Macintosh/iPhone software update roundup – January 8, 2010

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for January 8, 2010:

Macintosh

• Everyone knows that backups are essential to protect against file corruption, hardware failure, and theft, but to go beyond the limited security of turning on Time Machine or copying a few files to a disc, Mac users can now turn to “Take Control of Easy Mac Backups,” by award-winning author and backup guru Joe Kissell.
• RadTech’s innovative and versatile OmniStand provides several important benefits for notebook computer users: an adjustable desktop and/or low counter stand, an ultra-efficient cooling aid that doesn’t require power or tie up a USB port, and a compact form-factor that can be stowed in most any computer sleeve, bag or pack.

iPhone/iPod

• One half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.1 For the millions of workers whose pain is caused by long hours seated at a computer, relief has finally arrived in the new Computer Relief (Computer Rx – YogaMD) iPhone app now available in the iTunes App Store
• To celebrate the new year—and as a way of introducing themselves to the tens of millions of new players getting iPhones and iPod touches over the holiday—Appy Entertainment is having a sale. For the weekend of January 8-10 only, all of their apps are only $0.99.
• Zidware, Inc. has announced Matheroids 1.0, their innovative educational app for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Matheroids was created by parents as an amazingly simple way for young children to learn basic number recognition and sequencing as they play their way through a hip space arcade game. It is part of their new Nanoschool Kids series of personal learning apps for children that will cover basic comprehension, math, science, geography, reading and more.
• WeBe, a computer mouse app for the iPhone or the iPod touch, lets you have all the functions of a normal Bluetooth mouse in your pocket. The screen of the iPhone or iPod touch serves as a trackpad.
• Joseph Collins has released Man Laws 1.4 for iPhone and iPod Touch. With a mixture of humor and familiar situations, Man Laws provides lots of unique and funny insights into the male psyche. The app offers to demystify some of the quirks of male behavior in a humorous way, helping men and women alike to better understand the sometimes zany, often unpredictable things that those of the masculine gender are prone to say and do. It’s as close to an instructional manual for men that there is.
• S&H Entertainment Localization has released The Roadie 1.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The Roadie must save the world from alien robots while avoiding an electrified wall that follows closely behind. This character driven game features fast-paced, non-stop action with an original heavy metal soundtrack for insanely addictive gameplay. To effectively rid the world of these alien pests, The Roadie must successful play his guitar in time to the app’s original heavy metal soundtrack.
• Deep Powder Software has released Grave Sites 1.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app offers the most comprehensive biography and grave site location information available in any app of its kind. In depth chronicling and GPS locating, along with flexible features, means an easy yet fully encompassing learning experience. The app provides detailed biographies of thousands of well known figures from both current times and history.
• JENS Ltd. has released Paradise TV 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. This application is the hottest thing to hit the market in recent memory, offering fifty top-quality video clips and one hundred photos of some of the sexiest, most gorgeous models in the world. Coming from JENS, developers of the steamiest apps available, users already know the product will surpass their expectations.
• Aero Visions International Inc. has released iHUD 2.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. iHUD is an application that turns an iDevice into an aerospace inspired mobile glass cockpit. The app offers a fun way to teach, see, and learn about how motion and force effects the vehicle they are riding in. With the iHUD application, an iPhone becomes a mobile visualization tool, depicting extraordinary graphics with a simulated horizon and features for relaying and displaying pertinent data.
• PatternBlox is a simple game of matching colours with objects. The objects in this case are amoebas. These are of different colours and are in blocks of different colours. The aim of the game is to match the correct coloured amoeba with the matching coloured block. You can swap places of two amoebas at a time by selecting them. It is not necessary that they have to be next to each other. So get clicking, swapping and matching!
• eComposite has released 321run 2.0 for iPhone devices. Version 2.0 adds a complete online experience, allowing users to share their runs and challenge others. The free website is directly connected to the app, allowing to easily share your run with others, instantly after you run. 321run is a focused app to track your runs and train yourself running, from beginner to intermediate and even expert levels.
• Independent software developer Steve Glinberg has announced the release of KidCalc Math Fun 1.10, the tenth update to his popular animated math flash cards and learning activities app for iPhone and iPod touch. This new version of KidCalc Math Fun adds Valentines Day themed graphics and Number Tracing. Designed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s unique capabilities, KidCalc helps teach math to children, ages 3-8 years using holiday themed graphics, engaging animations and voice-overs.
• Happymagenta has released Spyglass 1.3, an update to their popular digital compass and HUD display for iPhone 3GS devices. Developed specifically to leverage the iPhone’s unique capabilities, Spyglass turns any 3GS iPhone into a real-time digital spyglass and heads-up display with a live compass, GPS information, as well as tilt horizon – right over the live feed from the built-in camera or a map. Version 1.3 users can save pictures into the album, show location pin on a map, and much more.
• Etre Touchy would like to introduce you to this season’s new and improved range of gloves. Etre Touchy gloves are a fun way to keep your hands warm and dry while using mobile phones, music players, portable games systems, cameras and other electronic devices. Their missing thumb and index fingertips allow you to touch, tap, stroke, slide and pinch these devices’ displays in any way you desire.
• Life today is a hectic, stressful and mundane existence. We are all bogged down by our daily chores and find little or no time to relax. To help us make our lives better the Ojas Foundation has come up with a wonderful collection of mantras and chants. Listening to Ojas on your iPhone or iPod touch will definitely help make a difference to the chaos around us. The entire collection of 61 tracks is divided into six sections, each catering to an important aspect of human life.
• Creative firm FORM has released Abandoned 1.11, a niche, community-driven virtual tourism app for iPhone and iPod touch. Abandoned lets users explore, discover, and share abandoned locations across the United States. Currently in Apple’s Top 20 Paid Travel apps list, and recently featured in Apple’s “What’s Hot list,” Abandoned allows users to become armchair explorers of modern-day ruins, from empty asylums to shipwrecks under the Great Lakes.
• XCool Apps has announced iType2Go Pro 1.01, their revolutionary new app for iPhone and iPod touch devices. iType2Go Pro lets you see what’s in front of you and your surroundings while you type, walk and email. It puts the camera’s view directly beneath the message that you are composing, giving you enough visual aid to help avoid obstacles. iType2Go Pro also lets you update your Facebook and Twitter status from within the app.
• EuroSmartz has announced ClipPrinter 1.1.1, its latest printing application for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. ClipPrinter enables users to easily copy, print, transfer or save and categorize copied items from other iPhone or iPod Touch apps, or to an Apple Mac or Windows PC. EuroSmartz was the first company to bring the functionality of printing photos, contacts, email and more to the iPhone when it released Print n Share in February 2008.
• Random Support, LLC has announced NIOSH Chemical Hazards 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. The NIOSH Chemical Hazards app implements the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Safety from the CDC and NIOSH. In addition to offering the complete contents of the traditional Pocket Guide, it includes quickly accessible and fully searchable indexes by Chemical name, CAS Number, or RTECS Number as well as the ability to easily create a custom index containing the most frequently used reference chemicals.
• Quapps Interactive has announced Bunny Bang 1.0, their new game for iPhone and iPod touch. Bunny Bang is a fast paced action game that sees you solve codes in order to save Bunny. You have 60 seconds to solve the code and prevent the explosion. When you have selected numbers our number watcher will inform you if you have any correct numbers or if any are in the correct positions. It is then up to you to figure out the combination before time runs out and save the bunny from rabbit stew.
• Macsoftex has announced iTost 1.1, their collection of Russian toasts for iPhone and iPod touch. The Master toast or toaster is a key figure for any celebration. It was he, with toast, parables, and life histories who leads the table and creates a cheerful mood of celebration. In order to learn how to speak beautifully toasted, not necessarily be a philologist or a professional toast-master, to be observed.
• Independent software developer Alex Roberts has announced Mercury 2.0, a visually distinct weather application for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Get visual weather information wherever you find yourself in the world. With up to the minute temperature and conditions; forecasted temperatures; precise sunrise and sunset information; and user defined locations. Mercury gets out of your way with a clean and elegant interface, and shows you exactly what you need to know.
• Vuzix Corporation has unveiled a new line of eyewear accessories for its Wrap series of video eywear at this year’s 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show. Accessories include the Wrap VGA Adapter, Wrap 6 Degrees-of-Freedom Tracker, Wrap Power Sled, Wrap CV Recharge Pack, Wrap Style Lens options and a Deluxe Carry Case. These new products transform the Wrap line into the first-ever pair of upgradeable video eyewear. These innovative upgrades offer consumers the ability to purchase a product that can adapt to a user’s specific needs.
• Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre have announced the official introduction of Diddy Beats, the latest addition to the hugely popular Beats by Dr. Dre headphone family from Monster. Created in conjunction with music entrepreneur and fashion icon Sean “Diddy” Combs, Diddy Beats integrate Dr. Dre’s incredible club-level bass, amazing clarity and sonic power into an elegant, sophisticated in-ear design. With their sleek black and silver chrome finish they look as great as they sound.
• Monster and Beats by Dr. Dre have announced a revolutionary new addition to their popular headphone family: Beats by Dr. Dre Spin Professional Headphones. A breakthrough in professional music listening and creative equipment, the Beats Spin headphones were developed through the collaborative efforts of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre, Monster and Jimmy Iovine. The new over-ear Beats Spin headphones combine sophisticated construction and advanced sonic technologies to deliver the power, extra durability and sound isolation that until now has been lacking in professional headphones. Beats Spin headphones are tailored for use by working DJs, producers, engineers and musicians, both in the studio and onstage.
• Ph03nix New Media has launched the iPhone Game Rebate program, the first system that provides cash rewards to purchasers of iPhone games. The innovative new rebate program lets iPhone game publishers and developers reward their customers with cash incentives, while users can enjoy discounts of 50% or more on newly released games.
• Will Evans Apps has announced the release of StickMan Movies, a collection of short movie clips for iPhone and iPod Touch. In StickMan Movies, the popular StickMan figure undertakes a series of mini adventures, fighting sharks, robots and other stick figures.