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TidBITS Watchlist: Notable Software Updates for 25 July 2011

Safari 5.1 and 5.0.6 — New from Apple is Safari 5.1 for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, which brings the company’s Web browser on par with the version installed on 10.7 Lion. Safari 5.1 includes several new features, including Reading List, which enables users to create a list of Web pages they can then examine at a later date; Resume, which automatically restores all open windows and tabs when you relaunch Safari; and a Privacy pane that makes it easier to remove browsing data from your system. In addition, Safari 5.1 supports a new process architecture that separates the user interface from rendering operations, providing
better performance and more stability, particularly when using third-party plug-ins. Other improvements highlighted by Apple include private auto-fill, better search functionality, drag-and-drop for moving files from the Downloads window, improved support for modern Web technologies like HTML5 and CSS3, and new APIs for extension developers.

Separately, the company has also released Safari 5.0.6 for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, which focuses exclusively on fixing issues related to the rendering of HTML5 content, the layout of several Web sites, and general stability. (Free updates; Safari 5.1: 47.47 MB; Safari 5.0.6: 52.51 MB)

Read/post comments about Safari 5.1 and 5.0.6.

Windows Migration Assistant for OS X Lion 1.0 — Apple has released Windows Migration Assistant for OS X Lion 1.0. Much like Migration Assistant on the Mac, this new app makes it possible for users of Windows XP (with Service Pack 3), Windows Vista, and Windows 7 to migrate their profile and user data from a PC to a Mac running Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. (Free, 2.78 MB)

Read/post comments about Windows Migration Assistant for OS X Lion 1.0.

Server Admin Tools 10.7 — Apple has released Server Admin Tools 10.7 to provide compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Server. Included are updated versions of Podcast Composer, Server Admin, Server Monitor, System Image Utility, Workgroup Manager, and Xgrid Admin. (Free, 193.25 MB)

Read/post comments about Server Admin Tools 10.7.

iTunes 10.4 — Apple’s iTunes has been bumped to version 10.4, receiving no user-level changes but gaining a 64-bit foundation for maximum performance on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion; the update also includes several unspecified performance and stability improvements. Apple notes that, due to the architectural changes entailed by the move to 64-bit, third-party plug-ins may stop working with this version of iTunes; if that happens, contact the individual plug-in developers for help. (Free, 90.23 MB, release notes)

Read/post comments about iTunes 10.4.

Java for OS X Lion — By default, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion doesn’t come with a Java runtime, but this doesn’t mean that users who need to run Java apps (such as the popular CrashPlan) are out of luck. Apple now makes Java SE 6 1.6.0_26 available as a separate download that the operating system will automatically attempt to install whenever users try to run a Java app, or that can be downloaded separately from the company’s support Web site. Apple recommends that all Web browsers be closed prior to beginning the installation process. (Free, 62.53 MB)

Read/post comments about Java for OS X Lion.

iWork 9.1 — Apple has released iWork 9.1, a relatively small but significant update that brings Lion compatibility to its office suite. All iWork apps have been updated to support several major Lion features, including full-screen mode, Resume, Auto Save, and Versions (see “Apple Reveals More about Mac OS X Lion,” 24 February 2011). Rounding out the new release are two new builds for Keynote presentations, general improvements to the suite’s compatibility with Microsoft Office, and security fixes to handle maliciously
constructed Excel and Word files. iWork 9.1 is available as a free update through Software Update, but updates to Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are also available through the Mac App Store. (Free update, 90.2 MB)

Read/post comments about iWork 9.1.

Apple Remote Desktop 3.5 Admin — Apple has released Remote Desktop 3.5 Admin, an update to its remote desktop management software that introduces several reliability, usability, and compatibility improvements — at least some likely connected to the company’s recent release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Server. An updated version of the app’s companion Dashboard widget has also been released. ($79.99 new from the Mac App Store, free update through Software Update or the
Mac App Store, 25.27 MB)

Read/post comments about Apple Remote Desktop 3.5 Admin.

SuperDuper 2.6.4 — New from Shirt Pocket is SuperDuper 2.6.4, an update to the popular drive-cloning and backup software. Version 2.6.4 is primarily a maintenance release that concerns itself with improved compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and introduces a number of bug fixes. These include an issue that was causing copying operations on highly active files to fail and an incompatibility between the app’s AppleScript dictionary with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. SuperDuper now also prevents copy destinations from being ejected during a copy operation. (Free for basic functionality, $27.95 for
additional features, free update, 2.9 MB)

Read/post comments about SuperDuper 2.6.4.

Things 1.5.0 — Cultured Code has released Things 1.5.0, a minor update to its task organization app that improves its compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. Since version 1.4.5, released in March 2011, the app has received a number of bug fixes that affect everything from crashes to more subtle issues related to syncing with the software’s iOS counterparts, working in the background and various user interface elements. In addition, Cultured Code has added support for executing AppleScripts directly from within the software. ($49.99 new from Cultured Code or the Mac App Store, free update, 8.0 MB, release notes)

Read/post comments about Things 1.5.0.

MenuMeters 1.5 — Alex Harper’s Raging Menace has released MenuMeters 1.5, an update to its open source system monitoring tool. The only notable change in this new version is support for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, which means that you will be able to continue using MenuMeters to keep an eye on key aspects of your Mac’s status, including memory, disk, and CPU usage, network activity, and much more. (Free, 883 KB)

Read/post comments about MenuMeters 1.5.

Cyberduck 4.1 — The Cyberduck team has released version 4.1 of the free file-transfer utility for Mac OS X. Cyberduck 4.1 adds support for navigation using trackpad gestures, allows users to upload arbitrary files to Google Docs, and introduces several improvements to its interface with Amazon’s S3 and CloudFront services, particularly in relation to storing data in different data centers and better managing log files. Rounding out the release are numerous bug fixes that correct issues ranging from managing the timestamps of uploaded files to ensuring that only trashed files are deleted in Google Docs. (Free, 22.9 MB, release notes)

Read/post comments about Cyberduck 4.1.

Sparrow 1.3.1 — Sparrow has updated its minimalist email client for Mac OS X to Sparrow 1.3.1. The minor release focuses on a critical bug that was affecting version 1.3, which, as the company mentions in a blog post, introduced a number of more-significant changes, including full compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, improved access to labels and folders via the sidebar, and an integrated “send and archive” feature. In addition, the Sparrow team has rewritten all of the app’s animations, making its user interface smoother and more interactive. ($9.99
new from Sparrow or from Mac App Store, free update, 14.8 MB)

Read/post comments about Sparrow 1.3.1.

Fantastical 1.0.3 — New from Flexibits, Fantastical 1.0.3 brings Lion compatibility to the company’s well-reviewed calendar management app. With the new release also come Lion-only trackpad gestures and several UI improvements, in addition to a number of bug fixes that affect the way the app deals with times in 24-hour format and dates expressed using non-Gregorian calendars. ($19.99 new from Flexibits or the Mac App Store, free update, 7.5 MB, release notes)

Read/post comments about Fantastical 1.0.3.

SpamSieve 2.8.6 — C-Command’s latest is SpamSieve 2.8.6, a minor update to the popular spam-filtering software. The new release improves SpamSieve’s compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, adds support for Postbox 2.5, and improves overall filtering accuracy. In addition, C-Command has updated its documentation for setting up SpamSieve with Microsoft Outlook, MailMate, and Postbox. Additional work has also gone into the software’s manual and help. ($30 new, free update, 8.3 MB, release notes)

Read/post comments about SpamSieve 2.8.6.

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