05/02, 7:00pm
No details on changes, version now set to 2.3
On Thursday, Apple released updated printer drivers for its supported Xerox printers for users of OS X Snow Leopard (10.6), Lion (10.7) and Mountain Lion (10.8). Unusually for such a release, there is not yet a list of the specific changed or added models supported by the built-in software. All three versions of OS X support a wide and expanding list of Xerox products, including standalone, all-in-one and wireless printer models, as well as some standalone scanners.
more
03/04, 4:51pm
Five more vulnerabilities discovered
Oracle has released a new version of Java 7, Update 17. The patch is being released early, Oracle says, to cope with a security hole that is being "actively exploited by attackers to maliciously install the McRat executable onto unsuspecting users’ machines." The vulnerability was made public late last week. It also fixes a second, previously undocumented flaw, believed to be likewise connected to Java SE's 2D component.
more
03/01, 1:57pm
Selling iMac, how to install brand new OS
Today, Grizzled Veteran "jmiddel" announced that they are selling their iMac, but they are looking for a way to install a copy of Mountain Lion that can be transferred to the new owner along with the computer. Also today, Mac Elite "euphras" was looking for a way to determine what capacity their VRAM sticks that they have lying around are, from a machine that was built in the early '90s.
more
02/19, 4:55pm
Lion, Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard get Java SE 6 fixes
Apple has released a promised Java update in the wake of an attack by Chinese hackers. The patch is available in two versions, for Lion/Mountain Lion and Snow Leopard. In both cases the code should bring Java SE 6 up to v1.6.0_41.
more
11/16, 9:20pm
Upgrade to Mountain Lion or lose Messages, users told
The Lion version of Messages, which existed as a beta only and gave users a taste of the way the program operates on Mountain Lion, will never emerge from beta and will be discontinued on December 14, according to an email from Apple to existing Messages beta users. The change does not affect those running Messages on Mountain Lion, but closes the only non-ML portal to the service. Users are encouraged to upgrade to Mountain Lion, but those who can't will be able to continue to use iChat, which offered many of the same features but lacked the full level of message integration.
more
09/19, 7:00pm
Recent models, even Windows programs tweaked for iOS 6
In addition to today's major releases of iOS 6 for mobile devices and OS X updates 10.8.2 for Mountain Lion and 10.7.5 for Lion, a handful of firmware updates and OS X app updates have been posted to Apple's support webpage, mostly to increase compatibility with iOS 6 device interactions but also adding support for Shared Photo Streams in iPhoto and Aperture as well as addressing bugs and other issues. Along with the photo apps, a security update was posted for users of Snow Leopard, and Apple's iCloud Control Panel for Windows was bumped to v2.0.
more
09/19, 2:54pm
Brings Mountain Lion security tech back to previous OS
Complementing the release of OS X 10.8.2, Apple has also posted OS X 10.7.5, an update for Lion users. The software mainly retrofits Lion with Gatekeeper, the security technology built into Mountain Lion. By default Gatekeeper rejects unsigned apps, although restrictions can be loosened if necessary.
more
09/18, 2:17pm
Lion questions and more
Earlier this week when one Forum Regular had a Lion question, they turned to the MacNN forums for some guidance, click here to read more. Today The Godfather started a thread to discuss the possibility of a group of five people going together to get a deal on the new iPhone 5, which, he claims, will offer significant savings.
more
09/05, 3:48pm
Patches disable always-on Java support
Apple has posted two new OS X Java updates: one for Lion, Java for OS X 2012-005, and one for Snow Leopard, Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 10. In both cases the patches now prevent Java from running in an always-on state. The Java plugin is killed if no applets have been run for an "extended period of time;" in fact, if Java for OS X 2012-004 wasn't previously installed, 005 disables Java by default until a person choose to enable or re-enable a Java plugin in their browser.
more
08/27, 9:19pm
Graphics, media tasks still main focus
Apple has released a fourth beta of OS X 10.7.5 to developers. The download, build 11G45, is about 1.16GB as a delta, or 1.93GB as a combo update. As with the previous build there are no known issues, and Apple is again asking developers to test graphics quality and performance, as well as media importing, viewing, and editing.
more
08/17, 10:57am
Lion troubles and more
Today in the MacNN forums, one Fresh-Faced Recruit is doing some archiving and needs software that can turn PDFs into searchable text for their database, provide your input here. Ever since Junior Member Geoff installed Lion they discovered that their computer would not turn off without "pulling the plug", read more in this thread started yesterday, and provide your suggestions.
more
08/16, 9:31am
Apple holds course on testing demands
Apple is seeding a third developer beta of OS X 10.7.5 to developers. The code is listed as build 11G36, and as before, has no known issues. Apple is also holding steady on testing focus, asking developers to look at graphics quality and performance, along with media importing, editing, and viewing.
more
07/30, 4:03pm
Graphics main focus of 10.7.5 testing
Apple is seeding three updated betas to developers. The main one is a new build of OS X 10.7.5, 11G30. Although few details have been reported, Apple states that the build has no known issues, and is asking developers to concentrate on testing graphics quality and performance. Matching the main v10.7.5 release is a beta of v10.7.5 server, which has the same build number.
more
07/25, 10:34am
New Server just $20 add-on
(Updated with Safari security notes) Accompanying today's launch of OS X Mountain Lion are a number of parallel software updates. Amount these is OS X Server for Mountain Lion, a $20 add-on. The release marks another price drop for Server, which in its Lion form cost $49; before that it cost several times more still.
more
07/09, 6:31pm
Lion 10.7.5 update also available for testing
The finishing touches are being applied to the next major release of OS X, dubbed Mountain Lion or 10.8. Developers have alerted MacNN to a Golden Master (GM) seed being pushed out through the OS X Dev Center. The GM seed is for both the client version as well as Server, which features a significant re-arranging of its main features. The company also has a first seed of Lion 10.7.5 and a GM of Xcode 4.4 available.
more
07/06, 12:25pm
This weeks forum topics
The MacNN forums received an update this week and to introduce our forum fans to the new layout nickvalluri of the Huddler Team added the Quick Start Guide to the New Platform with more information and a way to provide feedback. One Dedicated MacNNer is torn between wanting to upgrade to a new Mac mini with Mountain Lion and no optical drive, or cling to their Mini from 2007 with an optical drive, read more here.
more
06/28, 7:00pm
Smaller printer brands get expanded support
Apple has pushed out a minor upgrade to it's earlier major update of Aperture, released two weeks ago. The new 3.3.1 version fixes a bug that could cause the program to hang or crash when upgrading libraries to the new iPhoto and Aperture unified format. The company also introduced or updated hundreds of printer and scanner drivers for major brands under Snow Leopard and Lion, along with more support for several smaller printer brands.
more
06/19, 4:32pm
Graphics, networking among focus areas
Apple is seeding the first beta of OS X 10.7.5 to developers, according to AppleInsider. The initial build is listed as 11G15, and is a 937MB delta download, or 1.87GB in combo form. Developers are being asked to focus on graphics quality and performance, networking reliability and performance, and lastly importing, editing, and viewing images and other media.
more
06/18, 5:14pm
Small group may start next in next few days
Apple is far enough into development of OS X 10.7.5 that it's on the verge of releasing the update's first external beta, AppleInsider sources say. A small group of Mac developers are expected to get a beta within the next few days. The general development community should get the software shortly afterward.
more
06/12, 5:50pm
Eleven exploits patched, previous security content included
The Java runtime environment has been updated for both OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8, and OS X Lion 10.7.4. While Apple historically doesn't discuss specific security updates, this package updates Java to version 1.6.0_33. All previous security fixes are included, such as the Flashback removal tool and automatic disabling of the Java plugin when it has been idle for 35 days.
more
06/12, 1:30pm
Company preps for Mountain Lion in July
Apple has removed virtually all links and references to the Messages for Mac beta from its website, reports note. One link is still present at the bottom of Apple's Downloads page, but even this redirects to Apple's generic OS X page. The only way a person can still download the beta is through a direct URL; the file is 63.8MB.
more
05/22, 11:51am
Current forum topics
Yesterday in the MacNN forums, ghporter asks "is it worth upgrading from Snow Leopard to Lion?" read more here. Also yesterday one Senior User discovered they were having problems copying and pasting from e-mails and have turned to the forums for some advice.
more
05/09, 6:37pm
Security fixes for Snow Leopard as well
Accompanying the just-released OS X 10.7.4 update, Apple has also posted several new versions of other products -- including Safari, Remote Desktop, the server version of Lion's Server Admin Tools and a security update for Snow Leopard users. The Safari and Remote Desktop updates apply to both Lion and Snow Leopard, and should be available through Software Update. The Safari update is available for both Mac and Windows users.
more
05/09, 5:20pm
Includes Safari 5.1.7, more RAW support
Following several weeks of developer testing, Apple has released the completed version of OS X 10.7.4. Now available though Lion's Software Update mechanism, the upgrade deals with several security, reliability and compatibility problems. Most notably it fixes a security issue in FileVault which could potentially expose a person's passwords in plain text.
more
05/07, 1:32pm
Lion debug flag left in update causing major security risk
OS X 10.7.3 contains a debug flag which makes system passwords readable, checks show. Depending on the system configuration, people who update to v10.7.3 may have a widely-viewable debug log file containing passwords for all users accessing a system. The passwords are stored in plain text, making for a potentially serious security risk.
more
05/04, 9:30pm
Getting out of its own version entirely
Apple is now preparing a pair of Java 6 runtime updates for OS X 10.6 and 10.7 that will mark the last Apple-custom versions of Java, handing over all future development and responsibility for Java on the Mac platform directly to Oracle. Apple had already stopped shipping a default version of Java with new Macs beginning with the release of Lion last summer, but had made in-house versions available to Lion users as well as continued supporting the Snow Leopard version.
more
05/01, 9:47pm
Mountain Lion adds 'do not disturb' feature
Earlier today, Apple posted a new developer build of OS X Lion 10.7.4 for both Client and Server editions, coming just one week after the previous update. In addition, the company has updated the last Developer Preview 3 of OS X 10.8, Mountain Lion, and also posted Developer Preview 4 of Xcode 4.4 for developers. The Mountain Lion update is notable for a new "Do Not Disturb" mode in the built-in Notifications Center, which may portend a similar feature in a future iOS version.
more
04/24, 11:55am
Current forum topics
Today in the MacNN forums Moderator P started a thread discussing the release of the new Radeon 7000 Series GPUs in the thread titled "Ivy Bridge and Radeon 7000M", join in here. Also today forum goers converse about Lion performance problems in this thread started in the early hours of the morning.
more
04/23, 10:50pm
Breaks the every-two-weeks pattern
Just ten days after the previous release of build 11E46, Apple has posted a later version of the upcoming 10.7.4 update for developers, listing no known issues. The developer-only 11E52 breaks the pattern of around two full weeks between updates, and features a version number smaller in difference than the previous release, which suggests that final release may be nearing. This is the fourth version of OS X 10.7.4 to be offered to developers for testing.
more
04/23, 2:55pm
Microsoft intros SkyDrive preview desktop apps
Microsoft quickly confirmed rumors and has posted preview versions of both Windows Vista/7/8 and OS X Lion desktop apps while curbing the reach of its cloud service. The software now lets users more directly organize their cloud storage, automatically syncing anything loaded into a SkyDrive folder and sorting its contents as though it were offline. The iOS app has also been updated (App Store to get native iPad support, including for the higher-resolution visuals of the new iPad along with deleting renaming, and moving files in the cloud.
more
04/18, 10:25pm
Free upgrade still only available for Intel Macs
Users of Intel Macs that have not, for one reason or another, yet upgraded to either Snow Leopard or Lion may be rewarded for their lethargy: an e-mail sent out to qualifying MobileMe customers offers them a free copy of Snow Leopard so that they can then upgrade to Lion and maintain their MobileMe account and address through iCloud. Respondent simply click on a special link to log into their MobileMe accounts and are directed to a registration form.
more
04/14, 4:10am
Mac users can now remove Flashback beyond updates
Apple late Friday followed up its anti-Flashback Java update with its own dedicated Flashback removal tool. The tool finds the "most common variants" of the exploit and will either say if it found and pulled any variant. If needed, it will ask for a full reboot to wipe the malware entirely.
more
04/13, 8:30pm
Third build has no known issues
Apple today released a new build of the forthcoming 10.7.4 for developers, asking them to focus on interactions with the App Store, graphics, e-mail, QuickTime, Screen Sharing and Time Machine. The new version, build 11E46, comes two weeks after the previous one (11E35) and barely a month since the first external beta (11E27). The new version has no known issues, and developers are asked to focus on the same areas as in the previous build.
more
04/10, 8:00am
Chrome OS Aura drops pure web metaphor
Google's latest developer channel release for Chrome OS has revealed pressure to bring it back to more of a traditional desktop. A new window manager, Aura, now gives it a Windows-like taskbar ("shelf") and multiple windows, much like the conventional operating system it was hoping to avoid. A button on the taskbar now invokes a full-screen app launcher much like Apple's Launchpad in OS X Lion.
more
04/02, 6:45pm
Tablet serves as 2048x1536 monitor
Avatron's Air Display update has been approved and added to the App Store ($10, iTunes), enabling users to take advantage of the new iPad's Retina display. Users who run the wireless display app from a Retina device can now enable the HiDPI display mode that had been hidden in Mac OS X Lion, bringing the maximum output resolution up to 2048x1536.
more
03/30, 10:10am
Current forum topics
Today in the MacNN forums Mac Elite slider asks "can someone tell me what the weight of Apple's latest BT keyboard is" and has yet to find an answer. Yesterday Senior User MacNNUK reported an odd problem with the Safari icon in the dock being pixilated after upgrading to 10.7.3, join in here.
more
03/30, 10:10am
Price drops on Apple products
This week at Apple's online store save on refurbished Macs iPads and more. The bargain priced Mac mini with a 2.5GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive is now $699 after a $100 price cut. A $300 discount is offered on the refurb. 11.6-inch MacBook Air with a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and 128GB flash storage is now $799.
more
03/29, 11:20am
Final release may still take some time
Apple is seeding a new beta of OS X 10.7.4 to developers, reports say. The build is listed as build 11E35, and release notes for the software claim "no known issues" at the moment. Apple is nevertheless asking developers to test several different components, including Mail, iCal, QuickTime, graphics, and the Mac App Store.
more
03/27, 8:50am
Topics from the forums
Yesterday in the MacNN forums dedicated MacNNer ClaraT started a thread asking if there was any downside to updating to iOS 5.1 on an iPhone 4S, click here to read more. Today the conversation continues in the thread titled "two sleeping questions" where members discuss the sleep function in OS X Lion.
more
03/26, 5:25pm
Apple posts stopgap release ahead of Mountain Lion
Apple has posted a new version of Safari, v5.1.5. The update is a minor one, simply resolving a glitch that "could affect website usability" when running in 32-bit mode. Separate Windows, Lion, and Snow Leopard downloads are available.
more
03/23, 10:45am
Recent forum discussions
A thread started earlier this month in the MacNN forums was brought into the spotlight again yesterday, sparking quite a lengthy conversation about "problems" with Lion, click here to read more. Moderator mindwaves is looking for the best way to preserve image quality when transfering photos from iPhoto 8 to an iPad 3, a solution has yet to be found.
more
03/21, 2:30pm
Air Display to soon support iPad Retina screen
Avatron has just detailed that its Air Display app ($10, iTunes) will be updated to support the new iPad's 2048x1536 resolution for its wireless secondary display technique. The update process did encounter challenges, however, as adding four times more pixels slowed frame rates. While resolving this problem, the Avatron programmers were able to improve the frame rates on older iOS devices, and especially the dual-core iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.
more
03/20, 1:45pm
Vendor software appears on Software Update
Apple today accidentally pushed a new app, iTunes Producer 2.6, out through OS X Lion's Software Update feature, AppleInsider remarks. Producer is used to submit content for sale on the iTunes Store, and is normally restricted to content publishers and/or people with access to the iTunes Connect service. The v2.6 update may simply have been flagged incorrectly on Apple's servers.
more
03/19, 11:50pm
Also posts two new how-to articles
Apple has posted several new articles in its support database, including two that address specific issues. One deals with upgrading to Lion from Snow Leopard from a RAID volume, while the other explains some unexpected XSan Admin behavior when inconsistent or missing-name server records are used. XSan users also got a tutorial on advanced mounting options, while a fourth deals with restoring Lion Server from a Time Machine backup.
more
03/16, 10:00pm
OS X Lion Server also updated
In addition to a second developer preview of Mountain Lion released earlier today, Apple has given developers the first external beta of OS X Lion 10.7.4. The 508MB delta, which is labelled build 11E27, would be the fourth maintenance update to OS X Lion. Release notes indicate only one known bug, but asks developers to focus testing on several different areas. Separately, the company also released a matching beta for OS X Lion Server.
more
03/15, 3:15pm
Pogue publishes new guide to OS X Lion
Battlefront.com has announced the upcoming release of a Mac version of Combat Mission: Shock Force, its tactical ground combat simulation that includes both real-time and turn-based gameplay. The new Mac version is fully compatible with OS X 10.6 and higher, and includes the original base game as well as three expansion packs. The game will be available for both download, and mail delivery starting at $45 plus shipping and handling in 6-8 weeks. Meanwhile, pre-orders will start to be accepted in 1-2 weeks.
more
03/13, 11:00pm
Latter can now delete photos from Photo Stream
Late today Apple has updated almost all Epson printer drivers with built-in support for Snow Leopard and Lion, and has posted a minor update to its pro-photography tool Aperture to grant it the ability to delete photos from Photo Stream, an iCloud feature that can be set to wirelessly copy photos from mobile devices to desktop and notebooks and vice versa. The Epson update is number v2.9, while Aperture is now v3.2.3.
more
03/12, 5:30pm
Widespread testing expected by end of week
Apple is on the verge of releasing the first external beta of OS X 10.7.4, according to AppleInsider sources. An initial build is expected to reach a small group of developers "within days," followed by another one targeted at all Mac developers, likely by the end of the week. Although the exact contents of the update are a mystery, it's anticipated to be another maintenance release.
more
03/08, 6:00pm
Software re-engineered for current OS
Following up on a promise from December, Intuit has now released a new version of Quicken 2007 (the last full version of Quicken for Mac) that has been re-engineered to be compatible with Mac OS X 10.7. The product is now called Quicken Mac 2007 OS X Lion Compatible and sells for $15. The full version of Quicken has a number of features not found in the stripped-down Quicken Essentials for Mac, which the company began offering two years ago.
more
03/05, 4:55pm
Catches glanced-over Time Machine bug
Apple has released a small but significant Supplemental Update for OS X 10.7.3. Although details are vague, Apple does note that the patch fixes problems with restoring from a Time Machine backup. The file is a 24.55MB download, and should already be available through Lion's Software Update utility.
more
