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Apple Inc

• THIS DAY IN APPLE HISTORY November 1, 1983: Steve Jobs Goes Ballistic - When Bill Gates announced Windows 1.0 before the Mac came out. Steve Jobs was furious, so furious he demanded that the Apple employee in charge of Microsoft relations get Bill (read more) Applematters
• What Should Apple Do with the $15 Billion? - Decisions, decisions. Insanely Great Mac
• How will Apple spend its over $15 billion in cash? - The cash coffers are overflowing at Apple these days... MacDailyNews
• Apple retail chief nets $113m on stock sale - Apple's retail chief Ron Johnson has exercised and then sold 700,000 stock options to net $113 million before tax. Macworld UK
• The 15 Dumbest Apple Predictions Of All Time - It's easy to dump ire on anlysts for getting it wrong so often. What those guys do, however, is provide a particular service to particular people. Interpreting what analysts say in terms of truth or falsity is to forget the... Wired

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Mac Hardware

• New MacBooks offer marginal speed improvements (benchmarks) - New 13-inch MacBook notebooks quietly introduced by Apple on Thursday offer up to a 10 percent performance increase on some tasks over their predecessors, official company benchmarks show. AppleInsider
• Apple bumps MacBooks to Santa Rosa; offers 2.6GHz MacBook Pro - In unusual move early Thursday morning, Apple quietly rolled out updates to its 13-inch MacBook notebook line and also began offering customers an option to custom configure new MacBook Pro orders with a 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo chip. AppleInsider
• MacBook, MacBook Pro get slight refurb - Apple offers Intel's Santa Rosa platform with a better graphics processor, as well as more memory and more storage. C|Net News
• MacBook refresh arrives - Now even chewier with a 2.2GHz Santa Rosa center! MBP now available with optional 2.6GHz chip, 250GB drive Insanely Great Mac
• Apple updates MacBook with Intel Santa Rosa processors up to 2.2 GHz; offers 2.6GHz MacBook Pro - Apple has updated their MacBook line without so much as a press release... MacDailyNews
• New MacBooks (Late-2007): New keyboard functions, problems with intensive 3D apps - Apple has released a new iteration of the MacBook, carrying the Late-2007 moniker. The new MacBooks come with Leopard pre-installed, and also sport these enhancements: MacFixIt
• Fastest Vista Laptop? It's a Mac - PCWorld put a wide range of laptops through the wringer in 2007, and found the model that ran Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system the fastest was Apple's MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro beat out offerings from Dell, Toshiba, and Alienware. Mac Observer
• Apple MacBook Quietly Upgraded with Intel Santa Rosa Chipset - Apple snuck a quiet MacBook upgrade out on Wednesday. The updated model sports either a 2.0GHz or 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and the Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor -- both part of Intel's Santa Rosa chip set. Mac Observer
• Apple Updates MacBooks to Santa Rosa, GMA X3100; 2.6GHz MacBook Pro - As rumored, Apple has quietly updated the MacBook tonight to the Santa Rosa architecture with mild speed bumps and the GMA X3100 integrated video MacRumors.com
• New Santa Rosa MacBooks in Apple Stores [Confirmed] - In an unusual move, Apple has quietly shipped boxes of new MacBooks to their retail stores this week, many of which arrived today. Special instructions on these boxes indicated that they were not to be opened at this time. But according to reports, the boxes do contain updated Santa Rosa MacBooks. We've even heard claims that some have been inadvertantly sold to unsuspecting customers. MacRumors.com
• Apple Researching Touch Surface Keyboard - During the build up to Leopard's release, we overlooked a very interesting patent application from Apple that appeared last week. This latest application is another product of Apple's Fingerworks acquisition from 2005. Fingerworks had commercialized versions of multi-touch interface input devices, such as this TouchStream keyboard. MacRumors.com
• Apple quietly updates MacBooks, MacBook Pros - With no press release or official announcement, Apple has quietly updated its MacBook and MacBook Pro line-up. The consumer models now have the Santa Rosa-based architecture and the pro laptops are available in build-to-order 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo configurations. MacimumNews
• Apple ships Leopard-compatible Mac Pro RAID Card - Apple has released a US$999 Mac Pro RAID Card. It sports a hardware RAID engine, 256MB of cache, and an integrated 72-hour battery for protecting cache data. MacimumNews
• ‘PC World’: Fastest Vista laptop is a MacBook Pro - The fastest Windows Vista notebook PC World tested this year—and, in fact, ever—is a MacBook Pro. The publication makes this observation in its annual round-up of laptops. The MB Pro gets a score of 81 or “Very good.” MacimumNews
  
• G-Technology Introduces G-DRIVE mini Triple - G-Technology (G-Tech) has announced the addition of new triple interface models (FireWire 400, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0) to its line of G-DRIVE mini portable hard drives. The systems feature 5400 or 7200 RPM SATA disk drives. MacimumNews
• OWC announces 4GB memory upgrade kits for new MacBooks - Other World Computing (OWC) is offering up to 4GB Memory Kits for Apple’s newly released MacBook 2.0GHz and 2.2GHz models, which began shipping today. OWC Memory of up to 4GB is also available for the full line of MacBook Pro 17-inch, MacBook Pro 15.4-inch and MacBook 13.3-inch models. MacimumNews
• Laptops get an update - Apple updated both the MacBook and MacBook Pro lines Thursday, expanding some features in the former and adding new build-to-order options in the latter. First, the MacBook: It’s now available with a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo chip on the mid-range and high-end models. The laptops can now handle up to 4GB of memory, and the frontside bus increased to 800MHz; graphics are boosted as well. The MacBook Pro now features a 2.6GHz build-to-order option. Jim Dalrymple has the details of these laptop upgrades. Macworld
• Apple boosts MacBook, MacBook Pro - MacBooks get improved graphics and better system performance while a 2.6GHz MacBook Pro model is now available as a build to order option. Macworld UK
• MacBook is Which? best buy - Computing Which? recommends MacBook for users searching for an affordable lightweight laptop with a little punch below its hood. Macworld UK
• Apple delivers MacBook update, upgrades MacBook Pro options - With nary a press release nor mention on the Apple Store, Apple has delivered the anticipated MacBook update while also boosting options in the MacBook Pro. The MacBook now sports the 64-bit Santa Rosa architecture, while the MacBook Pro can be spec'd with a 2.6GHz processor. Think Secret
• Apple updates MacBook, MacBook Pro - Apple has updated its notebook line of computers expanding the features of the consumer-targeted MacBook and adding new build-to-order options for the pro-level MacBook Pro. Yahoo! NEWS

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OS X & Software

• An Introductory Mac OS X Leopard Review: Developer Tools - Among all of the new and improved applications Apple delivers to users in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, some of the most important are those that developers can use to build applications of their own. If you're not a hard core programmer, Leopard also offers a variety of more accessible tools: Automator for scripting, DashCode for building widgets, and Quartz Composer for creating audio and visual plugins, screen savers, image filters for iChat and music visualizations for iTunes. Here's the trail Apple's developer tools have followed, and how Apple nearly killed itself several times by not providing adequate tools in the past. AppleInsider
• Using MacFuse on OS X: Part 1 - A file system is a method for storing and organizing computer files to facilitate finding and accessing them. Many popular file systems provide a method of access by maintaining the (read more) Applematters
• Flash Player updated for Leoard - Addresses upload issue, requires 1GHz or faster processor Insanely Great Mac
• PowerPoint vs Preso - Slate pits Microsoft against Google and neither wins... Insanely Great Mac
• Run OS X Server in VM - Apple changes policy, though you'll need to pay for each copy running Insanely Great Mac
• Leopard security questioned - While most Mac users feel confident about the security of their computers (notwithstanding the latest Mac Trojan), experts have raised several issues relating to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. itwire
• Mac malware bends browsers to suspect sites - A Trojan purporting to be a video codec for Mac OS X's QuickTime instead reconfigures the system to use a DNS server that returns bogus results. itwire
• Houston Chronicle reviews Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard: A winner for Mac users and Windows switchers - Here's the test I use to determine whether a new computer OS is a success... MacDailyNews
• Mac DNS Changer Trojan [OSX/Puper] relatively simple; works like the Windows version - The Mac DNS Changer Trojan is relatively simple and works almost exactly... MacDailyNews
• MSNBC reviews Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard: ‘An even better experience with an already excellent OS’ - People new to the Mac and existing users alike will be wowed by many... MacDailyNews
• Apple allows virtualization of Mac OS X Leopard Server - In a notable about-face, Apple has changed its stance with regard to allowing Mac OS X Server... MacDailyNews
• Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5): Slow app launches; high fan activity, processor usage; crash reports don't submit; desktop icons froze - Slow app launches? Update prebinding If you're experiencing inordinately slow application launches after upgrading to Leopard, try updating prebinding by launching the Terminal (located in /Applications/Utilities) and entering the following command: MacFixIt
• Leopard Dock annoyances and workarounds - There have already been numerous complaints about the Dock in Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), most of them surfacing before the OS upgrade was released in final form. Now that Leopard Dock behavior is concrete, two primary functional (not aesthetic) annoyances -- all related to the way the Dock handles folders -- remain: MacFixIt
• Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5): Repair permissions takes too long or does not complete - Several users have reported that the repair permissions function, performed by Disk Utility (located in /Applications/Utilities), takes an extremely long time or does not complete under Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). In some cases, the issue is accompanied by the error message: MacFixIt
• Of Leopards, Pioneers and Arrows: One User's Upgrade Story - It's been roughly 130 hours since Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard was released. Many users are reporting no problems installing or using Leopard. Unfortunately, a significant number of others are having problems, many of which are severe. If you haven't installed Leopard yet, or if you have installed Leopard and are experiencing "issues," I encourage you to read this column from start to finish and visit all of the page links it includes. I don't want to be an alarmist, but a good number of users are experiencing the extremely nasty Blue Screen of Death after installing Leopard. MacNewsWorld
• Intego Warns of Mac OS X Trojan Horse - Intego warned of a new Trojan Horse on Wednesday that affects Mac OS X and has been found on several pornography Websites. The Trojan Horse installs a modification to the Mac's DNS server that allows it to redirect Web requests to alternate servers, phishing sites. Personal data can then be stolen. However, a long series of bad decisions by the user is required for it to become active. Mac Observer
• FileMaker Releases 9.0v2 Patch for Leopard - FileMaker announced on Thursday version 9.0v2 for FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced as a downloadable update. The patch fixes a minor Leopard problem with language support, has a printing fix and more. Mac Observer
• Leopard's Firewall - Hot Forum Topic - Today TMO readers are taking a look at the software firewall that's included with Mac OS X 10.5 and the perception that it appears limited. Mac Observer
• TypeIt4Me 3.2 Improves Sorting, More - Ettore Software announced the immediate availability of TypeIt4Me 3.2 on Thursday. The updated version of the text abbreviation expander application added the ability to sort text abbreviations by date created, modified, or last used, or by the number of times an abbreviation has been expanded. Mac Observer
• OSX.RSPlug.A: New Mac Trojan Horse - The computer security company Intego has discovered a trojan horse application dubbed OSX.RSPlug.A that targets Mac OS X. The trojan horse has been appearing on some pornography Web sites as a new QuickTime codec. Mac Observer
• FileMaker Pro update delivers Leopard compatibility - FileMaker Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple, has released FileMaker Pro 9.0v2 and FileMaker Pro 9.0v2 Advanced, available now via a
  downloadable update. The 9.0v2 update provides compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5 (“Leopard”) as well as other features. MacimumNews
  
• Apple patent involves custom coding display languages - Apple has been granted a patent (number 20070255722) for data-driven page layout by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Apple says that custom coding display pages in a language such as XML often requires considerable time as well as knowledge of the language. MacimumNews
  
• MapDesign update beefs up integration with web authoring packages - Rage Software has updated MapDesign, a Mac OS X tool that lets you add interactive maps to your web sites using standards based HTML and CSS, to version 1.2. The upgrade adds integration with web authoring packages such as Rapidweaver. MacimumNews
• Inside Leopard: Under the hood - There’s plenty going on above the surface in Leopard to grab your attention—from entirely new features to enhanced favorites. But don’t let that prevent you from taking a deeper look at the under-the-hood changes introduced by OS X 10.5. Terminal, X11, and Disk Utility may not be the stuff of headlines, but there are enough significant changes here to radically affect how you interact with Mac OS X. Rob Griffiths also compiles a list of pros and cons to see if this OS upgrade is right for you. Macworld
• Gem replacements - One of the great things about writing Mac Gems is finding useful software that enhances Mac OS X. With the release of Leopard, Dan Frakes went through the Mac Gems Catalog to see which products have seen some—or all—of their features make their way into the latest version of the OS. Macworld
• Apps developers latest Leopard updates - Newly upgraded for Leopard applications include: BBEdit, iStopMotion, iSale, ShredIt X and the LiveQuartz free image editor. Macworld UK
• Apple flirts with virtualisation on OS X - Apple has changed the software license for Leopard Server - it now allows users to install copies of the software inside virtual machines on Mac server systems. Macworld UK
• Puper Mac malware 'not a drill' McAfee warns - For Mac users the age of malware peace may be over, warns virus researcher at McAfee, users warned to protect themselves online. Macworld UK
• EyeTV gets connected with Leopard update - EyeTV recordings can now be watched in iChat sessions, float across Spaces and more following new version released last night. Macworld UK
• New Trojan Horse targets Mac users - The Trojan is a form of DNSChanger that changes the Mac's Domain Name Server (DNS) address that is downloaded by users tricked into thinking its software for video viewing. Macworld UK
• Wireless slowly dies after Leopard upgrade, users report - Mac users on the Apple support forums are reporting a problem with wireless access in which the quality of service slowly degrades to nothing aftr installing Mac OS X 10.5. Macworld UK
• Hackers trick MySpace band pages - Several band MySpace profiles have been rigged to serve up malicious software, according to security vendor FaceTime Communications. Macworld UK
• Google shares break $700 - Google's stock topped $700 for the first time on Wednesday, as reports about its mobile software plans heated up. Macworld UK
• MS Antitrust: Judge delays decision on settlement extension - Microsoft case continues on as responsible Judge extends period of oversight slightly to hear more arguments as to why monopolist Microsoft should have its oversight period extended Macworld UK
• Apple to Allow Virtual Mac OS X Server Instances - Glenn Fleishman writes "Apple has changed its license for Mac OS X Server 10.5 (Leopard Server) to allow virtualized instances. VMware and Parallels are poised to offer support. This probably presages a thoroughly overhauled Xserve product with greater capability for acting as a virtual machine server, too. 'Ben Rudolph, Director of Corporate Communications for Parallels, told me, "Enabling Leopard Server to run in a virtual machine may take some time, but we're working closely with Apple on it and will make it public as quickly as possible." Pat Lee, Product Manager at VMware, concurred, saying "We applaud Apple for the exciting licensing changes implemented in Leopard Server. Apple customers can now run Mac OS X Server, Windows, Linux and other x86 operating systems simultaneously on Apple hardware so we are excited about the possibilities this change presents." Although neither company committed to specific features or timetables, it appears as though we should be seeing virtualization products from both that will enable an Xserve to run multiple copies of Leopard Server in virtual machines.'" Slashdot
• Can Google Kill PowerPoint? - theodp writes "Far from a PowerPoint killer, Slate's Paul Boutin finds Google's online presentation tool Preso more like a PowerPoint commercial — a half-baked app that shows how powerful Microsoft's program really is. But if you have your druthers, Boutin suggests ditching both and opting for Apple's Keynote, which helped snag an Oscar for Al Gore and inspired this Dear-PPT-Letter. 'The first hurdle ... You can't use it on a plane. Google Preso only works if you've got a live, high-bandwidth Internet connection. You can save the finished product to an HTML presentation on your laptop, but you can't edit the saved version or upload it back. The Splunkers would need to finalize their presos early in the morning in a rented conference room, where both Wi-Fi and Verizon wireless cards have been known to fail. That would kill the presentation.'" Slashdot
• Macs seized by porn Trojan - When nudity attacks The Register
• Laggard Apple lets Leopard virtualize - Tired of thinking different The Register
• THREAT LEVEL - Mac Users Get a Credit Card Stealing Trojan, Security Company Reports Wired
• Critic: FTC needs to take action on targeted ads - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission needs to take action to protect consumers against invasive targeted advertising practices, one critic said Thursday. Yahoo! NEWS
• Hackers sneak tricks into MySpace band pages - Several band profiles on MySpace have been hacked to serve up some nasty tricks, according to security vendor FaceTime Communications. Yahoo! NEWS
• Privacy groups call for do-not-track list - A coalition of nine privacy and consumer groups have proposed a U.S. do-not-track list that would allow consumers to opt out of advertising efforts that track their movements online. Yahoo! NEWS

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iPods & iTunes

• Apple preps iTunes 7.5 for November release - A new version of Apple Inc.'s iTunes media software due as early as next week will deliver a number of small refinements, but is not expected to introduce any major new features, AppleInsider has learned. AppleInsider
• iTunes 7.5 Coming Soon - A report from AppleInsider points to a release of iTunes 7.5 as early as next week. The release will contain a host of small improvements and bug fixes according to the site, though no radical changes should be expected. MacRumors.com
• Vodafone launches MusicStation service in UK - LONDON (Reuters) - Vodafone Group launched its mobile music service in Britain on Thursday to allow users to download and share unlimited tracks, one week before the long-awaited UK iPhone debut from Apple. Yahoo! NEWS

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iPhone

• Google phone: No Verizon deal yet - Verizon Wireless doesn't intend to announce a deal to carry a Google-powered cellphone any time soon, according to a source familiar with Verizon's plans, reports Fortune's Stephanie Mehta. CNN Money
• 100,000 jailbroken iPhones - Arrival of one-click method has people voting with their browsers Insanely Great Mac
• Time: iPhone is 'Innovation of the Year' - Substance, not style said key factor in taking honor Insanely Great Mac
• Carphone Warehouse expects 10,000 Apple iPhones sold in first 4 hours of UK launch - Europe's largest mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse PLC expects to sell 10,000... MacDailyNews
• Time Magazine’s Invention of the Year: Apple iPhone - Earlier we carried a summary of an Associated Press article that reported... MacDailyNews
• RUMOR: Apple to extend iPhone lineup to 3 distinct models - Apple’s future plans for iPhone have been revealed... MacDailyNews
• Time Magazine names Apple iPhone ‘Invention of the Year’ - Time Magazine has named the iPhone "Invention of the Year" MacDailyNews
• BW: iPhone Applying Price Pressure on Other Smartphones - iPodObserver - The advanced graphics of the Apple iPhone is going to put pressure on the other manufacturers who have been typically reducing the cost of their smartphones in the past few years, according to Arik Hesseldahl at Business Week on Thursday. Mac Observer
  
• Time's Invention of the Year: iPhone - iPodObserver - What do you get when you mix equal parts of multi-touch technology, innovative design, the ability to tell cell carriers how a mobile phone should be made, and stick it all in your pocket? The iPhone: Time Magazine's invention of the year. Mac Observer
• iPhone is ‘TIME’ magazine’s ‘Invention of the Year’ - Apple’s iPhone has been named “Invention of the Year” by TIME magazine. The mag admits the communications device has flaws (it’s too big, it’s locked to AT&T, it doesn’t have instant messaging, etc.) but says there are five reasons it’s the best thing invented this year: MacimumNews
• Wi-Fi auto connect software available for iPhone, iPod touch - Devicescape Software says its Devicescape Wi-Fi auto-connect software is now available for use on the Apple iPhone and the iPod touch. Using Devicescape, owners of the iPhone and iPod Touch can connect to Wi-Fi networks and public hotspots. MacimumNews
• Proporta introduces new iPhone cases - Proporta has introduced new cases for the iPhone. The US$59.95 Alu-Leather Case (shown) is handcrafted. The interior is lined with aluminum to protect the touch screen, with an ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) edging designed to give extra protection. MacimumNews
• Time declares iPhone 'invention of the year' - Despite the hype, the iPhone is important, says Time magazine. The device will invigorate competition in the mobile market and paves the way for more advanced phones and other devices. Macworld UK
• iPhone rubber fingers not a hoax, inventor insists - Exclusive Latex slip-ons to protect your display The Register
• Carphone sees 10,000 iPhones sold 1st day - LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's biggest independent cell phone retailer, Carphone Warehouse , could sell up to 10,000 Apple iPhones when it goes on sale next week, a Carphone executive said on Thursday. Yahoo! NEWS
  

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