Besides OS X 10.6 compatibility, Drive Genius 2.2 promises improvements to defragmentation functionality and repartition performance.
Wednesday’s update is free for registered Drive Genius 2 users—an auto-update mechanism in the app will let you upgrade to the new release, and a new boot DVD can also be purchased from Prosoft for a nominal fee. A new version of the hard drive maintenance and optimization program costs $99.—Peter Cohen
Realmac launches Web site for creative pros
Realmac Software has unveiled Ember, which it bills as a new “inspiration-sharing” Web service aimed at creative pros. This application replaces Realmac’s previous QuickSnapper service, adding several user-requested features.
The service allows users to upload images, apply tags and descriptions, and build collections of any images they find on the service. Ember also features categories to which users can submit relevant images (for example, “User Interface Design”). Realmac Software oversees the categories to ensure that Ember develops as a creative showcase and pattern library.
Ember accounts are available at two levels: basic and pro. Basic accounts are ad-supported and allow users to upload up to 30 images per month, as well as creating a maximum of three collections per account. For $24 per year, the pro level is ad-free and users can upload an unlimited number of images and create as many collections as they wish.
Pro users also receive free upgrades to the desktop version of LittleSnapper when a paid upgrade is released during their subscription.—Jackie Dove
Kona capture cards get new Final Cut Studio compatibility
AJA’s updated software for its Kona cards supports Final Cut Pro 7 along with Apple’s new ProRes 422 (LT), ProRes 422 (Proxy) and ProRes 4444 codecs. All are available free of charge to current Kona users.
The software also adds new features for Kona 3, LHi and LHe cards, including support for Avid DNxHD QuickTime file playback and video output and support for AVC-Intra QuickTime playback and video. Kona 3, the top-of-the-line card, also adds support for Cineform 3D QuickTime file playback and video.—PC
Eltima updates PDF password recovery utility
Eltima Software on Wednesday released Recover PDF Password 2.1.0.99, the latest version of its utility for retrieving lost passwords for PDF files.
The update adds a “Decrypt” option which instantly saves a copy of a PDF without encryption, as long as that file has only an owner password. In addition, the program’s algorithm for processing Adobe Acrobat 9 files has been improved and several bugs have been fixed.
Recover PDF Password requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later and costs $40 for a license.—Dan Moren
iWeb Themes 5.0 adds five new Web site themes
iPresentee’s iWeb Themes 5.0, the company’s latest collection of themes for Apple’s Web site design program, includes five new themes, each with 10 templates: Amber, Flowered, Blue-Black, Claret, and Free-liver. The themes are compatible with iWeb 2.0 or 3.0 and are user-customizable. Each theme is available for $10; they can also be purchased as a set of five for $25.—DM