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.
Apple today updated iPhoto '11 to v9.2.1, a bugfix update the corrects a crashing and importing issue that appeared whenever there was an old 3ivx codec present when users upgraded iPhoto to v9.2. The update, which is only available via Software Update at present, fixes the issue without requiring users to remove the 3ivx codec, which resolved the issue for users prior to the update. The codec was most commonly installed on Mac systems via the Flip digital video recorder.
Continuing a barrage of software updates, Apple has released a new version of iPhoto, 9.2. The software implements compatibility with iCloud, especially Photo Stream, which syncs and shares photos with iOS 5. Apple has also made some interface upgrades however, for instance adding swipe gestures to photos in the Magnify (1-up) view, and breaking off previously imported photos into a separate part of the Import window.
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.
Hints of the iPhone 5's real design may have come through an unusual source as a sighting in Apple's latest Photo Stream beta has shown an unusual icon. Rather than match the usual iPhone layout, it shows a device with a wide home button and considerably reduced blank spaces above and below the display, alluding to a bigger screen. The 9to5 capture nearly recalls the design of the Galaxy S II.
Apple has released new developer seeds for three upcoming Mac updates. The first is OS X 10.7.2, now in build 11C43. The iCloud Lion client has now been advanced to beta 9, while iPhoto 9.2 is in its third beta. Apple warns that installing the latter will replace any existing installation of iPhoto, and that beta 3 will not open libraries created by beta 1. The only way to revert iPhoto to an earlier version is to do a clean install of OS X and then install iPhoto again separately.
On the heels of today's iCloud.com beta, Apple has released a new beta for iWork for iOS and a refreshed iPhoto for Mac that includes iCloud compatibility. The iWork updates will allow developers to sync documents begun on one iOS device onto another automatically (if desired), or onto the iCloud website -- where users can also edit documents, with the results automatically synced back to iOS devices.
Using the Mac App Store, Apple has released updates to the three apps in iLife '11: GarageBand, iMovie and iPhoto. In each circumstance the updates address underlying bugs instead of adding new features. GarageBand 6.0.4 for instance fixes problems with the Lesson Store not finishing downloads, and tempo-based effects slipping out of sync with the main tempo. Magic GarageBand project files should open properly in the tracks view.
Apple today updated both their digital camera RAW compatibility for Leopard and Snow Leopard, as well as ProKit, the general updater for the company's "pro-class" software. ProKit has now been updated to version 7.0 for Snow Leopard 10.6.6 or later, and makes improvements along with fixing leaks and issues, including a bug in AppKit itself. The Digital RAW Compatibility Update is numbered as v3.7, and adds support for five new digital cameras to Aperture 3 and iPhoto '11.
Apple today released a minor update to iPhoto, now at version 9.1.3, to correct an issue where merged events would spontaneously be split back into separate events when synched with an iOS device. The update is 106.29MB in size and is recommended for all iPhoto and iLife '11 users. It is now available either directly from Apple's Support Downloads area or through Software Update. It requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later.
Apple has released a pair of software updates, most notably iPhoto 9.1.2. The patch adds new card themes, but primarily makes a number of bugfixes as well as some interface improvements. Some of the eliminated glitches include ones with the Zoom slider in Magnify view, toolbar auto-hiding in fullscreen mode, and the formatting of book, card and calendar themes.
Microsoft gave Mac users more parity with their Windows peers late Friday with the 1.1 update to Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac (free, App Store). The new version now lets Apple Lossless (ALAC) tracks sync to Windows Phone 7 or, likely, Zune HD devices. Those using the desktop Zune app on Windows already had Windows Media Audio support and thus an edge if they wanted higher quality sound.
Microsoft entered the Mac App Store for the first time by posting Windows Phone 7 Connector (free, Mac App Store). The version is virtually identical to the prior edition but adds the surprise of official support for the Zune HD, marking the first time a Zune media player has had official support on the Mac. The support had already existed but needed a command-line tweak to start working.
Logitech announced that its flagship HD Pro Webcam C910 is now fully Mac-compatible. The HD Pro Webcam 910 is plug-and-play ready for Photo Booth, iChat and FaceTime. A free download provides integration with iPhoto and IMovie and enable video calling at HD 720p resolution. The HD Pro Webcam can be used with common video calling clients such as Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, and Gmail Voice and Video Chat.
Apple this afternoon updated its photo-organizing and editing app iPhoto '11, part of the iLife '11 suite, to v9.1.1 -- adding new themes to its built-in e-mail options and restoring both a preference to allow photos to be e-mailed using external mail applications and the option to size photo attachments as Small, Medium or Large. The update also addresses a number of issues and improves overall stability.
Microsoft has quietly posted beta 2 of Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac that addresses some of its major bugs. The app primarily tackles music and now fixes playback for the AAC files synced from iTunes that wouldn't play. It can further reverse sync MP3s bought from the WP7 phone, properly sync from remote iTunes installs, and transfers bookmarks, ratings, release dates that were previously left out.
Just days after issuing a quick fix for a critical library bug, Apple has rolled out the first major iLife '11 upgrade with iPhoto 9.1, which restores the ability to create and order calendars, a feature that went missing on the initial release. It also fixes an issue that prevented videos downloaded from MobileMe or Flickr from importing correctly into iPhoto events, and adds some holiday-themed letterpress card options. The update addresses only the version of iPhoto that shipped with the new iLife '11 suite.
GoGadget is a new program for Mac from third-party sync experts Mark/Space that promises to allow iTunes and iPhoto syncing with almost any third-party media player through a simple, intuitive interface. The program will sync photos, music, video, documents and even ringtones from your Mac to the third-party device simply using the USB cable, limited only by what the device is capable of playing or displaying.
Fixing a bug that has gotten widespread coverage in recent days, Apple this afternoon began pushing an iPhoto 9.0.1 update to its Software Update servers in an effort to fix an issue that causes corruption and data loss in the iPhoto Library for some users upgrading from previous versions, along with other issues. The bug affects the version of iPhoto shipped in the iLife '11 retail package.
Microsoft as promised has launched a native tool for Mac users who need to sync Windows Phone 7 devices. Windows Phone Connector for Mac's beta pulls in unprotected music, photos and podcasts from both iTunes and iPhoto. It also uses Microsoft's newer Autoupdate feature to check for and load firmware upgrades over USB instead of having to go over-the-air.
Some people are losing part or all of their photo libraries when upgrading from iPhoto '09 to iPhoto '11, a part of the new iLife '11 suite, according to complaints. Still other people are reporting issues such as repeated requests to upgrade a library, glitches in Events and Faces, and trouble importing from connected devices like iPhones and DSLRs. Unofficial solutions include repairing permissions in Disk Utility, or going through a more complex procedure involving deleting the iPhoto PLIST file and forcing the software to rebuild a library.
Apple today revealed iLife '11, a new version of the software suite pre-installed on every Mac. Three core apps have been updated, beginning with iPhoto '11, which has gained new fullscreen views for Faces, Places, Albums and photobooks, in areas using iPad-style interfaces with iOS-like buttons located along the bottom. Facebook sharing lets people view responses to posted images, and a special e-mail sharing tool lets people auto-arrange photos into an attractive layout. Some other changes include new slideshow templates, and a Project view with a bookshelf similar to iBooks.
Plans to launch a new MacBook Air and iLife '11 have been virtually confirmed this morning both by unofficial leaks and by Apple itself. The company's discussion forums already have placeholder categories for the "MBA" notebook as well as iMovie '11, GarageBand '11 and iPhoto '11. Polish site Spidersweb, who first found the leaks, also discovered a mystery "Reserved 10 20" category that could represent a new app or piece of hardware.
Microsoft in a statement this morning confirmed a Mac sync option for Windows Phone 7 devices. Heading off a misstep by a UK executive, it said there would be a test version of a conduit app before the end of 2010 to bring some content to the phones. The company implied it wasn't a Zune app but also that it would be self-developed.
Some significant changes are coming to the next iLife suite, a "well-informed" source claims. The software is first of all said to be going 64-bit, potentially providing significant performance boosts within Snow Leopard. Allegedly being dropped as a default app is iDVD, Apple's disc-authoring tool, which as been available for Macs since 2001. While it should still be an option, people will have to download it, the source says.
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.
Apple has very quietly improved malware protection with Tuesday's Mac OS X 10.6.4 update, says a senior technology consultant at security firm Sophos. Examining an updated XProtect.plist file, the consultant notes that the code detects "HellRTS," a Trojan threat also known as OSX/Pinhead-B. The malware masquerades as a copy of iPhoto, and can potentially be used to force a Mac to send spam, take screenshots or share files.
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.
Microsoft today tried to claim a rare edge in superiority for media apps with a preview of an upgraded Windows Live Essentials pack. The bundle focuses heavily on Photo Gallery and claims some advantages not seen in iPhoto: users can make composite images that take the best parts of similar images, and Facebook integration is tight with both uploads and the ability to import tags from photos already uploaded to the social network. Batch edits and an Office-like ribbon interface are also new.
The latest iPhone OS 4 beta reportedly enables geotagging functionality in the mobile version of iPhoto Places. The feature builds upon existing capabilities, allowing users to view picture locations without leaving the iPhone interface to sync the content with a desktop program.
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.
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.
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.
Apple on Tuesday released maintenance updates for QuickTime and iPhoto. QuickTime 7.6.6 focuses on increased reliability, expanded compatibility, and improved security. Specific details are vague, although the download is said to address H.264 playback issues on certain Windows systems with multi-core configurations.
iPhoto has "much better" organizational features than Google's Picasa, claims Apple CEO Steve Jobs. The statement comes in response to an e-mailed question about the iPad Photos app, in particular asking whether people will be able to import Picasa face and album data into Photos through iTunes. Apple should support the Picasa library format, the e-mail proposes.
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.
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.
Panasonic provided a look into its PMA lineup on Tuesday with a trio of Lumix compacts, each of which claims a special advantage of its own. Heading these up is the 12-megapixel ZS7: it touts "superzoom" shooting in a compact with a 12X, 25-300mm equivalent lens but is more noteworthy as the company's first GPS-aware camera. Shots taken can optionally be geotagged so that iPhoto '09 and similarly ready apps can map out photos.
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.
Apple on Tuesday released maintenance updates for iPhoto and Final Cut Server. iPhoto 8.1.1 addresses several issues involving poor performance and accuracy of the facial recognition feature. Users that imported photos of people with iPhoto 8.1 should choose the Detect Missing Faces option to correctly match the faces. The update also fixes a bug with book ordering, along with iPod touch support.
In brief: An issue with the integration of the iPhoto and Flickr libraries has developed, which can result in users being able to accidentally wipe out entire sets of photos on Flickr. comiXology has meanwhile announced a change in the price of its Comics by comiXology iPhone app, a consequence of Apple now allowing in-app purchases for free iPhone apps.
Apple has stealthily bought an online map firm in what could represent an aid to the iPhone but a split with Google, a search has discovered. A startup company, Placebase, was bought by Apple in July but provided so little attention about the takeover that it wasn't until a check on former CEO Jaron Waldman's LinkedIn profile confirmed the move. Waldman is now part of a "Geo Team" at Apple performing in an unspecified role.
Mytracks4mac has released v2.0 of its flagship application, myTracks, used to read tracks from GPS data loggers and link the information to photographs in iPhoto, geotagging the users images. The application synchronizes with iPhoto, allowing users to drag and drop images directly from iPhoto onto the myTracks dock icon. The program is compatible with a large variety of photo software and utilizes a GPS Logger Assistant to transfer GPS tracks.
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.
Blue Crowbar has introduced its newest iPhoto plug-in, Impression, used to add watermarks to photographs. The watermarks can consist of a company logo, a signature, text, other images and copyright statements. The plug-in automatically imports watermarked photos as copies, preserving the original images quality, and allowing the edited pictures to be uploaded to the web using iPhoto's built-in features.
Apple has produced a minor update for iPhoto, the photo editing and management utility included with iLife. The v8.1 patch is a minor one, introducing new print options such as an order for a 10x13-inch hardcover book. Three new book themes are present as well, including Asian, Old World and Tropical.
Eye-Fi on Wednesday announced it will soon add a Geo wireless SD memory card to its lineup that will be capable of geotagging photos exclusively for Mac computers. The 2GB SD card automatically saves GPS mapping information for captured photos and videos before transferring them to a given computer. It's primarily intended for Mac users and fully supports Apple's iPhoto '08 and '09 as well as MobileMe. As with other Eye-Fi cards, the photos are wirelessly transferred to a pre-selected folder on a Mac over a user's Wi-Fi network.
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.
Apple on Tuesday released a maintenance update to its image utility, iPhoto 8.0.4. The update addresses a rarely-encountered issue relating to importing photos from earlier versions, which would sometimes cause the program to crash. Other minor bug fixes include corrected references to points of interest and location names that were improperly labeled.
