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TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Software Updates for 17-Aug-09

Default Folder X 4.3 from St. Clair Software primarily adds full support for the forthcoming Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard to the Open/Save dialog enhancement utility. (Version 4.3 is necessary for Snow Leopard; previous versions crash under 10.6.) It also reduces CPU usage when displaying previews and fixes several compatibility problems. Plus, a new expert setting enables users to resize Open and Save dialogs to at least a user-specified minimum size. ($34.95 new, free update, 10.5 MB)

PCalc 3.5 from TLA Systems brings the popular scientific calculator into feature parity with the company’s iPhone version. In particular it adds new functions, can show additional functions with a “2nd” key, supports multiple memories, offers optional HP48-style RPN behavior, provides key click sounds, and allows use of the quote as a thousands separator. ($19 new, free update, 3.4 MB)

AirPort Client Update for MacBook and MacBook Pro from Apple addresses an issue with wireless network performance when the MacBook or MacBook Pro is running on battery power. The update pertains only to users running Mac OS X 10.5.8 on one of the following systems: the late 2007, early 2008, or late 2008 13-inch MacBook; the early 2008 15-inch MacBook Pro; and the early 2008 or late 2008 17-inch MacBook Pro. (Free, 1.68 MB)

PDFpen 4.2 and PDFpenPro 4.2 from SmileOnMyMac are the latest versions of the company’s PDF editing utilities. The updates add support for 128-bit AES encrypted documents, support for the AppleScript enhanced print event, and other minor unspecified fixes and improvements. ($49.95/$99.95, free updates, 12 MB/12.2 MB)

Safari 4.0.3 from Apple is a security and stability update to the Web browser. The latest version improves stability for Top Sites, third-party plug-ins, and Web pages using the HTML 5 video tag, and helps prevent arbitrary crashing and malicious code execution. The update also fixes an issue that prevented users from logging into iWork.com, and another that caused pages to be displayed in grayscale instead of color. More details on the update’s security content are posted on Apple’s Web site. The update is available via Software Update or the Apple Support Downloads page. (Free, 40
MB/26 MB Leopard/Tiger)

Cocktail 4.4.1 from Maintain is a minor maintenance update to the general purpose maintenance utility. The update fixes compatibility issues with Firefox 3.5 and Flock 2.5, clears the latest RSPlug Trojan Horse variants, adds updated Automator actions, provides compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5.8, and addresses other minor unspecified bugs. ($14.95, free update, 1.9 MB).

SubEthaEdit 3.5 from TheCodingMonkeys is a major update to the collaborative text editor. The latest version adds a code folding feature that enables users to collapse nested bits of source code, a document state persistence capability that saves document states such as window positions, and new clickable URLs that make it easier to open links while editing. Also the speed of AppleScript-based text changes has been enhanced, triggers for a bug in the mDNSResponder that caused high CPU loads when using AirPort base stations have been reduced, and several crashing bugs have been fixed, including one that would occur when opening files larger than 300 MB. A full list of changes is
available via TheCodingMonkeys Web site. (29 euros new, free update, 4.1 MB)

Audio Hijack Pro 2.9.2 from Rogue Amoeba is a maintenance update to the all-around audio recording software. Changes include the use of Instant Hijack 2.1.2, the capability to hijack the same application in multiple sessions simultaneously, and improved saving capabilities in the Recording Inspector. Also, several problems have been fixed, including a bug that caused AAC recordings not to start, an issue with the Add to iTunes script failing, and unresponsive Quick Record hot keys. Finally, for users running Mac OS X 10.4, the update will install the latest compatible version of Soundflower 1.3.1. ($32 new, free update, 7.4 MB)

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