Dan Turner

User experience (UX) designers don't just make pretty icons, though that certainly can be part of the job. Figuring out how people interact with data and interfaces means understanding ergonomics, psychology, computer science, cognitive science, graphic design and a number of other fields.

If you've ever been frustrated or confused when working with an application or a Web site, blame the UX designers. If the application seems like it "just works," then you can thank them.

When it comes to Apple's next operating system, there are known knowns, known unknowns and -- well, you get the idea.

Apple is gearing up to release Mac OS X 10.6, also known as Snow Leopard, on Friday -- beating its own announced plans to ship the operating system in September. And in a break from the recent litany of whiz-bang, arresting-gizmo OS releases like Leopard and Microsoft's Windows Vista, Apple readily acknowledges that its new software will offer few new user features. Instead, it will pretty much use the existing face of Mac OS X and make all of the big changes underneath. (It's the same tack Microsoft has taken with Windows 7.)

Barcode Producer, an application aimed at graphic designers and other visual creatives who need to incorporate bar codes into designs, such as for coupons or product labels, has been updated to Version 5.5.

Barcode Producer includes a "Symbology Guide," which helps users find the correct type of barcode to use in a design, and a Live Preview, as well as easy export to EPS or TIFF formats. You can use Barcode Producer to add borders, margins, colors and other embellishments, then transfer those designs directly to Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

Epson this week released information about its upcoming Perfection V500 office scanner for home office, casual users and "micro-business" owners. The $350 scanner will be released in September.

The scanner features up to 6400 dpi resolution; a transparency unit for slide and film input; a 30-page automatic document feeder; and a USB 2.0 connection. The device utilizes an LED-based light source in its scanning mechanism, which Epson claims uses less power and works without requiring a warmup time.

Workamajig has updated the iPhone client for access to Workamajig Project Management Software to Version 10.0.2.7.

The Project Management Software is the company's Web-based project management and job tracking solution for creative design firms, such as ad agencies, design firms, and marketing communication departments. According to the company, their product includes project management, customer relations management, digital asset management, billing and accounting, and extranet features.

This week Hitachi announced its new CP-X3010N LCD projector, a networked version of its existing CP-X3010. The recommended retail price for the CP-X3010N projector is $3395.

In addition to built-in 100baseT Ethernet networking, the CP-X3010N offers 3,000 lumens of brightness; a 2,000:1 contrast ratio; 16W of built-in audio; and a lamp life of 3,000 hours in Standard Mode and 6,000 hours in Eco Mode.

It's been a rough year for everyone, even multi-billion-dollar companies that make computers. Well, maybe not so rough for Apple, which seems to be doing okay, based on its latest financial earnings report.

By contrast, Microsoft delivered bad financial news in July. In fact, its poor showing for the third fiscal quarter -- revenue down 6% year-over-year and lower than expectations, earnings per share a jolting 30% off over the same period -- was notable enough that it made the news at the top of the hour on NPR, which isn't usually seen as a capitalist media tool.

This week MacPractice introduced MacPractice iPhone Interface 2.0, which allows medical professionals to access office records such as schedules and patient records, as well as calling or emailing patients directly. Version 2.0 has a revamped user interface, remote charge and planned treatment posting, reminders, updated security features, and referring doctor notes.

The company says that the iPhone application allows doctors to monitor patient and office information remotely--"from the hospital or the golf course," according to company information.

The Lexmark RFID UHF Option was released this week as a $2,500 accessory to the company's T654 monochrome laser printer. When equipped with this option, the printer can produce individual Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags that can be attached to individual files, hardware, or other items for easy tracking and access.

This accessory attaches in place of a drawer to the T654 and enables the printer to output up to 20 RFID radio tagged pages per minute, arranged either horizontally or vertically on media ranging from 5 by 7 inches to 8.5 by 14 inches.

OfficeTime has updated its eponymous workplace time-tracking application to OfficeTime 1.5. The new version adds, according to the company, "over 250 community improvements".

Version 1.5, which like its predecessor allows tracking, reporting and billing clients, includes new features such as: the ability to track multiple projects at once; iCal sync; customizable invoices for billing; nearly 20 kinds of summary reports; and cross-team reporting. In addition, the update offers bug fixes.

This week Ntractive released Version 2.0 of its customer relationship management (CRM) application, Elements CRM (formerly known as Elements SBM).

Elements CRM helps companies manage communication and interaction with their customers. Developed as a Mac-friend CRM system, Elements helps users manage contacts, clients, sales, inventory, products, documents and other data associated with customer support and customer satisfaction. It uses a "cloud computing" model -- data is stored over the network, rather than on individual workstations.

This week IGG Software debuted their online banking application iBank Mobile for the iPhone and iPod Touch. iBank Mobile is designed as a companion to IGG's desktop iBank for Mac; however, iBank Mobile also works on its own. It costs $5.

iBank Mobile allows users to check their account balances as well as basic checkbook balancing functions, such as entering transactions and categorizing purchases. It also lets users check their finances in one glance with the iBank Mobile Home Screen; use the Quick Entry screen to categorize payments; and conduct any transaction in any foreign currency.