Macworld is over and the good news is there’s nothing I feel the need to run out an buy or regret not waiting for. The MacBook Air was the big new product of the event. To me, this fulfilled the rumors about Apple moving into the enterprise. This is a executive suite computer if I ever saw one. It’s not intended to replace the MacBook or MacBook Pro and if success is defined as selling more than either of those models then it’s doomed to failure. But if success is [...] Read the rest »
Ubuntu Server Project #3: Networking & SSH Setup
This is the third installment in my Ubuntu Server Project series which documents my efforts to get a working copy of WordPress running on Ubuntu Server 7.10. It’s summarized, with links to past articles, on my Linux page. Ok, technically security should have been set up immediately after installation so this should have been the second installment and not the third. But Ubuntu was a VM on my own desktop and wasn’t on the Internet so I wanted everything nice and up to date before proceeding. Setting Up Networking I [...] Read the rest »
Security Update: Apple Quicktime 7.4 Released
Apple sent out a bunch of updates today, not all of them related to their product announcements at Macworld. They released a security update for Quicktime. Quicktime 7.4 patches 4 security vulnerabilities. Quicktime required a reboot on my Macs, as do all Quicktime updates. On Windows I have the iTunes+Quicktime combo installed and that also required a reboot. The update is available through Apple software update or as individual downloads from Apple’s download page. There are versions for Leopard, Tiger, Panther and Windows. Read the rest »
iTunes 7.6 Released – Movie Rentals
Apple released iTunes 7.6 which updates iTunes to support movie rentals. Both the Mac and Windows versions get the same update description. Rent and download your favorite movies with iTunes on your computer or directly to your living room on Apple TV. Enjoy rented movies in sizes up to 720p HD with surround sound on your Apple TV and sizes up to DVD-quality on your computer. Transfer your rented movies from iTunes to your iPod or iPhone and enjoy them on the go. It’s available through Apple software update or [...] Read the rest »
Ubuntu Server Project #2: Updating the Install and the Basics
This is the second installment in my Ubuntu Server Project series which documents my efforts to get a working copy of WordPress running on Ubuntu Server 7.10. It’s summarized, with links to past articles, on my Linux page or go to the previous article about installing Ubuntu Server 7.10. Most of my experience with the *nix command line is limited as there’s always been a GUI. I think the most I did was over 10 years ago when I did some work on HP-UX. So I’ll be starting with the [...] Read the rest »
The OS Quest Trail Log #20
CES is over and MacWorld is about to begin. Can’t say anything at CES caught my attention. Stuff was just bigger, thinner and less expensive. The big news last week seemed to be Warner’s move to Blue-Ray and that was before CES. I can’t say I’m all that excited about MacWorld either. Curious? Yes. Excited? No. Rumors are flying of course. Apple got the Mac Pro upgrades out of the way this week so they aren’t looking for keynote filler. My lack of excitement has more to do with the [...] Read the rest »
Transmit 3.6.4 Released
Panic software release a minor update to my favorite FTP client, Transmit. The Transmit 3.6.4 change log contains just under two dozen items listed as fixes and changes. For me, it’s the changes to S3 that are most welcome. While the last update made it usable with Amazon S3 for me, it would still be annoying at times. This release is less annoying. The Amazon S3 related changes are: 1. Transmit no longer stalls the UI when deleting files in S32. No longer have to manually refresh to make deleted [...] Read the rest »
Google Reader to NewsGator/NetNewsWire/FeedDemon
As you may know NewsGator Technologies made their RSS readers free. While these RSS clients are desktop clients they have the ability to synch between multiple computers and there’s also a web based reader. I took the opportunity to move my feeds from Google Reader to give it a spin. Moving the feeds over via an OPML file was a cinch. In Google Reader click on Manage Subscriptions at the bottom of your subscriptions list (or click on Settings long the top). Then click Import/Export from the settings menu. You’ll [...] Read the rest »
MacHeist II
The MacHeist bundle is back again this year, despite last years controversy. There was more this year. The bundle contains ten software apps, three of them remain locked until certain sales targets are reached, for $49. Apps include: 1Password CoverSutra (Leopard only) Cha-Ching (Leopard only) iStopMotion Awaken AppZapper TaskPaper CSSEdit SnapzPro X Pixelmator The last three are the ones that remain locked until their targets are reached. I just recently started using 1Password and I’m not using all the features. Syncing via .Mac and support for both Safari and Firefox [...] Read the rest »
Security Quest #17: Microsoft Edition
Another second Tuesday of the month and another set of Microsoft patches. I realize it’s important to patch vulnerabilities as soon as possible and this monthly release schedule tends to go against that, but I like the consistency and ability to plan. Anyway, this week brought two patches. The first is MS08-001 titled “Vulnerabilities in Windows TCP/IP Could Allow Remote Code Execution”. This affects all supported desktop OS’s. It’s rated as Important for Windows 2000 and Critical for all flavors of Windows XP and Windows Vista. I didn’t have any [...] Read the rest »