Security, security, security - if you can't have it for free, buy it, but don't try to live without it! As time goes by, that stupid "it can't happen to me" approach becomes more and more unlikely to keep you from harm, I am sure you admit it, even if you're not crazy about securing your data. Anyway, today we won't talk about securing ALL your data - secure encrypted email for Mac is the topic, so let's stick with this, shall we?

Encrypt Mail 1.0, Apimac's latest software product, is "Perfect for both personal and business use," and the official press release describes it as "an easy-to-use client for sending encrypted emails and/or encrypted attachments."

How does it work? What about sending email to a friend still using Windows? "Mac based recipients will receive a DMG password protected file. Windows and Linux based recipients will receive a ZIP password protected archive instead. All contacts are handled in a convenient list separated from Mac OS X's built in Address Book."

The feature highlights of this secure encrypted mail tool for Mac:

- Perfect for Business - Send PDF Invoices, Statements and Personal Correspondence
- Easy to Use - Send File Attachments via Drag & Drop
- Support for both .dmg and .zip File Compression

Priced at $29.95, Encrypt Mail 1.0 can be purchased through Apimac's online store, and comes as a Universal Binary, fully compatible with Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs, requiring Mac OS X 10.5 or later.

If I think well about it, you don't really have to be blind to wish that your iPhone could call various numbers without you staring at the screen. No, it's not about voice dialing, because the iPhone has a even more interesting feature, now pushed forward by DialX - gesture dialing!


After all, I think it's much easier to touch a screen, than trying to make yourself understood by a machine. I know, it sounds a bit Amish, but it's my own opinion, and you can drop a comment below to fight it, I would really enjoy that.

Now...here's the story: "Through a combination of gestures and auditory feedback cues, DialX makes it possible to dial phone numbers without looking directly at the screen. Designed to be easy to use, there is no need to learn complex gestures. Every command is reachable with a single finger. It is ideal for users who often need to dial without being able to look at the screen."

Requiring first or second generation iPhone 2.2 or later, DialX is priced at only $1.99, and you can grab it via the iTunes App Store.

At last, here's more about it, maybe you still need a bit of extra info to click that link above..."The application, works by univocally mapping simple, easy and imprecise gestures to a series of commands, such as dialing a number or removing the last digit entered. To assist the user in performing all the available tasks, DialX provides constant auditory feedback, reading back individual digits, commands and whole numbers. Through a simple series of taps, the user can then passed the phone number it has composed directly to the iPhone's built in phone application."

Most musicians use computers these days, but that doesn't mean that music is losing its soul, as some people claim. After all, you can even write classical music using a computer, it doesn't really have to be done using a feather, and writing it all down in the pale light of a candle...

...and since a lot of artists are using Macs, why not use it to run a tablature editor? I know, I know - most artists you can think of that are also Mac users are into graphics design or related fields, but I also happen to know some guys using Macs in a recording studio, so it's more than meets the eye.

Today's tablature editor for Mac is simply called Tablatures, and the last version, labeled 1.13, was released a few hours ago. According to Tellini, its producer, this is "the first and only Mac OS X editor for PowerTab tablatures."

Its main features are the following:

- Export tablatures in MIDI format for playback or use in other applications (for instance, GarageBand)
- Advanced playback of the tablature: follow the playback on screen, loop over selected parts, slow the tempo down for practice sessions
- Create beautiful prints of the tablature: you don't need to stay in front of your monitor to play along your favorite song
- Share your music even with those members of your band that don't own a Mac: Tablatures and PowerTabEditor share the same file format
- Read and play most GuitarPro 3-5 tablatures

A shareware product, Tablatures can be ordered for 39 EUR via the official Tellini website, where a trial version is also available.

According to Ubisoft, Assassin's Creed sold almost 3.5 million copies so far, exceeding the initial expectations they had, but despite all the prizes this game got so far, there's one big problem remaining - the end. I think it's better to play Assassin's Creed for a few days and then quit, instead of going until the end and then curse the ones involved in creating the plot. Anyway, I hope the iPhone version will have a better story...

...because while console and PC gamers will search for new info on Assassin's Creed 2(anyway, there's plenty of time until we'll get to see that one, nothing has been settled so far), iPhone users will get the Assassin's Creed from Gameloft. Basically, we're talking about a prequel to the PC and console game from Ubisoft, where Altair, the same main character, has to travel to Jerusalem and steal a chalice, as well as help halting Christianity's Third Crusade.

Although the iPhone allows less creativity than the PC or consoles, the Assassin's Creed, iPhone version, will combine stealth, combat, and puzzle solving. When I say "less creativity," I am talking about the isometric 3D engine used, and the fact that touch controls can't compare to a full keyboard and mouse, or a game controller from a console...

The good news is that Gameloft's Assassin's Creed for iPhone is expected to arrive on the App Store during next week, and - obviously - iPod Touch users will also be able to play it without any problems. In fact, my suggestion is to play it on the iPod, if you can choose between it and the iPhone, because this way nobody will call you while solving a puzzle...at least not on your Assassin's Creed mobile platform! ;)

"Pack it up, pack it in/Let me begin/I came to win...Jump around, jump around, jump around" Can't remember House of Pain's uber-mega-giga hit from 1992? Well, I guess you should take a look at it, getting to know some of the one hit wonders of the last decade can't hurt anyone. Now, let's leave music aside and begin jumping around Mac OS X, shall we?

Why the House of Pain mumbo-jumbo? Well, that was the first thing that came into my mind when I found out about this Dock replacement...or complement, depends on your choice. ;)

Currently at version 1.0, "Jump is a cool utility designed to quickly launch applications, open documents, or access folders. When there is not enough space in the Apple Dock, you can use Jump to store an endless number of items! It can be used in conjunction with the Apple Dock or as its replacement."

Using it is as easy as 1-2-3 - "When Jump is installed, a discreet icon sits in the corner of your screen, and you can click to activate it. A palette slides onto the screen, to which you can add your favorite applications (with a simple drag and drop), or of course, click them to launch them."

A one-computer license is priced at $11.95, but you can get the trial version to play with and decide if Jump is worth your money or...you should jump it.

Jump requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later, and comes as a Universal Binary for both "Mactels" and PowerPC-based Macs, being currently available in English and French.