July 1 - 4:05pm EDT   Other World computing has launched new Memory upgrades for Apple iMacs (Early 2008 models) and the 2009 White MacBook 13". The iMac offerings include a new DDR2 800MHz 4GB module and 6GB kit, allowing for a 5GB or 6GB setup that is not available from Apple. The 4GB memory module is $150 and the 6GB combo, which includes both 4GB and 2GB RAM modules, costs $170. OWC also has 2GB and 1GB options at substantially reduced pricing vs. Apple factory charges. The memory sticks carry a lifetime OWC warranty. [full story]

June 4 - 5:00pm EDT   MakeMusic has released the newest version of Finale 2010, its software used to create sheet music and preview the music with audio synthesizers. The upgrade boasts better percussion instrument notation and the automated creation and sequencing of rehearsal marks. The update also claims simpler chord entry, requiring fewer keystrokes. [full story]

May 14 - 10:55pm EDT   ProjectsWizards has released an update to its Merlin project management application for both the iPhone/iPod touch and Mac, along with a new version of its Merlin Server bringing it to 2.7. The upgrade to Merlin 2.7 allows users to share projects with the iPhone and iPod touch and adds support for the Merlin Server. By enabling the three applications to work together users can access and share their Merlin projects from any iPhone, Mac, or supported web browser. [full story]

May 12 - 6:50pm EDT   TechRestore is now offering an overnight upgrade service for MacBooks and MacBook Pros, replacing stock hard drives with a new 500GB, 7200 RPM disk. The Seagate ST9500420AS drives have just become available, offering the largest capacity and fastest spindle-speed available in a single 2.5-inch drive. The new devices are unique in that they offer both the highest capacity and the faster spindle speed in one drive. Previous limitations forced laptop owners to choose lower RPM ratings to obtain higher storage capacity, or sacrifice capacity to get the speed of a 7200 RPM drive. [full story]

January 19 - 2:15pm EST   TechRestore has announced an upgrade service that will convert the latest 15-inch MacBook Pro to a matte-finish screen. The company replaces the entire LCD screen, instead of just adding a film over the existing glass. Screen specifications remain the same, including the resolution, color depth and LED backlight. A black bezel is also added around the edge of the surface, with holes for the iSight camera at the top of the housing. [full story]

August 1 - 1:20pm EDT   Forum roundup: With rumors of upgrades to Apple products such as iPods and MacBooks, MacNN forum goers discuss the timing of a new MacBook purchase, the number one question seems to be "when to buy?" A Fresh-Faced Recruit to our forums is trying to put together a home made gadget to connect a 5.1 surround sound system to their Mac and has started a thread in hopes of finding some advice. Problems with iTunes syncing properly are addressed in this thread. One user is looking to upgrade the hard drive in their MacBook Pro and finds some good tips from other forum members about what brands to consider as well as pricing and performance specs. [full story]

July 14 - 5:15pm EDT  Servoy Inc. has introduced Servoy 4.0 -- one code base for desktop AND Web applications. Servoy 4.0 -- now an Eclipse plug-in -- is a major upgrade from all previous versions of Servoy, enabling Servoy developers to produce enterprise-level applications using a standards-based IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Servoy consists of a GUI designer, is fully event-driven and scriptable through JavaScript. As a plug-in for Eclipse -- an open source, free, extensible development framework -- Servoy 4.0 can inherit a form from another parent form within a solution -- eliminating the need to duplicate forms with similar functionality. [full story]

July 1 - 6:05pm EDT   In brief: We have posted the second part of our review of Steinberg Sequel, the Vue 3D Environment Competition 2008 has been announced, fmDataGuard has announced its "First Anniverary Sale," and there is a newly announced DEVONthink 2.0 upgrade grace period ... We have posted the second part of our review of Steinberg Sequel. The tool allows you to record using a MIDI controller or through an external microphone, which is very similar to GarageBand. We recorded live audio from a microphone and it worked well. The intuitive design worked as we thought it would. Cutting and arranging segments of recorded material is also similar to GarageBand. You can move segments freely ... [full story]

June 23 - 12:50pm EDT   TechRestore on Monday announced a 500GB overnight hard drive upgrade for MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Door-to-door nationwide service is available for the overnight turnaround. The installation includes data transfer (an exact clone) of the old drive's info and the option of having the old drive installed into a USB 2.0 enclosure for $40. The 500GB utilizes a 5,400 RPM drive mechansim. The overnight upgrade is $400 plus shipping. [full story]

June 3 - 7:30pm EDT   TimeCache 7.0.10 ($30) time and expense billing application. It offers tracking of all computer activity, can use Apple Address Book entries for client contact information, can produce charts of billable time and expenses, and can import from and export tiCal calendars. Version 7.0.10 fixes a bug that could cause a crash when printing some report formats. This is a free update to the Universal Binary Macintosh OS X application. [Download - 14.8MB] Web Confidential 3.8 ($20) professional password manager for Mac OS X. Web Confidential uses an intuitive, easy-to-use cardfile metaphor for passwords. The tool gives you access to your passwords from within your browser and from the Mac ... [full story]

May 2 - 9:15pm EDT   Sound Studio 3.5.6 ($80) sound recording and editing tool. This new version provides enhanced marker support, localization updates and bug fixes, and is a free upgrade for existing owners of Sound Studio 3. The new release also includes Unicode marker name support in AIFF, AIFF-C, WAVE, and Sound Designer 2 formats and updated Japanese localization resources. [Download - 34.7MB] iMedia Browser 1.1 (freeware) a stand-alone utility, the Karelia iMedia Browser lets users easily browse and drag content from their entire collection of photos, music, movies, and bookmarks, including their Pictures, Music, and Movies folders as well as applications such as iPhoto, Aperture, iTunes, GarageBand, ... [full story]

April 30 - 2:10pm EDT   In brief: We have a review of PowerPhones Pro headphones, RAM upgrades for the new iMacs are available, a guide to FileMaker-driven Web sits debuts, and an iPod cord wrap for tangle-less headphones has been released... We have posted a review of the PowerPhones Pro headphones, which ship in a simple easily recyclable cardboard box, but inside the earphones are tucked in a stylish silver case. A velvet storage bag and an extra set of flanged silicone ear buds for smaller ears are carefully packed under foam in the case. For the price, I expected a second set of each size in a zip-lock bag, as are found in many other comparably priced earphones. The unique PowerPhones ... [full story]

April 15 - 7:50pm EDT   Speed Download 5.0.2 ($25) download manager designed to be a unified hub for almost all downloading and file transfer activities. This release fixes the following issues: Transparency in the floater retained after SD restarts; SD no longer prompts about a component update after each restart; SD remembers changes to the toolbar visibility after each restart; a bug that could potentially cause SD to crash after completing a download. The new release has also updated SD Enhancer for better performance and compatibility. [Download - 7.7MB] Interarchy 9.0.1 ($60) Download/upload tool for FTP, FTP/SSH, FTP/SSL-TLS, HTTP, HTTPs, WebDAV, WebDAVs, iDisk and Amazon S3. Includes Growl Support ... [full story]

April 15 - 3:15pm EDT   The long-awaited NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT upgrade for Mac Pros has been released. The graphics card features 512MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory, uses the PCI Express interface, and includes two dual-link DVI ports, and is capable of driving up to two 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Displays. It requires a Mac Pro (bus speed 1.33GHz) with PCI-Express. The card is priced at $280 and can be purchased as a standalone, user-installable item or as a build-to-order option for Early 2008 Mac Pros through the online Apple Store. Controversy ensued when Apple introduced this upgrade card as an option available exclusively to newly purchased Mac Pros in January. At the time, users presented ... [full story]

April 9 - 7:00pm EDT   HighPoint Technologies has announced that the RocketRAID 3522 now supports booting Mac OS X on Apple Mac Pro (2006-2007) models. The RocketRAID 3522 has a dual mini-SAS interface that supports up to eight external direct connect SATA hard drives. Some of the new features available in the RocketRAID 3522 include selectable RAID block sizes for application tuning. Advance RAID level 0,1,5,6 and new RAID 3 support. Upgradable firmware support via the HighPoint web GUI and 32-bit EFI boot capability with Mac Pro 2006-2007 models. Booting support for Mac Pro 2008 models will be coming soon and requires an firmware upgrade through the HighPoint web management GUI. [full story]