Briefly: 2G Nano insides; VoIP lab

In brief: iFixit has posted internal photos of Apple's revamped iPod nano digital media player, along with disassembly instructions.... Airvana has established a multimedia/VoIP laboratory to test and demonstrate commercial IP-based mobile broadband 1xEV-DO Rev.... Broadcast Unifying Gears (BUG.tv) today announced that the American broadcaster NBC has chosen its Mac-based Class-BUG HD as its platform of choice for the playout of HD motion graphics during the presentation of Sunday Night Football.... Other World Computing (OWC) today announced 2GB memory upgrade kits for Apple's iMac Core 2 Duo with matched pairs increasing the system memory for as little as $135.... Graphisoft has announced its recent test results of ArchiCAD 10, which runs at up to twice the speed on Apple's new Xeon Quad Mac Pro workstations as compared to previous generation Power Mac G5 desktops.... IK Multimedia has begun shipping its IK Total Bundle series, offering musicians the necessary plug-ins to compose, mix, master, and produce in three packages.

Leica unveils four new cameras...

Leica today issued a final round of camera announcements, with four new cameras sharing the company's traditionalist design that cater to serious amateurs. The 7.5-megapixel Digilux 3 is the company's first purely digital mirror-lens reflex camera that uses a unique blend of old and new technology, according to Electronista. The Digilux 3 features automatic image stabilization as well as a dust removal system with the kit lens, and relies on manual adjustment rings for aperture, exposure, and zoom. The camera comes bundled with a 1GB SD card. Leica has yet to announce a launch date or price for most of its new camera models.

Pentax unveils three new cameras

Pentax today unveiled two new compact cameras in its Optio range, as well as a new entry-level DSLR. The Optio T20 is one of the thinnest cameras with a 3-inch LCD at 0.77 inches, according to Pentax, and uses a touchscreen interface to keep physical controls to a minimum. The 7-megapixel camera also has a lens with 3X optical zoom, 12MB of internal memory, and a movie mode capable of 30 frames-per-second at 640x480. Pentax anticipates shipping the T20 in October for $350. The company also released the Optio E20, a replacement for the virtually identical E10. A 6-megapixel sensor, 3X optical zoom, and 13MB of built-in memory define its largely standard features, according to Electronista. The E10 will ship in the near future and should match the $200 price tag of its predecessor. The 10-megapixel K10D features built-in image stabilization and dust removal designs. The K10D also offers a special 22-bit analog-to-digital converter that can produce 1,024 times more image gradations than more common 12-bit converters, according to Pentax. The K10D is slated for shipment in mid-October for $1,000.

Wingspan takes on Apple's iTV

Wingspan today unveiled iLoad-plus, an add-on for the company's iLoad device that stands to compete with Apple's upcoming iTV. The iLoad-plus transfers audio and video content from a cable or satellite box directly to an iPod or USB-enabled storage device without requiring a computer or an internet connection. The iLoad-plus does not limit content to items available from the iTunes Music Store, as any content available to a subscriber is recordable and playable on an iPod or TV. Wingspan is also planning to make additional music and video content available to users via private cable and satellite channels. The iLoad and iLoad-plus scheduled for availability in November for an estimated $250 and $100, respectively.

Microsoft unveils Zune, online store

Microsoft has formally unveiled its Zune portable media player, offering 30GB of storage for music, photos, and video that will compete with Apple's digital music offering. The Zune player allows users to share contents with nearby Zunes via Wi-Fi, and allows users to flag songs for later purchase. Zune users can download and play complete songs from other Zune owners up to three times over a three-day period. The Zune player also features a built-in FM radio, and incorporates a customizable interface theme, according to Electronista. Microsoft's Zune Marketplace is launching alongside the new player to offer customers entire albums and songs individually -- as Apple's iTunes Music Store does -- or via a subscription service. Microsoft has yet to announce a price for its new digital media player, but said the device will ship in time for the holidays.

Bitbliss debuts Pile & Pop for Mac

Bitbliss Studios today announced Pile & Pop for both Mac and PC platforms. Pile & Pop is a "game of quick and clever thinking for all ages and involves a unique design of picking up and dropping colored bricks around a gameboard. Form sets of colors to 'pop' the bricks and create huge combos to score big points. Sounds simple? You’re in for a surprise! The strategic depth is amazing and time is always against you. Download the free demo to see if you have what it takes." The game features two different modes of play: Arcade Mode is a test of quick thinking and fast reflexes as the pile of bricks grows faster, while in the Strategy Mode, each move you make adds more bricks to the pile, so efficiency becomes the keyword of this high-thinking game. The game features many power-ups which can be earned through smart moves, ranging from stopping time to destroying entire rows of bricks in a fell swoop. Each mode of play has three difficulty levels, making Pile & Pop accessible for all age levels. It is available for Mac OS X 10.2 or later for $20.

Ultralingua releases Dictionaries 6

Ultralingua today released Ultralingua dictionaries 6, offering significant speed increases and enhanced functionality. The update automatically detects the forms of words, and deciphers misspellings made by users. A new sleek interface is designed to ease the process of using Ultralingua on any platform. Ultralingua dictionaries include verb conjugators, number-to-text converters, and extensive language references such as full grammar manuals for several languages. Version 6 is available for Macs, Windows, Palm OS, or Windows Mobile systems for $30 per language. All Mac dictionaries require Mac OS X 10.3 or later.

U.S. backs Apple's iTunes DRM...

The U.S. has asked foreign governments to consider the effects of interfering with popular new technologies, pointing to recent scrutiny of Apple's iTunes Music Store as an example of erroneous judgment. The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust chief Thomas Barnett cited recent foreign proposals to impose restrictions on Apple's iTunes service as an example of strict regulation which could discourage innovation and hurt consumers, according to Reuters. A rise in regulatory second-guessing threatens to harm the consumers it claims to help, according to Barnett, who spoke at an antitrust law conference in Washington D.C. in the presence of antitrust officials from Europe as well as Asia. [corrected]

Creative, Sonos take on Apple

Creative and Sonos today stepped up the competition for Apple following the Cupertino-based company's special event on Tuesday. Creative has unveiled the Zen Vision W (site not updated) widescreen digital media player with a 4.3-inch color TFT display and support for Amazon Unbox. Creative's latest video player will ship in 30GB and 60GB capacities for $300 and $400, respectively. Comparatively, Apple's new video iPods are already available via the company's online store for $250 and $350 in 30GB and 80GB capacities, respectively. Sonos, meanwhile, is offering plug-and-play access to millions of songs via its Sonos System Software 2.0, an update to its digital music system that allows users to connect directly to thousands of radio stations without installing an application or turning on a computer. The new offerings stand to compete with Apple's latest iPods and revitalized iTunes software, as the iPod-maker works to maintain its dominance in the digital music industry.

Digital Heaven releases FCP plug-ins

Digital Heaven today released two new plug-ins for Final Cut Pro (FCP), and launched a free video podcast based on the pro application. The DH_RetroTV plug-in is designed to replicate an old TV, featuring a "Switch On" mode to make the picture appear from black with optional picture scrolling. A "Channel Change" mode is usable between two clips with controls for the amount of wiggling and noise. The company's DH_Dream plug-in attempts to recreate the classic ripple and blur transition commonly used for flashbacks or dream sequences. The plug-in provides control over the amount of wave as well as blur, and features two specially created royalty-free harp glissando sound effects. Digital Heaven also released VideoSpace 1.5, an update to its free widget that calculates the disk space required for video files. DH_RetroTV and DH_Dream are individually priced at $20, while VideoSpace is available as a free download.

Briefly: Apple event at Photokina

In brief: Apple has indicated that it will host a special event on September 25th, one day prior to the start of Germany's Photokina event via an invitation with the phrase "Start photokina a little early this year".... Apple has filed for a "Method and apparatus for filtering email" patent application, which is noted as a continuation application of co-pending U.S. patent application No. 09/881,986, which was filed in June of 2001.... Virgin Atlantic is the third airline to ban passengers from using Apple and Dell laptop batteries on its flights, asking those users to remove the battery from their notebook.... The Iconfactory today released a new family of icons dubbed "Renaissance," bringing the number of unique styles of icons to 19.... Apple has set end-of-life prices for its remaining stocks of older (pre-Showtime) iPods.... PC Magazine has posted a list of steps to take should users encounter a "white screen of death" when downloading video clips onto a video iPod, a problem that has reportedly appeared in various forums around the internet. [corrected]

Grants.gov Mac support questioned

Grumman -- the company responsible for handling the Grants.gov system which allows Windows users to submit grant proposals online -- has lost its contract with the government, begging the question of whether Mac users will remain in the cold before the company picks up to leave on November 1st. The Department of Health and Human Services -- a central manager of the Grants.gov system -- assured Mac users that by November the system would support their needs, according to The Washington Post. The statement was based on promises made by Grumman, leaving Mac users wondering if support will arrive before the company moves on. "That's a question we have," Grants.gov program manager John Etcheverry said. Grumman reportedly delivered its first attempt at a Mac-compatible version of its grant application, which is said to be "early" but "working."

MacFair 2006 returns to California

Macfair.org today announced that the Southern California MacFair 2006 is returning for its fifth year with more than 40 companies participating at the event. Taking place at Cerritos College in Norwalk on November 3-4th, companies such as Xerox, ProVue Development, MacAlly, Prosoft Engineering, FastMac, and others will attend alongside classroom training workshops in Mac labs. Instructors teaching at this year's event include James Rea, Stephen M. Burns, Scott Immerman, Marni Melrose, David Barrett and Michael Levin. This year users not residing in Southern California can attend a limited selection of MacFair seminars at the event live via Skype communications software. One-day advanced online registration for the vendor expo, presentation seminars, and door prize entry is $17, and tickets will be available for $20 at the door.

Sonos updates music player software...

Sonos today released Sonos System Software 2.0, a software update to its digital music system. In collaboration with RealNetworks, Sonos 2.0 enables users to connect directly to millions of songs and thousands of radio stations without ever installing an application or turning on a computer using the company's Rhapsody music service. Other features include alarm functionality, improved multi-national Internet radio, additional language support, and other feature enhancements. The computer-free, direct-to-service architecture of Sonos 2.0 allows users to instantly browse and play music. The Sonos Digital Music System is a wireless multi-room music system with a full-color Controller that lets consumers enjoy digital music all over the house. Pricing for Sonos' music systems starts at $1000 for a Sonos system.

Canon debuts four PowerShot cameras...

Canon on Thursday announced four new cameras in the company's PowerShot line, which occupy the mid-range field of ultra-compact and 'prosumer' models, according to Electronista. All four use Canon's new DIGIC III processor, which Canon says will add hardware-based face detection, improve color accuracy and movie mode quality, and reduces noise at high ISO settings. The 7.1-megapixel SD40, an update to the style-oriented SD30, is designed to be narrow and thin enough to carry in a small bag and, while limited to 2.4X optical zoom, has a high ISO 1600 sensitivity suitable for low light. It will ship in October for an unspecified price in four distinct colors. Canon's SD800 IS, due in October for $450, is the first SD-series camera to include a wide-angle lens for panoramic shots; it also features image stabilization, a 7.1-megapixel sensor, and a 3.8X optical zoom.

Apps: Photoshop, Intaglio, MediaCentral

• Adobe Photoshop 9.02 (free update) fixes a number of problems and includes all the fixes contained in the earlier Photoshop 9.0.1 update. It includes fixes for crashes when encountering unsupported file types through the Acrobat Touchup workflow; supported files that incorrectly produced an "unsupported color space" message; opening TIFF files with layer data greater than 2GB; and a printing issue that could cause banding when using inkjet printers with Mac OS X v.10.4 has been resolved. [Download - 24MB]


• Intaglio 2.9 ($90) is a free update the modern MacDraw-like drawing application. Version 2.9 now includes improved pattern functions, including dozens of predefined patterns in the toolbar; new basic slideshow presentation funcions (integrated with ClarisDraw import); new support for CMYK and extended dynamic range images such as OpenEXR and Camera RAW (requires Mac OS X 10.4, Tiger); and improved PICT image export for QuickDraw based applications (e.g., Microsoft Word). It requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later and is a Universal Binary. [Download - 5.4MB]


• MediaCentral 2.2 ($30) is a media center solution for the Mac, allowing you to play movies, DVDs, IP TV streams, live TV streams (DVB-T). listening to digital radio channels, enjoy picture galleries, slideshows and more. Version 2.2 is now offered in French, Italian, Danish, Russian and Traditional Chinese (however, the manual is still available in English as well as German). It also includes many minor enhancements, improved stability and bugfixes. [Download - N/A]


• DiscLabel 3.3.2 ($30) updates the application that allows users to create, print, & share CD labels, jewel case inserts, and DVD covers; it fixes the import of track lengths from the new iTunes 7, as well as a bug related to .Mac sharing of templates. The company also released Music Pack 3 ($15), a new DiscLabel Template Pack that contains 15 music-themed designs for CD and DVD labels and packaging. Music Pack 3 is accessed from within the program by selecting it in the Template Category menu. DiscLabel requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. [Download - 12MB]


• wKiosk Browser 4.6 ($70) is a solution for presenting Web-based content (HTML, Flash, PDF, videos, etc.) and applications in a safe and stable way on public access terminals with or without access to the internet. It leverages the Safari engine and users can individually restrict access to Web sites, the operating system, system settings, and applications. Version 4.6 features an updated user interface, better timeout management, improved favorites management, better URL control, AppleScript support, and more. It requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 and is a Universal Binary. [Download - 4.6MB]

Briefly: Apple patents, Jobs on CNBC

In Brief: Apple today filed a continuation-patent application for ‘Integrated computer testing and task management systems’ as well as a new patent for ‘Automated creation of media asset illustration collage’.... One user has posted an interview with Steve Jobs on CNBC in which he discusses the new iPod/iTunes announcements as well as the stock grant irregularities.... iFixit has posted the first internal photos of Apple's 'Completely Remastered' iPod nano, along with disassembly instructions and has announced repair parts for the new Nano will be available immediately.... PC Magazine has posted a first look/review of the 8GB iPod nano, which received a 4.5 rating (out of 5).... Other World Computing (OWC) is offering 2GB memory upgrade kits for Apple's new iMac Core 2 Duo (1.83-2.33GHz--all sizes) starting at $260 with a Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty as well as offering 2GB modules for $740 and 1GB modules starting at $132.

Miglia debuts Diva 2.1 speaker system

Miglia today announced Diva 2.1, a stylish, contemporary-looking set of ultra-compact speakers. The solution uses two satellite speakers (1.5-inch drivers) and a subwoofer (2-inch driver) that ensures music has a powerful bass and spoken word is delivered in rich, deep tones, according to the company. The subwoofer is encased in an unique aluminium tube for a stylish look. Diva 2.1 allows users to playback music with a warm, clear sound and reproduces high sound quality from any source through a standard 3.5mm speaker jack. Each speaker features 3 watts of power and the subwoofer delivers 6 watts for a total of 12 watts RMS; the speakers offer a frequency response of between 38Hz and 20KHz. Diva 2.1 is available now for $100 and comes with a two-year warranty. It can be connected to any iPod, PC or Mac.