by Cynthia Young
AppZapper 1.8, an application that allows you to uninstall any application, widget, preference pane or plugin was released. When you drag and drop an application to be uninstalled onto AppZapper, it goes through the system to delete preferences, caches and support files that many applications generate when they are launched. This latest version runs on Mac OS X 10.4 and above.
The 1.8 version of AppZapper includes the new UnZap feature. If you accidentally zap an application you can use the UnZap feature to restore the application and its related files. In addition, there are improvements to the zapping engine, support for zapping on localized systems and authentication for non-admin users.
All current users of AppZapper can update for free.
You can buy AppZapper for the low price of USD$12.95. The Family Pack which registers all members of the same household sells for USD$18. A free shareware version that allows you to zap five times before you are required to purchase the software is also available. If you would like more information about AppZapper or would like to purchase it visit www.AppZapper.com
by Cynthia Young
Econ Technologies has released an update to version 2.2.1 of Portraits & Prints. The Portraits & Prints application allows you to use your digital photos to create personal calendars and cards. Over 50 free new templates are included in the update. There are new templates for Christmas, New Year, Calendars and Wanted Posters. There are over a hundred holiday templates available. You can download and install additional templates using the Portraits & Prints Template Manager.
Portraits & Prints will run natively on PowerPC (G3, G4, G5) and Intel-Macs running Panther or Tiger.
Existing users may update to the 2.2.1 version for free.
If you’d like to try Portraits & Prints for free for the rest of the year, request a full- functioning trial version from http://www.econtechnologies.com/site/Pages/Support/support_question.html.
The Portraits & Prints Standard Edition can be purchased for USD$30. The Portraits & Prints Pro Edition is priced at USD$50. A free demo version of the application is available if you’d like to try it out. Visit the Econ Technologies website (www.econtechnologies.com) to upgrade, purchase or download a free demo of the application.
by Cynthia Young
equinux has released iSale 3.3 and CoverScout 2.2.
iSale 3.3 is an application that allows users to customize their auctions before posting them on eBay. Users can even track all of their auctions with iSale. The 3.3 version supports eBay Express. Users who qualify for the eBay Express listing service can choose to list their items on eBay Express and/or their main eBay listing. There is also Template Pack 9, for Home and Garden auctions, available for free to iSale 3.x users.
The update of CoverScout 2.2 is compatible with the latest iTunes update version 7.0.2. CoverScout is an application that searches online resources to find artwork for rare album titles.
iSale 3.x users can get the 3.3 update for free. Prices for iSale start at USD$39.95. CoverScout 2.x users can get the 2.2 update for free. Prices for CoverScout start at USD$19.95.
Trial versions of both applications are available at the equinux website.
For more information about iSale or CoverScout visit your local apple dealer or the equinux website (http://www.equinux.com).
by Cynthia Young
On Friday, November 10th, Twisted Ninja Software announced that Tubular would be available for pre-order. Tubular is a YouTube client for Mac OS X.
Tubular allows users to search, browse and view YouTube videos. Users can also convert the videos to a fifth-generation iPod with the click of one button.
You can pre-order Tubular for USD$12.99 until it is released sometime before the end of 2006. The price will increase after it is released.
For more information about Tubular visit the prerelease website (http://www.tubularapp.com).
by Cynthia Young
Brainwave is offering pzizz to students at a discounted price of USD$9.95 per module. pzizz is software that offers over 100 billion nap combinations. There are two pzizz modules available: an energizer module and a sleep module. The naps can be exported to an iPod or other MP3 player for later use.
The power napping and sleep software helps reduce stress levels. The software will mix a new soundtrack whenever the user plays or exports a nap. If you tire of listening to the same relaxation CD, pzizz may be the solution for you.
You can visit the pzizz website (http://www.pzizz.com) to purchase pzizz or download software demos. The pzizz energizer module can be purchased for USD$29.95. The pzizz sleep module can be purchased for the same low price of the energizer module. If you purchase both modules together the price is USD$49.95.
pzizz hardware is also available and priced at USD$147.00. You do not need additional software if you purchase the hardware.
by Cynthia Young
Sling Media has announced the release of a public beta version of SlingPlayer for Mac OS X. SlingPlayer works with the Slingbox and allows you to watch and control your TV from just about anywhere in the world.
The beta release of SlingPlayer will run on Mac OS X 10.4 and is a Universal Binary application. There is no Mac OS X 10.3 support for SlingPlayer at this time. Sling Media will be providing a 10.3 version of SlingPlayer as soon as possible.
The public beta version of SlingPlayer can be downloaded free of charge from any of the following two websites:
http://us.slingmedia.com/page/downloads.html
http://ca.slingmedia.com/page/downloads.html
The public beta software is only available to US and Canadian customers. Support for other regions will follow.
The Slingbox is available for purchase through Sling Media’s website (http://us.slingmedia.com). Prices for the Slingbox start at USD $179.99.
by Cynthia Young
ProfCast 2.0, a Macintosh application that allows users to record and publish their presentations as podcasts, is now available.
ProfCast allows users to integrate their lectures with their PowerPoint or Keynote presentations. Once the user saves it as a podcast, people who missed a lecture can download the podcast to a Macintosh or Windows computer or a video iPod and view the presentation. The lectures can be listened to on devices without video as long as they support the m4b format. Many educators in both the US and abroad are using ProfCast to create podcasts of their lectures so that students can have access to information covered in classes.
If you would like to try out ProfCast, a 15 day trial version is available. ProfCast can be purchased for the new affordable price of USD$29.95. For more information about ProfCast or to download the trial version visit the ProfCast website (http://www.profcast.com).
by Cynthia Young
The final round of judging for My Dream App has begun. Guest judges for this round are Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Guy Kawasaki, the Apple evangelist; J. Allard creator of Xbox and Zune; Bruce Horn creator of “Finder”; and Amber MacArthur, G4TechTV personality.
The contest has been underway for the past month, with elimination rounds each week. Voting ends on Tuesday, October 24th at 8 PM EDT when three winners will be announced. The winners will see their ideas turned into Mac shareware applications.
Users who vote this round will receive a copy of Overflow 2 (USD $14.95) and PhotoPresenter (USD $7.95).
My Dream App was created by Phill Ryu. If you want more information about the contest visit My Dream App (http://mydreamapp.com).
by Cynthia Young
On Friday, October 20th, Econ Technologies released an updated version of ChronoSync. ChronoSync is an automated synchronization and backup application for Mac OS X. ChronoSync runs natively on PowerPC and Intel Macs running Panther or Tiger.
The ChronoSync application allows you to back up your computer, synchronize two computers, archive files, filter files and folders, and analyze your data. A useful feature of the product is the scheduler, where you can create synchronizer documents that will handle your updates automatically.
The 3.3.3 version of ChronoSync fixes the following:
– permission errors on locked files under Mac OS X 10.4.8
– a file copy failure bug that occurred when there was no opposing file, the filename was greater than 30 characters or the filename began with a “0”
– a bug where rollback predetermination could not be specified for mirrored sync modes.
The update is free for existing users. You can download a demo of ChronoSync 3.3.3 or buy it for only USD $30 from Econ Technologies (http://www.econtechnologies.com).
by Cynthia Young
The My Dream App semi-finals have begun. Nine finalists remain in the competition. Users are asked to vote for their favorite idea. In this round of voting, three competitors will be eliminated. Those eliminated will receive Mac Mini computers.
Voting has already started and will end on Saturday, October 14 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. My Dream App has been giving free software to voters in the past three weeks. In this round, all voters will receive Voice Candy, a voice recorder for OS X.
Several guest judges are on the panel to assist with the voting: Kevin Rose co-founder of Digg.com, David Pogue the New York Times tech columnist, and Leo Laporte from This Week in Tech.
My Dream App launched a month ago and has received over 2,700 ideas.
My Dream App was created by Phill Ryu. If you want more information on the contest visit My Dream App.
