Bento 1.0v2 adds world languages, bug fixes, more...

FileMaker's newly released Bento personal database has reached version 1.0v2, adding a number of features and stability implementations, as well as compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5.2. Bento now supports several language formats, such as International English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Several import and export functions have been refined, related to Smart Collections in the iCal Events library, records, calculations, and address formats. The update is free to existing users, and is available for new users for $50.

Call Recorder for Skype offers multitrack recording...

Ecamm Networks today unveiled Call Recorder for Skype 2.3, an update to its call recording software, which has added support for the newly released Skype 2.7. In addition to compatibility, the update also adds a two-track video recording function, enhanced video recording quality, and several bug fixes. New users can purchase Call Recorder for Skype 2.3 for $15, while Ecamm also has a time-limited demo version available for download.

10.5.2 fixes some problems, creates others?...

Mac OS X 10.5.2 and the accompanying graphics update were released to alleviate both minor and substantial issues, but may have instigated a few issued of its own. According to users in Apple's Discussion forums [1|2|3|4], the update has created some printing problems, compatibility issues with third-party wireless routers, sound-related glitches, software freezing, and failures when using Time Machine to back up data.

Apps: Opacity, SyBrowser, TranslateIt

• Opacity 1.0 ($90) program for drawing graphics for the screen. Useful for making resolution independent images and icons for applications and the web. It includes vector objects, pixel editing, and live filters. It also has plenty of new features like Variables and Factories -- and Opacity can help you make your graphics resolution independent. [Download - 7.4MB]


• SyBrowser 8.6 ($90) can query Sybase, OpenBase, MySQL, PostgreSQL and ODBC databases hosted on OSX, UNIX, Linux, and Windows servers. Offers Point and Click generated SQL, Database, Table, Column lists and an ER Diagramme module. In this release there is a new menu "Check for Updates". This checks for a new version of SyBrowser. Also, the number of rows is now displayed more often. Finally, the release has increased the size of the autocomplete listbox by 2 pixels per row. [Download - 9.5MB]


• TranslateIt 9.1 ($20) multilingual dictionary that allows you to look up words on the fly. Just hover the pointer over an unfamiliar word in any Cocoa Application, and you will see its translation in a pop-up window instantly. The deluxe version includes improved on-the-fly word look-up in Cocoa applications: real-time translation of words under the pointer in Cocoa applications (without selecting them), including UI elements such as menu items, buttons, Dashboard, etc. [Download - 19.8MB]


• Valentina 3.5.2 ($200) build Local Applications in Ruby and Web Applications with Ruby on Rails. The new release includes these enhancements: allowing data files under the Linux operating system to be larger than 4 GB; execute complex SQL JOIN statements that include filter conditions in the FROM clause; executing NOT (FldMethod) SQL statement is now over 40 times faster in this release. Valentina Server products now have improved encryption support between different user sessions. It is strongly recommended that any installations of Valentina Office Server and Valentina Embedded Server are updated to 3.5.2. [Download - 21.8MB]


• GroBoto 2.2.1 ($80) 3D art and animation application (OS X version 2.2.1). This is the first version to offer GroMobile Gizmo creation tools. GroMobile Gizmos are Dynamic, interactive 3D Desktop games and kinetic sculptures, playable with our free GroMobile Player application (available for OS X and Windows). Also included are full Leopard compatibility, new object group management tools and more.[Download - form]

New Yahoo! Mail for Safari 3 debuts...

Yahoo! has taken the wraps off a an upgrade for it's Mail system that includes better support for Safari 3. The rollout will take up to two weeks, but when it's done, Yahoo! says users running the most recent update of Tiger (OS 10.4.11), as well as those using any version of Leopard (OS 10.5.x) "will have a version of Safari that plays nice with the All-New Yahoo! Mail. Or maybe it’s a version of Safari that the All-New Mail plays nice with. Either way, they are pals now, and that’s what really matters." Presumably the new updates will work with Safari for Windows as well.

Real-time file replication for Mac OS, mixed servers...

FileReplicationPro today unveiled a Mac OS X Real Time Replicator, software that offers instantaneous file replication for Mac OS X and mixed operating system server environments. Rather than waiting for scheduled replications across a large server network, FileReplicationPro uses Filesystem Event Notifications to capture changes to files as they occur, and synchronizes these changes throughout a network. A single server license is available for $500, with bulk discounts also available.

Rush Limbaugh's plea to Steve Jobs...

Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh is a well-known Mac fanatic who has mentioned Apple and its products a number of times on his nationally syndicated program. His latest rant regarding the company comes across as part conspiracy theory, part plea. He says he's been having some significant problems since upgrading to Leopard and hasn't had success resolving them. "I'm a big Mac guy. I love Macs, and I've got four Mac Pros. They're the top-of-the-line Mac Pros, maxed out.  And they just had a new system upgrade, went to 10.5 Leopard, and they've had two upgrades since October.  Yesterday brought 10.5.2, which was loaded.  It was a big, big update. I've been having two problems since I went to Leopard that I hoped this update would solve, and it didn't solve them; and it's frustrating."

Jeopardy! Deluxe released as download...

Macgamestore.com and Encore Software today announced the release of Jeopardy! Deluxe as a digital download. The game, which was previously only available as a boxed shipment, tests players' knowledge of trivia facts like the TV show. Jeopardy! Deluxe features more than 3,000 clues from the TV show writers, three difficulty levels, and a daily clue. The game is priced at $20 and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.

Troi Dialog 5 adds Leopard support, slideshows, more...

Troi Automatisering today unveiled Troi Dialog Plug-in 5 for FileMaker Pro 9, a plug-in designed to extend FileMaker's dialogue boxes in a number of different ways. The latest version adds compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, and an improved InputDialog function, which provides access to upwards of 15 input items. PresentImage has also been revamped, allowing users to view full screen slideshows of pictures or movies. Troi Dialog Plug-in 5 is currently available for $60, with free upgrades available for those who purchased v4.x on or after February 1st, 2007.

Livid updates Union 2.5 VJ software...

Nearly one year after its previous major release, Livid Instruments has introduced Union 2.5, an update to its all-in-one live VJ software mixing studio with hundreds of effects, live video inputs, audio aware effects, and complete MIDI integration. Livid's Union offers controls to create, mix, control, perform, and record cutting edge visuals in real-time. Version 2.5 brings audio aware effects, freeFrame support, multiple cue points, advanced Sound Trigger with filters, waveform display, BPM Synch with rate adjustment, a new Caption module, and four additional video layers. According to the company, Livid's video engine allows for instant manipulation and control of multimedia content: it offers hundreds of built-in effects and support for FreeFrame effects, movie triggering, live feed manipulation, advanced modules, MIDI learn and countless other performance enhancing tools.

.Mac Web Galleries enhanced, more...

.Mac subscribers have received an email describing recent changes to Apple's support for .Mac Web Galleries, Aperture post-production software, and Apple TV device. Apple TV owners who update to the company's latest software can view public photos and movies of .Mac members, and a new entry in the Photos menu allows users to navigate to any .Mac member's account, according to Macworld.

Apple launches corporate gift, rewards program...

Apple has launched a new corporate gifting and rewards program to help businesses give back to workers via Apple products. The program offers firms iPods, iTunes Gift Cards, and iPod accessories at special pricing as well as in bulk. Businesses can order a lot of at least 50 iPods (any model) and receive a free engraving on the back of each unit, or can request an engraving of the company logo for a one-time setup fee.

Office 2004 11.4 fixes security bug...

The Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit today announced Office 2004 11.4, an update to the suite (which has now been replaced by Office 2008) that resolves a longstanding security issue. Specifically, the new release fixes a vulnerability that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. Before you install this update, make sure that the Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.9 Update is installed on your computer. To verify that you have installed this update, select the Microsoft Component Plugin file in the Microsoft Office 2004/Office folder on your hard disk, and then on the File menu, click Get Info.

Spore scheduled to ship in September '08...

Electronic Arts and Maxis today announced that Spore, the massive online multiplayer game from the makers of The Sims, will hit store shelves on the weekend of September 7th. "The wait is almost over," said Maxis Chief Designer Will Wright. "We're in our final stages of testing and polish with Spore, and the team at Maxis can't wait to see the cosmos of content created by the community later this year." Spore gives players their own personal universe in a box, according to the developers. Players create and evolve life, establish tribes, build civilizations, sculpt entire worlds, and explore a universe created by other gamers.

Patent hints at Spaces in Front Row, Apple TV...

Apple has filed for a patent that could retrofit its Spaces feature for use with Front Row and Apple TV. The application, filed on January 7th, is the second patent revealed on February 7th relating to a potential future feature set for Apple TV. One block diagram shows an example of an architecture for generation and use of spaces in a display environment, interfacing with an operating system and Expose.

SignalScope, SignalScope Pro reach 2.0...

Faber Acoustical has released v2.0 of its two signal analysis applications, SignalScope and SignalScope Pro. The programs both have a new interface that splits analyzers into separate windows, allowing users to track multiple readouts at the same time. Captured and live signals can be compared directly, and AppleScript support is now described as "comprehensive." Hardware graphics acceleration has been made possible through an OpenGL renderer, while Quartz is being used to output to PDF files or print.

Mariner updates MacJournal, StoryMill...

Mariner Software has released updates for two of its writing applications, MacJournal and StoryMill. MacJournal 5.0.2 now properly downloads images from blog posts, and keeps size intact when sending images resized for a blog format. Exporting has been improved, as has the reliability and simplicity of recording. Finally, bugs have been fixed with .mac synchronization, and migrating content from v4.0 to 5.0. MacJournal costs $35 and runs on Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

Apple: MacBook multitouch merely software update [U]...

(Updated with T3 removal) Spreading advanced multitouch technology to other MacBooks may be simpler than expected by the public, an Apple spokesperson has revealed. While the Air is currently the only MacBook to support gestures such as pinching and swiping, the Apple representative notes that this is entirely software-based. As a result, existing MacBooks and MacBook Pros may gain the extra commands in the future, though no official release plans have been laid out.

USBfever unveils four new cases for iPod touch...

USBfever today unveiled four new cases for the iPod touch, made from lightweight plastics, featuring a number of different designs. The cases leave the screen and ports accessible, while covering the chassis of the Touch. The designs range from a skull, a Japanese-inspired floral pattern, colorful boxes, and a patchy grey case, featuring Argentinean revolutionary Che Guevara. All four cases are available from USBfever.com for $20.