11/27, 2:50pm
Windows Phone 7 Connector updates for 7.5
Mac users running Windows Phones received a major update to Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac (Mac App Store) this weekend to better accommodate Windows Phone 7.5 phones like the Focus Flash. The new update now lets users transfer the custom ringtones enabled by the OS update and also links up with Windows Phone Marketplace. Pro photographers can now sync with Aperture instead of just iPhoto.
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11/18, 10:40am
Paint Mask, brush slider get tweaks
Tiffen has released v3.0.5 of Dfx, its effects suite for photo and video editing. The upgrade critically adds support for Avid's new 64-bit editing tools, including Media Composer 6, Symphony 6 and NewsCutter 10. Also newly supported is a host of Sony cameras. The list includes DSLRs like the A550, A580, A700, A850, and A900, but also the NEX-3, NEX-5/5N, NEX-C3, and several SLT-series cameras: the A33, A35, A55V, A65V, and A77V. Remaining cameras on the list are the XCD-SX910CR and the STV680 VGA.
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11/10, 5:25pm
Supports new cameras from Nikon, Sony, Olympus
Apple has posted a new Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update, v3.9. The patch extends support for different RAW formats within Aperture 3 and iPhoto '11. Newly supported camera lines include Nikon's 1 J1, 1 V1, and CoolPix P7100, as well as Sony's NEX-5N, Alpha SLT-A65, and Alpha SLT-A77, and Olympus' PEN E-PL1s, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1.
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10/27, 6:20pm
Aperture update makes small number of bugfixes
Apple has released a trio of software updates, beginning with Aperture 3.2.1. The patch is said to fix just four issues, the most critical being one that caused the software to suddenly quit while running on a Core Duo processor. Also eliminated are glitches that caused the Crop tool to malfunction, a rendering issue when cropping with Onscreen Proofing on, and bad display of location menus on the map in the Places view.
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09/01, 4:25pm
Adds Sony, Samsung, Panasonic cameras
Apple has posted Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.8, a new add-on for OS X Lion and Snow Leopard. The download expands the number of native RAW formats supported by iPhoto '11 and Aperture 3. RAW files represent unprocessed photo data, unlike the JPEGs many cameras default to.
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07/20, 4:35pm
Directs traffic to Mac App Store
Apple has discontinued boxed copies of several Mac software titles, a note to resellers reveals. Major titles that are now online-only include Aperture 3, Xsan 2, iWork '09 and the iLife '11 suite. Remote Desktop is also being kept off shelves, along with an assortment of Jam Pack add-ons for GarageBand.
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06/25, 12:00am
Plug-in suite v3 adds mask, text, wavelet layers
Human Software has launched Edit 3, adding layer support to the Aperture plug-in suite. Version 3.0 allows layers in Aperture, as well as Adobe's Lightroom program, supporting size and rotation adjustments, opacity controls, blending and masking via brushes and paths. The toolbox has numerous path tools that work with the new layers, including Bezier or BSpline tools for shadowing, shape tools and repeats. Text and wavelet layers are new, while other tools in the set can liquify and distort images on a specific layer.
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03/22, 4:45pm
iPhoto, brushes fixed
Apple is now distributing a minor update for Aperture, 3.1.2. The patch is said to improve "overall stability and performance," as well as correct three specific glitches. The first involves problems with importing libraries from iPhoto. Similarly, Apple has also addressed reconnecting referenced master images.
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12/10, 11:15pm
Updated for CS5, FCP, Aperture, Lightroom
Red Giant Software has brought out a new suite of seven professional plug-ins for Adobe's CS5 applications and Final Cut Pro called Effects Suite 10, and has also updated their Magic Bullet Photolooks to v1.5, now adding support for Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Lightroom as well as Photoshop CS5.
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12/09, 5:20pm
Improved reliability when upgrading libraries
Apple has released an update to its photography software, Aperture. Version 3.1.1 brings several bug fixes, improving compatibility with the iLife Media Browser and reliability when upgrading existing Aperture libraries. The update also addresses an issue that had caused problems when publishing photos to MobileMe, Facebook and Flickr.
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12/02, 8:05pm
Includes next-generation Genuine Fractals
Perfect Photo Suite, the collection of digital image-enhancement tools from OnOne Software, has been updated to v5.5, including updates to almost all the components of the collection, a new version of Genuine Fractals now called Perfect Resize 7, along with the ability to run most of the suite's components in Apple's Apertureor Adobe's Lightroom without the need for a separate host application -- and in some cases, as their own standalone apps. The suite will also include a new product, Perfect Layers, which will ship early next year.
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10/20, 5:15pm
Latest versions bring list of bug fixes
Apple has released updates to its Aperture photography utility and ProKit suite of professional applications. Aperture 3.1 offers improvements to stability and overall performance, while adding compatibility with iLife '11. The software also brings a long list of bug fixes for problems relating to importing, face detection, rendering, red eye correction, slideshows and GPS data.
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08/17, 5:35pm
Fixes for Team Fortress 2, Portal
Apple has released a graphics update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. The download brings stability and performance improvement for a variety of applications and games. Frame rate issues have been addressed in Portal and Team Fortress 2 on certain Macs, while a crash bug has been fixed in Aperture 3 and StarCraft II.
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07/09, 1:00pm
New version supports OAuth authentication
Blue Crowbar has upgraded its software for exporting tweets and photos to Twitter, renaming the software TwitExport 2. The original software was split between iPhoto and Aperture as plug-ins for each, then named iPhoto2Twitter and Aperture2Twitter. It allows users to send a photo or a batch of photos from either Mac imaging software title to Twitter via Mobypicture or TwitPic. It also supports Aperture 3's 64-bit mode and sending movies from iPhoto.
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06/15, 6:05pm
Unique 10.6.4 patches target new Mac minis
Apple has released Mac OS X 10.6.4, an update long in development for Snow Leopard. The patch fixes several important problems; these include keyboards and trackpads becoming unresponsive, Creative Suite 3 programs failing to launch, and difficulty in copying, renaming or deleting files on SMB servers. Minor bugfixes target fullscreen editing in Aperture and iPhoto, and using Good Quality deinterlacing in DVD Player.
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06/01, 8:35pm
Update adds improved interface, lens adjustments
HumanSoftware has upgraded its photographic effects plug-ins, HSC Edit, for Apple's Aperture software. The set is spread across 14 modules featuring more than 5000 individual effects. Each tool provides a wide range of manual variations and can be applied to a single image or processed across a larger batch. The modules include effects organized around color adjustments, depth of field, focus, noise, and lighting or lens effects, among others.
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04/27, 11:45am
Eye-Fi gets automatic sign on for Boingo and more
Eye-Fi today added both a new card and a major expansion of its support for hotspot cards. The 4GB Geo X2 combines the geolocation support of the original Geo with the Class 6 (6MBps) transfer speeds, 802.11n Wi-Fi and "endless" memory of other X2 cards. It's targeted primarily at Mac users using Aperture 3 or iPhoto '09 and will be available only through Apple stores in May for $70.
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04/22, 11:35pm
Update covers Canon, Olympus, Sony cameras
Apple on Thursday released a RAW compatibility update for Aperture 3 and iPhoto '09. Version 3.2 extends support to a list of new cameras including the Canon EOS Rebel T2i, 550D and Kiss X4; Leica S2; Olympus E-450, E600, and E-620; Sony Alpha DSLR-A230, A330, A380, and A450. The update also addresses RAW processing issues with the Canon EOS 30D, Pentax K-x and K-7.
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04/16, 12:45pm
XMP bypass, new track logger support in v2.5
Houdah has launched an update to its geocoding software for the Mac, HoudahGeo 2.5. The software both geocodes and geotags images, allowing users to assign location information to their photo collections. It features support for iPhoto and Aperture and is current version/master-file aware, using the current version for export and offering the choice of returning to the master file for writing EXIF, XMP or IPTC tags. HoudahGeo can automatically geocode images from a GPS track Logger and can geocode images to the nearest waypoint as an alternative. It can also propagate geocodes from an iPhone photo, which has geocode information, to other photos taken in the same timeframe.
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03/25, 5:00pm
Aperture 3.0.2 fixes numerous glitches
Apple has released a collection of four new patches, covering multiple products. Central is Aperture 3.0.2, which addresses general stability in the workflow app, as well as 13 individual problem areas. Some of the latter including upgrading libraries from Aperture 1.x or 2.x, creating print presets, using the Curves, Straighten and Retouching tools, and IPTC metadata. The upgrade is a 69.83MB download.
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03/16, 6:20pm
Aperture SlideShow support also updated
Apple has released several drivers for Samsung and Brother printers connected to Snow Leopard systems, along with an Aperture SlideShow support update. Snow Leopard printer and scanner support has been extended to include a variety of models in Samsung's CLP-, CLX-, ML-, QL-, and SCX-series devices.The Brother drivers cover a wide range of DCP-, FAX-, HL-, MFC-, and QL-series printers and multi-function devices.
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03/15, 7:35pm
Aperture SlideShow fix improves HD, video sync
Apple tonight released its second fix for Aperture 3 since launch. Aperture SlideShow Support Update 1.1 (3.3MB) mends video problems and specifically solves a problem with HD video playback in slideshows run on Snow Leopard systems. Regardless of size, audio and video should also now remain in sync after a video's length has been trimmed.
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03/03, 1:50pm
Affects key Apple software
Apple has released an update for ProKit, the framework undergirding several of its professional-level apps. These include Aperture, the Final Cut suite and the Pro and Express versions of Logic. The v5.1 patch fixes an issue with scrolling behavior, and a more crucial problem with memory leaks, which should help improve performance.
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02/25, 4:50pm
Support for cameras from Leica, Pentax, Sony
Apple on Thursday released a RAW compatibility update for Aperture 3 and iPhoto '09. Version 3.1 expands the list of supported cameras to include the Hasselblad H3DII-50, Leica M9 and X1, Olympus E-P1 and E-P2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, Pentax K-7 and K-x, and Sony's DSLR-A500, -A550 and -A850.
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02/24, 5:25pm
Overall stability and performance improved
Apple on Wednesday released an update to its photography software, Aperture. Version 3.0.1 improves overall stability and addresses a wide variety of issues. Bug fixes involve upgrading libraries from earlier versions, importing libraries from iPhoto, memory usage when processing heavily-retouched photos, facial recognition processing, and more.
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02/18, 10:35am
Still no fix for memory leaks
Apple has posted workaround instructions for a problem in upgrading to Aperture 3. The photo workflow software may quit unexpectedly on launch, or after entering an Aperture 3 upgrade serial number. The temporary solution is to move two files -- "Aperture System ID" and "ProAppsSystemID" -- out of the /Library/Application Support/ProApps directory on a Mac, and then launch Aperture to enter new and previous serial numbers. After the upgrade is authorized, the relocated files can be deleted.
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02/16, 1:15pm
Virtual memory eventually renders drives unusable
Serious memory leaks are being caused by the newly-released Aperture 3, complaints on Apple's support forums suggest. Affected users note that virtual memory can spiral out of control, to the point that it can consume all of the free space on a Mac's hard drive. This can result in a Mac becoming unusable, either extremely slow or ultimately hanging.
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02/09, 5:50pm
SlideShow update recommended for Aperture 3
Following on the heels of the Aperture 3 introduction, Apple on Tuesday also released maintenance updates for RAW compatibility and a SlideShow bug. Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 3.0 extends RAW support for Aperture 3 and iPhoto 09 to include several additional cameras and formats such as Canon's PowerShot S90, sRAW, and mRAW; Leica's D-LUX 4; and Panasonic's Lumix DMC-G1, DMC-GH1 and DMC-LX3.
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02/09, 9:20am
Expands with editing, iPhoto '09 features
Apple has released Aperture 3, a major update of the company's photo workflow software. The program is now 64-bit only, and has also been upgraded with several new features, most notably Brushes and Adjustment Presets. The former allow people to "paint" edits onto a photo, making them more precise without having to open a secondary app like Photoshop. There are 15 default Quick Brushes, such as Dodge, Burn, Blur and Polarize.
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01/19, 11:25pm
Book set for release early in February
The Dutch photography site Fotografie.nl has listed a new book for Apple's upcoming Aperture 3 software. The book, written by J.W. Elzenga, is set for release on or after February 15th, leading to speculation that Apple will introduce the software at its media event scheduled for January 27th.
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01/05, 6:05pm
Smart Filter support added
Nik has released a major upgrade of its Viveza plug-in, designed for applications such as Aperture and Photoshop. The add-on lets users selectively control light and color in photos. The upgrade brings the app up to v2.0, and features global image adjustments and shadow recovery, along with interface enhancements that improve everything from slider controls to grouped color control points.
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12/17, 9:15am
Camera update targeted at high-end DSLRs
Apple is distributing two new minor software updates, beginning with a Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update, v2.7. The patch extends RAW format support within iPhoto '08 and '09, as well as Aperture 2. New is support for four professional-level DSLRs: Canon's EOS-7D and EOS-1D Mk. IV, and Nikon's D3S and D300S. Also supported are the Nikon D3000, and the Canon PowerShot G11.
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11/25, 3:15pm
Update runs batches, preserves color profiles
DataMind Srl has launched Jade Plugin 2.0 for Apple's Aperture software. The plug-in automates color, contrast and dynamic range adjustments, while helping to detect and correct red eye in photographs. Jade is now a one-button operation -- the user loads photos in and then clicks a button to start. Version 2.0 offers manual control for those who wish to make fine adjustments.
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11/09, 4:55pm
Also corrects litany of lesser-known bugs
Apple has at last released Mac OS X 10.6.2, a key update to Snow Leopard. The patch addresses a variety of technical problems, most notably one which would permanently delete data when logging into a main account after having just used a guest one. The bug has been known since at least early October. Other resolved account problems include unexpected logouts, and difficulty authenticating as an administrator.
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11/06, 6:10pm
New version has 51 different designs
Jumsoft has released Aperture Themes 2.0, a package of ten new themes for Apple's photography software. The new content adds to the six themes available in the previous v1.0 bundle. The styles are geared toward creating web galleries with photos via Aperture. Each of the 16 themes has up to ten different layouts for a total of 51 designs.
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10/23, 12:25pm
Leak hints at product name change
The next version of Aperture may be named Aperture X, an Amazon leak suggests. A book called Aperture X: A Workflow Guide for Digital Photographers has appeared at the Amazon website, credited to Ken McMahon and Nik Rawlinson, who previously wrote a guide for Aperture 2. The book's listing includes the warning "UNDER NDA," suggesting that it was meant to be kept hidden in a database.
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09/25, 2:35pm
Hasselblad H4D-50 and H4D-60
Hasselblad chose Friday to unveil a long-in-progress upgrade to its H System medium format cameras. The H4D is billed as one of the first cameras to have a true off-center autofocus system, known as True Focus. Where even DSLRs often have to first focus and then reposition the camera to get focus significantly away from the center, the H4D has a yaw rate sensor that can detect the horizontal and vertical movement away from the focus point and refocus the lens to compensate.
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09/22, 11:10am
Fraction of Lightroom's audience, says Adobe
Apple's Aperture workflow software is losing significant traction with professional photographers, claims Adobe. Citing data gathered by the research firm InfoTrends, Adobe notes that in a 2009 survey, only 12.5 percent of photographers with Macs reported using Aperture for RAW files; by contrast, Adobe's Lightroom software was nearly four times as popular, at 44.4 percent. The figures represent a widening gap, as in 2007, only 26.6 percent chose Lightroom and 14.3 percent chose Aperture.
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09/10, 3:40pm
Aperture gets watermarking plug-in: Impression 1.0
Blue Crowbar has launched a watermarking plug-in, Impression 1.0, for Aperture. Impression automates adding a visual watermark to photos, like a company logo, a signature or a copyright statement. The software provides a preview of what the watermark will look like on a given photo before exporting the final result. Impression supports vertical and horizontal watermarks and can adjust transparency and position within the photo.
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08/27, 7:10pm
Aperture 2.1.4 released
Apple has released v2.1.4 of its post-production photo utility, Aperture. The application is used to import, edit catalog, organize, retouch, publish, and archive images. The latest version fixes various issues involving import, web publishing, and the creation and ordering of books. The update addresses problems from the previous version that prevented the app from properly detecting and filtering duplicate photos and caused JPEG images to be compressed when uploading photos to MobileMe.
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08/27, 2:35pm
flickery 1.5 update ships
Eternal Storms has released flickery 1.5, its desktop flickr client for Mac OS X, featuring new video upload, download and playback. The software allows users to upload photos, and now video, to flickr from iPhoto or Aperture and organize the pictures into photosets or groups. flickery can also resize, crop, rotate and filter photos and it can view and search photos and videos from the flickr database.
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07/27, 7:20pm
V1.5 Blue Crowbar apps
Blue Crowbar has released v1.5 of its Twitter plug-ins, Aperture2Twitter and iPhoto2Twitter. The plug-ins are used to send tweets and photographs directly from Aperture or iPhoto. The new versions add support for posting videos and pictures to Mobypicture, which integrates with other websites including Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr, Blogger, WordPress, YouTube, and Vimeo.
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07/24, 2:40pm
Apple ProKit 5 update
In parallel with upgraded Final Cut and Logic suites, Apple has released a v5.0 update for ProKit. The software provides an underlying framework for Apple's professional-level programs, including not just Final Cut and Logic but all related apps, such as Motion and Soundtrack. The Aperture photo workflow tool is also impacted.
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07/03, 8:45am
Hasselblad CFV-39
Hasselblad took steps to drive more of its medium-format camera users to digital today by adding the CFV-39. The digital back adds a 39-megapixel sensor to any of the company's V System film cameras and brings them up to similar features found in the H3DII line. Upgraders can shoot either to CompactFlash or to a Mac or PC using FireWire tethering, and also have the same ISO 50-800 sensitivity as one of Hasselblad's fully integrated digital cameras.
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06/26, 5:00pm
Catapult Aperture plug-in
Brushed Pixel has announced Catapult, a new Aperture plug-in designed to integrate external RAW photo converters. Supported software currently includes Adobe Camera Raw, typically associated with Photoshop, and Nikon's proprietary Capture utility. Catapult automatically exports RAW files to one of the converters, and imports the resulting JPEG or TIFF files, all the while stacking versions together to keep photos organized.
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05/14, 4:10pm
Maperture Pro released
Ubermind has released a more sophisticated version of its Aperture plug-in, Maperture Pro. Both versions of Maperture are designed to infuse Aperture with data from Google Maps, associating photos with the location of their shooting. The Pro version expands on the basic toolset with features such as altitude tagging.
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05/08, 4:15pm
Photomatrix for Aperture
HDRsoft has released a new version of Photomatix, built as an Aperture plug-in. The software merges bracketed photographs into a 32-bit HDR image, displaying a greater tonal range than a conventional photo. The plug-in also gives users the ability to align handheld photographs, and reduce problems such as noise and chromatic aberrations.
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04/19, 9:55pm
WeatherOffice, Dictionary
AttendeesAlerter 1.3 ($15) is a utility that can send reminder e-mails to contacts listed within an iCal event. The application periodically checks through a user's iCal events, searches for assigned contacts and sends a reminder e-mail using Apple's Mail application. The update includes a fix for a minor bug. [Download - 5.4MB]
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04/15, 3:40pm
HSC Edit 1.7 update
HumanSoftware has released v1.7 of HSC Edit, a plug-in for Apple's Aperture workflow suite. The software lets users apply a variety of effects to photographs automatically, supplementing or bypassing regular adjustments. The v1.7 edition includes the new HyperFocal module, which simulates sharper focus through combinations of local, global or detailed contrast techniques. Users can also limit effects through masks or tone range selection, and tweak color balance and saturation.
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04/14, 5:35pm
iMovie, Aperture updates
Apple today released updates to consumer movie editing application iMovie as well its professional photography application Aperture and remote administration tools for Mac OS X Server installations. iMovie 8.02 fixes an issue with projects having a size of 0KB where attempting to open these projects would cause iMovie to quit unexpectedly at launch. According to Apple, the update also addresses a problem where full-screen mode could not be accessed on some systems. Apple's Aperture 2.1.3 update improves overall stability and addresses minor issues in a number of areas, including the display of thumbnails on import and image rotation. The free update is recommended for all users of Aperture 2.3 and is available as a 48.1MB download.
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