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TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Software Updates for 28 October 2013

Alfred 2.1 — Running with Crayons has released Alfred 2.1, updating the keyboard-driven launcher with compatibility for OS X 10.9 Mavericks. The release fixes inline dictionary definitions in Mavericks, and adds the System/Library/CoreServices/Applications directory to the default search scope. For those who purchase the feature-enhanced Alfred Powerpack, Alfred 2.1 improves integration with the latest version of iTunes (making the mini player aware of iTunes Radio), and improves syncing compatibility with Dropbox. (Free, £15 for Powerpack, 2.8
MB, release notes)

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SpamSieve 2.9.10 — C-Command Software has released SpamSieve 2.9.10 with added compatibility for what became the final release of OS X 10.9 Mavericks. As with the previous update (see “SpamSieve 2.9.9,” 9 October 2013), C-Command recommends that you update to SpamSieve 2.9.10 before installing Mavericks, but if OS X 10.9 is already installed then you should choose SpamSieve > Install Apple Mail Plug-In. The new version also updates various parts of the manual. ($30 new with a 20 percent discount for TidBITS members, free
update, 10.8 MB, release notes)

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ChronoSync 4.4.2 and ChronoAgent 1.4.3 — Econ Technologies has released ChronoSync 4.4.2 and ChronoAgent 1.4.3 with compatibility for OS X 10.9 Mavericks. The ChronoSync synchronization/backup app improves sync and refresh performance, fixes several bugs related to adding files and folders to the Archive, fixes several issues related to mounting volumes, and changes the behavior of when the app checks for updates if ChronoSync is left running for a long time. Both ChronoSync and ChronoAgent improve performance related to
scanning package files included in a sync tree as well as when aborting syncs, and ChronoAgent now ensures all applicable threads are terminated when aborting a sync. Full release notes for ChronoSync and ChronoAgent are available. ($40 new for ChronoSync, $10 new for ChronoAgent; free updates; 27.2 MB, 10.6 MB)

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DEVONthink and DEVONnote 2.7.1 — Following up on a number of issues introduced in the recently released version 2.7, DEVONtechnologies has updated all three versions of DEVONthink (Personal, Pro, and Pro Office) and DEVONnote to version 2.7.1. In particular, the update fixes an issue where DEVONthink opens in addition to the Sorter after a restart, and it fixes compatibility with DEVONthink To Go for both DEVONthink and DEVONnote. A few additional glitches have been fixed in DEVONthink, including random issues with synchronization,
changes in formatting for notes after links were added, and a problem that prevented double-clicking already open databases in the Finder from bringing them to the front. (All updates are free. DEVONthink Pro Office, $149.95 new, release notes; DEVONthink Professional, $79.95 new, release notes; DEVONthink Personal, $49.95 new, release notes; DEVONnote, $24.95 new, release notes; 25 percent discount for TidBITS members on DEVONnote and all editions of DEVONthink)

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Safari 6.1 — If you’re not ready to upgrade to OS X 10.9 Mavericks from 10.7.5 Lion or 10.8.5 Mountain Lion, you can get many of the features found in Safari 7.0 for Mavericks with the release of Safari 6.1. The update adds the new Shared Links and Sidebar features of Safari 7.0, as well as one-click bookmarking, Safari Power Saver (which can pause plug-in content when it’s in the background), third-party data blocking, and updated security patches. It’s available exclusively via Software Update. (Free)

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Pixelmator 3.0 — Pixelmator has been updated to version 3.0 with a new official name: Pixelmator 3.0 FX (though the Mac App Store, the sole place to purchase Pixelmator, doesn’t append the “FX” to the image editing and manipulation app’s name). The new release uses a new image editing engine that should improve performance dramatically, and adds non-destructive Layer Styles (such as shadows, gradients, and outlines), a Liquify Tool for warping images, and support for OS X 10.9 Mavericks (including App Nap, Compressed Memory, and tags).
But these new features come at a cost, with Pixelmator 3.0 FX now selling for $29.99, rising from the special half-price “introductory” cost of $14.99 that it has been selling for since October 2012. ($29.99 new, free update, 35.9 MB, release notes)

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BusyCal 2.5.3 — BusyMac has released BusyCal 2.5.3 with fixes for a variety of unspecified bugs related to OS X 10.9 Mavericks. The calendar app also adds support for managed attachments and time zones by reference on iCloud and other CalDAV Servers, adds a search filter to the time zone dialog (and remembers recently used time zones), fixes a bug with lowercase logins on iCloud, deals with some Google sync-collection and Google Inbox bugs, disables the swiping gestures on Apple’s Magic Mouse when hovering over an info panel, improves the sorting of To Dos, and enables the display of two holidays per day (which should help
with the overlap of Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah, both of which fall on 28 November this year). ($29.99 new from the Mac App Store, free update, 9.9 MB, release notes)

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iMac SMC Firmware Update 1.1 — Apple has released iMac SMC Firmware Update 1.1, which is recommended for recently released iMac models that have been configured with PCIe-based flash storage (see “Apple Updates iMac with Faster CPUs and 802.11ac Wi-Fi,” 24 September 2013). The release improves the Power Nap feature in OS X 10.9 Mavericks so that it runs silently while your iMac is sleeping without spinning the fan. (Free update, 921 KB)

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MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) Software Update 1.0 — Apple has released MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) Software Update 1.0, which affects only those who have purchased one of the just-released models (see “New Retina MacBook Pro Models Thinner, Lighter, and Cheaper,” 22 October 2013). However, as this update solely replaces the missing Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese OS X Software License Agreement with a fresh copy in your Documentation folder, you can probably skip this one, particularly if you’re not using either of these localizations.
(Free, 5 MB)

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iMac 10.8.5 Supplemental Update 1.0 — Recommended for iMac models released in late September 2013 (see “Apple Updates iMac with Faster CPUs and 802.11ac Wi-Fi,” 24 September 2013), Apple has issued iMac 10.8.5 Supplemental Update 1.0 for those models with an Nvidia GeForce GT 750M graphics processor running OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion. The update fixes two bugs: one that caused external drives to eject after the iMac goes to sleep and another that prevented certain USB Bluetooth adapters from working. (Free update, 17.1 MB)

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Carbon Copy Cloner 3.5.3 — Just in time to create bootable backup of your Mac before updating to OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Bombich Software has released Carbon Copy Cloner 3.5.3 with support for Apple’s new surfing-themed operating system. The update also adds advice about enabling full disk encryption while going through the encryption steps (as well as to the documentation), addresses a problem that Carbon Copy Cloner had with network volumes using a short user name, fixes a Mavericks-specific issue with the list of items to be copied, ensures that the “silently skip” backup option is respected, and fixes a couple of issues
involving Drobo devices. ($39.95 new, free update, 10.9 MB, release notes)

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Scrivener 2.5 — Adding compatibility with OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Literature & Latte has released Scrivener 2.5, now with support for tags when saving and exporting. The word processor also bundles a Java runtime environment so that it doesn’t need to ask permission to install Java when running converters for .doc, .docx and .odt files, though it works only on systems running 10.7.3 Lion and later. (For earlier systems, you’ll need to install Java on your own.) Because of the Java bundling, Scrivener 2.5 more than doubles its file size (from 35.7 MB for version 2.4 to 76 MB for this update).

Among a lengthy list of changes, the update also improves imported notes from Scapple (Literature & Latte’s freeform text-editing utility), ensures that the Kindle export no longer ignores differences between justified and left text alignment, adds the capability to strike out text in PDFs, enables you to drag images from the Scrivener editor to the Finder, and adds German, French, and Spanish localizations. ($45 new from Literature & Latte and the Mac App Store, free update, 76 MB, release notes)

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Hazel 3.2 — Noodlesoft has released Hazel 3.2 with improvements in how the file cleanup utility handles tags in OS X 10.9 Mavericks. The update enables you to add conditions based on Mavericks tags as well as create new actions to add or set tags. Hazel 3.2 also splits the “contain” operator for attributes that represented lists of items into two for more intuitive matching, stops using smart quotes in the Mavericks AppleScript editor (which created script errors), and fixes a crash when using the Kind picker. Hazel still enables you to match on and set color labels, despite the fact that Mavericks as replaced the old
OS X color labels with tags. ($28 new, free update, 7.8 MB, release notes)

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Voila 3.6 — In addition to several under-the-hood refinements to give it a more snappy feel, Global Delight’s Voila 3.6 offers improved performance and reliability when running in OS X 10.9 Mavericks. In particular, the screen capture utility no longer crashes while importing files under Mavericks, and it fixes issues with taking screen captures using an external display and the menu bar. Voila 3.6 also improves its Text tool, retools the video export functionality for Macs running 10.7 Lion and later, enlarges the knob markers in the Capture and Object tools, and adds a German localization. Normally priced at $29.99,
Voila has been discounted to $19.99 through 31 October 2013, and there’s a further 25 percent discount for TidBITS members when purchased through Global Delight. ($29.99 new from Global Delight or the Mac App Store, free update, 20.7 MB, release notes)

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iTunes 11.1.2 — Apple has released iTunes 11.1.2 with support for the just-released OS X 10.9 Mavericks (see “Apple Releases OS X 10.9 Mavericks for Free,” 22 October 2013). The new version also offers improved performance and stability while also adding Arabic and Hebrew language support. It’s available as a direct download from Apple’s iTunes Web page or via Software Update. (Free, 221 MB)

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iBooks Author 2.1 — Apple’s iBooks Author has been updated for Mavericks compatibility. The free authoring software fixes an interesting bug that caused enhanced caption tracks to be dropped from some movies, and, as one might expect, provides “various bug fixes and performance improvements.” In addition, with this update users can now preview in-progress Multi-Touch book projects in the iBooks app on the Mac. The capability of previewing to a cable-connected iPad remains, and is still required to preview a book that uses vertical orientation. (Free from the Mac App Store, 446 MB)

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