What's New - Sep 21, 2005

By: Mike Yocom - Revised: 2006-07-03 devin

Download Slides – PDF-File, 2.2 MB

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

GarageBand 2.0.2 — Addresses issues with time signature handling, Apple Loops authoring, locking tracks, and improves compatibility with Mac OS X Tiger.

iPhoto 5.0.4 — iPhoto 5.0.4 addresses an issue with browsing photos that have been auto-rotated by a camera.

PowerBook G4 Graphics Update 1.0 — The PowerBook G4 Graphics Update 1.0 improves graphics stability for some 1.67-GHz PowerBook G4 computers.

Security Update 2005-007 (10.3.9 Client & Server) — Delivers a number of security enhancements and is recommended for all Macintosh users.

Security Update 2005-007 1.1 (10.4.2 Client & Server) — replaces Security Update 2005-007 v1.0 for Tiger systems Mac OS X v10.4.2. Users who have already installed v1.0 on Tiger systems should install v1.1. (Re-enables 64-bit support.)

Safari 1.3.1 (Panther) — improves website compatibility, application stability and support for 3rd party web applications.

Safari 2.0.1 (Tiger) — improves website compatibility, application stability and support for 3rd party web applications.

QuickTime 7.0.2 — Capture video in a single click. Share movies with email or .Mac. Get QuickTime Pro today for these features and much more. For those that have problems with QT 7.0.2, a re-installer for QT 7.0.1 is available.

QuickTime 6.5.2 and QuickTime 7 for Windows

iPod 2005-09-06 — Includes new iPod Software 1.0 for iPod nano. iPod Updater 2005-09-06 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2005-06-26 for all other iPod models.

iTunes 5.0 — The best digital jukebox with the #1 music download store inside.

iTunes 5.0.1 — You can now browse and subscribe to podcasts from within the iTunes Music Store.

iTunes Phone Driver 1.0 — Appears to only be available through Software Update.

Java 1.3.1 and 1.4.2 Release 2 (Tiger) — Improves functionality of J2SE 1.4.2 on Mac OS X v. 10.4 Tiger and updates J2SE 1.3.1 for better interaction with J2SE 1.4.2

New Third Party Software

(Updates are assumed to be for Mac OS X, not much is being updated for Mac OS 9 nowadays…)

Anti-Virus Updates
  • Symantec NAV virus def Sept 1
  • Virex 7 DAT 050816
Adobe Acrobat 7.0.3 — Create and edit PDF files

Adobe Reader 7.0.3 — View & print PDF files

ATI Displays 4.5.5 — For all RADEON cards (incl. OEM/Apple)

Cocktail 3.6.5 — General purpose system modify/repair utility

Dantz Retrospect 6 Driver Update 6.6.101 — Backup driver

Datatrieve Online Data Backup System 1.0.4 — Secure online backup

FileMaker Pro 8.0 — Popular database application

FileSalvage 4.1.1 — Data recovery: file undelete & secure erase

Firefox 1.5b1 — Beta version of popular web browser

GIMP 2.2.8 — GNU Image Manipulation Program app bundle

Guest PC 1.6 — x86 Emulator

iCab X 3.0b352 — Web browser

Intuit Quicken 2005 R3 — Financial management software

Intuit Quicken 2006 15.0.2 (R3) — Financial management software

IPNetTunerX 1.3.1 — Optimize any type of Internet connection

Little Snitch 1.2 — Shows alert on outgoing network connections

MacScan X 2.0b — Detect, isolate, remove spyware, keystroke loggers, trojans

Microsoft Messenger for Mac 5.0 — Instant chat messaging tool

Mozilla 1.7.11 — Browser with email & newsgroup client

Mozilla Thunderbird 1.5 beta 1 — Enhanced Mozilla email client

MySQL 5.0.11 — SQL database server software

Now Up-to-Date and Contact 5.0.4 — PIM; schedule, calendar, contacts

OmniWeb 5.1.2 beta 1 — Web browser

OpenSSH 4.2 — SSH protocol package

Printer Setup Repair 4.2.2 (Panther) — Repair printer setup & cups problems

Printer Setup Repair 5.0.3 (Tiger) — Repair printer setup & cups problems

SideTrack 1.2 — Advanced trackpad driver for PowerBook/iBook

SoftRAID 3.2.1 — Real-time data protection that's better than backup

StuffIt Deluxe 10.0 — Comprehensive archiving tool

StuffIt Expander 10.0 — Expands downloaded files

StuffIt Standard Edition 10.0 — Compress or expand most archives

Symantec Norton Persona Firewall 3.0.3 — Helps defend against hackers (use LiveUpdate)

Synk 5.1.3 — Backup & synchronization utility

TechTool Pro 4.0.5 — Hardware/software diagnostic tool

Temperature Monitor 3.01 — Displays all accessible temperature sensors

TinkerTool 3.6.1 — Access hidden preferences settings

Vuescan 8.2.38 — Scanner software for flatbed & film scanners

XPostFacto 4 — Install OS X on unsupported Macs

Xupport 3.0 — Maintenance, optimization, secrets, security, backup…

Software Notes

ATI recently released a massive firmware update for the RADEON PCI Mac Edition, RADEON AGP Mac Edition, and RADEONs 7000, 8500, 9000, 9200, 9800, 9800 SE, and X800 XT (all Mac Edition, of course). The update fixes four to nineteen bugs for each card.

Hardware News

Mac mini
  • 512MB RAM standard (up from 256MB)
  • Bluetooth and AirPort Extreme in top two models
  • Third model: SuperDrive, $699/$679 EDU
iBook
  • Simplified line-up (two models)
  • 512MB RAM (1.5GB max)
  • AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
  • Scrolling TrackPad & Sudden Motion Sensor
  • 12-inch
    • 1.33 GHz (up from 1.2)
    • 40GB
    • Combo Drive
    • $999/$949 EDU
  • 14-inch
    • 1.42 GHz (up from 1.33)
    • 60GB
    • SuperDrive
    • $1299/$1199 EDU
Mighty Mouse
  • $49/$44 EDU
  • Scroll Ball
  • Touch-sensitive top shell (two buttons)
  • Force-sensitive sides (two more buttons)
  • USB 1.1 & 2.0 compatible
  • Mac OS X (Panther/Tiger) and Windows 2000/XP compatible
  • Fully Programmable
iPod nano
  • Replaces mini
  • Flash-based
  • Black or White
  • 14 hr music, 4 hr slideshow
  • 2GB, $199/$179 EDU
  • 4GB, $249/$229 EDU
Xserve RAID
  • Apply quietly updated the Xserve and Xserve RAID options with 500 GB HDs, making the maximum hard drive capacity of the Xserve 1.5TB, and the max for the RAID 7TB.

Retail News

Apple added ITMS Japan as the twentieth localized iTunes Music Store. Prices are set at ¥150—200 per song (roughly $1.35—1.80).

BusinessWeek feels a video device from Apple is unlikely, at least in the "iPod video" form most people are speculating. BW's take is that an iPod video would suffer the same fate as the iPod photo, so Apple will probably just fold video playback into the existing iPod line.

Many Korean MP3 manufacturers have expressed displeasure at the pricing of Apple's iPod nano, hinting that Samsung — a fellow Korean company — gave Apple an unfair discount on the flash chips.

The Register is running an article indicating that Apple's share of MP3 player market to shrink… sort of. The article indicates that we can expect to hear Apple's competitors claim that Apple's share of the HD MP3 player market is shrinking, but the reason for this is that Apple replaced the iPod mini (HD-based) with the iPod nano (flash-based), so it's share of the HD market will naturally shrink, while it's share of the growing, flash-based market will increase.

Macworld UK cites a recent survey that shows that iPod owners are most switched on to music. The average number of songs on the players surveyed was 375, while the average on the iPods surveyed is 504.

Apple recently updated its .Mac service, increasing the available storage space from 250MB to 1GB, while those that pay $50 extra get 2GB. A Family Pack option is now available for $180/yr, with a 1GB master account (2GB for $50 extra), four 250MB sub-accounts, and five email addresses.

Apple, Digital Music's Angel, Earns Record Industry's Scorn for refusing to raise the price per song on the iTunes Music Store for new releases. Apple continues to argue in favor of the flat $0.99 USD per song pricing, saying that raising the price will drive people back to illegally downloading music on P2P networks, and that the record labels get 70% of the money per song without having to pay anything on packaging or marketing.

Many market analysts are arguing that nobody can maintain an 80% market share in a consumer electronics business for more than a couple years, so Apple's market share is about to start falling. David Pogue in IPod's Law: The Impossible is Possible argues that, after using an iPod nano, he believes that Apple's market share is actually about to go up.

Issues

Date/Time Resetting to 31 Dec 1969
  • Faulty laptop battery: re-calibrate
  • Problematic PRAM/NVRAM: zap PRAM
  • Malfunctioning PMU: reset PMU

Mac OS X in Brief

Apple iBooks Enhance Learning in Broward County Public Schools

Mac OS X Security

IDG cancels MacWorld Boston

Apple to gain 10% of home market?

Apple UK grabs 11% education market

Businesses Like Look of Mac OS X

Apple Making its Way Onto Enterprise Radar

Can Apple Make the Switch?

Apple Expo Roundup
  • Apple Expo: Steve Jobs talks Macintosh
  • Apple Expo: Apple CEO Steve Jobs slams "greedy" labels
  • Apple Expo: Steve Jobs, "excellence" is Apple's "secret sauce"
  • Apple Expo: Jobs on mobile music and living room PCs
  • Apple Expo: Jobs on iPods and Apple secrecy
Apple at last gives UK iPod owners a battery break

Myst V demo available for Mac only

Intel Preps Mac OS X Developer Tools

Freescale to supply Apple with PowerPC to '08

Intel's Chips: Juice for Apple?

General News

Windows Vista Roundup
  • Windows Vista System Requirements
  • Windows Vista product editions revealed
  • Learning Lessons from the Mac
  • Apple's Tiger vs. Windows Vista: Who Comes Out Ahead?
  • WIndows Vista has cool new tools with a Mac feel
Apple failed to do due diligence in trade secret case

Dell Falls, Apple Gains in Customer Satisfaction, Survey Says

W3C objects to US Copyright Office's browser plan

Has Google Peaked?

Adobe and Macromedia Stockholders Approve Acquisition

Orbiter's Long Life Helps Scientists Track Changes on Mars

Humor

Joy of Tech
  • Beer Gut
  • Mac OS X for Intel
  • Henrico iBook Sale
  • Bedtime Podcasts
  • Cancer Sticks
  • Human Evolution

Events

MacEnterprise Webcast: Centrify's DirectControl
  • Presenters: TBA
  • Moderator: Fred Reynolds, Apple Computer
  • Date: October 25, 2005 (Tentative, check web page for updates)
EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan
  • ("World Fair")
  • Location: Aichi Prefecture (between Tokyo City and Sedo City)
  • Dates: March 25—September 25, 2005
  • Registration Information
Apple Expo
  • Location: Paris, France
  • Dates: September 20—24, 2005
  • Schedule
  • Registration
NAB Post +
  • Location: New York, NY
  • Dates: November 14—17, 2005
  • Schedule
  • Registration
Why Macintosh? An Introduction for PC Users
  • Location: CompUSA #262, 6262 South State Street, Murray, UT
  • Dates: September 24, 2005