12/13, 5:45pm
Originally announced in 2006, still popular
Users of the still-available TextMate text editor have waited a long time for this day. Over five years ago, a 2.0 release of the popular hand-coding application was announced, following the program's debut two years earlier. Following a complete rewrite of the program, developer Allan Odgaard has finally released a "public alpha" of TextMate 2.0, available only to current TextMate license holders and requiring an Intel Mac.
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12/12, 6:00pm
Fixes rare issue with fan noise
Late this afternoon, Apple issued a fix for a fan noise issue that affected a small number of Apple Thunderbolt Displays in a firmware update labeled version 1.1. The 942KB file launches automatically once installed in the Utilities folder and shows on-screen instructions on going through the firmware update procedure. This is the first update specifically for Thunderbolt Display devices, though an earlier patch was issued for Thunderbolt-capable Macs generally in June.
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12/12, 5:45pm
Fixes audio CD distortion problem, more
In response to complaints on various forums about how importing or playing some audio CDs results in distorted sound, Apple has issued an update to iTunes, now at version 10.5.2 which is said to fix the problem, as well as makes unspecified improvements to iTunes Match. The download is available for both Mac and Windows, the latter having separate 32- and 64-bit versions available.
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11/29, 2:00am
Media manager gets UI upgrade
Web blogging tool MarsEdit has been updated to v3.4, which offers a number of bug fixes as well as support for iPhoto's Faces feature, Lightroom Photo Collection Sets, a zoom control for browser thumbnail sizes and Flickr browser improvements. In addition, the company has made some external editing improvements and squashed a number of bugs, including a crashing issue with SVG images and other improvements.
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11/18, 7:00pm
Native Lion full-screen mode now available
Virtualization specialists VMWare have updated VMWare Fusion to version 4.1, which resolves a number of issues from v4.0 as well as bringing in new features including native full-screen support in Lion, "smart" full screen that is aware of multiple monitors, the return of a feature where favorite virtual machines are automatically loaded when Fusion starts up, support for FileVault 2 and significant graphics performance.
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11/17, 9:55pm
New and featured apps easier to scroll through
Apple has silently updated the App Store to make it easier for iPad users to scroll through the latest "featured apps" and "new and noteworthy" additions on both the main page of the App Store and in each category section, Apple'n'Apps reports. The change, while small, makes the pages more touch-friendly by removing small arrows on each end of the featured boxes and instead making the grid swipe-driven.
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11/17, 6:00pm
Resolves issues related to 4.2 update
Apple today put out a minor bugfix upgrade to Xcode, now bringing the company's Mac OS integrated development environment to version 4.2.1. The update fixes a malfunctioning conversion operation, resolves an issue of "missing" developer profiles, and squashes a bug showing a locked file dialog where it shouldn't be. The updates adds to the improvements added to Xcode 4.2, which was updated a little more than a month ago.
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11/17, 1:30am
Resolves issues with fonts, playback, more
Apple late Wednesday updated its flagship pro video-editing software Final Cut Pro X to version 10.0.2, fixing three issues related to fonts, playback and stability. The update fixes a troublesome issue where fonts in a title will revert back to the default font after restarting the program, and is in addition to the significant updates made in v10.0.1 in mid-September that added XML import and export, Lion full-screen view and more.
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11/16, 12:50pm
Magican update adds memory release
Numeric Notes, a desktop notes app that integrates calculator functionality, has recently been updated in the App Store. Any calculation typed into the application is automatically solved, while text input allows users to add helpful descriptions and notes. Formatting occurs automatically as text is entered, allowing users to enter data naturally. Version 2.0 features a new calculation engine, as well as improved formatting and pasteboard operations. Numeric Notes is available as a $6 purchase in the Mac App Store.
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11/10, 10:25pm
Airport and TC updated to v7.6, MBP to v1.5
Late on Thursday, Apple released firmware updates for the MacBook Pro (all models), as well as the Airport and Time Capsule wireless base stations (802.11n capable models only). The update to the MacBook Pros, which brings the firmware up to version 1.5, resolves an issue where the MBP may shut down under heavy load when the battery charge is very low, even if the unit is actually plugged into power at the time.
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11/08, 10:30pm
Address security vulnerabilities
Apple has quietly posted a Java SE 6 update for Lion (version 1.6.0_29), as well as updating the Java runtime for Snow Leopard to the same version. The release fixes multiple security vulnerabilities that exist in Java 1.6.0_26.
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10/26, 5:55pm
Video codec caused crashes in Lion
Apple today updated iPhoto '11 to v9.2.1, a bugfix update the corrects a crashing and importing issue that appeared whenever there was an old 3ivx codec present when users upgraded iPhoto to v9.2. The update, which is only available via Software Update at present, fixes the issue without requiring users to remove the 3ivx codec, which resolved the issue for users prior to the update. The codec was most commonly installed on Mac systems via the Flip digital video recorder.
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10/25, 10:15am
Mac OS X Lion: Pogue's Take
Smile Software has released an updated version of its PDF editing tool, PDFpen. Version 5.6 allows users to set the name used with notes and comments, and adds support for anonymous notes and comments. The update also features a new preference that allows documents to be displayed at their physical size. Additionally, numerous bugs and crashes have been resolved. PDFpen 5.6 and PDFpen Pro 5.6 can be purchased online for $60 and $100 respectively.
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10/19, 11:50pm
Previous version unstable, caused issues
Apple has again released an update for the firmware of its Apple TV device, re-releasing v4.4.1, which was pulled on Monday after users reported serious problems with their devices after installing the update. The new version has fixed the issue, and now does what the original v4.4.1 was supposed to do -- resolve an issue present in v4.4 that caused some Apple TVs to be connected to iTunes in order to update.
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09/30, 8:00pm
Improvements to Lion Recovery, little else
In addition to the last-minute iTunes 10.5 beta and accidental "Welcome to iCloud" e-mails sent out earlier today, Apple has posted another developer beta of Lion 10.7.2 (build 11C71) to ADC members. The update carries no new issues, but does include an update to the Lion Recovery feature, and addresses an issue with firmware passwords and the Find My Mac service. The company seeded build 11C62 just a week ago.
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09/09, 3:35am
Adds drivers for Series 6500e machines
Apple has released updated drivers from Lexmark that cover all supported models under Snow Leopard and Lion, including all-in-one (AIO) models and scanner drivers. The company has only added support for one series -- the 6500e and 6500e Fax units -- but brings most updated drivers to version 10.6.4 or 10.7.0, the latter of which indicates support for Lion. In all, over 276 models or series of models have been updated.
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08/23, 5:35pm
Adds support for 12 formats, 25 lenses
Adobe Labs has updated the release candidates of Lightroom 3.5 and Camera RAW 6.5, bringing RAW file support for 12 new and recent RAW file variations as well as adding lens profiles for 25 new lenses. The profiles help photographers automatically correct known flaws or distortions inherent in lenses, such as chromatic aberrations. Release Candidates are not to be confused with final releases, but do indicate that development work is almost complete and that an official release is forthcoming.
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08/19, 7:40pm
Fix makes public URL generation work again
Popular file-sharing service Dropbox is in the process of rolling out a "silent upgrade" that will offer full compatibility with Lion, according to a post on the company's support forum. While the basic service has continued to work, the contextual menu that allowed users to copy a public URL for sharing their file was absent.
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08/11, 6:05pm
Also compatible with Snow Leopard
Absoft Corporation have launched an updated suite of visual code editing, management, compiling and optimization tools for Lion and Xcode 4.1 as part of its Pro Fortran v11.1 IDE, which is also compatible with Snow Leopard. The v11.1.3 update includes Absoft's dynamic AP load balancing technology, which optimizes code for 20 percent better performance, along with an SMP and vector analyzing tool.
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08/09, 6:55pm
Customer service reps contradict earlier statement
HTC may be dropping plans to offer a Gingerbread update for the original Droid Incredible smartphone. Although the company has repeatedly committed to the upgrade, a customer service representative has reportedly told a customer that the Incredible is not on the list of handsets that the company plans to update to the newer Android build.
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08/05, 12:10am
Not discontinued as was claimed earlier
A further follow-up from other sources has produced evidence that Apple may simply be upgrading the Magic Mouse to a newer model rather than discontinuing it as earlier claims had said. A new Magic Mouse model could offer upgraded Bluetooth connectivity (to version 4.0) and better support for Lion-oriented gestures, Cult of Mac is reporting.
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08/04, 2:10am
HD version for iPad expected in September
[Updated: now available, new video below] SquareEnix has released Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions to the iPhone, now available on the App Store, along with a new English-language gameplay trailer. The version for the iPhone features upgraded, Retina-quality graphics and speed, an autosaving feature and English voices (in the North American version), but lacks multiplayer, Game Center support or add-on options at present.
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08/03, 8:45pm
HP drivers also updated for Lion
Apple has issued updates to the printer drivers for Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion for customers using HP, Brother and Samsung printers, as well as Lion users with HP printers. The HP drivers require at least OS X 10.6.1, while the Brother and Samsung drivers require only 10.6.0 or higher. The Brother and HP drivers are mostly updates for existing supported printers, while the Samsung drivers expand the number of supported devices.
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08/03, 7:20pm
Addresses a number of security issues
For security reasons, Apple has updated the Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) and Windows (XP SP2 and later) versions of QuickTime to version 7.7, addressing 13 security issues. The update is not available to Macs running OS X 10.6 or later, as the security fixes in this update have already been addressed in OS X 10.6.7, 10.6.8 and later releases. Apple recommends the update for all QuickTime users on Windows or Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8.
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07/21, 8:55pm
Ready for Lion, but missing some features
Agile Bits, makes of the popular 1Password utility, had already brought Lion support and Safari 5.1 support to its product before either was actually released, but updated its blog post on the topic to keep readers informed on issues that have come up with the inevitable changes. The Safari plug-in for 1Password was completely re-designed for Safari v5.1 as a "proper" extension, and as a result is still missing a few features from the previous version.
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07/13, 6:30pm
Trimming audio in full screen crash bug addressed
Apple today released a significant bugfix update to their pro-photography management program Aperture, bringing it up to version 3.1.3 and addressing numerous issues, ranging from increasing reliability and performance when syncing web-published albums to improving stability when browsing video clips. Gesture support, a new Web section of the Projects Inspector and foreign character input are among the many improvements.
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07/11, 8:40pm
Rounds out day of iLife, iOS updates
In addition to earlier updates for iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband, Apple has also today issued updates for iWeb and iDVD, the original five parts of its popular iLife suite. The updates for iWeb and iDVD come as a small surprise, as the company did not upgrade the two programs as part of the iLife '11 package and has been seen to be letting them wither on the vine.
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06/15, 7:05pm
Remembers Wi-Fi networks more consistently
Developers who have been testing Mac OS X Lion Developer Preview 4, which was first issued at the WWDC conference earlier this month will receive an update to it through Software Update which is simply titled "Lion Developer Preview Update" with no notes on changes covered by the patch, AppleInsider notes. It is recommended for all users running DP4 and weighs in at 656.6MB.
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06/01, 8:15pm
Adds support for HDMI output, more
Apple has updated two of its most popular iOS apps, with iMovie for the iPad 2, iPhone 4 and fourth-generation iPod Touch being updated to v1.2.1, and Garageband for iPad getting a significant boost in features with v1.0.1. Both now support audio playing to HDTVs through the Apple Digital AV Adapter, with iMovie also now being able to play full screen from Marquee using the adapter. Garageband also gains audio output over Airplay, HDMI and Bluetooth devices.
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03/22, 5:35pm
Topics from the forums.
Yesterday Apple posted Mac OS X 10.6.7, and MacNN forum goers quickly converged in this thread to discuss this most recent update. Also yesterday one forum goer asked for some advice on what they should do with their iMac that is having screen issues.
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01/19, 1:50am
Improves iLife compatibility, fixes sleep issues
Apple has issued software updates for iDVD -- bringing it up to v7.1.1 -- and the latest models of MacBook Air. The iDVD update improves overall stability and ensures compatibility when sending slideshows from iPhoto '11 to iDVD, while the MacBook Air update (labeled "Software Update 2.0") resolves an issue with some units that prevents the system from sleeping.
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12/09, 6:00pm
Rebuilt engine and UI, filesharing also
Decimus Software has updated their flagship backup and synchronization software Synk to v7, taking their previous ZeroScan feature and enhancing it into a live sync engine that continuously updates backups. The software still features its easy but customizable "scripts" for creating a custom backup, its multi-way and one-to-many syncing, but now offers a continual "RAID-like" backup that means files are instantly and always in sync.
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11/17, 6:05pm
Improved integration with Spotlight, QuickLook
DevonTechnologies have updated their flagship information manager DevonThink and their note-taking application DevonNote to v2.0.6, fixing bugs and improving performance -- along with a fix for some sporadic issues with DevonThink To Go ($15), the iOS companion to DevonThink.
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11/04, 7:10pm
Adds new letterpress card templates, fixes bugs
Just days after issuing a quick fix for a critical library bug, Apple has rolled out the first major iLife '11 upgrade with iPhoto 9.1, which restores the ability to create and order calendars, a feature that went missing on the initial release. It also fixes an issue that prevented videos downloaded from MobileMe or Flickr from importing correctly into iPhoto events, and adds some holiday-themed letterpress card options. The update addresses only the version of iPhoto that shipped with the new iLife '11 suite.
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10/25, 5:20pm
A dozen-plus Photoshop-like tools for under $25
Just three weeks after their fifth public beta, German software house Times For Fun have updated their photo image editor Red Pill to 1.0. The program features over a dozen Photoshop-like tools, including the clone stamp, magic wand and a "Smart Fill" similar to the "content-aware" fill offering in Photoshop CS5.
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09/20, 6:15pm
Rack trays, hanging docks for latest Mac mini
Santa Ana accessory maker Macessity has resized three of its support products for the 2010 Mac mini to accommodate the changes in dimensions of the latest model. Offerings include a rack tray for server setups that supports up to four Mac minis, a "hanging" housing meant to be mounted as an under-shelf with full swivel accessibility, and a revision of their original "Hang With Mi" that features a four-port USB2 hub.
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09/09, 6:40pm
New version goes 64-bit, 10.6-only
Image adjusting and efficiency updates are at the heart of improvements in PDFPen 5.0, the PDF markup and editing tool made by Smile On My Mac. The software is now fully 64-bit and Snow Leopard only, adding the ability to have multi-core OCR processes on multiple pages in parallel, handle larger documents and generally improving the speed of the program.
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01/19, 5:10pm
iMac and Mac Pro firmware and drivers also revised
Apple has released several Boot Camp and firmware updates designed for 64-bit or 32-bit versions of Windows 7. Boot Camp 3.1 adds full support for Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate. The update addresses issues involving trackpads and the red LED for digital audio, while the company's wireless keyboard and Magic mouse are also now supported. For users planning to transition from Windows Vista to 7, a separate utility ensures that the Macintosh volume will safely unmount on Vista.
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01/19, 4:40pm
Additional fixes relate to CoreAudio, CUPS
Apple on Tuesday released security updates for Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard. The updates address several issues including a CoreAudio vulnerability that left systems susceptible to attacks via MP4 audio files. The cupsd printing scheduler has also been modified to prevent malicious code from causing a remote denial of service.
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12/03, 10:25pm
Release could be the rumored 2.1 update
Google has confirmed plans to release an Android update, v2.0.1, sometime later this month. The new version could be the rumored v2.1 update claimed to be ready for launch after December 11th. The company claims v2.0.1 will contain a number of bug fixes and behavior changes. Developers will be able to take advantage of a 'Sync Tester' for testing third-party sync adapters.
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11/24, 6:30pm
Downloads offer stability improvements, bug fixes
Apple on Tuesday released maintenance updates for iPhoto and Final Cut Server. iPhoto 8.1.1 addresses several issues involving poor performance and accuracy of the facial recognition feature. Users that imported photos of people with iPhoto 8.1 should choose the Detect Missing Faces option to correctly match the faces. The update also fixes a bug with book ordering, along with iPod touch support.
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11/11, 8:20pm
Images taken directly from UK PlayStation site
Leaked screenshots show several new features expected in the upcoming PlayStation 3 firmware, including Facebook integration and the ability to change Gamercard colors, according to Scrawl. The images have allegedly been confirmed to originate from the UK PlayStation site, although they were quickly removed.
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11/09, 6:35pm
Download available for 2009 aluminum keyboard
Apple on Monday released a Leopard software update for its latest aluminum Wireless Keyboard released this year. The update provides support for the keyboard's special features including the function keys for display brightness, Dashboard, Spaces, iTunes playback control and speaker volume.
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11/04, 8:35pm
Download for Logic Studio users
Apple on Wednesday released an update to its audio burning app, Waveburner, for Logic Studio. Version 1.6.1 improves overall stability and provides a number of bug fixes. Mastering notes are now properly saved to disk, while the waveform display in the Mix Line renders more consistently.
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10/30, 2:45pm
App searches over 30,000 software titles
MacUpdate has released MacUpdate Desktop 5, an update to its software management utility. The latest version features smart scanning, enabling automatic scanning and matching for more than 30,000 software titles. The user interface has been redesigned to be cleaner and easier to use, while users can download and install updates with a single click.
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10/28, 7:15pm
Download geared for latest iMacs
Apple on Wednesday released a Bluetooth firmware update designed for users running Windows via Boot Camp. The download is said to improve the wireless performance with Vista and XP on the latest 21.5- and 27-inch iMacs released earlier this month, although specific details have not been provided.
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10/10, 11:15am
Snow Leopard 10.6.2 update adds WWAN support
Apple has reportedly provided a second beta release of its Mac OS X 10.6.2 update (labeled 10C514f) to developers, which incorporates a series of bug fixes and improved support. The update is said to deal with almost 150 different areas including applications such as Address Book, QuickTime Player, and Photo Booth, as well as problems related to app switching within the Dock. Additionally, the update is believed to deal with issues involving Front Row, Spaces and Time Machine apps as well.
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06/09, 8:40pm
Office 08 update
Microsoft on Tuesday released updates to several of its Mac programs; Office 2008 and Open XML Converter. The Office 12.1.9 update focuses on improved security by addressing a vulnerability that can be used to overwrite the computer memory with malicious code. Users that intend to install Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition for Mac must also install the update for compatibility. The release applies to users of Office 2008, Home and Student Edition, Special Media Edition, Word 2008, Excel 2008, PowerPoint 2008 and Entourage 2008.
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06/03, 11:25pm
EIAS v8 released
EI Technology has released v8 of Electric Image Animation System. The update includes various new features such as textured Area lights that can replace a series of small lights to create a more realistic looking indoor scene. There is also an additional Area light function that creates light with arbitrary luminance shapes using real geometry instead of an abstract light shape. Photon Mapping can be used to calculate indirect illumination and light bouncing. The maps can also be stored and reused without re-rendering a setting.
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06/03, 9:55pm
Roland updates V-Synth GT
Roland has released V-Synth GT 2.0, an update to the operating system used for the Elastic Audio Synthesizer keyboard. The upgrade adds 22 new multi-effects and five new reverbs, as well as a new chromatic-scale pitch bender function. The software provides more USB storage functionality and an improved user interface. Roland believes the upgrade is better at importing sound features such as patches, tones, waves, and samples than its predecessor.
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