It’s been a busy Mac week. Apple updated most applications in iLife ’06 and released Mac OS X 10.4.5, and then announced that the MacBook Pro has begun shipping – with faster processors than originally promised. However, two new Mac malware threats, Leap-A and Inqtana-A, hogged the spotlight. Although neither is particularly dangerous, Matt Neuburg looks at the weakness that Leap-A is exploiting. Also in this issue, we note the releases of iKey 2.2 and Camino 1.0.
Mac OS X 10.4.5 Fixes Nits -- Apple last week released Mac OS X 10.4.5, a bug-fix update that offers oodles of small changes. Most notable are a fix that prevents Safari from crashing when deleting AOL email messages via AOL webmail, proper functioning of Apple's IPsec VPN client with Cisco servers whether or not NAT (Network Address Translation) is used, a fix for synchronizing with an iDisk larger than 4 GB, and a fix that enables some previously problematic Epson printers to be used successfully via an AirPort Extreme base station
MacBook Pro Ships at Higher Speeds -- The MacBook Pro starts shipping last week with faster processors than promised. Apple said pre-orders started moving out 14-Feb-06 and will be available in retail Apple Stores and resellers
iKey 2.2 Adds Double-Key Hotkeys, USB Device Events -- Script Software has released iKey 2.2, the latest version of their automation utility. Most notable among the new features is one I requested: double-key hotkeys that enable you to invoke a shortcut that chooses the Save As menu item, for instance, when you press Command-S-A (that's pressing Command-S, letting up on the S, and pressing A quickly)
El Camino Becomes Real -- Even though Camino has been in development and available in one form or another for several years, the free, open-source Camino Web browser celebrated its 1.0 birth on Valentine's Day (14-Feb-06)
Apple released updates to five of the six applications that make up the iLife '06 suite last week, providing bug fixes and minor enhancements for iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, iWeb, and iTunes
A malicious file uploaded early this week to the MacRumors Forums site is a Trojan horse designed to fool Mac users into thinking they'll get to see preview pictures of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, the next version of Apple's operating system software
The recent flap over the Leap-A malware raises the question of whether Mac OS X is fulfilling its promise as a rock-solid system with a stable, unmodifiable base (see "Two Mac Malware Threats Sighted," elsewhere in this issue)
"Take Control of Digital TV" Update Offers Current Info -- Looking for help with buying a new digital TV? Curious about the many ways to bring HDTV programming into your home? Turn to Clark Humphrey's freshly updated "Take Control of Digital TV" to find concise explanations, a road-map for buying a new TV, a current listing of which programs and stations offer HD content, and much more
The first link for each thread description points to the traditional TidBITS Talk interface; the second link points to the same discussion on our Web Crossing server, which provides a different look and which may be faster.
Paperless Office Quote -- A search for the origin of a quote on the "paperless office" sparks discussion about whether we'll ever stop working with so many dead trees