What's New - May 15, 2002

Introduction

What's new for the Mac in the previous month:

• General issues, workarounds and fixes
• New Software and hardware
• Software and hardware updates/patches

New Apple Software

Mac OS X Server 10.1.4 includes improvements to Mail services.

Mac OS X 10.1.4.

iPhoto 1.1.1. Warnings: reformats your photo library, new format can't be used with iPhoto 1.0. Some users are losing images in the reformat process. Make sure you backup your library.

WebObjects 5.1.2.

New Third Party Software

4D 6.8 is the latest version of this relational database system. [OS 9 & X]

Amadeus II 3.5.1 is designed to manipulate, record, create and analyze sounds. It is a bug-fix update. [OS 9 & X]

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) 4.5.651 is the latest version of this OS X chat client. New features include a new Dock menu, a new contextual menu, Smart Connection prefs, new artwork, Smileys, and additional font preferences. [OS 9 & X]

BootCD 0.3 allows customized bootable CD of OS X with a Dock and a 5M RAM disk. Instructions can be found here. [OS X]

Data Rescue X 10.0 is out. It is a tool for recovering data from crashed disks. Recovered data are saved to another medium, leaving the original disk untouched. [OS X]

Diablotin 1.2 is a Preference pane to manage installed Library items. This release adds support for System, User, and Preference items. It also adds a contextual menu. [OS X]

Eudora 5.1.1b22 is the latest Mac OS 9 version of this popular email client. [OS 9]

Eudora 5.1.1b23 is the latest version of this popular email client for OS X. It fixes numerous bugs. [OS X]

Fetch 4.0.2 includes dozens of bug fixes, and new features such as support for longer-than-31-character file names. [OS 9 & X]

File Buddy 7.0.2 is a desktop and file/folder editing tool. Changes in this version include: Fixed a problem where aliases to bundled applications could not be selected when using the Update Alias command; A problem with pop-up menus appearing in the menu bar has been worked-around. [OS 9 & X]

GraphicConverter X 4.4 is out. The venerable image editor and format conversion tool adds a large mix of feature improvements and bug fixes. Some of the changes include long filename support, a move after delete option, grayscale TIFF import bug fix, and much more. [OS 9 & X]

Hostal 1.1.7 is a local IP address mapping tool. This update adds support for Mac OS X 10.1.4. [OS 9 & X]

InterMapper 3.6.1 is a utility to monitor servers, networks, Airports with pings, SNMP, and probes. This release adds wireless probes, authenticated e-mail notifications support, improvements to HTTPS probe for Classic and the log file. [OS 9 & X]

Joliet Volume Access 2.0.3 improves reading Windows CD-ROMs, as well as CDs with MP3, HTML and other long named contents. It adds support for CD/DVD SpeedTools, shows more information about CDs, and has been localized for the French language. [OS 9] (OS X can do this natively)

Kick-off! 2.0b3 provides automatic crash detection and recovery abilities to USB Macs. This update adds OS X support. [OS 9 & X]

MacGhostView 2.5.7 is a general purpose PostScript and PDF preview utility. This release is based on ghostscript 7.05. It adds several small interface and registration changes. [OS 9 & X]

MacSFTP 1.0.3 is an SFTP client. This release can show hidden local files in the Put Files dialog, print view file is now supported, plus live resizing under OS X, and several bug fixes. [OS 9 & X]

MacSSH 2.1fc3 is a Mac telnet client with SSH 2 support. Based on BetterTelnet and LSH - a GNU implementation of the Secure Shell protocols. [OS 9]

Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 6.0 is a single environment to create, build, and manage websites and Internet applications. It includes visual layout tools and extensive code-editing support to develop HTML, XHTML, XML, ASP, ASP.NET, JSP, PHP, and Macromedia ColdFusion Web sites. This is a preview release, the full version is expected to begin shipping in May. Very bad reviews. [OS 9 & X]

Macromedia Fireworks MX 6.0 is a Web graphics and site production tool. This release adds modeless vector and bitmap editing, horizontal/customizable pop-up menu attributes, Macromedia MX Workspace/Property inspector, Quick Export button, a data-driven graphics wizard, the ability to reconstitute tables, a fully scriptable environment, roundtrip Photoshop 6 text, and more. This is a preview release, the full version is expected to begin shipping in May. [OS 9 & X]

Macromedia Flash player 6.0r29 is the latest update to this browser plugin for playing Flash media. [OS 9 & X]

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1.4 similarly resolves all security vulnerabilities in previous versions of Internet Explorer 5. [OS 9 & X] NOTE: in OS X, this places an old version of the flash plugin in the folder /Library/Internet Plug-Ins. You will need to manually delete it and then install the new one.

Microsoft Office 2001 URL Security Updater addresses a security vulnerability that could be exploited to run malicious code on your computer. [OS 9]

Microsoft Office v. X Combined Updater 10.0.3 contains three updates for Microsoft Office v. X for Mac. Even if you have already installed any of the updates included in this updater, you must install this update package. [OS X]

Mozilla 1.0rc1 is the latest version of mozilla.org's open-source browser; the basis for Netscape. [OS 9 & X]

Netscape 6.2.3. [OS 9 & X]

Netscape MRJ plugin 1.0fc2 enables Java under OS X for Netscape/Mozilla/Fizzilla. It now correctly resizes applets when resizing a window. [OS X]

OmniWeb 4.1b5 is a maintenance update to this Web browser. [OS X]

PowerKey Pro 4.0.2b3 is power management software for the programmable power strips. This update fixes an issue with Rebound! crashing, full native OS X support, and other minor bug fixes. [OS 9 & X]

Dantz Retrospect 5.0.205 is an update to this backup software. The new version fixes a problem scanning icons/privileges of files with names longer than 31 characters. It also fixes a problem that caused Retrospect Express to erroneously display an error message following autolaunch or launching the application by double-clicking a run document stating that automatic execution failed, possibly due to a power failure or system crash. [OS 9 & X]

System Manager 1.1 is a utility to monitor CPU, memory, load, processes, network, Classic status, and more. This update adds the ability to show and hide the CPU temp, CPU border alarms, switchable interfaces for network monitor, and much more. [OS X]

Thursby DAVE X 3.1.1 is Mac to PC file and print sharing software. This update includes support for bi-directional PostScript printing in Mac OS X, clear text passwords, and LMHOSTS files. [OS 9 & X]

Who Owns What 1.3 creates directory and file listings sorted by owner. This release works with non-printable characters, it fixes group filters, it displays the Mac type and creator, and fixes a number of bugs. [OS X]

Yahoo! Messenger X 2.0 is the latest version of this instant messaging application. [OS 9 & X]

Hardware News

eMac - 17-inch flat CRT display, a PowerPC G4 processor and an all-in-one design, 700MHz http://www.apple.com/education/emac/

Xserve is a 1U rack-mount server with single or dual 1Ghz, RAM upgradable to 2 GB, and four hot-swappable hard disk bays for a total possible capacity of 480 GB, dual gigabit ethernet, unlimited user Mac OS X Server license, new management software that allows remote administration, monitors the hardware and sends reports or alerts via email, pager, cell phones or PDAs. Delivery expected in June 2002. Retail price between $2,999 and $3,999. http://www.apple.com/xserve/

Revised Titanium PowerBook, 667 or 800MHz, upgraded display (brighter, maximum resolution of 1280 x 854), and new DVI connector, has an analog audio-in port, airport range probably improved, has 2 fans that are quieter than the 1 fan before.

Pioneer has a new DVD-R/RW, the DVR-A04 (the Superdrive is a Pioneer DVR-A03).

NVIDIA GeForce4 Titanium graphics card will not be shipped until June

Adaptec is offering rebates until June 30th for trading in your non-OS X-compatible SCSI card for one that is compatible. See this page for an example.

Retail News

Apple posted a net profit of $40 million for the 2nd quarter

Rebates, rebates, rebates!

    Until June 30 (2 weeks before Macworld NY):
    Laptop and an AirPort Base Station save $100
    PowerMac and 17-inch screen save $200
    PowerMac and 22-inch display save $300

    Until July 7th (1 week before Macworld NY):
    PowerMac G4/800 save $200
    PowerMac G4/933 or dual 1 GHz save $300

    More rebates for cameras, iPods, software, etc., at http://www.apple.com/promo/

Issues

Photoshop 7 problems. Plugins lost in OS 9, scripting problems, text layer corruption bug, Classic must be installed. Upgrade leaves older versions alone. Upgrade process revamped.

Dave & FAXstf causes OS 9 to crash. Opening files from OS 9 on a Windows server with Dave causes a crash.

There is a bug in Word 2001 that prevents saving changes to a file that resides on a server.

Retrospect quits when encountering some files with long file names. Delete /Library/Preferences/Retrospect/retro.icons

HP G85 multifunction device's USB cable must remain plugged in while computer is on or it will not function properly.

HP Photosmart/DeskJet Driver, hp_imaging_connectivity.app, may allow unauthorized users to get root access to your system. Read more.

Norton software causes kernel panics, hoses drives. Read more.

OS X Server 10.1.4 requires 9.2.2 for Classic?

Don't use online storage servers because they may shutdown without warning and the data may be erased. Read more.

Applications turning into folders? Documents not opening correctly? Delete LSApplications, LSClaimedTypes and LSScheme files in ~/Library/Preferences. If that doesn't fix it, delete com.apple.LaunchServices.plist. Problem may be because of bug in Finder's "Change All" button.

2 key Hotmail cookies can be used to access Hotmail accounts if stolen. The cookies trump even passwords in access privileges. Not sure if this affects Macs. Read more.

Wallstreet PowerBooks don't wake with upgraded hard disk because of magnet. Read more.

KoolKatalog/IntelliTech webpage "ad" is an intentional Window's virus Read more.

The right hand corner of the iMac flat panel is about 1/8 of an inch lower than the left hand corner.

The OS X version of Cleaner does not support DV import. That feature still only works in OS 9.

Apple CD drives will not read copy protected audio discs, and if the disc damages the drive, it is not covered by warranty because the disc is not standard. Read more.

General News

Microsoft lawsuit update: Both the States and Microsoft have presented their cases. Microsoft witnesses (including Bill Gates) were not arrogant in front of the judge, but actually well mannered. Microsoft says the States did not prove their case. States failed to successfully introduce key evidence (because of Microsoft tactics and other mix-ups). However, the States discredited many Microsoft witnesses and made most of their points. It is unclear what the judge thinks. After some more oral arguments this week and in mid-June, the judge will retire to chambers and make her decision.

Read the latest on the antitrust suit. wired.com - Washington Post.

Cool Stuff

At an Apple shareholder meeting, Jobs said Apple has no plans of porting Mac OS X to Intel. A shareholder said it would benefit the company. Jobs replied, "That is an opinion."

Mac.com beta Webmail: https://webmail.mac.com/

Google has a Macintosh specific search page: http://www.google.com/mac.html.

http://www.info.apple.com/ redesigned, no more login.

Humor

Joy of Tech:

• Microsoft ecosystem
• eMacs vs Emacs
• Balmer developer workout
• Death of OS 9
• OS 9 lives

Events

MacHack Conference, June 20-22 in Dearborn, MI. http://www.machack.com/

Macworld Expo NY, July 15-19 in New York, NY. http://www.macworldexpo.com/

NECC (National Education Computing Conference), June 17-19 in San Antonio, TX. http://www.neccsite.org/