Apple is by no means perfect, and this week sees not one, not two, but three situations in which the company is addressing problems. Most notable is the Q&A that Apple released to explain the controversy and bugs related to the iPhone storing location information, but more important is the Snow Leopard Font Update, which resolves the font-related bugs introduced in Mac OS X 10.6.7. And the longest standing problem is the company’s 10-month inability to produce the white iPhone 4, which is at long last available. Also this week, two-security related stories hit the headlines, with a “crimekit” being released to target Mac OS X, and the MACDefender scareware app masquerading as an anti-virus program — Adam has all the details. Finally, Lex Friedman bids TidBITS farewell after accepting a full-time staff writer job at Macworld. Notable software releases this week include Firefox 4.0.1, MacGourmet 3.1, Microsoft Office 2008 12.2.9 / 2004 11.6.3, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.4, Mactracker 6.0, Quicksilver β59, Mailsmith 2.3.1, Evernote 2.1, iPhoto 9.1.2, and iMac Hard Drive Firmware Update 1.0.
Over a month after Mac OS X 10.6.7 shipped, Apple has released the Snow Leopard Font Update to resolve the significant font-related troubles caused by 10.6.7.
Intego has identified a new piece of malware called MACDefender that masquerades as an antivirus program in an attempt to sucker users into paying for the program, likely putting credit card numbers at risk for being stolen as well.
Apple finally began shipping the mythical white iPhone 4 on 28 April 2011. Let the trumpets sound!
The appearance of a new “crimekit” aimed at Mac OS X users is cause for concern, but not yet for a change in behavior, assuming, of course, that you were behaving cautiously up to this point.
Lex Friedman is leaving TidBITS after accepting a full-time staff job at Macworld.
Attempting to put the controversy over iPhone location tracking to rest, Apple has released a Q&A that answers the primary questions about what the iPhone is doing and why. Apple even acknowledged that there are some bugs in iOS that will be fixed in a forthcoming update.
Notable software releases this week include Firefox 4.0.1, MacGourmet 3.1, Microsoft Office 2008 12.2.9 / 2004 11.6.3, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.4, Mactracker 6.0, Quicksilver β59, Mailsmith 2.3.1, Evernote 2.1, iPhoto 9.1.2, and iMac Hard Drive Firmware Update 1.0.
If you’re looking for a little more to read this week, Glenn Fleishman explains Assisted GPS at Macworld, Jeff Carlson shares a link to an interview with the ex-Mac luminary and current professional photographer Joe Holmes, and Adam points to Ars Technica’s recent experience with Facebook as a reason to avoid relying on the social networking service for business purposes.