Apple shares surge

Apple shares surge to new all-time high on overwhelmingly positive iPod nano reception
Apple shares today rose $1.10, or 2.3%, to close at $49.78 after earlier touching a new record of $50.12...

Apple to exhibit at MacExpo 2005 in London

Apple has said it plans to exhibit at MacExpo in London, as well as Apple Expo in Paris, reports Macworld UK.

Logitech Launches World's 1st Wireless Digital Surround Sound System

Yes it's True! No more running cables or tripping over speaker wires. Logitech, today announced the world’s first THX-certified 5.1 speaker system with digital wireless interface. What does it mean? Simply that you get all the goods from a fully true compliant THX 5.1 kit without any wires! That is so sweet!

Catch the (wireless wave at www.logitech.com

Sawblade Software Releases Power Game Factory Demo

Sawblade Software has released a free demo of Power Game
Factory, an innovative new game authoring tool for Mac OS X. Power Game Factory lets users
produce graphically rich, action-packed side scrolling games, and no programming is required.
Harnessing old-school gameplay, hardware accelerated graphics, and realistic physics, Power
Game Factory is the ideal system with which experienced artists and designers may construct
sophisticated, compelling Macintosh games.
But Power Game Factory will likely seem even more exciting to those to whom computer game
design was never before an option. As Sawblade Software founder Jesse Simko points out, "There
are kids in every middle school who are creative enough to design games. Power Game Factory
lets them put their ideas into motion, and it's simple enough so that they can finish the job. The
focus is on implementing content; it's not about programming, scripting, and debugging."
Power Game Factory's content-driven approach to game design should appeal to anyone who
aspires to release the next great Mac game. Luckily, completed game projects can be compiled
into self-contained, fully functional applications which may be sold without royalties or
limitations of any kind.
The Power Game Factory demo offers the same comprehensive feature set and intuitive interface
found in the full version of Power Game Factory, but game projects designed with the demo are
limited to a single level.
Available now, Power Game Factory ships on a CD bundled with the Greenland
Invasion game project, a ridiculously entertaining mini-game that demonstrates the advanced
capabilities of the software. An included 6-step beginner's tutorial will help users get started with
their own game design projects, while an exhaustive 190 page user's manual provides a complete
reference. Also included with Power Game Factory are collections of extra level background
graphics and game music. In addition, customers will enjoy free Sawblade Software stickers and
a Sawblade Software product order form offering discounts on merchandise.

For more information, visit http://www.sawbladesoftware.com/powergamefactory/

MACROMEDIA PARTNERS WITH HP

Macromedia announced a partnership with HP today that will enable carriers, network equipment providers and telecom ISVs to streamline the creation of new communications, messaging, and collaboration solutions, and deploy rich multimedia services through Macromedia Flash Player across fixed, mobile and broadband networks.


The partnership allows service providers to unify voice, data, and video communications with a rich application user interface that is available across operating systems and devices. And the ubiquity of Flash Player — the backbone of the Flash Platform — enables anyone to instantly access and enjoy rich, integrated communications experiences without the hassle of installing and configuring software on their wireless notebooks, PCs, PDAs, mobile devices, or other consumer electronics devices.

Oasis Media Group introduces Cast Easy for podcasting

Oasis Media Group today introduced Cast Easy 1.0, a utility for making podcasting mainstream by helping users create, publish, and organize new and previously published podcasts.

Apple introduces iPhone/cell phone

At its "Special Event" in San Francisco this morning, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the expected cell phone, developed by Motorola and Apple, that combines an iPod with a cell phone, reports Reuters.

Harry Potter digital audiobooks debut exclusively on iTunes

Apple today announced that the entire Harry Potter audiobook series is now available exclusively on the iTunes Music Store

Apple partners with Acura, Audi, Honda & Volkswagen

Apple today announced it has teamed up with Acura, Audi, Honda and Volkswagen to provide iPod integration with their car stereos for 2006 model line.

QuickTime Update 7.0.2 released

Apple today released QuickTime Update 7.0.2

Apple Announces the iPod nano

Today, Apple announced the new iPod nano. Take everything you love about iPod and shrink it. Now shrink it again. With 2GB (500 songs) and 4GB (1,000 songs) models starting at $199, the pencil-thin.

Apple Introduces iTunes 5

Apple today announced iTunes 5, bringing new features and a refined look to their digital music jukebox and online music store. iTunes 5 includes a new Search Bar, the ability to organize playlists

Apple, Motorola & Cingular team up

Apple, Motorola & Cingular Launch World’s First Mobile Phone with iTunes.

Griffin announces revamped iTrip for iPod

Griffin Technology today announced an updated version of its iTrip FM transmitter for iPod.
About time!

Softpress releases Freeway 4 Pro Preview

Softpress has announced a preview release of Freeway 4 Pro, the latest version of its Web site development tool.

Brainwave offer Hurricane Katrina relief

Brainwave today announced plans to donate fifty percent of all sales from their award-winning power napping software, pzizz, (http://www.pzizz.com) to the American Red Cross in an effort to help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Unsanity introduces Smart Crash Reports

Smart Crash Reports is an enhancement for the Apple's CrashReporter application introduced in Mac OS X 10.4. It allows 3rd party developers to enhance CrashReporter in a way that if it determines that the crash is likely attributed to the 3rd party application, the crash log will be sent to the developer instead of Apple. (or potentially both) This enhances the user experience of the OS, and allows developers to receive crashes and improve their software in a timely manner.

No keynote for Paris Expo; Jobs to still attend show

Apple Computer on Monday said that there will be no opening keynote presentation at Apple Expo Paris, which is normally given by company CEO, Steve Jobs. Company officials confirmed that while there will be no formal presentation, Apple executives will be on hand all week.

A not so "BadApple"

BadApple is a free plug-in for iTunes which allows you to sync your music library to any MP3 player (not just an iPod). After downloading and installing the software, you will have a “Sync to MP3 player” link you can click on from within iTunes. This will sync all tracks to a MP3 player. BadApple will work with a wide range of MP3 players such as the Creative Nomad, Dell DJ, Oakley Thump, Archos ect. Kool!

Apple to announce Apple iTunes Phone

Yes it's coming this week!
Stay tuned for all the details.

Entourage Arts Releases SKP Format Hand-Rendered Images

Entourage Arts today announced that 2 Landscape Collections are NOW also available in SketchUp® V5 "face-me" shadow casting components.

Our Entourage SKP Components make use of the new alpha transparency features of SketchUp® V5.   Medium resolution, carefully and economically outlined to create convincing shadows with an economy of geometry for faster performance, this unique collection is a perfect match to the Non Photorealistic SketchUp style.


• NPR Trees & Plants SKP5 Volume 1 contains 121 hand-rendered tree and plant SketchUp V5 components. We also provide the flowers as 30 tiled non-outlined, non-shadow casting components for creating large planting beds with low overhead.


•The Wang Wang Collection of NPR Trees & Plants SKP5 Volume 1 contains 112 hand rendered shrubs, plants & trees as SketchUp® V5 components.

Take Control of MicrosoftOffice Released

Hot off the virtual press, the gang at take control books are pleased to announce a new Take
Control ebook - "Take Control of Customizing Microsoft Office." If
you have trouble finding and issuing commands quickly in the various
Office programs - particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - this
ebook can help you substantially.

Begun last year by author Kirk McElhearn and edited by Tonya Engst, this ebook
was meant to be a quick project that would help readers use the
Customize dialog to make custom toolbars, menus, and keyboard
shortcuts. We soon discovered a seemingly never-ending trail of
nuances and exceptions, especially since the ebook covers both Office
X and Office 2004.

"Take Control of Customizing Microsoft Office" by Kirk McElhearn

PDF format, 82 pages, free 24-page sample available
Publication date: September 1, 2005
Price: $10 (10% of September proceeds donated to the American Red
Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund)