Apple has added three new gifts for members of its subscription-based .Mac service: a free copy of iBlog, a free VersionTracker Plus subscription and a US$30 discount on SmartDisk hard drives.
VersionTracker Plus offers a subscription service that offers a custom page for tracking updates to your software, a download cart, e-mail alerts and advanced search; you also get a membership in the online VersionTracker Plus community. It normally costs $24.95 annually. .Mac members can also get a 50 percent discount for a subscription to VersionTracker Pro, the “power user” version of VersionTracker Plus. You can use Pro to monitor the software inventory and version status for up to 10 Macs, either via a newly revamped desktop interface on each Mac or though a single Web-based console to compare the status of all 10 at once.
Lifli Software’s iBlog publishing software, which is $19.95 for non-.Mac members, lets you publish a Weblog without worrying about formatting, archiving or site maintenance. You can publish your Weblog on your .Mac homepage; iBlog also integrates with Apple’s iLife products.
.Mac and the online Apple Store are offering discounts on three SmartDisk FireWire drives. You can save $30 on the FireLite 40GB drive and the 80GB and 120GB desktop drives.