Apps: ZeusDraw, Ulysses, PhotoFract

• ZeusDraw 1.1 ($90) is a free update to the vector drawing and painting software for Mac users. The latest release adds blend modes, drag-and-drop editing of gradients, support for additional mail programs when emailing from within ZeusDraw, and improved bitmap as well as PDF export controls. The update also includes scroll wheel support, window size preferences, and improved update checking. [Download - 6MB]


• Ulysses 1.5 ($110) updates the Mac OS X text editor designed for creative writers. Ulysses 1.5 features an updated user interface to complement major changes made to the core functions of the program, such as a new editor with unlimited inline style formats and synchronized markers as well as paragraph levels. [Download - 6.6MB]


• PhotoFract 2 plug-in ($50) is a plug-in enabling users to create custom fractals and add them to a library. The software manages an unlimited number of layers of fractals, includes 30 basic equations for 'infinite' exploration, and supports combining blurs as well as gradients and layer modes to create unique effects.


• File Synchronization 1.4.2 ($15) synchronizes multiple pairs of files and folders automatically, copying only when a newer modification date is detected. The latest release fixes a problem that prevented registering the computer-wide license, and improves Dutch and Danish localizations. File Synchronization 1.4.2 requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later. [Download - 2.8MB]


• RAGE WebDesign 2.9 ($30) signals a major update to the HTML source code editor with an integrated Site Manager. The free upgrade adds support for Mac OS X 10.4.9, enhancements to code markers for quickly locating specific code, and includes a redesigned user interface. RAGE WebDesign 2.9 requires mac OS X 10.3. or later. [Download - 7.8MB]


• OpenMenu X Rev. 1.04 ($10) enhances the contextual menu building software for Mac OS X, bringing Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard compatibility as well as miscellaneous improvements and a bug fix. OpenMenu enables users to freely customize the Mac OS X contextual menu to open documents, applications, AppleScripts, Service Menu items, and URLS. The software also supports browsing the file system and opening or moving files or folders via the contextual menu. [Download - 6.4MB]

Briefly: Palm up for sale; top wines on iPod...

In brief: Palm may go on sale by the end of the week, the best wines come to the iPod, Softpress and iView announce a discount bundle, and CandyBar gets replacement sticker icons. Though a famous developer of PDAs and smartphones in its own right, Palm may be sold to a competitor by the end of the week, according to an anonymous analyst. The company has reportedly been approached by both Nokia and Motorola, the latter of which is said to be extremely interested. The move would help keep Nokia out of the U.S. business market, and increase Motorola's competitiveness with Research in Motion, creators of the famous BlackBerry. Microsoft would stand to benefit as well, since it would increase the marketshare of Windows Mobile phones versus the threat posed by RIM and Apple's forthcoming iPhone.

New TipKalc, KolorWheel widgets for iPod...

Koloroo today announced the release of the first widgets that run on any iPod with a color screen. TipKalc is an easy-to-use tip calculator with instant check-splitter. "Just spin your iPod's Click Wheel until your bill amount is displayed in the center of the screen. Everything else is automatically calculated for you. It calculates recommended 15% and 20% tip amounts, grand totals, and even splits the check up to five ways." KolorWheel is a color utility that provides scientifically formulated color schemes to match a web page, home decor, shirt or outfit, etc. Both widgets can be loaded onto an iPod from either a PC or Mac and are available at an introductory download price of $5 and $8, respectively: "You select a base color by moving your thumb over the iPod Click Wheel. A suggested color scheme is automatically displayed in the four corners. If you prefer to match your base color to a particular object, you hold your iPod next to it. Again, a suggested color scheme will be automatically displayed in the corners."

SpinPac marketing solution for Mac released

Spin Studio today released SpinPac, an integrated marketing solution designed specifically for Mac industry developers and companies releasing new and updated products. SpinPac offers a set of eight marketing tools and initiatives that help announce a new or updated product to Mac customers around the world, drawing attention to it. SpinPac's integrated services include one-on-one product and marketing consultation; product press release preparation; Mac and Mac OS X Universal badging paperwork preparation and submission; badging implementation consultation; Apple Retail Store inclusion request preparation and submission; product submission to Apple's Mac OS X Downloads; product submission to Apple's Macintosh Products Guide; editorial product review request submissions; and finally, a 90-day product positioning, messaging, and branding refresh service. SpinPac is priced at $2,500, and requires Mac OS X (specific system requirements were unavailable).

3NOD intros UFO-like iPod speaker dock

Home theater firm 3NOD has used its time at CeBIT to reveal the A-2903 speaker system. Primarily an iPod dock, the flying saucer-shaped plays from all dockable versions of Apple's music player and for the iPod shuffle and any other digital music player through an aux input jack. Its atypical design is more than cosmetic, however: the design allows for a top-loading DVD player and an internal subwoofer to bolster the 10-watt satellites. An SD card slot at the back will load music directly, and an AM/FM tuner provides radio.

Availability and pricing of the 2903 was not discussed at the CeBIT expo. However, the company does export its products beyond its home territory and should make the iPod speakers available to other regions with the next few months. [via AVING]

Miglia launches TVMini Express...

Miglia Technology today announced the launch of TVMini Express, The latest addition to the Miglia TV range. The small USB device transforms your Mac into a completely portable digital TV tuner and puts your recorded files directly onto an iPod. The device allows users to watch digital terrestrial TV on your Mac, record it for later viewing or export it for viewing on a mobile device, such as an iPod. TVMini Express features an integrated digital TV tuner as well as Miglia’s new software and full Freeview and TNT support. The company said the device offers real-time display of what is playing on each TV channel and a two year warranty.

Parallels, Boot Camp help Apple make inroads

Apple switch to the Intel-platform and its ability to run Windows (via Boot Camp or Parallels) has helped the company make market share inroads. Last year, Apple accounted for 4.4 percent of all new PC shipments in the U.S. professional market, up from 3.6 percent in 2005 and 3.2 percent in 2004, according to Gartner numbers published by The Wall Street Journal. In addition, Apple's share of total new PC shipments in the U.S. jumped to 5.4 percent last year from 4.5 percent the prior year. The report notes that ability to run Windows was critical to a recent decision by Wilkes University to migrate to an all-Mac campus, saving the University about $150,000, despite having to purchase an additional Windows license for each machine.

Parallels, Boot Camp help Apple make inroads

Apple switch to the Intel-platform and its ability to run Windows (via Boot Camp or Parallels) has helped the company make market share inroads. Last year, Apple accounted for 4.4 percent of all new PC shipments in the U.S. professional market, up from 3.6 percent in 2005 and 3.2 percent in 2004, according to Gartner numbers published by the Wall Street Journal. In addition, Apple's share of total new PC shipments in the U.S. jumped to 5.4 percent last year from 4.5 percent the prior year. The report notes that ability to run Windows was critical to a recent decision by Wilkes University migrate to all-Mac campus, saving the University about $150,000, despite having to purchase an additional Windows license for each machine.

Briefly: LG hybrid DVD drive; Sanyo cameras...

In brief:LG is readying a hybrid HD drive for computers, Sanyo brings its new Xacti cameras to the States, TECSoft trains for AppleScript and Automator, and Tables customers get a bonus. Leaked at CeBIT, new information indicates that LG is preparing a computer drive which will be able to read both Blu-Ray and HD DVD discs; on top of this, it will be able to burn 25GB Blu-Ray discs at 4x speed, finishing in 24 minutes. 50GB discs will write at 3.5x while HD DVD discs will be read-only. The GGW-H10N is based on the Super Multi Blue hybrid movie player, and should be priced in the same $1,200 range when it ships in May.

OWC offers 2GB memory module for MacBooks

Other World Computing today announced that it is the first to offer up to 3.0GB of expansion memory for Apple's MacBook laptops, 50 percent more memory than the 2.0GB maximum factory installed option. The new 2GB module, only compatible with Core 2 Duo-based laptops, offers improved performance in audio/video, photo, and 3D modeling applications. OWC's 3.0GB Memory Upgrade options are also compatible with Apple's professional MacBook Pro and Intel-based iMacs. In addition to being the first to offer the new high-capacity module, OWC memory also costs less than half the price of factory installed and is easily user installable with a free online video installation guide and a lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty. Consumers can also receive Trade-in Rebates of up to $55 per module on their existing factory memory (PC5300 DDR2 SO-DIMM). Pricing is $260 for the 2GB module. and $340 for a 3GB kit (1GB and 2GB modules).

OWC offers 2GB RAM module for MacBooks

Other World Computing (OWC) today announced that it is the first company to offer up to 3GB of expansion memory for Apple's consumer-oriented MacBook laptops. Apple itself only offers up to 2GB of memory when configuring a brand new MacBook, and the 3GB memory upgrade option is also compatible with Apple's MacBook Pro and Intel-based iMac systems. OWC also says its memory upgrades are priced at less than half of what Apple's factory-installed memory costs, and is easy to install via a free online video installation guide as well as a lifetime advance replacement warranty. OWC customers also receive trade-in rebates of up to $55 per module on their existing factory memory, according to the company. Memory modules for Apple's MacBook are available in 512MB ($45) and 1GB ($85) capacities with a 2GB kit (two 1GB module set for $170) also available. Memory upgrades for all Core 2 Duo Intel Macs are available in 2GB ($260) and 3GB (340) capacities.

Apple details WWDC sessions...

Apple has posted information on its website detailing the sessions it will offer developers at its forthcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) scheduled for June 11-15th in San Francisco. The conference is primarily focused on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, which industry watchers expect to ship in April. "There’s no better time to attend WWDC," said Ron Okamoto, vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations at Apple. "Mac, iPod and Apple TV offer software, hardware and content developers an unrivaled opportunity for innovation." The Cupertino-based company silently left out any mention of its iPhone, saying only that the device isn't due to ship until June and that until then the company will refrain from commenting. Apple is planning to offer more than 100 sessions and labs presented by company engineers within six technical tracks to aid developers.

Fastmac expands iPod rehab to 2G Nanos

Fastmac today expanded its "Just Say No To Crack" iPod rehab program to include Apple's second-generation iPod nano players. The service offers same day liquid crystal display repair or replacement of scratched or cracked iPod screens as a Do It Yourself (DIY) kit with tools and instructional videos or via a same day mail order service from Fastmac. The company uses only Apple original parts to guarantee quality as well as fit and compatibility. The iPod LCD rehab program for second-generation iPod nano is available with introductory pricing starting from $50. Each screen carries a one-year warranty and a 30 day money back guarantee.

Pat Sajack's Lucky Letters for Mac released...

Uclick has released Pat Sajack's Lucky Letters for Mac, inviting players to become a contestant on the new computer game show. Users spin the slot machine and guess the lucky letters to win big while keeping an eye out for the lucky chances to double the stakes. Players finish off the game by racing the clock to solve Pat's entire puzzle in the lightning round. Players who win five daily games in a row will be invited to play in a championship game, where clues and answers are tougher to guess and the rewards are raised. The game features three different modes which include the classic game show Lucky Letters, Lucky Ten, and the multi-player game of Lucky Players. "In Lucky Players, you and your friends compete to buzz in first to answer the clues and win the most money. There¹s brain tickling excitement for all in Pat Sajak¹s Lucky Letters game!" Pat Sajack's Lucky Letters is available for $20 via Macgamestore.com, and requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later.

Macessity ships BookShell for MacBook

Macessity today introduced its new BookShell for MacBook, a hard clear case that protects Apple's portable notebook while showing off the laptop. The sleek and shiny armor serves as a shell while maintaining a slim form factor to fit into a sleeve or briefcase. The BookShell features a two piece snap on design, unfettered access to interface ports on the MacBook, thermal relief with an 80-slot ventilation system on the bottom piece, and skid resistant rubber feet. Macessity's BookShell for MacBook is already shipping for $35.

Analyst: Apple TV to see slow start

Apple's new Apple TV set top box designed to stream media wirelessly from a computer to a TV is likely to see an initial sales spike from die-hard Apple fans, according to research firm Piper Jaffray, followed by a slowdown as general consumers find out what the device does and warm up to its usage. "As was the case in the early days of the iPod, Apple resellers in our checks expect Apple TV will need to be more fully understood by consumers before it turns into a major contributor," said Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster. "Almost all (95 percent) resellers in our sample said they expect Apple TV will have a minor impact on business in the near term (the next 1-2 quarters), with Apple faithful buying in an initial surge and others spending some additional time figuring out what Apple TV is." Munster noted however that most Apple specialist stores are optimistic about the long-term prospects for Apple TV, but are aware that it may take some time for the product to find itself in the eyes of the average consumer.

Sofa Control 2.0 supports 40+ applications

CASE Apps today released Sofa Control 2.0, its software that enables users to control any application on the Mac with the Apple Remote. The latest release supports more than 40 applications out of the box, adding advanced support for popular software such as VLC and the Democracy Player. A specialized Front Row-inspired user interface enables users to access application specific menus or select movies and documents, while a virtual mouse makes it possible to access rarely used functions along with a simulated keyboard. A customizable menu includes system level functionality such as a sleep timer, system volume, and display settings. Sofa Control 2.0 also offers support for presentation software such as Keynote, PowerPoint, Acrobat, and VoodooPad while enabling users to highlight important parts of a presentation via the remote. Sofa Control 2.0 is a free upgrade for registered users that requires Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later, and is priced at $15 for new licenses. [Download - 1.8MB]

Macs may surprise 'street' in March quarter...

Apple's Mac sales in the March 2007 quarter may well surpass Wall Street estimates, according to Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster. "Over the last several days we have spoken with 20 Apple specialist resellers," Munster wrote in a research note obtained by MacNN. "With two weeks left in the quarter, most (85 percent) of the resellers in our checks expect March 2007 Mac units will fall slightly (5-10 percent) from December 2006." Wall Street consensus however believes Apple's Mac units will fall around 10 percent quarter-over-quarter in March 2007. "Based on our checks with Apple specialist stores, we are more confident in Apple's Mac unit number for the March 2007 quarter," the analyst noted. In checks with 20 Apple retail stores, 85 percent of resellers expect Mac sales in March 2007 to decline slightly vs. December 2006, while the other 15 percent expect Mac units will remain flat quarter-over-quarter. Resellers generally define "lightly decline" as a 5-10 percent drop from December 2006 to March 2007. "We believe, therefore, Street estimates are achievable and may be slightly conservative."

Analyst: Leopard likely to ship in mid April

Apple will likely ship Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard in mid April, according to research analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, offering an answer to Microsoft's Widows Vista which shipped in January. Munster also noted little-to-no Mac purchase delays as a result of Leopard's impending launch. "We believe Apple's new OS, Leopard, will likely be released in mid April," the analyst said. "Slightly more than half of the resellers in our checks said Leopard related purchase delays are having a slight negative impact on Macs, while slightly less than half said Leopard is not having any impact on Macs." Munster reiterated findings that many professional users are still awaiting Adobe's release of CS3, slated for next week. Piper Jaffray maintains an 'outperform' rating on Apple shares with a $124 price target.

WiebeTech ships v4 Combo drive adapters

WiebeTech today announced that it is shipping v4 Combo Adapters that offer easy access to Toshiba ZIF (ADA-TOSH-ZIF) flash disk storage devices and Disk on Module (DOM) IDE devices (ADAv3-DOM). The company will showcase the new adapters at FOSE from March 20-22nd in Washington D.C., as well as at the CyberCrime Summit on the same days in Kennesaw, GA. The Combo Adapters are designed to work hand-in-hand with the WiebeTech ComboDock v4 or Forensic ComboDock, and each adapter features a sled connector for attaching the required drive. No new drivers are needed for plug-and-play use on any recent operating system, according to WeibeTech, and the adapters work with backup as well as forensic imaging software. The company today also introduced the v4 Combo Adapter Kit no. 4 with a total of eight v4 adapters to image nearly any drive. The v4 Toshiba ZIF adapter is priced at $150, while the v4 Disk on Module (DOM) adapter sells for $100. The v4 connector kit ships for $750.

Myst Online: Uru Live comes to Intel Macs...

GameTap today announced the release of "Myst Online: Uru Live" for the Mac platform in tandem with its latest content additions. Using technology from TransGaming Inc., Intel-based Mac users can now take part in the same massively multiplayer "Myst Online: Uru Live" experience as their PC counterparts, including all of the regularly added features, destinations, and missions. The company said that Mac users can experience the adventure and puzzle-solving elements and "visually-stunning" worlds of "Myst Online: Uru Live" via TransGaming's Cider portability engine which enables PC games to run on the Intel-based Macs. Additionally, new content and upgrades to "Myst Online: Uru Live" will be simultaneous and transparent to users on both Mac and PC platforms.

QuickTime Trojan Horse affects MySpace users

A Trojan horse exploiting a flaw in Apple's QuickTime multimedia software is infecting MySpace.com users' computers, collecting confidential information, including passwords, several security companies said today. Although the flaw was patched earlier in March by Apple with the release of QuickTime 7.1.5, many users have not upgraded, according to Computerworld. "The attack is reminiscent of one late last year that plagued MySpace users and forced the popular social networking site to shut down hundreds of profiles," the publication wrote. "Like that December exploit, today's leverages the QuickTime 'HREF' function, which allows movies to contain URLs or JavaScript that load Web pages into a browser. [However] rather than issue a fix to all QuickTime users then, however, Apple took the unusual step of letting MySpace itself link to the blocking code. In other words, only MySpace users were protected."

Quark debuts Canadian Ed. of QuarkXpress 7...

Quark today announced that it will release a new Canadian edition of QuarkXPress 7, the flagship software for multi-channel page-layout and design. QuarkXPress 7 Canadian Edition will include English and French manuals, spell check and hyphenation functionality and will start shipping to distribution partners in the second quarter of 2007. The company said that QuarkXPress 7 Canadian Edition will provide user interfaces in both French and English, allowing users to switch freely between these languages and use fully localized menus and windows in QuarkXPress. In addition, it supports spell-checking and full text authoring, following specific hyphenation and justification rules for French, U.S. English, and International English.

Apple ships Apple TV, delivery on Mar 23...

Following a series of delays, Apple early Tuesday morning began notifying customers that it has shipped Apple TV, its set-top device device that brings an iTunes library — movies, TV shows, music, and podcasts — plus movie trailers from Apple.com on any compatible television. The company provided customers who placed early orders with a packaging tracking number and a delivery date of later this week. The shipment notice, using FedEx delivery services, indicated a March 20, 2007 ship date with an estimated arrival of March 23. Apple has also updated the Apple Store to reflect a 3-5 day shipment for new orders. Initial tracking details report that package data has been sent to the carrier and that expedited delivery would use FedEx Direct IP distribution (which the company has used many times in the past for direct factory-to-customer delivery), but no further data was available.