January 26 - 11:35pm EST   Bjango has released iStat 1.0, a network monitoring app that allows users to check up on thier Macs. The app also provides detailed iPhone stats, including available memory, IP addresses, usage and load averages. Included network tools allow users to ping servers and resolve hostnames with traceroute. The Melbourne-based developer says iStat also includes a "Free Memory" tool which works to free up unused space reserved by third-party iPhone applications. [full story]

August 28 - 3:50pm EDT   Monitors keep getting bigger and bigger, but it seems that the more display space you have, the more you may want. While Leopard provides Spaces so you can flip through multiple virtual desktops, you may prefer connecting multiple monitors to your Mac instead. For a simple solution to plugging in additional monitors to any Mac, take a look at Tritton’s See2 Xtreme external video card. [full story]

April 18 - 3:25pm EDT   The MacBook Air, with its use of an LED-lit display, is supposedly spurring adoption of the technology all throughout the industry, due to its energy conservation and even lighting. According to Macworld, Apple's slender ultraportable – due to its aesthetic appeal – is spurring an almost exponential rise in LED use in devices ranging from laptops and desktop LCD monitors, to LCD televisions. [full story]

April 14 - 7:15pm EDT   Hewlett Packard, with some assistance from DreamWorks, is announcing a new technology dubbed "HP DreamColor" that the company says will be a "disruptive" force in the market place. MacNN spoke with Jim Zafarana is Vice President, Worldwide Marketing for Hewlett-Packard Company's Workstation Global Business Unit and Jeff Wood, Director Product Marketing at HP about the new technology, which will purportedly pave the way for displays with accurate, predictable color reproduction at a fraction of the cost of similarly capable monitors and finally offer a transition route to flat-panel displays for graphic design firms (like DreamWorks) that have thus far been stuck with ... [full story]

April 1 - 12:15am EDT  Onset Computer Corporation today introduced the HOBO U14 LCD Data Logger, an environmental monitoring system that tracks temperature and humidity ratings in indoor environtments. The logger notifies users when environmental conditions exceed those specified, and includes both an audible alarm, as well as an auto phone dialer. Onset says the unit functions quickly over USB 2.0, and is selling the unit starting at $200. [full story]

March 31 - 4:35pm EDT   DisplayLink recently announced beta drivers for the Mac for its DisplayLink USB line of monitor extension products, but said the drivers do not yet enable 2D or 3D acceleration on the platform. The USB device allows users to connect up to another four DVI or VGA displays to a computer, ideal for computers that do not have many monitor extension capabilities such as the Mac mini. DisplayLink notes that the devices require Mac OS X 10.4.11 Tiger or Leopard 10.5.2. [full story]

March 31 - 3:05pm EDT   Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP, a law firm out of Los Angeles, California, has filed suit against Apple on behalf of a class of users claiming that the computer maker "deceptively marketed" the 20-inch iMac by purporting improved display performance, though the device's monitor is allegedly of "inferior" quality. The suit claims that the monitors are incapable of displaying “millions of colors,” despite Apple's marketing claims. "Apple is duping its customers into thinking they’re buying 'new and improved' when in fact they're getting stuck with 'new and inferior,'”"said Brian Kabateck, Managing Partner of Kabateck Brown Kellner.  "Beneath Apple’s 'good guy' image is a ... [full story]

February 20 - 1:10pm EST   Crackatonic Projects has released Optimism 1.0, a health-wellness planning application that takes a pro-active approach to dealing with mental health. Optimism works by helping users monitor patterns in their lifestyle such as a person’s mood, exercise, sleep, and other potential triggers, symptoms or activities that may trigger depression. The program requires Mac OS X Version 10.2 or higher and runs as a Universal Binary for both Intel and PowerPC processors. Optimism 1.0 costs $19.95 and is available as a full-featured 7-day trial. [full story]

February 18 - 6:35pm EST   As part of Kaleidoscope's private eco-friendly venture, The Greener Grass, the Ohio-based organization has unveiled Current State, a system designed to help iPhone users monitor power usage in their house. The system consists of a series of pass-through plugs that sit between the power outlet and appliance plugs, taking readings of power usage, and sending them to a software front-end on the iPhone. Pricing and availability for the system were not mentioned. [full story]

February 4 - 4:35pm EST   App4mac today unveiled CheckUp 1.0, a new utility designed to check and monitor the health and behavior of a Mac, even from a remote location. CheckUp monitors processor, memory, disk, and network activity, and allows users to terminate any process that is currently being worked on by the computer. The software functions with PowerPC G4 or G5 processors, and any Intel based Mac. App4mac currently costs $50, and comes with a license that entitles users to install the application on two computers. [full story]

January 25 - 7:45pm EST   Arcosoft recently announced an update for VONaLink ScreenPop, its VoIP service enhancement software, adding outbound dialing restrictions. VONaLink ScreenPop works with any SIP compatible VoIP phone system, including Vonage and Asterisk. By hooking a computer that hosts the software to a hub, users can monitor and manage outgoing calls, preventing undesired charges and fees from unauthorized phone calls. Arcosoft is selling VONaLink ScreenPop on its website for $30, with a free demo version also available. [full story]

January 16 - 6:05pm EST   Samsung today unveiled its new series of 24- and 25.5-inch LCD monitors designed for entertainment and multimedia use. The pair of monitors support resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 with full 1080p HD resolution, HDMI inputs, and built-in multimedia speakers. Built-in multimedia speakers allow users to seamlessly participate in teleconferences or listen to videos and audio presentations without the need to use or purchase separate speakers. Samsung's 2493HM monitor is available for $600, while the 2693HM is priced at $700. [full story]

January 7 - 6:35pm EST   LaCie today announced five new devices at the CES trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company's latest offerings include the newly redesigned d2 Quadra, Little Big Disk Quadra, LaCinema Premier, and the Big Disk Extreme+ eSATA/USB. LaCie also unveiled a new 24-inch monitor designed for creative professionals, which is scheduled to ship later this month starting at $1,050. [full story]

December 19 - 12:20pm EST   A study conducted by the NPD Group today revealed that Apple owners are much more likely than PC users to pay for music downloads. According to NPD's quarterly Digital Music Monitor, in the third quarter of 2007 half of all Mac users had paid to download music tracks from sites like iTunes, but just 16 percent of PC owners had done so. What's more, Mac users were also more likely to purchase CDs. [full story]

December 12 - 5:05pm EST   SpectorSoft today began shipping Spector 3.1, a new version to its internet monitoring and surveillance software. The company says that Spector is the only such software available for Macs, and that it now supports Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Spector is designed to take periodic screenshots – from seconds to minutes apart – and store them on the hard drive for later viewing. In addition to screen monitoring, Spector can also log keystrokes, allowing parents to view all chats, emails, and websites that were visited. Spector for Mac is available from several retailers, including the Apple store, for $100, with an upgrade for users of previous versions for $50. [full story]