Notable apps and updates, Oct. 7-12

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

St. Clair Software has released Default Folder X 5.4, an update to their Mac utility.

Default Folder X enhances the file dialogs in all macOS applications. It provides fast navigation to your files, previews, integrated Spotlight tagging, and more. Default Folder X’s custom keyboard shortcuts put your favorite and recent folders at your fingertips. Version 5.4 is compatible with the upcoming macOS Catalina. It also offers enhanced AppleScript features and a number of bug fixes.

Default Folder X 5.4 is a free update for existing version 5 users. New licenses are $34.95 and upgrades from version 4 and prior are $14.95. Default Folder X 5.4 requires macOS 10.10 or higher.

The Pixelmator Team has released Pixelmator Pro 1.5 Avalon, an update to the Mac image editor. The upgrade adds support for macOS Catalina and the upcoming Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR.

Version 1.5 also adds machine-learning powered noise removal powered by Core ML and brings performance improvements. It’s available at The Pixelmator Team website and the Mac App Store.

It requires macOS 10.13 or later and costs $39.99. A demo is available for download.

Boris FX has released version 2020 of its planar tracking toolset, Boris FX Mocha Pro. 

A new Mega Plate extracts a larger-than-raster image from moving camera footage to complete advanced VFX tasks including set extensions, clean-ups, removing unwanted objects, and repositioning footage. The module builds upon Mocha’s planar track and temporal frame analysis technologies to create a stitched extended frame. 

Boris FX Mocha Pro gets a new Area Brush with a Quick Mask mode brings paint-like functionality to the app. Users can define large tracking search areas with a  gestural stroke. Added and subtracted paint strokes convert to vector splines to speed up tracking and masking tasks. 

New OpenColorIO (OCIO) support gives Mocha users consistent and predictable color displays across industry workflows, according to the folks at Boris FX. It’s compatible with the Academy Color Encoding Specification (ACES) and enables improved color-managed workflows with high-end post-production and VFX applications such as Boris FX Silhouette, Foundry’s NUKE, Autodesk Flame, Avid Media Composer, and more. 

Boris FX Mocha Pro 2020 is available as both a standalone application and as a plug-in for post-production industry host applications, including Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, Autodesk Flame, Foundry Nuke, and more. It’s available in both purchase and subscription options.

Linguisoft has released Grammarian PRO3 X, an upgrade of the grammar, spelling, AutoCorrect, and AutoType proofreading application for macOS. 

It’s an interactive spell and grammar checking, dictionary, thesaurus, AutoCorrect, and AutoType tool that works within every program on the Mac. Sporting a new redesigned user interface, this new version is now 64-bit and macOS Catalina-ready.

Grammarian PRO3 X requires macOS 10.6.8 or later. It retails for $46 for two weeks only; after that the price is $59.95.

Econ Technologies says ChronoSync and ChronoAgent have been updated for macOS Catalina. 

ChronoSync — a sync, backup, and bootable backup app — now recognizes APFS Volume Groups so you can create bootable backups of Catalina. The new version 4.9.5 designed to work on macOS version 10.11 and newer. ChronoSync costs $49.99. 

ChronoAgent 1.9.3, an update of the $14.99 companion app to ChronoSync, allows any Mac to accept direct, secure, high performance connections from any ChronoSync Mac or any InterConneX iOS device to access or transfer data. Demos area available of both ChronoSync and ChronoAgent.

Zevrix Solutions has announced ArtOptimizer 3 for Adobe Illustrator, an upgrade to company’s image workflow automation tool for Adobe’s flagship vector design software. 

The software is designed to help  users reduce the size of Illustrator picture links and automate complex image transformations. Version3.0  introduces a new user interface and adds a list of new features such as image format conversion, batch processing, settings presets, duplicate links processing, and more.

ArtOptimizer can be purchased from the Zevrix website for $120. Licensed users of earlier versions can upgrade to ArtOptimizer 3 for $60. A demo is available for download. ArtOptimizer requires macOS 10.8-10.15, and Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop CS6-CC 2019.

Twocanoes Software has released Winclone 8, an upgrade to its Boot Camp imaging and migration software for macOS. 

The app creates an exact image of the Boot Camp partition for a backup or to migrate a Boot Camp partition to a new Mac. If disaster strikes, you can restore Boot Camp from a Winclone image. Winclone 8 features macOS Catalina support, new security features, a new scheduler for incremental imaging, package signing, and more.

Winclone Standard costs $39.99 and includes licenses for two Macs. Winclone Pro is $499.99 for 50 clients and includes perpetual licensing and standard support. Winclone Pro Enterprise is $5 per Mac per year and features subscription-based licensing and enterprise integration support (minimum 200 clients).

Cursorcerer 3.0 has launched with support for macOS Catalina and its Dark Mode. 

The System Preference utility allows Mac users to hide the cursor anywhere, by use of a hotkey or idle timer. Version 3.0 also fixes some bugs.

Cursorcerer is freeware. It’s continuously updated and has been available on the Mac since 2007.

Celemony has released version 4.2.4 of Melodyne, its audio editing app. The new version is compatible with macOS Catalina.

With version 4.2.4, all four editions of Melodyne 4 – essential, assistant, editor and studio – have been suitably adapted and are consequently compatible with Catalina. Melodyne 4 users can download the update free of charge from their user accounts. 

Melodyne studio 3, as well as versions 1 and 2 of Melodyne editor, assistant and essential aren’t compatible with the changes introduced by macOS Catalina and can’t be used with the new operating system. For this reason, Celemony is offering those with older versions an update to Melodyne 4 on special terms: updates for Melodyne assistant and essential are available free of charge in the user account and updates for Melodyne studio 3 and editor 1 or 2 for $49 in the Celemony web shop.

Lemke Software has released GraphicConverter 11.1, an update to their award-image editing utility for macOS. 

The app can convert most any format graphic file to one of over 90 other graphic formats. Version 11.1 brings a long list of new and updated features, including a new picture invert duo-tone feature, new browser context, an autoplay option for QuickLook, new slideshow shortcuts, a macro batch action, and more.

GraphicConverter 11.1 requires macOS 10.9 or later. It costs $39.95 for new users. Upgrades from older versions of GraphicConverter are available for $25.95. The 11.1 upgrade is free for all customers of version 11.0.