News, Reviews and more from Australia's Macintosh Authority
News, Reviews and more from Australia's Macintosh Authority
Quark has just announced the next major version of its page-layout software, QuarkXPress 8. The new version, which will be available in the next 60 days, will offer many enhancements including a new interface and built-in Flash authoring. According to Quark, the QuarkXPress product team spent a lot of time with designers to determine how they work and figure out what to change in QuarkXPress 8 to help them.
Jim Dalrymple | May 29, 2008
After warning on Tuesday that hackers were exploiting an unpatched bug in Adobe Systems’ Flash Player software, Symantec has backtracked from this claim, saying the flaw is “very similar” to another vulnerability that was patched last month. Symantec’s initial warning described a disturbing threat — a previously unknown and unpatched flaw that was being exploited on tens of thousands of web pages. The flaw allowed attackers to install unauthorised software on a victim’s machine and was being used to install botnet programs and password-logging software, Symantec said.
Robert McMillan | May 29, 2008
It's one of those ideas you look at and slap your head thinking "I should have thought of that". An enterprising designer in Spain has created durable sleeves for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air that resemble the manila office envelope that Steve Jobs famously pulled the MacBook Air from at the Macworld Expo in January.
Matthew JC. Powell | May 29, 2008
Intel will delay the launch of its upcoming Centrino 2 platform for laptop computers by nearly two months to resolve issues related to the chipset and the antenna used with the wireless chipset. Centrino 2, also called Montevina, is the next version of Intel’s popular Centrino platform for laptops and was previously slated for a June launch. Computer makers are now expected to begin shipping laptops based on new mobile processors to retail shops in July, with the launch of Centrino 2 scheduled for the first week of August, said Elvin Ong, an Intel spokesman in Singapore.
Sumner Lemon | May 29, 2008
Apple has updated Mac OS X 10.5, fixing 70 issues with the operating system and its components. Among the changes in Mac OS X 10.5.3 are several fixes for Apple’s Time Machine backup application. The update addresses compatibility issues with the Time Capsule backup device as well as compatibility issues with Aperture 2, Apple’s workflow application for photographers. The OS update aims to improve reliability when doing a full restore from a Time Machine backup, and an alert message incorrectly stating that a backup volume doesn’t have enough space has been fixed. Apple’s virtual desktop application, Spaces, received some minor updates in 10.5.3. A problem that could cause the reordering of application windows when switching desktops and then switching back has been fixed. The update also tackled an issue where pressing Command-Tab may have incorrectly switched users to a new space. The update also bolsters reliability for .Mac syncing.
Jim Dalrymple | May 29, 2008
Delicious Monster has released Delicious Library 2.0, a major upgrade to their cataloging software for Mac OS X. Priced at $US40, it’s a $US20 upgrade for registered users. Delicious Library helps you maintain an up-to-date catalogue of CDs, DVDs, books, video games and other material. It can read barcodes from packages, either by using a barcode scanner (sold separately) or using an iSight camera or other webcam, if connected. You can also input the information manually, if you need to. The software connects to Amazon.com to get bookshelf information, but keeps it all stored locally in its own database.
Peter Cohen | May 28, 2008
LaCie has introduced a faster version of its d2 Blu-ray Drive, available now for $999. The d2 Blu-ray Drive features dual FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces and is compatible with the Mac and Windows. It ships with Roxio’s Toast Titanium software for Mac OS X and Easy Media Creator for Windows, and it lets you burn Blu-ray, DVD and CD media. In addition to the faster drive mechanism — which now operates at 4x Blu-ray burning speed — LaCie has also augmented the drive with an updated aluminium alloy case and better software. Blu-ray Disc is the high-capacity optical medium used by the Sony PlayStation 3 and other high definition drives. It’s the successor to DVD and the heir apparent to the HD throne following Toshiba’s withdrawal of HD-DVD from the market earlier this year. Double-layer Blu-ray Discs can store up to 50GB, more than ten times the capacity of a single-layer DVD disc.
Peter Cohen | May 28, 2008
An unpatched bug in Adobe Systems' Flash Player software is being exploited by online criminals, Symantec reported Monday. "We've seen a new, previously undisclosed vulnerability in Flash that is actually being exploited in the wild," said Oliver Friedrichs, a director with Symantec Security Response. The attacks are relatively widespread, too, according to McAfee. Criminals have hacked into about 220,000 web pages and added scripts to these pages that redirect victims to one of at least 57 web servers that actually serve up the attack code. Once a computer has been compromised, the attackers try to install several malicious programs, such as remote-control botnet software and programs designed to steal World of Warcraft usernames and passwords.
Robert McMillan | May 28, 2008
Adobe has offered users a look at what’s in store for the next versions of some of its Creative Suite (CS) applications by releasing free public betas of Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Soundbooth on the Adobe Labs web site. Anyone can download the new betas; however, for new customers, the software will only work for 48 hours after the first launch. If you’re an existing CS3 user, you can run the betas until CS4 becomes available.
Jim Dalrymple | May 28, 2008
Employees at Apple have filed a patent for integrating solar cells into portable devices by placing them underneath the layers of a touch-sensitive display, according to the filing. Solar power could help make devices truly portable, freeing from the need for wires to connect them to a power supply. When generating electricity from solar panels, the larger the panel the better — but as the patent warns, after allowing space for buttons, screens and a way to hold the device, only a small area is left on most devices for solar cells.
Mikael Ricknas | May 27, 2008
Apple has lifted the lid on what would have to go down as its worst-kept secret of recent times: the Sydney Apple Store will be located at the corner of King and George Streets, in the former Westpac office tower. While everyone with an even vague interest in the activities of the Mac-maker has known this for months thanks to leaks and searches of City of Sydney planning approvals, the company has remained fairly quiet — at least on the record. There have also been job advertisements on Apple's recruitment web site, but these have not specified the address.
Matthew JC. Powell | May 26, 2008
Critical vulnerabilities remain in Apple’s iCal calendar program, a security company said in an advisory that showed months of back-and-forth between Apple and the researchers over whether bugs were serious enough to warrant patches, and if so, when Apple would patch them. After several delays requested by Apple, the security vendor put its foot down and told the company’s security team it would release information about the vulnerabilities May 21, whether Apple had issued patches or not.
Gregg Keizer | May 23, 2008
This morning Apple released a new version of its iPhone SDK for developers. iPhone SDK beta 2 includes Interface Builder, a component of Apple’s development tools that lets developers create the interface for their applications. That seems to be the only major change in the latest build, according to the SDK’s read me, which continues to list some known issues. Apple says “this second beta is known to be incompatible with installation folders other than the default /Developer.” Given the importance of UI on the Mac, Interface Builder is a pretty critical tool in the development process, and some developers had chosen to hold off on their efforts until the SDK was revised. Apple unveiled the iPhone SDK at a special event earlier this month, allowing developers to begin building applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. Several high-profile companies have already jumped onboard, demoing their applications at the event. Highlighting the demos was AOL with a native AIM client; other applications from Electronic Arts, Salesforce.com, and Apple were also shown.
