TVMini HD supports free-to-air or free cable Digital TV on your Mac (not compatible with paid digital or satellite TV). The DVR-like device supports full HDTV resolutions of up to 1080i (requires dual G5 processor), supports USB 2.0 connectivity, and includes a portable digital TV antenna to watch TV on-the-go using its ATSC/Clear QAM decoder. TVMini HD includes an infrared remote control that allows users to switch channels and perform other basic VCR/TV-like functions. The included EyeTV software allows users to edit TV shows and remove commercials as well as export recorded conetnt shows to Apple's iPod and/or Sony's Playstation Portable device. It is available now for $250.

Sonos supports Apple lossless codec...

Sonos today released its third software feature update, version 1.3, adding Apple lossless compression and full-screen album art. Sonos, which yesterday introduced its second ZonePlayer, is a digital music system that allows users to play digital music in any room of the house, and control it from a wireless remote. The software update includes German language support, queue/playlist management, and fixed line-out support for home theater integration. Sonos software Version 1.3 also offers support for Audible.com, an internet-based provider of spoken audio content, as well as Apple's Lossless codec and detailed track information. All Audible.com .AA (format 4) file programs are accessible via the Sonos controller, and can be played in up to 32 rooms. Sonos does not currently support audio content downloaded from the iTunes Music Store.

NovaMind 3 to be showcased at MWSF...

NovaMind Software has announced the upcoming release of the new NovaMind 3, which will be showcased at Macworld Expo next week (booth #2432). NovaMind is designed to conduct and record the outcomes of brainstorming sessions, allowing workgroups or teams to generate ideas for marketing, KPI's, goals and problem resolution. Version 3 features a revamped interface, reduced file sizes by about 90 percent, increased performance of Mind Map manipulation by up to 90 percent, and over 50 other new features, while maintaining simplicity of use, according to the company.

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Aspyr ships Civilization III: Complete

Aspyr Media today that it has begun shipping Sid Meier's Civilization III: Complete, which includes the original game, Civilization III, plus both expansion packs, Conquests and Play the World. The bundle also introduces for the first time Civilization III multiplayer capabilities to the Macintosh platform. "Gaming fans can now enjoy Civilization III, the highly addictive journey of discovery, combined with the updated and enhanced multiplayer expansion pack Civilization III: Play the World, as well as all of the great new Civs, Scenarios, and Features from Civilization III: Conquests! Civilization III: Complete provides more ways to win, more ways to explore, more strategies to employ, and more exciting modes of play all in one box." The title requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 and is available for $50 from Amazon.

HP drops iTunes, chooses Rhapsody...

Hewlett-Packard today is expected to announce that it will stop bundling Apple's iTunes software with its new PCs and laptops, in favor of RealNetworks' "Rhapsody" music subscription service--one of Apple's leading competitors in the digital music industry. The move has been expected for some time, following the company's decision last summer to stop distributing HP-branded iPod music players. Rhapsody is now expected to be the default music-playing software on HP's new PCs and laptops. Beginning in the spring of 2006, HP customers will get a free 30-day trial subscription to RealNetworks' Rhapsody, according to a report from CNET. Additionally, RealNetworks may find further opportunity in the new deal to continue its drive into music services beyond PCs. The rocky relationship between Apple and Hewlett-Packard wore thin after Apple's own iPod overshadowed HP's special branded model. [updated]

Maxtor expands OneTouch III drive line...

  Maxtor today announced a new family of Maxtor OneTouch III external storage and backup solutions. Due later this month, the line of Maxtor OneTouch III storage solutions range from capacities of 100GB to one terabyte (1,000 GB), providing easy-to-use, automated backup and restore capabilities for PC and Mac users. New software tools, including the ability to synchronize data between two or more computers. The Maxtor OneTouch III solution features either a triple (FireWire 800/FireWire 400/USB 2.0), dual-interface (FireWire 400 and USB 2.0), and single interface (USB 2.0 only). The Maxtor OneTouch III family sports an innovative new industrial design, an improved consumer friendly user interface and a redesigned retail package from award-winning consulting firm frog design inc. as well as improved acoustics, an inner disk drive casing and shock mounts for additional durability and drive protection.