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TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Software Updates for 18 October 2010

MacGourmet 3.0.1MacGourmet 3.0 has been released by Advenio and MacGourmet Deluxe 3.0 by Mariner Software (the latter is the same program, bundled with MacGourmet’s optional $9.95 Cookbook, Mealplan, and Nutrition plug-ins). MacGourmet 3.0 features a completely revamped interface, including greater control over marking recipes made, flagged, starred, and more in the summary view, along with new themes and greater flexibility in theme appearance. Among other changes, the recipe editor now allows for
images within the preparation steps and for one recipe to be an ingredient within another. Chef view (the full screen mode to use while actually cooking) now supports voice and the Apple Remote, and can read recipes aloud to you. The recipe import assistant, one of MacGourmet’s most powerful features, can now import from any Web site. Finally, recipe scaling no longer changes the original recipe. The 3.0.1 update adds several new themes, fixes crashes when importing from AllRecipes.com, and addresses a number of other bugs. Advenio also makes an iOS app called MacGourmet touch that syncs with the desktop version of MacGourmet. (MacGourmet 3.0: $29 new, $10 upgrade, free updates for
purchases after 1 July 2010, 12.7 MB. MacGourmet Deluxe 3.0: $49.95 new, $24.94 upgrade, $34.95 sidegrade, 26.5 MB. MacGourmet touch: $4.99 new.)

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LaunchBar 5.0.3 — Eleven months after its last update, LaunchBar has been bumped to version 5.0.3. The new version includes a mix of new features, improvements, and bug fixes. LaunchBar now offers support for Firefox bookmark folders, improves iTunes integration, introduces support for browsing Aperture’s recent libraries, and adds more options for Address Book preferences. A pair of refinements address LaunchBar’s integrated calculator: you can now use the letter “a” to reference the last calculator result, and there’s a new rounding option, too. LaunchBar also now sports Bing, Bing Images, and Linguee
search templates. Full release notes—including a slew of minor fixes—are available at Objective Development’s Web site. ($35 new, free update, 2.22 MB)

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Postbox 2.0.1 — Thunderbird-based email client Postbox is now at version 2.0.1. The update improves Growl notifications, so that they now include new messages’ Subject lines. Also new is support for 1Password and the just-updated SpamSieve 2.8.4. Various minor issues—including improper font sizes for outgoing HTML messages, URLs not automatically linking properly, and others—are also addressed. (MacUpdate has the full release notes.) ($39.95 new, free update, 12 MB)

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Microsoft Office 2008 12.2.7/Office 2004 11.6.1 — Microsoft has released security updates for Microsoft Office 2008 and Office 2004. Both updates fix vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to execute code remotely if you were to open a maliciously crafted Excel or Word file. Microsoft says that the update for Office 2008 also improves stability in Excel 2008 and resolves Entourage 2008 issues with Kerberos authentication and inadvertent duplication of items in Exchange 2007 mailboxes. The Office 2008 update requires Mac OS X 10.4.9 Tiger or later, while the Office 2004 update needs Mac OS X 10.2.8 Jaguar or later. (Free updates; the Office 2008 updater is 333 MB and the Office 2004 updater is 16 MB.)

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Logic Pro/Express 9.1.2 — Apple has updated its professional music software Logic Express and Logic Pro to version 9.1.2. The updated versions improve compatibility with 6- and 12-core Mac Pro systems, and support REX files in 64-bit mode. In addition, the software now supports iOS control surface apps that use the OSC protocol, and compatibility with certain Audio Unit plug-ins is improved. (Free updates, Pro: 193.01 MB, Express: 139.67 MB)

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FotoMagico 3.6 — Boinx Software has released FotoMagico 3.6, the latest update to its slideshow generator. The new version adds integration with iMediaBrowser, so image, movie, and audio panels now sport what Boinx calls “a sleek new look.” Also new is support for browsing and accessing Flickr images from within FotoMagico. And a new audio feature lets you link audio to specific slides. The update also includes numerous other enhancements and bug fixes. ($149 new, free update, 57.9 MB)

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Dragon Dictate 2.0.1 — Nuance Communications has released Dragon Dictate 2.0.1, a minor update to its dictation software. The update corrects issues related to MouseGrid and multiple monitors, resolves a crash when updating preferences, and fixes issues related to upgrading Dictate 1.5 profiles. The release also includes fixes for an issue with special keys functioning properly in Spelling mode, and removes the Page Setup menu option to behave as a better Snow Leopard citizen. We couldn’t find a download link for the free trial on the Nuance Website, but you can grab the latest version from MacUpdate. The software requires Mac OS X 10.5.6 or later. ($199.99 new, free update, 13.3 MB)

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SpamSieve 2.8.4 — C-Command Software has bumped SpamSieve to version 2.8.4. The updated spam filtering tool now integrates with Microsoft’s upcoming Outlook 2011 for Mac OS X and the new Thunderbird-based email client Postbox 2. SpamSieve 2.8.4 also boosts filtering accuracy, improves training in Apple Mail, and improves localizations, too. If you’re not a Gmail devotee, we agree with David Pogue and John Gruber that SpamSieve is the best way to keep your inbox free of spam on a Mac. ($30 new, free update, 7.8 MB)

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MacBook/MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.4 — Apple has released a pair of firmware updates addressing issues with charging MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops from 2007 and 2008. MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.4 and MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.4 enable those early laptops to charge successfully using newer 60 watt and 85 watt MagSafe adapters. Apple advises that your computer’s fans will run loudly during the installation of the firmware update, but that they’ll resume normal behavior when the installation completes. To
install the update, your laptop must either be plugged in, or the battery must have a minimum of a 25 percent charge. The firmware updates require Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.6.4 to install, though you can start up from a disk containing one of those operating system versions, install the update, and then reboot into an older version of Mac OS X if necessary. (Free, 880 KB)

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PDFpen/PDFpenPro 5.0.2 — Smile has released updates for PDFpen and PDFpenPro, its software for creating and editing PDF documents. The updates for each application include reduced memory requirements for large documents, an added “needs OCR” AppleScript property, the elimination of a possible hang when using the Combine PDFs script, clipping and print artifact problem fixes, and other assorted minor fixes and improvements. You can read a detailed description of the updates in Smile’s press
release
. ($59.95/$99.95 new, free update, 41 MB)

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