Archived Post

Notable apps and updates, Dec. 2-7

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

Focusplan Team has launched Focusplan 1.0 on the Mac App Store. It’s a mind mapping and brainstorming visual thinking tool for macOS 10.14.6 or later.

Built around a visual canvas editor, the tool lets users capture, develop, and share ideas, turning them into mind maps. Users can adjust color themes, configure topics, branches, and layouts.

Focusplan 1.0 requires a subscription, which will unlock the app on all devices, gets future updates, including major ones, automatically and support further development. The subscription has two options, you can subscribe either on a monthly ($1.99) or a yearly basis ($19.99). A demo is available for download.

BinaryFruit has announced DriveDx 1.9.0, an update to its Mac solution for SSD and HDD health diagnostics and monitoring. 

The tool measures the overall health of both SSD and HDD drives. All diagnostic algorithms have updated and improved in version 1.9.0 based on real-life feedback analysis from users. The upgrade also adds support for 60 new SSD models.

DriveDx requires macOS 10.6.8 or newer. Pricing starts at $19.99 for a personal license. A demo is available for download.

Anthropics Technology has announced PortraitPro 19, an update of its Mac compatible photo editing software.

Version 19 adds ClearSkin 5 technology that intelligently maps the contours and features of the face and retouches skin accordingly. It also replicates the face’s natural skin texture, allowing users to subtly remove blemishes while maintaining the subject’s natural appearance. The upgrade also adds advanced hair retouching, expression sliders, lens correction, improved batch processing, and more.

PortraitPro 19 is available to purchase or for a free trial.

iOS

Boleslaw Walczyk has debuted Pico Christmas Tree AR 1.0, a holiday-themed app for iPhone and iPad devices. The app allows users to place a Christmas tree anywhere in the room and decorate it using a wide selection of ornaments and decorations. 

Pico Christmas Tree AR 1.0 is free and is available exclusively through the Apple App Store in the Education and Entertainment categories. Additional decorations are available via in-app purchases. 

Interactive Coconut has launched Music Vibes. It’s a piano app that doesn’t just play music as audio, it can also play it as haptic vibrations. Music Vibes is free, but does offer an in-app purchase of $1.99 to download a Christmas Pack of 15 holiday medleys.

TappyTaps has rolled out released Barkio 1.0. The $19.99 allows you to watch, listen and interact with their dog remotely, without the need for special hardware. With live audio and video, dog owners can see and hear everything that their pets are doing, and interact with them remotely.

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.