Menu extra now persistent, new RSS style sheets

DevonTechnologies has released the last public beta of their Internet research assistant software DevonAgent 3.0 which adds new plug-ins and features for increased functionality, along with a maintenance release for all editions of DevonThink and DevonNote. The latter two programs now sport important bug fixes and an improved DevonThink To Go conduit for packaged file formats such as iWork documents.

DevonAgent 3.0 public beta 4 will wrap up the beta program, and improves the menu extra which first appeared in the previous beta and makes it persistant, working even when the program is not open, just like DevonAgent Express. The program adds filtered internet searching to the menubar, making research and obtaining successful search results easier by searching a wide variety of general and specialist search engines.

The new beta also adds plug-ins for YouTube and Google Video, Twitter and Facebook profiles. Pages and objects of any kind can be added to the built-in archive, and the new "express" mode returns results faster than the filtered "agent" mode. An improved e-mail function makes sending automated reports more reliable as well.

The beta also sports completely-rewritten welcome and support assistants inherited from DevonThink and DevonNote, and includes tips, on-screen tutorials and the ability to add scripts and further plug-ins. Some extras have been rearranged, and a new simple style sheet for RSS feeds makes them easier to read. The digest and report functions have also been re-styled.

DevonNote and DevonThink have been updated to v2.1.1 and inherit the same new RSS style sheet.

The the DevonTechnologies applications require Mac OS X 10.5 or later and offer free trial versions. The DevonThink public beta is free to use but expires at the end of July. DevonNote, dubbed by the company as "a little brother" to DevonThink, sells for $25. DevonThink comes in a variety of editions starting with a Personal version at $50, and both can also be purchased through the Mac App Store. DevonAgent Express is also sold through the MAS for $5. The DevonThink and DevonNote upgrades are free to registered users.

DevonAgent costs $50, but users who have purchased it since January 1st, 2009 are eligible for a free upgrade, which will be made available before the final release of the new version.

by MacNN Staff