Apps: xBack, FlameRobin, ScanTango

• xBack 3.5.5 ($10) is a utility that allows users to replace the desktop picture with a screen saver. Version 3.5 brings support for Loops 2 to the application. Users can easily change the desktop screen saver using the xBack menu, and screen saver preferences are configurable without the need to open system preferences. xBack also supports Quartz Composer for those users running Mac OS X 10.4 or later. [Download - 1MB]


• FlameRobin 0.6.0 (free) is a database administration tool for the Firebird Database Management System. The update offers DDL extraction for all object types, a "Rebuild View" option allowing users to drop and create dependent objects, and an option to drop a database. Version 0.6.0 fixes a bug where the TCP port setting was ignored when creating/backing up/restoring databases, adds a new dialog for index creation, and ensures main tree control behaves natively on all platforms. [Download - 1.9MB]


• Amnesty Screen Saver 1.1 (free) updates the free screen saver module for Mac OS X that lets any Dashboard widget animate around the screen while remaining functional and active. The company says the utility is "ideal for keeping tabs on widgets that update on a regular basis with status information from the web or a user's computer." Version 1.1 is now built as a Universal Binary and features performance increases, better memory management and numerous bug fixes. The software requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. [Download - 709KB]


• Glass Writer Pro 2.5 ($20) updates the novel writing software, offering an uncluttered interface with 18 different themes. Version 2.5 features side-by-side simultaneous chapter editing, a log window that displays a count of words written per day as well as an average word count, a progress bar, and support for multiple drafts. The application also reads back text to locate errors, includes 10 bookmarks, offers word counts by chapter and book, provides configurable tabbed notes, and offers swap copy and paste. [Download - 4MB (12-inch) and 4MB (15, 17-inch)]


• ScanTango 2.1 ($100-150) makes use of high speed scanners engineered specifically to convert paper documents to PDF. The software supports double-sided scanning, and can distribute scanned items automatically via email. ScanTango features the ability to print, fax, save to disk, and transfer via FTP. Version 2.1 is available as a Universal Binary, prompts users to enter an administrative password during registration, and fixes a bug related to window drawing. [Download - 4.2MB]


• Cheap Impostor 2.5 ($35) is a simple alternative to other page imposition software, avoiding most high-end features while focusing on the creation of booklets and magazines. The update fixes a long-standing bug with Adobe-generated PDFs that previously required an awkward workaround involving printing to PDF within Preview. Cheap Impostor offers the ability to reorder pages and supports automatic as well as manual duplex printers, with and without collation. [Download - 518KB]

Filed under: software
Other story tags: Other Applications