Sticky Windows 2.2 improves performance

An avid Mac developer has released Sticky Windows 2.2, boasting serious performance improvements as well as enhanced usability with better tab resizing. The software is designed to extend the tab browsing experience to the desktop by shrinking windows into tabs when users drag a window toward the edge of the screen. The update is free for any Sticky Windows 1.0 user, with new licenses priced at $16. Sticky Windows 2.2 requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Refurb Mac mini $699, Mac Pro $3,299

Mac mini systems were curiously absent from Apple's refurbished offerings in the recent past, but one model of the low-cost consumer oriented Mac has returned to the company's online store for $699 with 512MB of memory and an 80GB hard drive. Apple is also offering one refurbished Mac Pro Quad 3.0GHz Intel Xeon system for $3,299 with 2GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive, following a dry spell of its reconditioned professional systems. The Cupertino-based company's supply of reconditioned displays currently includes the 20-inch flat panel with 1680 x 1050 optimal resolution for $499, as well as the 23-inch flat panel with 1920 x 1200 optimal resolution for $749.

The Restaurant Game goes Universal

The Restaurant Game research project at the MIT Media Lab has seen great support from the Mac community, resulting in The Restaurant Game 1.9. The Restaurant Game is a research project at the MIT Media Lab that algorithmically combines the gameplay experiences of thousands of players to create a new game, which will be entered into the 2008 Independent Games Festival. The latest release runs natively on Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary, allowing Intel Mac owners to participate for the first time. More than 4,200 people have logged in to date, and the project coordinators hafve collected data from 3,946 games thus far. The game is available for download (system requirements were unavailable).

AT&T lines up Unity cell plan for iPhone...

AT&T should have a new Unity phone plan just in time for the release of the iPhone, the company has said in an interview. Initially citing problems with converting unused minutes and requiring long-distance, AT&T spokesman Rick Welday observed that a new plan should launch within the next two months and arrive roughly in time with the Apple handset. The service is currently designed to simplify calling by giving unlimited calls from cellphones to any AT&T customer without consuming minutes, but could change to include extra services such as home DSL access, Welday says.

Apple bans MySpace in retail stores

Apple has confirmed a ban on MySpace in its retail stores, according to crave. The online social networking medium allows members to communicate with one another, post photographs, and more. Apple store employees reported some visitors lingering for "hours" as they took photos of themselves with the display MacBooks and uploaded them to their MySpace accounts, effectively denying other shoppers the ability to test drive the small notebooks. "It is especially troublesome at the flagships and high-volume stores, and for a while there was no official word on how to deal with it," said one Apple Store employee, referring to loitering MySpace users. An official Apple representative did say, however, that MySpace is currently the only site blocked.

MacGizmo 1.0.7 adds new appearance theme

Hyperbolic Software today released MacGizmo 1.0.7, updating the application that allows users to see the content and other useful information of any selected items in the Finder, as well as other participating software. The latest release of MacGizmo features adds a new appearance theme, includes small overall improvements as well as additions, and fixes several small bugs. The application fully supports most common item types -- including images, sounds, music, video, text, PDF documents, Web files, fonts, folders, and applications. MacGizmo 1.0.7 is priced at $20, and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

iPhone on June 20, head-on vs Prada?...

The iPhone may have an official ship date of June 20th, according to CNBC's Thursday evening episode of "On the Money." The financial TV show claims to have received confirmation from an AT&T store manager that the device will be shipping on June 20th, arriving early in Apple's stated late June timeframe. While such reports are potentially inaccurate as the retail channel doesn't always have access to official release dates, the specificity of the date along with supporting claims from Bloomberg have garnered extra attention for the claim.

Verey I notebook anti-theft software ships

Bak2U has released Verey I, its notebook anti-theft software designed for Mac OS X. Verey I starts recording via a connected video capture device -- Apple's iSight camera -- when the laptop is stolen, sending emails to the owner's specified email address. Emails sent during theft contain important network information, including IP address and machine serial number as well as the MAC hardware address and nearby wireless networks. Verey I also limits usage of the stolen hardware by locking up the machine after a specific period of time, displaying details about how to contact the owner alongside other customizable information. The software requires Mac OS X 10.4.2 or later, and is priced at $50 with no subscriptions or annual fees.

SmartSound releases Sonicfire Pro 4.5

SmartSound Software has released Sonicfire Pro 4.5 with "Smart Recall" and a "Maestro Tempo Display." Smart Recall makes it easy to quickly change the length, arrangement, and instrument mix of SmartSound .WAV and .AIF music files. The Maestro Tempo Display helps users quickly locate ideal tracks to drive visuals, and displays basic editing lengths to keep visuals in sync with the beat of the music. Sonicfire Pro 4.5 is priced at $200, with upgrades priced from $150. The software requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

More Intel Metro details hint at Mac subnote...

A computer manufacturer is set to produce Intel's Metro ultraportable concept, according to sources in touch with BusinessWeek. The magazine claims that an unnamed builder will turn the prototype into reality later in the year. This would mark a radical departure from the company's traditional concepts, which are often shown at the company's in-house Developer Forums solely as inspirations for other manufacturers rather than direct blueprints.

Nethergate: Resurrection released

Spiderweb Software has released Nethergate: Resurrection, a fantasy role-playing game that sends players on an epic adventure in the lands of ancient Britain. "Explore deadly dungeons, take on multitudes of quests, and try to rediscover and master the lost art of magic. Play as the powerful Romans or the cunning Celts and experience two entirely different adventures." The game portrays Britannia as a land ravaged by war, with the savage Celt natives rising up in bloody rebellion against the Roman invaders. Nethergate: Resurrection is priced at $25.

Stitcher Unlimited 5.6 comes to Intel Macs...

Realviz has released Stitcher Unlimited 5.6, enabling users to create high-quality panoramas and 360-degree virtual tours by "stitching" images together. THe latest release runs natively on Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary, and offers HDR capabilities. A Japanese-language version is also scheduled for release later this spring, according to the company, which will join the existing English and French versions. Stitcher Unlimited 5.6 is available as part of the Realviz HDR Imaging Studio that combines Stitcher, VTour 1.2 HDR, and Photomatix Pro. Realviz Stitcher Unlimited is also available as standalone software for $600, with upgrades from Stitcher Unlimited 5.5 priced at $130. Realviz Imaging Studio is priced at $2,600.

Stitcher Unlimited 5.6 comes to Intel Macs...

Realviz has released Stitcher Unlimited 5.6, enabling users to create high-quality panoramas and 360-degree virtual tours by "stitching" images together. THe latest release runs natively on Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary, and offers HDR capabilities. A Japanese-language version is also scheduled for release later this spring, according to the company, which will join the existing English and French versions. Stitcher Unlimited 5.6 is available as part of the Realviz HDR Imaging Studio that combines Stitcher, VTour 1.2 HDR, and Photomatix Pro. Realviz Stitcher Unlimited is also available as standalone software for $600, with upgrades from Stitcher Unlimited 5.5 priced at $130. Realviz Imaging Studio is priced at $2,600.

Pentax releases Remote Assistant 3 for Mac

Pentax has released a Mac OS X version of its Remote Assistant 3 software for the K10D digital camera. The Remote Assistant allows users to control almost all of the K10D functions from a Mac system as well as trigger shutter release manually, at regular intervals, or specific times. The software also supports 'same time' synchronized exposures when more than one camera is attached. Remote Assistant 3 requires that K10D fimware version 1.20 or later is installed, and works with Macs running Mac OS X 10.3 or later. The update is available for free.