Word 2008: Elements, Notebook, Publishing, more...

Users eagerly await the release of Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, especially those that use Intel-based Macs, as this will be the first incarnation of the suite to include Universal application support. The suite has been redesigned to be more “available” to users, introducing a number of new elements, as well as reconfiguring old features to make them more obvious to new and regular users alike. While Office 2008 doesn’t ship until the start of Macworld on January 15th, Microsoft has provided MacNN with a preview of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage ahead of the announcement.

Mac OS X trojan removal tool debuts...

SecureMac has announced a free Trojan Detection Tool dubbed DNSChanger Removal Tool. DNSChanger Removal Tool detects and removes latest spyware targeting Mac OS X: DNSChanger Trojan (also known as OSX.RSPlug.A Trojan Horse). This trojan attacks users attempting to play a fake video file. Affected systems are used to hijack some Web requests that lead users to other phishing sites, or simply display ads for other pornographic websites to generate ad revenue. Phishing attacks may lead users to believe they are surfing to eBay, Paypal, or various banks when in fact they are accessing specially-crafted mockups designed to retrieve usernames and passwords for those sites. Upon attempting to play the video, the victim receives the following message: "Quicktime Player is unable to play movie file. Please click here to download new version of codec."

mStation debuts cases, Orb II at CES 2008...

mStation today announced several additions to its product lineup in time for CES 2008, with new iPod and iPhone cases and a new incarnation of its 2.1 Stereo Orb. The mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb II comes in several new colors that compliment the look and feel of the 3G iPod nanos, with a choice of the following: red, black, green, pink, and silver. The speaker system is compatible with any iPod and the iPhone, as well as being able to sync with iTunes through the included USB connection. Users can control the unit with a 10-key remote, or through the embedded controls on the Orb II itself. The mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb II will be available during the first quarter of 2008 for $130.

Macrovision joins CinemaNow to offer downloads...

Macrovision, the company largely responsible for modern DVD copy-protection schemes, has officially integrated its technologies with CinemaNow to offer downloads of CinemaNow premium video directly to Macrovision-enabled consumer electronics devices. Users who have registered Macrovision-enabled hardware at CinemaNow.com can use those devices to watch movies, TV shows, and music videos from CinemaNow's online library of available programming, according to TWICE.

One-touch video transfer device debuts...

Pinnacle Systems today debuted Pinnacle Video Transfer (site not updated), a device that record analog video onto any USB 2.0 storage device without the need for a computer. With the touch of a button the company says users with little or no technical expertise can record from a TV, DVD player, iPod, or other device to a USB flash drive or USB hard drive. Users can select three different recording levels for each device, opting for varying video qualities and sizes. Pinnacle Video Transfer will ship January 15th for $130, and includes three RCA audio/video cables as well as a power supply and a quick start guide.

SRS WOW HD Bluetooth dongle for iPod debuts...

Hitachi Maxell today introduced an SRS WOW HD-enabled Bluetooth audio transmitter (site not updated) for iPod to enhance sound quality of the portable player's digitally compressed audio and video files. The new Bluetooth-enabled dongle is compatible with all full-size iPods as well as iPod nano and iPod mini, and uses the proprietary Apple DIN connector that attaches directly to the iPod dock. The company offered no shipment details or pricing.

Fone2Phone transfers old data to iPhone...

nova media has announced Fone2Phone for Mac OS X, which will be shipping at Macworld Expo 2008. Fone2Phone is a utility that will copy data from an ordinary cell phone to the Macintosh computer in one streamlined operation. Jan Fuellemann, for nova media, said, "This little jewel takes care of the complete communication process, from connecting the cell phone to saving the files in the appropriate locations on the Mac." The tool has a simple wizard interface for copying contacts, events, tasks, notes, bookmarks, photos, music and movies from the old cell phone to the Mac.

Parrot intros cellular photo frame, vehicle kits...

Portable electronics maker Parrot has begun shipping the DF7700, an unorthodox new photo frame. While nominally a standard seven-inch digital display, it ships with its own SIM card, complete with a dedicated phone number. This allows any cellphone owner, including friends and family, to upload to the frame from wherever they are, so long as they have been given the proper number. Over 500 images can be stored on the frame, and alternate upload methods include a USB port and an SD slot. At the moment however, the DF7700 is only being sold through a French wireless carrier.

Goldmund unveils Logos 3F Subwoofer, more...

Goldmund today introduced its Logos 3F Subwoofer and Noise Eliminating USB Audio Input (site not updated). The Logos 3F boasts the same frequency response of 7Hz to 17Hz bandwidth as its older 3F sibling, but reduces its size to 12-inches for easy concealment inside interior walls. Goldmund's new USB processors use a multi-channel processor with up to 32 channels, extending to 128 channels. Pricing is currently unavailable, but the company says it will display the new offerings at the CES trade show.

JS8 Media releases QuartzCube 2...

JS8 Media has released QuartzCube 2, an update to its configurable wide-angle rotating video cube software for Mac OS X. The latest release uses the HUD format in the inspector window, adds a cube rendering pause button to the toolbar, brings a snapshot item to the view menu, and improves Leopard compatibility. QuartzCube 2 is available for free, and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

CrushFTP 4.5 adds better iCal support...

CrushFTP 4.5, a significant update to the full-scale FTP server by Ben Spink, adds rolling account expiration days, better support for iCal calendar publishing and subscribing, a new report to notify when new files have been added to a users directory, and SFTP enhancements.  Additionally the WebInterface now supports adding items to a download basket so that you can then download the entire basket as a single .zip file.  Several bug fixes are also included in this version.  CrushFTP 4.5 is a free update to registered 4.x users.

LaCie ups disk storage to 320GB...

LaCie today announced that it has increased the capacity of its All-Terrain Hard Disk as well as its 2.5-inch Little Disk (shown at right) to 320GB. The full-size external drives, designed by Neil Poulton and Sam Hecht, are designed to make backing up and transferring data easy. Simple plug and play allows the drives to interact smoothly with any laptop or desktop computer’'s USB or FireWire port to add increased mobile storage for all-types of digital media. Both the 320GB All-Terrain Hard Disk and 2.5-inch Little Disk (both start from $200) are slated for shipment in late January.

Apple, Jay-Z may launch record label...

Rumors had circulated that rap star Jay-Z and Apple would together launch a record label, but a new report from the Boy Genius Report "just about" confirms a deal. Citing a "high-up" source attached to Jay-Z, the deal is said be a go. Jay-Z is allegedly happy with the business model and wants to go ahead with the plan. The implications of Apple forging its own music label would likely send tension thundering through the already-tenuous relationships between the Cupertino-based company and its music label partners selling tracks via the iTunes Store.

NewerTech unveils six iPhone accessories...

Newer Technology (NewerTech) today unveiled its new NewerTech iPhone Accessory Line consisting of six devices, and promised to showcase the accessories at Macworld Expo in San Francisco later this month. NewerTech's new iPhone accessories include its iPhone Speaker Dock & Hands-Free Mic ($35, shown at right), Hands-Free Mic & Earbuds ($20), iPhone Mic Extender Cable ($15), Bass Response Earbuds ($20), iPhone Headphone Jack Adapter ($8), and its iPhone and iPod Auto Charger ($13).

i2i wireless music sharing device ships...

Aerielle today launched its i2i Stream Digital Music Broadcaster, a device that allows users to listen to music wirelessly by streaming music content from any audio device. The company will demonstrate the device streaming CD quality sound for the first time at CES next week. "Whether it's friends hanging out and listening to a single iPod or the desire to stream music wirelessly to speakers in the home, the i2i Stream is the perfect solution," said Art Cohen, president and CEO of Aerielle. The i2i Stream is already available for $70, with 2-packs priced at $130.

Apple patents dynamically-lit keyboard concept...

A second Apple patent application, published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office, shows a new keyboard design that may change how some future Macs operate. Each key in the new layout has multiple OLED lights, which are tied to application-specific integrated circuits; the lights can form symbols specific to a command, and may in some cases be animated, across individual individual keys as well as whole groups. An unspecified form of tactile feedback may also be present.

Apple notebooks to have iMac-like docking station?...

An Apple patent application, disclosed by the US Patent and Trademark Office, may point to a radically new notebook docking station. The submission is entitled Integrated monitor and docking station, and depicts a device that solves two problems of current docks, namely the space and lack of convenient transport posed by having to hook up separate dock, notebook and display components. The Apple invention is essentially a "hollowed-out" iMac, into which users insert a MacBook completely from a side-facing opening.

Analyst: Rentals, subnotebook, Blu-Ray at Macworld...

Three main announcements will be made at Macworld 2008, according to Shaw Wu of American Technology Research. The biggest of these is the widely-anticipated subnotebook, which Wu notes will mark Apple's first such computer since the PowerBook 2400 released in the late 1990s. It is predicted that the new subnotebook will make use of NAND flash storage, not only increasing access speed but improving weight, reliability and battery life.

Apple Q1 financials due on January 22nd...

Apple's report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 is due on January 22nd, reports say. The details will be webcast starting at 2PM Pacific Time, or 5PM Eastern. Expectations are once again fairly high, as Apple stock has teetered on the $200 mark, and as many as 24 to 25 million iPods may have been sold in just a portion of the last quarter. Furthermore, Mac sales appear set to exceed some consensus estimates by approximately 100,000 units.