On Thursday, Mark/Space announced that it had released The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile 3.0.2. The update, a 28.1 megabyte download, serves as a free upgrade for registered users and runs US$39.95 for new users to purchase and download or US$49.95 to have a CD-ROM shipped along.
The new version of the software, which enables Macs to go beyond communication services provided through Mac OS X and iSync, allows for synching with Windows Mobile devices. Data such as contacts, calendars, addresses, notes, iTunes content and iPhoto pictures can be transferred back and forth via this program. Version 3.0.2 serves as a maintenance update and removes the need for the device to be running in “flight mode” prior to connecting to the Mac according to Macworld News. This update also provides support for the Orange 3100 and HP RX 19XX series devices.
The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile requires Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later and a G4, G5 or Intel-based processor to run.
If you’ve tried the new version and had either a positive or negative experience with it, let us know.
Skype has just announced a public beta of its 2.6 version for the Mac OS X platform. The new version, a 29.6 megabyte download, adds the following new features:
-User reminders and notifications for events such as appointments.
-Call Transfer feature to bounce a call over to current Skype contacts.
-Public chats can now be joined.
-Chat typing indicator to see when others are writing messages
-Skype Prime services access.
-Automatic Update now allows client to upate without having to visit a web site to download a new version.
-DTMF tones for automatic answering services available also during Skype-to-Skype calls.
Skype 2.6 requires an 800 MHz G4, G5 or Intel processor, Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later, 512 megabytes of RAM, 40 megabyes of free hard disk space and a microphone to run. The software is a universal binary and runs at native speeds on both the PowerPC and Intel-based hardware architectures.
If you’ve tried the new version and had a positive or negative experience with it, let us know.
On Wednesday, Opera Software released version 9.2 of its free web browser.
The new version, an 11.2 megabyte download, incorporates new features such as Speed Dial (a means of accessing favorite web sites in newly opened ab windows, then clicking on a site thumbnail to open a web site) as well as integrated BitTorrent support, content filtering, Widget support, a fraud protection scheme, IRC support and support for multiple search engines according to Macworld News.
Opera is programmed as a universal binary and runs at native speeds on both the PowerPC and Intel hardware architectures. The browser requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later to run.
If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback about it, let us know.
Posted by: Chris Barylick
Date: Wednesday, April 11th, 2007, 08:31
Category: News
Storage technology firm SanDisk and online search giant Yahoo have released an iPod competitor in the form of SanDisk’s Sansa Connect music player.
The Sansa Connect, priced at US$249.99, ships with a 2.2″ LCD screen, weighs 15.2 ounces and ships with an eight gigabyte Flash-based hard drive as well as a microSD memory card slot according to Macworld UK.
Unlike the iPod, the Sansa Connect features full Wi-Fi support, the device allowing access to Yahoo’s free and paid services such as Launchcast Internet radio, Flickr photo galleries and Yahoo Messenger. The player supports both the MP3 and WMA file formats. Users can also access Yahoo’s Music Unlimited To Go service to wirelessly download music directly to the device.
While Microsoft’s Zune music player added the much-touted “music beaming” feature in which users could wirelessly share songs, the Sansa Connect focuses on allowing users to view recommendations from friends and other Sansa Connect owners as opposed to sharing content.
No word has been given regarding Mac drivers or support for the Sansa Connect.
Posted by: Chris Barylick
Date: Wednesday, April 11th, 2007, 07:27
Category: News
On Tuesday, news site Washingtonpost.com began offering high-definition podcasts formatted for download and viewing on HD TV sets as well as Apple’s newly released Apple TV device. These files, which are shot with high definition cameras and encoded at 720p and include documentary pieces such as Ben De La Cruz’s “Being a black man” series, coverage of Chad’s Darfur refugee series and ongoing coverage of the emerging 2008 presidential campaigns according to MacNN.
The content is free and the move represents the first move by a major news organization to format content for the Apple TV, which was released to the market a few weeks ago.
Posted by: Chris Barylick
Date: Tuesday, April 10th, 2007, 15:14
Category: News
The sharp-eyed folks over at Macenstein.com have pointed out what may be the first third party application designed for Apple’s upcoming iPhone.
The description for Scenario Poker, included in Apple’s Dashboard games section, describes the title as being designed for the iPhone’s screen size and resolution as well as supporting a “tap” interface as well as a mouse-friendly double click interface.
To date, Apple has not specified the exact criteria for third party iPhone applications or what’s involved in the development of any such titles.
If you have any ideas or comments about this, let us know.
Posted by: Chris Barylick
Date: Tuesday, April 10th, 2007, 08:13
Category: News
It was only a matter of time between when the Apple TV was released and people would try to make it do…everything.
A pair of new hacks to Apple’s recently released media device now allow the Apple TV to act as both a news reader as well as a video game emulation unit for NES, SNES, Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis game console titles.
The RSS reader, according to Engadget, is installed as a plug-in. Full details and the plug-in itself can be found here at the twenty08 blog.
The video game emulation is a bit foggier, but appears to be functional, a wiki post over at awkwardtv.org citing that several emulators by Richard Bannister can work with the addition of SSH. Below is a YouTube video of the hack in action, though no directions as to how to set this up for yourself have been posted as of yet:
Finally, AppleTVHacks.net and FalWallet.com have offered a $1,000 bounty for a hack that enables full external drive support through the Apple TV’s USB port.
If you’ve tried these hacks or know of another project that’s pushing what the Apple TV is capable of, let us know.
Posted by: Chris Barylick
Date: Tuesday, April 10th, 2007, 08:10
Category: News
The Apple TV has been out for a few weeks now. And after all the content you can find around the house has been ripped from your DVD collection, the hunt for additional material to store to the device continues.
The guys over at MacDailyNews are reporting on HyngryFlix.com, a web site which provides independent content for portable media devices such as the Apple TV and Sony PSP. Here, creators can upload their own content while customers can pull down films for a few dollars per title.
Even as the argument over formatting, resolution, playback and the quality of titles available for purchase over in the iTunes Store rages on, there’s always room for a third party to step in and offer something.
Take a look and if you have an opinion on what you see or know of a similar site doing the same thing, let us know.
Posted by: Chris Barylick
Date: Tuesday, April 10th, 2007, 07:55
Category: News
On Monday, Apple released version 7.1 of the firmware for its recently released 802.11n-based AirPort Extreme Base Station. The update, a 4.6 megabyte download, provides general fixes, compatibility updates and security improvements for the wireless router.
Specifically, the update patches a security hole in the way the Base Station accepts IPv6 connections. According to AppleInsider, the update alters this to prevent servers and other services from attacks, the revised method changing how the router accepts traffic from both computers inside and outside a local network.
The update also provides a correction in the way the station handles hard drives through its AirPort Disk feature. Before, computers on a local network could view the names of files in password-protected columes without having to enter the password. This has been changed to protect sensitive file information where applicable.
Users can also open the AirPort Utility program and choose “Check for Updates” from the AirPort Utility menu to snag the update.
If you’ve had either a positive or negative experience with the new firmware version, please let us know.
Posted by: Chris Barylick
Date: Monday, April 9th, 2007, 11:58
Category: News
On Monday, Razer Pro Solutions announced that the company is now accepting orders for its Pro|Type keyboard. The keyboard, which will ship on April 20th, features a built-in iPod docking station and will retail for US$129.99.
Complete with a nice number of bells and whistles, the Pro|Type keyboard also sports 10 quick access media keys, line-out, two USB ports and the ability to switch profiles on program detection. The keyboard also incorporates ultra touch-sensitive keys and a wrist rest area according to Macworld News.
The integrated iPod docking station behaves like a standard iPod conneciton, allowing the user to both synch and charge their iPod without requiring a separate cable or dock device.
