TLA Systems has updated DragThing, the Dock alternative for Mac OS X (10.2 and later), to version 5.3. The free update adds the ability to display the number of unread messages on the dock icon for Apple’s Mail application. It also adds the same functionality for Entourage, Eudora, Mailsmith, NetNewsWire and PowerMail. DragThing’s contextual menus can also now display application specific commands such as “Play/Pause” for iTunes, and “Get New Mail” for mail apps. Clipping support has been improved, including display of styled text and commands to convert clippings into plain text, and turn clippings into URL items and vice versa. DragThing 5 sells for US$29.