Time Capsule, optical drive photos...

MacNN has taken photos of Apple's newly-released Time Capsule wireless external hard drive, as well as the company's optional optical disc drive for its new MacBook Air. Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled both items today during his keynote speech at Macworld Expo in San Francisco alongside iTunes movie rentals, a Apple TV 'take two,' and updated iPhone/iPod touch software.

MacKiev offers HyperStudio 5 "Legacy" Player...

Software MacKiev has announced the release of a free HyperStudio 5 "Legacy" Player for Mac OS X. The free player, for the first time, allows stacks created in previous editions of HyperStudio to run on Mac OS X. HyperStudio, created by educational technology pioneer Roger Wagner, acquired the HyperStudio brand in June 2007 and has been collaborating with Wagner on the next generation of HyperStudio products. A new edition of the HyperStudio authoring tool, HyperStudio 5, is nearing completion and is being demonstrated this week at the Macworld Expo (booth #826). The HyperStudio 5 Legacy Player for Mac OS X is available immediately free of charge from the Software MacKiev.

Griffin debuts WindowSeat iPhone mount for dashboard...

On the heels of its complete iPhone/iPod line-up, Griffin Technology on Tuesday announced WindowSeat, Griffin's windshield mount for iPhone. WindowSeat puts the device at eye level on a car's windshield with street maps, directions and more, safely in view and within reach. WindowSeat's mounting bracket holds the iPhone securely, while its corner-release tab lets you easily remove your device when you arrive at your destination. The high-grip silicone suction pad attaches to the windshield easily; it is made from high-grade, attractive and durable materials to compliment the vehicle's interior and withstand the temperature shifts and features quick, easy, and secure adjustments to viewing angle with swiveling ball-and-socket joints. It also be used in conjunction with Griffin's PowerJolt car charger for iPhone. WindowSeat for iPhone will be available in March for $20.

Mariner ships StoryMill 3.0 writing app...

Mariner Software has released StoryMill 3.0, the latest release of its writing software. The software combines a word processor and database as well as offers "timeline view" feature to help writers manage the creative process from inception to publication. The software features the ability to track, tag and filter characters, scenes, locations as well as the ability to research with StoryMill's unique dynamic outline. Writers can visually and interactively display their story across time with StoryMill's timeline view and place annotations on the project.

Magma's ExpressBox7 offers 7 more PCI Express slots...

Magma on Wednesday announced ExpressBox7, an external PCI Express expansion product for for desktop computers. ExpressBox7 provides an easy solution for attaching up to seven PCI Express cards to a desktop or server through a x8 PCI Express slot, which is available on most new PC desktop/servers and the Apple MacPro. The Magma Expressbox7 is a PCI Express-to-PCI Express Expansion chassis system for expanding the available PCI Express slots of workstations and servers. The solution provides 7 full-length PCI Express slots in a stand alone chassis with its own power supply. The PCI Express slots are equipped to be hot swappable, according to the company.

Apago's PDF Shrink 4.2 adds batch processing

Apago this week released PDF Shrink 4.2, a Mac OS X utility for reducing the size of PDF files. PDF Shrink optimizes the content and structure of PDF documents, making them easier to use in email attachments, on the Web, for on-screen reading, for document archiving, and more. Free to registered users of PDF Shrink 4, the update adds the ability to process entire folders of PDF files and improves compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and Adobe Acrobat 8. Apago is demonstrating PDF Shrink and its professional companion product, PDF Enhancer, at the Macworld Expo (booth #W-4336). According to the company, PDF Shrink can reduce most PDF files--including those created by Mac OS X iLife and iWork applications, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Word and PowerPoint--by as much as 90% of their original size.

Tom Bihn's Brain Cell Size 6X case for MacBook Air

Tom Bihn on Wednesday introduced the first laptop case for Apple's MacBook Air. The popular laptop case manufacturer introduced the Brain Cell Size 6X, a new version of its Brain Cell laptop case designed specifically for Apple's newest notebook. The Tom Bihn Brain Cell laptop case offers advanced protection and is designed to clip securely inside a wide variety of Tom Bihn messenger bags, briefcases, and backpacks -- bags including the Empire Builder, Super Ego, ID, Ego, and Zephyr (see full list). Among the protective materials that make the Brain Cell are 8mm thick soft foam padding, 4mm hard corrugated plastic, cross-linked closed-cell polyethylene foam, and 12mm thick premium memory foam. The Brain Cell Size 6X will be available for $60 and is expected to ship in late February.

Analyst: Apple sales, market share to rise...

Apple's new MacBook Air, which CEO Steve Jobs introduced yesterday during his keynote speech at Macworld Expo, is set to fuel market share gains for the company alongside rising hardware sales driven by new iTunes content, according to one analyst. "While we estimate that ultraportables count for 15 percent of total portable computer sales, we believe the segment is the fastest growing segment in the PC market," explained Piper Jaffray senior analyst Gene Munster. "MacBook Air appears to be innovative enough to claim a leading position within the ultraportable market."

RouteBuddy 2.0 offers geo-data management...

RouteBuddy has released RouteBuddy 2.0, an update to the GPS data and digital map management software designed to "take command" of GPS data management on Macs. The application eases the process of analyzing as well as creating new routes and tracks from geo-data files. At the end of a journey, RouteBuddy can transfer collected data for later use or sharing in the geo-community. Users can create new Waypoints, Routes, or Tracks for profitable means, according to the company. RouteBuddy 2.0 is priced at $100 and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later. Maps are available for numerous different countries from $40.

ezGear demos iPod stereos, armbands...

ezGear's contribution to the Macworld Expo comes in the form of several products. At the forefront is the XL90 Sound Bar, which combines two tweeters, four mid-range speakers and a separately-vented subwoofer. Its amp supplies 35W of power, and in addition to docking all iPods and iPhones, it tunes in AM/FM radio and can accept input from TVs and CD players. It should ship in March for $300.

Bare Bones ships TextWrangler 2.3, offers sale...

Bare Bones has released the v2.3 update to TextWrangler, its text-editing application which extends beyond basic documents to include programming languages, and even Unix and server administration. New to the software is support for the Lua language, and a new module for Python. The Disk Browser has been streamlined, and the FTP/SFTP interface has been improved in several regards, for instance allowing objects to be dragged out of the browser to other locations, retaining URLs.

XtremeMac intros Tango X2 full-range iPod speakers...

XtremeMac has used the relative quiet of the second day of Macworld to build up its iPod speaker line with the Tango X2. The revamp of the bookshelf system is about 30 percent smaller than the Tango Studio but tucks away an AM/FM radio with a stealth display and six station presets. This helps it operate independently of an iPod and in tighter spaces despite including a full 2.1-channel setup with tweeters, dynamic drivers, and a subwoofer, the company claims. An aux-in jack at the rear also improves its longevity by supporting virtually any device with a minijack output.

Kerio MailServer 6.5 integrates CalDAV for sharing...

Kerio is showcasing Kerio MailServer 6.5 with a new integrated CalDAV server at this week's MacWorld expo in San Francisco. Kerio MailServer is a crossplatform email and collaboration server for small to medium organizations that installs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. The new CalDAV server helps tackle the problems of scheduling meetings between users that have different calendaring applications. Kerio MailServer 6.5 enables iCal 3 users on Mac OS X Leopard to access free/busy information and shared calendars not only from other iCal calendars but also from Microsoft Outlook, Entourage, and Kerio WebMail and vice versa.

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2008 Deluxe...

Software MacKiev has introduced the 2008 Deluxe Edition of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing at Macworld Expo in San Francisco, and is demonstrating the software all week at booth no. 826. The application runs natively on Intel-based Macs as a Universal Binary, and features 2-player competitive typing games that run over local area networks. The fastest and most accurate typist wins the race in three typing games which include Pirate Race, Ride the Wave, and Road Race. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2008 Deluxe Edition is priced at $40 and requires Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later.

CallWave launches Virtual Voicemail...

CallWave today launched its Virtual Voicemail client for Mac OS X, allowing users to access iPhone-like visual voicemail on a Mac with any mobile phone and virtually any service provider. The application resides in the Dock and offers notification of missed as well as new messages, optionally transcribing voice messages to text. Users can read as well as hear messages on the desktop with the ability to reply by text, email, or call back. Pricing ranges from $10/month to $45/month on an annual basis.

Analyst: Rentals stand out in Macworld keynote...

The keynote delivered by Apple CEO Steve Jobs yesterday was generally underwhelming, says American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu. Many of the announcements were anticipated and not especially dramatic, Wu notes, and among these he includes the MacBook Air, what was intended to be the highlight of the presentation. Despite its unusual design, Wu argues that its features overlap too far with current MacBooks, and may thus not push incremental sales in the same way as ASUS' Eee subnotebook.

FirmTek ships 5-drive eSATA enclosure...

FirmTek has unveiled the SeriTek/5PM SATA enclosure with Port Multiplier technology. The storage device houses up to five hot-swappable drives, each with transfer rates as high as 3Gbps for total aggregate performance beyond 220MB/sec with one cable. When configured with three additional SeriTek/5PM enclosures -- for a total of 20 drives -- RAID 0 performance can exceed 700MB/sec. FirmTek's new SeriTek/5PM SATA enclosure is already shipping for $550, with optional host adapter bundles available from $610-$700.

Quark: Flash tool for Leopard, new Quark Labs...

Quark on Tuesday announced that Quark Interactive Designer 1.02 is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Quark Interactive Designer allows designers using QuarkXPress to create Flash (SWF) layouts for the Web without having to code. The release of Quark Interactive Designer 1.02 follows the November 2007 release of QuarkXPress 7.31, a maintenance release of the professional design software that is optimized for Mac OS X Leopard. QID users can create rich, interactive tours, online advertisements and design-driven presentations using QuarkXPress 7.

Griffin lays out 2008 iPod/iPhone accessories...

Griffin has announced a host of iPod and iPhone accessories for the coming year, staggered to different release dates. Already available are the TuneFlex AUX ($50) and Elan Form Cork case for iPhone ($30). The latter combines a polycarbonate shell with natural cork, which in addition to providing extra protection, should make an iPhone warmer to the touch in cold weather. The AUX, meanwhile, has been given a new universal design, with a set of adapters to fit Nano and full-sized iPods. The device holds and charges iPods through a car's lighter/12V port connection, and allows repositioning through use of a steel neck. As its name implies though, audio can only be piped out through a bundled 3.5mm stereo cable.

Apple in Santa Barbara? Munich store coming...

Apple may be readying yet another store front in California. The company is finalizing a deal for a retail location in Santa Barbara, according source cited by the Santa Barbara News-Press . The report says that Apple will take over the Pier 1 Imports store at 928 State St. in about two months; the lease is said to be about $68,000 a month for a large 15,000 space on State Street, the center of the city's downtown shopping district. The location is just down the street from the Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and other retailers.

EyeTV 3 adds smart searches, file sharing...

Pairing events for effect, Elgato is using the Macworld Expo to launch EyeTV 3, the newest version of its TV viewing software. The update includes a redesigned interface, with a programs window designed to match Mac OS X Leopard, and a sidebar on the left that displays functions hierarchically. Recordings can now be loaded through the list view, or else through a Cover Flow mode; when the player window is active, a timeline with playback controls is displayed. The translucent On-Screen Menu has also been redesigned, and mimics the interfaces of current set-top boxes.

Guitar Wizard gaming package unveiled...

Music Wizard Group has unveiled the protetype of Guitar Wizard, a gaming package designed to teach aspiring rock stars how to play real music on a real guitar. The package includes both the SoundTech Ediface Digital Guitar Interface and the Guitar Wizard Software, allowing users to play and learn on a Mac or PC with an existing acoustic or electric guitar. The SoundTech Ediface technology converts the guitar sounds to digital for live interactive video game play, and virtually any guitar is supported, according to the company. The package is slated for shipment in early 2008 (pricing was unavailable).