Macgasm

Today, Apple unleashed it’s latest round of updates for the Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and 10.5 Leopard systems. These updates are large in size and fix a slew of vulnerabilities.

This update fixes a few bugs regarding the following:

• Printing Reliability
• The “the Accounts preference pane can now limit login to members of groups hosted by a non-Apple directory service, such as Active Directory.”
• Relability related to Quicktime X
• Airport Wake / Sleep options for current iMacs when connected to Wireless networks
• Daylight Saving Time rules for a few countries
• iCal notifications when new invitations appeared from a Microsoft Exchange Server
• An issue that could cause Mail to delete a mailbox from an exchange server behind a load balancer
• Ability for Parental controls regarding Safari bookmarks.
• Reliability when doing a Time Machine to Time Machine copy including multiple computers.

The Informational documents are located via the links below:

10.5 Leopard:
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Client Security Update 2010-002
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Server Security Update 2010-002

10.6 Snow Leopard:
Mac OS X 10.6.3 Client Updater
Mac OS X 10.6.3 Client Combo Updater
Mac OS X 10.6.3 Server Updater
Mac OS X 10.6.3 Server Combo Updater

The links to the download pages are as follows:

10.5 Leopard:
Mac OS X 10.5 Security Update 2010-002 (Leopard Client) (78.39 MB)
Mac OS X 10.5 Security Update 2010-002 (Leopard Server) (361.40 MB)

10.6 Snow Leopard:
Mac OS X 10.6.3 Client Updater (719.23 MB)
Mac OS X 10.6.3 Client Combo Updater (784.00 MB)
Mac OS X 10.6.3 Server Updater (831.31 MB)
Mac OS X 10.6.3 Server Combo Updater (897.32 MB)

Some of the Security fixes included with this latest update are as follows:

10.5 Leopard Specific:

• Clam AV: a configuration error introduced in Security Update 2009-005 would stop ClamAV from updating (CVE-2010-0058).
• PHP: Multiple vulnerabilities were fixed and PHP was updated to version 5.2.11 (CVE-2009-3557, CVE-2009-3558, CVE-2009-3559, CVE-2009-4142, CVE-2009-4143).

10.6 Snow Leopard Specific:

• Desktop Services: A Finder bug may have misassigned the owner of a file when it was copied (CVE-2010-0537).
• MySQL: Multiple bugs were fixed and Mysql has been updated to 5.0.88 (CVE-2008-4456, CVE-2008-7247, CVE-2009-2446, CVE-2009-4019, CVE-2009-4030).
• PHP: Multiple vulnerabilities were fixed and PHP was updated to version 5.3.1 (CVE-2009-3557, CVE-2009-3558, CVE-2009-3559, CVE-2009-4017).
• QuickTime: 9 different vulnerabilties were found and fixed in Quicktime.

Common vulnerabilities:

• Apache’s Webserver had a vulnerability that would allow a user to bypass access control (CVE-2009-3095).
• CUPS (Unix Printing): a format string error may allow a local user to gain system privledges, thereby allowing them to do some damage (CVE-2010-0393).
• iChat Server: A user may have been able to cause a denial of service of the iChat Server (CVE-2006-1329).
• Mail: An account that had been deleted may still have it’s rules applied (CVE-2010-0537).

The full security list is located at Apple’s Support website.

Mac OS X 10.6.3 is recommended for all Snow Leopard Users, and the Security Update is recommended for all 10.5 Leopard Users. You can use Apple’s Software Update Utility or any of the links above to get your copy today.

Brightcove, a popular online video provider, has announced that they are now supporting HTML5 video for the iPhone OS devices. This marks another milestone in the web’s move away from Adobe’s Flash.

After all the hullabaloo about the NY Times in the iPad demonstration videos, they are among the clients of Brightcove. That means you’ll be able to watch NY Times content without any need for a plug-in.

For devices and browsers that don’t accept HTML5 video, Brightcove will automatically revert their content back to flash. This, to my ears, sounds like what the majority of video delivery systems will end up moving to during this interim period. I think it is safe to say that everyone will move away from a plug-in based video playback method in the coming years. If you’d like to read more information about Brightcove’s implementation, you can head over to their HTML5 information page.

What do you think about this, though? Are you pleased with the direction that video delivery is going? Let me know by commenting on this post or hitting me up on Twitter.

Article Via: MacLife
Photo Credit: comedy_nose

If you weren’t aware, there is more than one way to shut down, reboot, or log off of your Mac.  We all know that we can click on the Apple logo in the left corner and a menu comes up with options to shut down, reboot, and log off of your Mac.  Unfortunately, they only show you the keyboard shortcut for “Log Off…”.  Well, your in luck.  I’m going to show you the keyboard shortcuts for “Shut Down…” and “Restart…”.  I’ll also throw in “Log Off…” for good measure.

Ok here we go.  To shut down your Mac you will want to use the following keyboard combinations – CTRL+OPT+CMD+Eject.  Eject is the key on your keyboard that allows you to eject DVD’s from your Mac.  Ok lets move onto restarting your Mac, you will use this combination – CTRL+CMD+Eject.  Last but not least, let’s show you how to log off of your Mac with this combination – CMD+Shift+Q.

That’s it folks!  Three simply yet easy to remember keyboard shortcuts to take control of your Macs shut down process.  Below I have made the combinations in bullet format for quick and easy referencing:

• Shut Down… – CTRL+OPT+CMD+Eject
• Restart… – CTRL+CMD+Eject
• Log Off… – CMD+Shift+Q

I have tested these shortcuts on Apple and Non-Apple keyboards.  I have found that they only work on Apple keyboards.  It doesn’t seem to work on Non-Apple keyboards.  I’m guessing it’s got something to do with the missing eject button.  The Non-Apple keyboards will allow you to eject your DVD’s by holding down the F12 key.  There usually is not a dedicated eject button.  If you have a Non-Apple keyboard, and these combinations work for you, let us know.  You can leave a comment in the comments section below, with the model of your keyboard.

Photo Credit: Shut Down

Cosmopolitan’s “Sex Position of the Day” app first caught my attention through the tv commercial promoting it. Who doesn’t want a little Kama Sutra guide on their iPhone (or iPod Touch)?! This isn’t a free app – it costs $1.99 to download, but it is fun enough to be more than worth the small price.

When you open the app, you are faced with a random sex position. It just has an image of the position and the name. From there, you can tap the screen for detailed instructions of that position. It gives you a Carnal Challenge rating between 1 and 5 flames. Then, you can rate the position yourself after you’ve tried it. You are also given a list of related articles from Cosmopolitan magazine based on what position you have chosen, as well as options to subscribe to the mag, or purchase the Cosmo Kama Sutra book. When in the main screen you can shake the device to spin the wheel of positions and be given one at random.

What’s great?

It’s a fun app with the position roulette aspect – I can’t tell you how many times girlfriends and I have got carried away with shaking, then analyzing the positions. Pure entertainment. Also, the fact that it gives instructions, allows you to rate each position yourself, and gives recommendations of related articles.

What could be better?

One thing I expected to see out of this app, but didn’t, is a to-do list. As I’ve mentioned, the app gives you the ability to rate the positions yourself, but I’d like to see a spot where I can build my own personalized list of positions I want to try.

All that being said, I would recommend this app – even if purely for the entertainment aspect. Get your ‘gasm on with the Cosmopolitan Sex Position of the Day link app!

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In this episode, we talk about the woes of screwing around with user permissions.

[01.5 MB] [00:04:00] [Hosted by: Josh Schnell & Grant Brunner] [Subscribe]

We’ve seen a lot of chatter and video footage about some of the applications that are expected to be available at the same time the iPad is made available. What we haven’t seen yet is how the AppStore is going to look on the iPad.  We’ve uncovered some screen capture footage, and we have to say it looks pretty legitimate, considering it shows off a bunch of applications that we’ve seen video footage of over the last week.

I’m not sure how I feel about the QuickLook interface.  The product screenshots along the top kind of make the whole AppStore look ghetto.

Here’s a sneak peek.

Browsing the iPad App Store: A Video [By @viticci] from Federico Viticci on Vimeo.

Article Via MacStories

When Apple announced the pricing for the iBookstore back in January, it outraged Amazon.  They went as far as to block the sale of books from Macmillan.  Why did Amazon get all bent out of shape?  Well, Apple’s pricing model is what did it.  Apple told the publishers that they can set the price for the books they sell in the iBookstore.  Since Amazon started selling eBooks, they have been dictating the price of the books to the publishers, not the other way around.

Amazon’s prices are set at $9.99, and older books are priced lower.  This model works well for Amazon.  Well, when Apple announced eBooks will sell for $12.99 to $14.99, plus the publishers will keep 70% of the sale like the apps store, you can see why Amazon started to freak out.  This reminds me of when Apple was fighting with the music industry over variable pricing and DRM-Free songs.  Apple told them that $0.99 was the sweet spot for songs.  However, the music industry balked at Apple, and would not budge on their stance.  To get back at Apple the music industry gave Amazon MP3 DRM-Free songs, because Amazon was willing to offer variable pricing.  Once Apple conceded to variable pricing, they were able to sell their songs DRM-Free.  I guess that’s why Apple isn’t pushing the issue with book publishers.

Darrell Eherington of theAppleBlog is reporting that Apple might in fact be selling New York Times’ bestsellers for $9.99.  A leaked screenshot of the upcoming iBookstore shows eBooks for $9.99.  So why the sudden change in pricing?  Not sure, maybe it’s a dummy screenshot with fake pricing, or it might be real, we won’t know till April 3rd.  Whatever price is finally settled upon, you know that if it’s more than Amazon’s book store, it might cause a rift in how eBooks are priced here on out.

The one thing I like that Apple is doing with the iPad in regards to eBooks, is that they are giving us a choice.  Of course, Apple will obviously promote the iBookstore, but you have more choices than just the iBookstore.  Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble will have apps designed for the iPad.  This definitely benefits us the consumer.  Plus it benefits Apple, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.  Why you ask?  Look at it this way.  If you purchased a Kindle or a Nook, but you really want the iPad, now you can get it knowing that your new iPad will work with your Kindle or Nook eBooks.  In this, Amazon or Barnes & Noble keep you as a customer, while Apple gains you as a customer.  It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Alexander Vaughn of appadvice highlights five of the thirty-two New York Times’ bestsellers below:

• 1. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang By Chelsea Handler – $9.99
• 2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett – $9.99
• 3. The Silent Sea by Clive Cussier & Jack Du Brul – $9.99
• 4. Missing (under negotiation?)
• 5. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith – $9.99

With only days left before the iPad is released, we’re probably going to see a lot more speculation than rumors about the iPad.  I think we’ve crossed the line for rumors, and entered speculation territory.  I don’t know about you, but I’m really excited and I can’t wait untill Saturday.  With that said.  Do you think Apple will sell their eBooks for $9.99?  Will you continue to buy your eBooks from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, when you get your iPad?  I like to know the answer to these questions, so if you like, leave a comment in the comments section below, and tell everyone how you will use eBooks on your iPad.

Photo Credit:

Article Via The New York Times, theAppleBlog, & appadvice

Canadian iPhone users know that Canadian iPhone banking apps didn’t even exist until this year.  It all started with CIBC coming out with an iPhone mobile banking app (Feb.2010), then advertising it all over the web, TV and with mobile advertising in the popular Weather Network’s app.  Additionally,  this week ING Direct Canada released an iPhone/iPod touch app and a Blackberry app that will revolutionize their business, allowing their clients to use their smartphones to check balances; more importantly, Canadians now have the long-awaited ability to transfer funds. This is only the beginning.  With the iPad and other smart devices coming into households, the desktop online banking paradigm will change and mobile banking will be the defacto standard.

I am quite impressed with both CIBC and ING Direct iPhone apps, both are well designed, full-featured and very easy to use. They both have the check balances, review transactions and transfer funds features.

The thing I like about the ING Direct app is that they show consideration and respect for the Twitter community by including a button to access ING’s Twitter accounts.  Since ING Direct is not a traditional chequing account bank, it doesn’t have the Pay bills or Interac email transfer features that CIBC does. Additional features include current interest rates as well as geolocation of ABMs on a map.

CIBC’s app is very extensive and brings in credit card balances and lines of credit as well. One issue I had with CIBC’s app is that when you go to the ABM locator, it actually opens Safari and provides another mobile friendly site where you can then find your closest ABM. It’s not a good experience for users when you get ousted from an app you are in and moved into Safari (Note to CIBC: Fix this, or just copy what ING did).  The mobile Interac email money transfer service is great to share bills or pay friends.

It is questionable whether or not these apps will actually bring in new business, however it is undoubtedly a great service to provide their existing clients and increase customer retention/satisfaction.

Honorable Mentions go out to RBC for their mobile site. Even though this site is not elaborate, it does the job.  Better than this is Scotia Bank with both an iPhone and Blackberry app (no banking features).

Special thanks to @krusk for the screenshots of the CIBC banking app.