On a regular basis, Apple World Today posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they’re popular and deserve mention. Here are this week’s picks.
macOS
Ergonis Software has launched KeyCue 9.8, an upgrade of the company’s highly productivity tool.
It presents frequently used elements on cue, such as keyboard shortcuts, local files and folders, and URL collections. Over time, KeyCue users will automatically remember frequently used shortcuts and start working more efficiently. KeyCue 9.8 is ready for macOS Big Sur and offers other enhancements.
KeyCue requires macOS 10.7 or newer and costs US$19.99. The upgrade to KeyCue 9.8 is free for anyone who purchased a license for KeyCue on or after October 1, 2017. Upgrade paths are available for owners of older licenses. All KeyCue 9 purchases (new and upgrades alike) include all subsequent 9.x upgrades at no additional cost. For information about purchases, including enterprise licenses, volume discounts, and upgrade pricing offers, see the Ergonis website.
Isle of the Kakapo has rolled out RailModeller Pro 6.3, an update to their track planning app for model railroad and slot car layout on macOS.
It offers design tools that enable hobbyists to easily design model train and slot car track plans. RailModeller Pro includes a library catalog covering over 250 track systems in all major model scales as well as scalable accessories, allowing for custom designs of any layout a user can visualize.
Version 6.3 features a new Auto-Colorize function to automatically colorize layouts by element type, radius, article number, or layer using multiple color palettes, an improved Library Catalog showing the shorthand or alias for an article (where published by the manufacturer), an extended baseboard assistant featuring a large preview to help matching a new baseboard with existing layout content, and better export to JMRI’s PanelPro application for controlling model railroads via DCC.
Other changes in this update include a new inspector for customizing the appearance of user-created buffer stops, an improved Community Layouts feature for track plans shared by a community of model train hobbyists, new color controls providing a familiar iWork style color palette, as well as enhancements to many other aspects of the app’s user interface. And, as always, the latest update includes new as well as extended libraries for tracks and accessories.
RailModeller Pro 6.3 requires macOS 10.12 or later and is available for US$39.99 exclusively through the Mac App Store. A free version, RailModeller Express – which is suitable for smaller layouts with a limited number of tracks – is also available through the Mac App Store in the Graphics and Design category.
Zevrix Solutions has announced Graphic Inspector 2.4.10, a compatibility update to its quality control solution for images and vector graphics files.
The utility can flag images and Illustrator files with specific attributes such as resolution, color, spot channels, fonts and more. Version 2.4.10 makes Graphic Inspector compatible with the forthcoming macOS 11 Big Sur.
Graphic Inspector requires macOS 10.8 or higher. It costs $19 and is available at the Zevrix website. A demo can be downloaded to give it a test run.
MacXDVD Software has upgraded its full video and DVD conversion solution to offer zero-day support for Apple’s new iPhone 12 models, iPad Air 4, and iPad 8. It’s able to make 1:1 copies of DVD movie collections without losing quality, and speedily turn DVD movies into MP4, H.264, HEVC, AVI, MOV, and more. MacX Video Converter Pro offers flexible options to make videos fit different iPad and iPhone 12 displays.
To celebrate the release of Apple’s new iPhones and iPads, MacXDVD Software offers an up to 75% off gift pack at $49.95 — down from $169.95. Customers can get a full copy of the upgraded DVD ripper, video converter, and iPhone manager at the MacXDVD Special Offer Page.
Feral Interactive says BioShock 2 Remastered is now available for macOS.
Here’s how the game is described: “Mac gamers are invited to return to the fallen city as a fearsome Big Daddy, intent on rescuing Little Sister Eleanor from the clutches of the sinister inhabitants of Rapture. The gleaming art-deco architecture of the underwater metropolis – revamped with high-resolution textures and new models – has never looked more alluring…or more menacing.
BioShock 2 Remastered is available now from the Feral Store for US$19.99 with the Minerva’s Den Remastered DLC also available for $9.99. They require macOS 10.15.4 or later.
iOS
Creaceed has served up Emulsio 3.5, an update to their video stabilization app for iPhone and iPad.
The tool stabilizes videos recorded with iPhone or iPad, or even GoPro cameras, automatically removing “camera shake.” Version 3.5 adds a new video encoding pipeline that gives more advanced users full control on generated output video, a Transcode extension as well as iOS 14 improvements.
Emulsio 3.5 requires an iPhone or iPad running iOS/iPadOS 13.0 or later. It can be downloaded for free at the App Store, and is localized in 14 languages. The stabilization can be tried out as well as video editing features.
Pro Pack 2 offers support for 4K videos, improved correction of rolling shutter distortion including third-party sensor calibration, and removal of the watermark. It can be purchased within the app for $10.99. This update is free for existing users.
Georgios Trigonakis has released WidgeTunes version 2.0, with support for Home Screen widgets of iOS 14.
With WidgeTunes, anyone can create multiple custom music widgets on the iPhone home screen. On every profile you can add selected playlists, albums or single tracks. With many options to give to the widget the appearance you want, easily choose from grid or list layout, change background colour, grayscale artwork and more options to choose from.
WidgeTunes 2.1.2 is available as free download at the App Store. The free version is limited to one widget profile; a pro version is available as an In-app purchase for $1.99.
Pixonic has launched War Robots Remastered on iOS and Android with a host of visual upgrades.
Eighty-one robots, over 105 weapons, and 4 maps have been fully revamped, with many other textures and 3D models in War Robots Remastered also receiving improvements. Complementing these changes, the implementation of new, realistic lighting allows for detailed environmental shadows and reflections, according to the folks at Pixonic.
The game is free, but does offer in-app purchases. War Robots Remastered rehires iOS 11 or later.
Motif, a personalized photo project app for iOS/iPadOS, has been revved to version 2.0. It features major upgrades for Motif users on an iPhone and iPad.
Most notably, Motif 2.0 for iOS will feature a redesigned project editing experience created to make the process of designing photo books and calendars even more intuitive, saving users time as the holiday gifting season approaches.
The app is free and available at the App Store. Pricing starts at $12.99 for a softcover photo book, $27.99 for a hardcover photo book and $22.99 for a 12 month photo calendar.
(Dennis Sellers has been covering the Apple industry since 1996. In addition to“Apple World Today,” he also runs his own freelance writing/editing service. If you want more info about the latter, email him at dennis.sellers@comcast.net.)
