January 31 - 5:50pm EST   IGG Software today released iBank 3 Public Beta, a trial version of its financial management application for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. The software includes iBank for iPhone, a Web-based iPhone application that allows users to enter transactions from an iPhone on-the-go. The update powers a redesigned interface with Mac OS X Core Animation technology, and a new view allows users to 'flip' through transactions presented professionally designed category images. iBank 3 Public Beta requires Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later, and the full version will ship in February for $50. [full story]

November 29 - 9:00am EST   Xsilva Systems recently unveiled LightSpeed 2.5, an update to its Mac OS-based point of sale system, introducing features such as Leopard compatibility, iPhone integration, and CoverFlow. Retailers are able to track sales, payments, returns, and invoice counts over various periods of time using the iPhone App, LightSpeed Stats. Stats can also show information regarding which employees are currently clocked in for work and how much time they've spent on Jobs and Tasks, and the app links employee contact information to the iPhone so that emails and phone calls to staff require only one tap. LightSpeed 2.5 is available from select retailers, as well as the Xsilva online ... [full story]

November 27 - 3:45pm EST   MYOB US today unveiled the latest version to its small business accounting software, AccountEdge 2008, introducing a new command center, better Mac OS X App integration, and more. The company says the redesigned command center is more than just a cosmetic fix, offering quick-access task drawers that store common functions. AccountEdge 2008 can now integrate with both iCal and .Mac services, allowing users to set reminders and to-dos, and to back up their accounting information to iDisk. A new enhanced search function allows users to search contacts, items, transactions, and other databases for information such as postal codes, item descriptions, and first name, among ... [full story]

November 20 - 6:35am EST   Veteran Mac developers The Omni Group have been producing OS X software since its inception, initially creating OmniWeb and porting Bungie's Oni to the platform. Having since blossomed from its humble beginnings by introducing many different applications for home and business, The Omni Group has unveiled its latest product, OmniFocus – an application designed to help personal and small business users stay on top of their tasks and duties. By using a trim application window and Apple app integration, OmniFocus hopes to offer an easy-to-use, albeit powerful, experience. [full story]

November 16 - 6:35pm EST   The Omni Group today announced a public beta of its new task management tool, OmniFocus. The software is designed to quickly capture thoughts and ideas, allowing users to store, manage, and process them into active to-do items. Tasks can be assigned to projects with built-in visual cues that accentuate the next required action. OmniFocus also features a number of efficient tools, such as a quick entry panel, import options for kGTD documents, iCal syncing, project and task filtering, file attachments, saved viewing perspective, and much more. The Omni Group is offering a special pricing strata for pre-orders at $40, with the OmniFocus' final pricing at $80 when it ships ... [full story]

November 13 - 9:35pm EST   As announced on Tuesday morning, FileMaker Pro is known for its versatile, multi-platform database creation capabilities, allowing users to design and put into practice custom front-ends for business and personal use alike. For most users that don't have experience with coding or scripting, however, FileMaker proves to be quite unapproachable, as a database without coding is little more than a set of static fields and text. Today, FileMaker has introduced Bento – a new addition to their product family that aims to change the perception of versatile database deployment. [full story]

November 13 - 4:25pm EST   Miami-based developer Objective Decision introduced an update to its contact managing software Contactizer Pro 3.5, and unveiled a new product, Contactizer Express 3.5. Designed for casual users, Contactizer Express is built on a number of core technologies from Contactizer Pro. While the apps are universal, Objective Decision has not yet encorporated Leopard compatibility. Pro users will discover an augmented interface, and the addition of a Merge Key Panel which allows users to access tasks from within the calendar view. Contactizer Express and Pro are available from the developer's website, with Express at $60, and $120 for Pro; both have options for licensing. [full story]

November 13 - 2:05pm EST   The Mac Business Unit at Microsoft has released a fifth sneak peek of Office 2008's development status, touting Entourage 2008 improvements alongside broader PowerPoint 2008 functionality. The latest update of Office 2008 includes an improved calendar user interface with color-coded categories, status indicators, and flexible To-Do list management to help manage schedules. The latest revision of Office 2008 also offers dynamic guides for PowerPoint 2008 to easily align text and graphics, improved presenter tools for Mac users only that enables greater control over timing as well as pacing, and a new condensed thumbnail view to ease design consistency while better coordinating ... [full story]

November 12 - 9:10am EST   VMware on Monday announced VMware Fusion 1.1, a new update to its desktop virtualization software for Intel-based Macs as a well as new utility to automatically convert virtual machines created by third-party applications such as Parallels Desktop. VMware Fusion allows Mac users to simultaneously and seamlessly run Mac OS X, Windows and other PC-based applications on the same Mac. The free update -- immediately available for all VMware Fusion 1.0 customers -- includes over 25 enhancements and improvements, including, support for Mac OS X Leopard, improved 3D graphics with experimental support for DirectX 9.0, improvements to VMware Fusion's Unity feature, and support ... [full story]

November 9 - 11:40am EST   MetaCommunications has announced the availability of an upgrade to Job Manager, its financial management add-on for Workgroups 2007. Job Manager handles tasks such as estimates, costs, reporting and invoices; new to v4.5 is a completely rewritten automated billing system, which is now controlled via a web browser, with supported applications including Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer on both Mac and Windows systems. The interface has also been simplified, and automated invoicing intended for creative and prepress businesses now supports partial and progressive workflows. [full story]

November 7 - 3:25pm EST   Yugma recently announced that its web-based screen sharing service is certified to work with all desktop platforms, including Mac OS X and Linux. The software is designed to allow off-site team members to collaborate on a group project, or to provide users with the capability to display desktop contents to many users at once – for a meeting or web-based seminar, for instance – across the internet. Yugma also allows for attendees to contribute to the session using a mouse and keyboard, and it provides whiteboard-type functionality for these users. The basic account is free, but advanced functions and support options are reserved for premium account holders, pricing for ... [full story]

November 6 - 11:00am EST   Visto today released Visto Mobile for iPhone, a mobile application that enables iPhone users to securely access corporate email from Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes directly on the handset without downloading additional software or changing security policies. Visto today also unveiled new functionality for directory lookup using the iPhone's Safari Web browser, enabling users to search for any contact to take any number of actions -- like placing a call, sending an email or retrieving driving directions -- by selecting the contact's phone information. Visto Mobile for iPhone is priced from $10 per device per month. [full story]

November 3 - 3:10pm EDT   Software developer 1360 Studios has released Transcript Manager Pro, which it claims is the "first ever" real-time transcript management software for the Mac. The software is designed to allow attorneys to connect to court reporters while in deposition or court, and get a live feed of the court transcript. Released for Windows last year, 1360 said it decided to release a Mac version of Transcript Manager Pro to allow clients to run the software on their platform of choice, rather than conforming to a standard. The software is available from 1360 Studio's website for $650. [full story]

November 1 - 3:10pm EDT   In the months leading up to the launch of Office 2008 for Mac OS X, Microsoft is launching a new promotion dubbed the "Suite Deal!" in which users can save up to $500 by purchasing qualifying Office 2004 for Mac products and receive a copy of Office 2008 for Mac Special Edition for the cost of shipping and handling ($7). The new promo ups the ante over its previously announced 'technology guarantee' by offering a free upgrade to the Special Edition version of the fully-native Mac Office 2008, which includes the Office 2008 applications as well as Microsoft Expression Media digital asset management system. Users who buy Office 2004 for Mac Standard Edition, Office 2004 ... [full story]

October 31 - 11:25am EDT   CS Odessa today released ConceptDraw Mindmap 5.2, a revision of its mind mapping business productivity software that is compatible with Apple's new Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system. ConceptDraw Mindmap 5.2 also adds Quick Look support, integration with iCal, and a renewed user interface that supports Leopard's rich visual appearance. The application is designed as a simple tool that supports mind mapping and brainstorming techniques, as well as numerous other personal productivity methodologies. Support for Quick Look -- Apple's new technology in Leopard that offers advanced previewing capabilities -- enables users to preview maps in the Finder without opening them ... [full story]