The PowerMate is Griffin Technology Inc.’s stylish rotary controller for the Mac and PC. On Friday the company announced the release of a new version of the PowerMate’s controller software for Mac OS X that offers 17 new customized settings, including settings for Apple’s iLife 04 software suite and its music creation software GarageBand.
With the new software installed, PowerMate users can use the device to spin through and play back measures of the songs they create using GarageBand. New settings have also been added for the other applications included in iLife 04. Microsoft Office application support has been improved with new settings for Word, Excel and Entourage. Other improved settings include Internet Explorer, Final Cut Pro, Acrobat Reader, Preview, Address Book, Safari and iChat as well.
A new DVD Player setting allows users to play, pause and skip between chapters in full screen mode using the PowerMate. What’s more, the update also enables PowerMate users to dim the lighted base completely, and to put the computers to sleep using one click.
Griffin sells the PowerMate for US$39.99. It’s available in either silver or black finishes. The 1.6 update is free for all PowerMate users and can be downloaded from the Griffin Web site now.