Macintosh/iPhone software update roundup – July 6, 2009

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for July 6, 2009:

Macintosh

• Maggot Software has announced Conformalizer 3.1.3, the long awaited update to its cutting edge re-conform application for sound post-production professionals. Conformalizer enables sound editors to deal with complex and ongoing picture recuts as well as helping to detect Visual FX changes as the picture cut progresses. This latest offering adds official support for AVID Pro Tools 8 as well as a raft of other powerful new features to help sound editors untangle picture recuts.
• Ambrosia Software has announced the release of Soundboard 1.0.1. Like cart machines in broadcast radio studios, Soundboard lets users map sound effects, audio clips, or musical accompaniment to keys on the Mac keyboard, easily triggered with a single tap. Soundboard is offered for $29. Registered WireTap Studio or WireTap Anywhere customers receive an additional 25 percent discount when purchasing Soundboard.
• RapidWeaver theme developer seyDoggy has released Lights2 Pro RapidWeaver, a completely rebuilt successor to the extremely popular Lights theme originally created by Med Designs’ Scott Williams. Never one to let a great RapidWeaver theme die, seyDoggy would like to introduce the totally rebuilt Lights2 Pro. Lights2 is a polished, highly flexible theme capable of meeting a wide variety of design needs, from blogs to photo albums and everything in between.
• Keynote Zone has released a free Comics Keynote theme. The Comics theme layout is based on hand-drawn picture frames and word balloon shapes to help create a well recognizable, branded style. Each theme comes in Standard and HD version. Keynote Zone is a developer of professionally designed ready-to-use themes for Apple’s Keynote application. Comics standard version theme comes in 2 sizes and is available as a free download.
• Disk Doctors has announced that Photo Recovery software now has enhanced support for recovering Adobe Photoshop files. The software is updated with latest algorithm that will help users to recover lost/deleted .psd files from hard drives, memory cards etc. Apart from supporting the standard photo formats, RAW Digital Photo Formats, Audio files and Video Files, the PSD is the default file extension of the proprietary file format of Adobe Photoshop which is widely used.
• Xeric Design has announced the release of EarthDesk 5.0.1, a major upgrade to its award-winning, real-time dynamic desktop map, for Macintosh OS X. EarthDesk 5.0 has been entirely rewritten in Cocoa, adds many new features and is fully compatible with both Leopard and the upcoming Snow Leopard. Version 5.0.1 is an update to fix three issues uncovered since the release of 5.0.

iPhone/iPod

• Overcommitted has announced Ember 2.0, an update to the Campfire application for the iPhone. While instant messaging is good for one-on-one communication, Campfire is optimized for collaborating with groups and teams. Ember brings Campfire to life within a truly integrated iPhone experience. Join and toggle between chat rooms, view shared files and collaborate effectively on the go. Ember has been completely rewritten to take advantage of the new iPhone API’s available in the new 3.0 firmware.
• TARI has introduced FlyBy 1.0, their new 3D flying game for iPhone and iPod Touch. Designed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s unique built-in tilting and gorgeous interface, FlyBy is first-person and incredibly simple to play. Fly through a 3D space among bumble bees, bubbles and sunbeams. Gamers avoid insects and try to hit bubbles and sunbeams simply by tilting their device to change the flight direction. FlyBy sports its own AI, so every flight is new and unique.
• High Speed Chase 2.0, the latest high-octane release from innovative flash and mobile developer JohnnyTwoShoes, is available to download for iPhone and iPod Touch consoles via iTunes now.
  Launching at £0.59 / $0.97 / €0.69, High Speed Chase 2.0 mixes classic, top-down racing with intense gunplay, similar to iconic retro classic Spyhunter. This new version has been completely developed from the ground up, based on customer feedback and critic response to deliver pure fan service for new and returning players alike.
• Independent iPhone developer Florian “Utsi” Martin, has announced Landleben 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch. With this game for children, you can experience farm life with lots of animals living on a farm and around it. The 360 degree picture gets alive with sounds and little animations by tapping on the different elements. With Landleben children learn to relate real animal sounds to their picture as well as finding sounds from all the objects.
• eCOMPOSITE has released 321Run 1.0 for iPhone 3G and 3GS. 321Run allows you to keep track of your runs, progress, speed and to see where you’ve ran. 321Run allows you to follow your run without having to read your screen with the touch of a finger. 321Run also contains several trainings to begin running, lose weight run faster or prepare for a semi. The coach tells you when to run, walk, change rythm. Hours of fun and run.
• Spare Change Software has announced QuickTip 2.0, the latest update to their easy-to-use tip calculator for iPhone and iPod touch. Designed to leverage the iPhone’s unique capabilities and interface, QuickTip offers a fast and convenient way to calculate the tip for any bill. Version 2.0 sports a completely redesigned user interface with a custom number pad for quick bill amount entry, customizable tip selection buttons, and improved international currency handling.
• Pixelglow Software has launched Instaviz 1.4, the latest version of their diagram sketching software for iPhone and iPod Touch. Instaviz turns roughly sketched shapes and lines into beautifully laid-out diagrams. Instaviz uses a new shape recognition engine based on advanced fuzzy logic and trained on over 2,500 sketches drawn by real users. Version 1.4 features full support for Apple’s iPhone 3.0 system update and the new iPhone 3GS.
• JL Software has announced High-Risk Obstetrics 1.0, an all-new Handbook for iPhone or iPod touch. Handbook of High-Risk Obstetrics is a new and original reference source for the medical student or resident physician who needs a comprehensive yet concise guide to perinatal care. The Handbook covers all major areas of high-risk pregnancy, and is cross-referenced and indexed with over 3,200 keywords.
• Blue Lightning Labs has announced an update to their popular iPhone application Mathemagics, an application for learning to mentally calculate math problems at phenomenal speeds. Aspiring Mathemagicians learn and then practice any of the 20 math tricks while progressively moving to higher levels of proficiency. Mathemagics 1.1 contains 20 different math tricks for multiplying, dividing and squaring numbers faster than many people can use a calculator.
• Cobra Mobile’s iBomber, the amazing iPhone top-down WW2 bombing game has had a price drop this week as the game waits for its update to arrive. iBomber is on Special Offer for 59p/99c. iBomber is highly polished and all totally original iPhone gaming experience. A NEW iBomber update is imminent and will add New Missions, Tilt Sensitivity options and Software 3.0 features.
• triggerhappy has announced Status Symbols 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Status Symbols is sign language for what’s on your mind. The app came about after recognizing the need to communicate in loud places and quiet spaces. Come up with your own creative usage or be lazy and refer to our handy key. Soon to be universally recognized as the liberation of communication, status symbols = sign language for what’s on your mind.
• infiniteNIL has updated Numerology, its numerology application for iPhone OS 3.0. Numerology 1.6 adds the ability to email reports. Users can also search for profiles, and a personal month and day analysis has been added. A free lite version limited to 2 profiles is also available. Numerology is an application that helps you use the ancient science of numerology to gain insight into yourself and other people.
• I-play has announced the launch of Blend the Boss for iPhone and iPod touch. Based on the hilariously crude Internet sensation from JOE CARTOON, the game allows players to have the thrill of turning the company top dog into a corporate smoothie. Taking the online game one step further, players can now import pictures of their boss for the most realistic leader liquefying ever. Additionally, this intoxicating cocktail of mayhem and destruction features original artwork by Joe Shields, creator of JOE CARTOON.
• The Pragmatic Programmers have released Using the Map Kit, a 33-minute screencast video tutorial on how to embed maps inside iPhone applications using the new Map Kit framework available in iPhone 3.0. Watching this screencast is a great way to get up to speed on the new Map Kit framework and quickly integrate it into your iPhone applications. This screencast is available in DRM-free QuickTime and iPod/iPhone formats.
• From Skyworks and David Crane, the creators of the hit iPhone/iPod touch game Arcade Bowling, comes another addictively classic game, Ten Pin Championship Bowling. Ten Pin Championship Bowling combines incredible graphics and physics with awesome sound-design and camera work to capture the local-color of America’s bowling alleys in this realistic Bowling game.
• Enjoy playing the harp wherever you are with iHarp for your iPhone or iPod touch. iHarp features a clean UI and various functions such as an octave and half range or half tones controls. For every string you play, iHarp will generate a sparkle. This feature provides you a very nice feeling and atmosphere. iHarp also allows you to record and play your music.