Skip to content
Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 33 years
and the TidBITS Content Network for Apple professionals

TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Software Updates for 17 February 2014

DEVONagent Lite, Express, and Pro 3.7 — DEVONtechnologies has updated all three editions of its DEVONagent research software (Lite, Express, and Pro) to version 3.7. DEVONagent Pro receives a new scanner plug-in that not only searches Twitter but also scans found pages for links containing Twitter IDs and reports them. Additionally, the Pro edition improves how it highlights selected items in lists, fixes minor issues with URL handling with regard to OS X 10.9 Mavericks, and fixes the handling of filenames that begin with a tilde (~) by various Automator actions. All three editions also
receive an updated Tube scanner (which brings back compatibility with YouTube), updated search sets (including “Marketing,” “Macintosh News (Latest),” and “Macintosh News (More)”), updated plug-ins (the JSTOR and SEC references and the Technorati blog), and improvements to the French localization. (All updates are free. DEVONagent Lite, free, release notes; DEVONagent Express, $4.95 new, release notes; DEVONagent Pro, $49.95 new with a 25 percent discount for TidBITS
members
, release notes)

Read/post comments about DEVONagent Lite, Express, and Pro 3.7.

GraphicConverter 9.1 — Lemkesoft has released GraphicConverter 9.1 with a number of new and updated features. The venerable graphic conversion and editing utility adds the capability to attach images to email via a new menu item, anti-aliasing to the pen tool, the capability to extract images from a PDF, curve support for grayscale images, and pressure support for the pen tool. The user interface also receives a number of changes, including the addition of options to display a larger color label and color mode of an image in the browser, new Browse Copy and Browse Google Drive menu items, and added
Save, Undo, and Redo icons to the toolbox. The update also improves animated GIF support (with more consistent transparency on import and export), improves rename options for extensions, and fixes a possible bug with selections and core image filters. ($39.95 new from the Lemkesoft Web site or from the Mac App Store, 222 MB, release notes).

Read/post comments about GraphicConverter 9.1.

ReadKit 2.4 — Webin has released ReadKit 2.4, a major update to the RSS client and read-later app with improvements to keyboard navigation and the introduction of a new sharing service. With version 2.4, most keyboard shortcuts can be customized under the Shortcuts tab of Preferences (this Webin blog post offers an explanation of the new shortcuts). ReadKit also adds support for the Buffer sharing service, which enables you to share links to your social media connections immediately or schedule them to appear throughout the day
or week. The update also adds the capability to highlight code blocks, brings more granular preference settings on a per-account basis, adds a customizable sharing toolbar, improves sync speed of the built-in RSS engine, and improves compatibility with OS X 10.9 Mavericks. Unfortunately, ReadKit 2.4 drops support for 10.7 Lion. ($6.99 new from the Mac App Store, free update, 4.0 MB)

Read/post comments about ReadKit 2.4.

CrashPlan 3.6.3 — Code42 Software has released CrashPlan 3.6.3 with a simplified installation process for new users thanks to the inclusion of the Java Runtime Environment (version 1.7.0_45) when installing on Mac OS X 10.7.3 Lion and later. Previously, you were prompted to install Java separately, now that Apple doesn’t include Java by default. The update also increases the Java heap space allocation to 1024 MB for better performance, ensures that network interface exclusions and wireless network exclusions are properly obeyed, provides more control over CrashPlan’s unlimited version retention, enables
those who use the 448-bit encryption + password security scheme to set a challenge question and answer, and updates translations. There’s no need to download CrashPlan 3.6.3 manually, as the app should upgrade automatically in the coming days if it hasn’t already — the version number is displayed prominently in the app’s Settings > Account screen. (Free with a 30-day trial of CrashPlan’s online backup service, 50 MB, release notes)

Read/post comments about CrashPlan 3.6.3.

Marked 2.2 (Build 823) — Brett Terpstra has released Marked 2.2 (Build 822), which adds a couple of new features to the Markdown previewer. According to this blog post, the latest build improves how Marked handles opening external files that aren’t recognized (suggesting to open in a default app instead of just providing an error message), asks whether you want to open links in the current window or a new one, and improves how it handles YAML (the “human friendly data serialization standard for all programming
languages”). Marked also now features MathJax configuration updates, syntax highlighting improvements, and a fix for MultiMarkdown metadata like “Base Header Level” and “Quotes Language” not being recognized. A quick update to Build 823 fixes a minor bug. ($11.99 new, free update, 16.3 MB, release notes)

Read/post comments about Marked 2.2 (Build 823).

PDFpen and PDFpen Pro 6.1.4 — Smile has released version 6.1.4 of its PDFpen and PDFpenPro all-purpose PDF editing apps, both of which receive a fix for an “elusive” memory-related CGPDF crash during printing. Both apps also improve responsiveness when drawing on a tablet by reducing the frequency of drawing updates, fix a bug that prevented the Editing Bar’s color selector from updating, increase the maximum number of pages to 999 when creating a PDF from HTML, and resolve an issue with displaying highlighting on rotated pages. ($59.95/$99.95 new with a 20
percent discount for TidBITS members, 52.5/53.3 MB, release notes)

Read/post comments about PDFpen and PDFpen Pro 6.1.4.

Boot Camp 5.1 — Apple has released two version 5.1 updates to its Boot Camp virtualization software, both of which add support for the 64-bit versions of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. Boot Camp 5.1.5640 is for those with MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, and iMac models released in mid to late 2013, while Boot Camp 5.1.5621 is for all models of the Mac Pro, MacBook Pro models with Retina displays released in early 2013 (as well as all previous models), and all other MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, and iMac models released prior to 2013. (Free, 883 MB)

Read/post comments about Boot Camp 5.1.

Subscribe today so you don’t miss any TidBITS articles!

Every week you’ll get tech tips, in-depth reviews, and insightful news analysis for discerning Apple users. For over 33 years, we’ve published professional, member-supported tech journalism that makes you smarter.

Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.