Macintosh/iPhone software update roundup – Christmas weekend, 2009

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for December 24, 2009:

Macintosh

• Digital Rebellion LLC has announced FCP Versioner, a utility to automatically back up Final Cut Pro projects in XML format and generate changelogs to show modifications between revisions. FCP Versioner is an essential tool in managing Final Cut Pro projects, providing feedback to producers and ensuring that projects are safely backed up in case of disaster. Versioner also offers a wealth of options for managing backups to ensure they don’t consume too much disk space.
• Playrix Entertainment has made its first published title—Elementals: The Magic Key—available for the Apple Macintosh line of personal computers. In Elementals: The Magic Key, players plunge into the world of magic and mystery inhabited by elementals. Their mission is to help Albert, a young magician, restore the Key of Eiron and save the unique world of elementals by solving puzzles, hunting for hidden items and winning board battles.
• Opcoders has released GraphicDesignerToolbox 1.3.0, a free update to their powerful Mac OS X graphics editor. It provides adjustable building blocks which allows for extensive tweaking and re-use. Perfect for web designers that need to compose seamless tiling textures, trim pixels, prepare thumbnails and add shadows, plus much more. The big task of adding help to all building blocks is now completed, more than 120 pages with illustrations have been written.
• MacFriendly has announced their Bundle of 12 applications for Mac users will end this December 29, 2009. Available for only a limited time, the bundle represents a savings of over 85% off the list prices. The bundle includes the latest version of each application. Additionally, one bonus applications will be added to the bundle for all customers when 750 bundles have been sold. The MacFriendly Bundle provides an unprecedented selection of high quality software at unprecedented low prices.

iPhone/iPod

• Australian application developer Syncode has released Syncopy—a productivity application for the Mac, iPhone and iPod touch, created to help users unify their clipboard. Syncopy securely transmits your clipboard between the Mac, iPhone and iPod touch.
• Musician’s Little Helper is a little application that allows the user to create a random set of notes in various scales and play and edit them. Useful if you need a little inspiration.
• Suponix has announced iRoach 2.0, an arcade game for iPhone and iPod Touch. iRoach is a funny game with superior graphics of cockroaches and other insects. When you squash them, see them torn into pieces with insides flowing out. Besides new insects to hunt for, the game has brand new Christmas interface and game graphics. The game utilizes the iPhone’s touch screen interface and brings excellent gaming experience. A new version of the game is rated highly by players.
• SeeItWithUs has announced Video Zoom 1.0 for iPhone 3GS devices. Digital zoom for iPhone 3GS Camcorder is a feature requested by millions of 3GS users is finally on the App Store. It’s the first digital zoom solution for iPhone’s camcorder. While there have been several apps on the app store which enabled digital zoom functionality on the iPhone’s still camera, a similar feature for the 3GS video camera was much awaited.
• App Cubby and Honeywell Consumer Products Group have announced the release of Gas Cubby by FRAM, a free, sponsored version of App Cubby’s critically acclaimed iPhone app Gas Cubby. All iPhone and iPod Touch owners can download the app and use it to optimize fuel economy and better maintain their vehicle. With a focus on ease-of-use, Gas Cubby by FRAM supports multiple vehicles, and offers excellent charts for miles-per-gallon, gas price, gas expenses, as well as service expenses.
• IK Multimedia has announced the release of a new application for the iPhone/iPod Touch: GrooveMaker Reggae. This new style-based app allows anyone to create and share non-stop reggae tracks for remixing, multimedia and movie soundtrack compositions on the go, in real-time, just like a professional DJ or music producer.
• Daze End Software has announced Listmaker 1.2, a new version of their list manager for the iPhone and iPod touch. Listmaker is a simple tool for storing and organizing user-created lists. Major features include support for nested sublists and web synchronization. This new version adds often requested features such as searching, and the ability to create lists from the contents of the iPhone’s clipboard.
• Daze End Software has released Action Lists 2.2, a new version of their task manager for the iPhone and iPod touch. Action Lists is designed specifically for the popular Getting Things Done methodology created by David Allen. Action Lists has many GTD-specific features. Version 2.2 adds user requested features like searching and the ability to create tasks from the contents of the iPhone’s clipboard.
• The Sherlock Holmes Quiz app is now on the App Store. This is a quiz of your detective knowledge. The game has four challenging levels and each level covers questions on Sherlock Holmes’ day to day life, mysteries, villains, and all those wonderful films with the great duo. The aim is to finish the final level and become an all-knowing fan.
• The Movie Buff app is now on the App Store. Who stared in Sherlock Holmes, Who directed Star Wars? Too easy for you? Not to worry, Movie Buff will test you to the limit…was it Eva Gardner or Susan Hayward in Mogambo? Movie Buff is a fun Movie quiz and with over 2,000 questions it promises hours of entertainment. This is a race against time to get those tricky questions right. The more you answer correctly, the more time you get. So, if you were really good, you will get the longest quiz. Not only that, Movie Buff figures out what is your favourite movie genre, as well. You might be surprised!
• Sulaba, Inc. has announced Journal Diary 1.1.4 for iPhone and iPod touch. Journal Diary lets you record your memories, thoughts, ideas and special events with not just written words but with voice recordings, pictures, and emotions as well. Journal Diary can also be customized for password protection with its handy Vault. Keep discreet information like bank account numbers, logins etc in a safe. The main features are divided into 5 modules and the help section provides tips for their usage.
• Sulaba, Inc. has announced PMP Cheat Sheet 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. The PMP Cheat Sheet features a concise set of project management processes, formulas, terminologies and notes used for quick reference. It can be used as a memory refreshing tool by a seasoned Project management professional or as a simple, basic and brief instruction set for accomplishing a specific task by a novice Project manager.