MacJournal 5 adds external media, Smart Journals...

Mariner Software has released the fifth edition of MacJournal, its diary application. The program has be redesigned for Mac OS X Leopard, a change which lets it exploit QuickLook to preview files. The most important change however is considered to be document support, as users can now insert images, PDF files and QuickTime movies into their journals. For convenience, video entries can be recorded through an iSight camera, and (like text) uploaded to blogging sites such as Blogger, WordPress and LiveJournal, as well as .Mac accounts.

On2 Flix adds iPod/iPhone web encoding

On2 Technologies has announced that its Flix Engine, a server-side video encoding platform, now has support for Apple's portable formats. Where previously the Flix SDK could only be used to create output in Flash 8/9, 3GPP and general H.264, it can now be used to generate QuickTime files specifically sized and encoded for iPods, as well as the iPhone. Flix is purportedly used by "the majority" of web video sites, and supports scripting languages such as ASP, PHP, Python and Perl; it is however only available for Windows and Linux. Buyers must contact On2 regarding licensing.

Kill Monty goes Universal, adds new mode...

Freeverse has announced that an update for its top-down action game, Kill Monty, will be made available later this Friday. Based loosely on the movie Kill Bill and more directly on games such as Robotron and Smash TV, Kill Monty throws players into the middle of an arena, where they are attacked from all sides by enemies ranging from sinister agents to zombie monkeys and playing cards. To fight back, users are given weapons such as machineguns, lasers and grenades.

IBM's Informix Dynamic Server on Leopard...

IBM has announced plans to deliver Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) support for Mac OS X Leopard. IDS 11 provides online transaction processing data serving capabilities, adding to existing support of Linux and UNIX as well as Microsoft Windows installations. The software boasts high performance, low operating cost, scalability, and data availability, according to IBM. The planned IDS 11 "Cheetah 2" release is already available in its first beta version for download.

Docudesk launches deskUNPDF Pro for Mac...

Docudesk has launched deskUNPDF Professional for Mac, an application for converting as well as transforming and automating PDF workflow. The application utilizes industry-leading technology for converting PDF's to multiple output formats for editing, business-grade table-detection that enables extracting table information into Microsoft Excel (.xls), and batch conversion, according to Docudesk. The software is available for $70 (system requirements were unavailable).

MWSF: Belkin, Canon, Crumpler, iSkin...

Macworld Expo San Francisco 2008 saw over 400 vendors showcasing thousands of different products, from iPod cases and accessories, to many different hardware and software solutions for the Mac. Belkin's home-styled booth showcased many different iPod cases, as well as a revised KVM switch and the Podcast Studio device. Belkin employed musical entertainment that played on a faux-lawn area. Canon had its entire range of DSLR cameras, with a wide gamut of lenses available for testing. A wide range of colorful bags were available at Crumpler's booth, and iSkin's black and white booth scheme presented a striking display for its products.

Belkin debuts MacBook Air sleeves...

Belkin has debuted new Sleeve cases for Apple's MacBook Air to protect the thin notebooks from harm. The company's Slim-Fit Sleeve ($40) is a neoprene cover with no zippers or magnets that cushions the notebook, allowing users to simply slip a MacBook Air into the case and flip the top over to secure it in place. Belkin's Neoprene Sleeves are slated for shipment in March, while all other sleeves are due to ship in May of this year.

AirMail, WaterField MacBook Air cases in works...

Two new cases have already been announced for Apple's yet-to-be-released MacBook Air. The first of these is the AirMail, which takes a cue from Apple's marketing and is designed to resemble a manila envelope, complete with brown-hued "paper" and a red seal. The case is actually handmade out of vinyl, with a thick fleece liner. It is said to protect against smudges, scratches and light bumps, but not any harsh impacts. It should ship for $30 within two weeks, the same timeframe as the Air itself.

Apple to discuss FY08 results on Jan 22...

Apple today announced that it will discuss its fiscal year 2008 first quarter results via conference call on January 22nd at 2:00 p.m. PST. Apple is expected to post better-than-expected earnings based on strong Mac sales, newly-introduced iPods, and favorable commodity pricing during the quarter. What's more, the forthcoming quarterly results will reveal Apple's performance during the busy holiday shopping season. The company will provide live audio streaming of the conference call using its own QuickTime multimedia software, and is offering a live audio webcast accessible via its website.

iSkin shows off new Mac, iPod, iPhone gear...

iSkin's presence at Macworld is being used to demonstrate four new pieces of protective gear. The first of these is the ProTouch, a skin for Apple's thin aluminum keyboard. The ProTouch is primarily made out of silicone, but uses Microban antimicrobial material to prevent the spread of disease. When the skin does need to be cleaned, it can be quickly removed and manually washed and dried. The skin is already available for $25, in blue, black, pink and frosted colors.

Mackie unveils SRMv2 portable speakers...

Mackie has unveiled its new SRMv2 portable active loudspeakers that boast new Class-D Fast Recovery amplifiers. The SRM350v2 and SRM450v2 speakers both feature a switching power supply as well as new transducers, while the SRM450v2 includes a neodymium woofer with a 3-inch voice coil and titanium compression driver. Lighter than the original SRM speakers, the SRMv2 speakers are housed in durable midnight blue polypropylene cabinets. The company is offering two models which include the SRM350v2 and SRM450v2 (pricing was unavailable).

NI announces KORE Player, new Soundpacks...

Native Instruments has given word of two new pieces of software in its KORE line. The first of these is the KORE Player, a greatly simplified version of its KORE 2 suite. Player is based on the ABSYNTH, FM8, GUITAR RIG, KONTAKT, MASSIVE and REAKTOR sound engines, but is designed solely to play material from KORE Soundpacks in a host sequencer, or as a separate instrument. It retains features such as preset browsing, but sound alteration is generally limited to paramater knobs, which tweak factors such as cutoff and morphing. These can be linked to a MIDI controller for easier use.