Briefly: Boynq sabre review, MacPro stats...

In brief: We have a review of the Boynq sabre iPod stereo speaker, MacForce will hold an Aperture 2.0 meeting, new MacBook Air, Mac Pro performance comparisons are available, and MediaCentral has expanded its entertainment channels ... We have posted a review of the Boynq sabre iPod stereo speaker . The sabre is a lightweight iPod stereo speaker that weighs only 1.63 pounds, so it’s very portable, but does not have a battery compartment. It looks a bit like an unrolled tube of paper, with the dock sitting on the front flap. Six dock inserts accommodate all iPods with a Dock port. Four buttons also grace the front. The Power button lights up brightly when the unit is on. The other three buttons control the volume, treble, and bass. The little dot that marks the position of the knob is very difficult to see unless you’re very close to the unit.

Gene Construction Kit 3.0 beta released...

Textco BioSoftware today released an enhanced beta version of Gene Construction Kit (GCK 3.0), its DNA plasmid mapping software. The update features new modules for PCR Analysis, Automated Shotgun Cloning, and integrated Web Searching for performing biological related queries across numerous internet data repositories -- including KEGG, EntrezGene, PDB, PFAM, and more. Users interested in trying out Gene Construction Kit must fill out a beta test form. The beta release requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later.

Apps: Live Interior, REALbasic plug-ins

• Live Interior 1.5 ($80) lets users design house, office, apartment, and other interiors with realistic 3D walk-throughs. Live Interior 3D 1.5 update adds lamp creating functionality. Now you can compose and edit various lamps using Light Source Editor, insert and adjust different types of light sources in any objects including imported ones. [Download - 49.4MB]


• MBS REALbasic plug-ins 8.1 ($270) a collection of several plug-in parts which extend the REALbasic development environment with over 900 classes and 2 controls featuring over 17000 documented functions. This release adds: new ThreadMBS class for crossplatform preemptive threads in REALbasic; MutexMBS class to work with the ThreadMBS class; IKImageEditPanelMBS class to use the image edit panel from Apple. [Download - 80.4MB]


• PasswordWallet 4.3.3 ($10) password management application. PasswordWallet for iPhone gives you access to your passwords on your iPhone: ninternet connection or hacks required.  And it's all secured with 448-bit BlowFish. Version 4.3.3 adds localizations for French and Japanese. Also included is the "Synchronize Files" Automator Action that is Leopard compatible; smoothed import from Splash ID; explicit Read Only warnings if your data is read from a read-only disk or permissions are askew; other improvements. [Download - 2.4MB]


• KeyCue 4.1 ($30) keyboard shortcut cheat sheet. This release adds two high-contrast large-font themes to make KeyCue even more helpful for visually impaired users. The new version also offers an automatic update checking system, which ensures timely access to updates for future versions. KeyCue 4.1 requires Mac OS X 10.4 or newer and is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). [Download - 922KB]


• Power Manager 3.7.1 ($30) helps schools, businesses, and homes save energy by automating their Macs. Power Manager 3.7.2 includes an improved Quick Schedule interface, tweaked icons for Mac OS X 10.5's menu bar gradient, and a bug fix for rescheduled events. It also fixes a critical bug that could cause events to be skipped. This bug potentially occurred when delaying or altering an event. [Download - 1.7MB]

The Missing Sync for iPhone 1.0.1 released...

Mark/Space today released The Missing Sync for iPhone 1.0.1 alongside an updated version of SyncTogether. The Missing Sync for iPhone allows users to quickly load and archive data on an iPhone. The software supports syncing calendar, contacts, photos, and more from another cellular handset to an iPhone while allowing usrs to archive SMS messages as well as call logs and notes. The Missing Sync for iPhone 1.0.1 is priced at $40, with crossgrades available for $25. The application requires Mac OS X 10.4.9 or later.

MacBook, MB Pro keyboard firmware fix unveiled...

Apple today unveiled a firmware fix for MacBook and MacBook Pro owners, remedying some long-standing keyboard issues. The update says it addresses a problem where the computer would ignore the first key pressed after a period of inactivity, also addressing "some other issues", according to the supplied literature. Some users were having similar issues, but related to typing in a text field, regardless of whether or not the computer had been sitting idle.

SyncTogether adds Leopard compatibility...

Mark/Space today released SyncTogether 1.0.2, an update to the software that synchronizes various types of data with multiple Macs. The latest release brings compatibility for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, allowing users of Apple's latest operating system to take advantage of SyncTogether's features. A single SyncTogether license supports three macs, requires Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later, and is priced at $50.

Neverwinter Nights 2 ships next week...

Aspyr is shipping the long-awaited sequel to Neverwinter Nights next week, a massive role-playing game based on the Forgotten Realms Dungeons and Dragons campaign setting. Players can completely configure their game experience, choosing from a variety of alignments, friends, and enemies, As well as classes and races. Starting as a fledgling peasant, players fight their way to become the hero of the realms. Neverwinter Nights 2 will be available for $50.

BodyGuardz film protects MacBook Air...

NLU Products today unveiled the BodyGuardz protection kit for the MacBook Air, constructed from transparent plastic film, which the company says is the same material that protects cars from stone chips. The kit includes a top, bottom, trackpad, and wrist rest protectors, with each piece also available separately. A cleaning/application solution and squeegee card are also bundled with the kit. NLU is selling the kit for $50, while the separate pieces are available for $15 to $25.

Gameloft slips about first iPhone game?...

Gameloft may have unintentionally let slip about the first downloadable iPhone game during CEO Michel Guillemot's keynote at the GDC Mobile conference. According to UK-based Pocket Gamer, the device was seen in several slides during the keynote presentation, featuring what the publication thinks is a game based on Sega's NiGHTS, or alternately an enhanced version of Pop Superstar. While the news is unofficial, Gameloft is a likely choice as a launch partner for iPhone games, due to the company's success with games on the iPod.

Linkin Park to play at "secret" Apple concert...

Linkin Park and Apple are putting together a "secret" concert in New York City, according to band member Mike Shinoda. He writes on his blog that the band had recently won its second German Echo award, and is preparing to play a sold-out show in Madison Square Gardens, before briefly mentioning the "secret" project. According to AppleInsider, this could potentially coincide with a highly rumored Apple event, but is unlikely, since Apple has not sent out invitations.

Apple quietly kills Xserve RAID...

Despite today's unveiling of the Xsan 2 file system, Apple quietly discontinued the Xserve RAID platform, with any references to the hard drive system absent from the online store. The only mention of enterprise-level RAID hard drive products is that of the Promise VTrak system, for which Apple is also selling a number of service parts as well. The VTrak RAID systems range from 4.8TB to 16TB, and are configured with either SATA or SAS drives.

Wheel of Fortune Deluxe availabe on Macgamestore.com...

Macgamestore.com today unveiled Encore's Wheel of Fortune Deluxe as a digital download, previously only offered in boxed format. As with the game show, users spin the wheel, earning the right to pick consonants or buy vowels, to solve over 2000 word puzzles created by the show's staff. Players can choose from three game modes: Road Trip, Group Pay, and Puzzle of the Day. Wheel of Fortune Deluxe is available from Macgamestore.com for $20, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 and a G4, or later.

Page Control 2.0 adds vertical spreads...

DTP Tools has released the second edition of Page Control, its plug-in for InDesign CS, CS2 and CS3. The original software allowed users to fit multiple page sizes into the same document; v2.0 greatly expands on this, by for instance letting users arrange documents into vertical spreads, essential for "flip-up" documents like calendars. Pages can further be individually rotated, allowing for combinations of portrait and landscape layouts.

Changes: sync text-based data, folders...

Skorpiostech today unveiled Changes 1.0, an application designed to perform directory comparison and file differencing functions. Changes allows coders to ensure synchronicity between files and folders, designed to replace Apple's FileMerge utility. Changes features a CLI utility, a TextMate bundle, BBEdit and Text Wrangler menu scripts, Xcode integration, and F-Script support. Skorpiostech is selling Changes for $40 from its website, and requires Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.

TotalView ships Workbench Manager...

TotalView has announced the release of Workbench Manager 1.1, a new tool control system for Mac OS X, Linux and Unix. The software is primarily used to manage the company's Debugger and MemoryScape software, integrating it into a comprehensive workflow for the development and debugging process; everything is controlled from a single graphical dashboard. Users are not limited to TotalView tools however, as they can choose to incorporate any third-party program that serves a similar purpose.

QuickerTek intros Dualy Extreme for Airport Extreme...

QuickerTek today unveiled the Dualy Extreme, a range extender for the Airport Extreme Base Station, which can help the device broadcast up to five times the standard wireless range. The Dualy Extreme features twin 3dBi antennas, coupled with either two 500mW receivers or two 1W receivers. When upgraded, the Base Station uses the full 2.4GHz range with high-speed MIMO capability. The Dualy Extreme is available starting from $350 for the user-installed, 500mW kit, with the 1W kit selling for $500.

Apple releases Xsan 2 file system...

Apple has formally launched Xsan 2, a major revision of its storage area network (SAN) file system. Among the changes is a new set of administration tools, easing the burden of setup and management. Users can for instance pre-set volume workloads for various file types, ranging in size from raw HD video down to small pieces of data center information. Accompanying this is MultiSAN, a component which lets users access multiple Xsan volumes from a single workstation or server.

Adobe announces Director 11...

Adobe has announced Director 11, the next version of its comprehensive development platform. The program lets developers build games, animations, simulations and more, and publish them to the web as well as the desktop and/or CDs and DVDs. Users can incorporate elements such as Flash files, physics rendering and 3D graphics, and expand with third-party add-ons.

Apple intros 2GB iPod shuffle, drops 1GB to $49...

Apple today introduced a 2GB iPod shuffle while quietly slashing the price of the 1GB model to $49, dropping the price of the device while simultaneously offering more capacities. Both sizes are available in all colors; the 1GB model should be available immediately through the online Apple Store, while the 2GB model ships later this month. The change makes for "the most affordable iPod ever," according to Apple senior iPod marketing VP Greg Joswiak.