Mac, iPhone, iPod and iPad product news – July 28, 2010

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod/iPad product updates and announcements for July 28, 2010:

• Macintosh
• iPod

Macintosh

• As popularity of Apple products grows, DVDVideoSoft introduces programs which let everyone easily get video for such devices as iPod, iPhone, iPad, AppleTV. Free Video to iPod Converter and Free Video to iPhone Converter are refreshed products in the set of free multimedia tools Free Studio, while Free Video to iPad Converter and Free Video to Apple TV Converter are completely new tools launched by DVDVideoSoft especially for release of iPad and Apple TV.
• iSkysoft is offering DVD to iPhone Converter for free ($29 value) from 27th July, 2010 to 9th August, 2010. Both Mac and PC version are available. There are no complicated steps to get it; fans iSkysoft on Facebook can enter their email address to receive a keycode via email. That’s it.
• Macware has announced they are running a sweepstakes as a thank you to the Mac community that has supported them over the years. The online sweepstakes will reward one lucky winner with an Apple 16GB WiFi iPad in August. No purchase is necessary, and you can enter through August 15, 2010. The iPad has quickly captured the imagination of over 3 million tech savvy customers, and continues to push Apple ahead of other tablet and e-reader competitors with its revolutionary design and function.
• Freshcode has announced a promotion dubbed Experience Bodega. Available exclusively through the Bodega application, Experience Bodega provides users with 50% discounts on eight of today’s most popular Mac applications, including CleanMyMac, 1Password, My Living Desktop, Sandvox, and more. In order to participate, users only need the free Bodega application. It provides convenient, intuitive ‘corner store’ access to the latest and hottest apps for the Macintosh.
• Ambrosia Software, Inc. has announced the updated release of their award winning screen capture utility Snapz Pro X 2.2.3. This updated version is free to all registered users of Snapz Pro X 2.x. Why take a static screenshot when Snapz Pro X makes creating a movie just as easy? Snapz Pro X does that, and so much more! Rather than read about it, just download Snapz Pro X from our web site today and see for yourself! Each of Ambrosia’s products offer a trial period so you can see first hand how great they are before purchasing.
• Other World Computing (OWC) has announced the immediate availability of OWC PC3-10600 DDR3 1333MHz Memory Upgrade Kits up to 16GB for the new Mid 2010 iMac models introduced by Apple yesterday. OWC Memory Upgrade Kits offer all 2010 iMac owners the advantages of upgrade options not available from the factory, savings up to 50% compared to same size factory installed options, and quality assurance from a Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty and Money Back Guarantee.
• The MacBU is gearing up to launch Office for Mac 2011 later this year and unveiling details of the new suite. Today, OfficeforMac.com has the first in a series of videos highlighting the new features. Tune in to watch the video and hear from the team and be sure to stay tuned for more videos to come.
• MyService has announced a new 750GB hard drive upgrade for the MacBook and MacBook Pro. These new 9.5mm drives by Western Digital are the largest drives available for the MacBook. MyService has these drives in stock. The upgrade service includes the new drive, round trip shipping, professional installation and data transfer. MyService makes the service process fast and easy. MyService sends a custom laptop shipping container to you. All shipping is insured and can be tracked online.
• 360Works today released ScriptMaster 4, the latest version of its popular free FileMaker plugin. As 360Works’ most popular product, ScriptMaster now includes 81 functions, enabling developers to effortlessly manipulate files and folders, encrypt and decrypt sensitive data, download web pages and submit online forms, push notifications to iPhone and other iOS devices, and incorporate XML Web Services, shell scripting and event/script triggering.

iPhone/iPod/iPad

• Yianni-Software has announced Laddersnake 1.0, their new board game for Apple’s revolutionary iPad device. Setting traps, stunning players and jumping forward are just some of the added features. The original premise of snakes and ladders is at the heart of Laddersnake but this is only the start. Up to 4 players can player and each get 4 bonuses at their disposal to unleash attacks onto their opponents.
• Conniption Entertainment has announced a sequel to its hit game Zombie Invasion, Zombie Invasion 2 HD for the iPad, to be released on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. The zombies are back! And they brought friends, lots of them! Like the prequel, this game is all about survival and high scores. It’s a global competition for daily, weekly, and all time high scores. Earn a spot on the leaderboard by strategically managing your money and ammo. Accuracy will earn you valuable point multipliers.
• AlwaysOnPC has announced AlwaysOnPC 1.0 for iPad and version 1.0 for Android. The virtual PC app liberates mobile users to browse any website on FireFox, and empowers them with over forty programs including a PC-caliber mobile Office suite. The OpenOffice suite lets users edit office documents and is fully open and save compatible with most common file types. Using FireFox with Flash inside AlwaysOnPC, users can finally browse the whole Web on their device.
• LUXE Asia, Ltd. and CSL have released a series of LUXE City Guides Mobile 1.0.1 for iPhone users. There are apps for ten different cities in the collection so far, with ten more being added shortly. For the past seven years, these straight shooting, ‘take no prisoners’ guides have been best selling books, receiving acclaim from Vanity Fair, The New York Times and other publishers of note. Now, LUXE City Guides bring their no nonsense attitude and travel expertise to the mobile market.
• Kiwa Media has just released Hairy Maclary From Donaldsons Dairy 1.0 for iPad users. The application is already the number 1 “book” in the iTunes app store. The application is a unique, interactive, read-along QBook which combines a celebrity narrator’s voice, full page illustrations, touchable speaking text, to help young kids develop reading and comprehension skills in an entertaining way. QBook is a very popular teaching tool and has become the format of choice for many publishers.
• Mobilehead Games has released Robin Hood: Hero of Hope 1.1 for iPhone users. The application offers some of the best of steam punk fantasy gameplay and challenging fun. Users are put in the role of Robin Hood, the one counted on to save damsels in distress and put bad guys in their place. Features include an over shoulder view with point and shoot capabilities, as well as funny character voiceovers. To celebrate Robin Hood Week, users can purchase the app at a special price.
• Fantasy Trader by Locus Innovations lets users immerse themselves in the world of sports and feel the frenzy of the fast paced world of big money. The unique aspect of the app is in its social element. Fantasy Trader is a virtual sports trading platform that enables sports enthusiasts to interact and compete with each other and compare one athlete versus another in a highly competitive environment as well as find out what their real value is. Users can also join different clubs and make the whole trading experience even more enjoyable and fun.
• Dot Next has announced OctoPaul 1.0, a free and funny app for iPhone and iPod touch to consult the popular oracle octopus. This app is a funny way to choose between two choices when you can’t do it yourself. Better Restaurant or Pizza? Bus or Metro? Sea or Mountains? With OctoPaul the choice will be finally easy. Users can tell the octopus two choices and ask him to choose for them, once the oracle has given the verdict they can share it with their friends on Facebook.
• Northpole Studio and Bulkypix have announced Bermuda Triangle: Saving The Coral. The coral is a natural and beautiful life form. Unfortunately it is highly threatened by human activities, black market and global warming. Choose your ship and help save coral reefs by matching three or more same-color pods and releasing nutrients to the coral on the sea floor. Sail through several levels, use special items (anchors, bombs, submarine waves…) and battle black market thieves, sharks, octopuses and other sea creatures. Collect points and spend them in the shop on special items that will ease in gameplay. The game features many hours of challenging gameplay, various maps and puzzles and three game modes: Campaign, time attack and unlimited.
• iPhone App developer Happy Blue Fish Studio has announced Okinawa Game: Keep Your Vitality 1.0.1, their newest game for iPhone and iPod touch. Comprised of 4 entertaining mini-games, as well as a helpful information section, Okinawa Game: Keep Your Vitality offers an entertaining way to unlock the secrets of a longer life. A highly useful information section, gives users added details on all the foods and techniques used throughout the games.
• Atomic Software has announced Bike Repair 1.0 their new time and money-saving app for iPhone and iPod touch. Always at the ready on the road or at home, Bike Repair is an easy-to-use, step-by-step reference guide to dozens of common bike repair issues. It will pay for itself the very first time it’s used. From changing tires to rear derailleur adjustment, Bike Repair offers detailed instruction on over 2 dozen common repairs that work for every major brand of bicycle.
• Photo-sharing service Jalbum has announced an update to its popular iPhone app. Jalbum for iPhone 1.1 enables users to browse, share and create stunning web photo albums straight from the device and update existing albums. Taking advantage of the iOS4 API, the Jalbum iPhone app now supports multi-selection of photos. This update cuts the time and effort of making a gorgeous web album to a bare minimum.
• Iskandar, Inc. has introduces Logan and the Upside Down Sea 1.0, their interactive eBook for kids optimized for all iOS devices. The eBook features: pen and ink, hand drawn graphics; read aloud option; follow along text; touch sensitive characters; interactive story line; and an imaginative, fun-filled narrative. Incorporating page turn animation, the optimized graphics appear at the highest resolution possible, whether viewed on an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Retina display.
• Independent developer Ian Miller today has announced Salesdiver 1.0 for iPad devices. Salesdiver serves to help sales people close more business by gaining a broader understanding of their sales opportunities. It does this by prompting them during their sales calls to ask the right questions to qualify their opportunities thoroughly – and therefore allows them to focus on the deals they can win. Conduct a face to face conversation with a sales prospect without the technology getting in the way.
• Independent developer Drew Crawford has announced Timely Lite 1.0, a free version from the successful Timely app family for iPhone and iPod touch. Timely Lite lets hourly employees track time and wages, fill out timecards, and keep a detailed work history. It lets users see their earnings for the day or week with a live-updating display. It is versatile as a timetracker, with accuracy to the nanosecond with convenient features that automatically sum each day’s time and more.
• infiniteNIL has released Numerology 1.9, an update to its numerology application for iOS. Numerology helps you use the ancient science of numerology to gain insight into yourself and other people. See how compatible two people are for friendship, a business relationship, or romance. It’s a great icebreaker for parties as well. Version 1.9 is now a universal application and takes advantage of the larger screen when run on the iPad. A free lite version limited to 2 profiles is also available.
• Moving Tales Inc. has announced The Pedlar Lady of Gushing Cross, a new and exciting iPad app. The Pedlar Lady of Gushing Cross lets adults share great stories with children and establishes a truly original and engaging new world of storytelling. Inspired by the age-old tale of a man who becomes rich through a dream, it describes the journey of a poor pedlar woman who, guided by the shifting line between the real and the unreal, discovers a surprising and wonderful treasure.
• publicspace.net has released Vitamin-R 1.21, its productivity tool for creative professionals. Vitamin-R is a collection of tools and techniques designed to overcome the biggest productivity challenges facing today’s creative professionals: managing attention and maintaining motivation. Vitamin-R’s log book preserves the objective, time frame, concentration level and completion status of every completed task and can maintain links with OmniFocus or Things to-dos.
• Catamount Software has announced Today! 1.0, an app that supplements Calendar to add missing features sought out by busy professionals and others who need more ease, efficiency, and power than Apple’s Calendar supplies. Today! also shows all the information you need about appointment time, location, and notes for the appointment without needing extra taps, and integrates with Maps so you can tap on location to open the route to your next appointment.
• Mad Monkey Militia has announced that iHurt is not an RTS, it’s not Starcraft 2 and we are very sorry for that. iHurt is an exciting new cartoon style action game for the iPhone and iPod touch. iHurt and iHurt Lite is full of serious laughter, cartoon antics, ragdoll physics fun and plenty of Saturday Morning Cartoon-style HURT! The game takes place in a cartoon universe where your character’s success is measured by how much ‘Hurt’ they can inflict on themselves.
• Lighted Mirror 4.0 has been released by Vadique. Lighted Mirror 4.0 is going to be an irreplaceable application for users who always need to have a look in the mirror to check their appearance or make-up. The new app for iPhone 4 takes advantage of the front facing camera of the new iPhone and turns it into a handy pocket mirror. Lighted mirror 4.0 allows users to take a look at their own reflection in the lighted mirror which is very convenient in darkened environments.
• TrendyDigital Design has unveiled the Dimension Case for the iPad. The Dimension case supports several positions and orientations for viewing the iPad. This transforming capability of the Dimension gives iPad users the freedom to interact with the iPad in the ways they like. iPad users can interact with their device in an elegant frame case, or transform the jacket case into a stand and interact with their iPad either in landscape or portrait orientation.
• Empire Brands has revealed three new collections of fashion-forward headphones: Chill, Reverb and Tour. All three collections sport graffiti-inspired design elements and pack powerful sound, giving Wicked Audio customers a stylish alternative accessory option to enjoy their favorite tunes. Each headphone within the Wicked Audio line offers consumers an aesthetically appealing accessory and a superior listening experience. These headphones are designed with durable plastic, comfortable ear cushions, and feature vibrant color choices. Each plug is gold-plated to prevent corrosion, and each cord is 1.2 meters long to ensure optimum flexibility while listening on the go.
• Redbits has announced Group Email! 1.0 for iOS devices. With Group Email! you can send email to groups, to handpicked set of contacts or to custom distribution lists. You can optionally attach photos, videos, documents, your current location information with map and address, audio clips, pasteboard content and contacts information. And if you send the same email text frequently, you can create a template and use it for save typing.
• Zentertain has announced Tapic 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch devices. Tapic is a revolutionary rhythm game that lets you play with all your own iPod music. The gameplay is similar to Tap Tap Revenge but the huge difference is you can play with whatever music you want and you don’t have to buy any expensive music pack. For each game modes, there are various game themes will give you different game experience. If you’re a fan of rhythm games Tapic is definitely the best game for you.
• MaxNick has just released Box Battle, a meticulously constructed, physics based puzzle game for the iPhone and iPad. Operating an advanced, steam-powered artillery cannon, players apply a mix of cunning, precision shooting, and brute force to blast their way through 130 industrially themed puzzles. Each copper pipped level offers unique fortification types and challenging tasks.
• Genera has developed Kids Song Machine 1.2.1 for iPhone and iPod touch, a solution for parents looking for the perfect children’s app. Kids Song Machine is an application centered on music, specifically for young children. It uses rhythm and song to provide a rich sensory environment that allows young children to learn. Parents can help their children on the go or between tasks – spurring development rather than mindless entertainment.