Steve Jobs, along with Jony Ive and other senior Apple VPs, today announced a major refresh to the MacBook and MacBook Pro lineup. The new systems incorporate a new manufacturing process, are machined from a single slab of aluminum, as well as being manufactured with components that are free of toxic materials such as arsenic, brominated flame retardants, PVC and mercury. The new models are powered Intel Core 2 Duo processors and by nVidia graphics chips; they are delivered with processor speeds of 2.0 and 2.4 GHz for the MacBook models, and 2.4, 2.53 and 2.8 for the MacBook Pro models. The MacBook Air has received a refresh, as well, with improved graphics and optional 128GB solid state hard drive.

Also announced was an upgrade to the Apple Cinema Display - the latest incarnation has an LED, thin profile 24" display with a built-in iSight and an integrated power adapter for MacBook and MacBook Pro systems.

Technorati Tags: macbook, macbook air, macbook pro

Apple has released an extremely important security update for Mac OS X 10.4 and Mac OS X 10.5. Security Update 2008-007 contains updates to numerous components of Mac OS X, including Apache, ClamAV, ColorSync, CUPS, Finder, launchd, libxslt, MySQL Server, Networking, PHP, Postfix, PSNormalizer, QuickLook, rlogin, Script Editor, Single Sign-On, Tomcat, vim and Weblog. Due to the number of components and the nature of the multiple, highly critical vulnerabilities, updating systems as soon as possible is highly recommended.

Apple today released Mac OS X 10.5.5 and Security Update 2008-006. Mac OS X 10.5.5 includes bug and performance fixes, as well as the security content of Security Update 2008-006. Mac OS X 10.5.5 is available for users running Leopard and Leopard Server, and Security Update 2008-006 is available for users running Mac OS X 10.4.11 and Mac OS X Server 10.4.11. A complete detailed listing of the vulnerabilities patched with this security update is available from Apple. Details regarding the performance and bug fixes included in the Mac OS X 10.5.5 update is available, as well.

As promised at the special event on Tuesday, iPhone 2.1 software was released today. Improvements include:

• Decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls
• Significantly better battery life for most users
• Dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
• Improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
• Faster installation of 3rd party applications
• Fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes for users with lots of third party applications
• Improved performance in text messaging
• Faster loading and searching of contacts
• Improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
• Repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
• Option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
• Genius playlist creation

Beyond those improvements and bug fixes, the iPhone 2.1 update addresses eight security issues that have been discovered.

Steve Jobs took to the stage today and announced the rumors surrounding his death, as Bloomberg news service reported this past month, were greatly exaggerated. Along with this health update, he also announced a newly redesigned and refined iPod family in time for the holiday season, including beautifully colored models of the iPod nano, the second generation iPod touch and the newly redesigned iPod classic.

Also announced, and released today, iTunes 8 with a new feature called Genius which will create playlists containing songs that 'go together', using technology that utilizes the millions of other iTunes user libraries (those who opt to have their music libraries scanned and incorporated into the 'cloud').

Touted as "Genius makes playlists from songs in your library that go great together." the details about how the Genius feature works in iTunes 8 can be found online.#10

Technorati Tags: apple, ipod, itunes, mac os x, software update, windows

Apple's ambitious attempt to nearly simultaneously 1) rebrand the .Mac service into MobileMe, and 2) debut iPhone 2.0 software, and 3) launch the iPhone 3G, and 4) launch of the App Store on iTunes was, in hindsight, not a very good idea. All four of these things happened within 48 hours of each other, and none of four went very smoothly. The .Mac/MobileMe service was unreachable for some users for days, and despite efforts by Apple to make the transition as smooth as possible, around 1% of users lost several hours worth of e-mails. The day of the iPhone 3G release put an incredible strain on servers and bandwidth provisioned by Apple, as hundreds of thousands of new iPhone customers began attempting to activate their phones. For me, it took several hours to get a completely activated iPhone (and this is after many hours in line), but for a small minority of users, problems with activation and setting up voicemail, persisted for days.

This week in a letter to employees, Steve Jobs put Eddy Cue in charge of the MobileMe service, as well as the rest of Apple's online services. Jobs, who was not very pleased with the launch of the rebranded MobileMe hopes that Cue will bring the same success to MobileMe as he's brought to other online areas of Apple.

Technorati Tags: apple, iphone, itunes, mobileme

Apple today released Security Update 2008-005 that addresses a critical vulnerability in the BIND DNS software - this DNS patch is most relevant for server installations running DNS, but it is important for non-server systems to update the software, as well. Along with the update to BIND, Apple fixed 17 security concerns in the components of Mac OS X with Security Update 2008-005; among the software patches delivered are updates to Open Scripting Architecture, CarbonCore, CoreGraphics, Data Detectors Engine, Disk Utility, OpenLDAP, OpenSSL, PHP, QuickLook and rsync. This update is available for both the client and server versions of Mac OS X 10.4 and Mac OS X 10.5.

Technorati Tags: apple, mac, mac os x, open source software, security, software update, vulnerabilities, zero-day

I didn't even need the alarm clock this morning at 4:45 a.m.

After swilling some tasty organic Sumatran coffee, I got on the road, arriving at one of the newer AT&T stores here in San Diego by 5:15 a.m. - placing me around 25th in line. Some early adopters were still snuggled in their sleeping bags as I drove up, the sun barely beginning to illuminate the overcast sky.

The store had eight folks ready to assist in activating the iPhones, and it took nearly 1.5 hours after the 8:00 a.m. opening for my feet to cross the threshold. As luck would have it, they ran out of the 16GB models by the time I could get into the store - the final 16GB model leaving with the girl just ahead of me in line... I would have preferred the 16GB model, but after nearly 4 hours in line, I'd settle for the 8GB.

The activation process went a little long at the counter, and I was sent home with an 'activated' but non-functional iPhone, leaving the store by 9:50 a.m. Arriving back home, I plugged the shiny new 8GB iPhone 3G into my desktop Mac, and to my disappointment, iTunes was unable to contact the iTunes Music Store. This was a necessary step in order to finalize the activation process - the store was likely overwhelmed with new iPhone 3G activation requests, so I made a cup of tea. The iTunes connection problems didn't take too long to be addressed by Apple and by 12:30 p.m. today, my old phone number had completely ported over, and I was using the iPhone for both incoming and outgoing calls.

The one thing that is still not functioning for me is the data connectivity. Using my Wi-Fi connection, I'm able to surf the web, download email and install iPhone apps, but data connectivity doesn't seem to be working if I'm off Wi-Fi, and using AT&T's 3G service. I'm willing to give AT&T the benefit of the doubt, and give them a day or so to ramp up to this extraordinary number of new devices coming onto their networks, or it could be my data plan wasn't properly activated. Regardless, the phone is fantastic, and it will be a great addition to my workflow and playflow!

Technorati Tags: apple, iphone

Despite pleas to the contrary from users worldwide, Windows XP saddled up on the mule, and began a slow, slow walk into the setting sun today.

June 30th was the extended, extended, and extended again final drop-dead date for Microsoft to stop selling Windows XP. Microsoft has said they will provide support for the world's most widely deployed OS "until 2014".

So, I guess this is it: so long, Windows XP...

I know we had our differences, and you never really forgave me for relegating you to simple "gaming duty" after making my primary systems Mac OS X. But that was years ago, and you really should have gotten over it by now.

Good news is, you'll still be around for a long time. I think we'll spend many more evenings together, but I want to keep you pure. To that end, you've lost your internet privileges - you seem to catch every little thing that comes your way.

What a tramp!

Barely a month after the last major update to the operating system, Apple has cranked out another one.

The Mac OS X 10.5.4 Update was released today, along with Security Update 2008-004, the latter aimed primarily at Mac OS X 10.4. The important security content of Security Update 2008-005 has been rolled into the Mac OS X 10.5.4 Update.

The Mac OS X 10.5.4 update delivers general stability and bug fixes, along with specific issues with Airport, iCal, Safari, Spaces & Exposé. The security content of the updates address vulnerabilities in a number of components of the OS, including Alias Manager, CoreTypes, c++filt, Dock, Launch Services, Net-SNMP, Ruby, SMB, System Configuration, Tomcat, VPN and WebKit.

Security organization Intego has issued an advisory on a piece malicious software that could allow remote users to take control of a compromised system. The exploit is a root privilege escalation, and does require the user to enter their administrator password in order for the software to successfully run. According to the security alert issued by Intego, "A vulnerability has been discovered that allows malicious programs to execute code as root when run locally, or via a remote connection, on computers running Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5. This vulnerability takes advantage of the fact that ARDAgent, a part of the Remote Management component of Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5, has a setuid bit set. Any user running such an executable gains the privileges of the user who owns that executable. In this case, ARDAgent is owned by root, so running code via the ARDAgent executable runs this code as root, without requiring a password. The exploit in question depends on ARDAgent’s ability to run AppleScripts, which may, in turn, include shell script commands."

The latest incarnation of the open source browser Firefox has been released by the Mozilla Foundation. Firefox 3 is packed with new features and is highly recommended - I've been using it for several months, and it is stable and fast! The software is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. If you're wondering why Firefox matters, Forbes Magazine answers that question.

Technorati Tags: firefox, open source software, software update

Those of us who were prepared to make a trip down to their local Apple Store today for a new iPhone will have to wait a little while longer.

Steve Jobs did indeed announce the next generation phone, the iPhone3G, along with iPhone 2.0 software, and the MobileMe service this morning during his keynote speech at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. The new 3G-capable iPhone boasts faster speeds, Microsoft Exchange connectivity, and broader support for Enterprise organizations, will be available beginning July 11th!

Apple today released a significant security update addressing security issues in Mac OS X 10.4.11 Tiger, along with the third major update for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. The security content of Security Update 2008-003 and the Mac OS X 10.5.3 update addresses a number of highly critical vulnerabilities in the kernel of the OS, as well as Apple applications such as iCal and Mail. In addition to updates to Mac OS X 10.5, Apple updated Server Admin Tools, and addressed a number of issues specific to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Server

Aside from the important security issues resolved with this latest release, Apple also addressed a number of stability and and performance issues in other applications of the Leopard. Mac OS X 10.5.3 provided performance and improvments to Address Book, AirPort, Automator, iCal, iChat, Mail, Parental Controls, Spaces, VoiceOver and Time Machine.

Technorati Tags: apple, mac os x, security, software update, vulnerabilities

The New York Times published an article today discussing the impending arrival of the next version of Apple's iPhone. The much-rumored 3G iPhone will likely be announced during next month's keynote address on June 9th to the gathered Apple developers at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC); the conference, along with the annual MacWorld event held in January, is often the launching point for new or updated Apple products.