Macintosh/iPhone software update roundup – November 27, 2009

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for November 27, 2009:

Macintosh

• Dare to be Creative Ltd. has announced the release of Sponge 1.3, an update to its system clean and optimization tool for Mac OS X. Sponge combines three techniques to reclaim disk space into a single tool: removing applications, sweeping disk hogs and finding duplicates. The new version offers better performance, smoother usability and greater stability. Users can let Sponge track down large files and find duplicates in the background for them while they continue with other tasks.

iPhone/iPod

• Carl is coming.
• Idea Factory has released Octo Touch, a puzzle game with hyper-cute anime characters. The object of the game is to clear octopuses from your board. There are numbered cooking grids on the playing field, and if the player puts similarly colored octopuses equalling the number of cooking grids, the octopuses are removed. If the player’s field fills up for three seconds, the player loses game.
• TimeStream has announced the innovative new Rubber to the Road Notescast for the iPod Classic, iPod Video and iPod nano. Available as a free download from the Notescast web site, now Portland cyclists can explore 44 new bike rides in the Portland area using their iPod as their guide. Developed by TimeStream Software and presented by River City Bicycles, the new “Rubber to the Road” Notescast is based upon the popular “Rubber to the Road” bicycle ride guide.
• ThinkSmall has introduced Flirtatious, an entertaining mobile programme allowing men and women to flirt more visually, humorously and fashionably. Flirting is supposed to be fun. It is all about giving signals wittily and properly. Flirtatious lets men and women give out different funny animated cues to those they “love at first sight” at the bar, coffee shop, office, school, or any place the mood strikes them.
• Kitty Code, LLC has announced Traveler’s Quest 1.0, their highly anticipated game for iPhone devices. A casual treasure hunting adventure game, Traveler’s Quest is played while you’re on the go. Dig up treasures in your neighborhood, bury treasures around town and the world while gaining gold for treasures buried and sold. Compete with players around the world and become a treasure hunting legend; take your place on the in-game leaderboards.