What's New - May 17, 2006

By: Ben Martin - Revised: 2006-07-03 devin

Download Slides – PDF-File, 2.0 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


Notable Updates

Apple Quickime 7.1 — Numerous important bug fixes and addresses critical security issues.

Front Row 1.2.2
  • Addresses bugs that prevented song shuffling within playlists
  • Front row no longer says the server was not found when its waiting for a large movie trailer or long shared video to load
  • Corrects bugs that prevented authorized Audible Audiobooks from playing
  • Fixes a variety of DVD compatibility issues
  • Purchased movies located in the Movies folder are now correctly recognized
  • Includes a variety of fixes for VoiceOver accessibility
  • Fixes a bug that prevented Front Row from reconnecting to shared video libraries after wake from sleep
Aperture 1.1.1 — Addresses several issues related to performance, stability, color correction, and display compatibility.

Logic Pro 7.2.1 — Logic Pro 7.2.1 is a maintenance release that addresses isolated reliability and compatibility issues in the following areas:
  • Intel Macs: ReWire and ReCycle support, Standard MIDI file export, OMF import, VSL EXS instrument compatibility
  • Blank Sample Editor window in some circumstances
  • Unexpected halt of software instrument output
  • Compatibility with Logic 7.1 songs
  • Direct playback of MP3 files
  • EuCon support for the Euphonix MC and CM408T control surfaces
Apple Keyboard Update 1.0 — Addresses reliability of keyboard and mouse functionality.
  • Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later
  • MacBook Pro (Early 2006)
  • iMac (Early 2006)
  • Mac mini (Early 2006)
VLC 0.8.5 — TONS of updates.  See http://developers.videolan.org/vlc/NEWS for info.

Stuffit
  • Addressed an issue when Destination preference was set to "Ask" and Expander was not running, where double-clicking a compressed or encoded file to launch StuffIt Expander, then choosing a Destination location from the pop-up menu that appears at the top of the Save dialog would cause Expander to exit.
  • Addressed an issue with "Delete Originals" via AppleScript 
  • Addressed an issue when Destination preference was set to a specified folder and then the folder was later renamed/moved/deleted. 
  • Addressed an issue where Post-Expansion Anti-virus scanning preferences weren't being saved to plist file.
iLife 06 — iMovie HD 6.0.2, iPhoto 6.0.3, iDVD 6.0.2, iWeb 1.1, etc.  Updates to the entire suite of iLife applications.  See http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ or software update for information.
Adobe Flash Player 9 — Release notes not yet availiable.

Skype 1.4.049
  • known issue: Users who created their account on Intel-based computers will not be able to revert to earlier versions of Skype, after they have installed Skype 1.4.0.49.
  • new feature: Universal binary: Skype is now made to run natively on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Mac computers
  • new feature: Web presence: Show your Skype status on the web and in your email signature
  • new language: Traditional Chinese
MySQL 5.0.21 — Release notes availiable here.

Macromedia Dreamweaver 8.0.2 — Improves code generated by Dreamweaver for server behaviors and for active content such as Flash. If you haven’t installed the 8.0.1 updater yet, simply install the 8.0.2 updater to get all the fixes for both updates.

Cinema 4D 9.6
  • More than 40 improvements over R9.5. Most of the improvements have been made to OpenGL display speed, compositing functionalities and the Content Browser.
  • Macintosh users will immediately notice a much faster OpenGL editor preview, with increases in speeds of up to 50% on newer systems. In some instances, an increase of up to 150% can be achieved. Apple users will also benefit from improved OS X font handling with more precise display, a new selection dialog and additional font types. 
  • There's good news for all compositing artists as well: Multipass now supports eyeon Fusion software and a new External Compositing Tag makes it easy to track objects from CINEMA 4D in 3D space within After Effects. Additional Multipass layer and compositing tags, as well as QuickTime support for H.264, MPEG2 and MPEG4 codecs offer ideal workflow improvements when working with animations in CINEMA 4D. 
  • Numerous improvements to the Content Browser and material management system top off the R9.6 update. These include compressed libraries and Windows network support for the Content Browser, and material management with new hue/saturation settings, loopable noise shaders, faster and better texture handling, and much more.

Apple Security Updates

Apple Security Update 2006-001— Apache_mod_php, automount, Bom, Directory Services, iChat, IPSec, LaunchServices, LibSystem, loginwindow, OpenSSH, rsync, Safari, Syndication.

Apple Security Update 2006-002— Apache_mod_php, CoreTypes, LaunchServices, Mail, rsync, Safari.

Apple Security Update 2006-002v1.1— Apache_mod_php, CoreTypes, LaunchServices, Mail, rsync , Safari.

New Software

Apple Remote Desktop 3— Apple Remote Desktop is the best way to manage the Mac computers on your network. Distribute software, provide real-time online help to end users, create detailed software and hardware reports, and automate routine management tasks — all without leaving your desk. Featuring Automator actions, Remote Spotlight search, and a new Dashboard widget, Apple Remote Desktop 3 makes your job easier than ever.

Boot Camp— More and more people are buying and loving Macs. To make this choice simply irresistible, Apple will include technology in the next major release of Mac OS X, Leopard, that lets you install and run the Windows XP operating system on your Mac. Called Boot Camp (for now), you can download a public beta today.

Parrallels Workstation— It’s here! Parallels is proud to launch the Beta program the first virtualization solution specifically designed to work with Intel-powered Apple computers! Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta4 for Mac OS X is NOT simply a "dual-boot" solution; rather, it empowers users the ability to use Windows, Linux and any other operating system at the same time as Mac OS X, enabling users to enjoy the comfort of their Mac OS X desktop while still being able to use critical applications from other OSes.

Gone Universal

  • Logic Pro 7 & Logic Express 7
  • Cinema 4D
  • Timbuktu Pro 8.6
  • Final Cut Studio 5.1
  • Aperture 1.1

XP on Mac Benchmarks

See pdf slides 10-11.

Issues

Intel Mac Mini— Intel Mac Mini uses integrated graphics card. Does not support Final Cut Studio.

Mac Book Pro— Apple has addressed issues regarding Airport, LCD, heat issues, strange noises. Revision D's use newer logic board. MacBook Pro 802.1x issue fixed with 10.4.6 update.

Retail News

Q2 Apple Earnings Report— CUPERTINO, California—April 19, 2006—Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2006 second quarter ended April 1, 2006. The Company posted revenue of $4.36 billion and a net quarterly profit of $410 million, or $.47 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $3.24 billion and a net profit of $290 million, or $.34 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 29.8 percent, equivalent to the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 43 percent of the quarter’s revenue. See link above for more info.

New Apple Stores— Reno, Nevada, Dallas, Texas, Hingham, Massachussetss. 27 more by the end of the year!

Other Apple News

Intel Plans Faster Core Duo Chip— Intel is planning to introduce a new Core Duo chip with a 2.33GHz clock speed per core, sharing 2MB of cache. The company also plans to follow the launch with price reductions to encourage demand, according to Geek.com. The move will take place within the next six weeks, and though the chip is 32-bit like its predecessors, the 64-bit Merom processor is slated for shipment in the third quarter. Apple is likely to adopt the faster chip once it arrives, along with rival notebook makers such as Dell. When the new chip launches, Intel will slash the price of its 2.16GHz Core Duo CPU by over $200, according to the report. Apple currently offers 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo chips in its latest high-end iMacs and MacBook Pro notebook systems.

OnMac.net Triple-Boot—Triple-boot OS X, XP, and Linux.

Volume Limit Setting— CUPERTINO, California—March 29, 2006—Apple® today announced a software update for the iPod® nano and fifth generation iPod, allowing customers to easily set their own personal maximum volume limit. The software update also gives parents the ability to set a maximum volume limit on their child’s iPod and lock it with a combination code.

Events

Apple Store — Many upcoming training sessions and workshops.

E3 — Game Development. Los Angelos May 10-12.

NAB — Electronic Media. Las Vegas April 24-27.

IT Utility of the Month

fseventer — Graphically observe filesystem changes using the same underlying API as Spotlight. One example of use could be to determine what files are changed via software installation, preferences, etc...

Humor

See pdf slide 18.