Arkaos VJ, the live performance video art / VJ software, has added numerous features in a free 3.0.1 upgrade. (Sounds like at least a "3.1" to me!) The upgrade features enhanced Velocity Engine optimization for Blitters, Filters, and Infinite Zoom, plus multiple language support with Spanish, Italian, German, and, yes, French! Most interesting, though, is a new ASCII art / pixelization effect. (Yes, you heard that right: ASCII text art effects! That's got to be worth at least a version 3.1.)

Tascam has made another completely mad product: the SX-1 LE, a limited (hey, Digi, look what others call limited) version of the SX-1, their all-in-one DAW production engine.

Why mad? Look at the specs:

Registered owners of Digi 001, Mbox, and Digi Toolbox/Audiomedia III: Move up to Digi 002 or Digi 002 Rack and save up to $900 off list.

Exchange your Digi 001 for a Digi 002 for $1,595 (US)
Exchange your Digi 001 for a Digi 002 Rack for $795 (US)

Exchange your Mbox or Digi Toolbox for a Digi 002 for $1,795 (US)
Exchange your Mbox or Digi Toolbox for a Digi 002 Rack for $895 (US)

This new version brings a lift to the cosmetic and functional side of the program's interface. This software is constantly evolving. Anyone interested in sequencing and fine-tuned loops should have a go at it.

From our friends from EX5T, we learn that if you are the lucky owner of an Evolver, the new OS 1.5 in beta will be available to the public for testing. The beta is backward compatible, so no changes to old patches already in the beast.

Also, Dave Smith has made it quasi-official that he is working on a new polysynth. Admirers of Prophet 5s, VSs and other Wavestations will be in paradise :)