News Archive for 07/01/15

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Clarity Legal unveils DepoSmart

01/15, 6:40pm

DepoSmart released

Clarity Legal Software has unveiled DepoSmart, an application for legal professionals designed to read, annotate and print official transcripts. The software can import court transcripts in real-time as a hearing progresses, and attaches files as well as images and videos as necessary. The company's DepoSmart Transcript Viewer enables users to view the associated files for free, while Bundler (Windows only) enables law firms and court reporters to send separate transcripts as well as exhibits together, including viewing utilities if necessary. Documents are encrypted before delivery, according to Clarity, and both DepoSmart applications are Universal Binaries that require Mac OS X 10.4.1. The full version of DepoSmart is available for $600.

Briefly: Beatles on iTunes? 802.11n charges?

01/15, 6:15pm

Beatles coming to iTunes?

In brief: Rumors are flying that Apple may have secured the first direct-download rights to the Beatles' music catalog, and that Apple Corps. will launch the music on Valentine's day via the iTunes Music Store with three months of exclusive access iTunes-only access.... Apple is planning to release a software patch next month for most Core 2 Duo Intel Mac owners that will enable 802.11n wireless networking in their systems, but will reportedly charge a fee for those users hoping to network with third-party devices.... Newton Peripherals is offering its new MoGo Dapter and MoGo Mouse X54, a three-button Bluetooth mouse that users can stow away inside a laptop's ExpressCard or 54 Card slot.... Big Nerd Ranch today announced the first of its 2007 dates of PostgreSQL Bootcamp, its PostgreSQL training that spans from April 23-27, 2007.

Amadeus Pro 1.0 enhances large sound edits

01/15, 5:40pm

Amadeus Pro 1.0 released

HairerSoft has released Amadeus Pro 1.0, its multitrack audio editor for Mac OS X. The software features direct-to-disk capability as well as waveform caching, enabling users to perform edits on large sounds -- those typically greater than 2GB -- at a faster rate. Key features of Amadeus Pro 1.0 include a simple Mac OS X user interface, multitrack editing/recording, batch processing as well as conversion, and sound de-noising and repairing. The application supports a variety of sound formats which include AIFF, Multichannel Wave, MP3, MP4, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, SoundDesigner II, QuickTime, and Apple CAF. The latest release also includes a 'favorite actions' palette alongside various audio analysis tools. Amadeus Pro 1.0 is priced at $40, with upgrades for existing Amadeus II users available for $25. The software requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Apps: Stellar Phoenix; PTHPasteboard

01/15, 5:25pm

Phoenix; PTHPasteboard

Stellar Phoenix ($40) salvages lost, deleted or formatted digital images from external storage media including CF cards, SD cards, and Memory Sticks, according to the developer. Detectable images start with universal types such as JPEGs and TIFFs, but also extend into proprietary formats such as Canon, Nikon, Minolta and Sigma. [Download - 5.6MB]
PTHPasteboard 4.1 (freeware) keeps track of all data sent to the Clipboard, ensuring that nothing copied is casually overwritten. Version 4.1 includes a "Show Pasteboard Menu" option for Menubar images, as well as an "Add to Custom Pasteboard" option in the general menus. The latest release also aims to make the Tooltip Preview more attractive. [Download - 2.2MB]
RWThemeMiner 1.3 ($15) is a theme-editing assistant for RapidWeaver, linking the software with third-party image- and text-editing programs for rapid replacement. The latest revision optionally launches ThemeMiner from within RapidWeaver, and enables users to view as well as open folders and themes. [Download - 3.37MB]
FmPro Layout Diff 1.0 ($50) extracts and compares fields from FileMaker 7, 8, and 8.5. Resulting data is displayed in a column that is exportable, and object names in FileMaker 8.5 are shown for the entire layout without the need to click on them individiually in FileMaker. The program is a Universal Binary, and requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later. [Download - 2.4MB]
Osk 4.3 ($40) is a genealogy program that also keeps tracks of unusual relationships, such as adoptions, friends, and same-sex marriages. Osk 4.3 is a Universal Binary that runs natively on Intel-based Macs, and improves the speed of all major functions. Osk also supports toggling the display of facts such as job, gender, and education in family trees. [Download - 5.6MB]
OnAirRecorder 1.5 ($12) is a timer and recording controller for QuickTime, functioning with both the Pro and free versions of the Apple software. OnAirRecorder 1.5 adds a toolbar, new preferences and a help menu, as well as an "Override Time" feature that enables users to a separate time from the one used by the operating system. [Download - 3.1MB]

Solid Year intros keyboard with webcam, speakerphone

01/15, 5:00pm

Solid Year Webcam Keyboard

Hoping to create the perfect environment for frequent instant messaging users, Solid Year has developed the ACK-2230UMSP, a keyboard that combines video and voice in a single controller. The special input device is the first known keyboard to include a webcam, which is concealed in a flip-up swivel stand to maintain privacy as well as provide a more comfortable viewing angle. Voice chat is equally accounted for, says Solid Year, by an integral microphone and speaker. VoIP is a special priorty, as ten buttons are dedicated to Skype control alone while twelve more commonplace media buttons can quickly pause or resume music and videos. Onboard plugs will also attach higher-quality microphones and speakers. The company has not provided a price or release date but intends to ship the 2232 to OEMs worldwide.

Hitachi readies three Vista-friendly all-in-one PCs

01/15, 4:35pm

Hitachi Prius Vista PCs

Accompanying similar releases by fellow Japanese firms Fujitsu and NEC, Hitachi on Monday previewed a set of computers tailored to Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Vista. Its new Prius One W is a showcase for the Media Center features of Vista Home Premium and incorporates up to two tuners, digital and analog, for playing and recording live TV. Appropriately, the system revolves around a 20-inch widescreen LCD and stores up to 320GB for video recording. The One W will be available in Japan at the same time as Windows Vista on January 30th, shipping in either a basic W35 model with a 3.06GHz Pentium 4 and single tuner or the W37, with 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo and dual tuners.

For core computing, Hitachi says it will also launch the Prius One S, a 17-inch standard ratio all-in-one with a more modest 250GB hard disk and less powerful processors. A base model with a 2.53GHz Celeron D and no tuner will ship on January 30th, as will a 3.06GHz Celeron D edition with a single digital tuner.

Nokia creates trio of designer Bluetooth headsets

01/15, 4:00pm

Nokia BT Headset Trio

Nokia has updated its Bluetooth headsets with three new models meant to be both light and stylized. The basic BH-100 is designed for newcomers to earpieces who want a simple device, weighing only 11 grams (0.4 ounces) and shipping with a variety of different-colored earloops for personalization; it lasts for 6.5 hours on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery. It will ship early this year for an unspecified price.

More advanced are the BH-201 (pictured) and BH-301, each of which add more complex voice activation, dialing, and volume controls. The former has three different earbud sizes and an earpiece wheel that spins for an exact fit, lasting 5.5 hours per charge; the 301 boosts longevity to 7 hours and is customizable with multiple covers. Both will be ready alongside the BH-100 early this year. Photos of all three are available after the jump.

Aspyr ships Prey for Mac

01/15, 3:50pm

Aspyr ships Prey for Mac

Aspyr Media today announced the Mac version of Prey� has shipped to retail outlets around the US, following the public release of the Prey demo last Friday. Prey is described as a "groundbreaking first-person shooter that turns the genre upside-down with new gameplay features and next generation graphics. Breaking the traditional first-person shooter format, Prey introduces innovative gameplay elements including wall-walking, portals, spirit-walking and gravity flipping, which allows for insane eight player deathmatches. Prey tells the story of Tommy, a Cherokee garage mechanic stuck on a reservation and going nowhere. His life changes when an otherworldly crisis forces him to awaken spiritual powers from his long-forgotten birthright. Abducted along with his people to a menacing mothership orbiting Earth, he sets out to save himself and his girlfriend and ultimately his planet." Multiplayer support for Prey provided by GameRanger. Prey ($50) requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later and a 1.8GHz G5- or Intel-based Mac.

Apple moves to protect iPhone UI

01/15, 3:30pm

Apple protects iPhone UI

It's been less than a week since the iPhone was announced and the product is not even expected to ship for another six months, but Apple is aggressively protecting its Mac OS X-like interface on the iPhone. A group of users has already developed a skin for Windows mobile that enables users to mimic the iPhone interface, but one website that posted screenshots and links to the hack has already been threatened by Apple and its legal team. IT Pro reports that Apple has "engaged in fighting talk" over screenshots and a link to XDA-developers forum that describes the Windows mobile hack. Apple's law firm O'Melveny & Myers LLP has sent Paul O'Brien, founder of MoDaCo, a virtual Windows mobile community, a letter demanding that the website operator remove screen shots showcasing the mimicked interface as well as the link to the offending website.

Audiovox unveils second-gen XM2go, XM stereos

01/15, 3:30pm

Audiovox X2G and XM Stereo

In a major expansion of its models, Audiovox has just revealed a slew of devices that tap into XM Satellite Radio's network. The X2G-100 (pictured) is the second iteration of the company's XM2go portable XM receiver and adds a new set of headphones with a built-in antenna, greatly improving reception when on foot. It also trades the silver of the pioneering model for a metallic black. The X2G should be available in February but has not received a price.

The electronics maker has also created a new line of XM stereos built around a variant of the radio network's XM Mini-Tuner known as the CNP2000 ($30). Five models -- ranging from the XR100 Desktop Radio to the DV7600XM Home Theater System -- can all accept the pocket-sized XM adapter, which instantly adds XM tuning without the need for a dedicated receiver. Audiovox did not commit to a time window for a launch but says all its offerings will be ready soon. Click through for photos and summaries. [via Orbitcast]

Adobe releases Digital Editions for Mac beta

01/15, 3:25pm

Adobe Digital Editions

Adobe has released Adobe Digital Editions, allowing users to read and manage eBooks as well as other digital publications. The software is built from the ground up as a lightweight rich internet application that works online as well as offline, according to Adobe, supporting both PDF and XHTML-based content. The company has released the software as a 2.5MB download that includes Adobe Flash Player 9. Adobe Digital Editions requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

Apple "bends" to Cingular for iPhone deal

01/15, 3:15pm

Apple "bends" to Cingular

Apple "bent" to Cingular with its multi-year exclusive U.S. contract for its entire line of iPhone models, according to Glenn Lurie, Cingular's president of national distribution. "I'm not sure we gave anything," Lurie said, referring to Cingular's side of the deal with Apple for the company's new cellular handset. "I think they bent a lot." Apple's contract with the cellular carrier covers "all models" of the iPhone, including several other devices in the works that could debut in the near future, according to the Cingular executive. Apple's contract doesn't extend outside the U.S., however, leaving the Cupertino-based company free to choose its own carriers overseas.

IOPS demos ultra-thin, iPod-influenced media player

01/15, 2:30pm

IOPS X11 Media Player

The Korean handheld producer IOPS today provided a glimpse of its upcoming X11 media player. Built with a circular navigation pad similar to that of the iPod, the aluminum-clad device is one of the slimmest video-capable players in existence at 0.35 inches thick, the company argues. AVI, DivX, MPEG-4, WMV, and XviD video is supported at a full 30 frames per second on the 1.3-inch LCD. IOPS' device will also play music in MP3, OGG, and WMA forms and provides JPEG photo viewing as well as an FM tuner. Battery life and pricing remain unknown, but the X11 will ship soon in 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB editions. A Korean release is planned and will likely be followed by a North American introduction at a later date.

Mask-R-Aid 4.0 exports all images, masks

01/15, 2:25pm

Mask-R-Aid 4.0 released

True North Software has released Mask-R-Aid 4.0, updating the image mask creation utility with the ability to export all images and masks. The latest release also includes a new Mask-R-Aid document to save all images and settings in one file, which will form the basis of many new features in the 4.x series of Mask-R-Aid, according to True North. The application provides three different converter algorithms for creating masks which include 'Flat Mask,' 'Edge Blend,' and 'Grayscale Edge Blend.' The Flat Mask converts every non-white pixel to black, while the Edge Blend changes all interior pixels to black and all edge pixels to a medium gray. The Grayscale Edge Blend allows users to change all the interior pixels of an icon to black and all edge pixels to a grayscale value based on the corresponding pixel in the icon image. Mask-R-Aid 4.0 is available for $15, and requires Mac OS X 10.2 or Windows 2000/XP or later.

NVIDIA preparing GeForce 8300, 8600 cards?

01/15, 2:05pm

NVIDIA Preps GeForce 8600

Video chip designer NVIDIA is in the finishing stages of developing more mainstream GeForce 8-series cards, according to a reported leak by Chinese site Beareyes. The GeForce 8600 (shown) and 8300 will occupy the mid- and low-range areas respectively, adding the unified shader hardware of the GeForce 8800 to the rest of NVIDIA's cards while cutting down on the complexity that adds to the overall cost. The 8600 will use 64 shader units at most, half that of the range-topping 8800 GTX; the 8300 will use half again at 32, Beareyes claims.

Each model line will in turn be split into different speed grades, the site reports. The 8600 will be available in a 350MHz GT version with 48 shaders as well as a 500MHz Ultra variant with the full 64 shaders, while the 8300 is divided into the GS and GT editions clocked at 500MHz with 24- and 32-shader chips respectively. Memory will also be clocked as low as 1GHz for the 8300 GS and as high as 1.4GHz for the 8600 GT. All four editions are expected to debut in early March at prices of $79 and $99 for the 8300 series as well as $129 and $179 for the 8600 series. A lower-cost 8800 GTS with 320MB of memory (down from 640MB) will also be ready for $299. [via The Inquirer]

Miglia unveils DialogPhone, Dialog+

01/15, 1:45pm

DialogPhone, Dialog+ debut

Miglia Technology has unveiled the DialogPhone -- a cordless phone that offers iChat AV and Skype integration for unlimited free chatting to anywhere in the world -- and the Dialog+, which offers a wire-free signal that covers up to 80 feet from a Mac or PC while allowing users to select Skype or Address Book contacts using the arrows on a phone. The DialogPhone supports free calls worldwide via Skype and iChat AV with no cables, integrating with Mac OS X as well as Skype and iChat. The Dialog+ provides free calls worldwide through Skype alongside wire-free phone compatibility using Skype. The Dialog+ includes a battery that can charge via USB, a keypad to use for Skype Out calls, and the ability to record Skype as well as iChat conversations on Mac systems. Both devices require Mac OS X 10.4 or later on a G4, G5, or Intel-based Macs with a broadband internet connection and USB 2.0 connectivity. The DialogPhone is priced at $85, while the Dialog+ is available for $120.

Fujitsu readies all-in-one HDTV PC, Vista notebooks

01/15, 1:35pm

Fujitsu HDTV Media PC

Fujitsu today introduced its first 2007 computers, including a rare hybrid HDTV and PC. The DESKPOWER TX90U is one of the first all-in-one computers to include a full-size HDTV screen: measuring 37 inches, the panel is capable of a true 1080p resolution and is large enough to watch from a comfortable distance, Fujitsu says. The computer inside is similarly designed to play and record HD video. A Blu-Ray drive is built into the PC component of the higher-end TX95 models for playing and authoring up to 50GB dual-layer discs; every model, the company says, accelerates playback through Intel's new, lower-cost 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics chip with 256MB of memory. A minimum 400GB hard drive and a digital TV tuner add PVR functions to the computer, which can record any analog signal as well as over-the-air digital broadcasts. Fujitsu will ship the DESKPOWER to Japan by February, with a basic model using a DVD-RW drive and 1GB of memory shipping for $4,125 and a 2GB Blu-Ray version retailing for $4,980.

Details of the company's new notebooks can be found after the jump.

Text Wielder creates custom OS X services

01/15, 1:25pm

custom OS X services

Tinnef Software has released Text Wielder, a text processing application which can be used to create and provide custom services via the Mac OS X service menu. Services can be used to process text, generate and open URLs, generate and execute Applescripts, display processed text in a dialog box, or create new text files. The Text Wielder service menu can be edited using the built-in Service Manager which allows users to add, rename, and remove services from the service menu. Text Wielder comes with over 120 services and users can create their own using SFRL(Simple Find and Replace Language)*, a new technology made specifically for Text Wielder. The application includes services for search at Google.com; search the Internet with Sherlock, clean up an email, get a map for a zipcode or city, track a Fedex/UPS/USPS Package on the Web, look up a stock quote, and more.

New MoGo Bluetooth mouse, adapter

01/15, 1:10pm

MoGo mouse and adapter

Newton Peripherals, formerly just the maker of the MoGo Mouse BT, has expanded its product line with the new MoGo Dapter and MoGo Mouse X54. The latter is a three-button Bluetooth mouse, which stores inside your laptop's ExpressCard or 54 Card slot, charging at the same time. Like the BT, the design of the X54 is so thin that the scrollwheel has been replaced with a touch-sensitive surface. The pictured MoGo Dapter, meanwhile, can add Bluetooth 2.0 support to virtually any recent PC or Mac. The adapter is just 0.4 inches long and plugs into a USB port, for a maximum throughput of 3Mbps. Up to seven devices can pair with the unit. Windows 98SE or Mac OS X 10.2 is required. The Dapter is selling for $50; the price of the X54 is unknown, but the BT sells for $70 at Gateway.

Launch2net adds ExpressCard support

01/15, 12:35pm

Launch2net, ExpressCards

Nova Media has announced that its launch2net software supports both currently available ExpressCards, which include the Novatel XU870 and Option's GlobeTrotter Express 7.2. Launch2net already includes all the necessary connection settings for network providers ranging from Alaska to New Zealand, negating the need to look up these settings or seek non Mac-friendly tech support for aid, according to the company. The software supports numerous mobile phones, USB modems, and old PC Cards for Mac users who cannot use an ExpressCard. A fully functional demo is available on launch2net's website, and the full version is available for $100.

LightSpeed 2 offers Web store module

01/15, 12:20pm

LightSpeed 2 released

Xsilva has unveiled its LightSpeed 2 point of sale and Web store software for Mac OS X. LightSpeed is designed as a business retail application with an active network of more than 100 resellers with wide support from the Small Business team at Apple, according to the company. The Universal Binary application runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs, offering a new browser that enables business owners to browse the business like iTunes, as well as an integrated Web store and a revamped 'floating' point of sale screen. The company adds that the LightSpeed Web Store allows business owners to generate and maintain a fully-customizable PHP and CSS-based e-commerce site from a LightSpeed database with a single-click. Orders are also downloadable via a single-click and processed using LightSpeed�s built-in credit card processing. The new browser features live previews of products, customers and sales documents with product as well as customer images that users can capture on-the-fly with an iSight camera. LightSpeed 2 ($750) and LightSpeed Web Store will ship in February, with free upgrades available for LightSpeed 1.3.x users.

Zigview S2 expands shutter, LCD options for SLRs

01/15, 12:10pm

Zigview S2 DSLR screen

While most professionals would swear by the viewfinders in their SLRs, the Zigview S2 by Argraph gives you the option of treating an SLR like a compact. The S2 plugs directly into compatible eyepieces, displaying images on a 2.5-inch LCD that can be rotated 300 degrees, or flipped up and down 180. The display can be separated entirely using a video transceiver cable, extending up to 40 feet away. The S2 also expands possible shutter options, offering release by cable, motion detection, and interval (0.5 seconds to 99 days). Only certain cameras can take advantage of this. Adorama and B&H Photo are selling the device for $470.

Briefly: Q1 financials; iPhone engineers

01/15, 12:00pm

Q1 financials discussion

In brief: Apple is scheduled to hold as well as webcast a conference call to discuss its fiscal year 2007 first quarter financial results on Wednesday, January 17th at 2:00 p.m. PST.... Apple has reportedly put out a call for engineers to help improve its iPhone prior to the scheduled June launch date.... Roxio, which shipped its Mac TiVoToGo last week without a promised custom TiVo DVD menu theme, has offered the editable photoshop document as a digital download with installation instructions.... Apple has posted CEO Steve Jobs' keynote address at the Macworld Conference & Expo on its iTunes Music Store.... Wingspan today announced that it will support Apple's iPhone by allowing users to plug the cellular handset into its iLoad device, copying content directly to the iPhone without the need for iTunes or a computer.... Advanced Computer Innovations has expanded its internet-based 'instant online conversion' service, adding support for Microsoft Office 2003 XML as well as several other new file formats.

Beatles to appear on iTunes on Valentine's Day?

01/15, 11:30am

Beatles on iTunes Feb 14

Apple, Inc. may well have secured the first direct-download rights to The Beatles' music catalog, according to a source speaking with extensive Beatles news site Abbey Road Best. The deal would see music label Apple Corps. launch its initial venture into online music on Valentine's Day, timing the release to help promote the recent Beatles and Cirque du Soleil collaboration album Love. Apple, Inc. would be granted three months' exclusive access not just to Beatles downloads but also the newly remastered versions of the British pop group's earlier albums in any form, Abbey Road Best claims.

Read through for more details.

NEC releases new Blu-Ray computers in Japan

01/15, 11:15am

NEC Blu-Ray computers

A slate of new computers have been released in Japan by NEC. Click through for more photos. Chief among these may be the new LaVie C LC950/HJ laptop, which not only has an internal Blu-Ray drive, but also an HDMI output for external displays. Resolution on the PC's own 15.4-inch LCD is limited to 1280x800 though, so it can't display 1080i or 1080p. It runs on Windows Vista and uses a 2GHz Core 2 Duo and a Radeon X1600.

Another Blu-Ray computer is the Valuestar W VW990, an all-in-one desktop with a 32-inch, television-style display, which sits on top of the console-like case. It further comes equipped with a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo, a GeForce Go 7600, 1GB of RAM, and two 400GB hard drives. Resolution is again something of a constraint, with the slightly better figure of 1360x678.

Toshiba intros Qosmio G30 with HD DVD burning

01/15, 10:55am

Toshiba Qosmio G30 97A

Toshiba today revealed the Qosmio G30/97A, the world's first notebook with the ability to write HD DVD-R discs. Previously hinted at during the company's CES announcements, the updated G30 can now burn discs in the next-generation format as well as DVDs and CDs, allowing for much larger backups and for owners of HD video cameras to author movies at their native resolution; a single-layer 15GB HD DVD-R will hold 2 hours of footage, Toshiba says. The new model retains the 2GHz Core 2 Duo, GeForce Go 7600 graphics, and HDMI video output of its predecessor but offers much larger storage, containing as much as 320GB spread across dual hard drives. A digital tuner is integrated and will record as much as 37 hours of HDTV or 362 hours at analog resolutions.

The 97A version of the Qosmio is equally the first PC from the company to ship with Windows Vista, bundling the media-friendly Home Premium edition of the OS. Office 2007 Personal will also make its first appearance with the company. Toshiba expects to ship the new G30 in Japan at the same time as Vista on January 30th for an unlisted price; a North American equivalent is certain and should be ready soon afterwards.

Apps: Tidy Up!, PodTube 2, Magnet

01/15, 10:50am

Tidy Up! 1.2.2; PodTube 2

Tidy Up! 1.2.2 ($30) searches for duplicate files and folders while sorting by application, type, creator and other optional criteria.The update adds several bug fixes to remedy occasional crashes caused when using Move or handling AAC files, and enables users to search for song files with zero length. [Download - 4.3MB]
PodTube 2 ($5) is a conversion program for videos from MySpace, YouTube and Dailymotion that encodes for iPods or adds clips to an iTunes library with a single click. PodTube 2 is a major revision, adding MySpace and Dailymotion support while offering three different quality levels. The latest revision also adds FLV2 support and remembers settings between sessions. [Download - Size Unknown]
A Better Finder Rename 7.6 ($20) renames multiple files at once, negating the need to handle each file individually. A Better Finder Rename 7.6 enhances support for a number of digital image types ranging from JPEGs and TIFFs to digital negative formats such as CRW, DNG, NEF and SRF. The software requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. [Download - 2.2MB]
Valentina Office Server 2.5.3 ($300) is a database server that users can incorporate into other applications made with software such as .NET, C++, and Adobe Director. Valentina Office Server 2.5.3 he 2.5.3 Technology Release adds ordering by Temporary Fields, Mac OS X support for PHP 4 and 5, and more than 30 user-requested fixes. [Download - 17MB]
Magnet 1.0 ($30) enables users to add special effects to QuickTime movies by linking them to objects in a frame, such as a person's head or contours. The software supports images, animations, particle effects, and motion blur while enabling users to import media directly from iMovie, iPhoto, or an iSight camera. Magnet 1.0 also supports the creation of extra effects via Quartz Composer. [Download - 2MB]
Aether 1.0b1 (Free) is a logging application for ham radio enthusiasts, offering contact search and sort support. The program imports as well as exports ADIF files, and can export to the 'Cabrillo' format while enabling serial-to-USB adapter users to pull mode, power and frequency data automatically. The software is currently available as a public beta for free until the final version is released. The Universal Binary application requires Mac OS X 10.4.4 or higher. [Download - 1.7MB]

BitJazz updates SheerVideo codec

01/15, 10:35am

BitJazz updates SheerVideo

BitJazz has announced a new version of SheerVideo, its proprietary video codec that will soon be available in Intel and Univesal Binary versions. SheerVideo says its lossless format, which is aimed at professionals, is half the size of conventional formats and twice as fast. The codec is also said to permit "non-destructive" two-way color conversion between RGB and Y'CbCr, which normally results in lost color data as a result of the separate palettes. The Intel and Universal Binary versions of SheerVideo Pro are due to ship by the end of January, and will cost between $150 and $190. The SheerVideo Reader player is available for free.

David Pogue extends iPhone FAQ

01/15, 10:25am

Pogue extends iPhone FAQ

New York Times columnist David Pogue has answered a second round of iPhone frequently-asked questions on his blog after first handling the device and reading numerous questions from commenting users. The iPhone "might" support Flash as well as Javascript when it launches in June, but will not support Java proper as Apple Steve Jobs referred to the technology as a "big heavyweight ball and chain" that nobody uses anymore. The Cupertino-based company is undecided as to whether users will be able to set iPod-playable songs as ringtones, but will likely support games from the iTunes Store that currently work with the video iPod. The iPhone does not currently support wireless syncing via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and does not include any speed dial features -- much to the surprise of users and Pogue himself. The phone offers several pages of settings, however, and should -- in theory -- support both Google spreadsheets and docs to open Microsoft Word documents and spreadsheets.

Vodafone launches McLaren-influenced cellphones

01/15, 10:20am

Vodafone McLaren Cellphone

European carrier Vodafone today launched a new line of cellphones meant to commemorate the company's link with McLaren, the famous race car designer. Special editions of Sharp's GX29 and 3G-equipped 770SH (pictured), as well as the Samsung Z720, will reflect the Formula 1 team's current chromed silver and red livery, also shipping preloaded with ringtones, visual themes, and a racing game all tied to McLaren's racer. The phones will be available soon for prices near those of the standard phones. Click through for a full photo of the 770SH. [via Pocket-Lint]

Dell sued in Canada over defective notebooks

01/15, 9:50am

Dell Sued in Canada

The Canadian division of Dell is facing a lawsuit filed in Ontario's Supreme Court over the quality of its portable PCs. A group of system owners from the province contend that many of the company's previously launched entry-level notebooks -- including the Inspiron 1100 and 5100 series -- were sold to users despite known design flaws that would overheat the inside of the system, potentially damaging the mainboard and rendering the PCs inoperable. Some Inspirons have also shut down without warning under the stress of the high temperatures, says Joel Rochon of the representing lawfirm Rochon Genova.

"It would appear as though it�s a systemic problem that�s inherent to all of these Inspiron models. At least, that�s the feedback we�re getting," he says.

Although currently limited to those who have talked to the law firm, the suit may reach class-action status in several months and entitle anyone with an affected system to a settlement if the claim is validated. The alleged flaw does not appear to be connected with the recent Dell battery recall, which was ultimately linked to defective Sony batteries.

FileWave ships FileWave 3, Asset Trustee 8

01/15, 9:45am

FileWave, Asset Trustee

FileWave has released FileWave 3.0 and Asset Trustee 8.0 with features for multiple administrators, concurrent admin logins, hardware discovery and first time deployment. Both software solutions now offers a new FileWave Multi Admin feature that it claims increases productivity by making it easier to use across multiple locations and networks. Additionally, FileWave 3.0 has been re-engineered to automatically install any software or patch from Adobe CS2 to Windows Service Packs on up to 10,000 Macintosh-, Windows- and Linux-based computers and/or servers. Asset Trustee, FileWave�s solution for the collection and management of hardware and software assets, offers a new Asset Trustee Discovery feature to aid in the discovery of computers and network equipment. Discovery will automatically discover and report back all devices on an enterprise�s entire network.

Advenio's MacGourmet 2 recipe organizer

01/15, 9:30am

MacGourmet 2 ships

Advenio last week released MacGourmet 2, a major update to its popular recipe, wine and cooking note organizer. The new release features a new, improved user interface with new ways to search and organize information and a new, faster database. It also adds new display, print and .Mac publishing themes, improves .Mac publishing performance, and offers lots of new meta data like category, cuisine, course, summary and yield. It also adds more flexible recipe scaling and metric conversion. MacGourmet 2, a free upgrade for registered users, is $25. Voluntary upgrades with extra content, themes and an exclusive t-shirt are also available for $10 and $15. Users who purchase MacGourmet or an upgrade bundle before January 31st will be entered into a drawing for one of 2 iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Editions. MacGourmet 2 is a Universal Binary and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Autodesk Maya 8.5 supports Intel Macs

01/15, 9:20am

Autodesk Maya 8.5 ships

Autodesk today announced Autodesk Maya 8.5, the latest version of its Maya 3D animation, modeling and rendering software. Version 8.5 supports Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary, offers industry-standard Python scripting with improved workflows and development productivity, delivers new capabilities for character animation; and features the new Maya Nucleus unified simulation framework: Maya Nucleus allows artists to create elements that interact, in a 3D animation, with other dynamic objects such as fluids, cloth and rigid bodies. Maya 8.5 includes Maya nCloth, which is the first module of Maya Nucleus. With Maya nCloth, artists can quickly direct and control a range of simulations, including cloth, plastic, metal and other materials. A unique air-pressure model enables artists to use any geometry -- whether a closed, sealed volume such as an inner tube, or an open volume such as a balloon -- to create an inflatable object with internal and external pressure.

Imation ships Odyssey removable external hard drive

01/15, 9:15am

Imation Odyssey Drives

Imation today began shipping the Odyssey, its unique take on external hard disks. Instead of tying the hard drive to a specific case and chipset, the Odyssey is a USB 2.0 docking station that accepts hard drives in removable cartridges. This lets owners easily swap hard drives without having to unplug cabling, and also saves the trouble of replacing the entire enclosure and PC interface when new hard drives are upgraded, Imation says. Each drive comes with its own copy of EMC's Retrospect software to simplify automated backups and can automatically apply AES encryption to files for security. The Odyssey ships in 40GB ($249), 80GB, ($299), and 120GB ($349) models and works with both Mac OS X 10.3 or later as well as computers running Windows 2000, XP, or 2003.

ASUS updates Lamborghini notebooks

01/15, 8:45am

ASUS Intros Lambo VX2

System builder ASUS on Monday revamped its Lamborghini VX line with the VX2, an update to the company's distinctive portable built to showcase Windows Vista. Although exact details remain unannounced, the 15-inch widescreen notebook uses the most recent Core 2 Duo processors and updated graphics and is said to improve both in performance as well as security. The system continues its clear links with the Italian automaker and ships with an automotive-grade black or yellow paint finish and a blend of lightweight materials associated with Lamborghini's supercars, including an aluminum-magnesium alloy and carbon fiber. The choice keeps the weight down to under 5.4 pounds despite the large frame, ASUS says. Models should begin shipping today, but pricing will vary by exact models and by region.

T-Mobile offers BlackBerry Pearl in white [U]

01/15, 8:05am

BlackBerry Pearl in White

[Updated with new pricing] T-Mobile this morning began offering a white edition of the BlackBerry Pearl. The new color, appropriately dubbed "pearl white," is unique to the cell carrier and is meant to match the phone's signature trackball. All the bundled accessories have been tinged white to fit, T-Mobile says. The new edition is functionally similar to the existing piano black model and shares the same carrier-specific features, including myFaves support for unlimited calling to five favorites and access to the provider's EDGE Internet access. The new Pearl is available immediately for $150 when linked to a two-year plan, and retails by itself for $350. A full photo is available after the jump.