Posts in news

Realmac Announces Mac App Store Pricing, Courier Becomes App Store Exclusive

Our friends over at Realmac have been busy deciding the approach to take for the Mac App Store, which in case you somehow missed by living under a rock for the past three months, is launching tomorrow as a free update for every Snow Leopard user. The Realmac team has evaluated all the options on how to best port all their applications to the new Store, while retaining the possibility to sell software to customers through their own website.

There’s been plenty of discussion about what developers will do with their apps and pricing, so today we’re announcing some pricing changes that will come into effect once the App Store goes live. Customers who purchase one of our applications via the Realmac Store will not be affected by these changes as, where applicable, they’re being applied to our own store.

First off, Courier – a beautiful app to send any file to a variety of online services we reviewed here – is going to be a Mac App Store exclusive priced at $4.99. The great news is, if you purchased Courier at full price in the past and you’re willing to re-download the app from the Mac App Store (you know, to keep a neat app library and forget about manual updates) the developers are offering a full refund. Just buy the app from the Mac App Store and send both the receipts (the old one, and the new iTunes receipt) to Realmac’s email address to get a refund for the old, full price. More details here.

As for Realmac’s other apps, RapidWeaver 5.0 is going on sale at $39.99 for a limited time, with LittleSnapper seeing a price drop as well to $24.99. The new prices will be effective tomorrow both on the Mac App Store and Realmac’s website.

Realmac is another example of long-time OS X developers that are believing in the new platform as the best new way to reach millions of new customers and Mac users. For other app previews and details, check out our Mac App Store hub.

First-Gen Apple TV Gets AirPlay Support with Remote HD

Remote HD is a new app developed by the Fire Core guys – the same folks behind the ATV Flash browser / utility – which brings AirPlay streaming to the original Apple TV, the first-generation silver model. Once installed on your iOS device from the App Store and on the original Apple TV through the Install Extras menu, you’ll be able to beam videos, Youtube, video podcasts and photos from your iPhone or iPad to the Apple TV.

If your iOS device is jailbroken and has AirPlay enabled for 3rd party apps, you’ll get the possibility to stream video from anywhere. Remote HD also lets you stream videos from iTunes on your computer.

Remote HD for iOS is available at $3.99 here.

Zeppelin Air Brings AirPlay To Bowers & Wilken’s Sound Blimp

If you have an appreciation for really sexy speakers, Apple products, or both, Bowers & Wilkens’ top-of-the-line Zeppelin is about to receive an undoubtedly fantastic upgrade. Featuring the same chassis you know and love with completely reworked acoustics, the Zeppelin Air is your living room’s prime wireless companion for listening to uncompressed audio over your network’s airwaves. If you’re more fancy than the average gentleman, you can purchase a gaggle of Zeppelins and chain them together for AirPlay throughout the household. One should be enough, however, and we can expect to see this pricey football hit the market around March. In the meantime, you can register for product news on B&W’s website by clicking here.

[via Bowers & Wilkens]

Roots Rock Boombox Is For The Bob Marley Fan In You

At first glance I couldn’t quite figure out what the Roots Rock Boombox was supposed to be. Sold under the House of Marley, this boombox appears to be part cargo pant - part cargo bag - and part smoke machine all in one. This iPhone boombox is clearly designed to bring a little of Bob Marley’s heart and soul to life in over-the-top fashion, and I could see myself having this on my tailgate at party or something - just please don’t get caught in the cargo straps. Proceeds go to the 1Love charitable foundation, so if you’re thinking about a killer post-Christmas gift, you might be able to make up for your belated gift giving by purchasing this or another of the House of Marley’s products through their website.

[House of Marley via Gizmodo]

Apple Releases Updates for GarageBand and iMovie

A few minutes ago Apple released an update to iMovie and GarageBand, which reach version 9.0.1 and 6.0.1, respectively. The GarageBand update improves the overall stability and performances of the app, removes latency on certain guitar tracks and fixes issues related to Flex Time edits. It is a recommended update for all GarageBand users and it’s a 47.5 MB available in Software Update now or on Apple’s website.

iMovie 9.0.1 fixes an issue with stabilization not applying correctly to videos shot on the iPhone and iPod touch, improves performances in the Project library and improves compatibility with cameras that record videos in multiple formats. It’s a 27.5 MB update available in Software Update or on Apple’s website.

Full changelogs embedded below. Read more

Griffin Set to Release Crayola ColorStudio™ HD for iPad

Griffin Technology, with a special partnership with Crayola, has announced the new Crayola ColorStudio HD. It’s a new iPad accessory that uses the “iMarker”, a AA battery-powered digital stylus, plus the Crayola ColorStudio HD app, to allows young artists to color and interact with “live” animated coloring books. Printing is available in-app on iPads running iOS 4.2 or later. Maybe this is one reason to actually use AirPrint, then you can hang your kids’ works of art on your fridgerators. Have a little Picasso on your hands? Shared them via e-mail or Facebook. The Crayola ColorStudio HD will be available in Spring 2011 for $30.

Looks like my son will be getting a great birthday present (as long as he shares with his dad and little sister)! Read more

Logitech’s HD Pro Webcam Adds Mac Support - FaceTime in Hi-Def

The iSight is okay if you’re casually chatting with friends and family, but why not kick it up a notch with Logitech’s version of Microsoft’s 1080p LifeCam Studio?

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 gains Mac support, allowing you to record 1080p video, while streaming live in glorious 720p. Compatible with Skype, FaceTime, Gmail Voice and Video Chat, the Logitech HD Pro Webcam autofocuses to produce the best images while recording stereo audio thanks to its dual mics. Logitech’s Webcam Software enables simple one-click uploading to Facebook and Youtube as well for sharing those awesome MacStories product reviews, and if you’re into photos, you can snap 10 megapixel shots of that morning mug.

This is a solid offering from Logitech (especially for iMac owners) that brings high-definition to your favorite Macintosh. You can read the full press-release over at BusinessWire for more information. [via BusinessWire]

iHealth: An Apple A Day Will Keep The Doctor Away

Apple iDevices are finally being prescribed more and more for medical applications. Last week we told you about the iphonECG and now there’s the iHealth, a blood pressure monitoring system that uses a special dock and your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad to monitor and track your blood pressure wherever you may be. Looking at the iHealth website, the UI looks clean, simple and easy to use. You can look good and feel better (hopefully) about your health at the same time, ha!

The iHealth unit will be available sometime today on their online store for $99.95 plus a free iOS app that will be available any day.

[via Engadget]