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.
Apple has released Security Update 2007-009 1.1 to patch 41 vulnerabilities in Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5.1, some of which are rather serious. We recommend installing this update soon!
The MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.1 deals with a problem with laptop keyboards becoming unresponsive, often for a minute or more.
Gone are the days of glacial PC emulation, but which of the two virtualization programs for Intel-based Macs - Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion - offers better performance in Windows? And is it different in XP versus Vista?
Come find us at Macworld Expo in San Francisco with this handy cheat sheet!
After three years, Apple and Think Secret agree to a settlement in Apple's long-running suit to compel Think Secret to reveal sources that leaked Apple trade secrets. But does anyone actually win?
Intuit releases a patch to close the door on the QuickBooks data-destruction update fiasco. But is it time to move to alternative small business accounting software? Rich Mogull thinks so.
What's a Googlewhackblatt, and what does it have to do with the iPhone's monthly service plan?
iPhoto calendars make great gifts, but making slightly different versions with different date ranges and events can be tricky. Adam Engst shares some techniques for working around problems in iPhoto.
A new grocery delivery service from Amazon being tested in Seattle reminds this author of the heyday of the early dot-com era. This time, however, there's a chance for a company to make money.
There's plenty to talk about following our holiday hiatus. Readers discuss bugs ranging from Microsoft Office to Automator under Leopard, recovering a drive that's been accidentally erased by Disk Utility, and whether Twitter is useful or not. At the same time, people weigh in with suggestions of books for new Mac users and digital voice recorders.