Macintosh/iPhone software update round-up – January 13, 2009

Macintosh and iPhone software updates and announcements for January 13, 2009:

• GiantCrayon Games has released ShiveringKittens, a quirky new iPhone game in which players rescue adorable kittens from the ice blocks that formed around them in a tough Minnesota winter. Players free the kittens by arranging falling blocks in the right order. The more ice blocks players connect, the more kittens they rescue and the more points they earn.
• Synectics Business Solutions, Inc. has announced a new version of their software to complement their well-established online backup service. Built upon the same modern infrastructure as their Enterprise version, BackJack’s Business version delivers more cost-effective, simpler and more secure online backup for business Mac users. BackJack remains the most trusted name for the online protection and recovery of critical files.
• Freeridecoding has announced BurnAgain FS 1.2, a free update to the CD/DVD multisession burning utility for Mac OS X. BurnAgain FS makes it possible to repeatedly change the content of a data CD or DVD directly in the Finder. The user can re-mount the CD or DVD like a hard drive volume and add or remove files, or even edit and change files several times. Disks burned with BurnAgain FS are readable without additional software on all platforms. Special Mac file attributes are preserved automatically.
• Code by Kevin has released version 2.7 of PortAuthority, an easy-to-use graphical user interface for the MacPorts Unix software system for Mac OS X. MacPorts is a powerful but complex command-line tool for installing and updating a variety of Unix-based applications for the Mac. PortAuthority aims to bring the power of MacPorts to the traditional Mac user by providing a user-friendly graphical interface to MacPorts.
• AssistiveWare today announced that at BETT it will preview Proloquo2Go, which uses Acapela Group’s forthcoming iPhone text-to-speech to provide a full-fledged communication solution on the iPhone and iPod touch for people who cannot speak. Also previewed at BETT is the upcoming version of Infovox iVox, which introduces new British, Italian, Greek, Norwegian and Russian voices for the Mac.
• Version 1.4 of ElectroCute has been approved and released in the app store. Players of the game act as a digital shepherd, protecting their flock from alien UFOs with arcs of electricity. To interact with the game, players simply press two fingers on the screen and an electric bolt fries everything between their fingers—UFO and sheep alike.
• Proporta are huge fans of the Apple 4G iPod nano, and think it looks great when kitted out in a Proporta Soft Feel Silicone Case. If you’re the sort who craves a bit of variety in life, you’ll be pleased to hear that Proporta are now offering a second skin free for everyone who buys a Soft Feel Silicone Case from proporta.com. Even better, the second skin can be in any shade from the range, giving you the chance to mix and match, and create colourful variations for the protection of your 4G iPod nano.
• SlotZ Racer, the ultimate slot car racing game for the iPhone and iPod touch from Freeverse, has been submitted to the App Store for review. In anticipation of the upcoming release, Aaron Fothergill of Strange Flavour has created an in-depth tutorial on how to easily create your own slot car track using the in-game editor.
• Macgamestore.com has announced the digital download release of Hoyle Card Games 2009 for the Macintosh on its web site. This year’s edition of Hoyle Card Games includes Royle Suite, a free online service where you can play with players from around the world. HOYLE drops you right into the action with more than 150 classic games, official rules, tips and strategies.
• NRG Software has announced NRGship Mac Lite, the newest edition to their shipping software lineup. NRGship Mac Lite has been developed as a native Mac application to allow for seamless integration with popular Mac business applications. NRGship Mac Lite has been designed for the unique needs of small Mac-based businesses who ship 5-10 packages per day, but can easily support unlimited volume.