STM Bags (http://www.stmbags.com) has announced five new colors (black, burgundy, magenta, teal and orange) of their glove neoprene laptop sleeve. The gloves are available in four sizes: extra small (10.2-inch screens), small (13-inch screens), medium (15-inch screens) and large (17-inch) screens. 
Pricing depends on the size. TM's glove protects your notebook from bumps dust and scratches and fits like a glove. The glove's "top-load" design allows for one handed access. For those who carry backpacks, the laptop can be removed without removing the sleeve. Moreover, all seams are double cross-stitched and taped. An internal "zipper guard" protects the laptop from any scratches and adds a bit more padding.

App4Mac (http://www.app4mac.com/software/index.php) has updated CheckUp, a Mac OS X tool for checking the health and monitoring the behavior of a Mac computer (even from a remote computer), to version 2.6. The upgrade can detect the most common issues of Mac OS X and display details about how to fix them. It also offers: enhanced alerts on disks or memory issues; better support of Macs with Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processors; and improved support of Macs with Intel Xeon processors and hyper-threading. Version 2.6 also has an updated user interface. A user license of CheckUp costs US$49 and can be installed on two computers. Version 2.6 is a free update for registered users. Discounts are available for education and volume licensing. CheckUp Requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. A trial version of CheckUp is available at app4mac.com. Some features are free and will stay free like the Tools that allows you to repair authorizations of Mac OS X or run maintenance scripts.

Canto (http://www.canto.com) has released Cumulus Sites, a new product that "bridges web site ease of use with the power and control of Canto Cumulus digital asset management." It offers a live asset delivery platform organizations can stylize to suit their identities, and customize to suit their file sharing and distribution requirements. Cumulus Sites features a “login-free” mode that offers instant “guest” level access. Common permissions for guests include browsing of approved files, and downloads of watermarked-on-the-fly variants, though any access level can be defined. Cumulus account holders can gain higher access levels through an “anytime” log-in option. User actions can be tracked for usage statistics reporting from within Cumulus. Sites users can share one or more files using a collection link feature. Links can include passwords and expiration dates, and they may be emailed or even added to PDFs, YouTube/ Facebook/Twitter pages, etc. for “viral” distribution benefits,...

Amazon.com has announced "Kindle for Mac," a free application that lets readers around the world enjoy Kindle books on their Macs. The U.S. Kindle Store currently offers over 450,000 books, including New Releases and 102 of 111 New York Times Bestsellers. Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, PC and Mac, and, soon, the iPad. Customers in over 100 countries can go to http://www.amazon.com/kindleformac to download the Kindle for Mac application for free today. Kindle for Mac features Amazon’s Whispersync technology that automatically saves and synchronizes bookmarks and last page read across devices. A customer can read some on their Mac, read some on their Kindle, and always pick up where they left off. According to Jay Marine, director, Amazon Kindle, with Kindle for Mac, readers can: ° Purchase, download, and read hundreds of thousands of books available in the Kindle Store. ° Access their library of previously purchased Kindle books...

China Mobile hopes to offer both the iPad and a version of the iPhone that supports China's homegrown 3G mobile standard, comments by China Mobile's top executive showed on Thursday. As reported by "Computerworld" (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9172598/China_Mobile_wants_iPad_a...), China Mobile is "interested in the iPad" and has told Apple it hopes to see a version of the iPhone that works with the government-backed 3G standard it is using, Wang Jianzhou, CEO and chairman of China Mobile Limited, said at a news conference. Wang's remarks are the first from a Chinese company interested in offering the iPad, notes "Computerworld." And Apple hasn't even said whether it will sell the device in China.

Not surprisingly, HTC Corp. says it disagrees with Apple's legal actin=ons against it and has outlined those disagreements and reiterated its commitment "to creating a portfolio of innovative smartphones that gives consumers a variety of choices." Earlier this month, Apple filed a lawsuit against HTC for infringing on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. The lawsuit was filed concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware. "We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said . "We've decided to do something about it. We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours." But now "HTC disagrees with Apple's actions and will fully defend itself. HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators...

iWrap (http://www.getiwrap.com/) is taking pre-orders for their invisible, scratch-proof cover for the upcoming iPad. iWrap uses unique film that offers more clarity and more durability, according to iWrap Product Manager Tim Chaves. The film also uses advanced UV inhibiting technology and a strong adhesive, he adds. In addition, iWrap's full-body wraps are designed to offer the most complete coverage possible, according to Chaves. iWrap for the iPad costs US29.95. There are also versions for the iPhone and all iPod models.

Ken Winograd and Space-Time Associates (http://www.winograd.com) has updated TinyBooks Pro, its Mac accounting and bookkeeping program, to version 7.0.3. The upgrade improves the importing of old TinyBooks documents, improves the built-in help text and error messages and improves the Recur Dialog. It also adds the ability to delete all items in the current month, and adds three new Preferences (to Auto-Sort New/Modified transactions on entry, to enable/disable the Total Transaction Amount field, and to show Monthly and Reported Amounts as inclusive or exclusive of taxes.) TinyBooks Pro is a single-entry bookkeeping and accounting system designed for sole proprietors, home and other small businesses, and family finances. To use you enter your expenses and income, and TinyBooks Pro does the rest. Current and year-to-date on-the-fly totals are continually displayed. Fully automatic bar-charting of all expense and income accounts make the determination of monthly trends intuitively...

Law firm Bingham McCutchen has announced that Daniel Cooperman, the former general counsel at Apple and Oracle, will rejoin its Silicon Valley office and focus on “corporate and transactional matters.” Cooperman was at Apple between 2007 and 2009. "Perhaps in an indication of the pressures of Apple’s extra frenetic pace," Cooperman is the second of three general counsels that Apple has had since longtime counsel Nancy Heinen left the company in 2006, notes the "Wall Street Journal" (http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/03/16/former-apple-counsel-joins-bingha...). The role is currently being filled by Bruce Sewell. When Cooperman left Apple, the official statement was that he was retiring (he's 59). However, in an interview with the "WSJ," he said he needed a break from the intensity of the general counsel job, which he had held for a total of 13 years.

Apple has added features to its iWork.com public beta. It's a service Apple is developing to share iWork ’09 documents online. Using your Apple ID, just click the iWork.com icon in the Keynote, Pages or Numbers toolbar to upload your document and invite others to view it online. Viewers can provide comments and notes, and download a copy of your document in iWork, Microsoft Office or PDF formats. A consolidated online list of all your shared documents indicates when your viewers have posted comments. With the latest public beta, you can share links to yourdocuments via social networking services. What's more, there's an updated interface for iPhone and iPod touch users to access info. iWork ’09 is available through the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of US$79. iWork ’09 is available for $49 with the purchase of any Mac through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. 

Handmark (http://www.metropcs.com/pocketexpress/) -- which specializes in the development and distribution of mobile media -- has announced its support of the iPad. The company plans to bring a variety of apps it powers for media partners to the iPad, in addition to its own, branded mobile apps. Handmark currently supports mobile applications for a variety of brands around the world including Zagat, New York Daily News, Forbes, Oxford University Press, Goal.com and others. The iPad adds to the broad portfolio of mobile platforms Handmark supports, including iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Palm webOS, Kindle and others.

Timac has released Cornichon (http://www.timac.org/cornichon/), a tool you can use to dynamically profile Mac OS X applications on the system and track the process' performance over time (CPU usage, resident memory size, total memory size, etc). The Cornichon application includes the ability to see the different collected data of a process in real time in a graph and export the data as TAB files that you can later easily import in Apple Numbers or Microsoft Excel. Cornichon requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later. It costs approximately US$7.

Magazine publishers may have a new way to boost flagging circulation: the iPad. The Audit Bureau of Circulations has changed its definition of a digital magazine to accommodate the new class of tablets such as the Apple device. The new rules allow publishers to count paid digital subscriptions as part of a magazine's overall circulation as long as all the same editorial and advertising material is included, according to the "Associated Press" (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100316/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_magazine_circulat...). That means publishers can custom design their articles and photo spreads for the iPad. Without the rule change, they could only count digital editions that appear exactly the way they do in print, notes the "AP." The iPad is available for pre-order at the online Apple Store ("http://www.apple.com). It's due to ship on Saturday, April 3. At least the Wi-Fi only version will; the Wi-Fi + 3G model will hit US store sleeves in late April. In addition, all models of iPad...

Apple has released updated printer drivers for Samsung and Brother printers for Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard"). The Samsung drivers are a 23.25MB download. You can download 'em at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL905 . The Brother drivers are a 100.02MB download; they're available at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL894 .

BiddingForGood (http://www.biddingforgood.com), a cause-related e-commerce platform connecting affluent consumers and marketers to online fundraising auction events, has announced the top performing brands and categories in its platform. And Apple is in the top 10. Our favorite tech firm places number six on the list. Ahead of it are the Hillton family, the Marriott family, Starbucks, the Starwood family and Nintendo. Trailing it in the top 10 are Mary Kay, Four Seasons Hotel, Ritz-Carlton and the Cheesecake Factory. Charity auctions are a unique cause marketing channel because they reach the nations most affluent consumers through their trusted causes just as they are making purchasing decisions in specific categories, such as travel, says BiddingForGood CEO Jonathan Carson. These affluent consumers are educated females who, in bad economic times, retain the buying power for luxury items, he adds. BiddingForGood works with brands to take advantage of this unique marketing channel. “...

Digital Anarchy (http://www.digitalanarchy.com), a provider of software for photographers and digital artists, has announced a free update to their ToonIt! Photo plug-in for Aperture, Apple's software for pro and semi-pro photographers. ToonIt! 2.5 is now fully compatible with the 64-bit mode introduced by Apple’s Aperture 3, while still supporting 32-bit architectures and Aperture 2. The plug-in automatically takes photos and gives them a variety of cartoon and illustrated looks. A "toon" effect is created, and Aperture users have a control in customizing the cartoon with different paint styles, shading and outlines. The software uses algorithms from Toonamation to create its cartoon shading and lines. One of the key features of ToonIt! is the ability to turn people and faces into believable cartoons. It’s never been so easy to turn photographs into illustrated portraits or a graphic novel. ToonIt! Photo 2.5 for Aperture is regularly priced at US$129, but will be on sale for $99...

Yazsoft has introduced Playback Media Server 1.5.1 (http://www.yazsoft.com/products/playback/information/), an update of their zero configuration media server for Mac OS X 10.5 and higher. Many MKV files that failed to convert previously will now work. Playback Media Server 1.5.1 changes the way pictures are organized for improved browsing via the Playstation 3. Also, it now broadcasts a UPnP "reset" if/when the machine's IP address changes. Playback can share media stored in folders or even make entire disks available to a Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. No configuration is required. By default, it will share almost any content on the users system. And Playback automatically integrates with iTunes, iPhoto, and Aperture. Users can share all content from these applications transparently or choose specific playlists and albums. Those who like to tinker will appreciate Playback's built-in Access Control List (ACL) and bandwidth throttling. The ACL allows users to control which devices have...

WD has introduced its new 1TB and 750GB capacity My Passport SE for Mac portable USB drives. Available at WD's online store (http://store.westerndigital.com/store/wdus/en_US/DisplayHomePage), the new My Passport SE for Mac portable drives are formatted for Mac and compatible with Apple Time Machine software. They're USB-powered and don't need an external power adapter. They're also quipped with 256-bit hardware encryption with password protection for an extra level of security. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the My Passport SE for Mac 1TB portable drive is $199.99. The 750GB model costs $179.99.

Point In Space Internet Solutions has announced the availability of FileMaker Pro 11 database hosting on FileMaker Server 11 Advanced. "FileMaker Pro 11 provides many new features and updates to the FileMaker product," says John May, Point In Space's president.  "By hosting on FileMaker Server 11 Advanced, all of these new features are available to our clients, including Instant Web Publishing and ODBC/JDBC connectivity." Point In Space is offering FileMaker Pro 11 hosting, available immediately, at the same price as their other FileMaker accounts. Current Point In Space clients should contact the company directly ( http://www.pointinspace.com/filemakerpro11hosting/) regarding special offers for migrating from previous FileMaker versions.

Syncro Soft has released version 5.1 of SVN client (http://www.syncrosvnclient.com). The upgrade improves working copy load time, automatically refreshes the working copy on external file changes, makes repository browsing more responsive, adds support for repository imports at file level, adds support for replacing resources, improves handling of obstructed resources, improves history support, allows creating branches/tags directly from the repository and offers options to print or save as image a revision graph. Syncro SVN client license with a one year maintenance pack costs US$59. A Syncro SVN client site license with a one year maintenance pack is $2,970. Volume discount rates are available starting with five licenses. Syncro SVN Client can be run on Mac OS X, Windows, Linux and Solaris systems. Version 5.1 is a free update for registered users of version 5.0.

UK broadband company TalkTalk is running a trial that will see staff in its London head office ditch PCs for MacBook Pros. TalkTalk confirmed to silicon.com (http://www.silicon.com/technology/hardware/2010/03/15/talktalk-staff-swa...) on Monday that 150 of its employees have been moved over to the laptop devices -- with the possibility of extending the trial more widely over the course of the year. A move from PCs to Macs is relatively unusual in the business world as confirmed by a recent silicon.com CIO Jury poll which suggested a wholesale switch to Macs is unlikely for the majority of enterprises, the article adds.

Monotype Imaging (http://www.fonts.com) has released the Creative Companion Library offering, which features designs from the company’s Monotype, Linotype and ITC typeface collections. Comprising 2,433 fonts based on the OpenType® format, Monotype Imaging’s newest library combines typefaces previously unavailable as a single collection from any source, according to Allan Haley, director of words and letters at Monotype Imaging. Typefaces include newer members of families such as the Frutiger Serif and Palatino Sans faces from the Linotype collection, the Malabar font, also from the Linotype library, the popular Soho and Neo Sans designs from the Monotype collection, and the ITC Conduit typeface from the ITC library. The Creative Companion Library includes a variety of fonts based on the OpenType Pro format, which enables the ability to use advanced typographic features and effects, such as the automatic insertion of old style figures, ligatures and small capital letters. OpenType...

Apple has released Aperture SlideShow Support Update 1.1, which addresses an HD video clip playback issue. According to Apple, for Mac OS X 10.6 ("Snow Leopard") users, Aperture 3 slideshows with trimmed HD clips should “now remain properly synced” with their audio. Apple says this is a recommended update (3.29MB) for Aperture 3 users You can obtain it via the Software Updates component of the Mac OS X Systems Preferences app.

MaBaSoft has updated Application Wizard (http://www.mabasoft.net/products/applicationWizard/), a Mac OS X tool that provides access to your applications, document and pictures, to version 2.5. You can now choose what types of volumes appear in the Special menu and allows you to eject disks, partitions, and servers and mount ejected disks. On Mac OS X 10.5 or later, the Recent Documents and Recent Servers items can now be added to the Special menu so that you can quickly open recently used files and connect to recently used servers. Also in Application Wizard 2.5: ° The Activity Monitor command has been added to the System Memory submenu so that you can quickly open Activity Monitor and learn more about the processes running on your computer and their memory usage. ° The Aperture Library submenu now fully supports Aperture 3. ° The iPhoto Library submenu solves some incompatibilities with iPhoto '09, fixes some bugs, and lets you see how your published albums appear online. ° The...

AJA Video Systems (http://www.aja.com), a manufacturer of professional video interface and conversion solutions, is now offering its KONA line of capture cards with software for both Mac and Windows-based systems. The company is folding its XENA line of capture cards, designed for the Windows platform, into the KONA product line. The KONA family is AJA's line of 10-bit uncompressed capture and playback cards for video and audio input and output. Initially designed solely for the Mac platform, KONA now supports SD, HD, Dual Link 4:4:4 HD and 2K formats, and all of the functionality of the former XENA products within the single, cross-platform KONA line. Effective immediately, every new KONA package shipped will include both Mac and Windows software and documentation. Updated drivers for either Mac or PC platforms are always available online.

Other World Computing (http://www.macsales.com) has announced the addition of a new 1TB model to the OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro FireWire 800/400 and USB 2.0 bus powered 2.5-inch portable storage solution line. The pocket-sized portable storage solution for Mac or PC users features FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and/or USB 2.0 connectivity for data transfer speeds up to 100MB/second and is bus powered, so it can be used without an AC adapter. The new Mercury On-The-Go Pro 1TB model is available in three interface configurations: ° "Triple interface" with FireWire 800/400 and USB 2.0 connectivity, US$269.99; ° "Combo Interface" with FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 connectivity, $249.99; · USB 2.0 only connectivity, $229.99 MSRP The new OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro 1TB models are available for immediate ordering from Other World Computing at http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go . They're compatible with Mac OS 8.6 to 9.2.2 and all versions of Mac OS X.

R.J. PittmanÔøº, a prominent product manager at Google, has left the company to join Apple, reports "TechCrunch" (http://techcrunch.com/2010/03/14/google-product-manager-rj-pittman-defec...). At Google, he has served as director of product management for Google Labs and Google Search. It's not clear what he'll be doing at Apple. Before Google, Pittman was co-founder and CEO of Groxis, a web search company; a managing partner of Venture Factory Partners, a technology venture capital and venture management firm; co-founder and CEO of Digital Courier Technologies, an ecommerce company; vice president of technology at Paradigm Systems Corp., a global IT systems and strategy consulting firm; and vice president of technology for Metric, a software start-up. He has a MS in Engineering-Economic Systems from Standford University.

If you buy an iPad and the battery conks out, Apple will replace it with a new iPad, Apple says on a web page called "Battery Replacement Service" (http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/service/battery/). According to the page, if your iPad requires service due to the battery’s diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee. The service costs $99, plus $6.95 shipping. The total cost is $105.95 per unit. However, Apple notes: Your iPad is not eligible for Battery Replacement Service if the product has been damaged, for example, as result of an accident, liquid contact, disassembly, unauthorized service or unauthorized modifications, or if the product is not operating correctly as a result of a component failure." 
iPad is now available for pre-order. They're due to ship on Saturday, April 3. At least the Wi-Fi only versions will; the Wi-Fi + 3G model will hit US store sleeves in late April. In addition, all models of iPad will be available...

Small Tree (http://www.small-tree.com) will introduce its new 2TB GraniteSTOR ST-RAID direct attached shared storage system at NAB 2010. Offering real time editing for Final Cut users while supporting 12 streams of ProRes 422HQ with no dropped frames, ST-RAID provides consistent performance over Ethernet networks. The 2TB system is available in eight, 12 or 16-drive configurations.    GraniteSTOR ST-RAID enables instant availability and background initialization along with automatic insertion/removal detection and rebuild. For greater flexibility, more storage can be added for system expansion. Contact Small Tree for pricing options.  

Victor Castroll, an analyst with Valcent Financial Group, says Apple sold 51,000 iPads within two hours after the device went on sale. As noted by "CNN Money" (http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/03/12/apple-sells-50000...), his estimate -- which is adjusted for the roughly 15,000 online orders that come in a typical day -- jibes with a 20,000-per-hour figure published earlier by "Silicon Alley Insider" (http://www.businessinsider.com/is-apple-selling-20000-ipads-an-hour-2010-3) and the photo sharing Phanfare site (http://blog.phanfare.com/2010/03/apple-is-currently-selling-20000-ipads-...). That number was based on two sales made within 30 minutes that were 10,000 order numbers apart. And in other iPad news... ° The Camera Connection Kit previously mentioned by Apple isn't listed among the iPad accessories for sale. gives you two ways to import photos and videos from a digital camera. It lets you import your photos and videos to iPad using the camera’s USB cable. Or...

The next round of legal smackdown between Apple and Nokia won't take place for a while. And look for a long, drawn-out battle. The two will seek a U.S. court hearing in a key patent battle in mid-2012, a court filing shows -- as reported by "Reuters" (http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNLDE62A2JN20100312?rpc=44). Last week federal judge in Delaware signed an order staying litigation in a lawsuit in which Nokia claims that Apple is infringing on seven Nokia patents in products ranging from the iPhone to computers. The order also covered counterclaims in which Apple alleges that Nokia has infringed on nine Apple patents that are the subject of an ITC complaint by Apple. Last month it was announced that Apple's patent-infringement complaint seeking to block Nokia Oyj’s phone imports into the U.S. will be investigated by a U.S. trade agency. The U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington will consider the complaint filed last month and decide whether to ban the imports. In...

Alesis (http://www.alesis.com/), a manufacturer of professional audio equipment and studio electronics, has released the MultiMix 6 USB six-channel USB mixer for Mac and Windows. It costs US$149. The MultiMix 6 USB is a six-channel desktop mixer designed for integration into a computer-based recording environment. This compact mixer is built for use in recording setups, video editing and production studio,s as it outputs not only line-level analog audio, but also stereo 16-bit, 44.1 kHz digital audio over USB for low-noise computer connection.   The MultiMix 6 USB mixer has six input channels, all of which can accept a 1/4-inch line input. Users can plug XLR microphones into channels one and two, including condensers, thanks to the mixer's switchable 48V-phantom power supply. They can also plug a guitar or bass directly into channel one's switchable high-impedance input.   Channels one and two offer switchable high-pass filtering at 75Hz to eliminate low-frequency rumble, handling...

Bohemian Coding and Laurent Baumann have updated Fontcase (http://www.bohemiancoding.com/?Fontcase), a font manager for Mac OS X 10.5 and higher, to version 1.5. The new version adds auto-activation, duplicates detection, a speed increase and stability, among other things. Fontcase focuses on metadata. For every font and weight, you can add a variety of metadata. You can set tags, genres, assign designers and foundries and more. They are not just pieces of text, but actually show up in the source list, right under your smart collections. Everything in the interface can be dragged. Fontcase has several preview options. You can preview fonts with any sample text you want and you can view individual glyphs, as a waterfall text and as body text. If you want to go in more detail, there's a special Compare mode which was designed to compare a small set of fonts and allow you to choose the right font from them. Just like in iTunes, you can share your Library with other people. However, in...

The iPad and its accessories are now available for pre-order at the online Apple Store (http://www.apple.com). They're due to ship on Saturday, April 3. At least the Wi-Fi only versions will; the Wi-Fi + 3G model will hit US store sleeves in late April. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April. The Wi-Fi iPad sells for a suggested retail price of US$499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB models. The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. The iPad Keyboard Dock -- which combines a fully functional iPad dock with a slim, compact aluminum Apple keyboard featuring special iPad function keys -- costs $69. The iPad -- which not only protects your iPad, but holds in it positions...

The Macinmind gang has updated Radiologik (http://macinmind.com/Radiologik), radio DJing and automation software for Mac OS X, to version 1.7. This release includes several optimizations for 24/7 radio stations, both streaming and terrestrial. Radiologik is comprised of a set of two programs that seeks to address the specific needs of radio broadcasting in an accessible and focused way. It's made up of two program queue players, one independent/voiceover player, and one library player. It has audio outputs that are selectable with user labels. The players overlap for proper cold starts and stops (no cross-fades). Radiologik also offers: custom start/stop and fades per track; live searching in its library (a la iTunes); and iTunes Library importing. It plays MP3, AAC, ITMS protected AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV files. Radiologik Scheduler user]s iTunes as its database utilizing playlists and, particularly, smart playlists for song selection with its own top logic. Smart...

The PandaWare Company (http://www.pandaware.com) has updated TimeCache -- its time and expense billing app for oMac OS X 10.3.9 and higher -- to version 8.0.7. The upgrade offers a new Project Totals report for viewing only totals of selected projects TimeCache 8.0.7 also offers the option to automatically show a "business information" text block in reports and invoices. The new version also sports a number of small improvements and bug fixes. TimeCache is a Universal Binary Macintosh application. It offers support for timed or manual entries, retainer billing, customizable invoices and reports, printing options, and flexible data entry options. It also offers tracking of all a user's computer activity, the ability to save fine-grained details with time and expense entries, can use Apple Address Book entries for client contact information, can produce charts of billable time and expenses, and can import from and export to iCal calendars. TimeCache Manager costs US$70 per user,...

Ever wonder what graphics really looks like side-by-side comparing VMware Fusion 3 to Parallels Desktop 5? This video will show you a wide variety of graphics tests, running on side-by-side machines so that you can see for yourself. Interesting in the full analysis of which product is faster? Check it out at: http://www.mactech.com/articles/special/1002-VirtualizationHeadToHead/ and read the most comprehensive and definitive set of benchmarks in the industry about virtualization on the Mac. Thousands of real world tests run, primarily with a stopwatch, to give you the best answer possible on which is faster in each area and by how much.

At this year’s Game Developers Conference® (Booth BS506, Moscone South), Dolby Laboratories has announced new tools that will soon make it possible for gamers to enjoy Dolby Axon surround voice chat on more of their favorite gaming platforms -- including the Mac. Dolby unveiled new software developer kit (SDK) ports that enable game developers to integrate the Dolby Axon surround voice technology to Mac OS X, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360versions of multiplayer online game titles. General availability of these ports is planned for April. According to Matt Tullis, marketing director, Games, Dolby Laboratories, already adopted by several online games, including the most recently announced Dragon Nest by Nexon Corp., as well as ZT Online (Giant Interactive), Mission Against Terror (Kingsoft) and Jumpgate Evolution (NetDevil), the Dolby Axon SDK enables game developers to raise the online gaming experience to a new level through a number of features: ° Voice communication complete with...

O'Reilly has recently released the Mini Missing Manual series (http://search.oreilly.com/?q=mini+missing+manuals&utm_content=em-orm-pr-Mini+MM&utm_campaign=O'Reilly&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&imm_mid=056d26&cmp=em-orm-pr-Mini+MM), available in ebook format only. They're US$4.99 each. 
The current titles in the series are "Creating Keynote Slideshows," "Layout in Pages '09," "Sharing Keynote Slideshows," "Word Processing in Pages '09," "Add Audio and Video to Your Site," "Add Interactivity to Your Site," "Attract Visitors to Your Site."

SONiVOX (http://www.sonivoxmi.com), a virtual instrument manufacturer, has released Grand Piano Virtual Instrument, Eighty Eight. It has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of US$199. Eighty Eight is conceived and designed as a virtual embodiment of a Steinway CD 327 grand. It was recorded within the same acoustic confines as the SONiVOX Symphonic Collection. Eighty Eight sports: over 11GB of premium instrument content; 35 piano and pad presets; 52 solo piano presets; 15 adjustable split point multi-instrument combination patches; up to 16 velocity layers per key; onboard EQ, reverb and limiter; a seven-step velocity re-mapper; and more. It has Mac standalone, AU, VST and RTAS compatibility.

NAB has debuted a new digital video workflow presentation stage, complete with a networking lounge and series of mini sessions, which will be held on the show floor at the 2010 NAB Show (http://www.nabshow.com), April 12-15. Located in the South Lower Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Post Pit brings together user groups and individuals who use post-production and other digital story-telling software and hardware products on display at the NAB Show. Produced in partnership with Final Cut Pro User Group (FCPUG) Network SuperMeet, fxguide, Digital Production Buzz and Future Media Concepts (FMC), Post Pit will offer attendees and exhibitors an interactive experience in which to showcase creative content, while top talent take the stage to share tips and tricks to aid digital video creators and editors in navigating the various tools used in the trade Some of the presenters include Ted Schilowitz of RED Camera Company, post guru Scott Simmons with tips on editing a Canon 5D...

Vinotekasoft has uncorked Vinoteka 1.6.2 (http://www.vinotekasoft.com), an update of their wine cellar management software for Mac OS X. The upgrade adds Grapes, Regions and Subregions and improves the German localization. Vinoteka costs US$34.90 for a single user license. You can get a family pack for $79.90 or a business pack for $109.90. Version 1.6.2 is a free update for registered users.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs ranks number 136 on the list of the world's billionaires (http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/10/worlds-richest-people-slim-gates-buffet...) as compiled by "Forbes." The magazine lists his net worth at US$5.5 billion . Here's what "Forbes" has to say about Jobs: "Following months of rumor and speculation, cultish king of the iGeeks presented the highly anticipated iPad in January; ten-inch, multi-touch computer intended to fill gap between smartphone and laptop. Delighted: nerds everywhere. Scared to death: newspaper and magazine publishers. Also unveiled new iBookstore and iBooks application in direct challenge to Amazon's Kindle; several book publishers have committed to content agreements. Apple shares up 100% in past 12 months. Reed College dropout founded Apple in 1976. Revolutionized music industry with iTunes, iPod. Best investment: bought Pixar from George Lucas in 1986 for $10 million. Created string of hits (Finding Nemo, Toy Story); sold to Disney in 2006 for...

The Khronos Group (http://www.khronos.org), an industry consortium creating open standards to enable the authoring and acceleration of graphics and dynamic media on a variety of platforms and devices, has released the OpenGL 4.0 specification, an upgrade to the 2D and 3D graphics API (application programming interface) that is deployed on all major desktop operating systems. The OpenGL standard serves as the basis for OpenGL® ES, the graphics standard on virtually every shipping smart phone. The OpenGL 4.0 specification has been defined by the OpenGL ARB (Architecture Review Board) working group at Khronos, and includes the GLSL 4.00 update to the OpenGL Shading language in order to enable developers to access the latest generation of GPU (graphical processing unit) acceleration with enhanced graphics quality, acceleration performance and programming flexibility. The full specification is available for immediate download at http://www.opengl.org/registry . OpenGL 4.0 further improves...

Demand for the iPhone and Google’s Nexus One will help propel smartphone sales past those of personal computers in two years, according to a new report by the Gartner research group. As reported by "Bloomberg" (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=AAPL%3AUS&sid=arm...), Gartner says smartphone sales will more than triple to 491.9 million units by 2012 from 139.3 million in 2008. The computer market will expand to 443.1 million units from 290.8 million in the same period. “Smartphones are headed towards that billion-unit category that handsets are in today,” says Jim McGregor, an analyst at research firm In-Stat in Scottsdale, Arizona. “The smartphone is the billion-unit pot of gold that everyone wants.”

Troi Automatisering has releasedTroi Dialog Plug-in 5.5 for FileMaker Pro 11. Troi Dialog Plug-in is a tool for displaying all sorts of dialogs in FileMaker Pro 11. The text of the dialog and of the buttons can be created dynamically by using a calculation. Troi Dialog Plug-in 5.5 is an update for FileMaker Pro 11. It adds support for the PNG image format, including support for transparency in the icon. The new version also implements Cococa versions of the Progress and InputDialog dialogs. A fully functional demo version of Troi Dialog Plug-in 5.5 is available for downloading at Troi's web site (http://www.troi.com/software/dialogplugin.html). It works with FileMaker Pro 9, 10 and 11. The plug-in can also be used with runtimes from FileMaker Pro Advanced 9, 10 or FileMaker Pro Advanced 11. The plug-in is available for Mac OS X and Windows.

Markzware has released PageZephyr 2.0 (http://www.pagezephyr.com), which is targeted to publishing companies, advertising firms, legal eDiscovery and other companies possessing so-called proprietary files. It captures, indexes, and converts content created in proprietary or non-common formats without the need for the original authoring application. This transformative technology substantially reduces the cost for time spent searching and cataloging unmanaged content residing within these file types on local or network drives, according to the folks at Markzware. Before PageZephyr, documents had to be opened by the original application and manually searched, one by one. Now PageZephyr 2.0, enables anyone to instantly find content in these documents by  simply typing in a search term or phrase. This new release of PageZephyr includes expanded file support for: versions of QuarkXPress 4.0 to 8.x; Adobe InDesign CS through CS4; and Microsoft Publisher 2002 to 2007. Priced at US$199,...

Media Lab has released SiteGrinder 3.0 (http://www.medialab.com/sitegrinder/overview.php) , an update of its web site production plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, which lets you build a web site via the addition of one-word hints, such as "rollover" or "menu," to the names of layers in a Photoshop design file. Its developers say it sports over 300 new features and supports two new optional add-ons: Commerce and Control. The SiteGrinder 3 Commerce add-on builds web stores with a fully-integrated shopping cart from within Photoshop. Users can now create online stores with shopping carts from image galleries using Photoshop text and art layers. After publishing their store to the web, users can edit products, pricing, images and descriptions remotely using any web browser. The SiteGrinder 3 Control add-on enables web site content management from any Internet-connected computer through a web browser. The designer/developer (or client) can change any site content including page additions, text...

comScore (http://www.comscore.com), a company that measures the digital world, has released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three0month period between October 2009 and January 2010. The report shows that iPhone usage grew. The comScore report ranked the leading mobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and smartphone operating system (OS) platforms in the U.S. according to their share of current mobile subscribers age 13 and older, as well as popular activities and content accessed via the subscriber's primary mobile phone. The January report found Motorola to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 22.9% market share, while RIM led among smartphone platforms with 43% market share. In the three-month average ending in January, 234 million Americans were mobile subscribers ages 13 and older, with device manufacturer Motorola ranking as the top OEM with 22.9% of U.S. mobile subscribers. LG ranked second...