Maintain Exchange server email with EEAO 1.1

Softhing this week unveiled the Entourage Exchange Accounts Optimizer 1.1, an update to its application designed to optimize Exchange servers by defining a maximum amount of time a user wishes for mail to remain on the server. The update is free for existing users, adding several internal improvements, Exchange account definitions, a 10 minute timeout, and compatibility with Entourage 12.0.1 and Mac OS X 10.5.2 Leopard. EEAO v1.1 is available for $15.

Briefly: Aussie, US iPod price difference...

In brief: There is a stark pricing discrepancy for Australian iPods, iPresentee themes for Keynote have debuted, Sonnet has cut prices on its Fusion line of SATA devices, Aspyr has updated its Game Agent and a Middle East Mac newsletter is now one year old ... There are some substantial differences in iPod pricing between the US and Australia. With the Aussie dollar at 0.92 US, you might expect US and Aussie prices for iPods to be relatively similar, but this is not the case. The 1GB iPod Shuffle: USD$49 = AUD$54 exchange, selling for AUD$65. The 8GB nano USD$199 == AUD$221 exchange, selling for AUD$279. The 16GB iPod classic USD$349 == AUD$387 exchange, selling for AUD$479.

Apps: WireTap Studio, MimMac, DiscLabel 5.2

• WireTap Studio 1.0.6 ($70) audio recording and management solution. Record the discrete audio output of any application, as well as all Mac system audio, or record audio input from any microphone, line-in, or audio input hardware. The new release includes these enhancements: fixed fade-ins; fixed a crash when loading a waveform that was previously partially loaded; fixed some problems with effects and mono output formats. [Download - 25.6MB]


• MimMac 1.9 ($10) updates the cloning, backup, and file synchronization utility. Version 1.9 adds full Leopard compatibility, as well as many internal changes to retain Tiger and Panther support. MimMac is a Universal Binary application, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later. [Download - 1MB]


• MassTransit 5.1.1 enterprise file transfer tool. The new version includes nearly two dozen new features. It also has nearly 30 bug fixes. This version now writes details about the DBMS to the MassTransit log to make it easier to provide information to Group Logic Technical support. It also contains a new feature whereby the MassTransit Engine can be configured, using the debugLog.cfg file, to log MySQL settings and status variables to syslog. [Download - form]


• DiscLabel 5.2 ($36) CD/DVD label design software for Mac OS X. It can import track lists from iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, Finder, and Toast; import images from iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD and Finder; multiple layers, drawing tools and gradients for creating custom designs; use more than 1300 clip art files via the DiscLabel Clip Art Browser and more. The update features improvements to image importing, including support for iPhoto Events and faster image library loading. Printing designs has been made easier, with simplified initial access to printing setup and a new media search capability. [Download - 12.6MB]


• Cumulus 7.5.3 digital asset management system. Improves performance and reliability. Canto recommends all customers upgrade to Cumulus 7.5.3, regardless of operating system, to benefit from global fixes and improvements. Customers on active service agreements can download the update free of charge. [Download - form]

FarFinder: Download from your Mac over the web...

Flying Mac today unveiled FarFinder, a remote file access for the Mac that allows users to browse and retrieve their files from their Mac using a standard web browser. In addition to working on a desktop or laptop computer, FarFinder can also be used through Safari on the iPhone and iPod touch. Since files can't really be downloaded to the iPhone, FarFinder will email the file to a desired address. FarFinder is currently available at a special price of $20.

Games: Burger Shop, Hoyle classics...

MacGameStore has released a series of new games for the Mac OS X. In the first, Burger Shop, the gamer builds a food-making contraption and opens a restaurant. "Your goal? To make food and satisfy customers while you explore the truth behind the mysterious mailing. Utilize unique food-making devices to make over 50 yummy food items during your quest." The game features 4 play modes, 80 levels, 96 trophies to collect and over 60 upgrade choices. The game is priced at $20.

Nokia backing out of WebKit support?...

Nokia may be withdrawing its efforts to actively contribute to the WebKit browser engine, according to an exchange on the official developer list. After noticing that the Finnish cellphone producer had been inactive for at least eight months in developing a version of the code for Symbian Series 60 phones, contributor Eric Seidel has been told by Nokia representative Bradley Morrison only that the company is closing off discussions of any outstanding bugs rather than fixing or improving code.

Mac OS, iPhone a "threat" to MSFT dominance...

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is being labeled a threat to Microsoft's platform dominance, with the operating system's new features such as Spaces, and the Mac's ability to run Windows, being cited as symptoms of the effect. BusinessWeek writer Gary Morgenthaler states that Apple's OS is loosening a "20-year death grip" that Microsoft has had on the industry, especially when combined with VM solutions such as VMware Fusion or Parallels.

XpertMart updates retail management software...

Software developer XpertMart has updated its self-titled POS & Inventory Control software, which is designed to manage an entire chain of retail stores, handling wholesale accounts as well as online sales. Among new additions to the program is an integrated Accounts Receivable component, with options such as individual credit limits, aging reports, and the ability to generate balance statements.

Study: mobile web use to grow tenfold...

Continuing a string of research on the cellphone industry, ABI Research today said in a new report that it expects the use of mobile webbrowsers to grow ten times its size in the next five years. The analysis firm estimates that 76 million copies of browsers were in use by the end of 2007 but that this should grow to 700 million by 2013. The surge is credited to a surge in smartphone use, which is expected to bring full web browsing as well as a greater number of mobile-oriented websites.

GPS confirmed in iPhone 2.0?...

A MacNN reader has discovered nearly conclusive proof that Apple is implementing GPS support in the next iPhone, with notes on the developer site mentioning altitude measurements – something that is impractical with current cell tower-based positioning due to accuracy. The note says little else regarding the "verticalAccuracy" variable, besides noting that it can be a positive or negative value, measured in meters, and that it is available in iPhone OS 2.0 or later.

Apple hires former HP attorney...

Apple recently announced it has filled a position it has been lacking for years, as newly appointed general counsel Daniel Cooperman hired Charles Charnas, HP's lawyer of 18 years. According to AppleInsider, Charnas oversaw both the $4.5 billion acquisition of Mercury Interactive, as well as the purchase of Compaq for $25 billion. The hiring comes eight years after former attorney Michael Wyatt left Apple in 2000.

Microsoft: Vista UAC intended 'to annoy users'...

One of Windows Vista's design features was deliberately implemented "to annoy users," a Microsoft executive admitted yesterday at the RSA 2008 conference in San Francisco. David Cross, a product unit manager, explained to an audience that Vista's User Account Control scheme was built to discourage people from running as an administrator on their computers, which in case of attack can grant hackers deeper access than they might otherwise be allowed. "We needed to change the ecosystem, and we needed a heavy hammer to do it," said Cross.

Study: unlimited 3G mixed blessing for carriers...

Unlimited cellular plans, and particularly data plans, are liable to create severe pressure on the providers that host them even as the make new features available, says a new study from ABI Research. Analysts at the group warn that the promise to carriers of new subscribers through mostly or completely unlimited plans from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon may be offset by the need to support very likely spikes in network traffic. Providers are likely to spend extra to make sure their networks can handle the load, ABI says.

Macessity intros Mac mini stand with USB hub...

Accessory maker Macessity has introduced two new products, built for Apple's Mac mini desktop computers. The M4-Mini is a stand which actually sits on top of a Mini, allowing users to place a monitor or other heavy objects on top; monitors as heavy as 60lbs can be supported. The stand itself is made of steel with aluminum coloring, and uses rubber pads to hold its position and avoid damaging furniture.

Lenovo's Air rival to expand to full line?...

Lenovo's ThinkPad X300 is just the first wave of a new line of ultra-thin notebooks at the company, says an apparent leak from Gizmodo. Timed to coincide with the launch of Intel's low-power Centrino 2 platform and processors in September, the line will scale down to a 12-inch X200 but will also move upwards to a 14-inch X400 and even a 15.4-inch X500, supplying a similar case thickness but at the user's choice of screen size.

iSpQ software handles video socializing...

nanoCom is promoting a Mac client for iSpQ Videochat, its video-based social networking service. Like other social networking sites, users are encouraged to great personal profiles; the focus however is on arranging real-time text and video chat, using webcams. Video is displayed at 320x240 at 15fps. Rooms are moderated, and users can also send each other messages with photos attached.

Apple releases MacBook Air Bluetooth update

Apple has a released a new update for the MacBook Air, specifically addressing the notebook's Bluetooth wireless technology. Unlike most updates from Apple, there is no information on what the new one improves or fixes; the company will only say that it "should be installed on all MacBook Air Systems." The patch is a 1.2MB download, and requires Mac OS X 10.5.1 or higher; it can be downloaded automatically through Software Update, or installed manually following a web download.

Microsoft exploring Apple-like retail shops?...

Microsoft is seriously investigating the prospect of opening a self-branded set of retail stores, according to a new claim. Alleged sources near Microsoft say that the company hopes to boost its brand by launching a retail chain that presents an ideal Microsoft experience, similar to Apple's own outlets. What the store is likely to contain is unknown, though the company is likely to promote Windows and its software. It may also use the strategy to tout its own hardware, including the Xbox 360, the Zune, and potentially its smaller peripherals.

Nokia cellphone software adds Safari bookmark sync...

Finnish cellphone maker Nokia has released a new beta version of its Multimedia Transfer software, which is specifically designed for Macs. The program exploits Apple's iLife suite, allowing users sync photos in either direction through iPhoto, or copy music to a phone via iTunes. It also handles more routine synching of content such as videos, games, and various other applications.

Nike+ gear coming to iPhone, iPod touch...

The Nike+ fitness technology will indeed become available for the iPhone and the iPod touch, a Nike spokesperson has confirmed. Speculation began that it might when patent filings surfaced last month, pointing to an integrated fitness system similar to the existing Nike+iPod kit for Nanos. Although there is no sign of the extra sensors mentioned in the patent, or its extra activities such as weight-lifting, the new Nike+ system should at least replicate the running support of Nike+iPod, and its corresponding website tracking and competition.

AnalystSoft unveils statistical software for Excel...

AnalystSoft today unveiled StatPlus:mac, a front-end for Microsoft Excel that turns the application into a statistical analysis tool. The application reportedly offers users a user-friendly interface with a non-interactive set of calculations, which provides repeatable results. StatPlus:mac is capable of computing normality tests, Pagurova Criterion, correlation coefficients, GLM ANOVA, and non-parametric statistical analysis and is available for $200 per license.