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TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Software Updates for 6 January 2014

TinkerTool 5.1 — After adding support for OS X 10.9 Mavericks in its version 5.0 release, TinkerTool 5.1 from Marcel Bresink is now sandboxed for better security. The under-the-hood customization system utility also does away with the Login Items pane as it’s no longer useful for Mavericks, differentiates between the actual Lucida Grande typeface and the new screen system font introduced with OS X Mavericks, reinstates the preference setting that enables you to copy text displayed by Quick Look (for 10.9.1 and later), and reduces storage space used by the preference reset feature. While the latest version of
TinkerTool requires 10.9 Mavericks, Bresink continues to offer older versions of TinkerTool for those running previous big cats, all the way back to 10.1 Puma. (Free, 3.9 MB, release notes)

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GraphicConverter 9.0.2 — Lemkesoft released version 9.0 of the venerable GraphicConverter in late 2013 featuring full compatibility with OS X 10.9 Mavericks and several new features. With the new non-destructive Cocooner editing mode, you can modify an image while keeping the original image data unchanged, plus export the altered image to all of GraphicConverter’s supported formats. Version 9 also adds the capability to undo file and folder operations in the app’s browser. Because it now requires 10.7 Lion, GraphicConverter has split into two Mac App Store editions — the original GraphicConverter title (at version 8.8.2 and still available for users running 10.6.8 Snow Leopard) and the new GraphicConverter 9. Both are available for $39.99 each.

Ringing in 2014, version 9.0.2 of the graphic conversion and editing utility adds a number of improvements, including filtering images in Cocooner mode by rating and label, importing .snagproj files, browsing SkyDrive and Cloud Drive, and merging or copying images into a PDF from Convert & Modify. The update also now sorts files in the browser by order of EXIF, IPTC, and file date, and adds separate Back and Forward menu commands in the browser. ($39.95 new from the Lemkesoft Web site or from the Mac App Store, 202 MB, release notes).

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Delicious Library 3.1.4 — Delicious Monster has released Delicious Library 3.1.4 with a modicum of fixes solely for OS X 10.9 Mavericks, including an issue that randomly indented or strangely layered source list items and a bug where shelf items no longer animated when resized or zoomed. The update to the media cataloging app (reviewed by Josh Centers; see “FunBITS: Delicious Library 3,” 1 November 2013) also works around a problem where shelf items without a graphic cover wouldn’t receive a placeholder cover. Delicious Monster also notes that there are two crashes
associated with the GeForce graphics drivers found in OS X 10.9.1 that affect 2013 MacBook Pro and iMac models, but they’ve been reported to Apple and it’s hoped that the next Mavericks update will solve them. ($25 new from Delicious Monster Web site and Mac App Store, free update, 77.4 MB)

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Audio Hijack Pro 2.10.9 — Rogue Amoeba has released Audio Hijack Pro 2.10.9, which provides initial compatibility with OS X 10.9 Mavericks. Like the recent update to Rogue Amoeba’s Airfoil audio streaming app (see “Airfoil 4.8.2,” 1 December 2013), Audio Hijack Pro’s audio capture engine has also been overhauled to support Mavericks, and Rogue Amoeba warns that some audio capture sources may behave differently. The release also updates the Instant On component to version 7.1.2, which provides improvements to System Audio capture and audio capture from Safari
(and installing it no longer requires restarting!). Other changes include full VoIP capture support for Microsoft Lync and proper preservation of custom file extensions for AAC files. ($32 new with a 20 percent discount for TidBITS members, free update, 7.1 MB, release notes)

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LaunchBar 5.6.2 — Objective Development has released LaunchBar 5.6.2 with improvements in handling privacy settings in OS X 10.9 Mavericks as well as in the clipboard history ignore list. The keyboard-based launcher also adds a preference in Mavericks to ensure LaunchBar opens in the same display as the frontmost window and fixes an issue causing 1Password content not to appear in clipboard history. ($35 new with a 20 percent discount for TidBITS members, free update, 5.6 MB, release notes)

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Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.0 — Apple has released Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.0 for the lucky few who have received their shiny new Mac Pro models (see “Mac Pro Available to Order, Shipping in February 2014,” 20 December 2013). This firmware update improves system reliability during reboot, resolves an issue with memory self-test, and improves graphics power management when using Boot Camp. As always, be careful not to interrupt the update process when applying a firmware update. (Free, 4.7 MB)

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Final Cut Pro X 10.1 — Apple has released Final Cut Pro X 10.1 with an extra helping of improvements and fixes to prepare for the release of the new Mac Pro. The update optimizes playback and rendering when using the Mac Pro’s dual graphics processors, and it paves the way for using 4K monitors with added support for monitoring video on the ultra-high pixel displays as well as creating titles, transitions, and generators in 4K resolution. Final Cut Pro X 10.1 also now enables you to collect multiple projects and events into libraries (for more on transitioning projects and events to libraries, see this Apple support FAQ). The release also makes it easier to move clips with transitions in the timeline and lift them out of the Primary Storyline with transitions preserved, clips can now be trimmed completely out of a timeline when using the rolling trim function, and importing AVCHD video no longer results in 5.1-channel surround sound audio being mixed down to stereo. ($299.99 new in the Mac App Store, free update, 2.20 GB, release notes)

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Logic Pro X 10.0.5 — Apple has released Logic Pro X 10.0 with a hefty list of new features, enhancements, and fixes for the professional audio app. The update adds 3 new Drummers and 11 new Drum Kit Designer patches, improves handling of multiple displays on OS X 10.9 Mavericks, improves Shuffle commands, and illuminates the glyph on the Metronome button when Logic is stopped or in Play mode to indicate that “Click while recording” is enabled. The release also make several enhancements to the Channel EQ and Linear Phase EQ plug-ins. For a complete rundown on the massive changes in Logic Pro X 10.0.5, be sure to
read the release notes (we recommend carving out some time in your calendar before doing so). ($199.99 new in the Mac App Store, free update, 828 MB)

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