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Evernote Adds Reminders to Mac and iOS Apps in Update

NewImageEvernote has added the ability to set reminders and alarms to its note-taking and organizational app, a popular new feature request the company says.
For the millions and millions of people around the world that use Evernote everyday to achieve their goals, we’re excited to announce a new part of Evernote that will keep you on track every step of the way. Reminders are here. Our three most requested features rolled into one small package:

- In-app and email Alarms
- Quick note based to-do lists
- Pinning notes to the top of your note list

Evernote has additional details on how the new features work in a post on its blog.

Evernote is a free download for Mac and iOS, though premium subscriptions are available. [Direct Links: Mac, iOS]

Former Gartner Research Director Michael Gartenberg Joins Apple's Marketing Team

michael_gartenbergForbes reports that former Gartner research director Michael Gartenberg has joined Apple. While his exact position at Apple hasn't been revealed, Gartenberg is said to be working under Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller.
This isn’t Gartenberg’s first time jumping into one of the technology companies he tracks — though his last foray lasted less than a month. In Feb. 2007, he joined Microsoft as an “enthusiastic evangelist,” a job he described at the time as being designed to “engage and work with enthusiasts and other influencers and show them all the cool stuff that Microsoft is doing. In short, it’s our job to act as the bridge between Microsoft and end users.” But he left Microsoft in March 2007 and resumed his role as a tech analyst, saying “at my core, I am an analyst. It’s what I do and I do it well and after much thought, I realize I’m just not ready to stop doing that job just yet.”
Gartner is one of the highest-profile technology research firms tracking, and the firm's estimates of product sales are commonly cited by Apple in its presentations. Gartenberg has long been a fixture in the research and analysis community, and has served as an occasional contributor to Macworld and other publications.

Twitter for Mac Updated with Notification Center Integration, Bug Fixes

twitter.jpgTwitter has updated its Mac app today, adding notification support. When a Direct Message or mention is received, users will now be alerted with a popup notification. This option can be configured in the app’s Preferences window.

The update also brings a number of bug fixes:
- Fix for Growl notifications not working in Lion and Mountain Lion
- Fix for bug that prevented un-favoriting tweets
- Fix for missing account switcher in composer
- Fix for error message when posting a tweet with a pasted image
- Fix for enlarged avatar when dragging a tweet into an email
- Fixes for crashes and various other bugs
Twitter has been making an effort to improve the performance of its Mac app in 2013, releasing its first update in two years in April to add Retina display support, new photo sharing options, and additional languages.

Twitter for Mac is a free download from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

Apple Named World's Most Valuable Brand for Third Year in a Row

applelogo.jpgMillward Brown today released its annual BrandZ study of global brands (via AllThingsD), which found Apple to be the world's most valuable brand for the third straight year.

Although Apple topped the list once again, its brand value only increased 1% to $185 billion, which is not as impressive as the 19% increase (from $153 billion in 2011 to $183 billion in 2012) it received last year. Apple rival Google jumped back up to the second spot with a brand value of $137 billion (a 5% increase) and Samsung clocked in a 51% increase and a $21.4 billion brand value at the 30th spot.

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Overall, Millward Brown said that the technology sector was "flat," declining after 5 years of growth:
Without the surge in Apple and Facebook brand value that helped drive category growth, Technology declined 1 percent in the BrandZ™ 2013 ranking, after five years averaging 8 percent annual category growth.
Among other top brands, IBM fell down to the third spot with a brand value of $112 billion while Microsoft dropped 9% to $69.8 billion and Facebook fell 36% to $21 billion. Yahoo, which fell out of the top 100 years ago, returned to the 92nd spot with a brand value of $9.8 billion.

While "brand value" studies can be difficult to compare, because of the use of differing methodologies used by those who gather the data can lead to much different results, they can be a good look at marketing and branding trends.

Apple Releases MacBook Air Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.0

Apple today released MacBook Air Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.0, an update for Mid-2012 MacBook Air models to address an issue with recovering from crashes.
This update is recommended for MacBook Air (mid 2012) models. This update addresses a storage firmware issue that, in rare cases, may cause a system to fail to recover from a crash.
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Flash storage module from mid-2012 MacBook Air (Source: iFixit)

The update is 1.69 MB and requires OS X 10.7.5 or OS X 10.8.3.

OS X 10.8.4 Build 12E52 Seeded to Developers

As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple today seeded build 12E52 of OS X 10.8.4 to developers. The release comes seven days after the previous build 12E47 and marks the seventh beta iteration of OS X 10.8.4.

12e52
As with previous beta releases, Apple continues to ask developers to focus on Wi-Fi, Graphics Drivers, and Safari.

The update is available through the software update tool in the Mac App Store and Apple's Developer Page.

iMovie Updated With Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements

NewImageApple has updated its iMovie for Mac software with some bug fixes and stability improvements.
What's New in Version 9.0.9

- Addresses issues where iMovie does not recognize video cameras connected to your Mac
- Improves compatibility with projects imported from iMovie for iOS
- Includes stability improvements
iMovie is available on the Mac App Store for $14.99. [Direct Link]

Firefox 21 Launches with Enhanced Social API Support, Health Report

firefoxMozilla has launched Firefox 21 for Mac, Windows, and Linux, adding a number of improvements, namely to the browser's Social API.

The Social API is designed to allow social providers to integrate directly with Firefox, displaying selected content on the browser's sidebar or toolbar.

With the update Mozilla has added several new partners, including Cliqz, Mixi, and msnNow. Cliqz and msnNow are news aggregation services, while Mixi is Japan's largest social network.

Firefox 21 brings an enhanced UI for the Do Not Track Feature and preliminary implementation of the Firefox Health Report, which is a system that is designed to log browser health information like start up time, total running time, and number of crashes. It is designed to monitor browser performance and provide tools to fix potential problems. The update also includes a number of small changes and bug fixes, which can be found in the release notes.

Firefox 21 for the Mac is available for download from the Mozilla website.

Apple Releases Thunderbolt Software Update 1.2

Apple has released Thunderbolt Firmware update for all Macs with Thunderbolt ports, providing stability fixes for Thunderbolt and Target Disk Mode.

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The update requires OS X Lion 10.8.3 or later and uses 1.22MB of disk space. The update can be downloaded via Apple's software update page or through the Mac App Store.

Pixelmator 2.2 Adds Extensive Shapes Support, New Video Tutorials Website

The hugely popular Pixelmator continues to add features to its image editing app, this time adding an extensive collection of shapes and related tools, a new paint selection tool, and more. There is also a new tutorials website with videos showing how to use Pixelmator to its fullest.

Pixelmator
The last update to Pixelmator added CMYK support, color profile management. The software is becoming more and more powerful for image editors, while keeping its competitive price of $14.99 -- significantly less than Adobe's Photoshop, which the team considers its primary competitor.
“We’re excited to deliver even more, easy-to-use, advanced features to our Pixelmator fans and continue to create the best and most enjoyable image editing experience,” said Saulius Dailide of the Pixelmator Team. “With new state-of-the-art Smart Shape Tools, people can fully enhance their images, create logos, Web layouts, posters, and much more, all easier than ever before.”

Pixelmator 2.2 Blueberry comes with more than 100 new features and improvements

Pixelmator 2.2 is available now from the Mac App Store for $14.99, free for current owners. [Direct Link]

Best Buy Offers $125 Discount on MacBook Airs

In honor of Mother's Day, Best Buy has discounted its MacBook Airs by a total of $125. The company is offering a base discount of $100, plus a 'MOM25' promo code that drops the price another $25.

bestbuymothersdaysale
The prices with the discounts are as follows:

11-inch MacBook Air 4GB/64GB - $874.99
11-inch MacBook Air 4GB/128 GB - $974.99
13-inch MacBook Air 4GB/128GB - $1074.99
13-inch MacBook Air 4GB/256 GB - $1274.99

Best Buy has also lowered the price of its $100 iTunes gift cards to $85. The deals will last for three days, ending on Sunday, May 12 2013. To get the full sale price, customers will need to use the 'MOM25' promotion code at checkout.

OS X 10.8.4 Build 12E47 Seeded to Developers

As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple today seeded build 12E47 of OS X 10.8.4 to developers. The release comes eight days after the previous build 12E40, and marks the sixth beta iteration of OS X 10.8.4.

12e47
As with previous beta releases, Apple continues to ask developers to focus on Wi-Fi, Graphics Drivers, and Safari.

The update is available through the software update tool in the Mac App Store and Apple's Developer Page.

Microsoft Updates Office for Mac 2011 With Office 365 Compatibility, Bug Fixes

officelogo.jpgMicrosoft today released the 14.3.4 update for Office for Mac 2011, adding Office 365 compatibility in addition to a host of bug fixes. Previously, Office for Mac 2011 users had to uninstall Office for Mac and sign up for Office 365. Now, existing Office for Mac 2011 users can easily integrate their software with the subscription service.

The rest of the update addresses various bugs, including an issue where file names would change when saved to SkyDrive or SharePoint in Microsoft Word for Mac. The font Calibri Light was also added, fixing poor rendering of Office 2013 shared documents that used the font.

Other bug fixes include being able to coauthor a PowerPoint Web App session without being alerted to potential conflicts, an expiring token notification, and an issue where keyboard and mice commands would "lose control" during a PowerPoint for Mac slideshow. A full list of bug fixes can be found on the Microsoft Support site.

While Office 2011 for Mac is still being updated, a new version of Office for Mac may arrive in April 2014. This update to Office 2011 for Mac, which requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later, is available for free via Microsoft AutoUpdate or Microsoft's website.

MagSafe Adapter Key Ring Now Available on Kickstarter

The MagSafe Adapter Key Ring began as a simple 3D printing project, but because of the popularity of the accessory, creator Jonathan Bobrow launched a Kickstarter campaign to create a new and improved version.

Now named the KeyBit, the MagSafe Adapter Key Ring produced via the Kickstarter campaign will feature an improved manufacturing process that results in a nickel-plated milled steel product. As with the original version, the KeyBit is an accessory that is designed to attach to Apple's MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter, preventing the small converter from becoming lost.

keybit
The KeyBit attaches magnetically to the converter to hold it in place when not in use and it also includes the option for a 3D printed cover, which comes in a variety of colors. A standard KeyBit requires a $15 pledge, while a KeyBit with the cover costs $20.

The KeyBit has an estimated delivery date of August 2013, but a $30 donation will net backers a standard KeyBit along with a printed version to be mailed immediately after the Kickstarter campaign ends.

Viber Moves From iOS to Mac with New Desktop App

Popular free messaging and VOIP app Viber is expanding from the iPhone to the desktop with the release of Viber Desktop for PC and Mac.

The new desktop app allows users to initiate both video chats and voice calls, much like competing app Skype. Messages sync instantly across all platforms, and the app includes functionality that lets users begin a call on a smartphone and pick it up on a computer.

Desktop-PC-and-Mac
Viber Desktop and the latest versions of the Viber app were designed from the ground up for individuals using Viber on multiple devices, so you can always use the app that's right for you, whether at home, in school, at the office, or on the go. Viber offers far more flexibility than any similar product.
While Viber supports texting, voice calls, and video chats, it does not yet support conference calls or mobile-to-mobile video calls. Alongside today's desktop release, the company has also updated its mobile apps, adding video messages, a new voice engine for better sound quality, and an improved photo sharing experience.


Viber for Mac and Viber for iOS are both free downloads. Viber for PC and Mac can be downloaded from the Viber website while Viber for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]

EA Says The Sims 4 Will Be Coming to the Mac in 2014

NewImageEA has announced in a blog post that its Maxis studio will release The Sims 4 for the Mac and PC in 2014.

The company released no other details about the game, but said more information would be forthcoming.
Today we are revealing to our top fans the fact that The Sims™ 4 is coming to PC and Mac in 2014.

The Sims franchise is fueled by the passion and creativity of its millions of fans around the world. Their continued devotion to the franchise ignites the fire of creativity of the team at The Sims Studio, driving them to continually improve and innovate on one of the world’s most successful simulation game that has sold more than 150 million copies worldwide.
On another note, the new Sim City will arrive on the Mac June 11th.

Redesigned Vox Music Player 1.0 Offers Minimalistic Interface and Support for Multiple File Types

The Vox Music Player was originally created as a universal media player in 2007. Its simple design and its support for a wide range of file types led to a surge in popularity, but development stalled and it largely fell out of the public eye. Coppertino, an independent development studio that focuses on Mac and iOS software, has since adopted and redesigned the media player.

voxplayer
Vox 1.0 retains the minimalistic design of the original software, but comes equipped with a number of upgrades. It supports a wide variety of audio formats like MP3, FLAC, AAC, Musepack, Ogg Vorbis, WAV, and more, plus it integrates easily with iTunes.

The app supports a number of music sources including network drives, external hard drives, and VPN-connected storages and its built-in equalizer comes equipped with presets and adjustments to improve the listening experience.
- VOX 1.0 supports literally any source your Mac can access. Add music from external HDDs, network drives and VPN-connected storages.
- Supports multiple output devices using AirPort.
- Built-in equalizer with a variety of presets and adjustments.
- Transforms ordinary stereo source into 7.1 or 5.1 channel output.
- Bauer Stereo feature provides more realistic sound when listening to stereo music through headphones.
- Your music automatically pauses when your headphones are disconnected.
- Handy controls available from OS X main menu and VOX Dock icon.
- Full OS X gesture support including altering playlist height, switching music sources or adjusting volume.
Vox 1.0 will enter open beta next week, but MacRumors readers can sign up to download the beta version of the app immediately from the Coppertino website.

Rare Working Apple 1 Computer Headed to Auction

German auction house Breker (via ComputerWorld) is set to put a working Apple 1 on auction later this month and it may fetch between $240,000 and $400,000. There are an estimated six working Apple 1 computers in existence.

apple1
The Apple 1 is signed by Steve Wozniak and was originally owned by Computer Data Systems' Fred Hatfield. The computer is also bundled with the original manual and a letter from Steve Jobs to Hatfield in which Jobs offers to exchange Hatfield's Apple 1 for an Apple II 4K motherboard if Hatfield is willing to pay an extra $400.

As noted by AppleInsider, the record price for an Apple 1 was $640,000 at an auction in December. Last August, a non-working Apple 1 headed to auction with a much lower $125,000 estimate. Before that, another Apple 1 fetched $375,000 at Sotheby's auction in New York.

The Apple 1 was originally priced at $666.66 when it was released in 1976, with only 200 units produced. It's believed that there are roughly 30 to 50 still intact.

Photo Gallery of Stunning New Berlin Apple Store

German Apple website ifun.de has posted a collection of images from the beautiful new Apple Store Kurfürstendamm in Berlin, Germany. The store is located in a century-old theater building in one of the city's major shopping districts. The building measures some 48,000 square feet, though it's unclear how much of that space Apple is occupying.

NewImage
Apple first posted job listings for the Kurfürstendamm store back in December of 2011, though it's taken quite a while for Apple's architects to ready the building for shoppers.

The store opens to the public tomorrow, May 3rd, at 5 PM local time.

Acorn 4 Image Editor Adds Improved Speed, Enhanced User Interface and More

Developer Flying Meat has released an update to its popular Photoshop alternative Acorn, bringing it to version 4.0 and adding an improved user interface, speed upgrades, non-destructive filters, multiple layer selection and more.

acorn4
The developer claims that the new version of Acorn is "a lot faster than its predecessors" in a variety of ways, including applying filters and selections and working with large images. New features like non-destructive filters also improve workflow speed, allowing users to try filter combinations without overwriting the original image data.
Non-Destructive Filters

Layer styles and filters are now merged together into a happy new UI. Chain filters together to create endless combinations of unique effects knowing you can always change your mind later on.
Non-destructive filters aren't the only new part of Acorn, as the entire program has received a "new coat of paint" while the tools palette has been split off into its own window and a new filter HUD, called Merlin HUD, has been added, which will allow users to manipulate the radii and center points of their filters on the canvas.

Acorn 4, which debuted in 2007 with the goal of "simplicity", is available on Flying Meat's website for $29.99 until the end of May.