TidBITS #909 on 2008-01-07

Happy New Year! Although we took our yearly holiday hiatus, that didn't stop us from keeping up with the Mac world. In this issue, Rich Mogull questions Intuit's commitment (or even interest) in the Mac platform following a series of QuickBooks bugs that permanently deleted some users' data. Adam weighs in on the settlement between Apple and Think Secret, speculating on why Think Secret chose to shut down. He also passes along advice on adjusting dates in iPhoto calendars, captures a rare Googlewackblatt, and shares the TidBITS-related events at the upcoming Macworld Expo in San Francisco. In other news, we note the releases of Security Update 2007-009 1.1, the "MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.1," and a set of MacTech benchmarks that compare the performance of Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion. Lastly, Glenn travels back in time to receive groceries via the Web, not with the failed Webvan but with a Seattle startup called Amazon.com.

TidBITS #908 on 2007-12-17

Have you gotten chummy with a Chumby? (Are you thinking we've gone out of our minds?) Kevin van Haaren looks at the plush computing device and explains what you can do with it. Matt Neuburg writes about how Default Folder X 4 is an essential update for your Mac, and how Quay makes Leopard's stacks usable again. Joe Kissell makes his Windows and Mac partitions talk to one another via NTFS for Mac, and Adam raises concerns about Google's Knol, which seems to be taking aim at Wikipedia. In security news, Apple released QuickTime 7.3.1 to fix the serious RTSP vulnerability. Lastly, we've published new and updated Take Control ebooks about the iPhone, digital TV, running Windows on a Mac, and Mac OS X terminology (all of which are 20% off via the MacSanta promotion on 18-Dec-07). Have a safe and happy holiday - our next issue will be 07-Jan-08!

TidBITS #907 on 2007-12-10

We're sliding into the holiday season, leading off with our 2007 TidBITS Gift Guide to help you with your shopping. Neale Monks joins us with an overview of the world of open source Mac games that comes just in time for vacation downtime if your presents don't include the top game picks from our gift guide. With the new year approaching, Adam looks at Hazel, a utility that will help you with a New Year's resolution to keep your Mac clean, and Joe Kissell explains exactly what Apple means when they say the Boot Camp beta will "expire" at the end of the year. Glenn Fleishman passes on the news that even Apple agrees that Back to My Mac doesn't work for everyone, and he also looks at the releases of LogMeIn for Mac and Yojimbo 1.5. In Take Control news, we have three new ebooks about digital photography and a free update to "Take Control of Upgrading to Leopard." Lastly, bonus stories this week largely look at solutions to common Leopard annoyances.

TidBITS #906 on 2007-12-03

We're back from our week off with a wide variety of articles, starting with a call to vote in the just-opened 2007 TidBITS Gift Guide Survey. If you're already shopping, check out the MacSanta and Give Good Food to Your Mac software promotions. Adam continues the theme with a look at PandoraBoy, a new Mac application that makes it easier to listen to holiday music via the Pandora online music service, and Catalog Choice, a Web-based service that helps reduce the seasonal onslaught of unwanted paper catalogs. Focusing on the world of the Macintosh more closely, Rich Mogull explains how to protect yourself from the concerning QuickTime RTSP security vulnerability, and Andy Affleck reviews Ambrosia's WireTap Studio. Glenn talks about how to get Back to My Mac working through recalcitrant routers, examines Webjimbo 2, and shares a hidden Leopard trick for learning more about nearby Wi-Fi networks. Lastly, we release a preview of "Take Control of Easy Backups in Leopard" to cover Time Machine, along with six bonus stories and a neat widget you can use to display TidBITS headlines on your blog or Web site!

TidBITS #905 on 2007-11-19

Steve Jobs gave all of Apple this week off in recognition of shipping the iPhone and Leopard this year, which meant that last week produced a flurry of updates and releases across many of Apple's software product lines. They include Mac OS X 10.5.1, Mac OS X 10.4.11, Safari 3, iPhoto 7.1.1, iPhone 1.1.2, Final Cut Express 4, and all the applications in Final Cut Studio 2. Other companies were busy too, with Fetch 5.3 appearing and FileMaker Inc. releasing a preview of its new Bento database; consultant Jeff Porten has some opinions about how well Bento achieves its goals. Plus, Amazon shipped its Kindle ebook reader, which Glenn Fleishman compares to the iPhone and the Sony Reader. Like Apple, we're taking our next issue off, but we'll be busy processing your holiday gift ideas in TidBITS Talk in preparation for the TidBITS Gift Guide in December. Bonus stories this week look at WireTap Studio, the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, a service for eliminating unwanted catalogs, and more.

TidBITS #904 on 2007-11-12

It took a few years, but Apple finally got Spotlight right, according to Matt Neuburg, who takes a deep look at the improved search technology in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. In other Leopard news, we're tracking Leopard-specific updates on our Web site, and print versions of our Take Control ebooks about Leopard are now available. Changing gears, Glenn Fleishman analyzes Google Android, the Open Handset Alliance, and how it all affects Apple and the iPhone. Speaking of cell phones, AT&T has begun offering international data plans designed to avoid bankrupting iPhone users. We also note the releases of BBEdit 8.7.1, Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.9, and VMware Fusion 1.1 (along with VMware Importer). Plus, we pass on links to new Apple ads (along with a great parody) and welcome Freeverse as our newest TidBITS sponsor!

TidBITS #903 on 2007-11-05

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is still fresh in our minds, for good and ill. Adam examines the revelation that Apple's software license agreement for Leopard Server now allows virtualization, a change that could save significant resources for those running Xserves. In less encouraging news, Rich Mogull finds Leopard's new firewall wanting in multiple ways, and a Trojan horse called OSX.RSPlug.A is in the wild and targeting Mac OS X (but there's an easy way to avoid it). Even after shipping Leopard, Apple has been busy, releasing minor updates to the MacBook and MacBook Pro, pushing out new versions of iTunes and QuickTime, and preparing for this week's launch of the iPhone in the UK. Elsewhere, Glenn Fleishman relates the (possibly momentary) availability of AppSnapp for installing applications onto the iPhone; Mark Anbinder ponders what IMAP access for Gmail means for Mac and iPhone users; Adam uses GrandPerspective and WhatSize to identify large files on our server and explains why we've had some downtime; and we give away copies of SmileOnMyMac's TextExpander 2. Finally, the jig is up! Crazy Apple Rumors discovered the TidBITS secret agenda, and, yes, it involves killer beavers.

TidBITS #902 on 2007-10-29

With the release of Apple's latest major operating system version, this week's issue focuses on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, about which we've also published five Take Control ebooks. Joe Kissell leads off with a look at the installation process and then climbs into Time Machine to note what ended up in the final version compared to what was promised earlier this year. Glenn Fleishman digs into the major changes in Leopard's file sharing, and shows how screen sharing can work between Macs running Leopard and those running Tiger. Matt Neuburg introduces Spaces and explains why Apple's virtual desktop implementation may be the most important feature of Leopard. As much as he likes Spaces, Matt also finds numerous frustrations with Leopard to share. We also note some important early updates, such as Login and Keychain Update 1.0, an installation problem with Unsanity's Application Enhancer, a problem with Time Machine and Aperture, a possible security vulnerability in the Back to My Mac feature, and a slew of Leopard compatibility updates in iLife and other components.

TidBITS #901 on 2007-10-22

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard arrives on Friday, and this issue is packed with as much information as we can reveal (while still under NDA) about Apple's next operating system. Matt Neuburg sorts through Apple's list of 300 features to pick the best and worst of the lot. Rich Mogull examines some specific under-the-hood security improvements that may make your Mac dramatically more secure. Sharon Zardetto passes on some advice for those who still have important fonts in Classic. Apple Remote Desktop 3.2 and QuicKeys X3 3.2 both provide bug fixes and Leopard compatibility. And we've started selling the early-bird edition of Joe Kissell's "Take Control of Upgrading to Leopard," with pre-orders also now open for Matt Neuburg's "Take Control of Customizing Leopard;" both titles will ship in full as soon as Leopard becomes available. A few non-Leopard bits managed to sneak into the issue, too: Apple's quarterly earnings call revealed a record number of Macs sold, Apple announced that Orange will be the exclusive iPhone provider in France, and Steve Jobs confirmed that an iPhone software development kit is in progress and will be available in February 2008. If that weren't enough, Apple reduced the price of iTunes Plus tracks from $1.29 to $0.99, and Tonya shares some tips for those who have trouble with links in PDFs.

TidBITS #900 on 2007-10-15

It's our 900th issue, which we're commemorating by giving away "The Wireless Networking Starter Kit" ebook, and Glenn muses about how the bandwidth landscape has changed since he was nearly bankrupted by giving away a different ebook four years ago. Turning to the iPhone, we focus first on the present, with responses from a number of industry insiders about what they love and hate about the device, and then on the future, with a look at the release of a chip that could give the next-generation iPhone support for 3G cellular data networks, a 5 megapixel digital camera, and video conferencing. Adam bridges the iPhone/Mac divide while recanting his early snarky opinion of the Twitter micro-blogging service, which can be used from both a Mac and an iPhone. Switching completely to Mac software, Matt thoroughly searches his hard disk with the free EasyFind 4.0 and diagrams his thought processes using Robert McNally's Flying Logic. We also note the release (and the lack of Mac compatibility) of Seagate hybrid hard drives, a pair of faux Take Control titles from Crazy Apple Rumors Site, and the news that Apple board member Al Gore has received the Nobel Peace Prize.

TidBITS #899 on 2007-10-08

October is here, and Mac users are scoping out the landscape for the arrival of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Adam looks at past releases to come up with an appearance date for the next big cat. What else is cooking this week? Andy Affleck takes 10 recipe management programs into the kitchen - which program will reign supreme? Also, Adam reviews Rogue Amoeba's Radioshift, which simplifies the task of recording radio shows from Internet radio streams; Joe takes a quick look at the latest virtualization updates from Parallels and VMware; Apple releases Battery Update 1.3 for 15-inch MacBook Pro models; and we note the release of three Take Control ebooks covering all you need to know about wireless network security, wireless networking with Apple's 802.11n-capable AirPort Extreme base stations, and the latest iPods.

TidBITS #898 on 2007-10-01

Apple released the first significant update to the iPhone's software last week, adding features such as the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store and welcome shortcuts. But the iPhone 1.1.1 update was more notable for breaking third-party iPhone applications and "bricking" (rendering inoperable) phones hacked to work with SIM cards from cellular carriers other than AT&T. We run down the changes and debate Apple's approach in a staff roundtable. Apple also released important updates for iLife '08 and iWork '08, new firmware for Macs with Intel Core 2 Duo processors, and an update for recent portables that re-enables journaling of the hard disk. We also note pricing and availability of the upcoming Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. If that wasn't enough, Adam compares the new Amazon MP3 music store to Apple's iTunes Store, Glenn passes on news of cheap iPod touch Wi-Fi in the UK, and Joe strolls through Apple Expo in Paris, France. Lastly, we note the updates of our best-selling "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups" and (so you have plenty of time to plan) "Take Control of Thanksgiving Dinner"!

TidBITS #897 on 2007-09-24

This week's issue hits on nearly all of the main TidBITS beats. In iPhone news, Apple announces international iPhone distribution agreements in the UK and Germany (and France chimes in too, though Apple has yet to confirm it), AT&T proves to be less-than-straightforward regarding the recent iPhone credits, Glenn looks at how Apple and Starbucks are giving away 50 millions songs, and Adam taps iPhoney to see how Web sites will appear on the device. In Mac news, Adam tries free Web conferencing using Yugma, hears voices courtesy of the Infovox iVox high-quality speech modules, and notes the end of the paid portion of New York Times coverage. Meanwhile, Glenn runs down numerous options for adding 802.11n Wi-Fi to older Macs and Simon Leeman goes in depth to show why calling the latest iMacs and MacBook Pros "Santa Rosa" is wrong in multiple ways, despite persistent published reports. Lastly, we have three updated ebooks from Joe Kissell, providing the latest details on Apple Mail, on staving off spam with Mail, and on .Mac.

TidBITS #896 on 2007-09-17

iPhone news continues to grab headlines, with Apple providing the details on how early iPhone adopters can get their $100 credits, a tale about how using the iPhone headset while driving could get you pulled over, making the decision between an iPhone and an iPod touch, and Glenn's scoop on the Devicescape Connect application for more easily connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots. But the Mac is far from dead, as Adam's look at the Mac OS market share among students at Cornell University shows. Adam also looks at how iPhoto 7 finally plugs some glaring holes present since the first releases of the program and examines what the first public beta release of Eudora 8 means for normal users (not much, and Adam offers some thoughts on where the world of email is going). Finally, gather around the camp fire as security analyst Rich Mogull tells a scary ghost story about his efforts to exorcise demons from FileVault.

TidBITS #895 on 2007-09-10

Everything is new this issue, or at least that's the way it feels. In Apple news, CEO Steve Jobs introduced revamped iPods, including the new iPod touch, and dropped the price of the iPhone by $200 (and then offered $100 in store credit to the nearly 1 million customers who bought the iPhone at full price prior to last week's announcement). But we're most excited about the new redesign of TidBITS.com; Adam walks through the improved Web site and some of our reasons for doing it. Also in this issue, Apple and NBC get into a spat that results in Apple removing NBC television shows from iTunes; Apple checks into .Mac slowdowns in Europe; Ambrosia Software releases iToner for adding ringtones to the iPhone; Palm kills its Foleo "smartphone companion" just as it was about to be released; and we note the releases of iPhoto 7.0.2, MarsEdit 2.0, the TidBITS AutoCorrect Dictionary for TextExpander and TypeIt4Me, and a pair of ebooks about the iPhone from Take Control.

TidBITS #894 on 2007-08-27

As the iPhone and other devices keep us connected to the Internet in more locations, are we opening ourselves up to malicious data attacks? Glenn Fleishman explains sidejacking, a potentially damaging weakness in the way Web traffic is handled, and why the easiest solution is the least likely to be utilized. Also in this issue, Adam appears with a look at Teleport, a utility that lets him share two machines easily, along with a revised version of the TidBITS AutoCorrect Dictionary for use with Typinator. And how do you get six tons of uninterruptible power supply into a top-floor data center? Glenn points to the top-down solution employed by our Internet host digital.forest. We round out this issue with news of the releases of Microsoft Office 2004 11.3.7, iPhone 1.0.2, iMovie 7.0.1, and iWeb 2.0.1.

TidBITS #893 on 2007-08-20

The MacHack conference may be history, but its spirit lives on in C4, an event for indie Mac programmers. Adam reports on the proceedings (where he was also a speaker) and discovers some gems such as Lights Off, a native game for the iPhone, and the software-updating framework Sparkle. Elsewhere in this issue, Glenn Fleishman notes improvements to the AirPort admin utility, Jorg Brown looks at the preposterous international data-roaming charges that some iPhone users are being asked to pay, Matt Neuburg adds some audible cues to his keys with Keyclick, and Joe Kissell updates his coverage of the Safe Sleep feature of current Apple laptops.

TidBITS #892 on 2007-08-13

If you're wondering why Mac writers get twitchy when Apple goes quiet for a few months, last week's deluge of product announcements provides the answer. At a special press event on Tuesday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs released new aluminum iMacs along with iLife '08 (including a completely new iMovie application) and iWork '08, now supplemented by Apple's new spreadsheet application Numbers. That would be enough for most companies, but Apple also upgraded the Mac mini and the AirPort Extreme Base Station, and rolled out bug-fix and compatibility updates for the new iMac, the new aluminum Apple Keyboard, Mac Pro desktops and the latest MacBook Pro models. Also this week, Charles Maurer notes a new direction for Asiva photo editing plug-ins and Glenn Fleishman points to increased storage for Google services plus troubles for KisMAC due to a new German law.

TidBITS #891 on 2007-08-06

Apple is announcing new products this week, but not until Tuesday (be sure to check the TidBITS site for full coverage). In the meantime, we have a feast of Mac news and features, starting with Matt Neuburg's look at why you may want to spend more time with the new LaunchBar 4.3. Adam finally unloads some old hardware using Freecycle, and Glenn Fleishman was last seen playing Bejeweled on his iPhone, oblivious to all else. We also note Microsoft Office 2008 living up to its name by slipping until January, but at the same time the company released a beta of Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) Client 2.0 and a new beta of its XML converters for Windows Office 2007 files. A heap of software updates also passed our desks this week: Security Update 2007-007, Safari 3.0.3 beta, iPhone 1.0.1, AirPort Extreme Update 2007-004, and iTunes 7.3.2 from Apple; Fusion 1.0 from VMware; The Missing Sync for Windows Mobile 4.0 from Mark/Space; and BBEdit 8.7 from Bare Bones. Lastly, it has finally happened: Fake Steve Jobs has been unmasked.

TidBITS #890 on 2007-07-30

The big Apple news this week is a stunning $818 million profit for the third fiscal quarter of 2007, thanks to a record number of Mac sales (and a goodly number of iPhone sales too!). For those of us not rolling in that kind of cash, we have news about useful Mac products and techniques that won't stress your checkbook. Adam looks at options for mounting and reading bare hard disk drives that aren't strapped into enclosures (and why you'd want to do this). Glenn Fleishman notes the release of Webjimbo, a program that lets you access your Yojimbo data remotely. Joe Kissell stays up late trying to get his MacBook Pro to go to sleep, no thanks to Apple's Safe Sleep feature. And lastly, we have a pair of new Take Control ebooks: "Take Control: The Mac OS X Lexicon," which provides practical and witty definitions of over 500 Mac- and Internet-related terms, and an update to "Take Control of Syncing in Tiger," which now covers the iPhone and Apple TV.

TidBITS #889 on 2007-07-23

Perhaps it's the lingering glow of the iPhone launch, but this week's issue focuses on talking on the phone. First up, Joe Kissell reports from Paris on how he chose a Mac-compatible handset that works with Skype and discusses other devices that may work for you. Next, Tom Schmidt sorts out the confusing world of prepaid cellular phone plans and discovers that for many people this route is much more convenient and affordable than expensive monthly contracts. Also in this issue, Joe notes the release of FileMaker Pro 9, and Adam both points to MyFirstMac, a Web site with Mac information that's perfect for helping new users, and welcomes our latest sponsor, Parallels.

TidBITS #888 on 2007-07-16

Where do you get your Mac-related news and information? Adam digs further into the results of the TidBITS 2007 Reader Survey and comes up with some surprising answers. Also in this issue, Brian Tanaka shares the secret of how he tracks his billable hours: OfficeTime. Rounding out the news, we note the releases of QuickTime 7.2, iTunes 7.3.1, MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.3, Firmware Restoration CD 1.3, Microsoft Office 2004 11.3.6, and a major update to "Take Control of Running Windows on a Mac." Lastly, if you're a new iPhone owner with a weak stomach, you may not want to watch the video of the device's losing battle with a high-powered blender.

TidBITS #887 on 2007-07-09

Wireless networking is certainly convenient, but is there a faster way of pushing bits through the home without stringing Ethernet cable? Kevin van Haaren explores Powerline networking, which zips data through his house using the electrical cables already in the walls. Also in this issue, Glenn Fleishman follows up last week's iPhone coverage with specifics on AppleCare and service options, and Adam explains why the ChangeShortName utility is useful. Rounding out the news, we note the releases of Nisus Writer Pro, an Apple fix for Intel-based Macs that experienced popping sounds under Mac OS X 10.4.10, and the release candidate version of the virtualization software Fusion. And speaking of Fusion, please welcome the program's developer VMware as the newest TidBITS sponsor!

TidBITS #886 on 2007-07-02

The iPhone is now available - did you buy one? Glenn Fleishman braved the lines at his nearest Apple Store and reports on opening day hysteria (the controlled, efficient kind) and gives his first impressions of the new device. We also detail the iPhone's voice and data plans, and the TidBITS staff chimes in on whether to buy or wait. And although it seems unlikely, there was plenty of non-iPhone news last week, as we note the releases of PDFpen 3.2, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.0, updates to the Final Cut Studio 2 applications, a SuperDrive firmware update, the rest of Adobe Creative Suite 3, and iTunes 7.3 (which does in fact revolve around the iPhone, but throws in an Apple TV feature, too). Lastly, Adam looks at the latest brouhaha in the music world, with Universal Music Group refusing to sign a long-term contract with the iTunes Store.

TidBITS #885 on 2007-06-25

Most of us take it on faith that a Web browser's secure connection is actually secure. But what's going on behind the scenes to protect our valuable data in transit? Chris Pepper looks at SSL/TLS encryption: how it works, how to make sure it's working correctly, and how it can impact communications in the future. Also this week, as the iPhone nears its June 29th release (watch for photos!), new details are appearing from Apple, including the addition of a YouTube application; Apple also made good on its promise to deliver YouTube videos to the Apple TV. We round out the week with the release of Mac OS X 10.4.10, updates to Safari, and the long-awaited universal binary Snapz Pro X 2.1 update.