Briefly: Stevenote Flash game, bingo...

In brief: Stevenote Flash game, Downloadable 2008 Keynote bingo game, WebAssist Dreamweaver tools released, Apple Store adds Office 2008 to lineup ... Imagine being Steve Jobs. Imagine getting ready for this years MacWorld Expo keynote presentation. Imagine having to collect all the insanely great stuff you are going to present at Macworld Expo without revealing it to industrial spies and journalists. A new Flash game that lets you "experience what it feels like to be Steve Jobs just before your Keynote presentation."

VMware Importer Beta 2 converts Virtual PC files...

VMware today unveiled VMware Importer Beta 2, its tool for converting virtual machine disk images to work with Fusion, which now supports Virtual PC disk images. Users with Virtual PC 7 on their PowerPC-based Macs can now transition to Fusion on a new Intel-based Mac; the importer supports installs of Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, XP Service Pack 2, and Server 2003 in VPC 7 disk images. VMware is offering the update on its website, available for users of its Fusion virtualization product.

Apps: DiscTop, GarageSale

• DiscTop 2.6 (free) fter installing Disctop, your inserted CD or DVD slides in from the side and neatly fades back into your desktop picture. Now you always know if there's a disc inside, and what type it is. The new release is Leopard compatible, adds support for new Mac models, adds traditional Chinese language and features updated artwork. [Download - 4.2MB]


• GarageSale 4 ($30) lets Mac OS X users create eBay auctions using an intuitive and Mac-like interface. It features a WYSIWYG auction editor and imports photos from iPhoto, a digital camera, or iSight. Users are now able to edit their auctions completely within GarageSale's web preview. GarageSale now uploads multiple auctions and item images simultaneously, resulting in faster auction uploads. [Download - 19.7MB]


• Exces 1.5 ($30) lets the users create password-protected vaults. The ease of use and the attractive interface are Exces' key features. Each vault is protected using the same encryption algorithm Apple uses for FileVault - AES 128. Exces features a password assistant, to help choose strong passwords. Exces has several unique features over other tools such as a shrink vault feature, which lets you easily shrink a vault to the minimum possible disk space and the ability to automatically lock a vault after 10 minutes of inactivity. [Download - 3.1MB]


• Tidy Up! 1.3.2 ($30) search for duplicate files and packages; by the owner application, content, type, creator, extension, date modified, date created, name, label, visibility and more. You can also search by the tag, duration and bit rate of MP3s and AACs audifiles, search the content of the iTunes, iPod and iPhotdatabases, search the messages of Mail and synchronize deletions with iTunes, iPhotand Mail. The new release adds a new filter in the Name criterion that allows you to exclude a part of the name of items before comparing them. It also fixes a bug that sometimes caused crashes during a search. [Download - 8.3MB]


• Imagine Poker 3.0 ($20) offline Texas Hold 'Em Poker game for the Mac. Imagine Poker allows Mac users to play against 20 infamous characters from history, mythology, and legend, including Cleopatra, Robin Hood, Abraham Lincoln, Dracula, Marie Antoinette, the Grim Reaper, and many more. The game features fully animated opponents and an adaptive artificial intelligence engine. Version 3 features a revamped 3D interface, four new characters, two dealers, six new rooms to play in, and optimization for Mac OS 10.5 Leopard. [Download - 41MB]
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Mactopia gets a simplified, Office-like facelift...

In anticipation of Office 2008’s upcoming release at Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Microsoft has given the Mactopia page a facelift, with a design reminiscent of the Office Mac site. The redesigned page is fairly lean, opting for an automated search of Microsoft’s main site for Mac software, rather than supplying a list of products on the left-hand side of the page. Promotions and Mac Mojo are still linked from the page, however; Microsoft’s current promotion entitles users to a free upgrade to Office 2008 when purchasing 2004 before January 14th.

FileWave 3.5 optimizes performace, interface...

FileWave today announced the release of FileWave 3.5, an update to its software distribution application, adding Leopard support and over 300 enhancements. FileWave allows users to configure and deploy bootable disk images over a network, complete with pre-loaded software, including heavy apps like Adobe’s Creative Suite and Microsoft Office. While details on the update were scarce, FileWave said the application features a refined user interface, and drastic performance improvements. New users can purchase FileWave 3.5 from authorized retailers nationwide; pricing information as not available, but users that purchase FileWave 3.5 before March 31st are entitled to a promotional discount.

Ultra Games Bundle II for iPhone, iPod touch...

iGiki has released its Ultra Games Bundle II for Apple's iPod touch and iPhone. The compilation for Apple gadgets includes more than 40 games, software to create custom games, and widgets as well as various extras. Users can create custom iPod touch and iPhone games without writing a single line of code, according to iGiki, while widgets offer games like Block and FaceOff modified for use with multi-touch displays. iGiki Games Bundle II is priced at $35.

Prie Ambassador SideHook case, stand for iPod touch...

Tunewear today unveiled the Prie Ambassador SideHook, a new set of leather cases for the iPod touch. The case leaves access to ports and sensors open, and comes with the company’s Tunefilm – a clear slip of plastic that protects the screen from scratches. The most notable feature about the case is the hook, which is attached to the side, as per its namesake. The hook can be moved behind the case, allowing it to double as a stand so that users can watch video with the Touch in a sideways position. The Prie Ambassador SideHook is currently available on TuneWear’s website for $50.

Phiaton plans upscale iPod dock, earphones...

Cresyn's new Phiaton audio label has announced this week that it will begin its lineup with several audio devices, including its first docking audio systems. The MS600 (shown) is designed to cradle the iPod but will separate itself from most speaker docks through its style; the device will mimic the automotive theme of the company's existing headphones with a carbon-fiber look and tube-shaped satellites, the company says. It will also produce more power than most iPod docks with as much as 60 watts of power and a built-in amp. The MS600 releases in March and should receive pricing closer to its ship date.

Macworld banner: "Something in the air"...

We've gotten our first, tantalizing glimpse of what's to come at Macworld Expo 2008. A banner spotted by Ars Technica reveals the tagline "2008. There's something in the air." The banner users an atypical (for Apple), light font that seems to suggest thinness, or least an "airy" quality. The banner could be referring to a widely-anticipated subnotebook, which would mark Apple's first such computer since the PowerBook 2400 released in the late 1990s. It is predicted that a new subnotebook will make use of NAND flash storage, not only increasing access speed but improving weight, reliability and battery life.

Leggett and Platt unveil iPod-compatible bed...

Leggett and Platt has unveiled an iPod-compatible bed at the Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 'Starry Night Sleep Technology Bed' features a built-in iPod dock Wi-Fi connectivity, and a surround sound speaker system. An LCD projector, dual temperature controls, and DVR functionality also treat users looking to lounge around in bed. The high-tech furniture is priced between $20,000-$50,000, according to Macworld UK.

SOHO Labels 3.5 adds circular text boxes...

Chronos today released SOHO Labels 3.5, an update to its label printing software that features circular text boxes and zip code sorting. The latest release allows users to place circular text on designs, and dedicated inspector tools are available for customizing whether text is drawn inside or outside of the circle Contacts are sortable by zip code, and the zip code is shown in the contacts list when the option is chosen. SOHO Labels 3.5 is a free update for registered SOHO Labels 3.x users, and is priced at $40 for new users.

40 iPhones stolen in Salem, Oregon...

A thief operating in Oregon's capital city of Salem has stolen a considerable number of iPhones, local police report. According to an official bulletin, 40 iPhones were taken from the AT&T Wireless store on 200 Hawthorne Avenue SE, along with a number of other cellphones and miscellaneous accessories. The thief broke through a window in the store at approximately 4AM on January 9th, triggering an alarm that alerted police. It was not, however, in time to catch sight of a suspect.

NewTech releases NTI Dragon Suite...

NewTech Infosystems today released NTI Dragon Suite, a collection of three Mac applications to handle disc burning as well as data compression and backup. NTI Dragon Burn features patented multi-burning technology that supports internal as well as external drives for simultaneously creating multiple copies of a CD or DVD. The software includes support for burning the leading video, audio, photo, and data formats onto the latest optical discs -- such as 16x DVD-R drives and 8.5GB DVD+R Double Layer (DL) media. NTI Dragon Suite is priced at $80, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

Apple website takes home .net award...

The official Apple website has been been given an award by British web culture magazine .net. The site took home the "Best Redesign of the Year" title, for the new look that premiered shortly before the release of the iPhone in June. Some changed elements included a new menu bar at top, and the use of segmented "windows" on product pages, such as that for the iPhone. Apple beat out challengers such as Manchester United, the New York Times and Guardian Unlimited.

New Apple TV coming in major video offensive?...

A new version of the Apple TV will help spearhead an Apple video offensive, a new report claims. BusinessWeek writes that it has learned of the new set-top with certainty, although it cannot say what particular features it will bring. Other reports have indicated that users may be able to buy or rent videos directly from the device, which would address one of its long-standing complaints and put it into competition with the video-on-demand services provided by cable and satellite companies.

Onset unveils wireless HOBO weather station...

Onset has unveiled the HOBO Remote Monitoring System, its research-grade weather station that provides growers, researchers and others with instant access to measured data anywhere, anytime via the internet. According to the company, the new system is priced at a fraction of the cost of competitive solutions. The system combines research-grade weather station hardware with built-in GSM cellular communications and HOBOlink, its new Web-enabled software platform. HOBOlink allows users to access current and historical data on their Macs, set alarm notifications and relay activations, and manage and control HOBO Remote Monitoring systems without having to go into the field.

NewerTech offers 802.11n wireless networking line-up...

In addition to its new iPhone accessory line, Newer Technology launched a new line of advanced wireless networking products, featuring support for the latest 802.11n protocols: the NewerTech MAXPower 802.11n/g/b Wireless Router and Adapter line includes a router, PC Card adapter for older laptops, PCI card for desktops, and USB 2.0 adapter. The MAXPower 802.11n/g/b Wireless Router and Adapters utilize MIMO, a signal processing and smart antenna technology, to transfer multiple data streams through multiple antennas for transfer rates of up to 300Mbps and up to four times greater reception range over 802.11g. The router supports instant setup of protected networks, WPA2 security, Web-based administration, simple firewall, MAC address filtering, and NAT filtering.

New zero-day QuickTime exploit manifests...

A new exploit has been discovered for the latest version of QuickTime, an Italian researcher claims. Luigi Auriemma says that in probing around QuickTime 7.3.1, he has discovered a buffer overflow that allows the return address to be overwritten, enabling the execution of malicious code. Specifically, the problem arises when QuickTime attempts to launch an RTSP link, and port 554 is closed. The software will then switch to port 80 in HTTP, triggering an error message that causes the buffer overflow.

Airfoil 3 syncs streams to Macs, AirPort Express...

Rogue Amoeba on Thursday released Airfoil 3, an update to its software utility for AirPort Express users. Airfoil allows users to send virtually audio to Apple's AirPort Express, from media players such as RealPlayer and QuickTime to audio websites (e.g., Pandora, Last.fm). Version 3 lets users transmit any audio to multiple AirPort Express units, providing "perfect" synchronization between units, the company claims. In addition, audio can now be played through local computer speakers -- in sync with remote playback. Version 3 also enables any Mac to be used as a "virtual AirPort Express" using the included (and free) Airfoil Speakers application. Airfoil Speakers allows any Mac to appear in Airfoil as a standard output, enabling audio to be synchronously transmitted to any Mac.

Interarchy 9 file transfer app supports SSH...

Nolobe this week unveiled Interarchy 9, a major update to it advanced file transfer application for Mac OS X. The update introduces over one hundred new and improved features, including a brand new protocol built upon SSH, numerous enhancements to the product's interface, plus much more. The new SSH protocol provides a number of advantages over incumbent protocols such as FTP and SFTP, including better performance and greater flexibility. "This means mirrors should take a lot less time to complete," the company said in its release notes. "Our internal testing has shown dramatic speed improvements for moderately sized websites; seconds versus minutes." Other changes in version 9 include re-ordering of tabs, a new sidebar listing for convenient access from any window, support for workspaces, support for copy/paste of files/folders, a redesigned 'transfers' window, and the ability to create new remote files from local templates.

Apple sends mixed messages about 8800 GT...

Owners of the previous revision Mac Pros may be out of luck if they wish to upgrade to the new Nvidia 8800 GT card that is available to the new towers. Several threads in Apple’s forums [1|2|3] indicate mixed impressions, even when users contacted Apple directly; the US representatives were adamant that the card would not function on an older Mac Pro, while Apple UK employees said the card would. Users have presented research that shows the cards should be backwards compatible, some are so confident in their beliefs that they ordered an upgrade kit without waiting for official confirmation.

New 'Sudoku - Latin Squares' game released...

Macgamestore.com has released Sudoku - Latin Squares for the Mac. The third Mac release from developer TikGames offers a new patent-pending algorithm for Sudoku called Latin Squares. The new twist that opens up "a whole new world of Sudoku with a best of class interface and feature set." Users can play either Soduku or Latin Squares puzzles from 3x3 up to 9x9, allowing users to start off with easy puzzles. It also offers the ability to mark cells to show key decision point and allows users to take any puzzle on-the-go with its advanced printing feature. The game offers hints as well as the ability to add notes, undo, and save features. Sudoku - Latin Sqaures for the Mac is available for $20. A free 60-minute trial of the Universal Binary is also available for download.