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TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Updates for 2 November 2009

Electric Sheep 2.7b18b — The dizzyingly beautiful screensaver Electric Sheep has been updated to version 2.7b18b, bringing back the multiple display support that was lost in the switch to Snow Leopard compatibility. Other changes include smoother animation, improvements in voting, and various bug fixes to enhance performance and usability. Make sure you download version 2.7b18b, since not all the download links on the Electric Sheep site have been updated yet. (Free, 16.6 MB)

iTunes 9.0.2 — Apple has released iTunes 9.0.2, adding support for Apple TV 3.0 and an option for a dark background in Grid view, and improving accessibility. The update is available via Software Update or the Apple Support Downloads page. (Free, 85.82 MB)

Default Folder X 4.3.2 — St. Clair Software has released a maintenance and stability update to the Open/Save dialog enhancement utility Default Folder X. Version 4.3.2 improves recently-used-folder tracking, fixes a bug that caused files to be saved to the wrong folder when using column view, and addresses an issue in Snow Leopard that prevented folder switching and rebound from working correctly when the name of the mounted server’s disk was the same as a folder on the startup drive. Also, support for the SharpShooter screenshot utility has been added, creating preview images for files and
folders no longer causes Default Folder X to attempt to resolve aliases to offline servers, and the program’s controls now properly hide themselves when an options dialog is invoked from an Open or Save As dialog. A full list of changes is available on St. Clair Software’s Web site. ($34.95 new, free update, 10.7 MB)

Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0 for Leopard and Snow Leopard — Apple has released two updates that enable users running either Leopard or Snow Leopard to take advantage of the multi-touch capabilities in the new Magic Mouse (see “Apple Releases Magic Mouse, New Remote, Souped-Up Base Stations,” 20 October 2009). Apple notes that users running Leopard must have version 10.5.8 installed, and that Momentum scrolling is not available. Users running Snow Leopard must have version 10.6.1 installed. Both updates are available via Software Update or the Apple Support
Downloads page. (Free, 36.22/63.92 MB)

VMware Fusion 3 — VMware has released the latest version of its Windows virtualization software for Mac, VMware Fusion 3. Changes include 64-bit optimization for Snow Leopard users, Windows 7 support, a simplified process for porting a physical Windows installation to a virtual Mac installation, and better support for graphically intense applications. Also, the migration assistant has been improved, memory usage has been reduced when running Windows 7 or Vista, full support for four-way SMP has been added, the Unity feature’s behavior is now more Mac-like, the Multi-Display and Full Screen views have been enhanced, and automatic program updating has been
added. A full list of features is available on VMware’s Web site. Note that our “Take Control of VMware Fusion 3” ebook is also available, as a free download. ($79.99 new, $39.99 upgrade, 186 MB)

ScreenFlow 2.0 — Telestream’s ScreenFlow, which creates screencasts, has been updated to version 2.0 (see “ScreenFlow: Screencasting on Steroids,” 30 April 2008). The new version adds much-needed (and long-rumored) features such as transitions between video clips, the capability to speed up or slow down a portion of a clip, separation of audio from video, audio ducking, moving clips between documents, pause during recording, and many performance and editing improvements. ScreenFlow 2.0 includes a Flip4Mac WMV Studio serial
number (a $49 value); it requires Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or later and Quartz Extreme. A trial version watermarks exported movies. ($99 new, $29 upgrade, 7.8 MB)

Apple Server Diagnostics 3X106 — Apple has released an updated version of its Apple Server Diagnostics that tests for hardware issues in servers running Mac OS X Server 10.6. Like past versions, this one runs a customizable set of tests for identifying issues with server components such as the boot ROM, Ethernet controller, fan, hard drive, memory, power supply, processor, sensor, USB ports, and video controller.

The update is compatible with Snow Leopard Server on the Xserve (Early 2009), Xserve (Early 2008), and Mac mini (Early 2009), and is available via Software Update or the Apple Support Downloads page. Apple also notes you can run Apple Server Diagnostics in Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI), in Mac OS X, or in Mac OS X Server. (Free, 20.2 MB)

DoorStop X Security Suite 2.3 — Open Door Networks has released a significant maintenance update to its flagship collection of Internet security products, the DoorStop X Security Suite. The latest release of the suite includes updated versions of DoorStop X Firewall, Who’s There? Firewall Advisor, and the ebook “Internet Security for Your Macintosh and iPhone.”

DoorStop X Security Suite 2.3 includes additional information and support for Snow Leopard throughout its components, as well as Snow Leopard-specific bug fixes. It also adds information and advice regarding the iPhone and iPod touch. DoorStop X Security Suite’s ebook now includes an entire chapter on the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as iPhone details throughout. Plus, a Twitter stream has been integrated with the products through a News menu, enabling security issues to be addressed in real time.

Other minor additions include support for non-admin users in DoorStop X Firewall, an enhanced geolocation service for the Who’s There? Firewall Advisor, and added advice on a variety of new security issues. ($79 new, free upgrade for users who purchased version 2.2 after 28 August 2009, 15.8 MB.)

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