Macintosh/iPhone software update roundup – January 19, 2010

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for January 19, 2010:

Macintosh

• Karelia Software has announced the immediate availability of Sandvox 1.6.6, a maintenance update to its award-winning website creation application for Mac OS X. This update, free to all registered users, fixes a few minor issues, improves website compatibility with iPhone web browsers, and improves upon visibility of Sandvox-built websites to Search engines. Karelia Software also announced that it will be participating in tomorrow’s “Indie Relief” charity event.
• Redcort Software has announced Virtual TimeClock ’10, their industry leading time and attendance software for Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows computers. With new break and lunch time tracking capabilities, Virtual TimeClock delivers valuable features to help employers better manage employee payroll costs. Virtual TimeClock ’10 has enhanced the powerful report writer with over a dozen new features that make getting the desired timecard report simple and intuitive.
• OCRKit 1.0 has brought a streamlined and easy to use text recognition to the Mac. OCRKit transforms images and PDF files into searchable PDFs. With built-in OCR allows for editable PDF files with a simple drag and drop and to find them with the Mac’s built-in Spotlight desktop search. OCRKit ships as a native, Intel Macintosh application focusing on usability. It supports many OCR languages, and even more user-interface translations.
• Washington based Calf Trail Software, LLC has announced Sesamouse 1.0, a free new utility for extending the gesture capabilities of the Magic Mouse. Sesamouse imitates real multitouch trackpad gestures and touches from the Magic Mouse. Pinch magnification, rotation and swipes are not sent as keyboard events, but real gestures and touches to Cocoa applications. The utility is free, but user donations are encouraged to help businesses in Haiti rebuild.
• ProteMac has announced ProteMac Security Suite 1.0 for Mac OS X. ProteMac Security Suite is an internet security package for comprehensive protection of Mac computers against all kinds of software threats, such as spyware, Trojans, viruses, unwanted intrusions and network attacks. Offering powerful protection, reliability and simplicity, it is aimed to protect both individual computers and corporate networks from dangerous attacks that may generate from internet or local network.
• equinux has released VPN Tracker 6.1 – a new update to its market-leading IPsec-based VPN client for Mac OS X. VPN Tracker 6.1 supports the SonicWALL TZ 100 and TZ 200, the latest additions of the TZSeries UTM appliances that are aimed at small to mid-sized businesses. VPN Tracker now includes Mode Config support for additional VPN gateways and has greater interoperability with a range of other devices, thereby making it simpler to configure and administrate Macs in a virtual private network.
• Today marks the official release of The Space Bar—community developed office accessory to help you maximize the use of your desk space. The Space Bar is designed to house your desktop clutter while also providing additional USB ports for your gadgets. The Space Bar is simple and elegantly designed and provides you with More Space, More Ports, and Less Clutter.
• The new headphone from Urbanears is designed to be the perfect classic product, utilizing innovative functions and performance with todays technology. The Plattan—which collects its name from Stockholm’s most central and classic meeting point—is the rendezvous of timeless features and pioneering solutions in contemporary design and function.
• The second release from Urbanears is the Tanto, their tribute to the ‘80’s revolution in mobile music, updated with the latest technology and is designed for maximum mobility without the compromise of performance. The Tanto takes you back in time and away from downtown Stockholm. Named after a vibrant park in the South Central area of the Swedish capitol, the design and function of the Tanto reminds you where headphones once came from. But it also shows where we are going.
• ScreenSavrz for iMac protect your display and case from dust, soiling, fingerprints, etc when not in use. They also clean and polish your screen or case anytime without sprays or wet wipes. And if your display has already taken a hit, simply dampen ScreenSavrz with water and polish away any existing scuffing you might have.
• Twelve South has announced it is participating in Indie+Relief, a one day sale of Apple-related products and iPhone apps to raise funds for Haitian earthquake relief. On January 20, 2010 Twelve South and other participating developers have pledged to donate proceeds from the sale of their products to various charities focused on Haitian earthquake relief. Twelve South in particular will donate $5 for every BassJump Subwoofer for MacBook ($79.99) and BackPack Shelf for iMac ($29.99) it sells directly on twelvesouth.com. Twelve South will then donate its proceeds to the American Red Cross. For more information on Indie+Relief and to see a complete list of participants, please visit IndieRelief.com.

iPhone/iPod

• Componica has announced Memorize Words: Spanish 1.7 for iPhone and iPod touch devices. The application uses a highly researched theory of memorization to teach users foreign language vocabulary that will be retained long term. Using a special algorithm within the iPhone application, Memorize Words tracks the progress of the user and adjusts itself to the optimal learning conditions of that student.
• In a society where everyone is mobile and social networking has become more important than ever, independent developer Jonathan Teboul has made available for Apple iPhone and Apple iPod touch the ultimate contact organizer. With ContactsPlus you have the ability to easily create, organize and delete groups of contacts in your address book. You have the ability to view the photos of your contacts directly in the lists with their phone number or email. ContactsPlus also allows you to flip through your contacts photos, either all of them, or the favorite ones, using CoverFlow. You can also set up reminders for birthdays or other special days of your contacts, and sort your contacts by more than 10 filters!
• To help aspiring iPhone developers and newbies take their first leap into the world of iPhone programming, EDUmobile will be conducting Series of iPhone Webinars throughout 2010, called “Kick-Start Your iPhone Programming.” The first webinar of the series will be conducted on 6th and 13th February at 11am EST for duration of one hour by Sushant Das the Head Tutor at EDUmobile. There are only 50 free spots open. A few bonuses will be distributed at the end to all attending.
• California based PhatWare Corporation has announced WritePad Spanish Edition 3.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. WritePad Spanish Edition offers natural handwriting recognition input in the Spanish language in addition to keyboard entry and integration with Bing Translation services. WritePad recognizes cursive, print, and mixed handwriting styles. To enter the text you can simply write with your finger on the iPhone screen in either landscape or portrait mode employing your own handwriting style.
• About Objects, Inc. is offering its popular series of iPhone development classes in Reston, VA during March, 2010. This series of courses lets developers ‘right-size’ their training by choosing the exact courses they need. The courses are designed to give attendees not only a firm grounding in iPhone development, but also solid insight into how things work under the covers so they truly understand what’s going on in their code.
• Momento is a unique diary writing application for the iPhone and iPod touch, which provides a quick and easy way to privately record moments throughout your day. Momento also connects with social web services such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Last.fm to import all or your past tweets, statuses, photos and loved tracks, effectively compiling a diary of your day to day activities.
• Niles Technology Group, creators of Achievers Writing Center essay writing apps, is aware that the economy has put a squeeze on many school budgets. To do its part in advancing technology in education amid declining resources, Niles Technology Group is donating iPhone apps to schools. High schools, colleges, and universities in the US are eligible. Individual teachers and professors can also apply for their classes. Application deadline is January 26, 2010.
• Software Ops LLC will participate in Indie Relief and donate one days proceeds to the relief effort happening in Haiti. They have selected their two best sellers to participate in this effort My Eyes Only and My Eyes Only-Photo. The one days proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross by January 22nd. It is Software Ops’ hope that their donation—along with millions of other donations from Americans—can be a turning point for the people of Haiti.
• Cramzy has announced the release of Experimenter 1.0 for iPhone and iPod devices. Experimenter features 14 home science experiments which everyone can easily perform at home. You will not need any special equipment or ingredients, but mostly stuff you can buy from the local supermarket. The title stands for those who decide to try the experiments and have fun themselves. The footage you will see teaches you step-by-step how to perform physics and chemistry experiments.
• Zombies are on the loose and invading your iPhone and iPod touch in the newly announced Dawn of the Dead game, created by Bytemark Games and Universal Partnerships & Licensing. Based on the smash hit movie of the same name, the Dawn of the Dead App takes you inside the legendary Crossroads Mall in a series of intense and terrifying levels as you fight to survive an onslaught of bloodthirsty zombies.
• Humble Daisy, Inc will participate in Indie Relief and donate one days proceeds to the relief effort happening in Haiti. All profits from ProfCast and SonicPics will be donated to Unicef to aid their Haiti relief efforts. Indie Relief is a charity event to raise money for Haitian earthquake victims through the sale of Mac and iPhone software. Over 125 companies are participating with over 200 applications available. Users can also donate directly, without purchasing the apps.
• Armor Games has announced a kingdom-sized update for their medieval rock-slinger, Crush the Castle. The puzzle-action game challenges players to rain down destruction on increasingly fortified castles. Armed with a trebuchet (a specialized and highly accurate style of catapult), players hurl projectiles over and through castle walls to crush both the castle and its royal denizens. This iPhone classic is the heir to the realm of its father, the wildly successful flash-based Crush The Castle.
• Gravity Applications has announced the release of Appfinder 1.2.1 for the iPhone and iPod touch. Appfinder allows people to use their social network to discover the best apps by sharing their favorites with their friends and vice versa. It allows users to connect to their friends via Facebook and Twitter, thereby making it very easy to use existing social networking connections. Users are encouraged to add their own favorites, thereby automatically sharing their favorites with their friends.
• SPIL Games has announced the release of its first game for the iPhone and iPod touch: Beauty Resort 2. Now available in the iTunes App Store, this spa-themed time management game allows gamers to help salon-owner Heather build her spa business into a beauty empire.
• MORapps, an adventurous new mobile application company, has just released a surprisingly simple app called BoldIt. Essentially, BoldIt allows the iPhone user to flash large, bold messages on the screen of their phone. These easy-to-read messages can even be seen from across the room.