The Missing Sync for Blackberry out of beta

Although I have not been an avid user, I have been an admirer from afar of the quality that The Missing Sync software delivers to Mac users. One thing I have been wanting for a long time is a Blackberry Pearl, but I have resisted due to lack of (decent) Mac support. Well, wait no longer, The Missing Sync for Blackberry version 1 is available today and is now no longer in beta form.

Quoted from the website, some of the features are below, or click here for the full rundown;

Supports the latest BlackBerry devices via USB
Whether you have a BlackBerry 7100 series, a BlackBerry Pearl or the brand new BlackBerry 8800, The Missing Sync for BlackBerry will bring reliable Mac synchronization to your device. See the complete list of supported devices.

Address Book and iCal synchronization
Stay organized by synchronizing your contacts, calendar, tasks and alarms with Address Book and iCal. Address Book groups and iCal calendars sync with categories on the BlackBerry.

Microsoft Entourage 2004 synchronization
Just activate Sync Services syncing in Microsoft Entourage 2004, and The Missing Sync for BlackBerry will be able to synchronize contacts, events, tasks and notes with your BlackBerry handset.

Includes Mark/Space Notebook for free!
Mark/Space Notebook is a Mac OS X application that allows you to create, edit, categorize and search notes on your Mac, and it syncs up with your BlackBerry via The Missing Sync.

iPhoto album syncing*
The Missing Sync for BlackBerry will download selected photo albums directly from iPhoto to the microSD card in your device for mobile viewing. It will even resize photos to fit your device's screen, so they'll display quickly and take up little space on the memory expansion card.

Honda's new Civic Type R in Japan

Sorry, I just love the Civic, so had to bring you this news. Come Friday, March 30, the new Civic Type R will go on sale in Japan. Based on the current Civic 4-door, the Type R is powered by a screaming, normally aspirated 2.0-liter four cylinder that eclipses 100 hp/liter, producing around 225 ponies at 8,000 rpm and 159 lb-ft of torque at 6,100 rpm. Aggressive looks complete the killer package.

via autoblog.com read more | digg story

GEAR4 Blu-Tooth - future of audio technology

GEAR4, today announced Blu-Tooth, a specially adapted crown with revolutionary Bluetooth technology that when planted into the third molar, allows you to listen to music or make hands free calls on your mobile without the need for a headset.

The Blu-Tooth is the latest in GEAR4’s line of Bluetooth related products following the BluEye and BluPhones and continues the company’s policy of pushing technological boundaries. Just larger than the size of a normal morlar, the Blu-Tooth is specially designed to clip securely onto the third molar and pick up vibrations in the jaw using patented “vibro-denture” micro technology that can be picked up by the inner ear.

It doesn’t stop there either, the device can also work as a hands free kit, pairing with any Bluetooth enabled mobile phone, allowing users to make and take calls much like the GEAR4 BluPhones. You can answer a call by clicking your jaw twice and end a call buy clicking it three times. The state of the art technology acts as a microphone, picking up vocal vibrations in the teeth, projecting this to the person you are calling.

Dr. H Tootulb, Dental advisor, GEAR4 Russia, commented, “The Blu-Tooth is a groundbreaking device that solves many problems in one go. It will work with any Bluetooth music device with A2DP protocol and lets you make and take calls without needing a handsfree kit, in turn making our roads safer as fewer people will have their phones glued to their ears.”

Tootulb continued, “The device needs to be taken out and charged over night on the special tooth shaped charging dock (pictured above). We believe this will become a routine activity much like taking out and washing your dentures or cleaning your teeth before you go to bed.”

Tom Dudderidge, Managing director, GEAR4, commented, “We are very excited about the Blu-Tooth. After 2 years in development, the product is finally here and we believe the possibilities are endless. If the soft launch of the device goes well on the 1st April 2008 we hope to role out drop-in clinics with Carphone Warehouse where customers could get the device fitted. Carphone is an obvious choice as it is a leading iPod/phone supplier and currently sell the GEAR4 range.

Dudderidge continued, “I have been using one of the first prototypes and I must admit, it feels like a part of me now and I don’t know how I lived without it! My dentist was a bit shocked the last time I had an appointment and couldn’t believe something like this was possible. We are also developing a dongle for your iPod so you can interrupt the music on your iPod when you receive a phone call and see who is calling on your iPod’s screen just like the GEAR4 BluEye. You can now answer your calls without decay (or delay!).

Pricing and availability
The Blu-Tooth will be available online from www.gear4store.com on April 1st 2008 and from Carphone Warehouse two weeks later. GEAR4 Blu-Tooth is £119.99 inc VAT and customised professional installation.

iTunes Introduces Complete My Album

Apple® today announced Complete My Album®, a groundbreaking new iTunes service that allows customers to turn their individual tracks into a complete album at a reduced price by giving them a full 79 pence credit for every track they have previously purchased from that album.

“Music fans can now round out their music collections by upgrading their singles into complete albums with just one click, and get full credit for those songs they have previously purchased from iTunes,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “Complete My Album is a wonderful new way that iTunes helps customers grow and enjoy their music collections.”

“iTunes continues to revolutionise the digital music industry by offering music fans innovative ways to explore and enjoy new music,” said Thomas Hesse, president, Global Digital Business and US Sales, Sony BMG Music Entertainment. “With Complete My Album, iTunes is giving music fans the best of both worlds—the ability to discover great new music by buying just the single and a credit toward the purchase of the complete album.”

Complete My Album offers customers up to 180 days after first purchasing individual songs from any qualifying album to purchase the rest of that album at a reduced price. When users buy any song on iTunes the corresponding album will immediately appear on their personalised Complete My Album page with the reduced price listed. For example, a user who’s already purchased three 79 pence singles and decides to buy the corresponding £7.99 album would be able to download the remaining songs to complete the album for just £5.62, without having to buy the singles again.

This is great news and certainly gets my vote.

IRIS Card Pro ebay Charity Auction

The kind guys at IRISLink donated an IRISCard Pro business card scanner to be auctioned on ebay. So we have just listed the item and hope that you can head on over and place a bid. It is your opportunity to pick up a bargain and to support our chosen charity too.

The auction helps to support the Anaphylaxis Campaign. Many people in the UK have life threatening allergic reactions to many different foods, including peanuts. A reaction is referred to as an Anaphylactic Shock. The Anaphylaxis Campaign was set up to help these people. It provides a weatlh of information and support for sufferers and families.

Many thanks for taking a look, the auction can be found here.

Mac Chick Of The Month March 2007

Each month Macstein feature a different die-hard, Mac-loving girl who is (almost) as well designed as the Apple products they love. This month we present you with the lovely DeBrane, an artist living in Newport Beach, California long-time Mac fan.

via macstein read more | digg story

Adobe CS3 Education Pricing

Looks like the education pricing for the Adobe CS3 Suite is pretty good. I could only find US pricing at the moment and it comes in at $599 for the Design Premium Edition. All versions shipping mid-April.

Update: UK pricing is here and is £245 for the Design Premium Edition, this is not an upgrade price though, so I will update here again if I can find out this info.