DrawIt 3.5 adds boolean operations, masks, more...

Developer Pieter Omvlee on Wednesday unveiled DrawIt 3.5, a sizeable update to his simplified vector drawing and image editing application. The update adds several new features, including support for Boolean operators – such as union, subtraction, exclusive, and intersect – a new text-to-vector tool, and support for a vector ghost-mode for quick drawing. The ghost-mode allows users with a dedicated graphics card to speed up editing of vector images. Omvlee is selling DrawIt 3.5 from his website for $45.

Calgoo offers cross-platform iCal syncing...

Calgoo on Wednesday announced its cross-platform calendar sharing programs are now compatible with Apple's iCal application. The announcement affects Calgoo Hub, Calgoo Connect, and Calgoo Calendar, and will allow users to synchronize their iCal calendars with users of Google, Outlook, Sunbird, as well as a host of other cross-platform mail clients. Calgoo Connect and Calendar Pro annual subscriptions start at $30, with several licensing options available.

Mophie Juice Pack ships, earns Apple badge...

Mophie on Wednesday announced it is shipping the Juice Pack – an iPhone battery extender – and that it is the first company to achieve certified "Works with iPhone" recognition for a battery extension product. The extender adds 250 hours of standby time, while also featuring eight hours talk time, 6 hours of internet usage, 7 hours of video playback, and 24 hours of iPod functionality. Mophie is currently shipping the Juice Pack for $100, and is available directly from Mophie, mStation, or select retailers.

Microsoft adds Parallels to Expression Professional...

Microsoft is reportedly strengthening its relationship with Parallels, and will offer Parallels Desktop for Mac for users who purchase a Microsoft Expression Professional Subscription. According to InfoWorld, this allows customers to run the full studio suite, rather than just Expression Media 2, which ships mid-May, which is also bundled with future versions of Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Special Media Editions. A Microsoft Expression Professional Subscription will be available in June for $1000.

Photoshop Express beta adds Flickr, slideshow player...

Adobe has updated the beta website for Photoshop Express, its online, lightweight version of its standard image editing software. New to Express is support for Flickr, the popular photo-sharing site; this complements earlier support for Facebook, Photobucket and Picasa, and lets users pull photos from Flickr accounts, edit them, and re-upload them. This can be done entirely without leaving the Express interface.

Type to Learn 4 adds parental reports...

Sunburst has released Type to Learn 4, a collection of educational typing activities meant mainly for schools. It is claimed to be suitable for students in kindergarten through grade 12, and compliant with the standards of all 50 US states, as well as the International Society for Technology in Education's NETS-S. After a diagnostic test, students start working on a total of 36 lessons, highlighting both speed and accuracy; skill concentrations include aspects like shortcuts, the numeric keypad, and symbols.

H20 ships new waterproof headset for Shuffles...

Accessory maker H20 has introduced a new product for iPods, the iSH2 headset. The unit is designed explicitly for second-generation Shuffles, and waterproofs them to a depth of 10 feet. The Shuffle is safeguarded in a case on the back of the head, which still has controls for playing, pausing and skipping tracks; the silicon earbuds are meanwhile designed to hold out water, when used in tandem with included earplugs, and can clip to swimming goggles.

Leech 1.0 download manager debuts...

Austria's Many Tricks has released the first version of Leech, a download manager for Macs. Like most such apps the program enables the queing, pausing and resuming downloads, and entering URLs; users of Leech can simply paste lists of URLs into the window however, or drag the same onto the app's Dock icon. Addresses can be marked for download without automatically beginning, and users can also restrict the number of simultaneously transfers.

NI debuts Guitar Rig Session, Guitar Rig 3 XE...

Native Instruments on Wednesday introduced Guitar Rig Session, a new recording solution for guitarists, bass players and songwriters that provides studio-quality results at an entry-level price as well as announced Guitar Rig 3 XE, a new version of its entry-level software for computer-based guitar recording. Equipped with a specially designed audio interface and additional recording software, Guitar Rig Session is a versatile toolkit that can be used to create guitar-driven music of any style. The solution features the new Guitar Rig 3 XE software -- also available as a standalone solution -- which delivers a selection of five true-to-life tube amplifier models and 12 cabinet types, as well as 21 stomp boxes and effect units.

Sente 5.5 updates academic reference manager...

Third Street Software has released Sente 5.5 with enhanced PDF management. Sente is an academic reference manager that helps users find, organize, review and cite the academic literature. Version 5.5 offers the ability to create references directly from the PDF files they already have, as well as new PDFs that they receive from colleagues. It also adds the ability to create complete references by entering only an ISBN, DOI or other common identifier using Google Scholar, the Library of Congress and PubMed to create complete references when importing a new PDF.

America Movil to carry iPhone in Mexico, more...

America Movil today said it would carry the iPhone in Mexico as well as other countries in the region, bringing the device to the western Latin-speaking areas for the first time. The carrier doesn't provide a specific release date for the phone but confirms that the device will be available sometime later in the year. The company is considered one of the largest providers south of the US and serves 16 countries in the Caribbean and South America.

Indigo 3.0 adds INSTEON support...

Perceptive Automation has released Indigo 3.0, the newest version of its Mac-based home automation server. Connected to proper accessories, the server can control appliances such as lights, thermostats, lawn sprinklers and hot tubs. The upgrade supports INSTEON technology, which for instance lets users wirelessly control Venstar thermostats. Users can define links and lighting schemes between most INSTEON modules, and upload information to a PowerLinc 2414U, which lets users shut their Mac off without losing automation.

Advenio ships MacGourmet 2.3, Mealplan...

Advenio has released two updates for MacGourmet, its wine and recipe organization tool. The app can be used to create, edit and sort various listings, and includes features such as nutritional analysis, imports and exports for the web, and the ability to generate shopping lists that can be synched with iPods and smartphones. The v2.3 upgrade makes unspecified improvements to the shopping list editor, and the ability to use and print themes; the most important addition is that of a plug-in framework, which will let Advenio release optional expansions.

Opacity 1.1 brings in SVG graphics...

Like Thought has released Opacity 1.1, which it calls a "major update" to its illustration application. The software is exclusively used to design images for websites and desktop software, such as launch icons. It relies on both Quartz and Core Animation technology, and has vector, layer, and filtering tools. New in v1.1 is support for SVG, which allows vector illustration for the web.

Orange, other telcos discuss more iPhone expansion...

Several more deals are in the works for expanding iPhone distribution, says Thomson Financial News. The group first writes that Orange, owned by France Telecom, is seeking to sell the iPhone outside of its home territory, where the device has been available since November. Orange CFO Gervais Pellissier says his company is currently in negotiations with Apple on the matter, and is looking to bring the iPhone to countries such as Spain and Poland, "among others." The carrier also has operations in regions such as Romania, Slovakia, Israel and the UK.

iPhone SDK updates to beta 5

Apple has released a new version of its iPhone SDK for developers, bringing the platform to beta 5, build 9M2173a. Little information has been disclosed on changes, except that the software contains bug fixes, and updates to the newest version of the iPhone OS. Other versions of the SDK, however, have gradually revealed unexpected features, such as possible GPS technology, or remote media streaming and control.