Mac, iPhone, iPod and iPad product news – June 23, 2010

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod/iPad product updates and announcements for June 23, 2010:

• Macintosh
• iPod

Macintosh

• The #1 online action game in the world, Counter-Strike: Source (CSS) has received a major update and is available now for the Mac. CSS is a Steam Play title, so if you own it on the PC – you own it on the Mac. Besides PC Vs. Mac cross-platform play, this update also adds achievements, stats, engine updates and more. To celebrate this launch, CSS is being offered at 66% off its regular price on Steam for a limited time.
• Stellar Information Systems Limited has announced the release of the first Entourage Repair application ever made. Stellar Phoenix Entourage Repair v1.0 is the unique Entourage repair tool in its kind that repairs and restores corrupted RGE files from Microsoft Entourage 2008 and Entourage 2004 applications.
• Cognito Software has released a free utility that solves the problem MYOB users experience when they want to change their accounting software, then struggle to extract the necessary financial data. Previously, the only way to for MYOB users to change systems was by running reports and manually re-entering the information. Cognito has solved this problem. The file converter will effortlessly extract data from MYOB or Account Edge and import it into MoneyWorks.
• St. Clair Software has announced the release of Default Folder X 4.3.8. Default Folder X enhances the file dialogs in all Mac OS X applications. It provides fast navigation to your files, convenient previews, integrated Spotlight tagging, and more. Version 4.3.8 adds image dimensions to its preview display, corrects a graphics issue on newer MacBook Pros and introduces a number of new features and fixes.
• Zevrix Solutions has announced the compatibility of all its products with the Adobe Creative Suite 5 software. Zevrix products include popular solutions for Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, such as BatchOutput, LinkOptimizer and InPreflight. The Zevrix products allow to automate the output and digital delivery from InDesign, save disk space and production time through image optimization and automated packaging, and eliminate errors with thorough preflighting.
• Blue Crowbar Software has announced AppControls 1.0 for Mac OS X. AppControls is a new professional tool for creating custom controls for use in iPhone, iPad or Mac applications and for use on the web. It combines ease-of-use with high-quality output of images and CSS code. AppControls renders its text and images using Apple’s Quartz technology, which means that the results perfectly match the look of Mac, iPhone, and iPad apps and at the same time look great in the modern web browsers.
• Hercules has announced the immediate availability of the newest version of their DJ Console line, the DJ Console Mk4, a mixing console with a compact design and analog audio source connectivity. This new mixer for amateur to mobile DJ’s is an updated version of their earlier, top-selling models worldwide, the DJ Console and DJ Console Mk2 and features a multitude of improvements and additions that will facilitate musical creativity. Featuring a cutting-edge design, this portable controller includes 2 decks and a high-performance audio interface, making it a real, all-in-one DJ station for PC and Mac users.
• Yazsoft has announced a chance to win a hot new 2010 Mac mini and 3 licenses of Playback. Together, this should make for one powerful full featured media server. Playback allows anyone to share their media with any Playstation 3, Xbox 360, or other supported UPnP compatible device. This giveaway is open to everyone and the winner will be chosen by random draw the week of July 19, 2010.

iPhone/iPod/iPad

• Legends of metal meet the king of arcade games in one loud, fast, flipper-thrashing frenzy. Hyper-realistic pinball gameplay set to a backdrop inspired by Slayer’s latest head-banging masterpiece, World Painted Blood. Includes music from the new album, original voice recordings from singer/bassist Tom Araya, guitar shredding mini-games, and a pinball environment straight out of your worst nightmare. Co-produced by Sony Music and Gameprom (makers of The Deep, Wild West, Jungle Pinball, and Pinball HD).
• Apple iPhone and iPod touch users can enjoy hours of casual gaming for just $1.99 or equal when they purchase the Fun Frenzy Pack from Alawar Entertainment, a leading publisher of casual games. For a limited time, Alawar is selling a bundle of one time management, one arcade and one hidden object game for 30% off the regular price. The Fun Frenzy Pack includes Farm Frenzy, Smash Frenzy 2 and Gourmania.
• Firemint has announced that an update for its iPhone app Real Racing is now available on the App Store. The update is designed to take advantage of the new features of iPhone 4 and iOS 4, and is available free of charge to owners of Real Racing.
• Firemint has announced that an update for its Flight Control app for iPhone is now available on the App Store. The update takes advantage of the new features of iPhone 4 and iOS 4, and is available free of charge to owners of Flight Control.
• Thin Book Publishing has released Smart Coach 1.1 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. The application is a new launch, incorporating important leadership advice from a twenty-five year veteran executive coach. Katina Cremona, author of The Thin Book of Smart People Skills; 8 Tools for the Savvy Leader, provides invaluable insight into how managers think, feel and respond. Users can take the information from Smart Coach and apply it for optimum results in their careers and relationships.
• DIRE Studio has announced the release of Viewfinder Cine 1.0.3 for iPhone users. This photography app is the only one of its kind to integrate auto-focus, auto-exposure, and wide angle capability in an easy to use format. Viewfinder Cine combines the high tech features of a director’s viewfinder with the simplicity of a cardboard cutout, and brings it all to the iPhone with simple, gesture based controls. This photographer’s best friend also supports nearly every camera on the market, today.
• Thinking Drone, LLC has released Convert Units for Free 2.2 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. Convert Units for Free comes equipped with hundreds of conversions in thirteen categories that users can take advantage of and it is the only application in the entire App Store market that offers custom unit conversions. The simple, yet refined interface allows users to create their own conversions for anything at all and without having to pay a dime to do so.
• Electric Peel Software has announced Note-A-Lator 1.0, their music reading quiz program for iPhone and iPod touch. Note-A-Lator helps students learn to read music by giving them note and rhythm identification quizzes. The app lets students learn independently by drawing all of their wrong answers on a staff so that they can be compared to the correct answers. Note-A-Lator also offers advice at the end of each quiz based on the student’s performance.
• MyNature, Inc. has released MyNature Tree Guide 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. The app helps identify more than 200 trees commonly found in North America. Search by question and answer to identify a tree, see digital images of leaves, needles, bark, fruit or a profile of each tree featured. Using a series of 15 questions the user answers as many as possible. The app will match the answers against its database for the tree that most closely resembles the answered questions.
• Award-winning independent children’s app developer Duck Duck Moose has announced the launch of Baa Baa Black Sheep 1.0 for the iPhone, iPod touch. This interactive app for preschool children features two popular nursery rhymes: Baa Baa Black Sheep and Row Your Boat. It also includes an educational puzzle activity (match the shapes and touch to see/hear the word). The music arranged and recorded especially for this app is performed by voice, violin and cello.
• Performant Design has announced the general availability of iGarageSale 2.0, its popular iPhone app for locating garage sales on a map near your current location. iGarageSale 2.0 adds native support for the iPad and improved usability when viewing garage sale information.
• Flying Penguin has announced the launch of Skelanimals Dance Party, a new rhythm game for the iPhone and iPod Touch developed by Hardcore3D Wireless. Developed by Hardcore3D Wireless, Skelanimals Dance Party is the first entry into the video game realm for the popular Skelanimals brand and is available immediately for $2.99 on the App Store.
• Apps Made Simple, LLC has released QuickShot! 1.1, a free update to its successful iPhone App. QuickShot! combines the camera and e-mail capabilities of the device together in one quick and easy package. It is the ideal tool for capturing information from billboards, street signs, vehicles, advertisements, storefronts, whiteboards and more. Version 1.1 includes support for Google Maps, taking advantage of the iPhone’s location-awareness capabilities.
• Pixelglow Software has launched Instaviz 1.9 to support Apple’s new iPhone 4 and iOS 4.0 system update. Instaviz is an iOS application that turns roughly sketched shapes and lines into beautifully laid-out diagrams. The first and best iOS diagram sketcher is now enhanced for the iPhone 4 high-resolution retina display and iOS 4.0 multitasking functionality. Version 1.9 also features output to external displays and better integration with other iOS apps.
• Performant Design has updated iGarageSale and iGarageSale Lite with iPad support, changes price of iGarageSale Lite to free. iGarageSale pinpoints garage sales on a Google Maps interface and provides directions to each sale. The application provides browse, search, and favorites modes to scan near-by sales, search for specific items, and mark the favorite sales found for quick recollection. Favorites can be shared with others by e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter.
• Redbits has announced ABContacts 1.5.1, an update to their popular contact manager application for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. With the release of iOS4 new Apple firmware for the iPhone, we updated the app to use some of the new iOS4 features: in-app SMS and multitasking. Version 1.5.1 is now capable of sending texts to groups on iOS4 devices. In-app SMS is used to send messages to single recipients or groups without leaving the app.
• Info-Mac has announced iForum 1.0.6 for Apple iOS devices. iForum allows you to register, login, browse, search and post on Info-Mac, the original online Mac user community. This new update brings several new features to the iForum application, including native support for iPad, optimized graphics for iPhone 4′s high resolution display, support for all orientations on all devices, access the the forum user control panel, and a refreshed user interface.
• Viaden Mobile has launched Video Pokers for iPad. The creators say this is an outstanding phenomenon at the app market because of its perfect quality, appealing design and attractive features. Video poker is a game that unites slot machines with card poker, thus it is tempting for both slot lovers and poker connoisseurs. This allows Viaden Mobile to kill two birds with one stone and draw intense attention of these two broadgroups of enthusiastic app users. Everyone has their hobby-horse, so Video Pokers for iPad can be used to polish strategy-building skills and satisfy the hunger for slot spinning.
• Get ready to pack the explosive firepower of Alliance of Valiant Arms (A.V.A) right in the palm of your hand. ijji.com brings shotguns, assault rifles, machine guns and more from its popular Unreal Engine 3-powered multi-player online first-person shooter (MOFPS) to the A.V.A Gun app for iPhone. Now the sights and authentic, in-game sounds of A.V.A’s weapons are available on the go.
• Appular has announced the release of iSlice for the iPhone. As a highly strategic puzzle and reflex game, iSlice combines planning, precision, and quick thinking to deliver simple yet highly addictive iPhone entertainment. In the spirit of the mobile classic Qix, players must carefully slice off sections of their playing field while avoiding dangerous, lightning-fast balls. With iSlice’s beautiful hand-drawn designs and thought-provoking proverbs, the experience is as visually stimulating as it is enjoyable. iSlice features 26 splendid levels of fun where players earn gold, silver or bronze medals based on their mix of cunning, sharp reflexes and zen-like patience.
• WhosHere, the first mobile social networking app for the iPhone to let you meet and interact with new people based on proximity, today announces a campaign to enable users support relief efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. Rubber ducky covered in oil. Just one of the WhosHere Support the Gulf gifts that can be sent to other users. WhosHere users can buy and give gifts to one another. The virtual gifts range from drinks to flowers to jewelry. Today myRete added a new “Support the Gulf” category of gifts to WhosHere. myRete will donate 75% of the revenue it receives from these goods to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund. The campaign began today and runs until BP has stopped the oil spill.
• The iPhone 4 MusicSkins have arrived for everything from The Beatles and Bob Marley, to Elvis and Ed Hardy, to Muse and the Misfits. Add Style and protection to your new iPhone 4 with over 1000 designs to choose from and skins for more than 200 electronic devices.
• With over 500,000 iPhone 4 units already shipped, it’s time to think protection. Gumdrop Cases has already shipped over 3,000 stylish and form-fitted cases for the newest generation of the iPhone. First available are the durable and rugged silicon skins in the signature “Gumdrop Skin” bubble pattern and the hard-core “Moto Skin” tire tread design. At just $29.95, the Gumdrop skins offer ultimate protection and irresistible style for summer vacations to the beach and beyond.
• Software developer, Steve Glinberg, has announced a recycling program for iPhones and iPod touches that aims to bring high technology mobile devices into classrooms. Put your old iPhone or iPod touch to the best possible use. Donate it to a school or to a program such as this so it can be put to productive use as a learning tool for children. With today’s release of iPhone 4 and the recent release of iPad, prior generation iPhones and iPod touches are going unused in homes everywhere.
• Truphone’sM latest updates to the iPhone app are now live in iTunes, with the iPod touch app soon to follow in the next 24 hours. The updates include placing/receiving calls over 3G, background calling that allows voice calls and data applications to run simultaneously and a new Truphone Instant Messenger.
• Mophie has announced the availability of the first of three new additions to its line of award-winning smart phone accessories: the juice pack reserve. Debuting today, mophie juice pack reserve is a sleek, key chain sized external battery with a retractable pin that is compatible with all iPhone and iPod touch form factors. With a new innovative design, the juice pack reserve will charge your device twice as fast as any other charger out there; plus it has a super-bright LED flashlight.
• Pangea Software has announced free updates to all of their current iPhone games. The updates add native support for the new iPhone 4’s retina display, so each game plays at the native resolution of 960×640 pixels.