Last week Apple Board member Jerome B. (Jerry) York died from a brain aneurysm. And according to the "Wall Street Journal" (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870426650457514193392147604...), he wasn't happy with the way Apple CEO Steve Jobs handled his past illnesses. The article says he had strong feelings about the way Jobs handled disclosures about his leave of absence for health reasons in January 2009. In an interview with "The Wall Street Journal" last year, York said he almost resigned when told of the seriousness of Jobs's illness. York felt Jobs should have publicly disclosed his health problem three weeks earlier in a news release that announced his decision not to appear at the Macworld trade conference, he adds. York said the concealment "disgusted" him, adding that the only reason he didn't quit at the time was because he wanted to avoid the uproar that would have occurred once he disclosed his reason. "Frankly, I wish I had resigned then," he told the "Journal...

Toshiba America Storage Device Division (http://www.toshibastorage.com) has announced two additions to its 5,400 RPM line of 2.5-inch hard disk drives. In the standard 9.5 millimeter-high, two-platter design, the company says the MK7559GSXP HDD incorporates both the industry's highest areal density and capacity at 750GB. Toshiba also introduced a new three-platter 12.5-millimeter-high platform with the MKxx59GSM series, which offers 750GB and 1TB of storage.  These capacity points were predominantly supported by larger form factor 3.5-inch HDDs until the introduction of high-end 2.5-inch solutions. To deliver these next-generation storage capacities, Toshiba has implemented Advanced Sector Format technology in both families. This technology uses 4K byte-per-sector formatting and improved error-correcting code (ECC) functions, providing maximum data integrity and making efficient use of the storage surface area, says Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at Toshiba Storage Device...

iPhones present the greatest smartphone security risk to the enterprise, according to a recent survey from nCircle (http://www.ncircle.com), a network security and compliance auditing firm. The online survey of 257 security professionals was conducted between Feb. 4 and March 12, 2010. In addition to smartphones, the survey covered a range of security topics including healthcare, cloud computing and social media. Key findings include: ° 57% believe that the iPhone carries the greatest security risk. ° 39% ranked Google Android as presenting the highest risk. ° 28% named Blackberry the riskiest. ° 13% ranked Nokia as having the highest risk. ° 58% of respondents have a corporate smartphone security policy in place. ° 65% of enterprises with a smartphone security policy enforce it. “The general consensus is that Apple continues to do only the absolute minimum to address enterprise security and supportability requirements,” says Andrew Storms, director of Security Operations for nCircle...

Aquafadas (http://www.aquafadas.com) has updated PulpMotion and PulpMotion Advanced, slideshow and animation software for Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard") or later, to version 3.0. The new versions sport a new animation engine written from the ground up. Version 3.0 also adds: animated text; a new repository of transition effects; Image Media functionality that now includes animation options within all the themes; more themes; improvements in the interface and workflow; and enhanced export and sharing functionality. PulpMotion 3 costs US$129 for PulpMotion Advanced and $49 for PulpMotion Standard. Complimentary upgrades are available to customers who purchased PulpMotion on or after Jan. 1. Other upgrade options are available to existing PulpMotion customers who purchased before this date.

Sybase (http://www.sybase.com), which specializes in enterprise and mobile software, has announced the results of a survey on mobile device usage, finding that the top reason U.S. consumers would use a tablet device such as the Apple iPad is for working on the go. The study findings reveal that consumers are increasingly demanding mobile devices that blend consumer and enterprise functionality, exposing an unexpected emphasis on the iPad’s suitability for work-related activities, and demonstrating the iPad’s potential value to information workers. Additionally, the study demonstrates that consumers want more access to information and work applications on their mobile devices, pointing to continuing challenges for businesses in enabling employees to effectively work on the go. Sybase says the role of new tablet devices such as the iPad has been a subject of great debate recently, and while the study shows that entertainment activities such as watching video and playing games are some...

Adobe says that Creative Suite CS5 will be launched on April 12. No details have been given except that the Mac version of the suite will be Intel only and written in Cocoa. The CS5 release will be the first major update to the company's flagship publishing applications since Creative Suite 4 was introduced in September 2008.

AppAdvice (http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/03/exclusive-ibooks-prices-revealed/) says the typical price of an ebook for the iPad will be US$9.99. The site notes that this is despite the fact that Apple offers publishers the same deal iPhone developers get: they set their own price and Apple keeps 30%. The iPad will come with an iBookstore app. will feature books from major and independent publishers. The free iBooks app lets you buy books from the iBookstore. Once you’ve bought a book, it’s displayed on your Bookshelf. Just tap it to start reading.

LTB Soft has announced LTB Light 9.0 (http://www.ltblight.com), an update of the US$299 Mac OS X application that permits natural and artificial lighting calculation with a color radiosity method applied to a finite elements plan. Version 9.0 adds support for both metric and imperial units, as well as UNI EN 13201 tables. It also has some bug fixes. LTB Light implements OpenGL. Data management take places through an internal CAD system, directly in a perspective view. It's possible to introduce flatten surfaces with colored glazing, furniture, curved surfaces like cylinders, cones, ellipsoids, hyperboloids and complex objects like cross vaults. LTB Light is able to share information with other CADs through DXF and PICT files. Light sources are totally managed inside the main program; it's possible to import, show, modify and use the IESNA LM-63 photometric data files (ASCII text file commonly used by North American lighting fixture manufacturers) EULUMDAT (an European standard) and...

Apple's integrated hardware and software system make it the most valuable personal computer maker in the world, according to a research note from Deutsche Bank. As reported by "Silicon Alley Insider" ("http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-revenue-vs-operating-profit-share-of-top-pc-vendors-2010-3), Deutsche Bank assembled the revenue and operating profits of the top ten computermakers in the world. It then charted which companies are capturing the greatest share of the pie to determine which vendor is capturing the most value. While Apple has just 7% of the share of revenue, it's grabbing 35% of the operating profit. Other companies are losing profit margins because they have to pay Microsoft for software. Deutsche Bank also notes that Apple, Dell and HP have 80% of the operating profit share on 40% of the revenue share.

xTuple, which specializes in Mac and open source enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), has announced the general availability of version 3.5 of its namesake product.  This latest version saves employee time and cuts costs by automating many routine tasks that are often performed manually or by expensive external systems, according to the folks at xTuple.  Version 3.5 also continues the company’s recent push to add more enterprise-class functionality to the core package.   This latest version of xTuple also gives users of the free PostBooks Edition the ability to run their xTuple database in the cloud via Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2).  During the month of April, the company will be providing the xTuple cloud service at no charge and encouraging feedback to help define what will eventually be a commercial service, billed monthly possibly across all three Editions of the software.   xTuple 3.5 also adds drop ship purchasing...

Artman 21 (http://www.artman21.com/en/) has updated OpenMenu X, a US$10 contextual menu utility for Mac OS X, to version Rev.2.04. The update, free to registered users, is a maintenance update OpenMenu is a utility that allows you to freely customize your contextual menu. You can open documents, applications, AppleScripts, Services Menu Items, and URLs any time you want. OpenMenu also supports the file system browsing. You can browse the file system and open/move files or folders through a contextual menu. OpenMenuX requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later. It's a Universal Binary app, so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.

Haeleo Corp. (http://www.valuadder.com) has released ValuAdder 5, an update of its business valuation software. It's compatible with Mac, Windows, Linux and Unix systems. Now in its fifth generation, ValuAdder has purportedly served over 15,000 business people and professional advisor customers world-wide. A set of standards-compliant business valuation methods under the Asset, Income and Market approaches is complemented by tools for financial decision making and structuring a business acquisition. In ValuAdder 5 takes, a revised Start Tab Screen serves as the user's Command and Control Center offering instant suggestions on the valuation process, best practice method choices, and techniques to organize and complete the business valuation projects in record time. Contact Haeleo for pricing options.

Random House, the world’s largest book publisher by sales, could keep its books from the iPad "as the Bertelsmann unit fears the effects of the tablet device on the pricing of electronic books," reports "The Financial Times" (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d11b5fc-36b9-11df-b810-00144feabdc0.html), Random House’s five big rivals -- Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Harper-Collins and Penguin -- have reportedly agreed to bring the iPad. Markus Dohle, Random House chief executive, hasn't excluded the possibility of doing the same, but said he was treading carefully, as Apple’s pricing regime could erode established publishing practices. Dohle told the "Financial Times" that the iPad spelled “changes, in particular for our stakeholders”, which would require the publisher to consult further with its authors and their agents. The iPad will come with an iBookstore app. will feature books from major and independent publishers. The free iBooks app lets you buy books from the iBookstore....

Toon Boom Animation has released Flip Boom Classic 4, which offers a direct voice recording option. Flip Boom Classic is animation software for kids age six and up. Completed animations with sound can then be directly uploaded to Facebook and YouTube. You can buy Flip Boom Classic 4 now for US$39.99 US and get the Tutorial and the ready-to-animate Easter Clipart free, a total value of $89.97 US. Current Flip Boom customers can upgrade to Classic 4 for $12.99. Flip Boom Classic 4 runs on Mac OS X 10.4/10.5/10.6 and Windows XP/Vista/7. For more info go to toonboom.com/flipboom/ .

Class on Demand, a provider of professional educational products for creative markets, has announced that both "Basic Training for Apple Color" and "Advanced Training for Apple Color" are now available for pre-order. The enhanced workflow of Color 1.5 for the newest Final Cut Studio release includes seamless round tripping, new high-quality format support, 4K and additional Red One support, direct import and grading of DPX files, and a variety of color surfaces. Led by Emmy-winning editor Steve Hullfish and 30-year color training veteran Bob Sliga, the new Class on Demand training courses guide both novice and experienced users through task-focused lessons that encompass all the newest features of the color grading software application. "Basic Training for Apple Color" includes five hours of instruction. The project-focused training encompasses color grading elements ranging from "Primary Color Correction" to "The Other Color Rooms" and "Interfacing with Final Cut Pro." "Advanced...

Noise Industries (http://www.noiseindustries.com/fxfactory), a developer of visual effects tools for the postproduction and broadcast markets, has announced that development partner SUGARfx has released an update to its Video Wall plug-in. The keyframable parameters of the new Video Wall 2.0 enable users to twist, bend, and animate multiple images and videos for wall effects. The updated release boasts fresh video options, auto-animation features, and additional capabilities, including new 3D control options. Users can also explore the possibilities of Video Wall 2.0 by sifting through added complexity modes, including "Standard" for simple combinations, and "Advanced" and "Expert" levels for creating more intricate presets and effects. FxFactory powered plug-ins are designed by Noise Industries and their development partners to extend the visual effects capabilities of Adobe After Effects CS3/CS4, Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion and Apple Final Cut Express applications. Video...

Workman Publishing Company, responsible for the “What to Expect” series, novels like “Water for Elephants” and the Silver Palate cookbooks, also signed a deal with Apple for ebooks on the iPad, reports "The New York Times" (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/business/media/23perseus.html). The iPad will come with an iBookstore app. will feature books from major and independent publishers. The free iBooks app lets you buy books from the iBookstore. Once you’ve bought a book, it’s displayed on your Bookshelf. Just tap it to start reading. Publishers have "provisionally welcomed Apple’s entry into the market because Apple is allowing them to set consumer prices, within limits. Publishers have had no control over prices at Amazon, which has generally sold new releases and best sellers for $9.99," says "The Times."

KeynoteThemesPlus (http://www.keynotethemesplus.com/), a developer of add-ons for Apple's Keynote application, has launched 10 new Keynote themes: Chart, In Red, Money, Night, Old Gear, People, Planet, Secret Eye, Tunnel and US Dollars. In addition, a free World Theme was released for all Keynote users. All Keynote Themes in Action are high def. There are five sizes available for each theme: 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x720, 1680x1050 and 1920x1080. What's more, every visitor of a free themes page at the KeynoteThemesPlus web site can download a Keynote Theme in Action sample for free. The package of 10 Keynote Themes in Action is priced at US$30.99. They work with iWork '08 (Keynote 4.0) or later.

B.E. Publishing has released EduTyping, a new keyboarding software for schools. It requires no textbooks or paper; it's strictly online technology that provides students with the flexibility of doing assignments at school or home by simply logging in with a user name and password. "This software is ideal for middle and high school students and gives teachers complete online management of their students, including access to grades in real time," says Michael Gecawich, president, B.E. Publishing, and also a former keyboarding instructor. "In addition, teachers have the ability to control the length of their keyboarding courses." This keyboarding software that can be accessed from school or at home, offers features for educators and students that include: automatic grading; timed-writing tests; typing games; teen and tween customized lessons; and a sleek keyboarding tutorial. EduTyping works with Mac, Windows, Linux and all major Internet browsers and it follows the keyboarding...

Native Instruments has introduced Abbey Road 70s Drums (http://www.native-instruments.com/AbbeyRoad70sDrums), the second instrument developed together with theBritish recording studios. It provides two classic drum kits for use in the free Kontakt Player and the Kontakt 4 sample. At the heart of Abbey Road 70s Drums (US$119) are two drum kits of the Seventies -- a Premier and a Ludwig -- both recorded in Abbey Road's Studio Two. They boast up to 34 velocity layers per instrument with up to six additional variation samples. Separate "vintage" and "modern" microphone setups provide a choice between classic and contemporary tone, with the Ludwig kit also offering an optional "Glyn Johns" configuration. The user interface of Abbey Road 70s Drums makes full use of the features of Kontakt, providing controls for articulation, sound shaping, mixing and routing.

Macintosh software developer, freshcode, has debuted the Bodega Channel Program (http://www.appbodega.com), a new initiative for Mac developers that allows them to sell and market their wares directly to customers through the Bodega 1.0 desktop application. The Bodega Channel Program provides a direct purchase path between Mac developers and customers within the Bodega application interface. It lets developers reach customers directly on their desktops via the Bodega application, offers the ability to sell directly to customers through the Bodega interface using the developer’s own webstore, and sports the ability to maintain complete ownership of customer relationships. Member developers also enjoy sales reporting tools, promotional opportunities, the ability to provide marketing materials and videos to customers within the Bodega interface, and no upfront or ongoing costs. Rather, when a customer buys a developer’s product through Bodega, freshcode receives a 7% fee of the sales...

Opera Mini by Opera Software (http://www.opera.com) for the iPhone was officially submitted to the Apple App Store today. Its developers claim it can power through web pages up to six times faster than Safari. Due to server-side rendering, Opera Mini compresses data by up to 90% before sending it to the phone, resulting in rapid page loading and more Web per MB for the end use, says Jon von Tetzchner, co-founder, Opera Software. Creating a version for iPhone is part of Opera’s mission to bring the web to all platforms and all devices, he adds.

More than 30,000 games have been released in the iPhone App Store since its launch in July 2008, according to the Flurry (http://www.flurry.com). With titles that consistently dominate the Top Paid and Top Grossing lists, there's no question that the games category is the most lucrative category in the Apple Apple Store, says the research group. A new Flurry report looks at how Apple has affected the market share of U.S. video game and portable game revenue since the introduction of games sold through the Apple App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch. Using publicly available market data, provided by NPD (mostly through Gamasutra's Behind the Numbers series), Flurry calculated U.S. console and portable game software sales for 2008 and 2009. The research group also estimated Nintendo DS and Sony PlayStation Portable game software sales, which make up the significant majority of the portable category, in order to compare these to iPhone game sales. Flurry estimates iPhone game sales...

"Gizmodo" (http://gizmodo.com/5499439/buy-iphones-without-contract-now-official-app...) is reporting that, according to Apple's internal documentation, the iPhone is now available without AT&T contract or ID at any Apple Store. The "Gizmodo" contact claims that the iPhone is locked, however, so it will only work with AT&T SIMs. Customers aren't required to have an AT&T contract. And they can only purchase one iPhone per day. However, the iPhones are still locked, so you'll have to unlock 'em yourself. Still, Apple used to require an AT&T contract for the devices, even for the ones being purchased without a contract subsidy. The "contract-less" price is US$499 for the iPhone 3G 8GB, $599 for the iPhone 3GS 16GB, and $699 for the 32GB top model.

Red Giant Software (http://www.redgiantsoftware.com) has introduced a new family of plug-in applications for Adobe Photoshop: Magic Bullet PhotoLooks and Knoll Light Factory for Photoshop. Magic Bullet PhotoLooks (US$199) lets you manipulate and experiment with light while preserving essential photographic detail. Knoll Light Factory for Photoshop 3.1 ($149 USD), created by Photoshop co-creator John Knoll provides 19 flare tools for creating custom effects and includes over 100 presets and real-time previewing. Created by visual-effects expert Stu Maschwitz, the sophisticated presets and customizable tools in Magic Bullet PhotoLooks make it easy to control lighting conditions and create stylized effects for any image, according to Sean Safreed, co-founder and director of Products at Red Giant Software. Users can share Looks created in Magic Bullet PhotoLooks in After Effects, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Avid projects through Magic Bullet Looks. Custom Looks created in Magic...

Apple has added the ability for customers to send an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad application to another person as a gift when purchasing software through iTunes. As reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com), by clicking the drop-down menu next to "Buy App" in iTunes, users now have an option entitled "Gift This App." Choosing it accesses the "Give a Gift" page that allows users to type in the recipient's name and e-mail address. It also gives the opportunity to add a personal message of up to 500 characters. The gift can then be printed and physically delivered, or e-mailed to the recipient via the automated form. Gifts can only be redeemed in the store country from which the gift originated

Ingram Library Services has launched Ingram Wire (http://www.ingramwire.com), a free, downloadable desktop application for libraries.  Build on Adobe AIR technology, it's Mac and Windows compatible. Following the success of the Ingram Wire for retailers, Ingram is now rolling out the direct-to-desktop application to its library customers, says Rich Rosy, vice president and general manager, Ingram Library Services and Institutional Solutions. "Librarians have been on the forefront of information technology and tools, and the Ingram Wire is just one more way we can help our customers stay ahead of books and trends in the digital age,” he adds. "Delivering relevant book news and collection development information directly to our customer's desktop saves them valuable time that can be better spent serving the needs of their patrons." With Ingram Wire, librarians receive stock news on fast-moving products specific to their assigned distribution center, alerts on top awards and breaking...

SanDisk (http://www.sandisk.com) will begin shipping what it says is the world's highest-capacity removable memory card for mobile phones: the 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card. Sanjay Mehrotra, president and chief operating officer, SanDisk, says themicroSDHC card can store enough music to outlast 35 round-trip flights between San Francisco and New York before repeating a single song. The 32GB SanDisk microSDHC card will be available starting on Tuesday, March 23, on SanDisk.com U.S. and European e-commerce sites, with worldwide retail availability to follow next month. The new card comes with a 5 year limited warranty and carries a suggested retail price of US$199.99.

Lenovo (http://www.lenovo.com) has introduced David Roman as its new senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Roman joins the computer manufacturer after senior executive roles with Apple, Nvidia and, most recently Hewlett-Packard. Roman joins Lenovo from Hewlett-Packard, where he served since 2005 as vice president of Worldwide Marketing Communications for the Personal Systems Group, and will report to Rory Read, Lenovo president and chief operating officer. Prior to HP, Roman led international and corporate marketing for Nvidia. Previous to that, he worked at Apple in multiple marketing and business leadership positions, most recently as vice president of Worldwide Advertising and Brand Marketing. Roman has been named as one of the “Marketing Top 50” by Advertising Age magazine and has been on the Creativity Magazine 50 Most Influential People in Creativity.

Uniea (http://www.uniea.com) has launched a new line of versatile cases for the iPad. The new cases offer a wide range of different construction materials, features, and colors. Constructed of lightweight neoprene, the U-Sleaf offers iPad users a sleeve-style case. The wave-shaped flap stays securely closed without the use of zippers or Velcro. Another feature of the U-Sleaf is that it is reversible, giving you two color options for the price of one. The U-Sleaf will be available in a multi-color/chocolate brown version in early April, and will also come in four other reversible colors not long after the release of the iPad. The U-Skin is a shell case for the iPad that features a smooth yet strong silicone surface that's designed to be impact-resistant and protects the device from dirt and scratches. In spite of the iPad’s rugged, protective design, the case is quite slim and adds minimal bulk to the iPad, offers full access to ports and switches for the ultimate in mobile computing....

NCH Software (http://www.nchsoftware.com/), a provider of audio, video, business and telephony/VoIP tools and utilities worldwide, says its MixPad sound mixing software for audio and music production is now also available for the Mac. 

 The multi-track mixing software has features for low latency multi-track recording and mixing and is targeted to creating music mixes, radio advertisements, soundtracks, or remixes. Users can load audio files, record clips directly, or drag and drop files from their desktop to the clip manager then onto the timeline.

 MixPad users can access more advanced editing tools for recordings with the WavePad Audio Editor ($80), which now has a library of 1,000 free sound effects in the Master’s edition. MixPad also works with Express Burn CD Burner ($60) for burning directly to CD. MixPad requires Mac OS X 10.2 or higher. It normally costs US$80, but is being offered for $59.95 for a limited time.

Toolsfactory software has released rubiTrack 2.2 (http://www.rubitrack.com), an update of the GPS enabled activity tracking software for the Mac OS X. The upgrade adds complete equipment management and automatic equipment tracking. rubiTrack automatically tracks total mileage, total duration, usage count and provides automated maintenance warnings. rubiTrack 2.2 also brings additional improvements for importing an even wider range of input formats including equipment data. Plus, it improves performance of chart and track view, adds usability features to the track view and fixes issues of previous releases. Utilizing the latest Mac user interface technologies, rubiTrack lets you display, analyze and organize your outdoor activities. rubiTrack is for runners, bikers, walkers, hikers, skiers and everyone else who logs GPS data. rubiTrack reads tracks from GPS enabled fitness devices like the Garmin Forerunner, Garmin Edge and compatible devices. rubiTrack is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5...

.com Solutions has announced FmPro Migrator Platinum Edition 5.5.7 (http://www.fmpromigrator.com/products/fmpro_migrator/index.html) with a new Database to Rev conversion feature. The Database to Rev Conversion Service generates a Rev database front-end application from FileMaker Pro and Microsoft Access database files. This feature y converts layouts, scripts, relationships, and value lists into a Rev database application for building Mac OS X, Windows, Linux desktop apps, web browser revLets or revMobile apps. FmPro Migrator Platinum Edition is priced at US$600 per developer and includes a copy of FmPro Migrator Platinum Edition for both MacOS X (Universal Binary) and Windows platforms. Existing FmPro Migrator Developer Edition customers may upgrade to FmPro Migrator Platinum Edition for $400.

Adobe has released Flash Builder 4 (http://www.adobe.com/products/flashbuilder), a new suite of web development tools that replaces Flex Builder. It costs US$699; upgrades from previous versions of Flex Builder are $299. Adobe Flash Builder 4 is designed to help software developers rapidly develop cross-platform rich Internet applications (RIAs) and content using the open source Flex framework. It includes support for intelligent coding, debugging, and visual design and features powerful testing tools that speed up development and lead to higher performing application. Adobe Flash Builder 4 is available for Mac OS X and Windows. A demo is available for download.

Blue Lamp Software (http://bluelampsoftware.com/printsprint/) has updated PrintSprint, a Mac OS X utility for users who want prints from their digital photos, to version 1.5. The upgrade adds support for the local printing of your photos and corrects wallet sized photos to 2.5 x 3.5 inches According to the folks at Blue Lamp Software, PrintSprint makes it simple to select photos, set the print size, quantity, and crop and then generate your order. It never modifies your originals and it works with your organizational system so it doesn't matter if you're using iPhoto, Aperture or have your photos on your hard drives or CDs. PrintSprint requires Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard") or higher. A demo is available for download. PrintSprint costs US$19.95, but version 1.5 is a free update for registered users.

Worldcloud (http://www.worldcloud.com), a provider of cloud computing and dedicated server solutions, has announced the availability of FileMaker 11 hosting on both shared and dedicated platforms. Drawing on the native capabilities of FileMaker 11 Server Advanced, hosting of FileMaker is now possible via your own Java control panel, with access to all features of the database engine, including upload database, open/close, view logs, monitor connections. disconnect users, define schedules/scripts, send messages and access to the php Site Assistant. When hosted at worldcloud.com, users will also immediately benefit from the improved Instant Web Publishing (IWP) capabilities of FileMaker Server 11 Advanced, according to Kris Keppl of Worldcloud. Hosting packages are available in 1-4, 5, and 15 database quotas, as well as Dedicated Server single, dual and triple server deployments for FileMaker Server 11 Advanced. All packages are available on 30 day free-trial."

EverythingHerePlus has released a 13-port Hi-Speed USB 2.0 External Hub (http://www.everythinghereplus.com/electronics/13-port-hi-speed-usb-2-0-e...). It costs US$33 and is available in black and white. Fully USB 2.0 compliant and USB 1.1 backward compatible, it supports low, full, and high speed USB devices and works with any system that supports the USB specification. One of the 13 downstream ports is on top of the unit, and folds down for access to portable USB thumb Drives. Providing 13 downstream ports in total, these hubs features plug and play installation and transparent operation. This hub comes with a free power supply with a four ampere capacity, and USB 2.0 cable to connect to a host computer.

If you're a developer planning an iPad app and want it to be available on April 3 (when the iPad hits stores), you need to have it to Apple by March 27, 5 pm (Pacific). Apple is encouraging developers to "submit your iPad app now for an initial review by the App Review Team and receive feedback on its readiness for the grand opening." Developers should build and test their iPad app using iPhone SDK 3.2 beta 5 available on the iPhone Dev Center (http://developer.apple.com/iphone/index.action). Only iPad apps built with iPhone SDK 3.2 beta 5 will be accepted for this initial review. The Apple App Review Team will review your app on iPad and email you details about the readiness of your app.

The Brandweek Buzz Report by YouGov (http://www.brandweek.com) is a weekly consumer perception report that analyzes the most talked about brands based on buzz. In evaluating the ads broadcast during the recent Academy Awards, Apple's iPad ad received mixed reviews. Apple took the wraps off its first commercial for the iPad. The ad featured a highly syncopated overview of everything the device to the tune of “There Goes My Love” by The Blue Van. When the product was first unveiled in January, the consumer reaction was quite mixed. That seems to have carried over two months later, according to BrandWeek. The new ad gave Apple a short-lived shot in the arm with adults over 18, sending the brand from a buzz score of 35 the day after the Oscars to 38.5 a couple of days later. However, perception has been rocky since then, with the brand’s buzz score now at 32.4, reflecting the public’s indecision about the product, says BrandWeek.

Equinux has updated SongGenie (http://www.equinux.com/us/products/songgenie/index.html), a software application designed to analyze, detect and label music data, to version 2.0 The upgrade automatically searches online for lyrics, which can be displayed on your iPod or iPhone. SongGenie constructs an acoustic fingerprint of each track and, based on specific characteristics, detects the appropriate artist name, song title and album title. It automatically identifies tracks containing incomplete or incorrect information. It even detects music titles for tracks with no artist, album or song title information; titles that were digitalized without extra information and are therefore called, for example, "Title 01" and additional characters that suggest incorrect names like an underline. Using an acoustic fingerprint, SongGenie determines which track to work on and intuitively inserts the correct information in its user interface. With just a click, the appropriate description text is...

Security researcher Miller is planning to reveal "no fewer than 20 zero day security holes within Mac OS X" at CanSecWest, reports "Engadget" (http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/19/charlie-miller-to-reveal-20-zero-day-...). According to Miller: "OS X has a large attack surface consisting of open source components, closed source third-party components and closed source Apple components; bugs in any of these types of components can lead to remote compromise ... Mac OS X is like living in a farmhouse in the country with no locks, and Windows is living in a house with bars on the windows in the bad part of town." In other words, Apple users are "safer" (due to the lack of work that goes into hacking them), "but less secure," notes "Endgadget." What's more, Miller told Heise Security that the attack surface of OS-X is so wide you can land a 747 on it, sideways. There are bugs in the open source components and vulnerabilities in the closed source third-party and Apple components, he claims.

Ben-Q (http://www.benq.com) has extended its line of LED monitors with the addition of the 24-inch wide screen V2410T (US$319) and V2410B ($279). The former is targeted more to business users, the latter to home users. According to the folks at Ben-Q, the V2410T is designed to cater for corporate users’ needs. It comes with a height adjustment function allowing users to adjust the screen’s height according to theirs. Unlike the CCFL technology used in the LCD monitors, V2410T and V2410B use energy efficient LED backlighting. In comparison to a CCFL monitor, V2410T and V2410B purportedly consume 44% less power -- and 56% less in Eco mode. BenQ’s V2410T and V2410B’s LED backlit screens offer Full 1080p High-Definition at 16:9 aspect ratio and are enhanced with BenQ’s Senseye Human Visual Technology using its six proprietary calibration techniques. A "Display mode hot key", located on the right side of these monitors’ bezels, allows aspect ratios other than 16:9 to be displayed without...

Sewelltech and Apple are sponsoring free Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Snow Leopard Server Tech Forum Virtual Events. A total of 5 different topics and 12 different event times will be offered. These one-hour sessions are free, include live demonstrations and Q&A, and begin at 11 a.m. (Pacific). You can register now at http://seminars.apple.com/go/wc/ent/SewellTech/ . The Tech Forum Virtual Events are designed to teach learn how your organization can benefit from the power and flexibility of Snow Leopard and Snow Leopard Server. The Mac OS X Snow Leopard for IT sessions are designed for medium to large IT departments that want to learn how easy it is to deploy, manage, and secure Mac clients in a network environment. And the Snow Leopard Server events will introduce business users to the key features that offer simple and innovative ways to collaborate and share information. Every event is offered more than once. These one-hour sessions are free, include live demonstrations and Q...

With today’s launch of http://arkansas.gov/m, Arkansas is the first state to provide secure payment processing specifically for smartphone users. It's part of the official web site of the state of Arkansas. Starting today, the Arkansas.gov mobile site features secure payments for three high-volume online government services: inmate trust account deposits; probation and parole supervision and restitution payments; and Pulaski County property tax payments. These mobile applications provide an option for users to access government services and are available on all smartphone operating platforms, including the iPhone, Blackberry, Google Android, Windows Mobile, and Palm, says Claire Bailey, chief information officer of the state of Arkansas. The state’s decision to launch an optimized mobile version of Arkansas.gov was driven by the growing popularity of smartphone devices in the state. “We recognize that Arkansans are increasingly using their smartphones for everyday Internet access and...

MacProVideo.com, a supplier of software tutorial videos for Macs, has launched a new tutorial site called NonLinearEducating.com . This new site will focus on creating cross-platform versions of their software tutorials for both Mac and Windows computers.  According to company founder and Publisher Martin Sitter, “At macProVideo.com we created a method of teaching through videos called the ‘NonLinear Educating System.’ We’ve proven how effective this system is with our large base of Mac users, and we now seek to roll our educational system out the broader market of Windows PC users as well. With NonLinearEducating.com we’ve designed a cross platform educational environment that will appeal to both Mac and Windows PC users.” NonLinearEducating.com launches with over 150 different titles and 450 hours of tutorial-videos available for software like Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, Word, Final Cut Pro, Cubase, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, and Edius Pro. Tutorial-videos at NonLinearEducating.com...

Intego (http://www.intego.com), the Mac security specialist, has released Washing Machine 2, a Mac OS X (10.5 and higher) app that cleans up files left behind by web browsers and other Internet programs. Version 2, optimized for Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard"), helps Mac users delete files that take up space or present privacy risks, created by a number of programs that access the Internet. Users can clean files quickly, manually or automatically, and use secure cleaning to ensure that the files can never be recovered, according to the folks at Intego. Washing Machine 2 can clean five types of items: Bookmarks, Caches, Cookies, Download Histories, and Browsing Histories. It works with most web browsers, and many utilities or other programs that store information without users being aware. It even cleans up after some programs that users would never think are storing data. These files can take up several gigabytes, and can slow down applications and lead to longer time for backups....

News Corp. chief, Rupert Murdoch says the iPad will rule the world. Well, if not the world, at least all media. “All media is going to go on to the iPad, whether it be music or books or newspapers or movies, you’ll be able to get on your iPad… they’ll get better and better and you’ll be able to do more tricks with it," he says in an interview (http://distorted-loop.com/2010/03/18/rupert-murdoch-all-media-is-going-t...) with his own Fox Business Channel.
 Murdoch also thinks that bigger iPads are in the works. "The iPad will be pretty small to start with , but there will be more iPads," he says. (The photo is courtesy of ScrapeTV.com) -- Dennis Sellers

Apple has announced the death of Apple Board member Jerome B. (Jerry) York. York, the chairman, president and CEO of Harwinton Capital, who joined Apple's Board of Directors in 1997. He was the former CFO of IBM and Chrysler, and former vice chairman of Tracinda. He is widely acknowledged for his contributions at Chrysler and IBM during their turnarounds. "Jerry joined Apple's Board in 1997 when most doubted the company's future. He has been a pillar of financial and business expertise and insight on our Board for over a dozen years," says Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "It's been a privilege to know and work with Jerry, and I'm going to miss him a lot." Jerry York was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1938. He graduated from the United States Military Academy, and received an MS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Trained as an engineer, York worked his way up through Chrysler to become CFO.

Workamajig (http://www.Workamajig.com) is preparing to release a new WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) forms layout tool for Estimates and Invoices, and a new 'Workamajig Labs' Feature. Also included are enhancements for Safari 4.0.5. Workamajig is integrated software for ad agencies and others in the creative and design industries. The upcoming version will allow any Workamajig user the ability to drag and drop fields and logos, include and exclude columns, use specific fonts, among many other client-requested features. Using client feedback, Workamajig is adding a new concept called "Workamajig Labs," where Workamajig will release new features to its Project Management Software, and allow clients to turn these new features on when they're ready for them. What's Workamajig's update includes updates for Apple's Safari web browser version 4.0.4. All updates are deployed using Workamajig's own Auto-Updater, which allows them to deploy updates to all hosted sites, and to clients'...