EU investigates Apple, may levy £323m fine...

Despite a landmark agreement with EMI to offer DRM-free music via iTunes, European Union regulators are investigating Apple's iTunes Store for possibly violating competition laws, and said that they object to the Cupertino-based company's practice of forcing consumers to purchase songs from its iTunes Store only in their home country. The European Commission sent a letter outlining the accusations to Apple as well as major record companies -- including Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music, and EMI Group, according to the Associated Press. A spokesman for the EU competition commissioner says Apple's arrangements restrict music sales because "consumers can only buy music from the iTunes store in their country of residence." Companies that breach competition law face a fine of up to 10 percent of annual turnover, which according to the Times Online would total roughly £323 million.

ModBook gets upgrade, due to ship in May

Axiotron today announced that it has doubled pen pressure sensitivity on its ModBook Mac tablet line to 512 levels, but pushed back the shipment date to May of this year. The updated pen offers users of applications such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Painter improved sensitivity and control of pen strokes. Axiotron is offering the free upgrade to new customers and is retroactively applying the change to all ModBook orders placed since its introduction, which accounts for moving first customer shipments to May of 2007. Axiotron's ModBook features Wacom Penabled hardware, the same technology used in Wacom pen tablets and interactive pen displays. The ModBook's Digitizer Pen boasts 133 position updates per second and supports 20x display resolution. The Axiotron ModBook enables users to draw and write directly on the screen, and the handwriting recognition built into Mac OS X Tiger turns hand scribbles into text in every application while providing extended control of the system through gesture recognition. The ModBook is priced at $2,280, and will now ship in May of 2007.

Apps: Xupport; Twitteromatic; DB Solo

• Xupport 3.3.2 ($20) is a multipurpose utility for Mac OS X, allowing users to configure hidden options, improve security and performance, and run maintenance and backup tasks. Version 3.3.2 fixes file permission settings when restoring a disk image, and enhances the rebuilding of launch service caches. The program also has better support of non-Phoenician alphabets (Arabic, Cyrillic, etc.). Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later is required. [Download - 2.7MB]


• Twitteromatic 1.0 (free) simplifies the posting of "useless information" to the Twitter website, such as uptime, US weather, the current iTunes track, and the day's historical anniversaries. Users need only click a button for the appropriate category. To further ease the process, the app automatically extracts login info from the Mac OS keychain. [Download - 45KB]


• DB Solo 2.1 ($80) is an SQL query tool with features such as diagrams, database comparison, and database object scripting. Supported DBMS products include Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL and more. The v2.1 update enhances the Schema Comparison Tool, adding things such as the Synchronization DDL Script Creator, and the ability to run schema comparisons from the command line. The DAO Code Generator has also been changed to improve MySQL and PostgreSQL support. [Download - 16.5MB]


• BeerAlchemy 1.5 ($30) aids in the creation of homebrewed beer recipes, managing them and calculating how much of each ingredient should be used. Version 1.5 improves the Batch and Recipe Editors, and better integrates the Suggest-a-Beer feature, for instance moving it to the main toolbar. Users can now also export recipes to the REC and BeerXML formats. Though the app is a Universal Binary, PowerPC Macs must have Mac OS 10.4, and Intel Macs must be running 10.4.4. [Download - 4.9MB]


• DeltaGraph 5.7.4 ($300) performs data analysis, charting and graphing, and can render the output natively in Mac OS X with Pantone-matched colors. The new release improves performance on Intel Core Duo Macs, and likewise has better file compatibility with the Windows version of the software. The program is further able to automatically scale charts and graphs to any size the user demands. [Download - 27.4MB]


• Alpha Link Duo ($425) is a program for mortgage brokers, designed to streamline the task of filing residential loan applications. Users enter data into a representation of standard Fannie Mae forms, and can send their submissions through the latest DO/DU electronic systems. The program is a Universal Binary and runs on Mac OS X 10.4; unfortunately, there are no preview versions available. [Download - None]

Apple may be worth $200 per share...

Apple's stock should double its current value, financial expert Stephen Coleman said today in a bold prediction. Despite the company's shares topping $90 in recent weeks, Coleman notes that its prospects are a "screaming buy" compared to what they have been in the past, pointing to both the 100 percent surge Mac sales compared to a year ago as well as the 50 percent increase in iPod sales. The Apple TV, iPhone, and Mac OS X Leopard were also bound to drive the firm's worth well past what it has been at the start of the year.

Apple lax in keeping Mac OS secure?...

Apple is falling behind in keeping Mac OS X as secure as it should be, according to InformationWeek. The author's latest article cites several sources as evidence, such as a recent Internet Security Threat Report by Symantec, which notes that it now takes an average of 66 days for Apple to patch a vulnerability; conversely, Microsoft is averaging three weeks. This is also substantially slower than what was noted in the last Threat Report issued six months ago, which gave Apple an average of 37 days.

Cycore's After Effects plug-ins go Universal

Cycore has released an update to its plug-ins for After Effects, Adobe's video graphics program. The CycoreFX HD 1.5 update runs natively on Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary, and adds an improved version of PowerPin as well as support for "HDR light probes" in Environment. The latest release also includes a better dust shader in Plastic, and a collection of obsolete 16-bit versions of PS Classic and PS LE Classic to help backward compatibility with the standard CycoreFX package. The HD plug-ins work with After Effects 5.5 through 7.0, as well as Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. The v1.5 upgrade is available for $300 new, and is available for free to current plug-in users.

Analyst on DRM-free iTunes downloads...

Apple's choice to offer DRM-free tracks from major record label EMI is a positive move for the company that will drive further iTunes sales and potentially increase the number of iPod purchases, according to senior analyst Gene Munster of research firm Piper Jaffray. "We believe the success of the iPod is dependent upon the total experience of the device and the music store, vs. the fact that the iTunes music only play son iPods," Munster wrote in a research note obtained by MacNN. "We estimate that less than 5 percent of the music in the average iPod user's library includes music purchased from iTunes." Piper Jaffray maintains its 'outperform' rating on Apple shares with a price target of $124.

Poll: iPod owners clamor for built-in FM...

iPod owners are most likely to want an internal FM radio, according to a new survey by Jacobs Media. The study group says that 43 percent of all its iPod-owning respondents (and a third of all respondents) wanted the ability to tune broadcast music without requiring Apple's Radio Remote, even when given the choice of more conventional expansion -- including higher capacities and video playback in smaller models, the report says. Almost half (49 percent) used their iPods in their cars, however, suggesting that many were using the device as a replacement for car radio rather than as an add-on.

Norwegian official applauds Apple, EMI...

Following EMI's announcement today that it will launch new high quality DRM-free downloads via Apple's iTunes Store, senior advisor Torgeir Waterhouse of the Norwegian Consumer Council immediately came forward to applaud the move. "It's with great interest [that] I've listened to the webcast from EMI & Apple today," Waterhouse told MacNN. "No matter how the digital music market develops, today will always stand out a very important date, the day when two of the really big market players finally took responsibility that follows from the position and made an interoperable solution available to consumers." The advisor told MacNN in early February that Italy had officially joined other European countries to apply pressure to Apple and the iTunes store to open up its musical tracks, enabling consumers the freedom of choice to choose their own medium for playing iTunes tracks. "I applaud [EMI and Apple's] move, and encourage all the other contenders in the digital music business to make the same important move."

Office 2008 for Mac slips into beta...

Microsoft's Mac Business Unit (MacBU) is testing the latest revision of Office 2008 for Mac via private betas, but let slip some details about the new software to ease Mac users' fears about user interface changes and rumored similarities to Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system. The MacBU is unable to speculate on a timetable for a public beta or targets for a release to manufacture, APC Magazine notes that a demo of the alpha build shows that the revised user interface is moving in a "very appealing and Mac-like direction." "Our peek at the alpha build [...] showed hints of a streamlined look with a modern black sheen, at times similar to the elements in recent Apple applications such as iTunes 7 and iLife 06. Rest easy, Mac-fans -- this is not Office for Windows."

Microsoft bleeding cash?...

Microsoft's cash reserves are less than half what they were two years ago, according to a report. The Redmond developer, which once had as much as $64.4 billion in 2004, is now down to $29 billion at its most recent tally. The company claims that the shrink been a deliberate choice to buy into smaller companies and to reward investors.

"We're focused on striking the right balance between investing in the company's growth and returning capital to shareholders," said Microsoft's investor relations manager Colleen Healy.

Briefly: Garmin Mac support; Seagate 1TB...

In brief: The first Apple Store in Italy, which has opened at the ROMAEST mall, is offering shoppers 5 percent off all goods in the store. Garmin has released WebUpdater for Mac 2.0.0.1 Beta, and Seagate may be preparing to unveil its promised 1TB hard drive by the end of April. Italy's first Apple Store opened with a 5 percent discount to shoppers in the ROMAEST mall, a tactic that is rarely seen with Apple Store openings. New photos have surfaced of the store from setteB.IT, depicting the 5 percent off sale and the long shelves of software, games, accessories, and other Apple-related products. Desktop and portable Macs adorn many table tops, while iPod accessories stand waiting for purchase on others. Supplies are apparently high as customers make purchases without hindrance or "out of stock" notifications.

Apple received 'cease & desist' over 1984 ad

The political anti-Hilary Clinton spoof based on Apple's legendary 1984 television ad may be violating copyright laws and could face a lawsuit from the copyright holders of George Orwell's classic novel '1984'. Rosenblum Productions, which acquired the rights to the Orwellian imagery, said that it is "monitoring the situation," but was unclear whether it was focusing on the creator of the video, YouTube, or both parties. The company, however, said that it has defended its rights successfully at least twice before, including a cease and desist to Apple over the original SuperBowl ad more than 20 years ago. "When the Apple 'Big Brother' television commercial was aired during the 1984 Super Bowl telecast, we immediately objected to this unauthorized commercial use of the novel, and sent a 'cease-and-desist' letter both to Apple and to its ad agency," said Gina Rosenblum, president of Rosenblum Productions. "The commercial never aired on television again."

ATO launches iSee 360i video recorder...

ATO today unveiled the second generation of its iSee 360i video recorder for iPods. The portable media player allows most Click Wheel-enabled iPods to capture, store, and play video from any analog video source -- including some iPods that normally can't play video, the company says. The updated version includes adapters to allow both first- and second-generation iPod nanos as well as the 30GB fifth-generation iPod to play video in MPEG-4 format on a 3.6-inch screen nearly 91 percent larger than the largest available on Apple's current devices. Even a 2GB iPod nano can store up to four hours of footage, according to ATO.

iSkin debuts SOHO sleeves for Mac laptops

iSkin today announced SOHO, its new line of laptop protective sleeves for MacBook, MacBook Pro and similarly sized PCs. Made from premium synthetic leather and dyed using only environmentally safe inks, the sleeves offer "sturdy protection that mates couture looks with rock star flare." The SOHO features a multi-layered design that combines the protection of a durable outer layer, a reinforced padded center and a plush inner lining--designed to encapsulate a laptop and keep it safe from everyday hazards. The SOHO is offered in a variety of flavors, including two separate sizes for the 13" MacBook ($60) and 15" MacBook Pro ($65). The two sizes also accommodate older PowerBooks, iBooks and similarly sized PCs. The SOHO line features five black sleeves with color accented zippers and stitching: Azure (Black with Blue), Graphite (Black with Grey), Magnum (Black with Red), Sahara (Black with Orange) and Amazon (Black with Pink).

REAL ships REALbasic 2007 Release 2

REAL Software has released REALbasic 2007 Release 2, bringing 18 new features and over 100 bug fixes, including significant improvements to the incremental compiler and debugger. REALbasic is a rapid application development (RAD) environment that runs on and creates software for Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000 and XP, Mac OS X and Linux. The popular developer tool now compiles only the parts of the project that have changed since the last compile, resulting in faster compilation and improved developer productivity. In addition, REALbasic now supports collapsing and expanding blocks of code in the code editor and also offer debugger Improvements and RTF Support. REALbasic 2007 Release 2 is built and developed with REALbasic 2007. The REALbasic Standard Edition for Windows or Mac is priced at $200, with an introductory price of $100.

iTunes to offer DRM-free music from EMI...

At the special event in London on Monday, EMI Music announced that it is launching new premium downloads for retail on a global basis, making all of its digital music available at a much higher sound quality than existing downloads and free of digital rights management (DRM) restrictions and that Apple iTunes Store will be the first retailer to offer the higher quality, DRM-free music. The Cupertino-based company will make individual AAC format tracks available from EMI artists at twice the sound quality of existing downloads and without any digital right management (DRM technology). Pricing will be $1.29/€1.29/£0.99; however, iTunes will continue to offer consumers the ability to pay $0.99/€0.99/£0.79 for standard sound quality tracks with DRM still applied. Complete albums from EMI Music artists purchased on the iTunes Store will automatically be sold at the higher sound quality and DRM-free, with no change in the price. The new higher-quality, DRM-free songs will be available in May.