What's New - Oct 18, 2006

By: Tony Sams - Revised: 2006-11-14 tony

Download Slides – PDF-File, 2.1 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

    • security updates
    • connecting to wireless networks using the EAP-FAST protocol
    • scanner performance
    • RAW camera support
    • performance of the Translation widget
    • broadband network performance
  • Logic Express & Pro 7.2.3
    • Logic Express 7.2.3 addresses performance issues on Mac Pro and G5 Quad computers.
    • Existing Logic versions 7.2.2 are required for update.
  • Aperture 1.5
    • Aperture 1.5 delivers compelling new features, including flexible library management that lets you store images anywhere you’d like. The free update also introduces third-party export plug-ins that let you use Aperture as the front end to extended workflows. Aperture 1.5 offers RAW support for more than 50 camera models from a wide variety of manufacturers (including Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony, and others) and extends support to all Intel-based Macs.
  • Parallels v 2.2.1940.0
    • Works on ANY Intel-Mac with ANY memory configuration with no system modification. This includes Mac Pros with up to 16GB of RAM, and the full line of Core 2 Duo iMacs
    • Support for Windows Vista as a guest OS
    • Support for Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard” as a  Primary OS
    • Better USB support, including support for isynchronous devices and Windows Mobile 5 devices
  • BBedit 8.5.1
    • URLs in file groups will display the icon of the application in which they will open if you double-click on them. FTP, SFTP and other URLs that BBEdit handles internally will show the generic "Internet link" icon.
    • The Preferences window now remembers the state of the search drawer; if the drawer was open when you closed the Preferences window, the drawer will open the next time you open the Preferences window.
  • iTunes 7.0.1
    • iTunes 7.0.1 addresses stability and performance issues with Cover Flow, CD importing, iPod syncing, and more.
  • iPhoto 6.0.5
    • This update to iPhoto contains new calendar, greeting card, and postcard themes for use with Apple print services, including a variety of holiday card designs. It also addresses compatibility for accessing Aperture 1.5 content in iPhoto.
  • Pro Applications Update 2006-02
    • This update addresses several issues with underlying frameworks and shared components for Apple’s professional applications
  • Final Cut Pro 5.1.2
    • Final Cut Pro Update 5.1.2 provides important bug fixes and compatibility updates for certain Canon, Sony, JVC and Panasonic devices.
  • REALbasic 2006
    • Now a universal binary
    • Databases that are included in the project crash when running on Intel Mac. To workaround, connect to your database in code.
    • REAL SQL Database: Encrypting existing REAL SQL Databases may result in unreadable databases, even with the correct key. This does not affect database files created with Release 4 or later. DO NOT try and encrypt existing database files without creating a new database file and copying data. The exact details of this problem are still unclear and being investigated.
    • Many more enhancements.
  • Eudora 6.2.4 (open source coming 2007)
    • Email moves to open source deployment
    • Apple mail importer
      • New importer works with Tiger
    • Open SSL
      • State-of-the-art email security
  • Timbuktu 8.6
    Runs natively on Intel and PowerPC Macs.

New Hardware

  • Mac Mini Update
    • Intel Core Duo
    • Up to 1.83GHz
    • More ports! and expansion options
  • iPod Nano (PRODUCT) Red
    • $10 from every iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED sold goes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.
    • Sleek, lightweight, and just $199, the 4GB(2) iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED delivers everything you’d expect from the world’s best-selling digital music player.

Apple News


Issues

  • Security Update 2006-005 (#2): Loss of AirPort connectivity, fixes; Startup problems -- kernel panics; more
    • Loss of AirPort connectivity Like the AirPort 2006-001 updater, Security Update 2006-005 is causing significant issues with wireless connectivity for some users
  • Little Snitch caching DNS information
    • a tool for alerting the user of network activities -- appears to be caching DNS information which can cause problems with locating Web servers.
    • Fix Terminal:  lookupd -flushcache

Tip of the Month

  • Super-Fast Way to Email a URL
    • Command-Shift-I
    • Opens mail and inserts URL.


Utility of the Month

  • Drive Genius 1.5.1
  • Essential Maintenance Tools
    • Duplicate - Fast and easy volume or entire drive cloning.
    • Integrity Check - Find problems before they find you with these comprehensive hardware verification tests.
    • Rebuild - Rebuild and replace OS X volume structures to regain access to files that have become lost or hidden
    • Fix Permissions - Reset OS X boot volume permissions to improve application performance and compatibility
    • Verify - Check OS X volume structures for possible corruption
  • Effective Optimization Tools
    • Defragment - Get the most speed and efficiency possible by Optimizing your OS X volumes
    • Benchtest - Make sure your hard drive performance is what it should be with comprehensive speed tests and graphical comparisons to other common configurations
    • Surface Scan - Verify your hard drive's reliability with a complete suite of non-destructive read verification tests for any drive or OS X volume
    • Sector Editor - Fine tune all aspects of your system with direct, advanced byte viewing and editing of all data on


Humor