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TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Software Updates for 14 November 2011

Postbox 3 — Postbox has released version 3 of its eponymous email client, adding numerous Gmail, social networking, and integration features. The Thunderbird-based Postbox 3 contains a large number of new features, such as support for Gmail labels, a new send-and-archive function, support for Gmail keyboard shortcuts, and the capability to detect dates automatically and convert them to Google Calendar events. Postbox has also gained several social networking capabilities, such as displaying profile photos from Facebook, LinkedIn, and Gravatar, and posting to Facebook, Twitter, and
LinkedIn. A new favorites bar provides fast access to preferred accounts and folders, and better integration with external apps and services like Evernote, Dropbox, iCal, and Growl increases productivity. Finally, Postbox can now create canned responses based on custom templates, and it boasts better overall integration with Mac OS X, including support for gestures and the new full-screen mode in Lion. ($29.95 new, free for users who purchased after 15 August 2011, $9.95 upgrade, 21.4 MB)

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DEVONthink 2.3.1 — DEVONtechnologies has released DEVONthink 2.3.1, updating all three editions (Personal, Pro, and Pro Office) of the company’s “smart information assistant” software. The releases include a number of new features, such as support for custom icons in the template and script menus, and a new simple search interface for iOS. The updates also improve the advertisement filter, the RSS parser, the handling of background storage processes, and the import/export features associated with numerous file formats. Each of the programs also receives a number of bug fixes.
($49.95/$79.95/$149.95 new, free updates, 17.5 to 28.4 MB, release notes)

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Java for 10.7 Update 1 and Java for 10.6 Update 6 — Apple has released Java for Mac OS X 10.7 Update 1 and Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 6. In both cases, the updates address about a dozen security vulnerabilities, including one that could allow an untrusted Java applet to execute arbitrary code outside of the Java sandbox. (Free, 62.53 MB and 75.45 MB)

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Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.9 — Apple is keeping up with the Joneses with Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.9, which adds compatibility with several new cameras to Aperture 3 and iPhoto ’11. The newly supported cameras include the Canon PowerShot S100; Nikon 1 J1, V1, and Coolpix P7100; Olympus PEN E-PL1, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1; Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150; and Sony Alpha NEX-5N, Alpha SLT-A65, and Alpha SLT-A77. The update applies to both Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and 10.6 Snow Leopard; Apple publishes a full list of supported raw image formats in both Lion
and Snow Leopard — interestingly, the Lion list is a bit longer. (Free, 7.2 MB)

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MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.5 — Apple has released MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.5 for unspecified models of the MacBook Pro, running either Mac OS X 10.7.2 Lion or 10.6.8 Snow Leopard. The update reportedly fixes a bug that could cause the MacBook Pro on a power adapter to shut down unexpectedly under heavy load if the battery charge level (which you wouldn’t think would be at issue) is near empty. To install this update, your MacBook Pro must be plugged into power or be at least 25 percent charged; as with all firmware updates, do not interrupt the update while it’s installing. Because Apple isn’t saying
exactly which models of the MacBook Pro are affected, we recommend getting this update via Software Update. Presumably, the updater itself also knows not to install itself unnecessarily. (Free, 730 KB)

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