Deals: MacMall iMacs, Apple refurb sale...

In light of Apple's updates to the iMac line, MacMall is running a few specials on current and late model iMacs, both the 20- and 24-inch versions. MacMall is also bundling Parallels Desktop 3.0 with the purchase of any iMac, as well as a free Epson printer, and from $50 to $100 off the machine, after mail-in rebates. The online retailer is offering discounts on the newly released iMacs, from $1150 on the entry-model, to $2100 for the high-end 3.06GHz version – $50 to $100 off Apple's suggested retail price. The 24-inch iMac comes with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of memory, a 320GB hard drive, Superdrive and an ATI Radeon 2600 Pro. MacMall is selling the 24-inch iMac for $1500 after rebates and aforementioned specials.

Firmware update for late ATI iMacs improves stability...

Apple today posted the iMac ATI Radeon HD Graphics Firmware Update 1.0.1 for iMac owners with either the Radeon HD 2400 XT or HD 2600 Pro graphics cards. The update simply states that it addresses system stability issues in those systems, but does not mention whether any performance enhancing aspects are also included. Firmware updates require an uninterrupted patch process, so users are encouraged to follow the instructions included with the update.

Five classic TV shows released on iTunes...

Apple today unveiled five classic television series on the iTunes store: 21 Jump Street, Hunter, The Greatest American Hero, Wiseguy, and Silk Stalkings. The release comes as Stephen J. Cannell Productions teams up with New Video to offer the content on iTunes, with The Commish and Renegade to show up in the following months. The classic series' are offered with the option of buying a Season Pass at a discount.

First Look: OfficeTime, time and billing tracker...

Everyone’s time is valuable, but for people such as consultants or lawyers, who bill by the hour, time can literally be money. To insure that you track time accurately, you could carry a stopwatch and slavishly write down every time you start and stop working on a particular project. While this method may work, an easier solution is to let your Mac keep track of time and billing by using OfficeTime.

Apps: FmPro Migrator, Sitemap Automator

• FmPro Migrator Developer Edition 4.14 ($200) for migrating FileMaker databases. The new release as been enhanced with an automated 2-pass dependency resolution feature for FileMaker table consolidation conversion projects. Additionally, the XML code defining each layout can now be exported as a raw XML file, containing all of the embedded images, and layout object definitions. Layout XML files can be post-processed separately and used for projects in which FileMaker Layouts need to be re-purposed for other development projects. [Download - 16MB]


• Google Sitemap Automator 1.9.5 ($30) helps web-masters get their web site listed in Google, Yahoo and MSN search. XML Sitemap files were first introduced by Google in 2005 and adopted by all major search engines, including Yahoo, MSN/Live and Ask.com shortly after. With version 1.9.5 RAGE Sitemap Automator can now find every single web page on an iWeb created website and automatically publish your XML Sitemap file to your iDisk. [Download - 7.9MB]


• EarthDesk 4.2 ($25) replaces the static desktop with an image of the Earth showing current sun, moon and city illumination, as well as real-time global cloud coverage, allowing users to track hurricanes and other weather systems. EarthDesk 4.2 adds an option to allow use as a screen saver only rather than strictly a desktop, and is fully compatible with Leopard (and Tiger). It also improves communication between the EarthDesk prefpane and the rendering engine. [Download - 6.9MB]


• VideoDrive 1.4.4 ($15) a new application to easily add your video collection to iTunes. VideoDrive supports all current video formats and will import your videos fast and without reconversion, so you can easily manage and watch them from within iTunes and Front Row, or export them to iPod, iPhone and AppleTV. VideoDrive will analyze your videos and browse online for metadata and cover art, cleanup file names, merge multiple video parts and add season and episode numbering to TV Shows. [Download - 5MB]


• Agenda 4.0.1 ($40) an application that keeps track of your events and tasks, lets you enter your thoughts, and easily create calendar or journal websites. The new release includes fixes and improvements when exporting to and importing from iCal files and also fixes a character encoding issue in the iEvents feature when building or previewing a calendar or journal website. [Download - 4.4MB]

Psystar customer offers video proof...

Last week, supposed Macintosh clone manufacturer Psystar offered questionable video proof of its operations, but a new video confirms that the company indeed does have a shipping product. Gizmodo reader Patrick "Whiskeyfrown" sent in a one-take video showing a Psystar CPU connected to a monitor, mouse and keyboard, tracing the video cable from the back of the box to the panel. With a press of the power button, the CPU displays a very PC-like POST screen, followed by the familiar grey Apple on a white background.

ShotPut EXpress streamlines XDCamHD EX transfer...

Imagine has released a new video utility for Macs, ShotPut EXpress. The software is intended for use with Sony's EX SxS cards, which are tied to the XDCamHD EX format; after inserting an SxS card into a computer's ExpressCard slot, ShotPut automatically verifies and copies clips to as many as three different locations; alternately, users can choose to copy videos manually. In any case a logfile is produced, naming cards, file destinations and other relevant information.

WiebeTech debuts UltraDock HDD adapter...

WiebeTech has announced a new hard drive adapter, the UltraDock. Intended mainly for professionals, the adapter lets users connect "bare" drives to a computer externally, in this case both 3.5-inch IDE/PATA drives and 2.5/3.5-inch SATA disks. Users can connect to a computer using eSATA, USB 2.0 or FireWire 400 ports, or one of two FireWire 800 connections.

1Password 2.6 updates anti-phishing safeguards...

Agile has released a new upgrade for 1Password, bringing the software to v2.6. The program is used to automate the entry of web passwords, and can also fill in other forms such as those for credit cards and bank accounts. To protect against the inherent danger of this, the app includes anti-phishing protection. New to v2.6 is an expanded anti-phishing safeguard, in the form of an online service by PhishTank. This service is, however, purely optional.

Planex network HDD shifts YouTube to iPods...

Japanese electronics maker Planex today launched a pair of networked hard drives it says streamline loading web video on portable players. The DigiJuke 500GB and 1TB both include facilities to download clips from YouTube or similar Flash videos directly to the drive and convert them into "universal" video. Although the conversion software is built for Windows, clips are saved in MPEG-4 and will play properly on video-capable iPods as well as the PSP, PS3, and the Wii.

Emailchemy 9.7 adds command line support, more...

Weird Kid has released the v9.7 update to Emailchemy, its primary e-mail management utility. The software is used to migrate messages kept in otherwise closed or outdated formats, converting them into standard formats that be can read by any modern app. Options also include splitting, sorting and merging archives, harvesting addresses, or uploading to Google Apps.

BurnAgain FS enters public beta...

Freeridecoding has opened a public beta for a new application, BurnAgain FS. Unlike some of the company's other programs, which operate entirely under a separate window, FS lets users change the data on a CD or DVD through Finder. It does this by mounting a disc as if it were a hard drive, in turn letting users add, edit and delete files multiple times until a disc becomes full, without creating multiple volumes.

QuickerTek ships Time Capsule-ready Wi-Fi boosters...

QuickerTek has announced that it is shipping new versions of its Dualy Extreme Wi-Fi extender, this time designed around Apple's Time Capsule backup/NAS drives. The standard option consists of two 500mW transceivers (1W combined) connected to two antennas, which can increase the range of a Time Capsule up to five times; alternately, this may help power past nearby obstacles, such as signal interference or intervening walls and floors.

Three million 3G iPhones in June, report claims...

The 3G iPhone is not only coming in June, but its early production numbers are already known, a Taiwanese newspaper claims. Industry publication Commercial Times is citing institutional investors, who say that Foxconn has landed a contract to begin assembling new iPhones for shipment in June. While this echoes earlier reports from March, CT says it has also obtained information from component suppliers, who have been told by Apple that the should begin preparing material supplies by the end of May.

Apple touts 5th iTunes birthday, 10m songs...

Apple on Monday celebrated the fifth anniversary of iTunes (Music Store) with a look at back at all "all of the great music, video, and exclusives" that users discovered on iTunes and highlighting the songs and shows that defined each year. On its iTunes store, Apple offered a brief history along with a collection of "best sellers". The company, which launched the iTunes Store on April 28, 2003, claims grew its music catalog of more than 200,000 songs and a handful of exclusive tracks to more than 10 million, according to info available at the online store -- up 66 percent from the 6 million song catalog announced in early April. Update: As readers point out, the iTunes software was released in 2001. [updated]

US Defense Dept may balk at Apple's PA Semi buy...

With little incentive to continue selling PowerPC-based chips, the US Department of Defense may plead its case against Apple following the announcement of the $278 million buyout of startup chipmaker PA Semi. The acquisition appears to be focused on the company's intellectual property and talent for reducing chip power consumption rather than its products, the report notes. Last week, the EETimes said that Apple may have to face the ire of the U.S. Department of Defense following its planned acquisition, as its customers expect Apple to end-of-life its current chips that are used in a wide variety of military devices.

Adobe discontinues GoLive, offers cross-grade...

Adobe on Monday announced that GoLive website creation tool has been discontinued in favor of Dreamweaver, the popular design tool acquired from Macromedia a little more than three years ago; confirming reports from a almost two years ago (which the company later denied and subsequently promised continued support), Adobe said it has ceased development and sales of the effective Monday, April 28, 2008. However, despite the Macworld report, the software was still available for sale (and as an upgrade) on Adobe's website early Monday morning.