What's New - Oct 19, 2005

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

Download Slides – PDF-File, 2.5 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

Security Update 2005-008 (10.3.9 and 10.4.2) — Delivers a number of security enhancements and is recommended for all Macintosh users.

iPod Updater 2005-09-23 — iPod Updater 2005-09-23 includes new iPod Software 1.1.2 for iPod shuffle. iPod Updater 2005-09-23 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2005-09-06 for all other iPod models.

Logic Pro 7.1.1 — Addresses isolated reliability issues. It also improves compatibility with Mac OS X version 10.4 (Tiger).

Logic Express 7.1.1 — Addresses isolated reliability issues. It also improves compatibility with Mac OS X version 10.4 (Tiger).

QuickTime 7.0.3 — Delivers gorgeous video with the new H.264 codec in up to HD resolution.

QuickTime 6.5.3 for 10.2.8 — QuickTime 6.5.3 for Mac OS X 10.2.8 customers.

QuickTime 7.0.2 for Windows — This update contains the previous version of QuickTime 7.0.2 for Windows.

iTunes 6.0 — You can now browse and subscribe to podcasts from within the iTunes Music Store.

Xserve RAID Admin Tools 1.5 — RAID Admin is the Xserve RAIDs powerful remote management software that dramatically simplifies setup and monitoring of storage volumes.

iPod Updater 2005-10-12 — Includes new iPod Software 1.0 for iPod. iPod Updater 2005-10-12 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2005-09-23 for all other iPod models.

Aperture — Apple's new, professional, post-production, photographic editing program. Will be available next month for $499.

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 Oct 13
  • Virex 7 DAT 051012
Adobe Acrobat 7.0.5

ATI Displays 4.5.6

CLIX 1.7d

Data Rescue II 1.0

DiscBlaze 6.0

Fetch 5.0.3

InterMapper 4.4

Retrospect 6.1.126

Retrospect client 6.1.107

Sound Studio 3.0

VueScan 8.3.04

Software Notes

(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 Oct 13
Virex 7 DAT 051012

Adobe Acrobat 7.0.5

ATI Displays 4.5.6

CLIX 1.7d

Data Rescue II 1.0

DiscBlaze 6.0

Fetch 5.0.3

InterMapper 4.4

Retrospect 6.1.126

Retrospect client 6.1.107

Sound Studio 3.0

VueScan 8.3.04

Hardware News

Mac mini
  • Quiet upgrades
  • 1.33 and 1.5 GHz CPUs
  • 64MB VRAM (only in the 1.5 GHz models?)
  • SuperDrives upgraded to 8x DL
5G iPod
  • Low-end upgraded to 30GB (from 20GB)
  • Screen upgraded to 320x240
  • Support for H.264 video playback added
iMac
  • Thinner
  • 1.9 and 2.1 GHz CPU (+100 MHz)
  • 633 and 700 MHz FSB (+33 MHz)
  • PC2-4200 (533 MHz DDR2) Memory
  • Up to 2.5GB Memory
  • ATI RADEON X600 PRO w/ 128MB VRAM and PCIe (16x?)
  • Mighty Mouse standard
  • Built-in iSight (better specs than retail iSight)
  • Front Row (iPod shuffle-esque remote and "media center" software)
  • 17″ — $1,299
    • 1.9 GHz
    • 160GB SATA
  • 20″ — $1,699
    • 2.1 GHz
    • 250GB SATA
The eMac is now only available through the Apple Education online store. The U2 iPod has dissapeared from Apple's online store, suggesting that it's been quietly discontinued.

PowerBook
  • 8x DL SuperDrive standard across the line
  • 22% greater battery life
  • 46% brighter screens (15″ & 17″ only?)
  • Support for 30″ Cinema Display (15″ & 17″ only)
  • 15″: 1440x960
  • 17″: 1680x1050
  • PC2-4200 (333 MHz DDR2) Memory (15″ & 17″ only)
  • 12″ — $1,499
    • NVIDA GeForce FX Go5200 w/ 64MB VRAM
    • 80GB, 5400 rpm HD
  • 15″ — $1,999
    • ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 w/ 128MB VRAM
    • 80GB, 5400 rpm HD
  • 17″ — $2,499
    • ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 w/ 128MB VRAM
    • 120GB, 5400 rpm HD
Power Mac
  • 1MB L2 Cache per core
  • Dual-Core across the line
  • PC2-4200 (533 MHz DDR2) Memory
  • Up to 16GB Memory
  • PCI Express: 1 16x, 1 8x, 2 4x
  • BTO Options allow support for up to 4 30″ Cinema Displays
  • Mighty Mouse standard
  • Dual-Core 2.0 GHz — $1,999
    • NVIDA GeForce 6600 LE w/ 128MB VRAM
    • 160GB SATA HD
  • Dual-Core 2.3 GHz — $2,499
    • NVIDA GeForce 6600 w/ 256MB VRAM
    • 250GB SATA HD
  • Quad-Core (2× Dual-Core) 2.5 GHz — $3,299
    • NVIDA GeForce 6600 w/ 256MB VRAM
    • 250GB SATA HD

Retail News

Arguments between Apple and some of the record labels over ITMS pricing have started to heat up, wiith Warner threatening to cut off iTunes. In Japan, where lack of agreement over pricing caused the local ITMS to debut without material from some of the labels, the Big labels are playing a waiting game with iTunes, and some of the artists are fed up enough to go to Apple directly with new material for iTunes exclusives. A number of music managers, concerned over small royalties for iTunes artists, have also stepped in with complaints that artists typically only receive six percent royalties from ITMS purchases. Following the release of the (video) iPod and addition of video content to the ITMS, writers', directors', and actors' unions began indicating that they want iPod royalties.

Recent data published by IDC shows Mac shipments increased by more than quadruple the industry standard, and that Mac market share gained 30% year-over-year.

Issues

iPod nano screens

Mighty Mouse

AirPort Express and VPN

Mac OS X in Brief

Affordable Storage Solutions for Business is free briefing being offered by Apple, QLogic, BakBone, and ADIC on methods to save money in storage solutions.

IDC has also published data suggesting Apple making inroads in enterprise market.

Cobb County School District in Georgia has resquested a Grand Jury to investigate complaints of misappropriation of funds and preferential treatment towards Apple in its failed one-to-one laptop initiative. The initiative would have provided 63,000 iBooks to be given to every student and teacher in the school district.

General News

China Tightens Grip on Internet With New Content, Media Rules

According to a Microsoft Windows Vista product page, the forthcoming OS "starts and shuts down as quickly and reliably as a television, typically within 2 to 3 seconds." The article goes on to talk about login scripts and startup programs, so it might really mean login and logout time, but the claim does seem to be worded like it can go from off to usable in a few seconds.

NILFS is a new Linux log-structured file system that improves reliability, reduces data loss, and is said to outperform other log-structured file systems.

When a thief called IBM customer service for help using the Think Pad he'd stolen, computer support helped deputies make an arrest by taking down his address and passing it on to police.

In a creative application of old legislation to computer-age problems, it has been ruled that spyware can constitute illegal trespass on home computers.

Cisco has published an analysis of the current rates that IP address blocks are being assigned, and estimates that the IPv4 address space will be exhausted in about five years, and urges network managers to begin the migration process to IPv6 now.

Humor

Joy of Tech
  • Fair Share of Music Industry
  • Extraordinary Insight
  • Crack in the Nano
  • Child Abuse

Events

MacEnterprise Webcast: Centrify's DirectControl
  • Presenters: David McNeely, Director of Product Management
  • Moderator: Fred Reynolds, Apple Computer
  • Date: October 25, 2005
Apple Education Software Update
  • Location: A. Ray Olpin University Union @ University of Utah
  • Dates: October 27, 2005, 1:30 PM
NAB Post +
  • Location: New York, NY
  • Dates: November 14—17, 2005
  • Schedule
  • Registration
Local Events
  • .Mac: Internet Essentials for Mac OS X
    • Oct 19, 6:00 PM, CompUSA 1830 S 289 W
    • Oct 25, 6:30 PM, CompUSA 6262 S State St
    • Oct 26, 6:00 PM, CompUSA 1830 S 289 W
    • Nov 3, 7:00 PM, CompUSA 6262 S State St
  • Open Sourse UNIX Server and Storage Solutions for Your Business
    • Oct 20, 12:00 PM, CompUSA 6262 S State St
    • Oct 20, 4:00 PM, CompUSA 1830 S 289 W
  • Why Macintosh? An Introduction for PC Users
    • Oct 22, 11:00 AM, CompUSA 6262 S State St
    • Oct 29, 11:00 AM, CompUSA 6262 S State St
    • Nov 1, 6:30 PM, CompUSA 6262 S State St
  • Quark Nite
    • Oct 25, 6:30 PM, MacDocs 1435 S State St
  • CompUSA Introduction to Tiger
    • Nov 5, 10:00 AM, CompUSA 6262 S State St