Apple applies for App Store icon patent

The US Patent and Trademark Office today published Apple's trademark application concerning the icon for the upcoming iPhone/iPod touch application store. The logo, which is displayed in almost every piece of documentation related to the developer's program, will be present on all iPhone and iPod touch devices when the service officially launches later this year. The design resembles Apple's traditional application icon – the stylized letter "A" constructed from a paintbrush, pencil and ruler.

Briefly: DiscCatalogMaker RE review...

In brief: We've posted a review DiscCatalogMaker RE, a part of the Toast Titanium package, Cancom buys Scotsys' Scotland Mac store, TransGaming joins the Khronos Group and R.E.M. performs at London Apple Store ... We have posted a review of DiscCatalogMaker RE, part of the Toast 9 bundle. DiscCatalogMaker catalogs everything on your external discs or internal hard drives. If you want it to also scan compacted files, such as .zip, .sit, or even the age-old Compact Pro archives you can check those boxes in the Preferences. You can also set the preferences to open a new or existing Catalog upon launch, set a font, and choose white or horizontal stripes for the background window. You can also choose a detailed view or choose the type and creator view.

Sorensen Squeeze 5 adds speed, codecs, more...

Sorensen today unveiled Sorensen Squeeze 5, a major update to its video encoding tool that introduces several speed, quality and workflow enhancements. The new version increases both video and audio quality overall, and includes multi-processor support, allowing users to encode as many fines as they have processor cores. Sorensen Squeeze 5 is available directly from the company's website for prices starting at $200.

Apps: Toast 9, iGlasses, Studiometry

• Toast 9 Titanium 9.0.2 ($80) CD/DVD burning tool. The new release resolves a number of encoding issues related to high-definition source content and creation of Blu-ray video discs, resolves situation where high-definition DVDs would not play back on PlayStation 3 and resolves a number of TiVo related audio/video sync issues. [Download - form]


• iGlasses 2.1 ($10) adjust and manipulate your webcam's video settings from within iChat AV and many other programs, including iMovie, Photo Booth, Yahoo! Messenger, Skype and web-based chat. You can modify colors, brightness, and even pan and zoom your Mac's built-in iSight. There is also a brightness booster, image rotating, digital panning/zooming and a night vision function. New features in version 2.1 include support for seven additional applications, a digital zoom button, and numerous fixes and enhancements. [Download - 600KB]


• Studiometry 5.1 ($220) solution for companies to organize, plan, invoice, track and create with Client and Project data. Offers project summaries, customizable templates, Import/Export options, project templates, to-do suites, spec suites, file actions, contact logs, customizable ID formats, overdue invoices and to-do notices. New in Studiometry 5.1 is the ability to sync to and from iCal. Previous versions of Studiometry could post calendars to iCal, but would not receive any changes made in iCal or other programs that modified iCal items. Now, editing an item in Studiometry or iCal will immediately sync the data to the other application, and Studiometry can even receive updates to tasks and events made on a PDA or mobile phone synced with iCal. [Download - 21.7MB]


• Default Folder X 4.0.3 ($15) makes it easier for you to manage files by adding features and correcting flaws in the file dialogs of all Mac OS X applications. This release offers a new contextual menu that enables you to rename, compress, or delete files and folders directly from within Open and Save dialogs. Saving a compressed copy of a file before replacing it with a new version is now as easy as control-clicking on the old one and choosing "Create zip Archive" in the Save As dialog. Improvements have also been made in handling Finder labels and remembering the size and position of file dialogs. [Download - 8.4MB]


• Speed Download 5.0.1 ($25) download manager designed to be a unified hub for almost all downloading and file transfer activities. This new update continues to enhance and tweak the performance of Speed Download to ensure utmost reliability. Version 5.0.1 includes tons of key improvements, and is a recommended update for all Speed Download 5 users. Also added are a new 'Incomplete' option on the Filters bar and a new SD 'Dock menu' option to toggle between the info displayed on the SD icon in the dock. [Download - 7.6MB]

First Look: Personal Antispam X5...

Nobody likes spam clogging their e-mail accounts. Although nearly every e-mail program comes with its own spam filters, a dedicated spam filter can often work more effectively while giving you greater control. If spam is overwhelming your current e-mail program, consider Intego's Personal Antispam X5. When you first install the software, you can configure it with Mail, Entourage, or both. If you use a different e-mail program, such as Thunderbird, you won’t be able to use X5.

DisplayLink drivers released, no 2D/3D acceleration...

DisplayLink recently announced beta drivers for the Mac for its DisplayLink USB line of monitor extension products, but said the drivers do not yet enable 2D or 3D acceleration on the platform. The USB device allows users to connect up to another four DVI or VGA displays to a computer, ideal for computers that do not have many monitor extension capabilities such as the Mac mini. DisplayLink notes that the devices require Mac OS X 10.4.11 Tiger or Leopard 10.5.2.

Apple sued for iMac display "deception"...

Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP, a law firm out of Los Angeles, California, has filed suit against Apple on behalf of a class of users claiming that the computer maker "deceptively marketed" the 20-inch iMac by purporting improved display performance, though the device's monitor is allegedly of "inferior" quality. The suit claims that the monitors are incapable of displaying “millions of colors,” despite Apple's marketing claims. "Apple is duping its customers into thinking they’re buying 'new and improved' when in fact they're getting stuck with 'new and inferior,'”"said Brian Kabateck, Managing Partner of Kabateck Brown Kellner.  "Beneath Apple’s 'good guy' image is a corporation that takes advantage of its customers. Our goal is to help those customers who were deceived and make sure Apple tells the truth in the future."

Runes of Avalon 2 for Mac released...

Anawiki has unveiled Runes of Avalon 2, the second installment in its puzzle series for the Mac. This release features over 100 new levels, packed with spells, powerups, and all new graphics. It also offers three game modes for players to explore and solve puzzles, with an additional JigSaw mini game. A one-hour playable demo is available free, with a full copy priced at $20.

Apple Store opens in Cambridge, England

Apple has opened a new retail store in Cambridge, England, located in the Grand Arcade Shopping Centre. The outlet represents the 15th to open in the United Kingdom, and features all of the normal amenities and services provided by Apple, including product demos, in-store workshops, and the iconic Genius Bar service area. Store hours as well as event schedules are now present on the outlet's website.

Poll shows Apple has strongest impact on consumers...

A new online poll, conducted by brandchannel.com, shows Apple as having the greatest impact on the lives of global consumers, over any other company and well ahead of chief rival Microsoft. More than 2,000 students and professionals took part in the poll, and a majority recognized Apple as a "most inspiring brand," one they "couldn't live without," according to Reuters.

ZiPhone 3.0 released, Pwnage Tool delayed...

The creator of ZiPhone, a simplified, all-in-one unlocking and jailbreaking utility for the iPhone, has updated the software to v3.0. It is able to hack into any version of the firmware from v1.0.0 through to v1.1.4, and automates much of the process. Version 3.0 makes several important changes, among these the inclusion of an embedded application installer, and support for customized plug-ins.

Outspring Mail Client for Mac introduced...

Outspring Inc. on Monday introduced its new Mail client application for Mac, Outspring Mail. The program is designed for professionals and power users alike, offering what it refers to as "adaptive intelligence" features such as a patent-pending method for filing messages and a powerful spam filter claimed to eliminate more than 98 percent of all incoming junk mail. Outspring claims the client offers a new approach to mail management - one that adapts to the user's most common habits for sorting email. Once the program learns these habits it can automatically file messages into folders rather than the user having to do so manually.

Web-based YouTube coming to iPhone Safari...

Apple's anticipated iPhone 2.0 firmware will add some form of YouTube support within Safari, accounts say. Apple recently began distributing an updated version of the iPhone firmware to accompany the latest version of the SDK, and YouTube is now said to be accessible through a plug-in for MobileSafari.app. Traditionally, iPhone and iPod touch users have had to access YouTube from a separate, custom application, which also only links specially-formatted videos.

Web2 Delight 1.0 for Mac Released...

Global Delight today introduced Web2 Delight 1.0 for Mac - its tool for easily searching and downloading online video or photo content to a Mac. With Web2 Delight, users can find content from any popular video or photo sharing service, such as YouTube and flickr, and save it to any Mac - all from one application that costs less than $20.

Music Man 2.7 enhances WMA support

Mireth Technology has released an update to its audio file converter, burner, and player software for Mac, Music Man 2.7. Music Man is completely integrated digital media application for ripping, burning, and playing CD tracks. This release adds a number of improvements including enhanced WMA support (WMA, WMA Pro, and WMA Lossless codecs), and the ability to burn audio to DVD. Compatibility with Leopard has also been addressed. The update is free for existing users, and priced at $25 for a single license.

Apple TV updated to 2.0.1

Apple has released an update for the Apple TV, its media-streaming set-top box. The onboard firmware version has now reached v2.0.1, and primarily introduces a "Genres" category to the Movie menu, allowing viewers to browse titles by their mood. Also applied are a variety of unspecified bug fixes, improving general stability in the firmware. The update must be downloaded directly from a network-connected Apple TV, which takes approximately 10 minutes.

PC Mag Reviews 15" MacBook Pro (Penryn)...

Apple's new 15" MacBook Pro, based on Intel's latest Penryn processor, earned high marks from PC Magazine. In a recently published review, Editor Cisco Cheng took the new model for a test drive, benchmarking performance and feature enhancements. His conclusion - MacBook Pro is a winner. Cheng called it "one of the fastest laptops I've tested". That's high praise indeed, coming from a publication devoted to Windows PCs.