Week in Apple: Software updates, jailbroken iPhone worms, and VESA
Mac users got some love from Apple this week in the form of an update to Snow Leopard, as well as one for Safari. But it’s not all good news for Apple fans–hackers are out to get jailbroken iPhone users and those running Atom-based hackintoshes will be stuck on Mac OS X 10.6.1. Read on to get the low-down.
Mac OS X 10.6.2 out now along with Leopard security update: Come and get your Snow Leopard update to 10.6.2! If you’re still on Leopard, though, security fixes are available as well.
Truly malicious iPhone malware now out in the wild: While previous “attacks” on jailbroken iPhones were benign, a variation of the same attack quietly extracts personal data from an infected device. Please, folks, change your default passwords.
Safari 4.0.4 serves up security and performance fixes
Apple released a minor point release of its Safari Web browser this afternoon. The update mostly addresses a few security issues, though it does have a few performance and stability improvements.
To start, Safari 4.0.4 includes six separate security patches. Three are for issues with WebKit, the rendering engine that powers Safari—one for HTML5 media object handling, FTP server connections (on Windows), and Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) implementation, all of which had potential security vulnerabilities. The Safari application itself had an issue with the “open in new window/tab” contextual menu items that could result in loading local HTML files, which could then lead to possible “disclosure of sensitive information.” Issues with libxml2 and Color-Sync could also allow specially crafted files to lead to “unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.”
In addition to the security fixes, the update also includes a few performance improvements. Web applications rely on JavaScript for a lot of functionality, so JavaScript performance improvements in Safari 4.0.4 are always welcome. Of note for heavy users (like those of us in Orbiting HQ) are performance improvements when searching through “a large number of history items.” There are also non-specific stability improvements for 3rd-party plug-ins, the search field, and Yahoo Mail.
Safari 4.0.4 is available via Software Update for both Mac and Windows. A direct download is also available on Apple’s Safari Download page.
Mac OS X 10.6.2 out now along with Leopard security update
Apple released several updates Monday afternoon, including the second point release of Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Updates move the version of Snow Leopard client and server to 10.6.2, while the security fixes that are part of that update are packaged for Leopard (10.5.8) as Security Update 2009-006.
Mac OS X 10.6.2 includes over a hundred fixes in all, including a known issue with guest accounts and deleted home folders. The update brings tweaks to Spotlight indexing of Exchange accounts, reliability of menu extras, problems with using four-finger swipes, Front Row video performance, VoiceOver improvements, and video performance for the newest iMac models. There are also fixes and improvements for handling fonts, graphics—especially when using DVI to Mini DisplayPort adapters—Mail, MobileMe, AFP networking, printing, and improved plug-in reliability in Safari.
Magic Mouse update available, but mice nowhere to be found (Updated)
If you’re looking to use one of Apple’s new multi-touch Magic Mouse with your current Mac, especially to experience the glory of multi-touch gestures on a desktop, we have some good news and some bad news.
The good news is that the update for Snow Leopard, which requires 10.6.1, and Leopard, which requires 10.5.8, is available now from Apple’s software update downloads site. Software Update didn’t automatically recommend the update, which was posted last night, so it may not recommend the download unless you’re already using a Wireless Apple Mouse (née Mighty Mouse).
The bad news is that, outside of buying one of the new iMacs introduced last week, you won’t be able to get your hands on a Magic Mouse. We checked in with a few of Apple’s retail stores in New York, Chicago, and Indiana, and the mice still aren’t in stock. Most told us that they did not know when to expect them to arrive, though an employee at Chicago’s Michigan Avenue location was hopeful that they would be in stock by the end of the week. Apple’s online store, where you can pre-order one now, still lists the Magic Mouse as shipping “in 5-7 business days.”
Updated: A few readers have informed us that their preordered mice from the online Apple Store have now shipped, so it’s not a reach to guess that they’ll be in retail soon enough.
iMovie now offers new iFrame video compatibility
Apple has made available iMovie 8.0.5, which addresses a window resizing bug and improves compatibility with the newest iPod nano. Most importantly, however, the software has gained compatibility with the iFrame video format. If you did a double take followed by a “huh?” after reading iFrame video format, you aren’t the only one. We hadn’t heard of it either, likely because before now, there were no cameras that recorded in that particular format.
Coinciding with Apple’s update, however, Sanyo has released two video cameras: the VPC-HD2000A and the VPC-FH1A, both of which record in iFrame. At 960×540, the resolution isn’t anything to write home about, but pixel count isn’t where it shines. What is special is that the camera shoots the same format that a computer edits, which, in turn, accelerates the import stage of the video editing process. The format also delivers smaller file sizes than what most of us are used to.
Currently, there is very little information available regarding the new format. It’s unclear whether Apple collaborated with Sanyo, or if this is some sort of open format that both companies both now support. Either way, video aficionados we know are excited about iFrame, so it’s worth checking out if you do any video work in iMovie.
iPhone OS 3.1.2 may cure iPhone "coma"
Apple has fixed three bugs in the latest iPhone OS with an update issued via iTunes this afternoon. The fixes are relatively minor and there are no new features as part of iPhone OS 3.1.2, but if you have been experiencing the dreaded “iPhone coma,” spotty network issues, or crashes, this update could be the cure for what ails ya’.
iMovie now offers new iFrame video compatibility
Apple has made available iMovie 8.0.5, which addresses a window resizing bug and improves compatibility with the newest iPod nano. Most importantly, however, the software has gained compatibility with the iFrame video format. If you did a double take followed by a “huh?” after reading iFrame video format, you aren’t the only one. We hadn’t heard of it either, likely because before now, there were no cameras that recorded in that particular format.
Coinciding with Apple’s update, however, Sanyo has released two video cameras: the VPC-HD2000A and the VPC-FH1A, both of which record in iFrame. At 960×540, the resolution isn’t anything to write home about, but pixel count isn’t where it shines. What is special is that the camera shoots the same format that a computer edits, which, in turn, accelerates the import stage of the video editing process. The format also delivers smaller file sizes than what most of us are used to.
Currently, there is very little information available regarding the new format. It’s unclear whether Apple collaborated with Sanyo, or if this is some sort of open format that both companies both now support. Either way, video aficionados we know are excited about iFrame, so it’s worth checking out if you do any video work in iMovie.
iPhone OS 3.1.2 may cure iPhone "coma"
Apple has fixed three bugs in the latest iPhone OS with an update issued via iTunes this afternoon. The fixes are relatively minor and there are no new features as part of iPhone OS 3.1.2, but if you have been experiencing the dreaded “iPhone coma,” spotty network issues, or crashes, this update could be the cure for what ails ya’.
iTunes 9 update fixes podcast syncing, "broken" mini-player
We looked at iTunes 9 when it was first released and noted a couple of issues that slightly marred an otherwise solid update to iTunes. Apple has since released iTunes 9.0.1 to address these issues and a few others, as well as the usual general performance and stability improvements.
One issue we noted in our hands-on was that there were a number problems syncing podcasts, ranging from the wrong episode being synced to playlists containing podcasts not syncing at all. Some other issues amounted to unexpected behavior: the zoom button no longer activated the mini-player, Genius Mixes weren’t automatically generated without manually updating Genius data, and song sorting for albums with multiples discs had changed.
iTunes 9 update fixes podcast syncing, "broken" mini-player
We looked at iTunes 9 when it was first released and noted a couple of issues that slightly marred an otherwise solid update to iTunes. Apple has since released iTunes 9.0.1 to address these issues and a few others, as well as the usual general performance and stability improvements.
One issue we noted in our hands-on was that there were a number problems syncing podcasts, ranging from the wrong episode being synced to playlists containing podcasts not syncing at all. Some other issues amounted to unexpected behavior: the zoom button no longer activated the mini-player, Genius Mixes weren’t automatically generated without manually updating Genius data, and song sorting for albums with multiples discs had changed.
