Mac, iPhone, iPod and iPad product news – February 18, 2010

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod/iPad product updates and announcements for February 18, 2010:

• Macintosh
• iPod

Macintosh

• Calf Trail Software, LLC has released Photon Star 1.0, a helper application for iPhoto that lets a user rate pictures via a surprisingly efficient process. Designed for use with an Apple remote or keyboard, its workflow provides a fast and fun way to help users better enjoy their best pictures. The user may choose an iPhoto album containing unrated photos, and Photon Star presents the photos in an uncluttered rating interface that may even be made full screen.
• SeedCode has introduced their new calendar extension for FileMaker Pro 10. Their fastest calendar yet, this is also their most portable and is easily pasted into your own FileMaker file. The popular calendar is now completely rewritten to take advantage of FileMaker 10. The calendar’s graph and layouts are now simple enough under the hood to paste into your own file, while adding the sophisticated behaviors that users expect in a professional scheduling solution.

iPhone/iPod/iPad

• Toktumi, Inc., has announced that the VoIP-enabled version of its calling app Line2, Version 2.0, has been approved by Apple and is now available on iTunes to new and existing customers. Line2′s Wi-Fi capabilities allow international travelers to place and receive calls while overseas without incurring voice or data roaming charges. Using Line2, Calls to any number back home will be free, as will calls to other Line2 users, wherever they are worldwide. Calls to international numbers start at $0.02 per minute, whether calling from home or abroad.
• Blyx comes from a universe that is colorless and dull, and the poor little bugger could use some help. This is where you come in. You need to help Blyx experience a colorful and vibrant world in this addicting puzzle game developed by Pearl Fisher Games. Blyx is easy to learn, but incredibly hard to master, and is suitable for players of all ages.
• Hypno Therapy Direct today released Total Confidence & Success 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The app is a new tool for helping people transform their lives and realize their greatest potential. Through a combination of audio and video aids from a renowned hypnotherapist, Total Confidence & Success relaxes, heals self-esteem, instills confidence and improves focus. The program works for anyone looking to improve daily life and realize their full potential.
• 24x7digital has announced TeachMe: Kindergarten 2.0, a major update to their popular children’s learning game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. TeachMe: Kindergarten is an educational app which teaches four age-appropriate topics to kindergartners: sight words, addition, subtraction and spelling. Version 2.0 offers many enhancements including a new achievements screen, a redesigned teaching system, more advanced spelling questions, a new sticker scene and more.
• Broken Thumbs Apps today announces Emily’s Girl Talk 1.0, a collection of four charming story-telling games for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The game features the classic games M.A.S.H., Lemon, Cootie Catcher and the Love Game, allowing fans to create hilarious stories to share with friends, discover their fortunes and more. It also features a beautiful journal to keep stories and a sticker album to display the cute stickers earned.
• Herp Games has announced Doodle Wars: Ship vs. Stick 1.0, a finger flicking action packed shooter game in a cartoon style made exclusively for iPhone and iPod touch. Doodle Wars: Ship vs. Stick features more than 140 evolving levels that unlock fascinating new weapons and upgrades. Players also face challenging opponents such as angry bunnies, kamikaze elephants and boss enemies like the evil pink sheep that try to keep you from reaching your goal.
• In celebration of the release of their new site, How Do You Stick It?, TapFactory has announced that through the month of February they will be running a contest. The new site, titled How Do You Stick It?, is a gallery of user submitted images created with TapFactory’s “Stick It” app for iPhone and iPod Touch. To enter the contest, users can submit their Stick It creations either through the app or through the How Do You Stick It? web site.
• Funky Visions has announced Tramp Stamp 1.0, their new game for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Much like Doodle Jump and Hook Champ introduced new game play mechanics, Tramp Stamp introduces trampolines. You control a bouncing ball by tilting your device. The twist? You’re bouncing off a trampoline to stamp boxes! Tramp Stamp features simple controls with progressively harder game play, varying game stategy, and OpenFeint highscores, achievements, and social network.
• Coladia has announced Secret of the Lost Cavern: The Fate of Arok, the fourth and last episode of its adventure game for iPhone and iPod touch. 15,000 years B.C. Secret of the Lost Cavern is an episodic adventure game that plunges the player into an inspiring journey. 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.
• Quapps Interactive has introduced Peter Dickson’s (VoiceOver Man) Pocket Announcer 1.0, their new and unique audio-based application for iPhone and iPod touch. Peter Dickson’s Pocket Announcer is an official application of the UK’s most popular VoiceOver Man. Peter Dickson is the voice behind X-Factor, The Brits, E4 and a zillion more of the beloved TV and Radio shows.
• EUROCOMP has announced PocketCAS 2.1, its well-acclaimed Computer Algebra System for the iPhone and iPod touch. PocketCAS is a very advanced computer algebra system which turns an iPhone or iPod touch into a device capable of calculating complicated mathematical problems in just seconds. The new version makes it even easier to access EUROCOMP’s excellent customer support from within the application.
• Active Storage, Inc. has announced the release of Active Viewer 1.1, an enhanced version of the well-received Active Viewer iPhone app. Designed to allow customers to monitor their Active Storage high-performance RAID systems worldwide—directly from their iPhone, this hard-working app has been updated with input from customers who have grown to rely on Active Storage for all of their professional data storage needs.
• Renkara Media Group has announced the release of AccelaStudy Hebrew for iPhone and iPod touch. With the addition of Hebrew, AccelaStudy is now available in 18 languages. Using AccelaStudy’s award-winning language study tools, students will quickly master Hebrew vocabulary and pronunciation with ease. AccelaStudy Hebrew features a comprehensive 2,300 word vocabulary list divided into more than 60 subject areas, including travel, food, occupational, health and body, and more.
• Logic Consulting LLC has announced Newton’s Balls 1.0, their Newton’s Cradle simulator for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Using a top notch physics engine and leveraging the capabilities of the iPhone/iPod Touch, Newton’s Balls has the most realistic play available. Newton’s Balls allow the user to move, flick, throw, and drop the balls however and wherever they like. It provides relaxing gameplay that is perfect for the casual user.
• GelaSkins Inc. has released their new National Geographic designs, providing a wide range of images from renowned National Geographic photographers for laptop and iPhone skins. The National Geographic designs include pieces from renowned National Geographic photographers including images of nature, wildlife, human accomplishment, space and sea. Preset designs from each of these catalogs are initially available for laptops and iPhones specifically. The new images will also be available through the Do-It-Yourself service for all GelaSkins’ device templates including mobile phones, gaming devices and more.
• Joby, Inc., designer of the Gorillapod flexible camera tripod, has introduced two new additions to the Gorillapod family of products at this year’s Photo Marketing Association International tradeshow: the Gorillapod Magnetic flexible tripod and the Ballhead X. Joby will showcase its entire suite of products from the Gorillapod, Gorillamobile, and Gorillatorch lines at the Joby booth (#1436, Anaheim Convention Center), demonstrating its commitment to making thoughtfully-designed, revolutionary products that meet the creative and active needs of the photography community.
• Straight from the entertainment capital of the world, the independent innovator and publisher of mobile entertainment, GOSUB 60, quenches society’s thirst for the unknown with their newest game Conspiracy Theory: Area 51. Based on the world’s most famous military facility, this game is jam-packed with mystery, scandal and authentic U.S. Government alien investigation reports. Without a doubt, Conspiracy Theory: Area 51 will keep even the most dedicated Sci-Fi enthusiast amused!
• The brand new American Dream by MultiEducator, Inc. is a unique application for Apple iPhone/iPod that contains nearly 500 of the most important documents in US history. This $2.99 download provides instant access to an astounding array of the most important documents, speeches and inaugural addresses from American Presidents political leaders from the beginnings of our country all the way to the present.
• The national real estate brokerage ZipRealty has released an updated version of its iPhone application that uses augmented reality to enable a person to look through an iPhone to see information about homes listed for sale and recently sold homes. The app shows homes for sale in more than 4,000 cities and neighborhoods where the brokerage operates, and recently sold homes nationwide.
• smackBOTS is a re-imagining of the popular Rock’em Sock’em Robots toys from years ago, but with extras and intricacies added for the enjoyment of today’s kids (and adults). It’s fun to see children embracing the digital trend and using iPhones and iPods to pass the time or even learn, but it’s even more fun to watch them endlessly entertained by the same sorts of toys and games that entertained kids 50 years ago. smackBOTS is free for children and parents to enjoy.