Macintosh/iPhone software update roundup – January 14, 2010

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for January 14, 2010:

Macintosh

• Stand By Soft has released RationalPlan 3.16.0 for the Mac OS X Snow Leopard platform. RationalPlan is a project management software application developed to assist project managers in creating plans, tracking progress, allocating resources, managing budgets and analyzing workload. Besides the upgrade to Snow Leopard the new version comes with a significant increase in execution speed for resource sheets, file type association on silent install.
• Cocoatech has released Path Finder 5.5.7, an update to their advanced file management utility for Mac OS X. Path Finder looks and operates much like the Finder, but with hundreds of additional tools and a focus on single-window use. The new version adds a few new features, such as Growl notifications, while tremendously improving launch times and overall performance. Version 5.5.7 adds one big new feature for developers: and updated SDK with support for custom icon overlay plugins.
• Recosoft Corporation has started shipping PDF2Office Professional v5.0 for Macintosh. PDF2Office Professional v5.0 contains over 100+ new features and enhancements; a major new element of PDF2Office Professional v5.0 for Macintosh is the capability to convert PDF documents to the Microsoft Excel formats. Additionally, PDF2Office Professional v5.0 has been designed to operate with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard impeccably.
• Yazsoft has announced Playback 1.2.4, an important update to their popular zero configuration media server for Mac OS X. Playback allows anyone to share their media with any Playstation 3, Xbox 360, or other supported UPnP compatible device. Playback can also share media stored in folders or even make entire disks available to a Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. By default, Playback will share almost any content on the users system. Version 1.2.4 includes many new improvements.

iPhone/iPod

• BlockChalk is a location-based app that lets you leave notes in your neighborhood. You can leave notes (“chalks”) on your block, your street, at the coffee shop, or anywhere you happen to be. Other BlockChalk users nearby can reply to you publicly or privately. The app also lets you set your “home neighborhood” so you can keep up-to-date with the latest chalks near home. It also includes support for push notifications so you can be notified when there are new chalks in your home neighborhood or when someone replies to something you’ve written.
• Will Gear, LLC has released Hot Chick-O-Meter 1.2 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app rates and allows for customized ratings of photographs of women, otherwise known as ‘Hot Chicks’. Users take a photo with their iPhone or iPod Touch and let the app assign a rating or they can do that themselves. Users can share the entertaining results with friends via email. Men can get feedback from their friends when they meet a new woman they’re not sure about.
• One Moxie Ventures, LLC has released Wheel of Doom 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. This latest release from One Moxie Ventures doles out punishments to misbehaving children with a spin of the wheel. The app removes parents from the friction of the moment while making an immediate decision on an appropriate penalty for inappropriate behavior. Wheel of Doom takes it out of the parents hands, shifting focus for both parties, which may help provide a cooling down period.
• Imobin today released Call Meet Calendar Premium 1.3 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app offers the ultimate in event reminder and meeting communication tools. It boasts unique features such as direct call launching, iPhone calendar syncing and quick, and easy contact selection for smooth scheduling, meeting reminders and more. The app alerts users to an upcoming appointment, even if the iPhone and iPod Touch is in standby mode or the user is in another application.
• JT Enterprises has released MathCents 1.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. MathCents combines education and fun to teach kids and adults the identification and counting of American coins. The game quickly becomes addictive because of its timed action, amusing response to wrong answers and simulated financial rewards. The app can played one user at a time but the collection of quarters enables the game to become a multi-player challenge.
• Deep Pocket Series LLC has introduced A Love Reminder 1.0, their unique pretexting utility for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Designed to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique capabilities and interface, A Love Reminder serves to help busy individuals keep in touch with loved ones by texting them reminders on the date and hour they choose. Whether it’s a birthday or anniversary, A Love Reminder is perfect for anyone who wants to send reminders for any special occasion.
• Rainmaker Research Inc. has announced Spell Catcher X 10.3.3, a significant update to the industry’s most advanced collection of writing productivity tools. Spell Catcher provides spell checking in sixteen languages, and much more. Version 10.3.3 adds 64-bit support on Mac OS X 10.6, updated linguistics and languages, and many other new features and changes. Spell Catcher X 10.3.3 is a free update for Spell Catcher X 10.3 owners.
• Infinity Softworks, Inc. has announced powerOne 1.0, their financial and real estate calculator for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. powerOne includes almost 60 pre-installed calculations for finance, real estate, mortgages, investing and conversions, a high-powered algebraic and RPN calculator. Additional calculations can be programmed making powerOne infinitely expandable. Calculations are displayed in simple forms, called templates, that make what-if scenario analysis fast and easy.
• Joseph and Valerie Nardone have announced the release of their iCelebrity Reporter and iCelebrity Sightings iPhone apps. Using the GPS feature of the iPhone, these apps send mappable celebrity sightings to a database which then makes the sightings available to other app users. The apps and the database contain features that protect the safety of the celebrities.
• With the new high-tech bags by Vienna-based design label Urban Tool, iPod and iPhone can be controlled directly through the bag. This way, the popular music player can remain safely stored inside, while you select songs, adjust the volume or pause the music – all through an interface on the carrying strap of the two high-tech bags, “i-hopHolster” and “i-caseBelt.”
• Affinicore, Inc. has announced Park’n Find 2.2, a major update to its popular parking spot locator for iPhone devices. Designed specifically to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique capabilities and touch interface, Park’n Find takes the frustration out of finding the car in a large parking lot. Users are guided with a map that automatically zooms and pans to keep the path to their parking spot in focus. Version 2.2 features several user requested features.
• Bowers Technologies, Inc. has announced that they will be giving away 10 free copies of their upcoming iPhone app, iPastor. iPastor is a valuable tool for pastors, ministers, missionaries, church staff, and even volunteers to effectively and efficiently serve the church members. Entries can be pastors, ministers, missionaries, church staff, or volunteers who have an iPhone or iPod Touch. People wishing to submit entries to the contest can visit Bowers Technologies online.
• Games industry veteran Hayden Scott-Baron goes indie and makes an iPhone game. Tumbledrop is cute, addictive and occasionally maddening. Remove the shapes to safely land the pink star, but watch out! One wrong move could send it tumbling into the wate! Crazy interlocking shapes add to the fun and the challenge. Tumbledrop was originally released as a browser game in October 2008, receiving the Unity 2008 Award for best gameplay. Now sporting new features, more levels, and a score-based ‘quick-play’ mode Tumbledrop is ready for iPhone. With a unique queueing interface it’s now even easier to control and ideal for the touch-screen.
• VerySoftware has announced Valentine Gift Finder 1.0, their free Valentine’s Day app for iPhone and iPod touch. Valentine Gift Finder helps find the perfect gift for your Valentine. VerySoftware teamed up with Prezzybox, one of the best gift providers, so that you can treat your loved ones with something special. Get up to 33% discount and save up to 1/3 on gifts when using Valentine Gift Finder. You will be pleasantly surprised what a wide range of presents Valentine Gift Finder provides.
• Coladia has announced Secret of the Lost Cavern Episode 2 for iPhone and iPod touch. Secret of the Lost Cavern is an episodic adventure game that plunges the player into an inspiring journey that takes place during the Paleolithic period in prehistoric time, 15,000 years B.C. The gameplay and each puzzle were redesigned to take unique advantage of the touch capabilities of the iPhone. 3D graphics and videos were also optimized for an unparalleled visual quality on mobile devices.
• SimGym LLC has announced SimGym 1.0, their latest mobile fitness app for the iPhone and iPod touch devices. SimGym puts power and proficiency of a personal trainer in the palm of your hand. Developed by a team of renowned fitness professionals, SimGym not only demonstrates what exercises to do and how to do them instantly, it also tracks progress for each exercise easily and effectively, allowing the user to spend more time working out and less time thinking about it.
• To the flocks of players not yet acquainted with Woolly The Jumper, Assyria Game Studio is giving the hordes of potential players an opportunity to try out a Lite version of the game featuring Farmer Brown on his jet pack, and of course, Woolly the sheep with his fluffy coat!