Briefly: San Louis Apple Store? OS X 10.4.9...

In brief: An opening date has reportedly been set for an Apple Store in downtown San Luis Obispo, Apple has admitted to serious problems with Final Cut and Mac OS X 10.4.9, and three major corporations are banding together to take on YouTube as well as other video sharing sites. Hammer Storage today unveiled the myshare network storage device that offers up to 2TB of network storage, researchers suspect notebooks will begin outselling desktops by 2011, and Skype has discovered a court ruling that could force cellular phone manufacturers as well as carriers to open up their devices to VOIP (Voice Over IP). A sign in the front of the retail space at 899 Higuera St. in downtown San Luis Obispo suggests that Apple has scheduled to open its latest retail store on June 9th, although the Cupertino-based company itself refused to acknowledge a future store in that location.

Cheetah 4.0 adds character animation tools

Cheetah 4.0 is a major update to the powerful 3D modelling, rendering and animation solution for Mac OS X. The fourth major update to the application brings new character animation tools, including joint-based skeleton system, Forward/Inverse kinematic (FK/IK), IK constraints, a joint tool, vertex weight painting, a new take manager to record independent animation clips, a poser manager to record often used poses for later usage, morph targets for facial animation and muscle animation, and FBX animation export/import. In addition, the software had new interface with redesigned icons, the ability to group different views to a tab view, object grouping, and more. Version 4.0 also offers new modelling tools (transform gadget, ruler) and accelerated SDS modelling on multi-CPU Macs (as well as rendering support for Macs with up to eight CPUs). It is available for $130 and as a $60 update. Discounts of $20 and $10 (respectively) are available through April 1st.

Markzware releases FlightCheck v6 beta

Markzware today released a preview of its preflighting software. Offered as a public beta, FlightCheck v6 beta for Mac OS X Tiger offers a refined interface, Universal Binary support, compatibility with QuarkXPress 7, better font handling, and more. The software offers automatic FlightPlan switching between PDF and native files and is now a Universal Binary, allowing users to preflight QuarkXPress v7 documents from a single and central stand-alone application on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Macs. In addition, FlightCheck 6 supports popular font management tools, such as Extensis Suitcase Fusion, InSider Software Font Agent Pro, Linotype FontExplorer and Apple Font Book. It also automatically creates fonts and images subfolders whenever collecting jobs for print and offers both enhanced font and image search functions (as well as enhanced OPI detection for Color Central). The public beta can be used on a trial basis for a limited time.

Apple TV arrives early for some [photos]...

Dozens of readers on Thursday began receiving their Apple TV set-top box, one day ahead of estimated delivery dates by FedEx. Expected at Apple's retail stores this weekend and in Best Buy stores next Tuesday, the device has received favorable reviews by Walt Mossberg (and PC Magazine), although many note that the devices does have limitations and may not be everyone. At least one company gave all of its employees an Apple TV, following an "exceptionally great" financial quarter for Axosoft and the release of major new version of OnTime for advanced defect, feature and incident management. While TechRestore today posted dissection photos and began posting manuals and tech support docs, we have a some photos of the unboxing.

Google helping, not challenging on iPhone [u]...

The iPhone was a major subject of debate at the Online Media, Marketing and Advertising Expo held this week in Los Angeles, according to the research firm Piper Jaffray, who have also offered commentary on the rumored Google phone. Advertisers are said to have identified the iPhone as a dramatic shift in the world of mobile marketing due to its being one of the few phones capable of browsing the true Internet -- most phones are restricted to browsing WAP sites with little to no graphics, the advertisers say. Combined with the expected popularity of the iPhone, advertisers anticipate increasing the amount of conventional Internet advertising as it should reach an expanded audience.

PC Magazine reviews Apple TV...

One industry analyst this week predicted that Apple TV would see a slow start until more consumers learn what the device actually is, but today PC Magazine posted a review of the set top box that stands to educate consumers about the device. "The basic concept of this product is straightforward: wirelessly stream content from the iTunes libraries of up to five computers as well as play content directly from the box's 40 GB hard drive," the editor writes. "This means you can enjoy almost anything on your PC, be it movies, photos, podcasts, or music, on your enhanced definition and high-definition widescreen televisions." The Apple TV began shipping yesterday, and despite several built-in limitations PC Magazine gave the device a four out of five rating. The $299 Apple TV does everything it is designed to do with "amazing" ease of use, leaving only movie pricing as a major detracting factor for the publication.

Apple TV dissection shows Intel CPU...

TechRestore has dissected the new Apple TV set top box device, revealing the insides of the company's wireless media streaming device via numerous photographs. the photos show the hard drive stuck to the top cover, connected via a thin ribbon cable to the mainboard alongside what appears to be the power supply. All of the Apple TV's ports are neatly aligned and attached cleanly to the mainboard behind a heatsink, the wireless card, and the power supply. The GPU on the dissected model is clearly manufactured by NVIDIA, while the CPU is an Intel chip. [images courtesy of TechRestore]

Miglia bundles Equinux TV tuner software...

Miglia today announced that it has joined forces with software manufacturer equinux, to offer a new software bundle with Miglia's TV tuner products. Earlier this month, Miglia ended its licensing of Elgato's popular EyeTV software, although existing customers were promised continued support. Going forward, Miglia said that TVMini Express, a low cost USB device announced earlier this week, will ship with equinux’s new digital TV tuner software The Tube. The software offers functions to turn any Mac into a portable digital TV tuner, easily allowing users to record their favorite TV shows and export them directly onto an iPod. The Tube software is built using Apple's Cocoa programming language: it can automatically search for available channels, watch TV from anywhere and record TV-shows, and more.

Starz sues Disney over iTunes downloads...

Cable TV network Starz Entertainment said on Thursday that it was suing the Walt Disney Company, accusing the latter of violating an exclusivity agreement by offering its movies through online stores such as Apple's iTunes Store and Wal-Mart's Video Downloads service. Filed in Los Angeles, the suit alleges that Disney broke a 2005 deal which gave Starz sole rights to Disney movies for an unpublicized amount of time on both its TV channel and its Vongo online store.

Apple offers Apple TV User's Guide, support

Apple has added the Apple TV User's Guide to its website, as well as a new support area for the new set top box. The Cupertino-based company officially began shipping the wireless media streaming device yesterday, and has given 3,000 units to brick-and-mortar retailer Best Buy for sale starting on Tuesday. The User's Guide covers Apple TV components, what is required to set up the device, and specific instructions for setting up as well as configuring Apple's latest media offering. Also covered are such important topics as importing content into iTunes; adding movies, TV shows, music, and podcasts; importing as well as syncing photos; using the Apple Remote; watching video; and listening to music, audiobooks, and podcasts. The Apple TV Service & Support area enables users to extend technical support as well as repair coverage on the device, and offers troubleshooting tips alongside a How-to section and a service area.

CS Odessa releases Brainstorm Lite

Ukraine-based CS Odessa has released Brainstorm Lite, used to encourage rapid idea development. The program takes the unusual tack of imposing more restrictions on users, forcing them to quickly come up with thoughts and write them down in a limited span of time. Users are likewise unable to edit or delete their material until a session is over, at which point the software becomes a simple text editor. Files can be saved in TXT or RTF format or exported to outlining and mind-mapping software using the OPML format. The Mac version of Brainstorm is a 32MB download.

Best Buy to offer Apple TV on Tuesday...

Best Buy today announced that the Apple TV, which officially began shipping yesterday, will be available in all 822 of its U.S. stores starting on Tuesday -- two weeks before Apple's estimated March 23rd delivery date. An initial shipment of 3,000 units will limit availability in the brick-and-mortar retailer's giant chain of stores, however, averaging at around five Apple TVs at each Best Buy outlet, according to News.com. The agreement also marks the first time Best Buy will sell an Apple product other than the company's market leading iPod portable media players. At least one industry analyst believes the Apple TV -- which is priced at $299 -- will catch on slowly at first, ramping up sales for the Cupertino-based company as increasing numbers of consumers learn about the device and what it does.

Apple's mobile device charging patent...

Apple's newest patent filing surfaced today revealing a new power smart notebook system that won't power down while an iPod or iphone are connected to it for charging up.The patent, titled "Charging of mobile devices," states that "if a television set were to have the appropriate port, it could be used to charge a connected device, such as a music player. The television set could determine that it is being used as a charging source for the music device and not turn off that port." The patent in its most basic form would prevent notebooks from going to sleep or powering down when peripheral devices are connected, thereby charging the devices even when sleeping or powered off. Interestingly, no television set currently available on the market offers such a port as defined by Apple's patent filing.

ExpressCard-based CodeMeter DRM debuts

Wibu-Systems today debuted its CmCard/E, a new Card module that makes the CodeMeter Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology available under the ExpressCard form factor. The CodeMeter DRM system is a proven and highly flexible protection technology for digital products, according to Wibu-Systems, and has seen strong adoption by many software vendors since its introduction in 2003. "CeBIT of this year is for us the opportunity to enlarge our scope of hardware solutions by releasing the new card module CmCard/E providing a 4 GB of flash in addition to our CodeMeter DRM system," said Wibu-Systems CEO and founder Oliver Winzenried. "With the new card we can support larger storage capacities for all kind of applications including the capability of protecting large audio and video files. CodeMeter security products integrate with all mayor platforms based on Windows, Apple and Linux."

Crumpler unveils The Belly laptop backpack...

Crumpler today unveiled The Belly (site not updated), a new backpack for toting laptops designed to carry chargers as well as discs and paperwork. The bag features a waterproof "ripstop" lining, a "weasel-proof" padded laptop pouch with a removable sleeve, and a large main compartment boasting easy access. Two side pockets hold a water bottle and an MP3 player -- such as Apple's iPod -- in a padded compartment. Shoulder straps feature two loops for pouch attachment and provide fine adjustment via a sliding chest strap. The backpack features a Dr. Bodenschatz back hugger, and seven small internal pockets. The Belly ($225 to $250) accommodates 12-, 13-, 14-, 15-, and 17-inch standard or widescreen laptops.

ReelBean 2.9 adds Apple TV support

JS8 Media has released ReelBean 2.9, a movie converter and player application for Mac OS X that adds an Apple TV export option for converting videos to play through the Cupertino-based company's new set top box. The larger dimensions for the Apple TV are permitted in iTunes 7.1, and the latest release corrects the initial dimensions of the player window when a movie is opened to allow for large dimension movies. ReelBean converts videos to various formats which include iPod, Apple TV, MPEG-4, H.264, QuickTime, AVI, and others. The software also allows users to extract individual tracks -- video and audio -- to separate files for editing. A scene selection drawer complements a video transparency slider, alongside a playback speed controller and the ability to start a video from the last point played when previously opened. Most of the features in ReelBean 2.9 are available for free, requiring Mac OS X 10.4 or later. The pro features are accessible via a $15 license.

Perl Dev Kit 7.0 comes to Mac

ActiveState has released Perl Dev Kit 7.0, a Perl application deployment suite that adds optimization tools and extends platform support to Mac OS X. The kit is designed to make it simple for programmers to build and deploy applications, filtering text interactively with on-the-fly results and improving code performance via coverage experiments as well as hotspot analysis and data set comparisons. Features include PerlApp -- a tool to create and deploy self-contained Perl applications to all major platforms -- as well as PerlNET, which allows .NET Framework code to access Perl code running outside the .NET Framework. PerlSvc converts Perl programs to native Windows services, PerlTray changes Perl programs to Windows system tray applications, and PerlMSI creates MSI files using Perl code. Perl Dev Kit 7.0 Pro Pack is priced at $200 or $50 for a student license.

Facefarm.com face matching service launches...

Facefarm.com has launched a new face matching service with subscriptions for Mac OS X users. The service enables users to post head-shot photographs online for use with address book software. Facefarm.com supports cropping and sizing of images directly on the website, and enables Mac users to automatically keep the faces of all contacts up-to-date in Address Book as well as on a cellular phone. New or updated faces are added to contacts automatically within 24 hours of a detected change on facefarm, and the Mac subscription runs as a simple system preference pane. Subscriptions are priced at $1 per face match, and the service requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.