Monday, December 23, 2024
Archived Post

Notable apps and updates, Nov. 30-Dec. 4

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

Apptorium has announced Workspaces 2.0, an update to their desktop workspace management app for macOS. 

Workspaces allows users to organize and save applications, files, folders, and more into individual projects (workspaces). Version 2.0 brings new features such as a  redesigned user interface, plugins, quick searching, notes and more.

Workspaces 2.0 requires macOS 10.14 or newer. It costs US$19.99 and is available at the Apptorium website, SetApp, and the Mac App Store in the Productivity category. A trial download is available from the Apptorium website. 

Reinvented Software has released Feeder 4, a feature update to their RSS and podcast publishing app for macOS. 

Feeder was specifically developed for creating, editing, and self-publishing RSS and podcast feeds. Version 4 introduces a new look to match macOS Big Sur, iCloud syncing and sharing, new episode previews for podcasts and improvements for podcast seasons, improved feed and item editors. Also, with this release Feeder is compatible with M1-equipped Macs. 

Feeder 4 requires macOS 10.14 or later and costs $39.99. It’s available at the Reinvented Software website and the Mac App Store. Feeder 3 users can upgrade for $19.99, with free upgrades from Reinvented Software for anyone who purchased Feeder 3 in the last year. Feeder 4 is built for both Intel and Apple silicon Macs, requires macOS 10.14 or later.

Following the recent release of OmniFocus 3.10 for Mac as a Universal app for M1 and macOS Big Sur, OmniFocus 3.11 for Mac is now available.

This update brings Forecast and Perspective widgets—quickly becoming a popular feature in OmniFocus for iOS—to the Mac for the first time.

In macOS Big Sur, widgets appear in the updated Notification Center on the right side of the screen. Click Edit Widgets beneath any existing ones to add the new OmniFocus widgets. As with OmniFocus for iOS, these include:

  • A Forecast widget with a calendar view for today and the days ahead

  • A Perspective Items widget with a list of upcoming items in a perspective of your choice

Both of these are available in small, medium, and large widget sizes, and can have their font size customized to suit your needs.

OmniFocus 3.11 for Mac is available as a free upgrade for all OmniFocus subscribers and all owners of OmniFocus 3 for Mac. Try it for free by downloading OmniFocus 3 for Mac from the Omni website or the Mac App Store.

Norbert M. Doerner has rolled out released NeoFinder 7.7, an update to the digital asset manager and disk cataloger for macOS. 

The upgrade contains “universal” code to run native on both Apple Intel and Apple Silicon hardware. All functions have been tested and certified to run in macOS 11 Big Sur. A list of places makes it easier to edit and assign XMP location information fields. Cataloging introduces support for ePub, Pixelmator, and rtfd files, color labels for Smart Folders and Albums, and more.

NeoFinder 7.7 requires macOS 10.9 or higher. Pricing for new starts at $35(EUR). Multiple user packs are available for network users. Cross-grades for users of similar applications (Cinematica, DiskLibrary, FileFinder, CatFinder, Canto Cumulus, Disk Tracker, DiskCatalogMaker, Atomic View, iView Media Pro, Extensis Portfolio, and others) are available. A free NeoFinder demo version can be downloaded from the NeoFinder website.

iOS

Developer K2K Soft has announced Lotti’s World – First Words 1.0. The educational app offers a way to build a toddler’s memory and vocabulary skills by combining object association games and voice-based feedback. 

Lotti’s World – First Words is designed for toddlers 2-5 years old. It requires iOS 9.0 or later and is available at the App Store. It’s free, but  in-app purchases are available to unlock individual app themes or to unlock all of the themes.

SurveyStance has rolled out SurveyStance Pro – Survey Stance Feedback Kiosk 7.0, an update to their real-time customer feedback app for iPad devices. SurveyStance Pro provides real-time feedback from customers by placing the Apple tablet in high-traffic areas, allowing them to tap a range of emoji, including smiley faces, to quickly respond to survey questions. Version 7.0 brings several enhancements including instant notifications when feedback is received and the ability to create a customized welcome screen with a company logo.

SurveyStance Pro – Survey Stance Feedback Kiosk 7.0 requires iOS/iPadOS 10 or later. It’s free BUT the app requires a paid company subscription prior to usage. All pricing plans are on a month-to-month basis. Pricing starts at $29/month per device kiosk. Plans are also available starting at $59/month that include the iPad and stand. 

Sony Electronics has announced Visual Story, a new app for wedding and event photographers that’s made to simplify gallery creation, cloud storage and web delivery.

It offers professionals a solution to allow them to immediately share their gallery with their friends and family via social media. With Visual Story, photographers can now deliver a fully edited and curated photo gallery instantly, on site and on the day of the big event.

Visual Story is available at the Apple App Store for free. It’s compatible with select Sony cameras including: Alpha 7C, Alpha 7R IV, Alpha 7S III, Alpha 9, Alpha 9 IIi. Alpha 7 III will be supported in a future firmware update planned for spring 2021.

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.