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On March 27th, Apple released a firmware update for MacPro’s. If for some reason, things went…well…bad…your MacPro is a brick. A shiny, very heavy one.
Don’t fear, our trusty Apple has come to the rescue: Firmware Restoration CD 1.5 is your savior.
Source: MacUser
Apple recently released Safari 3.1 for Mac and Windows. Yes, that’s right, Windows. I know that it is old news, because Apple has had a version of Safari for Windows since last year. However, it was officially considered a beta version. Safari 3.1 is not a beta release, but an official release.
Arstechnica has a new review of Safari 3.1 for Windows, and it’s good…surprisingly good.
Source: Arstechnica
There’s always so many ways to do things in the MacOS. You gotta love it. Latest hints and tips from MacOSX Hints include:
- Change the default text for just about everything
- Simulate gestures in the iPhone Simulator
- Better/continuous scrolling on iPhone/iPod Touch
- Use Terminal’s vi as default text editor
- 10.5: Quit iTunes to see file info changes in Front Row
Source: MacOS X Hints
MacWorld is continuing it’s excellent Leopard survival guide series with an article on System Preferences.
Source: MacWorld
Today, Apple released two pieces of software: one for the MacBook Air and one for the current generation of iPod Shuffles.
According to MacNN, the SMC Update 1.0 “fine tunes the speed and operation of the internal fan” on the MacBook Air.
iPod Shuffle owners can download the 1.0.4 firmware update, which adds bug fixes and support for the 2GB iPod Shuffle.
Source: MacNN
MacWorld has published a Leopard Survival Guide that is focused in the Leopard Finder. I great list of tweaks and tips is presented, along with a guide focused on Quick Look.
Source: MacWorld
Good news for business people today. Apple announced the long awaited, and much needed, enterprise features for the iPhone. Many of us we insistent that the iPhone was not complete, and could not truly be embraced by business users without them. What am I referring to?
- Full Microsoft Exchange support, including push email, calendar, integration with contacts and full notes and meeting support
- Remote wiping of the iPhone
- Secure WiFi support
What is interesting to me is how Apple chose to integrate with Exchange: via ActiveSync. Instead of just connecting directly via the Exchange MAPI protocol, like Outlook, ActiveSync, Microsoft’s sync technology is being licensed by Apple. ActiveSync first made an appearance via the PocketPC OS, released when Microsoft chose to battle Palm in the PDA wars of the mid to late 1990’s. Even up to the current generation of ActiveSync, it’s remained a buggy, not always stable sync platform.
I hope that Apple has had an opportunity to stablize ActiveSync, and fix the problems Microsoft never could.
Some of the most recent from MacOSXHints.com include:
- 10.5: Avoid an external keyboard modifier keys bug
- Use VPN on the iPod Touch to read Exchange mail
- 10.5: Print selected pages from Preview
- 10.5: 10.5.1 update solves AppleScript/Automator issue
- How to back up hidden files/folders in Apple’s Backup
Source: MacOSX Hints.com
The day before Macworld, and all through the house…nothing seemed stirring…well that’s because we can’t see what Steve Jobs is doing right now.
So what might we expect at tomorrow’s keynote? Honestly, I’m not really what I’m expecting. If you want to know what others are, here’s a short rundown:
- Macworld’s High Expectations
- MacNN – There’s Something In The Air
- MacUser: MacBook Air
- AppleInsider: AppleTV Update
- MacRumors Buyers Guide
I feel let down already. It used to be that Apple would leave product announcements such as the update to the MacPro line to MacWorld. I almost feel like…what is there to look forward to?
We already know Office 2008 is coming. No surprise there. MacPro’s are updated. With HD DVD on the fence, will Blu-Ray officially make a premiere?
The iPhone…we already know from AT&T’s CEO that a 3G version is coming in 2008? Will Steve Jobs show us that? Is that very exciting?
Leopard is out…so what could happen there?
iTunes 7.6 is slated to appear, and we already know that a few studios are looking to do possible rentals on iTunes…so again, not really much of a surprise.
What does Apple have up it’s sleeve? I hope something, because right now I’m not very excited for this year’s MacWorld.
