Deals Today: Hidden Relics 50% off sale
January 5 - 09:55 EST   Today's featured promo on MacUpdate offers Hidden Relics for US$9.99 (50% off, retail $19.95). "Priceless antiques have been stolen and hidden throughout Europe. The Professor calls upon her star student Adrianna to help her retrieve stolen antiques. You will help Adrianna evade the evil thief as she travels Europe to locate the stolen antiques. Along the way you'll be able to get gadgets that help you uncover secret priceless artifacts from Mr. Gadget after solving fun puzzles." Hidden Relics requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.  [ Email this story ]

Yojimbo from Bare Bones Software

Rainbow Mystery, Hidden Relics released on Macfun.com
January 4 - 17:25 EST   Freeverse today announced two new games are now available on their Macfun.com game portal: Rainbow Mystery and Hidden Relics. Free demos of both games are available for download from the site. As part of their commitment to making Macfun.com the premier place for Mac games, Macfun.com will always be giving away at least one game for free. Complete details on both of the games are available on the site.  [ Email this story ]

iFinance 2 released, on display at Macworld Expo
January 4 - 15:02 EST   Synium Software today announced iFinance 2 is now available as final release. After about a year's development including extensive beta and public beta testing, the popular personal finance tool goes live with many new and improved features: powerful diagramming, currency management, smart import and full Leopard-compatibility. The company will show iFinance 2 at their booth at Macworld Expo in San Francisco later this month. [ Price: US$20 ~ Requires: Mac OS X 10.4 or later ~ Demo available ]  [ Email this story ]

RouteBuddy expands worldwide digital map coverage
January 4 - 13:02 EST   RouteBuddy has established partnerships in India and Europe with two leading companies in the digital map data field. Welcoming the teams from CloudMade, based in London in the UK, and ML Infomap of New Delhi, India, RouteBuddy �looks forward to a growing use of its consumer mapping application across a �wider range of countries, as well as being the first in the field with a consumer �mapping application covering both The Isle of Man and India. Maps of India and The Isle of Man will be released by Q2 2008. RouteBuddy provides native Mac OS X support for Garmin, TomTom and NMEA GPS devices, and allows users to manage and display their GPS data using high-precision vector-based road maps.  [ Email this story ]

Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers for iPod announced
January 4 - 12:14 EST   Hearing Components, a 3M spin-off founded in 1990 by Oliveira, today announced Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers that convert ordinary iPod/iPhone earbuds into a high-end stereo experience. It is the latest product by Minnesota-based Hearing Components with patented Comply foam technology. "Our foam tips provide a unique experience because they mold to your ear and change shape as your ear canal changes shape, said Robert Oliveira, Ph.D., the biochemist who invented the Comply foam products, along with Marty Babcock, lead engineer. "Therefore, they continue to fit snugly, block unwanted noise, and deliver pure music into the ear canal -- even while you move about," Oliveira added. Whoomp! Earbud Enhancers come in a two pack set (white or black) for US$19.95.  [ Email this story ]

Fastforward releases Meander 2.1 route planning app
January 4 - 08:22 EST   Fastforward Software today released Meander 2.1, an update to its route planning application for Mac OS X. The update enables users to define custom measurements, fixes several bugs and also includes an improved Preferences window. Meander lets users plot points, plan routes and measure distances using any map, including maps scanned into a computer or those found on Google Maps or other Web sites. [ Price: US$19.95 ~ Requires: Mac OS X 10.3 or later ~ Free Trial available ]  [ Email this story ]

Fortune: Apple faces antitrust suit
January 4 - 07:47 EST   According to a report from InformationWeek, a San Diego-based law firm has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple for "illegally maintaining a monopoly in the digital music market by failing to support Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows Media Audio format.," notes Fortune. "According to the complaint, Apple controls 75 percent�of the online video market, 83�percent�of the online music market, more than 90 percent�of the hard-drive based music player market, and 70 percent�of the Flash-based music player market. Yet among the major digital music vendors, Apple is alone in not supporting Windows Media Audio. The suit estimates that Apple could license WMA from Microsoft for less than $1 million -- or about 3 cents for each iPod sold in 2005."  [ Email this story ]

Deals: E-Mail Commander 60% off today only
January 4 - 00:05 EST   Today's featured promo on MacUpdate offers E-Mail Commander for US$11.95 (60% off, retail $29.95). "E-Mail Commander lets you send out uniquely customized emails to everyone in your database. Insert variables in your contact database to further customize each message on the fly! Include current date/time, dates, nicknames, addresses, phone numbers, or pretty much any other field you could dream up. Even insert a special variable that'll write lines at random, or in sequential order." E-Mail Commander requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.  [ Email this story ]

MacGourmet 2.2.5 offers bug fixes, tweaks
January 3 - 17:11 EST   Advenio today announced the release of MacGourmet 2.2.5, the latest update to their popular recipe, wine and cooking note organizer. This release features: fixed format of placed text when it doesn't get reset correctly between clippings in Leopard; fixed a problem importing one of FoodNetwork.com's alternate formats; added additional html tag stripping on Epicurious; and more. [ Price: US$24.95 ~ Requires: Mac OS X 10.4 or later ~ Demo available ]  [ Email this story ]

LaCie expands mobile capacity to 320GB drives
January 3 - 12:54 EST   LaCie today announced increased capacity to 320GB for its Rugged All-Terrain Hard Disk, design by Neil Poulton and the 2.5-inch Little Disk, design by Sam Hecht.� Ideal for data backup and easy data transfers between computers, the 2.5-inch Little Disk is available in either USB 2.0 or USB 2.0 and FireWire 400, while the rugged is available in USB 2.0 and a USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and FireWire800 version for speedier data transfers. The LaCie Rugged and 2.5-inch Little Disk in the 320GB capacity will be available late January with suggested retail price starting at $199.  [ Email this story ]

NewerTech announces iPhone Accessory Line
January 3 - 11:07 EST   Newer Technology today announced its new NewerTech iPhone Accessory Line consisting of six products that add iPhone functionality and user convenience. The NewerTech iPhone accessories will be debuted at Macworld Expo, held January 15-18, 2008 in San Francisco. The NewerTech iPhone Accessory Line includes: iPhone Speaker Dock & Hands-Free Mic - speaker phone (US$34.99 with availability beginning January 28); Hands-Free Mic & Earbud - hands-free communication while driving ($19.99, available now); iPhone Mic Extender Cable - mic extender for hands-free use ($14.99, available now); Bass Response Earbuds - noise reduction and sound quality enhancer ($19.99, available now); iPhone Headphone Jack Adapter - links to headphone connectors ($7.99, available now); and iPhone and iPod Auto Charger - charges an iPhone or iPod while driving ($12.99, available now).  [ Email this story ]

2008 AppleScript Pro Sessions

Apple to announce Q1 08 Quarterly Results Jan. 22
January 3 - 09:35 EST   Apple has said it plans to host a webcast discussing first quarter financial results on January 22, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. ET. QuickTime will be required to listen to the broadcast (link not yet available).  [ Email this story ]

Digieffects updates Buena Depth Cue, Buena Effects Pack
January 3 - 09:23 EST   Digieffects today announced two important updates for Buena Depth Cue and Buena Effects Pack users. Effective immediately, Buena Depth Cue and Buena Effects Pack now support Intel-based Mac computers. Buena Depth Cue and Buena Effects Pack are now compatible with Universal Binary applications such as Adobe After Effects CS3, Adobe Premiere CS3, Apple Final Cut Pro 6 and Autodesk Combustion 4. Since Buena Depth Cue and Buena Effects Pack are backwards compatible, these programs will still run natively on Power PC-based systems.  [ Email this story ]

Fastforward releases Compost 1.8.9 trash utility
January 3 - 09:16 EST   Fastforward Software today released Compost 1.8.9, an update to its automatic trash management software for Mac OS X. Compost solves Trash problems by letting users set a time limit on the trash, cap its size, and maintain a minimum amount of space. Changes in version 1.8.9 include: added the ability to completely ignore a mounted disk; simplified the UI for secure deletion; fixed context menu for Leopard; and much more. [ Price: US$12.50 ~ Requires: Mac OS X 10.3 or later ~ Free Trial available ]  [ Email this story ]

Verbatim's 2.5" SmartDisk drives debut at CES
January 3 - 08:49 EST   Verbatim Americas today launched a new line of SmartDisk 2.5" Portable Hard Drives (HDs). With the newly designed drives, consumers and businesses can add 120, 160, 250, or 320GB of removable capacity without having to open their computer. Verbatim has enhanced the versatility of its 2.5" SmartDisk HDs by offering them with choice of a USB interface or a Combo USB/FireWire interface. With the Combo USB/FireWire interface, the device also becomes interoperable and files can be transferred between a Mac and a PC. The palm-sized external drives will be available for both Windows and Mac users later this month with retail prices starting at US$99.  [ Email this story ]

Deals: Alarm Clock Pro 60% off today only
January 3 - 00:04 EST   Today's featured promo on MacUpdate offers Alarm Clock Pro for US$7.95 (60% off, retail $19.95). "Alarm Clock Pro helps make managing a full schedule or a hectic lifestyle a breeze. Manage your weekly schedule with reminders, compose task lists, have inspirational quotes read to you, time events, calculate the difference between time zones, use a stop watch, wake up to your favorite Internet radio station, and more." Alarm Clock Pro requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later.  [ Email this story ]

2008 AppleScript Pro Sessions

Adobe posts Flex 3 public beta3
January 2 - 18:58 EST   Adobe Systems has released a new public beta of its Adobe Flex 3 software, the cross platform, free open source framework for creating rich Internet applications (RIAs), notes MacUpdate. This major functional release adds rich new UI capabilities, enhanced developer productivity, desktop deployment and enterprise testing and performance tools. The Flex 3 public beta also marks the first significant deliverable for the open source Flex project, beginning with the availability of nightly builds and a public bug database. Latest released notes on this update is available from the site. The release of open source Flex under the Mozilla Public License will occur in conjunction with the final release of Flex 3, currently scheduled for the second half of 2007.  [ Email this story ]

Lexar announces Crucial SSD product line
January 2 - 15:50 EST   Lexar Media today announced its line of Crucial solid state drives (SSD). Crucial SSDs are more durable, require less power, and offer greater overall system performance than traditional hard disk drives, notes the company. The SSDs will be available in capacities of 32GB and 64GB in an industry standard 2.5-inch drive enclosure with an industry-leading native SATA 3.0Gb/s interface. Additionally, Lexar Media will offer the Crucial SK01 external drive kit and various online customer tools -- including the Crucial SSD Advisor tool -- available at www.crucial.com/ssd or www.crucial.com/uk/ssd. Product availability is expected in Q1 2008.  [ Email this story ]

PandaWare releases TimeCache 7.0.6
January 2 - 12:29 EST   The PandaWare Company has released TimeCache 7.0.6, a periodic update to its time and expense billing application for Mac OS X. Version 7.0.6 offers users new options for customizing invoices, and �new ways to exchange data with Mac OS X's iCal application. The update also offers a handful of interface improvements and a number of bug fixes. [ Price: US$60 ~ Requires: Mac OS X 10.3 or later ~ Demo available ]  [ Email this story ]

Stone Works 2008 for Leopard ships
January 2 - 11:22 EST   Stone Design has shipped new releases of its productivity suite Stone Works -- 17 applications, a widget and a screen saver that let you design and publish to print and Web, bill for your services, make movies, photo albums, watermark documents, convert fonts, complete image processing, monitor the weather, choose fonts visually, manage your preferences, PDF management and more. All the applications feature a new easy drag-and-drop licensing facility as well as other features to make them more compatible with Mac OS X Leopard, Tiger, Panther and Jaguar. Complete details on changes with each application is available from the Web site. The complete suite is priced at US$399 through February 2008.  [ Email this story ]

Advanced bayesian spam filter updated
January 2 - 08:05 EST   Bains Software today announced the release of SpamSweep 1.6, the latest release of its spam filter for Mac OS X. The software is an advanced bayesian spam filter offering several filtering technologies, including domain and relay blacklists, sender whitelisting, and a bayesian filter to automatically delete spam messages before they're downloaded by an email client. This version improves Leopard compatibility, adds support for IMAP accounts and custom rule filters, and includes various bug fixes. [ Price: US$25 ~ Requires: Mac OS X 10.4 or later ~ Free Trial available ]  [ Email this story ]

Deals: MacUpdate Promo Bundle 62% off today only
January 2 - 07:41 EST   Today�s featured promo on MacUpdate offers a Readerware Promo Bundle for US$45 (62% off, retail $120). The bundle includes: Readerware, a tool for book lovers, collectors, researchers, anyone who has to catalog and maintain a library; ReaderwareVW, which can catalog your video collection; and ReaderwareAW for cataloging your audio collection.  [ Email this story ]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from MacMinute!
December 24 - 12:00 EST   Well, another year is just about to wrap up here at MacMinute, and is our custom, the management and staff will be taking a break to spend some much needed time with friends and family. We would like to wish all of our readers, sponsors, and the developer community warmest wishes for you and yours for the holidays. Here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year! Stan Flack, Publisher.

MacMinute will resume normal publication on January 2, 2008. Be sure to stop by our Reader Caf�, as members regularly post Mac news tidbits and more as they happen.  [ Email this story ]

macProVideo releases Color Tutorials, free 'Switchers Guides'
December 24 - 11:14 EST   macProVideo.com today announced the release of a new line of free "Switcher's Guides" covering the upgrade progress between popular software applications including GarageBand to Logic, and iMovie to Final Cut Pro. Each Guide is created by a leading industry educator, including Apple courseware designers Michael Wohl and Martin Sitter, and touring Apple presenter Paul Garay. Additionally, the site has released a new Apple Color tutorial called "Color 101: Core Color," by Michael Wohl (US$35.55). This 3-hour tutorial covers all aspects of primary and secondary video color correction, including removing video haze, spot-correcting specific colors, and motion tracking so secondary color correction sticks to it's intended target.  [ Email this story ]