Apps: CDFinder, MacFamilyTree, SSH Helper

• CDFinder 5.0.1 ($35) solution to organize your disk and data archive, and to keep track of digital media assets. Can read exhaustive photo and audio meta data (JPG, TIFF, PICT, BMP, EXIF, IPTC, MP3, AAC, WAVE, AIFF) and use AppleScript to integrate CDFinder into any workflow The new release features a direct link to Google Earth for geotagged photos several small fixes and enhancements. Requires Mac OS X 10.4 or newer. [Download - 4.9MB]


• MacFamilyTree 4.4.9 ($50) genealogy application. Creates an overview of all family relations with various printing selections are also offered, as well as the option to publish your family tree on the Internet or burn it directly on CD. Based on the Gedcom Standard for the international exchange of genealogical data. This release has a new Places Database containing more geographic locations, adding also the number of inhabitants. It also includes improved reliability when reading Gedcom files with malformed Note entries. [Download - 12MB]
 

• SSH Helper 1.3 (free) OpenSSH configuration utility for Mac OS X. Allows you to control who's allowed to access your account, Generate new OpenSSH keys, View/Export your Public Keys, and Setup and Control the OpenSSH Server. Alleviates the need to use the command line to configure a working OpenSSH system. SSH Helper also contains an Easy to use Wizard. The new release includes several bug fixes [Download - 865KB]


• iTunes Manager 2.3 (free) a mini-window to iTunes that performs a number of functions beyond mere music playback. The functions include music alarm, playlist-track switching and selection, volume control, key information about the active track, playlist and track editing, and keyboard shortcuts for playback and other controls. This release allows the sound fadeout factor to be customized to the Mac's clock speed and includes alerts for alarm or timer, as the case maybe, now includes music, voice or combined music and voice. This release is tested under Mac OS X 10.4.9 and iTunes 7.1.1 [Download - 1.4MB]


• Chax 1.4.9 (free) collection of minor modifications and additions that make using Apple's iChat more enjoyable. Functions include ability to toggle text status visibility of users, ability to automatically resize the contact list to fit the number of visible users, setting of font of names, status messages, and group separators and display of animated user icons. Also includes tabbed chats and the option to auto-accept incoming chats. [Download - 1.1MB]

Refurb 15-inch, 17-inch MacBook Pros

Apple's supply of reconditioned pro notebooks has risen once again to include the 15.4-inch 2.33GHz MacBook Pro with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, a 120GB hard drive, a 6x SuperDrive (DVD/CD burner), and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card with 256MB of video memory for $1,999 with a glossy or standard screen. The Cupertino-based company is also selling its 17-inch 2.16GHz MacBook Pro with an Intel Core Duo processor, 1GB of memory, a 100GB hard drive, a SuperDrive, and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB of video memory for $1,999; and its 17-inch 2.33GHz MacBook Pro with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive, an 8X SuperDrive, and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card with 256MB of video memory for $2,299 with either a glossy or standard display.

Educational app for iPhone debuts

MacKiev has released This Day in History the first in a series of planned educational iPhone software applications. The app is based on the widget of the same name from Software MacKiev's World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia, and shows a calendar page for each historical event that took place on a given day. The developer says "On July 6th, for example, it shows that John Paul Jones, the American naval hero, was born on this day in 1747.  Events that correspond to the current day in history are shown automatically each day." Other titles currently under development are an iPhone companion application to the company's 3D Weather Globe and Atlas that will display wind speed, barometric pressure, dew point and other weather conditions and World Book Trivia Challenge, with questions taken from the World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia. This Day in History is available free of charge.

Briefly: Photo book review; POP to IMAP...

In brief: We review a macro photography book, a tutorial has instructions for converting POP accounts to IMAP (paying particular attention to usage on the iPhone), WiebeTech is running a contest for users who can guess where their products appear in the new Transformers movie, a flickr page has pictures of the iPhone UI design team, and Verbatim has acquired the hard disk assets of SmartDisk .... We've posted a review of Closeup Shooting: A Guide to Closeup, Tabletop, and Macro Photography, a new book by Cyrill Harnischmacher that deals specifically with photographing teeny, tiny things and getting close and personal with your subjects. Chapters cover lenses, tripods and mounts, lighting, studio, travel, and underwater photography, in addition to very useful tricks and tips. The sample photographs are beautiful and informative. The book is priced at $25.

SOHO Organizer 6.2: Adds .Mac support

Chronos has released SOHO Organizer 6.2, a new version of the company's contact, calendar and note manager for Mac OS X. The tool allows synchronization with cell phones, iPods, Palm handhelds, and multiple computers, as well as sharing of calendars among workgroups. It also includes the ability to connect to CalDAV servers, and import/export of vCal files. Version 6.2 adds support for publishing calendars to .Mac, and word-wrap support for task titles in each of the calendars views. The release also fixes a problem that would cause the database to not open under certain conditions, and makes speed improvements when moving forward/back in the calendar views. SOHO Organizer requires Mac OS X v10.4.9 or later and 130 MB of available disk space. It's priced at $100.

MeVisLab 1.5: visual research comes to OS X

MeVisLab 1.5, the first version of the application with full support for Mac OS X, has been released. MeVisLab is a visual programming and rapid prototyping platform for image processing research and development with a focus on medical imaging. The tool is free for non-commercial use. In addition to Mac OS X support, this release adds new Contour Segmentation Object (CSO) library, a new SoShader framework providing a framework to use the OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) in MeVisLab networks, ITK/VTK integration updated to latest library versions and a major library update (Qt4, SoQtMeVis, third party libraries). There are also several new and improved modules.

Amazon UK lists iPhone...

Amazon's British online store has preempted official announcements of the iPhone by listing the device through its online store. Both 4GB and 8GB models have appeared on the company's UK website, giving local users the opportunity to sign up for notification about its release. The site also points to a December 1st release date for the device that fits into Apple's predictions of a late 2007 European launch, but may be speculation and has not been confirmed by the iPhone's creator.

Zevrix updates to Graphic Inspector 1.1

Zevrix has released an update to Graphic Inspector, its image diagnostic program. The software inspects raster and vector files, displaying info about whole folders of content, such as fonts, resolutions, EXIF specifications and more. Users can then set Checkup Presets to flag files with undesirable attributes, such as bad color modes, file formats, or ICC profiles. Version 1.1 properly recognizes EPS DCS files saved in the CMYK+Spot mode, and will now list the fonts and spot colors in native Illustrator CS3 images. Graphic Inspector is a Universal Binary for Mac OS X 10.4.2, and costs $40.

iPod Reset Utility 1.0.2 for Mac

Apple has released version 1.0.2 of the iPod Reset Utility. The tool is used to restore the following iPod models back to their factory settings when iTunes is unable to do so. The process completely erases all music and data and reinstalls the iPod software version listed below:

• iPod shuffle (1st Generation) - iPod Software version 1.1.5
• iPod shuffle (2nd Generation) - iPod Software version 1.0.3

The tool can fix various problems, including an issue where the iPod will not play music, and cannot be restored using iTunes and another where the iPod is not recognized by iTunes. The new release is available as a 3.5MB download.

UK company ready to unlock iPhones?...

A company based in Belfast, Northern Ireland says it is "almost ready" to debut software for unlocking the iPhone. Uniquephones founder John McLaughlin tells IDG News that programmers have been working "around the clock" on a crack, which would allow users to activate their iPhones without agreeing to an AT&T service contract. The company is already claiming a 75 percent success rate for its pre-release software, and a forthcoming public beta may prove even more effective.

iPhone, new iPods to spike memory prices?...

The increasing popularity of iPhones, iPods, and their reliance on flash memory could paradoxically cause problems for the memory-making industry, according to industry representatives and analysts. By building in as much as 8GB of NAND flash storage in the iPhone and potentially switching to flash for future high-end video iPods, Apple is threatening to dry up the overflow of memory that currently exists in the market, curbing discounts and possibly forcing price hikes to discourage buying an excess of flash chips.

Apple debuts "Next Big Thing" iTunes promo

Apple has launched the Next Big Thing iTunes promotion, offering online digital music shoppers indie albums for $5.99 and 6.99 in standard or iTunes Plus unprotected formats. The promotional deal highlights various independent artists and bands that Apple believes could be soar up the charts. "Musical fads and bands that tap into the zeitgeist of the moment are hard to predict, if not impossible," writes Apple. "Who in their right mind could have guessed that a Modest Mouse album would debut at number one on the charts? Or that the White Stripes would become a gigantic rock band?" After traversing half the year Apple's iTunes is offering a selection of artists who the company thinks have the "true grit (or pure luck)" it takes to become the next big thing.

Hackers expose iPhone threats, secrets...

Although the iPhone has only been available for a week, some groups have already managed to expose potentially serious vulnerabilities, reports say. The consulting company Errata Security notes that the version of Safari on the phone is succeptible to a buffer overflow attack, which could allow a remote user to take control and run code. A similar bug was discovered in the desktop Safari earlier this month, but a potential exploit for the iPhone would call 1-900 numbers until the malware reponsible was somehow stopped or removed.

Unity 2.0 game dev kit due this summer...

OTEE, the developers of the Unity game engine for the Mac, have announced that Unity 2.0 will be available later this summer. Unity is a comprehensive game development platform, incorporating not just graphics, physics and audio components, but also editing and networking layers, with the ability to import assets from programs such as Maya, Lightwave, Blender and more. Unity 2.0 will introduce some 50 new features, among them a new terrain engine, with the ability to render hundreds of thousands of trees, rocks and other scenic details at the same time. Lighting will support real-time dynamic shadows with self-shadowing, and video will be displayalbe in 2D or 3D.

iLinc holds first conference with the Mac

iLinc Communications has released iLinc 9.0, the latest version of its web and audio conferencing software. The most critical addition is the program's first Mac client, allowing cross-platform interaction with Windows users. Numerous other changes have been implemented as well however, among them an overhauled, single-window interface, and the ability to view multiple user videos at once, hiding any at will. Users also have the ability to share part or all of their desktop in a single click, and manage their breakout groups on a single tab. iLinc charges for its services on a per-minute basis; rates range from $0.10/min. for voice to $0.30/min. for complete interaction options.

iPhones flood east coast, west coast dry...

While iPhone availability has improved dramatically since launch day on the east coast, with most localities having ample stock of the device, the west coast is still parched with most Apple retail outlets still sold out. A check of Apple's availability page shows the no California, Washington, or Oregon stores currently have stock of the iPhone. New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts stores, meanwhile, are relatively flush. Southern states are mixed, with Florida and Georgia offering decent stock but Texas remaining sold out statewide. Users searching for online purchase are out of luck too: the online Apple Store is still showing a 2-4 week wait for both 4GB and 8GB models.

VMware Fusion reaches feature completion...

VMWare Fusion, the virtualization tool that allows Windows and other operating system applications to run within Mac OS X, has arrived at release candidate stage and is now feature complete. The new version offers improvements to the "Unity" mode, similar to Parallels coherence, allowing the running of Windows applications alongside Mac applications, not within a separate window. There is now the ability to drag and drop files from Finder windows onto Windows applications or Windows Explorer windows, and there is also experimental support for Unity on Windows 2000, Windows XP 64-bit, Windows Server 2003 (32-bit and 64-bit), and Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit). VMWare is priced at $40 prior to release, and requires an Intel-based Mac as well as Mac OS X version 10.4.9 or later.