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"Orbicule has released an update to its theft-recovery software for Macs, Undercover. Version 4 now allows users to remotely monitor a stolen Mac using the company's UndercoverCenter.com web interface."

You can now follow your device in real time using their website in a variety of ways including iSight, screen shots or Google Earth. They even have remote lock feature. The mobile version uses the same web interface so you can track not only your laptop but iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads. It is universal binary also so PowerPC owners aren't out of luck. Single user licenses are $49.00 USD or 5 license family pack for $59.00 USD. You can read more about it at the Undercover website.

"Orbicule, longtime purveyor of theft-tracking software for the Mac, now wants to help keep an eye on your iPhone or iPod touch. The company's newly released iPhone app Undercover can covertly transmit your device's location and IP address to authorities when you report it as lost or stolen. It's a great idea with some clever features, but even this private i-detective has its limitations."

Of course, if you have already lost your iPhone/iPod Touch, this will do nothing for you and may make you want to walk away in disgust over what could have been. However, if you want a bit of added "insurance" for your peace of mind, and you still have your device safe in hand, you may want to check this out. But be warned, it is not the perfect solution. At $4.99 USD it is middle of the road for app prices, and in order for it to work, it counts on whoever finds your iPhone/iPod Touch to start up the program. It is akin to counting on curiosity to kill the cat so to speak. So you can set it up to either trick a thief by making itself look like a game icon, or make it display a button for contacting you, the true owner, if you think your device will be found by a good samaritan. I've been doing what I do for too many years not to believe that the thieves outnumber the good samaritans, so I'd be playing the odds using the trickery of the program if I were to purchase this app. But that is just me, Mr. Cynical if you will. Either way, the main caveat is that there has to be an Internet connection, so that the program can send notification via email about the location of the device.

You can get more info at the RetrieveMyiPhone.com website, and the app is available now at the iTunes App Store.