2006 | Issue Archive | Search TidBITS | TidBITS Home Page
Our 2007 coverage begins with the release of the first-ever TidBITS Archive CD, containing the complete archive of our 17 years of Macintosh reporting! Then Glenn Fleishman examines Apple's stock option backdating woes, and Joe Kissell looks at the VMware Fusion beta for those interested in virtualizing Windows on a Mac. We also write up the releases of PreFab UI Browser 2.0, Simon 2.2, and updates to Microsoft Office 2004 and Office X, and pass along some Macworld Expo event updates. Anchoring the issue is the first installment of an occasional column by college freshman Dan Pourhadi aimed at explaining how and why young people interact with technology as they do.
At last week's Macworld Expo in San Francisco, the newly renamed Apple, Inc., introduced the long-rumored iPhone, combining the features of an iPod, a mobile phone, and an Internet communicator, along with an espresso machine and window cleaner - or were we imagining those last two? We run down just what the iPhone can do, according to Apple, and go further with Glenn Fleishman's hands-on report. We also pass along the details on the iTV, now called Apple TV, and Apple's new AirPort Extreme networking system. Other companies had announcements too, and Jeff Carlson looks quickly at the releases of BBEdit 8.6, Yojimbo 1.4, TextWrangler 2.2, Fetch 5.2, and Microsoft Office 2004 11.3.3. Finally, Adam ties it all together with his take on the new feelings of Macintosh vitality at Macworld Expo.
Our Macworld Expo coverage ran long this year, so we continue it this week by looking at the trade show through the eyes of a newly minted 8-year-old, explain the logic behind Apple shaking down Intel-based Mac owners for two bucks for a Wi-Fi update, and ask the iPhone some very personal questions, a few of which it refuses to answer. We also pass on the cream of the crop - our Macworld Expo superlatives - and share ways to get Take Control ebooks for free or half-off. Oh, yeah, and Apple made a billion dollars in profit last quarter.
We have oodles of useful articles this week. Adam offers instructions on managing your TidBITS subscriptions with our new subscription management interface, coverage of several possible security exploits, and an explanation of how MacRabbit's CSSEdit 2 helped untangle a knotty CSS problem. Glenn Fleishman then provides a brief glance at the new remote control software Copilot and some thoughts on limitations of Apple's new 802.11n-capable AirPort Extreme Base Station. Jeff Carlson passes on news about when Adobe Lightroom 1.0 will ship, Andrew Laurence examines the trouble caused by the new Daylight Saving Time rules in the United States, and Chris Pepper looks at the new MacFUSE software for mounting foreign file systems on your Mac's Desktop. Plus, we're pleased to announce the second edition of Joe Kissell's best-selling "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups" and a DealBITS drawing for Clickable Bliss's Billable.
Would you buy a 23-inch MacBook? It's not an Apple product: Jeff Porten describes how he turned an ailing 17-inch PowerBook G4 into a second monitor for his MacBook. Plus, given the increased focus on Mac security recently, John O'Fallon offers practical precautions for fending off most attacks. Also in this issue, Apple adds color to the iPod shuffle line and settles its long-running dispute with the Beatles' Apple Corps; Nolobe acquires Interarchy and ships Interarchy 8.5; Open Door Networks updates its line of security products; the AirPort Extreme starts shipping with new details about its wireless capabilities; and Macinstruct opens a Mac tutorial contest with Adam, Tonya, and Joe as judges. Lastly, check out the first of our "Month of Apple Sales" offers on bundles of Mac-specific Take Control ebooks!
Steve Jobs surprised the computer and entertainment industries last week by posting his thoughts on digital rights management (DRM), stating that Apple would abandon DRM "in a heartbeat" if it could. Adam examines Jobs's notions and the reasoning behind them. He also comments on Bill Gates's puzzling remarks about Mac security and notes the 10th anniversary of Microsoft's MacBU group. Also in this issue, Matt Neuburg reviews Martin Hairer's Amadeus II and Amadeus Pro music-manipulation programs, Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) gets a June date, and Take Control's second Month of Apple Sales bundle begins.
Security news leads off this issue, with Apple's release of Security Update 2007-002 to address more of the Month of Apple Bugs (MoAB) exploits, Glenn Fleishman's thoughts about what the MoAB actually accomplished, and Joe Kissell's look at the Microsoft Office 2004 11.3.4 update. In other topics, Andrew Laurence examines Apple's Daylight Saving Time updates to both Tiger and Panther, Jeff Carlson relays the details of the Final Cut Pro 5.1.3 update, and Adam looks at the now-open Google Gmail and explains how to create permanent links to articles in the New York Times. Also this week, a single-question interview with prominent Macintosh developers about the most important Apple technologies!
This issue brings our first reader survey in years, along with much more. Updates from last week look at the removal and reposting of the Norwegian Early Help Desk video on YouTube, better ways of creating permanent URLs for New York Times articles, and a quick Final Cut Pro 5.1.4 update to fix problems introduced in 5.1.3. In other news, Apple and Cisco reach an agreement on the use of the iPhone name, Apple adds cellular data support to Mac OS X, the Your Mac Life radio show changes domains, and we pass on a tip for focused reading of PDFs in Preview. In DealBITS, we give away copies of Panergy's docXConverter, which converts Word 2007 files to RTF or text, and this week also reveals our final Month of Apple Sales offer for Take Control ebooks. Finally, Joe Kissell anchors the issue with a review of CrashPlan, an innovative new backup program with great promise.
Does your mouse not behave as you'd expect? It's probably not the mouse itself, but Mac OS X's acceleration curve, which Apple changed from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X - Parrish Knight explains what's going on and how to retrain your mouse to track your movements more appropriately. Also this week, Adam shares some surprising findings about Internet surveys and looks at Picnik, a Web site that provides most of iPhoto's image-editing features; Glen McAllister finds local music performances using iConcertCal; and Glenn Fleishman celebrates the expunging of the court case against security researcher Randal Schwartz. We also note the release of Parallels Desktop Build 3186 (essentially, version 2.0), a security update for QuickTime, the availability of Macworld Expo session videos and audio files, and a new estimate of the number of Mac OS X users (22 million!).
Who are you? We asked, you answered, and this week Adam starts looking at the results of our reader survey! Adam also takes the Nike+iPod Sport Kit for a run and realizes that serious runners might want to leave it at the starting line. Also in this issue, Apple releases iTunes 7.1 in anticipation of the Apple TV, Adobe announces an announcement date for Creative Suite 3, Glenn Fleishman buys a Windows Vista-equipped laptop for testing purposes and offers his first impressions of the competition, and Adam examines SonicLiving, a Web site for tracking your favorite artists. Lastly, if you're feeling a bit behind due to last weekend's Daylight Saving Time changeover in the United States, make sure you check out a short list of patches and fixes.
Remember Gopher? The Internet protocol for retrieving files that preceded the World Wide Web isn't dead, writes Cameron Kaiser, but surviving (where else?) underground. Glenn Fleishman notes new capabilities for the Pando file-sharing service that drastically cut the costs of hosting large, popular files such as podcasts. Also in this issue, Adam notes a New York Times program that gives free TimesSelect access to higher-education faculty and students and points to interesting new research about why hard drives fail; Andy J. W. Affleck records the praises of Freeverse's Sound Studio 3.5 update; and Jeff Carlson passes on news of Mark/Space's public beta of The Missing Sync for BlackBerry. Finally, Apple last week released Mac OS X 10.4.9 and Security Update 2007-003, as well as bug-fix updates iTunes 7.1.1 and iPod Reset Utility 1.0.
This week we're featuring audio and video, music and TV. First, Adam reviews SpotDJ, a new Web-enabled service that puts the DJ back into iTunes with short audio spots that you hear after appropriate songs play in iTunes or on your iPod. Then, Jeff offers his initial impressions of the just-shipped Apple TV after a popcorn-fueled "testing" session. But we didn't spend the entire week goofing off, as Glenn looks at Other World Computing's 3 GB memory kit to max out the RAM on certain Macs along with how it might impact performance. Adam also examines Chax, a free utility that gives iChat a tabbed interface and a plethora of useful configuration options. In the news, we cover the release of SpamSieve 2.6 and how to get MacTech's VBA-to-AppleScript transition guide for Microsoft Office users.
It's a big week for news, with Apple and EMI announcing DRM-free music to be sold in the iTunes Store and Adobe announcing the final details surrounding the upcoming release of Creative Suite 3. Of course, we can't resist passing along other, less-serious developments, such as Gmail Paper and other examples of April Foolishness. Returning to real news, Glenn worries about the acquisition of the national ISP Speakeasy by retail chain Best Buy, Adam ponders the recent uproar around death threats made against a prominent woman blogger, Jeff examines the new Complete My Album option in iTunes, and Robert Movin returns with the story of how he switched his mother to the Mac.
If you've been waiting for more Mac desktop power, now might be the time to buy Apple's new Mac Pro configuration outfitted with eight cores of processing power - but it will cost you. Speaking of price, Geoff Duncan, TidBITS editor at large and professional musician, offers his take on the Apple/EMI deal to offer DRM-free music at a premium. Also in this issue, Joe Kissell looks at the new Google Desktop for Mac beta, revisits the field of online backup services, and notes the release of VMware Fusion Beta 3. Adam passes along a simple but useful tip for locating strong Wi-Fi networks, cautions owners of third-generation iPods about using some speaker systems, and looks at a study that points out the dangers of using an iPod while driving. Lastly, Glenn Fleishman drives a stake through the heart of WEP security for Wi-Fi networks.
The big news this week is that Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard won't make its appearance until October 2007, so that Apple can focus on the iPhone. We have details and reactions from prominent Mac users. Apple also bagged attention by unveiling Final Cut Studio 2, which includes Final Cut Pro 6, Motion 3, Soundtrack Pro 2, Compressor 3, and a new application for video professionals, Color. Not to be outdone, Adobe announced that Creative Suite 3 is now shipping and made beta versions of Premiere Pro and After Effects available. We also note the AirPort Extreme N Firmware 7.1 Update and the Nisus Writer Pro public beta, plus look at some possible future technologies for batteries, displays, and networking. Lastly, can we have the car keys? TidBITS turns 17 today!
Security news has overtaken us once again, with a $10,000 challenge to break Mac OS X's security that looks like it will be collected, Apple's release of Security Update 2007-004, and a DealBITS drawing in which you could win a copy of the DoorStop X Security Suite by Open Door Networks. But those are all short bits, so for more thoughtful coverage this week, we talk with a group of TidBITS readers about how they provide Mac tech support for their families. Then, we turn to Michael E. Cohen for a detailed review of Mark/Space's new SyncTogether, which provides many of the same features as .Mac syncing, but for multiple users and without an annual subscription fee.
Apple reported another strong financial quarter last week, with a net profit of $770 million. At the same time, the company's stock option backdating scandal advanced as the SEC brought charges against two former Apple employees (neither of whom is named Steve Jobs). Also this week, Web design is on our minds due to the releases of MacRabbit's CSSEdit 2.5 and Panic's Coda, which Joe Kissell runs through its paces. Joe also notes public betas for two online backup services, a new initiative from Parallels, and the first Mac beta version of yet another virtualization environment. In other news, Apple releases Battery Update 1.2 for MacBooks and MacBook Pros, and Rogue Amoeba updates its Fission audio manipulation tool.
The personal blog of Steve Jobs - that would be Apple's Web site - saw its second entry last week, an open letter about the company's environmental practices that appears to be a response to a Greenpeace campaign. Adam examines what Jobs wrote and the role that PR spin can play when it comes to environmental protection. He also contemplates audio-enhanced swim training with the SwimMan waterproof iPod shuffle, and looks at an egregious case of patent insanity whose solution might lie in the depths of Mac history. Elsewhere in this issue, Glenn Fleishman sees a promising future in connecting to public wireless hotspots thanks to Devicescape, and we note the releases of QuickTime 7.1.6, AirPort Extreme Update 2007-003, and Security Update 2007-004 v1.1.
The debate surrounding Apple and Greenpeace continues, as Adam looks at responses to the environmental topics raised at Apple's annual shareholder meeting and finds a better measurement scale from the Green Electronics Council. He also looks into why fax technology isn't yet pining for the fjords and what the Danes have against Apple (and the iBook G4's logic board). In the news, we look at the releases of Microsoft Office 11.3.5, Apple's Pro Application Support 4.0, PopChar X 3.2, the promising Encyclopedia of Life, and the Macworld Apple TV Superguide.
The past and the present come together in this issue: we celebrate the anniversary of Samuel Morse's historic telegraph message with a 50-percent-off Take Control sale, Jeff traces the path of the now-stagnant FreeHand, Glenn marvels at the arrival of a 1 terabyte hard drive mechanism, Mark is surprised to learn how dependent he's become on his MacBook's two-fingered scrolling trackpad, and Matt looks at how the future of Drop Drawers lies with the long-standing DragThing. Elsewhere in the issue, Adam covers Microsoft news: the Mac BU's release of a converter for Word 2007 documents and how the company's legal department is going after open source with patent threats. On the Apple side of the fence, last week saw a minor update to the MacBook and FCC certification for the iPhone.
Our gaze wanders far and wide this week, with Jeff Carlson offering a review of Ovolab's Geophoto, a tool for giving your photos location tags and then browsing through them via a cartographic interface. Jeff also alerts us to the latest security update from Apple, passes on tips for making multiple-page documents in Adobe Illustrator, and points to a useful shopping list for HD video editing gear. Not to be outdone in the tip department, Adam collects oodles of scroll wheel-related tips, notes that MacLink Plus 16 can read Word and Excel 2007 for Windows documents, and expresses both amusement and alarm about the latest news from the copyright front.
Would you like to pay less for just the TV and movies you want to watch? That was the question that started Adam down the path to this week's comprehensive overview of all the different ways you can get TV, how much you'll pay, and what gotchas you may encounter. Also in this issue, if you've been dreaming lately of touchscreens and mobile Web browsing, you'll be happy to know that the iPhone now has a release date: June 29th, 2007. Also later this month, Apple will start offering YouTube downloads on the Apple TV. But you won't have to wait for an Apple TV model with a 160 GB hard disk, nor iTunes 7.2 (featuring DRM-free iTunes Plus tracks), nor several more security updates, all of which are available now.
We're overflowing with news this week, including the release of our "Take Control of Troubleshooting Your Mac" book, TidBITS staffers being honored in the MacTech 25, the iPhone sidestepping a bullet in the form of a patent ruling against Qualcomm, the release of enhancements to the MacBook Pro line, a surprise release of Adobe GoLive 9, Typinator 2.0 adding auto-correction capabilities, NetNewsWire 3.0 sporting better integration with Apple applications, a new remote-control option for Macs, and a trio of announcements about running Windows on a Mac. But despite all that, the big news comes from San Francisco, where Steve Jobs held court at the WWDC keynote, showing off Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Safari for Windows (gasp!), and how developers can write applications for the iPhone.
News from Cupertino this week isn't related to the Mac, with Apple announcing changes to the iPhone two weeks before its June 29th introduction and releasing a quick fix to several security exploits discovered in the public beta of Safari for Windows. Merging back into the Mac world, Joe Kissell looks at the VM2Go utility for managing Parallels virtual machines, and Glenn Fleishman introduces the Loki service for finding your current physical location via your Wi-Fi connection. Joe also reviews the 1Passwd password and Web form-filling utility, and Adam muses about being able to watch in real time what people around the world are seeing and saying.
Most of us take it on faith that a Web browser's secure connection is actually secure. But what's going on behind the scenes to protect our valuable data in transit? Chris Pepper looks at SSL/TLS encryption: how it works, how to make sure it's working correctly, and how it can impact communications in the future. Also this week, as the iPhone nears its June 29th release (watch for photos!), new details are appearing from Apple, including the addition of a YouTube application; Apple also made good on its promise to deliver YouTube videos to the Apple TV. We round out the week with the release of Mac OS X 10.4.10, updates to Safari, and the long-awaited universal binary Snapz Pro X 2.1 update.
The iPhone is now available - did you buy one? Glenn Fleishman braved the lines at his nearest Apple Store and reports on opening day hysteria (the controlled, efficient kind) and gives his first impressions of the new device. We also detail the iPhone's voice and data plans, and the TidBITS staff chimes in on whether to buy or wait. And although it seems unlikely, there was plenty of non-iPhone news last week, as we note the releases of PDFpen 3.2, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.0, updates to the Final Cut Studio 2 applications, a SuperDrive firmware update, the rest of Adobe Creative Suite 3, and iTunes 7.3 (which does in fact revolve around the iPhone, but throws in an Apple TV feature, too). Lastly, Adam looks at the latest brouhaha in the music world, with Universal Music Group refusing to sign a long-term contract with the iTunes Store.
Wireless networking is certainly convenient, but is there a faster way of pushing bits through the home without stringing Ethernet cable? Kevin van Haaren explores Powerline networking, which zips data through his house using the electrical cables already in the walls. Also in this issue, Glenn Fleishman follows up last week's iPhone coverage with specifics on AppleCare and service options, and Adam explains why the ChangeShortName utility is useful. Rounding out the news, we note the releases of Nisus Writer Pro, an Apple fix for Intel-based Macs that experienced popping sounds under Mac OS X 10.4.10, and the release candidate version of the virtualization software Fusion. And speaking of Fusion, please welcome the program's developer VMware as the newest TidBITS sponsor!
Where do you get your Mac-related news and information? Adam digs further into the results of the TidBITS 2007 Reader Survey and comes up with some surprising answers. Also in this issue, Brian Tanaka shares the secret of how he tracks his billable hours: OfficeTime. Rounding out the news, we note the releases of QuickTime 7.2, iTunes 7.3.1, MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.3, Firmware Restoration CD 1.3, Microsoft Office 2004 11.3.6, and a major update to "Take Control of Running Windows on a Mac." Lastly, if you're a new iPhone owner with a weak stomach, you may not want to watch the video of the device's losing battle with a high-powered blender.
Perhaps it's the lingering glow of the iPhone launch, but this week's issue focuses on talking on the phone. First up, Joe Kissell reports from Paris on how he chose a Mac-compatible handset that works with Skype and discusses other devices that may work for you. Next, Tom Schmidt sorts out the confusing world of prepaid cellular phone plans and discovers that for many people this route is much more convenient and affordable than expensive monthly contracts. Also in this issue, Joe notes the release of FileMaker Pro 9, and Adam both points to MyFirstMac, a Web site with Mac information that's perfect for helping new users, and welcomes our latest sponsor, Parallels.
The big Apple news this week is a stunning $818 million profit for the third fiscal quarter of 2007, thanks to a record number of Mac sales (and a goodly number of iPhone sales too!). For those of us not rolling in that kind of cash, we have news about useful Mac products and techniques that won't stress your checkbook. Adam looks at options for mounting and reading bare hard disk drives that aren't strapped into enclosures (and why you'd want to do this). Glenn Fleishman notes the release of Webjimbo, a program that lets you access your Yojimbo data remotely. Joe Kissell stays up late trying to get his MacBook Pro to go to sleep, no thanks to Apple's Safe Sleep feature. And lastly, we have a pair of new Take Control ebooks: "Take Control: The Mac OS X Lexicon," which provides practical and witty definitions of over 500 Mac- and Internet-related terms, and an update to "Take Control of Syncing in Tiger," which now covers the iPhone and Apple TV.
Apple is announcing new products this week, but not until Tuesday (be sure to check the TidBITS site for full coverage). In the meantime, we have a feast of Mac news and features, starting with Matt Neuburg's look at why you may want to spend more time with the new LaunchBar 4.3. Adam finally unloads some old hardware using Freecycle, and Glenn Fleishman was last seen playing Bejeweled on his iPhone, oblivious to all else. We also note Microsoft Office 2008 living up to its name by slipping until January, but at the same time the company released a beta of Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) Client 2.0 and a new beta of its XML converters for Windows Office 2007 files. A heap of software updates also passed our desks this week: Security Update 2007-007, Safari 3.0.3 beta, iPhone 1.0.1, AirPort Extreme Update 2007-004, and iTunes 7.3.2 from Apple; Fusion 1.0 from VMware; The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile 4.0 from Mark/Space; and BBEdit 8.7 from Bare Bones. Lastly, it has finally happened: Fake Steve Jobs has been unmasked.
If you're wondering why Mac writers get twitchy when Apple goes quiet for a few months, last week's deluge of product announcements provides the answer. At a special press event on Tuesday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs released new aluminum iMacs along with iLife '08 (including a completely new iMovie application) and iWork '08, now supplemented by Apple's new spreadsheet application Numbers. That would be enough for most companies, but Apple also upgraded the Mac mini and the AirPort Extreme Base Station, and rolled out bug-fix and compatibility updates for the new iMac, the new aluminum Apple Keyboard, Mac Pro desktops and the latest MacBook Pro models. Also this week, Charles Maurer notes a new direction for Asiva photo editing plug-ins and Glenn Fleishman points to increased storage for Google services plus troubles for KisMAC due to a new German law.
The MacHack conference may be history, but its spirit lives on in C4, an event for indie Mac programmers. Adam reports on the proceedings (where he was also a speaker) and discovers some gems such as Lights Off, a native game for the iPhone, and the software-updating framework Sparkle. Elsewhere in this issue, Glenn Fleishman notes improvements to the AirPort admin utility, Jorg Brown looks at the preposterous international data-roaming charges that some iPhone users are being asked to pay, Matt Neuburg adds some audible cues to his keys with Keyclick, and Joe Kissell updates his coverage of the Safe Sleep feature of current Apple laptops.
As the iPhone and other devices keep us connected to the Internet in more locations, are we opening ourselves up to malicious data attacks? Glenn Fleishman explains sidejacking, a potentially damaging weakness in the way Web traffic is handled, and why the easiest solution is the least likely to be utilized. Also in this issue, Adam appears with a look at Teleport, a utility that lets him share two machines easily, along with a revised version of the TidBITS AutoCorrect Dictionary for use with Typinator. And how do you get six tons of uninterruptible power supply into a top-floor data center? Glenn points to the top-down solution employed by our Internet host digital.forest. We round out this issue with news of the releases of Microsoft Office 2004 11.3.7, iPhone 1.0.2, iMovie 7.0.1, and iWeb 2.0.1.
Everything is new this issue, or at least that's the way it feels. In Apple news, CEO Steve Jobs introduced revamped iPods, including the new iPod touch, and dropped the price of the iPhone by $200 (and then offered $100 in store credit to the nearly 1 million customers who bought the iPhone at full price prior to last week's announcement). But we're most excited about the new redesign of TidBITS.com; Adam walks through the improved Web site and some of our reasons for doing it. Also in this issue, Apple and NBC get into a spat that results in Apple removing NBC television shows from iTunes; Apple checks into .Mac slowdowns in Europe; Ambrosia Software releases iToner for adding ringtones to the iPhone; Palm kills its Foleo "smartphone companion" just as it was about to be released; and we note the releases of iPhoto 7.0.2, MarsEdit 2.0, the TidBITS AutoCorrect Dictionary for TextExpander and TypeIt4Me, and a pair of ebooks about the iPhone from Take Control.
iPhone news continues to grab headlines, with Apple providing the details on how early iPhone adopters can get their $100 credits, a tale about how using the iPhone headset while driving could get you pulled over, making the decision between an iPhone and an iPod touch, and Glenn's scoop on the Devicescape Connect application for more easily connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots. But the Mac is far from dead, as Adam's look at the Mac OS market share among students at Cornell University shows. Adam also looks at how iPhoto 7 finally plugs some glaring holes present since the first releases of the program and examines what the first public beta release of Eudora 8 means for normal users (not much, and Adam offers some thoughts on where the world of email is going). Finally, gather around the camp fire as security analyst Rich Mogull tells a scary ghost story about his efforts to exorcise demons from FileVault.
This week's issue hits on nearly all of the main TidBITS beats. In iPhone news, Apple announces international iPhone distribution agreements in the UK and Germany (and France chimes in too, though Apple has yet to confirm it), AT&T proves to be less-than-straightforward regarding the recent iPhone credits, Glenn looks at how Apple and Starbucks are giving away 50 millions songs, and Adam taps iPhoney to see how Web sites will appear on the device. In Mac news, Adam tries free Web conferencing using Yugma, hears voices courtesy of the Infovox iVox high-quality speech modules, and notes the end of the paid portion of New York Times coverage. Meanwhile, Glenn runs down numerous options for adding 802.11n Wi-Fi to older Macs and Simon Leeman goes in depth to show why calling the latest iMacs and MacBook Pros "Santa Rosa" is wrong in multiple ways, despite persistent published reports. Lastly, we have three updated ebooks from Joe Kissell, providing the latest details on Apple Mail, on staving off spam with Mail, and on .Mac.
Apple released the first significant update to the iPhone's software last week, adding features such as the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store and welcome shortcuts. But the iPhone 1.1.1 update was more notable for breaking third-party iPhone applications and "bricking" (rendering inoperable) phones hacked to work with SIM cards from cellular carriers other than AT&T. We run down the changes and debate Apple's approach in a staff roundtable. Apple also released important updates for iLife '08 and iWork '08, new firmware for Macs with Intel Core 2 Duo processors, and an update for recent portables that re-enables journaling of the hard disk. We also note pricing and availability of the upcoming Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. If that wasn't enough, Adam compares the new Amazon MP3 music store to Apple's iTunes Store, Glenn passes on news of cheap iPod touch Wi-Fi in the UK, and Joe strolls through Apple Expo in Paris, France. Lastly, we note the updates of our best-selling "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups" and (so you have plenty of time to plan) "Take Control of Thanksgiving Dinner"!
October is here, and Mac users are scoping out the landscape for the arrival of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Adam looks at past releases to come up with an appearance date for the next big cat. What else is cooking this week? Andy Affleck takes 10 recipe management programs into the kitchen - which program will reign supreme? Also, Adam reviews Rogue Amoeba's Radioshift, which simplifies the task of recording radio shows from Internet radio streams; Joe takes a quick look at the latest virtualization updates from Parallels and VMware; Apple releases Battery Update 1.3 for 15-inch MacBook Pro models; and we note the release of three Take Control ebooks covering all you need to know about wireless network security, wireless networking with Apple's 802.11n-capable AirPort Extreme base stations, and the latest iPods.
It's our 900th issue, which we're commemorating by giving away "The Wireless Networking Starter Kit" ebook, and Glenn muses about how the bandwidth landscape has changed since he was nearly bankrupted by giving away a different ebook four years ago. Turning to the iPhone, we focus first on the present, with responses from a number of industry insiders about what they love and hate about the device, and then on the future, with a look at the release of a chip that could give the next-generation iPhone support for 3G cellular data networks, a 5 megapixel digital camera, and video conferencing. Adam bridges the iPhone/Mac divide while recanting his early snarky opinion of the Twitter micro-blogging service, which can be used from both a Mac and an iPhone. Switching completely to Mac software, Matt thoroughly searches his hard disk with the free EasyFind 4.0 and diagrams his thought processes using Robert McNally's Flying Logic. We also note the release (and the lack of Mac compatibility) of Seagate hybrid hard drives, a pair of faux Take Control titles from Crazy Apple Rumors Site, and the news that Apple board member Al Gore has received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard arrives on Friday, and this issue is packed with as much information as we can reveal (while still under NDA) about Apple's next operating system. Matt Neuburg sorts through Apple's list of 300 features to pick the best and worst of the lot. Rich Mogull examines some specific under-the-hood security improvements that may make your Mac dramatically more secure. Sharon Zardetto passes on some advice for those who still have important fonts in Classic. Apple Remote Desktop 3.2 and QuicKeys X3 3.2 both provide bug fixes and Leopard compatibility. And we've started selling the early-bird edition of Joe Kissell's "Take Control of Upgrading to Leopard," with pre-orders also now open for Matt Neuburg's "Take Control of Customizing Leopard;" both titles will ship in full as soon as Leopard becomes available. A few non-Leopard bits managed to sneak into the issue, too: Apple's quarterly earnings call revealed a record number of Macs sold, Apple announced that Orange will be the exclusive iPhone provider in France, and Steve Jobs confirmed that an iPhone software development kit is in progress and will be available in February 2008. If that weren't enough, Apple reduced the price of iTunes Plus tracks from $1.29 to $0.99, and Tonya shares some tips for those who have trouble with links in PDFs.
With the release of Apple's latest major operating system version, this week's issue focuses on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, about which we've also published five Take Control ebooks. Joe Kissell leads off with a look at the installation process and then climbs into Time Machine to note what ended up in the final version compared to what was promised earlier this year. Glenn Fleishman digs into the major changes in Leopard's file sharing, and shows how screen sharing can work between Macs running Leopard and those running Tiger. Matt Neuburg introduces Spaces and explains why Apple's virtual desktop implementation may be the most important feature of Leopard. As much as he likes Spaces, Matt also finds numerous frustrations with Leopard to share. We also note some important early updates, such as Login and Keychain Update 1.0, an installation problem with Unsanity's Application Enhancer, a problem with Time Machine and Aperture, a possible security vulnerability in the Back to My Mac feature, and a slew of Leopard compatibility updates in iLife and other components.
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is still fresh in our minds, for good and ill. Adam examines the revelation that Apple's software license agreement for Leopard Server now allows virtualization, a change that could save significant resources for those running Xserves. In less encouraging news, Rich Mogull finds Leopard's new firewall wanting in multiple ways, and a Trojan horse called OSX.RSPlug.A is in the wild and targeting Mac OS X (but there's an easy way to avoid it). Even after shipping Leopard, Apple has been busy, releasing minor updates to the MacBook and MacBook Pro, pushing out new versions of iTunes and QuickTime, and preparing for this week's launch of the iPhone in the UK. Elsewhere, Glenn Fleishman relates the (possibly momentary) availability of AppSnapp for installing applications onto the iPhone; Mark Anbinder ponders what IMAP access for Gmail means for Mac and iPhone users; Adam uses GrandPerspective and WhatSize to identify large files on our server and explains why we've had some downtime; and we give away copies of SmileOnMyMac's TextExpander 2. Finally, the jig is up! Crazy Apple Rumors discovered the TidBITS secret agenda, and, yes, it involves killer beavers.
It took a few years, but Apple finally got Spotlight right, according to Matt Neuburg, who takes a deep look at the improved search technology in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. In other Leopard news, we're tracking Leopard-specific updates on our Web site, and print versions of our Take Control ebooks about Leopard are now available. Changing gears, Glenn Fleishman analyzes Google Android, the Open Handset Alliance, and how it all affects Apple and the iPhone. Speaking of cell phones, AT&T has begun offering international data plans designed to avoid bankrupting iPhone users. We also note the releases of BBEdit 8.7.1, Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.9, and VMware Fusion 1.1 (along with VMware Importer). Plus, we pass on links to new Apple ads (along with a great parody) and welcome Freeverse as our newest TidBITS sponsor!
Steve Jobs gave all of Apple this week off in recognition of shipping the iPhone and Leopard this year, which meant that last week produced a flurry of updates and releases across many of Apple's software product lines. They include Mac OS X 10.5.1, Mac OS X 10.4.11, Safari 3, iPhoto 7.1.1, iPhone 1.1.2, Final Cut Express 4, and all the applications in Final Cut Studio 2. Other companies were busy too, with Fetch 5.3 appearing and FileMaker Inc. releasing a preview of its new Bento database; consultant Jeff Porten has some opinions about how well Bento achieves its goals. Plus, Amazon shipped its Kindle ebook reader, which Glenn Fleishman compares to the iPhone and the Sony Reader. Like Apple, we're taking our next issue off, but we'll be busy processing your holiday gift ideas in TidBITS Talk in preparation for the TidBITS Gift Guide in December. Bonus stories this week look at WireTap Studio, the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, a service for eliminating unwanted catalogs, and more.
We're back from our week off with a wide variety of articles, starting with a call to vote in the just-opened 2007 TidBITS Gift Guide Survey. If you're already shopping, check out the MacSanta and Give Good Food to Your Mac software promotions. Adam continues the theme with a look at PandoraBoy, a new Mac application that makes it easier to listen to holiday music via the Pandora online music service, and Catalog Choice, a Web-based service that helps reduce the seasonal onslaught of unwanted paper catalogs. Focusing on the world of the Macintosh more closely, Rich Mogull explains how to protect yourself from the concerning QuickTime RTSP security vulnerability, and Andy Affleck reviews Ambrosia's WireTap Studio. Glenn talks about how to get Back to My Mac working through recalcitrant routers, examines Webjimbo 2, and shares a hidden Leopard trick for learning more about nearby Wi-Fi networks. Lastly, we release a preview of "Take Control of Easy Backups in Leopard" to cover Time Machine, along with six bonus stories and a neat widget you can use to display TidBITS headlines on your blog or Web site!
We're sliding into the holiday season, leading off with our 2007 TidBITS Gift Guide to help you with your shopping. Neale Monks joins us with an overview of the world of open source Mac games that comes just in time for vacation downtime if your presents don't include the top game picks from our gift guide. With the new year approaching, Adam looks at Hazel, a utility that will help you with a New Year's resolution to keep your Mac clean, and Joe Kissell explains exactly what Apple means when they say the Boot Camp beta will "expire" at the end of the year. Glenn Fleishman passes on the news that even Apple agrees that Back to My Mac doesn't work for everyone, and he also looks at the releases of LogMeIn for Mac and Yojimbo 1.5. In Take Control news, we have three new ebooks about digital photography and a free update to "Take Control of Upgrading to Leopard." Lastly, bonus stories this week largely look at solutions to common Leopard annoyances.
Have you gotten chummy with a Chumby? (Are you thinking we've gone out of our minds?) Kevin van Haaren looks at the plush computing device and explains what you can do with it. Matt Neuburg writes about how Default Folder X 4 is an essential update for your Mac, and how Quay makes Leopard's stacks usable again. Joe Kissell makes his Windows and Mac partitions talk to one another via NTFS for Mac, and Adam raises concerns about Google's Knol, which seems to be taking aim at Wikipedia. In security news, Apple released QuickTime 7.3.1 to fix the serious RTSP vulnerability. Lastly, we've published new and updated Take Control ebooks about the iPhone, digital TV, running Windows on a Mac, and Mac OS X terminology (all of which are 20% off via the MacSanta promotion on 18-Dec-07). Have a safe and happy holiday - our next issue will be 07-Jan-08!