Macintosh/iPhone software update roundup – October 6th, 2009

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

Macintosh

• Zevrix Solutions has announced PDF Checkpoint 1.1, an update to its new powerful PDF workflow automation solution. PDF Checkpoint quickly preflights, exports as images, splits and reduces size of multiple PDF files. The program is equally suitable to process hundreds of files as well as single PDF documents. The new version introduces the ability to downsample and compress images inside PDF documents which allows to reduce PDF file size dramatically.
• DataMind Srl has announced Jade 1.4, their highly acclaimed digital image processing application for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Implementing state-of-the-art algorithms to enhance color, contrast and dynamic range, Jade is an easy-to-use image enhancement and batch processing tool that will automatically improve digital images. As DataMind’s main product of a series of image processing and computer vision tools, Version 1.4 is a staff pick on Apple’s download website.
• Bartas Technologies has announced XTabulator 2, an update to its tabular data file editor tool for Mac OS X. XTabulator is an inexpensive, lightweight, fast, flexible, and powerful delimited tabular file editor. It is perfectly suited for working with tabular files, such as comma-sparated-value or tab-delimited formats. XTabulator is a hand-crafted tool focused on the task of manipulating data extracted from one application so that it can be imported into another.
• Eltima Software has released SyncMate 2.4. SyncMate enables Mac users to synchronize their Mac with Windows PC, Sony PlayStation Portable and USB flash drives, as well as with other supported devices. SyncMate Expert Edition provides all users with a full access to all synchronization features. Sync iTunes, Video, iPhoto, Safari and Firefox Bookmarks, Entourage and mail Notes, ToDo’s, Mail and even separate folders between your Mac and Windows Mobile devices, and more.
• Bohemian Coding has announced DrawIt 3.10, the latest version of their easy-to-use, powerful vector-drawing application for Mac OS X. DrawIt is unique in that it presents the user with a simple and clean interface, yet packs an impressive assortment of useful, professional features. Version 3.10 introduces essential new effects and significantly increases its performance. DrawIt 3.10 now provides support for multi-stop gradients and also adds a gradient stroke effect to the mix.
• Yazsoft has announced Speed Download 5.2.6, an important update to their popular download manager for Mac OS X. Speed Download 5 redefines the Mac OS X download manager by combining four amazing products: a turbo-charged download manager, a fully featured secure FTP client, a file sharing utility with full encryption, and complete .Mac/iDisk/WEBDAV connectivity, into one small and easy to use application.
• Group Logic has announced a partnership with Symantec to market a joint solution for file system archiving for Mac-based organizations. The solution is based on Symantec’s market leading Enterprise Vault software and Group Logic’s newly released ArchiveConnect software. With the combined solution, Mac-based enterprises and departments can take full advantage of file system archiving to reduce storage costs by up to 60 percent and increase both IT and user productivity.
• LaCie, in collaboration with world-famous designer Philippe Starck, has announced the LaCie Starck Desktop Hard Drive and the LaCie Starck Mobile Hard Drive. The new products showcase more than just Starck’s iconic signature; there is an intellect revealed throughout each component of the design.
• RadTech has announced the ClearCal anti-glare film for glossy 17″ MacBook Pro and 20″ iMac displays. ClearCal AG (anti-glare) films greatly improve the viewability of glossy glass displays when used in brightly lit or outdoor environments. ClearCal films combine a tempered 2-mil matte finished, anti-reflection layer, permanently laminated to a 3-mil flexible transparent base. A blemish-healing siliconized adhesive provides an optically-correct, yet easily removable bond that conceals existing surface defects like abrasions and scratches. The siliconized adhesive is permanently bonded to the base layer and will never leave any residue behind if later removed.

iPhone/iPod

• PressOK Entertainment has announced the release of their new game Finger Physics. Finger Physics is an action-packed puzzle game of balance, where fingers take charge of building stable structures with varied objects. PressOK points to the polling of over 5000 actual fingers as the key to the success of Finger Physics; fingers everywhere rejoice!
• Bitnotic today released Octavian 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch. Perfect for the studio, Octavian presents a slick interface for quickly exploring scales and chords on a piano keyboard. It is an essential musical reference tool for any musician, student, composer, songwriter, pianist, keyboard player, or hobbyist of all skill levels. Quickly find scales and chords and transpose them to any root note, view any mode of any scale, view chords in root position and first, and much more.
• Fonerola has announced the debut of its first mobile application, FonerCall. This communication app allows mobile phone users to save money on International and Long Distance calls by routing calls over the Internet via the device’s built-in Wi-Fi service. Whether you are at home, the office or at a coffee shop, you can now make long distance calls anywhere there is a Wi-Fi spot. It is simple to use and as easy as making regular calls.
• Matteo Rossi has released WiFiPhoto 1.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch. With a simple and elegant interface, WiFiPhoto makes it easy to download photos from iPhone and iPod Touch to any computer over a wifi network without USB cables. The application works as a web server to which any computer over the LAN can connect via browser. It’s possible to download multiple pictures in a single compressed file with any desired compression quality at full resolution.
• Etherfield Games has announced their first iPhone app: Pitz. Pitz is an addictive platform game, with simpe controls, unique graphics and original music. You control a rubber ball through the mystic temples of an ancient empire.
• Mad Finger Games has announced Samurai: Way of the Warrior 1.1, an eagerly-anticipated update to their unique hack-and-slash action game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Samurai: Way of the Warrior is a unique action game inspired by the grace and visceral power of Japanese samurai classics. This major update features three new difficulty levels, improved enemy AI, a new survival mode, global leaderboards with Facebook and Twitter integration, and much more.
• Vela Design Group has released MagicHour 1.4.7 for iPhone and iPod touch. MagicHour is a world clock with unique features and an easily configurable user interface. Users can quickly display the time of sunrise, sunset, dawn and dusk for three kinds of twilight, moon phase and tilt, and much more. MagicHour is invaluable to iPhone and iPod touch users who travel or communicate with friends and colleagues around the world.
• Until now, iPhone users have been stuck with a very bland incoming email tone. With the launch of Electric Pocket’s new MailTones, iPhone users will for the first time be able to change the email alert tone and set a different tone for each and every friend, family member or colleague in their Address Book. MailTones will help users to distinguish high priority emails from their boss or spouse from lower priority emails from college buddies or email lists.
• Ultrasone Inc., has announced the release of its flagship HFI Series headphone: the HFI-2400. With the debut of the HFI-2400, Ultrasone has designed an eye-catching black and silver, open-backed headphone that satisfies the highest of listening demands.
• Marc Ecko Entertainment has announced that the critically acclaimed Dexter the Game will be available on the App Store for $3.99 through October 12. Two bucks has been sliced off the regular price, for a limited time only. Also don’t forget to enter the Dexter The Game Sweepstakes to win a walk on role in Season 5 of the TV show or lunch with one of the show’s writers. To get a code, purchase Dexter the Game from the iTunes App Store, load it, then tap the EXTRAS button in the Main Menu. See www.dexterthegame.com for official rules and entry page. No purchase necessary.
• PocketSherpa is a new, free iPhone app that connects tourists to locals. You tap on your destination/location; enter a question and locals respond with their tips. PocketSherpa already has over 30,000 locals in 7,000 locations registered.