TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Software Updates for 1 February 2010

Mailplane 2.1.4 — Uncomplex has tweaked Mailplane, its WebKit wrapper for Gmail, with a handful of minor fixes and improvements. Picture optimization in outgoing messages can now be controlled via AppleScript, dragged messages now disappear as expected, dragging images onto Mailplane’s icon now optimizes pictures reliably, and keyboard shortcut functionality broken by Gmail changes has been restored. ($24.95 new, free update, 19.9 MB)

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Keyboard Maestro 4.0.2 — Automation lovers will be happy to hear that Stairways Software has updated its popular macro utility Keyboard Maestro. In version 4.0.2, macros can be imported via double-clicking or drag-and-drop, Command-Shift-Tab can be used as a hot key, the Hot Key view has been tweaked, Typed String triggers can be single characters, and the Hot Key menu includes an Other option to indicate that any key may be used. The update also fixes a handful of bugs, including a crashing bug related to the Hot Key pop-up menu and another caused by recording in 64-bit mode in Mac OS X 10.5, along with an issue with Dvorak keyboards. ($36 new, free update, 7.7
MB)

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BusyCal 1.2 — BusyMac’s latest version of BusyCal, the desktop calendar application with built-in sharing capabilities, mainly focuses on bug fixes, though it also includes a couple of handy feature additions. While the release notes don’t go into much detail, BusyCal 1.2 fixes several crashing bugs, Google syncing bugs, various miscellaneous bugs, and a bug related to row highlighting in List View. The update also introduces a welcome Calendar Groups feature (look in the File menu) and a new global font size preference. BusySync, BusyMac’s iCal synchronization software, also received a minor update to version 2.2.7 to
address what we suspect are the same Google sync problems ($40/25, free updates, 6.2/2.2 MB)

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Aluminum Keyboard Firmware Update 1.1 — Apple has released a firmware update for 2007 aluminum Apple keyboards. The update improves battery performance when using the Apple Wireless Keyboard in conjunction with other Bluetooth devices such as the Magic Mouse or some Bluetooth headsets. It also fixes an issue that occurred with both the regular and wireless keyboard wherein keys could repeat randomly when typing. More information, including installation instructions, is available on Apple’s Web site. The update is available via Software Update and the Apple Support Downloads page. (Free, 1.52 MB)

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PGP Desktop 10 — PGP Corporation has released the latest version of its communications and disk encryption software, PGP Desktop. Version 10 adds support for Whole Disk Encryption and Boot Camp under Snow Leopard, optimization for solid state drives, new Hybrid Cryptographic Optimizer technology that results in enhanced run times, a refreshed interface, and expanded support for Smart Cards. Also, compliance is now ensured across any mixed-system environment (i.e., a network with users running Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows). To learn more about PGP Whole Disk Encryption, read Joe Kissell’s article “Securing Your Disks with PGP Whole Disk Encryption,” 31 October 2008. (PGP Desktop Professional [including Whole Disk Encryption], $239; PGP Desktop Email, $164; PGP Desktop Home, $99; PGP Whole Disk Encryption, $149; volume discounts available; free update to all users with subscription licenses or maintenance)

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