Digieffects (http://www.digieffects.com), a developer of visual effects software plug-ins, is shipping Simulate: Camera, an US$99 plug-in package offering a specialized collection of effects for mimicking camera and projection artifacts. All Digieffects plug-ins support Adobe CS4. Simulate: Camera includes the following effects: ° Archive -- a "film degradation/contamination" type effect; ° Overexpose -- which offers a way to add a sense of dynamic to footage; ° Destabilize --an effect for emulating a practical camera shake. Simulate: Camera, as with all Digieffects software launched after January, sports Randomizer and Presets features. The Randomizer is part of the Digieffects custom user interface. When clicked, multiple parameters within the interface will simultaneously adjust causing completely new results. Once a customer sees a look they like, they can use that as a starting point and manually tweak the parameters to achieve a specific effect. One aspect of the Digieffects...

Like Thought (http://likethought.com/ ) has announced Opacity 1.2, an update to their editor for screen graphics. This update adds a number of iPhone graphic creation features and many interface improvements. Opacity requires Mac OS X 10.5.5 Leopard. Opacity Express 1.2 is also available with the core features of Opacity 1.2 at a more affordable price. Opacity already makes it easy to design graphics for desktop applications, but the new version now makes it easy to create graphics for iPhone apps as well. Opacity 1.2 includes 8 new templates for making iPhone graphics, from icons to toolbar images to button images. There are also 4 new iPhone preview types, including an Icon preview and an App Store preview, that make it easy to instantly see how an image will look when deployed in an iPhone app. These exclusive features make Opacity the only graphic editor specially designed to make iPhone app graphics. Opacity streamlines the image creation workflow by combining a great vector...

Asigra (http://www.asigra.com), which specializes in agentless information recovery management, has announced its Storage I/O and Data Validation Tool. The new utility helps Asigra storage partners, MSPs, VARs and users ensure that optimally tuned and architected storage servers are implemented as part of their disk-based data protection infrastructure to maximize investment return, says Eran Farajun, executive vice president for Asigra. The tool provides analysis to identify which storage systems under consideration for deployment or already deployed are optimized to work most effectively with Asigra Televaulting and any other I/O intensive general computing application to support positive ROI (return on investment). The tool can simulate loads from hundreds or thousands of remote sites, target servers/workstations or computerss and multiple types of simultaneous activities like backup and restore. The Asigra Storage I/O and Data Validation Tool works by measuring the communication...

Mark/Space, a mobile to desktop synchronization software company, announced today the release of The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile version 4.0.4 with enhanced sync support for Microsoft Entourage 2008. The award-winning Missing Sync for Windows Mobile is the most trusted sync software for Mac users with Windows Mobile smartphones like the HTC Touch, Motorola Q9 and Palm Treo Pro. The latest release of The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile offers full Entourage support so that users can sync directly with Entourage 2008 and 2004. Benefits include synchronization of Entourage contacts, calendar events and tasks with categories. This update also offers improved device mounting. Other features of The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile include syncing music, photos, video, files, and much more with support for iCal, Address Book, iPhoto and iTunes. Pricing, Availability and System Requirements The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile is available immediately as an electronic download from the Mark...

Kutoka Interactive (http://www.kutoka.com/), producer of the Mia edutainment software series, has launched the third title in its Didi & Ditto series of educational software for the Mac and PC. The learning adventure is targeted at children ages two to four years old and offers activities related to pre-reading, pre-math, science, music and art. Here's how the learning game is described: "In this adventure of the brother/sister twins Didi and Ditto, we find our two zany beavers preparing a reception for Mother Nature's visit to their hometown called Smart Valley, a special, wacky world where spiral trees and funny characters abound. Zolt, a sneaky purple wolf, is trying to ruin the party by breaking all of the musical instruments and hiding all of the food. He then plans to step in and be the hero when Mother Nature arrives. Didi and Ditto notice that Zolt is acting strange and decide to keep an eye on him. It is up to the player to decide which beaver will watch Zolt very...

TuneWear (http://www.tunewear.com) has released the US$29.99 LeatherShell case for the fourth generation iPod nano. It's a leather shell-type case designed to feel good to the touch and protect the nano from dirt and scratches. The smooth texture and slim design make it easy to carry iPod nano 4G in your hand, or slip iPod nano 4G in and out of your pocket or bag, acccording to the folks at TuneWear. The combination of high-quality black genuine leather with white color stitching is suited to both casual and formal occasions, they add. The LeatherShell snaps on to your iPod nano 4G. It leaves the headphone jack, bottom dock connector and click wheel open for complete access to iPod controls.

Revolver (http://www.freespin3d.com/Home.aspx), a provider of 3D content development solutions for the graphic design and game development industries, has released its patent pending product, FreeSpin3D. It's a commercial solution for importing and real-time rendering of 3D models into Adobe Flash FreeSpin3D enables all Flash designers and developers to create real time 3D content. With the software, designers and developers can add dynamic 3D graphics to their 2D environment-based online games, animations, advertisements,web design, entertainment and interactive content. FreeSpin3D enables the display and management of 3D objects directly within the Adobe Flash workspace, using the FreeSpin3D Action Script interface. Once the developer imports 3D models into the software, it manipulates and compiles them into a data structure suitable for 3D object rendering in Flash. This overall process strengthens the interaction between the user, the developer and the 3D object, creating simple...

Marketcircle Inc. brings important time- and cost-saving benefits with today's launch of Daylite MYOB AccountEdge Connector. A new product announced with updated Daylite 3.8, the Connector allows bookkeepers to easily move contact and company data back and forth between the two applications without error-prone, time-consuming re-keying of data. Front office and back office staff can save time and costs by creating estimates in Daylite using AccountEdge's product list, and then, using Daylite's powerful new business tools, can work to win the new business and submit the estimate as an order for the back office to fulfill. "Over the years, many customers have requested that we integrate Daylite with MYOB AccountEdge as a time- and cost-saving benefits - which, incidentally, makes a lot of sense in this economy," says Marketcircle CEO, Alykhan Jetha. "Engineering teams from both companies have worked diligently to make this happen, and I think our customers will be very happy with the...

Unifiq has introduced the first public preview of Aspire (http://www.unifiq.com/aspire/), their new "life-goal and brainstorming" utility for Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard"). It provides a visual workspace to brainstorm, prioritize, review, refine, track and help improve your life goals and long-term plans. Aspire lets you work with three basic concepts: Goals, Obstacles and Solutions. Goals are the big things in a person's life they want to achieve. Obstacles are what prevent a person from achieving those goals, such as missing skills, knowledge, resources, even fear of failure. Solutions are strategies to help a person overcome those same obstacles. Aspire isn't a daily task manager, though it can serve as a complement to any such system. Before diving into tasks, schedules and details, Aspire helps remind the user of the big picture so they spend time on what's truly important, according to the folks at Unifiq. For a limited time, Aspire is available at the pre-launch price of US$19 (the...

The tradition of Tasseology, tea leaf and Turkish coffee reading, is now available on your iPhone and iPod touch. Tasseology is available at the Apple App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=296862...) for US$3.99. When you drink your cup of tea or coffee the leftover sediment purportedly has meaning. Touch the leftover leaves or grounds and you will learn about the future of your life in three key areas: love, money, and work. Tasseology reads to you in using the sound functionality of the iPhone. While the predictions are displayed on screen you also can listen to them. Upon request the Tasseology Oracle speaks to you in English or Turkish.

Pico and Sofa have released Versions 1.0 for the Mac (http://www.versionsapp.com). It's a Subversion client targeted to both beginners and experienced Subversion users. A time-limited demo is available for download and a single copy sells for approximately US$50. Versions has been in public beta since June this year. The Timeline view shows recent revisions, complete with commit log notes and a full list of changed files. Users can click any file in the timeline to get a diff with its previous version. The Browse view has tools to dig in to the history of any versioned file or folder, and integrates with comparison tools. In collaboration with Beanstalk, Versions offers its users the possibility to get a free Online Repository from within Versions, to help make it easy to get started with Subversion.

MacTI and the WebObjects Community Association are happy to announce the release of the recordings of WOWODC 2008, our annual event about WebObjects, "Apple's best kept secret." The package includes all sessions from WOWODC 2008, and, as a bonus, it also includes the DirectToWeb session from WOWODC 2007, for over 14 hours of content for anyone who wants to augment their skills with WebObjects. All sessions are released as QuickTime files that can be viewed on both a computer and an iPhone or iPod touch. Through Jan. 31, 2009, the complete package is available for US$150 ($175 CAD for Canadians). Go to www.wowodc.com to register and to buy the package.

GigaTribe (http://www.gigatribe.com), a free Web 2.0 file sharing software community. has launched in the U.S. market. A free software community, GigaTribe lets you share entire file folders of photos, videos, music, and other files with your "tribe" of friends, family, and coworkers in a private, completely encrypted peer to peer (P2P) environment. GigaTribe will be introduced in the U.S. for the first time at the Euro Tech Showcase, held Nov. 18-19, 2008 in Redwood City, California. It's free, with the option of a GigaTribe "Ultimate" upgrade with more advanced features (such as faster downloads), priced at US$29.95/year. In addition, GigaTribe doesn't require any extra steps to share a file. Once you select which folders you want to share with your groups, those folders are instantly accessible to your friends. You can add new files to those folders or change those files at any time. There's no need for any additional steps, no uploading, no size limitations, and no security...

Frictional Games has released Penumbra: Requiem (http://www.penumbragame.com/) for Mac and Linux systems. The puzzle expansion for Penumbra: Black Plague costs US$9.99. Also, Frictional Games is offering all three Penumbra games as a collection for $35. Penumbra: Requiem has previously been released for Windows by publisher Paradox Interactive. Here's how the expansion pack is described: "The game contains numerous physics based puzzles, spread out over 9 levels with unique settings. The expansion pushes the graphics capabilities of the game as far as it can - while creating the most detailed and dreading environments yet in a Penumbra game. The expansion gives extra details to the characters from previous Penumbra games, taking peeks into their final moments of insanity." The Penumbra series is a first person survival horror series of games, emphasizing survival and problem solving. It's played from a first person perspective and powered by a 3D engine.

Incase (http://www.goincase.com) has announced a new product set to meet the growing power needs of iPhone 3G users: the Power Slider, which purportedly more than doubles the battery life of iPhone 3G while providing integrated sync and charge capabilities and complete device protection. Pricing hasn't been announced. Power Slider features a low profile, serving as both a case and power solution. A custom engineered lithium-ion polymer battery with efficient circuitry was created for Power Slider to allow for a slim design and maximum power output, says Erik Wahlstrom, president and CEO of Incase. The optimized power management system provides continuous charge to the internal battery of iPhone 3G. When in use, power drains first from Power Slider so that the device's internal battery remains fully charged and is only depleted once the battery of Power Slider has been drained. An integrated sync mode allows Power Slider users to sync and charge their devices while iPhone 3G is in...

Berlin based nova media has unveiled the GlobeSurfer III (http://www.novamedia.de/e_pages/e_produkte_gs_3.html), a wireless router for Macs that establishes a mobile internet connection through a mobile network operator and uses WLAN and Ethernet to distribute this connection to the network. Local computer networks can now share a mobile Internet connection using GlobeSurfer III, a 3G wireless router with WLAN and Ethernet network access. Within mobile networks GlobeSurfer III supports download speeds with up to 7.2 Mbit/second and upload speeds with up to 5.7 Mbit/second. It can be used worlwide. Within a local network GlobeSurfer III supports WLAN connections with up to 54 Mbit/s and Ethernet connections with up to 1000 Mbit/s. The router uses a web interface for configuration and offers a setup wizard for an easy start, says Jan Fuellemann of nova media. GlobeSurfer III supports all relevant encryptions and features a preconfigured firewall, and an expert mode allows a user-defined...

Macgamestore.com has announced Mac Games Arcade, a digital download application for Mac OS X. Mac Games Arcade allows users to download, purchase and manage their Mac games. With Mac Games Arcade, users will be able to browse through hundreds of digital download Mac titles from over 100 Mac developers, check out demos, write reviews, purchase games, and maintain their digital downloads. Built by Mac developers, Mac Games Arcade is the brain-child of (i)Inside Mac Games(/I)/Macgametore.com founder and former Bungie Software project leader, Tuncer Deniz. Mac Games Arcade also includes features such as auto-serialization for many recent Mac digital download games. Once you purchase the game, the application auto-registers the game, so no complex numbers to enter. Just purchase and start playing within seconds. Mac Games Arcade is currently in beta testing and will released in December. The company is inviting users to join in on the beta test by visiting the Mac Games Arcade web...

Bayhoff Software (http://bayhoff.4t.com/)has released AllCalc 1.0 for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's an all-in-one compilation of several frequently used calculators, including calculators for Tips, Sales Tax, Sale Price, Amortized Mortgages, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Wages. Also included are over 45 unit conversions. AllCalc costs US$4.99 and is available at the Apple App Store.

ATTO Technology (http://www.attotech.com) is shipping the ExpressSAS H608 and ExpressSAS H680, which the company says is the industry's only 6GB SAS/SATA host adapters, to select OEMs and partners. Leveraging PCI Express 2.0 and 6-Gb SAS speeds, the H608 and H680 deliver the fastest available connection to SAS/SATA storage (up to 8GB/second full-duplex), say the folks at ATTO. ATTO's next-generation ExpressSAS H608 and H680 offer native x8 PCIe 2.0 to 6-Gb SAS/SAS2.0/SATA/SATA II connectivity, ensuring compatibility with the latest in SAS and SATA technology. The ExpressSAS H608 offers eight internal lanes of connectivity and the H680 offers eight external lanes of connectivity, each providing up to 1200 MB/sec. maximum full-duplex throughput per lane. Available in a low-profile form factor to fit all physical server environments, ExpressSAS 6-Gb host adapters feature full driver support for Mac, Windows and Linux environments, and are backwards compatible with 3GB SAS and SATA...

Eye Scream Factory (http://www.eyescreamfactory.com), a Boston-based team providing automation design templates and royalty-free content for media hobbyists and professionals, has announced the availability of Eye Scream Factory DVD Clips, royalty-free animated backgrounds designed specifically for DVD menus. Backgrounds include Fire, Rain, Snow, Fog, Bubbles, Caustics, Curtains, and a variety of multi-purpose content for DVD projects. Each clip is provided as a 20-second QuickTime movie compatible with most any DVD authoring, video editing, or compositing software application. Twenty-four animated backgrounds are available immediately in NTSC and PAL format for US$9.99 per clip.

Freeverse has released Burning Monkey Casino, a casino game for the iPhone and iPod touch. It features seven different games in one app: Video Poker, Slots, Blackjack, Money Wheel, Pachino, Scratch-N-Win Lotto and 3 Card Monty. Here's how Burning Monkey Casino is described: "The games take full advantage of the iPhone's capabilities - a Money Wheel you spin with a swipe, a Pachinko game you can influence with a tilt, and a Scratch-N-Win lottery ticket you scratch off with your finger. In addition to 18 varieties of video poker, nine types of slot machines, and Blackjack with 1-8 decks, this casino also comes with a lounge act and stand-up comedian." Burning Monkey Casino is available immediately for $0.99 from at the Apple App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=295768...

Lexmark has introduced its X658 family of monochrome laser multifunction products (MFPs), which is targeted at the A4 letter-size (8.5 inch x 11 inch) office segment. Prices start at US$3,7994 for the Lexmark X658de, X658dme, X658dfe, X658dte, X658dtme and X658dtfe. The models deliver up to 55 prints, copies or scans per minute. Some models offer integrated finishing capabilities including a StapleSmart II finisher model to staple multiple sets of documents up to 50 pages each, or users can organize output with the four-bin, illuminated mailbox configuration. The MFPs also feature an input capacity of up to 2,300 sheets, workflow capabilities with scan destinations and formats, and fax with time-saving functions, such as fax forwarding. A large-capacity 80GB hard drive offers expanded functionality. The Lexmark X658 family also features Lexmark's e-Task color touch screen. Processes that involve multiple steps on competitive devices are purportedly reduced to the single touch of an...

Memopal (http://www.memopal.com) has released the iPhone version of its data storage and remote access software (online backup and storage) in both business and consumer versions. It includes preview and sharing functionality. "Smartphone users are now used to having permanent access to email, calendar and social networking applications on the move," Mempal CEO Marco Trombetti says. "We want to enhance the experience further, allowing the user to access all their files. Even if their computer at home or at work is turned off. A single account to manage all of your computers, past or present". Memopal for iPhone is available from the Apple App Store and is free for all Memopal customers. Memopal synchronizes your computer files, or only the folders you decide to back up, across all platforms (Mac OS X, Windows and Linux). With Memopal for iPhone, you can preview files and share them with friends and colleagues. If you already use Memopal on your computer, you can begin using the iPhone...

FMF International (http://www.fmfapparel.com), a motor sports driven apparel brand, has launched their US$129.95 FMF Element Ride Jacket with "juiced-up" iPod power controls. Utilizing advanced electronics, FMF has integrated an iPod control system from Fibretronic into the sleeve of the jacket. The controls provide full iPod command so that tunes can be accessed from the sleeve of the jacket -- all with the iPod tucked away inside the jacket. Utilizing a patented control system from Fibretronic, the iPod power controls operate a five-button keypad with multiple capabilities including play/pause, track forward, track back, volume up and volume down. This self-powered system requires no batteries and supports all iPod players with dock connectors including the iPod nano, iPod touch and third generation or later iPod classic. The jacket is constructed to withstand the elements of rain, snow and wind. It sports a 600 mm PU coated shell, placket covered main zipper with Velcro closure,...

Relevant Logic has released (I)Real OOP with REALbasic(/a), a book designed to get you off to a running start learning Object Oriented Programming using the REALbasic programming language. It's written by Guyren G Howe, a long-time REALbasic developer, and a regular presenter on "Object Oriented Programming at the REAL World" conference. Purchasers of the beta downloadable version will get a discount on the purchase price (US$20 during the beta period; $25 thereafter), free updates through the release, a discount on the printed version when it is made available, and the ability to influence the final version of the book by contributing to discussion of its content. The final version is expected in early 2009. The book is about 30,000 words, or 150 pages. Purchase is available via Google Checkout, at http://relevantlogic.com/oop-book/about-the-oop-book.php There are three sections. The first is a walk-through tutorial showing the development of an example application. The second is a...

Eye-Fi Inc. (http://www.eye.fi) has announced a new, limited edition card -- the Eye-Fi Anniversary Edition -- to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its first wireless SD memory card for digital cameras. Like the Eye-Fi Share, the Anniversary Edition wirelessly sends photos from a digital camera to a computer and to one of more than 25 online photo sharing sites. The card comes in Eye-Fi's original slide-out package and is available only at Costco.com for US$99 to club members, or on the Eye-Fi web site for $129, while supplies last. The card can be upgraded post purchase to include additional features, such as automatic geotagging and hotspot access.

Native Instruments has introduced True Strike Tension, a new Kore Soundpack with percussion sounds that are specifically designed to add mystery and tension to cinematic film scores and similar musical styles. Created in collaboration with renowned sound design company, ProjectSAM, the production-ready sound material in True Strike Tension offers the sound shaping and browsing features in Kore 22 and the free Kore Player. True Strike Tension is built on studio-quality sample material that has been selected from ProjectSAM's "True Strike 2" library. It draws upon various percussion instruments from Africa, Japan and the Middle East, including the Kenkeni, Darabuka, Bendir, Okedo-Daiko and others. The sound shaping and preset morphing features in Kore 2 and Kore Player allow producers to adjust and animate all sounds in True Strike Tension, and make them better fit the dramatic requirements of any given scene. The included metadata also makes True Strike Tension integrate with any...

QuickerTek has announced the MacBook External Battery/Charger (http://www.quickertek.com/products/macbook_charger.php) for the 15- and 17-inch Apple MacBook laptops. This US$449.95 product charges and or powers the notebooks with up to 10 additional hours of power. I QuickerTek built MagSafe compatibility into the MacBook External Battery/Charger. Standard MagSafe connectors are supplied with the Battery/Charger, so users don't have to do anything different to gain additional battery power, Rick Estes of QuickerTek says. MacBook users can monitor the available battery power using the Apple battery charge indicator. While the stock MacBookrecharges in five hours using the Apple AC wall adapter, the MacBook External Battery/Charger recharges in only three hours, according to Estes. It measures 9 x 6 x 1 inches and weighs five pounds.

Imagine Products (http://www.ImagineProducts.com/) has updated P2 Log Pro the Mac, featuring support for the new Panasonic AVC-Intra Codec. The key benefit of the P2 Log Pro software is the ability toy preview and log clips. It can also repair damaged or missing components of P2 card contents. P2 Log Pro works with P2 formats ranging from DVCPRO HD to DV and now supports the new 10-bit AVC-Intra codec as well. In addition to viewing clip thumbnails, users can instantly play clips up to full screen, shot mark specific clips, edit a clip's metadata (support for multiple languages included) including the text memo field, print, and export selected clips to Final Cut Pro with complete metadata. AVC-Intra is Panasonic's new codec that uses an intra-frame compression system. It complies with the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 international standard based on advanced motion-image compression technology. Panasonic's AJ-HPX3700/HPX3000/HPX2700/HPX2000/HPX2100 camera-recorders let you record and play back in...

Boinx Software has announced BoinxTV 1.0, a live?production software for video podcasters that turns any recent Mac into a TV studio. BoinxTV is an audiovisual mixing application for recording video podcasts, sports events, concerts, interviews, sermons, lectures, seminars and more using just your Mac and up to three cameras. Its interface allows a single person to operate BoinxTV during the recording session, says Boinx CEO Oliver Breidenbach. After the starting of BoinxTV, the user can choose from the many predefined templates, or one he previously created, making it easy to produce, for example, a news show. In education, BoinxTV opens new horizons for school TV whether students are recording a sport event or setting up an interview with two cameras, Breidenbach says. In enterprise, BoinxTV can be used by sales managers who want to address their staff in a weekly podcast, he adds. And because it runs on a MacBook Pro it can be used in the field as well as in a studio. BoinxTV uses...

IK Multimedia is shipping T-RackS 3 (http://www.t-racks.com), the company's Mac compatible, high-end mixing and mastering suite. It sports nine analog-modeled and digital Dynamics/EQ processors. According to the folks at IK, T-RackS 3 offers a full suite of classic tube-toned and transparent digital mixing and mastering tools for every step in the recording process. It combines new processors modeled after tube and analog gear, cutting-edge digital processors, and upgraded versions of the original T-RackS models. A new modular processing chain provides fast navigation and A-B-C-D compare options, and a new complete metering section makes it easy to view every aspect of the final mix, the company says. The standalone version offers pro editing features such as the ability to write fades, automation and batch processing. Included in the box are both plug-in and standalone versions, offering users unprecedented value. T-RackS 3 is now available from IK's online store and international...

Oakley and Surfline have teamed up to release Surf Report for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's designed to help you "find the best waves." Surf Report is available at the Apple App Store (http://apple.com/iphone/appstore/). It provides users with live surf and weather information for thousands of beaches around the world. Thanks to the iPhone's GPS, you can find and research all your local beaches. Surf Report integrates multiple web services from Surfline (surf and weather) and Oakley (community news). It implements a theme by Mark Jardine from Oakley for many of the iPhone software development kit elements. Surf Report uses the iPhone's GPS to find local beaches and touch interactions to give it a native iPhone feel.

Griffin Technology (http://www.griffintechnology.com) has released updated versions of their TuneBuds Mobile and SmartTalk audio solutions for the iPhone and iPod. TuneBuds Mobile and SmartTalk are now both equipped with inline microphones compatible with iPhone, iPod nano 4G, iPod touch 2G and iPod classic 120 GB. TuneBuds Mobile (US$39.99) offers earphones with buds designed to fit the ear snugly. They have washable ear cushions in a selection of sizes, and conform to the ear. Built-in is Griffin's ControlMic, a high-sensitivity microphone and control button. The TuneBuds Mobile cord is made of nylon braiding. SmartTalk ($19.99) is a headphone adapter solution with the same icrophone and control button features as TuneBuds Mobile, but which allows users to plug in their own favorite earphones. The ControlMic button allows Play, Pause, and Skip forward controls. SmartTalk features a 30-inch cable sheathed in nylon braiding.

Web Help Desk (http://www.webhelpdesk.com, a Mac OS X web-based help desk software solution from MacsDesign Studio, now integrates with LANrev Client Manager, a cross-platform client and patch management software suite. Automated imports of LANrev's reliable asset discovery data into the Web Help Desk provide support personnel with up-to-date hardware and software details for the computer identified in the service desk ticket. If additional software license management analysis is required or software patches need to be deployed, Web Help Desk provides instant, asset-specific accessibility to the the LANrev Admin application, according to MacsDesign Vice President Terry Siddall. Web Help Desk's integration with LANrev Client Manager makes initiating an LANrev desktop control session a simple mouse click away, he adds. From within a Web Help Desk ticket or asset search, support professionals can instantly access all of LANrev's features and benefits.

Epson America (http://www.epson.com) has announced its PowerLite Home Cinema 700. The latest in Epson's line of 3LCD home theater projectors, the Home Cinema 700 offers 720p high definition resolution for US$799. Featuring 3LCD technology for brilliant high-definition widescreen images and video with amazing detail and no possibility of color break-up or distracting "rainbow effect," the Home Cinema 700 offers movie theater-like images with up to 2,000 lumens of brightness, seven pre-set color modes and HDMI connectivity, says Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. She adds that additional features of the Home Cinema 700 benefitting today's general AV consumers and do-it-yourself markets include: ° Easy set-up and installation with the Epson Universal Mount and 1.2x optical zoom; ° Instant On, Instant Off technology allows for no waiting time to start or shut-down projector; ° The ability to share photos and slideshows on the big screen via the USB 2.0 connection or SD...

Apeer (http://www.apeer.com), an all-in-one group communication and collaboration application for digital media, will debut its Mac version of Apeer Professional at the Henry Stewart DAM Conference in Los Angeles this week at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. Apeer Professional is a new vehicle for communicating with employees, customers, business partners, suppliers, vendors and other constituents by enabling synchronous and instant multi-user, participatory exchanges where all parties can simultaneously view photos, hear music, and see videos in real time over the Internet -- all in one window. Apeer also provides conversational tools with built-in voice and chat. Apeer Professional for PCs was launched in May at the Henry Stewart New York 2008 Digital Asset Management & Marketing Operations Symposium. You'll have to contact Apeer for pricing.

MacPractice (http://www.macpractice.com) has released MacPractice Kiosk Interface with signature pad for users of MacPractice MD, MacPractice DDS, MacPractice DC, and MacPractice 20/20. MacPractice Kiosk is a customizable solution for a paperless practice that makes registration, health history, HIPAA, consent, treatment acceptance, and all other patient forms available for completion and signature by patients electronically on a Kiosk computer in a doctor's office. After the patient electronically signs their forms on a Mac computer designated to operate as a kiosk, the forms are automatically incorporated into their Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or Electronic Dental Record (EMR/EDR) in MacPractice. Virtually any paper form may be recreated in electronic format in MacPractice EMR/EDR and made available for completion by the patient on the Kiosk computer. MacPractice Kiosk is available to users of MacPractice 3.5 for use with MacPractice EMR or MacPractice EDR through Dec. 31,...

Red Giant Software (http://www.redgiantsoftware.com) -- publisher of the Magic Bullet, Knoll Light Factory and Trapcode products -- has introduced Red Giant Warp (US$199), which lets you generate shadows and reflections and work with distorted video. The three plug-ins in the Warp toolset give users control over shadows, reflections and corner point warps. The Shadow tool renders realistic shadows for text or subjects shot on greenscreen, while the Reflection tool creates mirror-like reflections. The Corner Pin tool includes features for working with warped images, importing tracking data from Mocha for After Effects, and adding secondary transforms and motion blur. Warp includes features such as dual-warp corner pinning with full motion blur support, 3D shadows with user-definable bending effects, and reflection compositing. With these effects, users can generate these realistic without complex compositing tricks, according to the folks at Red Giant Software. Warp supports After...

Game developer PiddlePup Games (http://www.piddlepup.com) has released Majestic Forest for the Mac. It costs US$19.99 and is available for Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.The game has 60 levels and six characters from which to choose. Here's how the game is described: "Explore the secrets of the Majestic Forest to discover what happened to the Forest Mother. Collect magical talisman and solve the many puzzles to find your way through the forest. Majestic Forest features 60 beautifully detailed levels to explore, magical potions, and challenging puzzles."

Aquafadas (http://www.aquafadas.com/) has released VideoPier and VideoPier HD 1.1. The VideoPier family of products is aimed at videographers who own MPEG-2 or AVCHD camcorders and who struggle with these video formats on their Mac. VideoPier and VideoPier HD are designed to make it very easy to transfer clips from these camcorders to a central location on their Mac, without requiring any conversion, without any loss in quality. The clips appear grouped by Events in the VideoPier user interface, ready to be viewed, organized and converted to any format. VideoPier handles data that has already been copied to disk and will let you access all your clips In addition, VideoPier HD lets you capture HDV material directly from tape based HDV camcorders. VideoPier comes with ae set of export functionality, to iMovie 06/08, iPhone, QuickTime and Final Cut (VideoPier HD only). Version 1.1: ° Adds support for the Elgato Turbo.264 encoding device; ° Adds support for a category of camcorders...

Cygnett (http://www.cygnett.com/) has announced the US release of their digitally re-mastered GrooveNeo Speaker System & Alarm Clock for iPod. It sports touch-sensitive keys for easy programming and operation, large format digital time matrix and real-time bass response. It's available now for US$89.99 at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com). The GrooveNeo allows users to wake up with their favorite iPod tracks, AM/FM radio or buzzer. They can hit the the snooze button for a few more Zzz's. With a dock and play system, which recharges the iPod, users can command and control its functions with the full function remote.

The National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) has announced a call for entries for its 4th annual Photoshop User Awards (http://www.photoshopuserawards.com) competition held exclusively for Adobe Photoshop users worldwide. "The Photoshop User Awards provides Photoshop artists, photographers, and designers from around the world an exceptional opportunity to gain international recognition, celebrate their best work, and share their vision and creativity with the worldwide Photoshop community," says Scott Kelby, president of NAPP. Winners will be chosen in 11 categories with one Best of Show grand prizewinner receiving a dream assignment to Barcelona, Spain to create a future cover of Photoshop User magazine, the official publication of NAPP. The trip to Barcelona includes airfare, hotel accommodations, hotel transfers, and daily expenses for five days for the winner and an assistant of their choice. Winning images in each of the 11 categories will appear in a special...

Nisus Software today announces the release of Nisus Writer Pro 1.2 (http://www.nisus.com/pro) , the latest version of the word processor. The upgrade adds a new file importer that improves file translations, especially for the .doc format. Additionally, export as Word file format (.doc) and the Open Document (.odt) format has been added. The Table of Contents feature has a few new options: tab/backtab can be used to promote or demote TOC levels, and TOC entries can be rearranged by drag and drop within the navigator pane. Other new features include automatically updating time stamps, Flesch and Kincaid reading ease scores, additional backup options, a Macroize menu, and editable document properties (author, company, copyright, etc.). There have also been additions to the Nisus Macro Language, and bug fixes and other enhancements. Nisus Writer Pro 1.2 is an Universal Binary app so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs. It requires Mac OS 10.4 or later. Nisus Writer Pro 1.2 is...

Other World Computing has announced new OWC 4GB modules and 6GB Memory Upgrade Sets for MacBooks and MacBook Pros (both 15 and 17 inch models, which prior factory and after- market options limited memory to a maximum of 4GB total. Complete OWC memory upgrades pricing for the new "unibody" MacBooks and MacBook Pros: ° 2GB DDR3 Memory Upgrade Module, US$65.99; ° 4GB DDR3 Upgrade Kit (matched pair of 2GB memory modules), $129.99; ° 4GB DDR3 Memory Upgrade Module, $699.99; ° 6GB DDR3 Memory Upgrade Kit, $749.99 (2GB + 4GB modules). OWC Memory Upgrade Pricing for 2007 "Santa Rosa" model and later (pre-Late 2008 "Unibody") MacBook 13-inch, Macbook Pro 15-inch, and MacBook Pro 17-inch models: ° 2GB DDR2 Memory Upgrade Module, $29.99; ° 4GB DDR2 Upgrade Kit (matched pair of 2GB memory modules), $59; ° 4GB DDR2 Memory Upgrade Module, $449.99; ° 6GB DDR2 Memory Upgrade Kit, $479.95 (2GB + 4GB modules) For more information on OWC Memory Upgrades and online compatibility guide that ensures you...

65bit Software has released EasyCatalog for InDesign CS4 (http://www.65bit.com/products/easycatalog/overview/overview.shtm). A 15-day trial version is now available for download from the 65bit Software web site. With EasyCatalog data can be imported from a complex, relational database, or a simple CSV or tab-delimited file exported from Excel. By linking InDesign content directly to source data, EasyCatalog improves accuracy and reduces page make-up time, according to Mark Haden, director of 65bit Software. All of the optional EasyCatalog modules -- including the new Relational module -- are also now available. The Relational Module allows users to work with data sources of almost unlimited complexity within EasyCatalog and can be used to connect to relational databases such as MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server. EasyCatalog also offers semi-automatic and automatic creation (using the optional Pagination Module) of structured documents. It's available for InDesign CS, CS2, CS3 and CS4. The...

Marketcircle has updated Billings (http://www.billings3.com), time and expense billing software for the Mac-based creative and business professional, to version 3.0.3. The upgrade sports 30 improvements, including: ° A new auto-backup feature when you quit the app; ° Enhanced Daylite integration; ° Improved Address Book integration; ° Better rendering speed for many invoice/estimate/statement templates Also, Marketcircle's Billings "Main Street" sale continues. Until Nov. 30, Billings sells for US$39.95 instead of $59.95, and the upgrade sells for $25 instead of $35.

ActiveState (http://www.activestate.com), a provider of tools and services for dynamic languages, has released Komodo IDE 5.0, an update to the multi-platform, multi-language integrated development environment (IDE) for web development. The new release adds support for the Git, Mercurial (hg), and Bazaar distributed version control systems (in addition to the already supported Subversion, Perforce, and CVS). Komodo IDE 5.0 sports smart cross-SCC system checkout wizardry designed to make it easier to get to work on shared repositories. Sharing code across a team is also better with Komodo IDE 5.0's improved code formatting. Consistent formatting makes reading and maintaining code easier, so Komodo IDE makes it simple with built-in code formatting tools and the ability to easily hook in external code formatting tools (like PHP Beautifier, Perltidy, and astyle, according to the folks at ActiveState. For a limited time Komodo IDE costs US$245 for a license for Mac OS X, Unix and Windows...

Falkon Ware has updated its SerialMailer bulk email app for Mac OS X to version 5.9. The upgrade offers advanced template support as an way to embed messages in already existent designs at send time. Custom templates can be created with almost any web site editor. Those who are looking for an efficient way to send their annual christmas mails might also be interested in the christmas template that comes with the program, according to the folks at Falkon Ware. The full version of SerialMailer costs US$29.95. The 5.9 update is free for already registered customers. It's available from http://www.falkon-ware.com/SerialMailer