Apple- Inside Blog.

VersionTracker Pro brings you everything you need to keep your software up-to-date. Whether you are an IT professional or just responsible for keeping a home computer up-to-date, it pays to use VersionTracker Pro. Application update features can alert you when new versions are released, but only VersionTracker Pro brings you all the information you need to know in order to make the right decision on whether to update your software or not, along with automated installation of the updates you choose to apply.

StatusMonitors provides a desktop display of the status of your computer system as well as the status of other computers on the local network. The application includes a client for displaying the status information, a preference pane plugin for System Preferences, and a service to share status information with other computers. The client monitors volume/folder/file usage, memory usage, network load and processor usage. The service provides information about memory usage, network load and processor usage to networked computers.

The appearance of the client, the monitors to be displayed, and service sharing are controlled from the preference pane. Version 2 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

StuffIt Standard Edition gives you a suite of tools that enable you to create and access e-mail attachments and other compressed files with ease. It includes StuffIt Expander, a free program that gives users quick and easy access to virtually any Internet downloads or email attachments. Expander handles all popular compression formats, including ZIP, TAR, RAR, SIT, and SITX. StuffIt Standard also includes DropStuff, which can reduce (compress) the size of files and folders by as much as 98% or their original size, reducing transfer times and saving disk space. In addition, you'll get DropZip, which can make ZIP files so users can send files to PC user who don't have StuffIt yet. Last but not least, this download includes DropTar, which allows users to create TAR-compressed files for easy transmission to UNIX machines.

Add some handy and clever shortcuts

Adding an unparalleled amount of functionality to your desktop, Butler is a file and application launcher, a bookmark manager, a Web-search utility, and a clipboard enhancer. The program adds several items to the menu bar, including an Internet search field, a shortcut to your computer's file system, and a bar that manages bookmarks from every browser you use. We liked the configurable keyboard shortcuts, which make launching files or Web sites a snap. Without a doubt, Butler is the most comprehensive launcher and desktop helper we've seen. Unfortunately, this is both a blessing and a curse, as the app's large number of features can seem overwhelming. As a result, we recommend Butler to advanced and midlevel users, though newbies should proceed with caution.

Create, study, and memorize multimedia flashcards, tests, and tutorials, including picture and sound identification on Mac & Palm. Studycard Studio Lite s powerful features and simple tools make it easy to create and memorize flash cards. Studycard Studio Lite is for educators and students or anyone who has something to memorize. Students can create and study their own flashcards and track their progress. Educators can create quizzes or flash cards for their students. The full-featured text editor gives you the freedom to design your cards just how you want. Use colors, fonts, pictures, sounds, or video to make studying fun and memorable.

If you develop software for a living, you know it isn't hard to find free differencing tools. But, if you do a lot of diff/merge work, especially across platforms, it can pay to, well, pay. Guiffy is a Java-based diff/merge tool with serious muscle and a much easier and more intuitive interface than you'll find on any freeware package. Not only does it work with more than 150 file formats from several platforms (Windows, Linux, Unix, and Mac OS), it also provides a trustworthy three-way merge feature called SureMerge. Since merging sometimes forces developers to stop working until the postmerge code has been checked by hand, a "smarter" three-way merge can greatly reduce overall development time. In addition to using Guiffy as a stand-alone utility, you can incorporate it into your own change-management products. Still not convinced? Compare Guiffy with its competitors and see for yourself; it's easy to spot the differences.

Take your music in a new direction

Updated player features crisp video, added storage--and a steep price.

Refinement: that's what you get out of Apple's latest iPod, which comes with a brighter screen and an extra 20GB of storage. I tested the $349 iPod--the 80GB flagship of the revamped line--and found a music player that's about as good as there is.

For music playback, not a lot has changed. The iPod remains an excellent MP3 player, and its sound quality continues to be among the best around. The latest version adds gapless playback, which eliminates the pauses between tracks for a smoother listening experience. In our lab tests, its audio quality earned very good scores. I did notice a slight hiss when listening to the iPod through a pair of Shure's high-end E500 PTH headphones, however.

Apple's familiar ClickWheel lets you navigate your music library with ease, scrolling through individual items and then through letters of the alphabet as you accelerate. A new search feature lets you scroll to select a few letters to pick out a song, artist, or album, a welcome feature since with 80GB of storage, this device features 20GB more space than most competitors.

The unit's enchanced 2.5-inch, 320-by-240-pixel screen looks great. Videos were very watchable on the display--and they're easier to get. The new iTunes 7 features a movie store with an impressive array of releases available for $10 each, in addition to its growing library of TV episodes.

* Run Aperture on any Intel-based Mac. Any desktop, including Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro. Or any notebook, including MacBook and MacBook Pro.
* Browse and present slideshows — even with images stored offline — thanks to the new Automatically Generated Previews stored in the Aperture Library. Aperture lets you customize both the size and quality of the previews.
* Use the new Drag-and-Drop JPEG Export feature to add JPEGs to Mac OS X applications. You control the size and compression quality of the images.
* Extend your workflow in exciting new ways by taking advantage of various output, storage, and publishing services available via third-party plug-ins. Learn how you can make Aperture a front end to advanced workflows by visiting the new Extensibility page.
* Rename actual master files and assign version names within Aperture using the improved File-Renaming tools.
* Automatically create folders and subfolders to hold photos as you import them or when you relocate master files by using the new Folder Name Presets.
* Take advantage of enhanced AppleScript and Automator support: operate on image selections (in addition to projects and albums); filter for the “pick” of each stack; automate the export of master files with associated XMP metadata.
* Pause, adjust volume, manually step backwards/forwards through slideshows using the Apple Remote that comes with most new Macs.
* Append additional metadata or entirely replace existing metadata using new Batch Change options.
* Sync to iPod: Take your photos with you by using iTunes to sync your entire Aperture library — or just selected albums or Smart Albums — to iPod.
* Add, maintain, and update keywords more easily using improved keyword management options — even lock the Keyword HUD to prevent inadvertent changes.
* Specify resolution in dots per inch (dpi) when printing individual images via the new Print dialog.
* Transfer cropping and straightening adjustments (in addition to other adjustments) using the improved Lift and Stamp tools.
* Choose HSB (hue, saturation, and brightness) or HSL (hue, saturation, and luminance) as basis of tonal values in the Color meter.
* Quickly find all images with “any” keyword assigned or with “no” keyword assigned when searching by IPTC info using the Query HUD.
* Search for images by file status — i.e., “offline,” “online,” or “referenced” — using a new Query option.
* Correct spelling, revise wording, or completely delete metadata/keyword entries using the new Autofill Editor.
* Assign ratings (1 to 5 stars) using the 1 to 5 keys on the keyboard and numeric keypad.
* Browse your Aperture library from the “Desktop & Screensaver” preferences dialog and select albums/images for use as your Mac OS X desktop picture or screensaver.
* • Work with RAW images from more than 50 camera models, including leading digital SLRs from Canon, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, and Sony.

Aperture 1.5 delivers compelling new features, including flexible library management that lets you store images anywhere you’d like. The free update also introduces third-party export plug-ins that let you use Aperture as the front end to extended workflows. Aperture 1.5 offers RAW support for more than 50 camera models from a wide variety of manufacturers (including Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony, and others) and extends support to all Intel-based Macs — from the Mac mini and MacBook to the Mac Pro.

You can use the free Aperture 1.5 Update — now available via Software Update or from the Aperture Download page — to update any previous version of Aperture. In all, the update delivers more than 20 new features and feature enhancements, including:

5. Hone Images with Edge Sharpen

When it comes time to sharpen images, you can now reach for Edge Sharpen. With luminance-based sharpening applied in three passes, it delivers results of the highest quality.

6. Speed Metadata Entry with Presets

A great time-saver, Aperture 1.5 lets you create pre-filled IPTC presets for copyright, captions, and other fields. Once you’ve created them, you can assign them instantly when you import images or perform batch changes. Aperture 1.5 lets you create different presets for different projects, and before assigning the metadata, you can decide whether they should be added to or replace existing metadata.

7. A Loupe...with Onscreen Controls

Making a great tool even better, Aperture 1.5 offers new Loupe options, including onscreen controls. Using the Scroll Button in Mighty Mouse, you can easily control loupe size and smoothly increase magnification from 100% to 1600%. The Loupe’s “centered” mode lets you verify sharpness in precisely the area you’d like to check. You can even position the new Loupe off-image, set it to “Focus on Cursor” mode, and move the mouse to the area of an image you’d like to check. The area you mouse over will appear in the loupe at whatever magnification you set and without the Loupe blocking any other parts of your image.

8. Create Adjustment Presets

Find yourself making some adjustments over and over again? Now you you can save individual exposure or white balance adjustments as presets in the Adjustments Inspector and Adjustments HUD. Once saved, they can be quickly applied whenever needed.

Did you download the new iTunes 7 already? I like almost all the new features. There's one cool trick you may not have noticed. If you launch iTunes 7 while holding the Option and Command keys you'll get the chance to pick your iTunes Library or create a new one. This will allow some creative solutions to storing large libraries in different locations.

A thinner design. Five stylish colors. A brighter display. Up to 24 hours of battery life. Just about the only thing that hasn’t changed is the name. In 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB models starting at $149, iPod nano puts up to 2,000 songs in your pocket.⁽¹⁾

Look like a rock star

Your music says a lot about you. So should your iPod nano. A super-slim design says you always have room for music — up to 2,000 songs, in fact. Durable anodized aluminum says you won’t let the rough and tumble of everyday life ruin your groove. And one of five colors says whatever you want. Choose your hue and make a statement.

Carry a tune (or 2,000)

Choose a 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB iPod nano and add a soundtrack to your life. Just use iTunes to import your CDs, shop for 99¢ songs on the iTunes Store, then sync them to iPod nano. Possibly the world’s coolest photo album, iPod nano holds up to 25,000 snapshots.⁽²⁾ iPod nano plays audiobooks and podcasts from the iTunes Store, too.

Play more encores

Imagine what you could do in a day. Fly around the world. Watch two sunsets. Listen to your iPod nano. Up to 24 hours of battery life⁽³⁾ means the hits just keep on coming. Whether you’re exercising, commuting, or rocking a road trip, iPod nano may just outplay you.

Light up the stage

While it can't stop the rain, iPod nano might make your day a bit brighter. 40% brighter, to be exact. Album art pops and slideshows stun on the iPod nano’s dazzling display. That means everything looks as good as it sounds.

While playing around with Cover Flow view I came across an album which I realised should really be added to one of my existing playlists. I took a notion to see if I could just drag the album cover to the playlist icon in the Source panel (why is this now un-named, incidentally?) — and, lo and behold, it worked! This is wonderfully convenient. I don’t remember being able to do anything like this before. Wasn’t it necessary to select all the tracks first and then drag the selection to the playlist icon?