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

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

• Macintosh
• iPod

Macintosh

• app4mac today released CheckUp 2.6, a major update to the innovative tool that allows you to check the health and monitor the behavior of a Mac computer. CheckUp is now able to detect the most common issues of a Mac and display details about how to fix them. CheckUp works with any Mac with a PowerPC G4, G5 or Intel Processor. With its use of the latest Mac OS X technologies, breakthrough ease-of-use and innovation, all Mac users will find CheckUp very useful and even fun.
• PocketMac has announced PocketMac for BlackBerry 5.0, the latest version of the groundbreaking sync solution. PocketMac for BlackBerry comes complete with a synchronization engine redesigned from the ground up for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. The new engine accounts for the new quicker synchronization speeds. Also included are simpler, clearer preferences, reorganized to accommodate the way users want to work.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced File Courier 1.5, a major update to its automatic digital delivery system with emphasis on needs of graphics industry professionals. File Courier delivers files and folders to FTP and local destinations and sends automatic e-mail delivery notifications. It also creates lo-res PDF files, compresses items and password-protects deliveries. The new update introduces some major new features such as delivery of multiple files, file queue and interface improvements.

iPhone/iPod/iPad

• iKit has introduced their iPad Leather Folio Case, giving your iPad an elegant look. Made of genuine cow leather, the slim padded design gives you access to all your functions and protects the device in an optimal manner. It features an interior and exterior embossed design with secure access, keeping your iPad safe and giving you a sophisticated look. The wow factor for this product is the beautiful interior and exterior lining, which is accompanied by an embossed brushed plate, perfect for the executives of this world.
• The world famous H1 Longitude Sea Clock is possibly the most important timepiece ever created. Nearly 300 years ago it was the beginning of John Harrison’s quest to create a timekeeper accurate enough to determine longitude at sea. The H1 Longitude Sea Clock still exists to this day, thanks to Rupert Gould’s and Jonathan Betts’ dedication in restoring and maintaining it. It is the property of the Ministry of Defence Art Collection in London, and is on extended loan to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, where it can be viewed in the Time and Longitude Gallery at the Royal Observatory. Developer Tech Center Labs has been granted the exclusive and honored opportunity of bringing this marvelous creation to life on the Apple iPhone and Apple iPod touch.
• Demystifying iPhone/iPad App Development—a conference session given at the Macworld 2010 Conference & Expo in San Francisco in February—is now available online as a free video screencast. Parade of Progress Productions, a Los Angeles-based design, development and consulting firm specializing in the iPhone, announced that it is making its Macworld session freely available, both for streaming and as a download.
• 288 Vroom LLC has released 100 Horror Stories And Sounds 2.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. Read 100 of the greatest horror stories of all time and immerse yourself in the terror with 20 disturbing sounds and animations, and a few extra surprises that would be no fun to mention here. And now Version 2.0 has a new haunting feature called Auto-Scare. Excellent for Halloween or any time of year.
• Jasper Apps has announced My Vacation 1.1.2 for iPhone and iPod touch on the Apple App Store. My Vacation is an app for travellers which is packed with features, all within the app rather than simply being an interface to a website. Regardless of network coverage the interface makes it simple to capture the memories of a trip, rather than let them be forgotten. The release date is perfectly timed for those going on vacation during Easter, or starting to plan for the Summer.
• I-itch Inc. has announced the release of ABC Shakedown Plus 1.0, a follow-up to their very popular first app, “ABC Shakedown.” for iPhone and iPod touch devices. ABC Shakedown Plus is a teacher developed, timeless learning tool that actually teaches as it entertains. This app features three multi-sensory games that foster literacy by introducing and reinforcing letter recognition and letter sounds through interactive game play that implements delightful animation and audio.
• Alien Equation, an indie math puzzle game, is now available for the iPhone and iPod touch. When the navigation computer on your interstellar spaceship contracts a nasty virus and reverts to the intelligence of a three year old what do you do? Can you reteach the computer math while fending off the contagious invaders? Rearrange a grid of numbers and operators into enough valid equations before your system shuts down and strands you on a planet full of bipedal, hairless apes.
• kode80 LLC has released HoloToy 1.01, an update to its remarkable 3D technology app for iPhone & iPod touch. Version 1.01 introduces a remote controlled, user customizable robot that exists inside the virtual 3D space created by the HoloToy. HoloToy works by distorting the 3D scenes displayed on screen in a way our brains would expect based on the current angle of the device, all in real time. It presents a believable 3D scene that appears to extend right into the device itself.
• Kimchi Studios has presented Get Wise: Dangerous Quotes edition for iPhone and iPod touch. It contains 25,000+ powerful quotes by the world’s most brilliant and famous people. Dare to discover their secrets of success and thoughts on 160+ topics. Features include music, favorites, Twitter and Facebook posting, search, themes, notes and more. It offers web-enabled access to most viewed and top-rated quotes to help uncover the best and the most dangerous quotes of all-time.
• Electric Pocket Limited has released an iPhone version of BugMe!, the popular note-taker and reminder application. BugMe! for iPhone lets users jot quick notes and doodles – with their finger as the pen – just like a digital sticky note. The new release of BugMe! introduces a first for iPhone users: BugMe!’s “Save to Home Screen” feature lets users save a copy of any note to the iPhone’s app launcher screen.
• TimeStream Software has announced free downloads of its new Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Notescast for the iPod Classic, iPod nano and iPod Video. Available as a free download for a limited time, it’s the classic tale of Alice’s journey down the rabbit hole filled with some of the most notable and interesting characters in literary history, and now iPod owners can read it wherever they go on their iPod Classic, nano or Video.
• Clever Coding has announced iColor Easter Eggs, the latest update to their holiday app for iPhone and iPod touch devices. iColor Easter Eggs has been completely revamped adding new features, as well overhauling the graphics for the entire app. Users are able to choose one of six custom egg designs. From the designs they are able to color the eggs in any way they would like. After color the eggs, users can pick one of eighteen colorful backgrounds for their picture.
• Let’s be honest; during the winter season, we often back out of doing too much exercise outdoors. However, spring brings new motivation. Running, cycling and skating are all on the hit list of urban athletes. The Viennese design label URBAN TOOL has the right accessories and bags for all our sporty activities, proving that we don’t need to sacrifice style when exercising. Practical and stylish at the same time, “crossHolster,” “sportHolster” and “sportStrap” present themselves in new trendy colours.
• If you’ve spent too much money on hotties and didn’t get anywhere, here’s your chance to get some back. BigStack Studios has announced the launch of Hottie Hookups Lite, available now on the App Store for free. The new lite version offers players the chance to aid the hotties by flicking and tilting nerds away on select levels as well as boasting a number of features from the full version of the game. To celebrate the release of Hottie Hookups Lite, for a limited time, the full version of Hottie Hookups is now available at $0.99.
• BCNmultimedia today is pleased to announce three months of Success in the App Store with the release of Children’s Bible 1.2 for iPhone and iPod touch. The full color Children’s Bible app tells the stories of the Old and New Testament in seven different languages and is the first comic book style Bible to be made available to iPhone and iPod touch users. This edition of the Bible allows you to read one diferent free comic book every month.
• TimeStream Software today announces Disneyland Park Guide 2.0, a major update of its popular Notescast for iPhone and iPod touch. Now guests worldwide can access a wealth of information about Disneyland Park and the Disneyland Hotels on their iPhones in over 130 pages and more than 300 colorful new photos showcasing Disneyland Park and the nearby Disneyland Hotels.
• Spoonjuice has announced the launch of a new organizational app, Daily Deeds, for the iPhone and iPod touch. Daily Deeds lets users create a task list to carry with them on-the-go, and monitor accomplishments over time. The easy-to-use task management app offers a convenient way to stay organized and motivates users to initiate and achieve new habits. Daily Deeds is now available on the App Store for $0.99.
• IDAPT has unveiled its latest portable charging system during CTIA Wireless 2010 in Las Vegas: the IDAPT i4. This innovative charging solution can charge up to 4 mobile devices simultaneously and is compatible with over 4,000 mobile electronic devices including the iPhone, iPod, Blackberry, Nintendo DS, PSP, PS3 controller, GPS systems, digital cameras, and Bluetooth products.
• Using “Digital Intuition” technology, my6sense is the first app to automatically and intuitively filter users’ Twitter and RSS streams so that their most valuable information is presented first. While the technology requires zero user intervention, it extracts rich feedback based on the user’s consumption habits and has the ability to detect the finest nuances of his interests. This system makes my6sense the only service to surface information precisely according to each user’s unique preferences.
• Scosche Industries has announced its 2010 netbook accessory lineup, which will be unveiled at CTIA 2010 in Las Vegas. The lineup features the new netBOOK Protect line which includes the netSUIT PRO carrying case for netbooks and iPad, netSUIT reversible sleeve, sCLEAN non-toxic eco-friendly screen cleaner and netKIT. The netKIT ships with a clear protective skin, screen protector, spray cleaner with micro fiber cloth, and a combo LCD/Keyboard guard and mouse pad.