Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad , iPhone , iPod touch , iDevice Apps , Mac Software Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for March 3, 2010: Macintosh publicspace.net has announced A Better Finder Rename 8.53 , an update to its popular file, music and photo renaming utility. A Better Finder Rename is a sophisticated tool that caters for the full range of file renaming tasks encountered by the modern creative professional. The new release allows diacritical marks such as accents and umlauts to be removed from file names automatically. BeeSoft has announced the update of ProTA and ProTA Gold , their leading stock market charting and technical analysis software for Mac OS X. Featuring a modern user interface, ProTA delivers professional-level market analysis to ordinary investors and short-term traders. Version 3.23 has been updated for compatibility with the February 2010 changes to options symbology as set forth by the Options Clearing Corporation. This upgrade is free for existing customers. SuperSync 3.5 is a software program that lets music fans visually compare, access and merge iTunes libraries across multiple Macs, PCs, iPods, and iPhones. Any new content that is added on one computer can be instantly uploaded to the master library. Released today, version 3.5 adds instant access to all of Apple’s iPhone and iPod products. Now users can retrieve, backup and merge their iPod/iPhone music/video collection and playlists to any computer running SuperSync. Managing Editor Inc. (MEI) has announced InPorter 2.0 , the latest version of MEI’s versatile add-on module for the vjoon K4 Publishing System. InPorter is a server-side utility that streamlines and automates the process of moving content into K4. InPorter handles any kind of object that can be managed in the K4 system, including InCopy articles, InDesign layouts, photos, ads, and more.

The rest is here: 
Mac, iPhone, iPod and iPad product news – March 3, 2010

iPhone applications and games range from mildly amusing the outright mandatory for anyone with an iPhone.  Here are mini reviews for a game that makes you manage a lawn, one that helps you give a stay of execution for a stick figure, and one that gives you a world of music at your fingertips. Sunday Lawn In gaming it seems that almost every concept has already been co-opted, which has sent developers reaching.   Over the last few years it has seemed that activities normally seen as chores have become the source of gaming premises.   Donut Games’ Sunday Lawn is a, ahem, lawn mowing game.   The basic framework is to mow a lawn in the most efficient way possible.   To do this you set the direction for where you little animated worker will go with his lawnmower, and to get the largest number of points you want to plan for the largest strips of mowing at a time.   This means that you want to get the biggest patches of sod covered in the fewest number of moves. This is a basic principle behind a number of classic puzzle games, which Sunday Lawn is with a more colorful palette.   There is a lot of depth in Sunday Lawn as the gameplay options are numerous.   Even amongst these different gameplay types you have a graduated level system that will actually keep you playing for quite a while.   You can complete the level adequately enough to progress on, and then you can also go back to try and complete it according to even more rigorous standards.   These all add to the overall package with Sunday Lawn, but if the basic premise does not work for you it will not matter much in the end.   The gameplay is fun, to a point, but there is not really enough here to legitimize enough gameplay time to get through all the features.

Here is the original:
Mini Reviews: Sunday Lawn, Hangman Free, and Pandora Radio

By all estimates, today some music-hungry doofus is going to be the person to download the ten billionth song from iTunes .  That’s 50% more songs than there are people on Planet Earth.  Unless you’re Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, how do you wrap your head around a figure that big? Use the graphic above: that’s ten billion pennies (10,000,023,552 to be exact) on a football field in schoolbus-sized stacks (50 of ‘em).  205 feet long, 90 feet wide, 11 feet high, over 31,000 tons in weight.  Stack ‘em one on top of another, they’d go 9,800 miles up; spread out, we’re talking just under 900 acres of copper coinage. Any way you count it, that’s a &$%#load of pennies.  Or songs.  And if it seems sometimes that Uncle Steve acts like he’s the Emperor of the Known Universe, these numbers suggest that he just  might be… [Penny statistics courtesy The Megapenny Project ]  

See the original post here:
Apple Poised For iTunes’ Ten BEELLIONTH Song Sale Today

Section: iPod + iTunes , iPod Family , iPod Accessories , Docks & Speakers , iPhone , iPhone Accessories , Reviews Provides: Wireless music streaming via Bluetooth Developer: Tenqa Compatibility: iPhone or iPod touch with Bluetooth, Bluetooth-enabled Macs, other Bluetooth-enabled computers Price: $89.99 ($45 at Amazon at press time) Bluetooth was originally conceived as an advancement that would take us from the cluttered cable world of the early PC boom to a Star Trek-esque future where small device and dedicated computers could synchronize data wirelessly just by waving them at each other. 11 years after Bluetooth 1.0 was officially introduced to the world, it seems we are still waiting on that promise—most Bluetooth implementation has happened in mobile phones, as a way to save people the effort of actually holding a phone up to their ear. Given its broad acceptance as an audio technology, it is only natural that Bluetooth is now cutting the cords between music players and speakers. The Tenqa SP-109 is an excellent introduction to that market, handily allowing the separation of your music source (laptop/iPhone/other device) from the speakers on which you listen to it. Getting to Know You Bluetooth devices must first be paired with one another before they can exchange data (in Star Trek, this pairing happens instantly when it is vital to the plot, but requires more time and some dramatic music if there a deadline/enemy ship approaching).  The pairing process could not be simpler, and credit for this is due to both Tenqa and Apple.  Turning on the SP-109 produces a warm three-tone startup, and a blinking blue LED alerts you that the speaker is not currently paired.  Fire up System Preferences on your Mac and step through Apple’s Bluetooth Setup Assistant.  When completed, a reverse three-tone chime and solid blue LED on the SP-109 let you know the speaker has been paired with the computer. This makes the SP-109 available as an audio source in Sound Output options (which, by the by, you can change by option-clicking the volume icon in the menu bar in 10.6). The process on the iPhone is just as simple, even if you already have Bluetooth devices paired (like a headset). Fire up Settings-> General-> Bluetooth, and go from there: Once the phone and speaker establish a connection, you have to enter a pairing code (not needed for a laptop setup, oddly).  The included instructions provide crystal clear instructions, so this step is easy: Once again, the SP-109 plays a reassuring tri-tone chime to let you know the pairing is complete. From there, the iPhone now lets you choose your new device for sound output.  The iPhone even provides nice visual cues to let you know your music is being streamed via Bluetooth, both in the main iPod app and also the iPod pop up invoked by double tapping the Home button when music is playing: Sounds Like… The SP-109’s sound output is not exceptional, but it is acceptable.  In terms of audio, it is on par with the abundant iPod dock speakers available everywhere.  The only problem is that those systems typically cost between $30 and $50, nearly half the SP-109’s list price of $90. You are paying for the wireless technology here, not pristine audio reproduction. Tenqa seems to realize that, since clicking “Buy Now” from their website takes you to Amazon.com, where the SP-109 is available for a mere $45 at the time of this writing

Here is the original post: 
Appletell reviews the Tenqa SP-109 Bluetooth Speaker

    Apple in conjunction with Live Nation has launched a new section in their iTunes Store. The iTunes Live Music as the name suggests will offer exclusive live gigs by artists like  Duffy, OK Go, among others who have been recorded at Apple’s stores like the one on Soho in New York.   As of now, Apple is also offering concert videos from bands like Kings of Leon, The Killers, Pearl Jam etc. You can also download classic concert albums.Since all the concert venues are owned by either Apple of Live Nation, there are no copyright issues so to speak. For downloading video concerts, you have to shell around anything between $8 to $13 and for audio around $8.

View post: 
Live Music Section Added To iTunes Store

  Now iPhone and iPod Touch users can groove to their favorite songs by tuning into HD Radio. Gigaware has released an In-line Control adapter for the iPhone (and Touch) that simply attaches itself to the dock connector and lets you enjoy pure unadulterated sound.  The Gigaware In-line Control with HD Radio for iPhone can be enjoyed without any subscription fees and the device also supports Song information as well as iTunes Tagging.  For the uninitiated, iTunes Tagging lets iPhone users tag songs that are played on the radio so that they can purchase them later on the Apple iTunes Store. The device also replicates the the click wheel of the iPod and hence you can operate your iPod/iPhone from the remote itself.  The Gigaware In-line Control with HD Radio works only in the US and will set you $79.99  behind. Neat idea though we wish, it wasn’t so expensive. You can pick it up from Radio Shack or even opt for the XM SkyDock.

Read more:
Gigaware In-line Control with HD Radio for iPhone and Touch

Love cranking your iPod at full blast? Don’t fancy the run of the mill iPod docks? Then check out the uber chic Regen ReVerb iPod Dock. Standing tall at three feet, this solar powered dock is capable of 60 watts of unadulterated pure sound. Those who don’t care much of wasting the planet’s resources can charge this little beauty up by solar energy. When fully charged the ReVerb can provide up to 12 hours of playback. You can pre-order it from the Regent website for $2,299.

Continued here: 
Solar Powered Regen ReVerb iPod Dock Stands Tall

Music lovers rejoice. The much-anticipated Lala music-streaming app for the iPhone is all geared up for a release. In fact Lala for the iPhone has been submitted to Apple, so let’s hope the Powers of Be give it a nod of approval. The Lala app gives  full access to one’s local music collections from anywhere over the web. Hence iPhone users can stream their entire music library to their iPhone and iPod whenever and wherever, as long a they have a working Internet connection.  Lala will also introduce a new buying model where you can purchase a song for only 10 cents. However this purchased song can only be streamed on your device through a browser. Downloading it on your music player would cost extra. [via TechCrunch ]

See the rest here: 
Lala Music-Streaming App For iPhone Almost Ready

Around the one year anniversary of its Controller app for the iPhone, Sonos is releasing a music system designed specifically for the iPhone – ZonePlayer S5. The app turned the iPhone into a remote device fo any Sonos sound system, and it seems now that Sonos is building on its app with a system that utilizes it fully. Smart marketing move.   Sonos’ all-in-one speakers will be able to stream music directly from your iPhone, iTunes and computer’s music library, all with the benefit of being completely wireless. They are essentially speakers with an iPhone dock without the dock, and for $399 for 4 different kinds of speakers (two tweets, two three-inch drivers, one 3.5-inch woofer and a 5 Class-D amp) it is definitely a worthy buy .

Continued here: 
Rock Out with Your Sonos Out: ZonePlayer S5

You know those guitars that are like double-guitars? We want that. iPhone Rock Band is out now, and the videogame franchise hits most of the right notes in its transition. Instead of jamming on fake, plastic instruments or singing with your real voice, you’ll tap the iPhone screen. I’ve been playing gigs on a newly released version of the game on a current iPod touch and have enjoyed it overall. iPhone Rock Band tries to copy as much as it can from the console videogame. The look closely resembles the full game, borrowing much of the same graphics between songs. If you trip up and miss some of the notes, the audio cuts out and you’ll get a mis-hit sound just as in the regular game; guitars squeak and drumsticks clank off the rim. These touches are exciting for new players and familiar to Rock Band pros. Call in sick if you’re asked to "sing." In some areas, I wanted more features borrowed from the console game. You can’t customize your character, which would be a great way to play on the iPhone. The guitar, bass, and drum modes follow the same tap-to-the-pattern style, but if you try to "sing" in the game, you just tap to preset patterns that sort of match vocal lyrics.

See the rest here:
Hands-On Impressions: Rock Band for iPhone