Entries open for 12th Apple Design Awards...

Apple today launched the 12th annual Apple Design Awards, the company's annual recognition of the best software for Mac OS X. Apple says the awards, which will be announced this year's WWDC in June, will recognize "technical excellence and outstanding achievement in Mac OS X software design and development." Developers can submit their application to one of seven Apple Design Awards "best of class" categories, including Leopard Application, User Experience, Developer Tool, Gaming, Scientific Computing Solution, Dashboard Widget, and Student Application. The deadline is 5 pm PT on Monday, April 23, 2007 and is open to developers worldwide with an active Apple Developer Connection membership.

Apple UK glitch hints at Mac Pro update...

As rumors of an impending update to Apple's flagship Mac Pro desktop systems gather steam, new evidence--including a glitch at the Apple Store--is mounting that Apple may update its like of Mac Pro desktops very soon. Intel on Monday announced two new low-power quad-core Xeon processors and while the low-voltage Xeon processors themselves are unlikely to be used in Apple's systems, the announcement represents the maturation of the quad-core CPU line--indicating that the world's largest chip manufacturer has begun to reach high volume production, which in turn turn would lead to lower pricing for all of its quad-core Xeon chips. In addition, over the past month, Apple has already been offering heavy discounts on its refurbished Mac Pro systems. The strongest evidence, however, came when a glitch in Apple's UK Store search engine showed results that indicated that users could configure the Mac Pro as either either a quad-core or 8-core system.

Apps: Password Repository, Mental Case

• iTunes Statistician 1.3.4 (donationware) is a utility enabling users to view statistics about iTunes listening habits. The software shows the most played song, artist, album, and genre as well as how many songs and how much time users have listened. Version 1.3.4 fixes several minor bugs, including window resizing and handling of unexpected values in the iTunes library file. [Download - 144KB]


• Troi Scout FM 1.0 for FileMaker Pro 8.5 ($40 until April 30th, $60 afterward) enables users to find selected text from any Mac OS X application in a FileMaker Pro database via a keyboard shortcut. Features include adding extra menus to the Services menu of every application, opening the FileMaker Pro application, triggering any specified script, and selecting the action via a menu or a keyboard shortcut. [Download - 1.5MB]


• Password Repository 2.0 ($25) helps users store and manage passwords in encrypted documents. The software saves data on disk automatically, and encrypts information using the Blowfish algorithm. The update supports using categories to organize and sort passwords, and enables users to filter using categories as wella s keywords. [Download - 320KB]


• Mental Case 1.0 public beta (free, expires after three months) is a memory-aid application to gather snippets of information into 'mental notes' which are scheduled by the application for future viewing in flash-card like slideshows. Notes can include text or images, as well as built-in screenshot functionality or captured iSight videos. [Download - 13.1MB]


• PhoneAgent 1.4.1 ($40) is a tool for Phonebook, SMS, MMS, Themes, Calendar, and Wap management of Sony Ericsson T610, T616, T630, T637, Z600, K700i, K750i, K790i, K800i, W800i, W880i mobile phones. PhoneAgent 1.4.1 offers phonebook and SMS management, as well as the ability to compose MMS messages and upload them to the phone. The latest release adds Sony Ericsson W880i support, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later with a Bluetooth-capable Mac or a Bluetooth USB adapter. [Download - 18MB]


• Listen 1.0 (free) is an iTunes controller widget that features a sleek interface. Listen users can play, pause, and maneuver throughout iTunes tracks or view what's hot on the iTunes Store. Pulling down the stage presents songs and albums separated by genre, and clicking on an album art sends users to the real store to hear or purchase the track. [Download - 236KB]

Briefly: Naples store opening; Kiwali promo...

In brief: One avid Apple fan recorded the grand opening of the new Apple Store in Naples, Kiwali announced the start of "The Great Daylight Savings Sale" to coincide with the new start of Daylight Savings Time, and Smart Loops released MIDI Drum Loops vol. 3. eMedia Music has added a new two-volume CD set to its series of music tutorial CDs, Steeprock Media has launched a Web-based "virtual composer" music library, and Wibu-Systems is preparing to showcase a 2GB version of its CodeMeter Stick USB storage device. A video has surfaced on YouTube covering the grand opening of the Apple Store in Naples as an enthusiastic general store manager speaks to charge up employees as well as onlookers.

Generic iPod nano, shuffle clones emerge

Direct clones of Apple's most recent iPods have surfaced, according to Electronista. The Shuffle2-Style MP3 Player is an obvious parallel to Apple's screenless device, complete with an integrated clip and similar playback order controls; a 1GB version ships from the online store for $19 but may require the Shuffle II cradle ($5), an imitation of the iPod shuffle's dock for transferring and charging through USB. Equally imitative is the Nano2-Style MP4 Player, which resembles Apple's mid-range jukebox with only slight differences: a slightly larger screen and data sync through a mini-USB cable separate it from the original. It too is available from DealExtreme with 1GB of storage for $27. The manufacturer of the two devices is unnamed. Visit Electronista for more images.

Gefen HD Mate Scaler cominbes, scales inputs

Gefen is taking pre-orders for the HD Mate Scaler, which automatically combines, upscales and outputs multiple signals to a single DVI connector. Incoming video can be standard- or high-definition, and the resulting images can be displayed at resolutions between 480i and 1080p. While HDMI and HDCP connections are not supported, there are three different inputs, including one DVI and two component. A bundled infrared remote is used to switch between the inputs at will. The HD Mate is said to function with any DVI source or display, including Apple's line of HD DVI monitors. The product is not yet on sale, but Gefen resellers are taking pre-orders for $350.

AssistiveWare to preview software at CSUN

AssistiveWare has said it will preview updates to key software later this month at the California State University Northridge (CSUN) International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference. Titles on display are to include KeyStrokes featuring fully editable keyboards; SwitchXS shipping as a Universal Binary; LayoutKitchen with new symbols for designing panels as well as keyboards; and VisioVoice with enhanced VoiceOver compatibility and speech feedback as users type in various applications. AssistiveWare will attend the conference at the Origin Instruments booth from March 19th to the 24th in Los Angeles.

Elgato terminates Miglia's EyeTV license

Elgato Systems today announced that it has terminated its licensing agreement for EyeTV software with Miglia Technology. Founded in 2001, UK-based Miglia is a manufacturer of both computer and consumer electronics accessories that offers a variety of a variety of multimedia hardware that have been bundled with Elgato's EyeTV software, including TVMini HD+, a small USB device for analog Cable TV, unencrypted digital cable (ClearQAM), and free-to-air HDTV (ATSC) on a Mac. Elgato, in its terse release, said that Miglia can no longer ship, sell or advertise TV Tuner solutions bundled with Elgato’s EyeTV software, but assured existing customers of future support. "Customers using EyeTV with a Miglia TV tuner product are not affected by this change," Elgato said. "Elgato EyeTV will continue to work with existing Miglia products. Elgato will continue to support existing Miglia/EyeTV customers with software updates and improvements."

Apple TV to 'end television'?...

Media hubs such as the Apple TV are the end of the way we currently watch television, Digg.com's CEO said during a discussion panel at the South by Southwest music and technology festival. Jay Adelson, who also helps manage the Internet TV firm Revision3, told his audience that the ability to deliver TV through the Internet to the living room would render the conventional notions of specialty cable and satellite channels obsolete. Content providers are coming to understand that they can't limit content to a particular TV network or medium, Adelson added.

Briefly: MacFUSE update; 16GB flash players...

In brief: Google has posted an update to the MacFUSE open-source project that eases the process of bringing file systems to Mac OS X, Samsung today began sampling a new extra-high capacity version of its moviNAND flash chip, and Xsilva released Beta 1 of its LightSpeed 2.0 point-of-sale software for Mac OS X. The chief of mobile carrier O2 has presented his thoughts on Apple's iPhone, Agfa has unveiled the DC-630i 6-megapixel camera, and Iconkits.com has released two new add-ons with 20 icons each in four different sizes. The Google Mac Blog reports new developments with MacFUSE, including a large set of language bindings available to programmers who want to write file systems. The MacFUSE website also offers an Objective-C library, and developers can now obtain source code for the Spotlight file system.

Ovolab releases Geophoto for photos...

Ovolab today released Geophoto, a new Mac OS X application for browsing, collecting and sharing digital pictures. Ovolab Geophoto displays photos on a three-dimensional representation of the Earth, pinned to the location where each photo was taken. The user can pan, zoom and fly through the photos, thanks to high-resolution satellite images of the Earth. Users can easily drag their pictures to a specific location on the globe in order to "geotag" them. Once geotagged, a picture can be shared with other users and will automatically appear in the correct location on the Earth when opened in Geophoto. Previewed at Macworld Expo 2007 in San Francisco, Geophoto allows users to view the picture in the context it was taken in, and to visually relate the photo to other pictures taken nearby. The software integrates with iPhoto, allowing them to browse albums' photos on the Earth and add geotagging information to photos that are not linked to a specific location yet. It is available for $50.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Soaked! ships

Aspyr Media today began shipping RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Soaked! for Mac, the first expansion pack for RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Soaked! brings an entirely new range of options to the RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 series as players select from more than 50 new rides and coasters, and use the all-new Swimming Pool and Waterfall Designers to create shimmering pools, waterfalls, whirlpools and wave machines. "Get ready for an entirely new RollerCoaster Tycoon experience. It's wet, wild and totally soaked! For the first time, run your own water park ­and ride all the rides with this expansion to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. Celebrate summer as hundreds of peeps catch rays and waves with an amazing lineup of super-splash flume rides, massive water slides, aquatic shows, beaches and more." RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 requires Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later (Mac-specific pricing was unavailable).

Apple TV: will it revolutionize industry?...

Apple hopes its new set top box that streams iTunes content wirelessly from a personal computer to a TV will appeal to the masses when it ships in the near future, but some analysts argue that the device is simply another iteration of similar failed products. "I don't see where people are going to be willing to give up their pay TV subscription and go to the internet for programming [any time soon]," said In-Stat analyst Michelle Abraham. Companies such as Akimbo and MovieBeam enabled consumers to receive content over the internet, but failed to achieve massive success as a result of complicated pricing and a lack of desirable content, according to News.com. Apple, however, is likely banking on the Apple TV's ease of use and setup, coupled with its large content offerings from the iTunes Store and steady pricing structure to entice consumers into its own camp.

"The best applications for Mac" list updated

A Windows expert who switched to a Mac in 2005 has updated his list of "the best applications" for Mac. Dubbed the A-List of Mac Software, Computerworld's Scot Finnie recently evaluated browsing options, screen capture applications, antivirus software, HTML editors, and corporate as well as personal email clients. Applications that made the latest A-List include Safari as the current top browser, SnapNDrag representing screenshot utilities, VirusBarrier X4 for antivirus software, Taco HTML to fill the gap until a better HTML editor surfaces, Lotus Notes 7.0.2 for corporate email needs, and Eudora for personal email management. Software currently under consideration to make the A-List includes Quicksilver, Path Finder, Adium, Apple Mail, NetNewsWire, OmniWeb, Camino, Shiira, Saft, Pagespinner, and Norton AntiVirus 10.0 for Mac.

Apple posts 6 new UK-based "Get a Mac" ads...

Apple has posted six new UK-based "Get a Mac" ads on its website, including three ads that are not based on storylines released in the US. The UK-localized ads feature comedy duo Mitchell and Webb, but Apple may be taking a publicity hit because the Mac character may be too "smug". In February, figures from YouGov's BrandIndex showed that the emergence of the PC and Mac advertising campaign in late January had an adverse effect on Apple's public perception, with its 'buzz' factor dropping from 14 to 8, according to Media Week. The new ads include 'Accident', in which PC falls off a desk because someone has tripped over the power cable; 'Out of the Box', which emphasizes how quickly a Mac can be set up; and 'Networking', where a printer connects to Mac to the dismay of PC, according to Macworld UK.

Nakahara acquires, updates iGet 2.6

Nakahara Informatic today announced its acquisition of iGet, the Mac file transfer tool, from Five Speed Software as well as released a new version: iGet 2.6 introduces a new and more modern look and feel, along with bug fixes and user-requested enhancements. The free update is recommended for all users. iGet is a file transfer tool designed specifically for the Mac; it allows users to log into their accounts on remote Macs and browse, search, and download the files they need. It supports stop/resume of file and folder transfers, displays the real Mac icons and Finder labels for remote files, understands Mac aliases and can perform Mac-specific tasks like putting files into the Trash remotely. Nakahara, which helped transition the code-base to a Universal Binary, plans to announce a beta test program for iGet 3 within the next few weeks. iGet requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later and can connect to Macs running Mac OS X 10.3 or later. A full license is $50.

Helios brings 'tar' unix tool to Mac OS X...

Germany-based HELIOS Software has released the Intel-compatible version of its free backup tool HELIOS Xtar. HELIOS, which provides cross-platform networking, PDF, and image server solutions, says it passing along on "its accumulated development experience to the Open Source community in the form of the free Xtar tool, which is basically the UNIX 'tar' program extended by HELIOS to include full Mac OS X (PPC/Intel) compatibility." HELIOS Xtar for Mac, available for both PowerPC- and Intel-based Macs, stores each HFS file as a double file in the standard "tar" format. Unicode file names as well as all meta data, including creation and modification date‹are preserved. During the restore with Xtar to an HFS volume, the Finder and resource information are written into a valid HFS file--preserving all Mac OS X specific meta data are to ensure that all volumes are bootable after the restore.

EU official lashes out against Apple, iTunes...

Already under pressure from several European countries, at least one high ranking official at the European Union has lashed out against Apple's closed iPod/iTunes music ecosystem. According to German weekly magazine Focus, EU consumer chief Meglena Kuneva is publicly questioning Apple's iTunes: "Do you think it's fine that a CD plays in all CD players but that an iTunes song only plays in an iPod? I don't. Something has to change," EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Kuneva was quoted as saying in a preview of an interview to be published on Monday, according to Reuters.

PanoPreviewer 2.0 offers VR in Photoshop

Pangea Software has released PanoPreviewer plug-in for Photoshop, a new Universal Binary version of the software that allows panoramic photographers to instantly preview their equirectangular images as VR panoramas. Compatible with both Photoshop CS2 and CS3, PanoPreviewer is only available for Mac OS X; an "equirectangular" image, the company says, is a 360 degree panorama that has been unwrapped into a 2D image--much like a map of the Earth unwrapped into a poster. PanoPreviewer streamlines working with VR images by performing all of its rendering using hardware-accelerated OpenGL. The result, the company says, is a VR panorama that is fast and smooth even when displayed full-screen. Previous versions of PanoPreviewer were freeware, but the new 2.0 version costs $20. A demo is available online.