First Look: You Control, custom menu utility...

The more programs you install and the more files you create, the harder it can be to find anything easily. To provide quick access to the programs, files, and operating system features you need most, You Software offers a utility program called You Control. You Control creates custom menus that can appear in any corner of the screen or a pop-up window, which is called up by a pre-defined hotkey combination. Through these custom menus, you can access various features of your Macintosh.

Briefly: Apple selling Polk, NWU student poll, more...

In brief: Apple stores are now selling Polk Audio products, students at Northwestern University are using Facebook and the iPhone to perform a statistical analysis, and Tessera Technologies is in the process of acquiring FotoNation. Starting in March 2008, Apple's US retail outlets will sell the I-Sonic ES2 sound system, which features iTunes tagging for HD radio, allowing users to bookmark songs. Once songs are tagged, users can attach the iPod to their computer, and preview, buy, and download the tagged tracks.

Grace unveils iPod tube amplifier, speakers, more...

Grace Digital recently unveiled a new line of iPod accessories, starting with the Hybrid PA-40Ti, a tube-based amplifier that combines retro technology with a modern industrial design. The amplifier features a four-channel input selector, allowing users to hook up phono, CD, or auxiliary audio connections, in addition to iPod connectivity. High quality speaker wire connectors, as well as a subwoofer and stereo headphone port handle output. Grace is selling the PA-40Ti for $450 through its website.

iPhone roundup: Jailbreaks, Milestone 1.2.0...

In brief: Hack that Phone has released a technical note describing the process of jailbreaking as well as maintaining unlocked status on Apple's iPhone with firmware version 1.1.3, iPhone Helper has released the official Dev Team 1.1.3 jailbreak, and MobileScrobbler has released Milestone 1.2.0. Hack that Phone has described how to update to iPhone firmware v1.1.3 and jailbreak it while retaining any pre-existing unlock.

Office 2008 for Mac volume licenses ship...

The Mac Business Unit (Mac BU) today announced that Office 2008 for Mac will be available for Volume License (VL) customers on February 1st. Office 2008 for Mac is currently available in English, French, and Japanese for VL customers. Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, and Nordic languages are slated for VL availability on March 1st, according to the Mac BU.

Launch2net offers worldwide 3G connectivity...

Nova Media today unveiled Launch2net, an application designed to provide wireless data settings for over 400 networks in 157 countries. The software can use many Bluetooth, USB, PCMCIA, or ExpressCard connection methods to give mobile users internet access wherever they travel. Nova Media highlights the application for use with the MacBook Air, saying that it compliments the mobility of the device and the user's lifestyle. Launch2Net requires Mac OS X 10.4.3 Tiger or higher, while Leopard users are required to update to 10.5.1. The software is available for 75 euros, with an applicable VAT charge of approximately $110 US.

Kinemac 1.6 adds Finder Browser, more...

Kinemac today released Kinemac 1.6, an update to the 3D real-time animation and presentation software for Mac OS X. Kinemac plays animations in real-time at full screen, and exports those animations to QuickTime movie files or to a series of single still images. Users simply drag images, text, movies, and songs onto the Kinemac stage. The software supports creating 2D and 3D objects via a menu option, and is priced at $250.

CheckUp 1.0 monitors Macs locally, remotely...

App4mac today unveiled CheckUp 1.0, a new utility designed to check and monitor the health and behavior of a Mac, even from a remote location. CheckUp monitors processor, memory, disk, and network activity, and allows users to terminate any process that is currently being worked on by the computer. The software functions with PowerPC G4 or G5 processors, and any Intel based Mac. App4mac currently costs $50, and comes with a license that entitles users to install the application on two computers.

Apple pulls helpful docs for MB Air owners [U]...

A host of informative documentation regarding the MacBook Air has been pulled from Apple's support site, including those that relate to wireless performance tips for the ultra-portable. Formerly, Apple posted documents that outlined several recommendations for an optimal computing experience, such as a reduction in wireless reliability when using the laptop in closed-lid mode. Macworld UK has collected a list of these recommendations, in lieu of their presence on Apple's support page.

Adobe to stop Stock Photos service...

Adobe will halt all operations for its royalty-free Stock Photos image repository as of April 1st, the company has announced. Some aspects will terminate earlier however, specifically the search and comp download features in Adobe Bridge, which will cease to function as of March 3rd. Remaining components, such as order histories, image purchase and re-downloading, will only stop on March 31st.

Analyst on production: Macs up, iPods down...

Bank of America’s Asian sources claim that Apple has increased production of both desktops and notebooks by 20 percent in January, partly fueled by the introduction of the MacBook Air. Despite rising Macintosh production, iPod production fell 10-20 percent in January, down 30 percent from December, according to AppleInsider. Bank of America believes future iPod production levels will drop 5-10 percent through the first quarter of the year, implying overstocked inventory and slowing sales.

Divine Fiat releases Keynote X theme...

Divine Fiat has released Keynote X, the company's latest theme for Apple's Keynote presentation software. Inspired by Apple's release of Mac OS X Leopard, Keynote X focuses on the arrival of the future. The new theme features seven slides of extras, resizable media placeholders, and a fading overlay. Keynote X is priced at $26, and requires Keynote 4.0 or later with the Helvetica Neue font.

MacBook Air: Initial impressions...

Following our MacBook Air teardown, delivery/unboxing, accessory photos and benchmarks, we have our first impressions of the MacBook Air: Having had the pleasure of using the new MacBook Air (MBA) for the past two days, I can say that Apple has accomplished an amazing feat of engineering and delivered a truly impressive subnotebook computer, although not completely without compromise. The MacBook Air is shockingly thin and light - qualities that were readily apparent in Apple’s promotional material, but are even more so in person.

Wal-Mart exec joins Apple video efforts...

A prominent Wal-Mart executive will soon be directing important initiatives at Apple, reports suggest. Kevin Swint, the head of Wal-Mart's digital media section, is said to be leaving his current company to join Apple this week. In working for his new host, Swint will be in charge of international movie and TV content, a position that is becoming increasingly important as Apple expands its video efforts to countries outside the US. Currently, Canada and the United Kingdom are the only foreign iTunes Stores with TV shows, and neither rents or sells movies.

PicLens 1.6 viewer released for Firefox...

CoolIris has released v1.6 of PicLens, its plug-in for various web browsers. The add-on enables more advanced, full-screen viewing of images on the web, operating similarly to the filmstrip viewer in Aperture; to activate it, users simply click on an icon that appears over images on select websites. Some compatible sites include Google Image Search, Flickr, Picasa, Hi5, Facebook and Photobucket.

Beijing Apple Store coming by 2008 Olympics...

The exact location of Apple's first Chinese store has been uncovered, according to reports. Although it had been known for some time that the store would be built in Beijing, and would open prior to the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in August, it is only now that some of the final details have emerged. The store will be located on Qianmen Street, a road on the south side of Tiananmen Square that is undergoing a $40 million renovation in advance of the Olympics.

Skype front-end beta available for Apple TV...

Developer Brandon Holland recently unveiled a downloadable beta version of his Apple TV Skype plugin that uses a standard USB VoIP handset to make calls through the Apple TV. The plugin is a front-end, and requires the Skype framework to be installed prior to use. Holland offers a fairly in-depth video tour of the as-of-then working features, giving users a technical demonstration of the software's capabilities.

MacBook Air benchmarks: not quite a MacBook...

The MacBook Air has caused quite a stir with its slender packaging and minimalist features, but many have wondered what they are giving up in terms of performance by trading in their MacBooks and MacBook Pros for the ultraportable. Primate Labs recently benchmarked the miniature laptop, and found that performance was around 80- to 85-percent of that of a 2GHz MacBook. While the Air pulled ahead slightly in memory and stream performance, it was lacking in other areas.