OmniPlan 1.5 brings Leopard support, more

The Omni Group on Thursday announced the release of an update to its project planning application, OmniPlan. OmniPlan 1.5 offers a number of significant improvements, new features and support for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Version 1.5 features are live filtering, improved time scales, file linking from within projects, auto-scroll arrows (to quickly snap the view to the selected task's Gantt bar), improvements to filtering and display options, improved printing options and additional scheduling features. As well as general compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, OmniPlan 1.5 also brings built-in support for Quick Look and improves usage with Spaces. OmniPlan 1.5 is available as a free update for existing OmniPlan 1.0 owners. New users can try OmniPlan for free and license it for $150. Licenses (including quantity, educational, and family discounts) are available.

Briefly: JiveBox review, Apple traffic...

In brief: We have a review of the Logic3 JiveBox, Apple comes in 12th in Web traffic, the IK Multimedia Plug and Mix promo has been announced, dates have been set for the Lasso Developer Conference 2008, and Aperture/Sony Alpha 700 RAW tests have been posted ... We have posted a review of the Logic3 JiveBox. This all-in-one cube houses a 2.1 speaker system that delivers a surprising amount of volume for such a compact system. The JiveBox comes complete with IR remote, 3.5mm line in cable, AC adapter, and an assortment of docking cradle plates to fit various iPod sizes new and old. The focal point of the JiveBox is the 7-inch glossy black block that encases all of the speakers and neatly hides the cables underneath the unit. A changeable glowing LED light strip that can be changed to red, blue, or green complements its simple design.

iTunes 7.6.1: better Apple TV 2.0 compatibility, more...

Apple today unveiled iTunes 7.6.1, a minor update to its media player software, advertising several bug fixes and increased compatibility with Apple TV 2.0. As with other recent updates, details on the bug and compatibility fixes were scarce, with the update saying little more than what was written above. The update is available through Software Update, but hasn't yet surfaced on Apple's support website.

Dell ships Ubuntu systems in Canada, Latin America...

Dell today announced to its Canadian and Latin America customers that the Inspiron 1525n now has the option of shipping with Ubuntu Linux 7.1, as well as with the Canadian models of the XPS M1330n and Inspiron 530 – the latter two will ship throughout Latin America soon. Like the previously announced US, UK, Spanish and German models, the computers will feature DVD playback capability. Support options are available starting at $65 for 30 days, all the way to $275 for 1 year of standard support from Canonical.

MediaRich CORE 3.8.5 updates biz suite...

Equilibrium today released MediaRich CORE 3.8.5, an update to its entire MediaRich suite of applications. The latest release -- which upgrades MediaRich Server, MediaRich for SharePoint, MediaRich Merchandizer, and MediaRich Audio/Video Server -- allow users to process videos in parallel. A new 'Sonic Flash Zoom and Pan' feature accompanies video templating with an optional extension package, and the latest releases offer compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Current server customers can upgrade for free (pricing for new licenses was unavailable).

Apps: Media Catalog, DiscLabel

• Media Catalog 3.8.3 ($25) Indexes your removable media, such as Backup CDs and DVDs that you can quickly and easily find your files. In the 3.8.3 version of Media Catalog the most outstanding new feature is the option to automatically catalog and eject volumes, making it ideal for a setup on a headless Xserve. The improved quicksearch now behaves more intuitively and more precise. With the reduced memory footprint users of large catalogs will find a huge increase in responsiveness of the application. [Download - 444KB]


• DiscLabel 5.1.2 ($36) CD/DVD label design software for Mac OS X. It can import track lists from iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, Finder, and Toast; import images from iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD and Finder; multiple layers, drawing tools and gradients for creating custom designs; use more than 1300 clip art files via the DiscLabel Clip Art Browser and more. The new release adds various bug fixes and improvements. [Download - 11.8MB]


• Dupin v1.3 ($15) assists with locating, sorting, filtering, and deleting duplicate tracks in iTunes. You can quickly find all sets of duplicate iTunes tracks based on your choice of criteria and select the "Keeper" tracks from among a number of duplicates automatically using a variety of versatile filtering options. The new release includes these features: adds Newest/Oldest Date Modified options to Filter Controls; adds Largest/Smallest File Size options to Filter Controlsl displays Bit Rate Rounding status in Filter Controls window; bit Rate Rounding is applicable to bit rate options in Filter Controls. [Download - 1.8MB]


• Daylite 3.7.1 ($190) productivity management software. With a new option to customize small, regular and large font size from the general preference pane for the Daylite month calendar view and an optimized time display, users get a better overall feel of their month's work. In addition, the busy bar can be removed from the Daylite 3.7.1 calendar view - another feature highly requested by Daylite users. [Download - 46.2MB]


• iWatermark 3.1.1 ($20) allows users to secure, protect and get recognition for photos and artwork. Add your signature, url, email address or logtall your photos. iWatermark is integrated to work with Photoshop, ACDSee, iPhoto, Cumulus, Portfolio, PhotoStation, iView and other photo organizers. The latest version has dramatic speed, user interface and other improvements. [Download - 8.1MB]

Gefen unveils 1:4, 1:8 HD amplifiers...

Gefen today unveiled new distribution amplifiers that deliver component video to 1080p with audio up ranging up to a 300 meter distance. The company's 1:4 Component/Audio CAT-5 distribution amplifier and the 1:8 component/audio CAT-5 distribution amplifier both enable the delivery component video to multiple displays. Each device features RCA (left/right) analog and digital (S/PDIF and TOSlink) audio inputs to provide an easy way of sending audio as well as video to four or eight remote locations from a single source. Gefen's 1:8 Cat-5 receiver is priced from $1,500, while the 1:4 receiver is available for $800.

iPhone GO suffers EDGE outage, AT&T fixes problem [U]...

An EDGE network outage that seems to be based around pre-paid AT&T iPhone GO clients is on its fifth day today, leaving many without mobile internet access. According to Scott Kleinberg of iPhone, Therefore I Blog, users have been experiencing intermittent success surrounded by failure to access the EDGE network. Several have reported switching to the billed service and are back on the network. AT&T has not officially commented on the matter, other than to say they are working on a solution to the problem.

DeIMG turns images into HTML tables...

Satirical software and news company The Daily Grind today unveiled DeIMG, a re-branding of its software That's Not A Picture, which is designed to turn images into table data, for, as the author puts it, "browsers which support tables but not images". The largely pointless and futile app converts PNG, JPG. GIF, and PDF files into HTML, XHTML, or XHTML+CSS. Usage of the application is largely in question, as the developer proudly displays users' qualms and frustration on the product's webpage.

HighDesign 1.8 reads AutoCAD files, more...

Ilexsoft today unveiled HighDesign 1.8, a major update to its professional CAD application, featuring over 50 new features and improvements. HighDesign Professional supports the AutoCAD DWG and DXB file formats, from v9.x to 2008, while both Standard and Professional versions support DXF from v12.x to 2006. The Professional version can export projects as high-quality TIFF images. HighDesign 1.8 Standard sells for $150, while the Professional version is available for $350.

Syncro SVN Client 3.1 adds new view modes...

Syncro has launched an update to its SVN Client software, bringing it to v3.1. The program is multiplatform, and lets users quickly share, track and update code or documents. New to the upgrade are two extra modes for the Synchronize view, compressed and flat. Flat simply displays resources as a list, while compressed displays SVN content as a two-level tree, grouping resources by parent folder. Each mode prevents people from having to dig into subfolders or receive the full list of material.

DLO ships VideoShell for 3G Nano...

iPod accessory builder DLO has a new version of its VideoShell case, designed specifically for the iPod nano. As with other VideoShells, the Nano model is made out of polycarbonate, offering stiff protection from impacts and scratches while allowing access to the clickwheel, dock connector and headphone jack. Because it is transparent, it can also fully protect the screen; to further improve video watching, a sliding kickstand rests the Nano at an angle on flat surfaces. DLO is selling the new VideoShell for $20.

Patents: Multitouch device and control methods...

The US Patent and Trademark office today published five of Apple's patents, describing versatile multi-touch input device and control methods in a wide array of fields. The device appears to be an ergonomic multi-touch keyboard-style device that can accept a wide array of touch commands, including typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting. The patents involve actions that are simple for the user to know and remember, while the system has little difficulty differentiating between the actions.

Relationship 1.1 adds collaboration, .Mac...

Jumsoft has released the v1.1 update to Relationship, its customer management tool. The program operates within a single window, and arranges contacts into manually- and automatically-assigned groups, which can be password-protected for privacy. Relationship is further integrated with Address Book, and can assign event reminders for each person.

XFile 2 introduces 'seam carving'...

Human Software has released XFile 2, the latest version of its specialist resizing plug-in for programs like Photoshop and PhotoPaint. The software gives users more control over how an image will altered, and attempts to preserve more detail. XFile 2 incorporates an option called "seam carving," also known as non-linear resizing; this lets users alter the size and aspect ratio of an image while keeping a particular focus area intact.

Linkin Park plays at Apple SoHo store...

Linkin Park's Apple Store concert, hinted at by band member Mike Shinoda, was played last night at the New York City SoHo location. The event got underway just after midnight according to reports, and was filmed and recorded for a later release on the iTunes Store, sources for Billboard say. The finished product will likely be ready in March, featuring songs such as "Wake," "My December" and "Bleed It Out."