What's New - Jan 17, 2007

By: Richard Glaser - Revised: 2007-01-19 rebecca

Download Slides – PDF-File, 1.0 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


New Hardware

  • Order Now, will ship February 2007
    • $299
  • Made for Widescreen high-definition TVs
  • Mac + PC with iTunes 7 or later
  • Works with Wi-Fi 802.11b,g, or n
  • Requires a fast Internet connection
  • 40GB hard drive for up to 50 hours video
  • Syncs digital media from one computer
  • Stream from up to five computers
iPhone
  • Available June 2007
    • 4GB $499 with 2 year contract w/Cingular
    • 8GB $599 with 2 year contract w/Cingular
  • Reinvention of the phone
    • No buttons
    • Built-in Advanced Sensors
    • Uses quad-band GSM, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Cingular's EDGE network
  • Widescreen iPod
  • Breakthrough Internet Device
  • Connects to computer using 30-pin dock
AirPort Extreme Base Station
  • Order now, ships February 2007
    • $179
  • Mac + PC
  • Up to 5x the performance, 2x the range
  • Share your printer or hard drive
  • Supports WPA/WPA2 and 128-bit WEP
  • Enhances Apple TV

New Apple Issues


Discontinued Apple Hardware

  • iSights that are not built-in to computers
    • No official statement from Apple
      • Unable to purchase from Apple
    • Maybe it was too expensive to manufacture?
      • A good third part opportunity
    • Desktop users out of luck?
      • Apple has not officially addressed this issue
        • MAYBE Apple may put iSights in cinema displays?


Macworld 2007 Best of Show Products

  • Axiotron ModBook
    • Order now, available in April 2007
    • "First and only Mac tablet computer solution"
    • Write and draw directly on the screen
    • True pen and handwriting recognition
    • Aircraft-grade magnesium allow for all-terrain use
    • Three after market MacBook modifications (available through otherworldcomputing.com)
      • Pre-Reserve Price $2199 for 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
        • 512MB RAM, 60GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
        • Free GPS Upgrade
      • Pre-Reserve Price $2399 for 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
        • 1GB RAM, 80GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
        • GPS Included
      • Pre-Reserve Price $2699 for 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
        • 2GB RAM, 160GB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
        • GPS Included
  • Roxio Toast Titanium 8
    • TiVo ToGo transferring
    • Blu-ray Disc support
    • Restore and recover files from scratched or damaged discs while copying
    • Now includes audio enhancement features previously released in RoxioJam
    • Full version $79.99, Upgrade price from Toast 7 is $59.99
  • Parallels Desktop for Mac (Build 1970, released 11/1/06)
    • For Intel Macs only
    • Run Windows and Mac OS X at the same time without rebooting
    • No RAM limitations and no need in hardware configuration
    • "Installation of Windows on a Mac is easier than on a PC"
    • $79.99
  • IntelliScanner mini
    • Ultra-portable Class 2 laser barcode reader with software
    • Scans standard retail barcodes worldwide
    • Powered by standard watch batteries
    • Scan and delete buttons
    • Flash memory (unknown amount of memory)
    • Requires:
      • PC with Windows XP or Windows 2000 OR Mac with Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
      • USB Port
    • $299

Apple Security Updates

  • Mac OS X 10.4.8 (PPC & Intel)
    • 2006-007 released 28 Nov 2006
      • Patch to fix multiple serious vulnerabilities
    • 2006-008 released 19 Dec 2006
      • Patch to fix one low-rated vulnerability

Notable Apple Updates

  • Apple iChat AV 1.0 (PPC & Universal)
    • Renews the .Mac certificate for encrypting text, audio, and video conferences
  • Apple iPod Shuffle Reset Utility 1.0.1 for Mac & Windows
    • For First Generation 512MB & 1GB iPod Shuffles
      • Completely erases all music and data
      • Reinstalls iPod software version 1.1.5
  • Xserve RAID Driver Update 1.0
    • Reduces I/O WRITE latency
    • Improves video capture performance
  • X11 Update 2006 1.1.3
    • Addresses font issues present in version 1.1.2
    • Enables X11 to better handle stereo visuals and offscreen rendering

Notable Third Party Updates

  • CommuniGate Pro 5.1.5
    • Pronto Flash Interface is included
    • XIMSS (XML Interface to Messaging, Scheduling, and Signaling) protocol enhancements
    • 12 Bug Fixes including enhancements with authentication and authorization, server stability, and application behavior
  • DiskWarrior 4
    • Universal Binary
    • Significantly faster than previous versions
    • Repairs invalid file permissions
    • Identifies corrupted .plist files
    • Repairs ACLs (Access Control Lists)
    • Full version for $99.95 or Upgrade from version 3 for $49.95
  • Graphic Converter X 5.9.4
    • Universal Binary
    • More Importing/Exporting file formats
    • Many user enhancements
  • Microsoft Office version X for Mac 10.1.9 Update
    • Enhances security and stability
  • Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.3 Update
    • Enhances security and stability
  • Stuffit Expander 11.0.2
    • Fixed some Stuffit Engine issues that:
      • Prevented some Windows self-extracting executable .zip archives from being recognized as .zip archives
      • Prevented some .zip archives from being expanded
      • Prevented some .tar archives from being recognized
    • Fixed Stuffit Expander from crashing when opening Preferences
    • Fixed an issue with Stuffit Expander's and DropStuff's progress bar that would sometimes cause the application to crash
    • Update is free
  • VLC Media Player 0.8.6a
    • Security updates
    • Fullscreen controller improvements
    • Update is free
  • TechTool Pro 4.5.2
    • Universal Binary
    • Fixed video memory and main memory RAM calculation size issues
    • Fixed Wipe Data and Data Recovery issues for GUID partitioned volumes
    • Updated Volume Structures test
    • Addressed eDrive free space capacity issue
    • Full version for $98, Upgrade from version 4 for $59
  • VueScan 8.4.02
    • Available for Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux
      • Improved scanner profiling
      • Improved color accuracy
      • Fixed Canon 8400F scanner bug
      • $49.95 for Standard Edition

Mac User Issues

  • Month of Apple Bugs (MoAB): January 2007
    • A project which will uncover an undocumented security hold in Apple's operating system or its applications for each day in January
      • Goal is to improve Mac OS X
  • Month of Apple Fixes: January 2007
    • Landon Fuller, a programmer, Darwin developer, and former engineer for Apple's BSD Technology Group has launched an effort to provide runtime fixes for each MoAB issue as they are released

Humor


Joy of Tech comic #872 - You can lead a geek outside, but you can't make him not geek.

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