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Whoa! Disable your Safari AutoFill Immediately
IE And Safari Let Attackers Steal User Names And Addresses
Why Go Pro When iMac Goes Faster?
Apple Warns Of Short-term iMac Shortages Ahead Of New Models
Apple's 27" iMac Only Supports Native Or 720p Video Input, No 1080p
Enhance Your Spotlight Searches With Hidden Features
iDefrag: Should You Defrag Your Mac's Hard Drive?
iMac and MacBook Pro Drive Apple's Record Sales
How A Mac Can Give You Peace And Serenity
Apple Appoints New Senior VP Of Operations To Address Product Quality
PC Advisor Reviews Mac mini (Mid 2010)
AViiQ Space Age Hybrid Composite Portable Laptop Stand
CoolBook 2.18 MacBook Temperature Control Utility
Fan Control 1.2 Open Source Utility Adjusts Minimum Fan Speed On MacBooks
OWC Multi-Mount For Adding 2.5" Drives To 3.5" Bays And 3.5" Drives To 5.25" Bays
Speech Recognition: There Actually Is An Open Source Solution
Whoa! Disable your Safari AutoFill Immediately
9To5Mac's Seth Weintraub says:
If you use Safari, disable your autofill imediately. Apple enables this by default. We'll wait.
Websites can now steal your Safari browser autofill information including Name, Address, Email, Credit Card etc. without a mention using a very simple exploit detailed by Jeremiah Grossman....
Very scary. Even more scary? This vulnerability has been known about for a year...
You can check it out at:
http://9to5mac.com/node/20062
Here's the Safari Preferences checkbox to disable:
IE And Safari Let Attackers Steal User Names And Addresses
The Register's Dan Goodin reports:
The Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari browsers are susceptible to attacks that allow webmasters to glean highly sensitive information about the people visiting their sites, including their full names, email addresses, location, and even stored passwords, a security researcher says....
Among the most serious is a vulnerability in Apple's Safari and earlier versions of Microsoft's IE that exposes names, email addresses, and other sensitive information when a user visits a booby-trapped website. The attack exploits the browsers' autocomplete feature used to automatically enter commonly typed text into websites.....
For the full report visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/20/browser_info_disclosure_weaknesses/
Why Go Pro When iMac Goes Faster?
Macworld's Rob Griffiths reports that Core i5 and i7 iMacs bring Mac Pro speed to mainstream Macs, noting that some users probably buy the Mac Pro somewhat grudgingly, because they really don't need its storage, expansion, or memory capacity, but just want to own the fastest Mac available, folks like serious gamers wanting the most processing and graphics power available to throw at a game or number crunchers, working on projects that require lots of horsepower.
However, with the introduction of Core i7-powered iMacs, particularly the 27-inch model, the Mac Pro's speed supremacy may have gotten smaller, with the performance of these new iMacs so formidable that Griffiths thinks people who might have bough a Mac Pro simply for speed may now look to the iMac instead.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.macworld.com/article/143998/2009/11/corei7vsmacpro.html
Apple Warns Of Short-term iMac Shortages Ahead Of New Models
Appleinsider's Kasper Jade says:
In particular, a person familiar with the matter says the Mac maker is informing some of its distributors not to expect any further stock of the entry level 21.5-inch, 3.06GHz iMac, implying that production of that model has ceased.
For the full report visit here:
http://snurl.com/zrh80
Apple's 27" iMac Only Supports Native Or 720p Video Input, No 1080p
Appleinsider's Daniel Eran Dilger reports:
Apple's revised 27" iMac introduced this spring debuted a new feature: a Mini DisplayPort video port that worked in both directions, enabling external video sources to output video to the screen. That feature is largely limited to 720p in HDTV applications however.
For the full report visit here:
http://snurl.com/zrhbg
Enhance Your Spotlight Searches With Hidden Features
MacFixIt's Topher Kessler says:
While Apple's Spotlight search is a great way to find files and folders on your Mac, there are some limitations to its default behavior that can sometimes prevent an item from being easily found. In addition, sometimes Spotlight will just not work altogether. Nevertheless there are many hidden features in Spotlight that can help overcome its limitations.
For the full tutorial, visit:
http://mcall.com.com/8301-13727_7-20011417-263.html
iDefrag: Should You Defrag Your Mac's Hard Drive?
AppStorm's Ian Tromp says:
Most PC users know that it s a good idea to defrag your PC s drive every few months.... Newcomers to the Mac platform might wonder whether they need to, and how they can, defragment their new machine s hard-drives.
The answer that you will find in most places is "No, you don t need to do this." But now and then you'll come across guidance on how to do it if you really want to, even within Apple s own support material.
iDefrag has been around for a little while, and back in March, Coriolis Systems released a major update of the app, iDefrag 2....
For the full report visit here:
http://snurl.com/zrhox
iMac and MacBook Pro Drive Apple's Record Sales
sci-tech-today's Mark Long reports:
Apple's strong iPhone and iPad sales dazzled Wall Street this week, but an even bigger surprise perhaps came from sales of the company's line of Mac computers in its third business quarter. The computer maker announced record sales of 3.47 million desktop and notebook products, exceeding the previous quarterly high mark by more than 100,000 units.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=74440
How A Mac Can Give You Peace And Serenity
Mac360's Natalia Nowak says:
I'm a 21st century knowledge worker. A Mac user by day and by night. My finger tips have Mac keyboard letters where fingerprints used to be....
....I love working on Macs. Unfortunately, I work on Windows PCs, too, so I have a certain amount of stress each day which can only be relieved through concentrated doses of peace, serenity, harmony and a oneness with my Mac.
Compared to what the typical Windows PC user goes through each day, our lives as Mac users are mundane. No virus or spyware scans to worry about. No blue screens of death from the evil empire....
How can you make your Mac the machine of peace and serenity? Change your mood.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://snurl.com/zrhsx
Apple Appoints New Senior VP Of Operations To Address Product Quality
Appleinsider's Kasper Jade and Daniel Eran Dilger report:
Apple has appointed a new Senior Vice President of Operations dedicated to ensuring that Apple products meet "the highest standards of quality, "AppleInsider has learned.
For the full report visit here:
http://snurl.com/zrggd
PC Advisor Reviews Mac mini (Mid 2010)
PC Advisor says:
Apple has given the casework of its entry-level Mac the full unibody makeover, making the new Apple Mac mini (Mid 2010) the most significant update in the product's history. And revisions to its graphics card plus a new HDMI port will make it even more attractive as the foundation of an efficient media-centre PC
We always thought the original Mac mini design was an understated marvel. Just two-inches high and seven-inches square, it offered so much more than the new wave of under-aspirated nettop PCs....
Build quality is, literally, flawless. The selection of raw material quality and final fit-and-finish are so far removed from that of almost any other computer we test, it s hard to equate this as a PC alongside the rattling Windows boxes we see in the lab for our monthly group tests.
For the full review visit here:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/index.cfm?reviewid=3227085
AViiQ Space Age Hybrid Composite Portable Laptop Stand
[Press Release]
The body of the AViiQ Portable Laptop Stand is made from Hylite, a composite material comprised of aluminum sheets bonded to a polypropylene core. By milling off the aluminum and leaving the polypropylene the material becomes flexible. The feet of the stand are injection-molded Dynaflex, a thermoplastic elastomer.
The AViiQ Portable Laptop Stand adheres to the tenet that form should follow function. It has a minimalist aesthetic; four aluminum plates with white plastic hinges and matte grey feet; a pop of magenta in the lower right hand corner to mimic the AViiQ logo. The light simplicity of the design mirrors the physical weight, size and ease-of-use of the Laptop Stand itself. Even though other laptop stands are designed to support inherently mobile products they are, generally, not designed to travel, and ones that are don't always support the keyboard at an ergonomically-correct angle. The AViiQ Portable Laptop Stand folds flat to fit easily into a laptop bag and is less than 1/4" thick and weighs only 5.25 oz. It unfolds in less than two seconds and can support up to 17" laptops. The aluminum in Hylite, along with the airflow underneath, helps to dissipate heat to improve battery life and overall longevity.
The AViiQ Portable Laptop Stand is exceptionally light, thin and simple to use. When folded flat it slides into any laptop bag (even a laptop sleeve) but when unfolded for use it supports the keyboard at a 12 degree angle and allows air to flow underneath, dissipating heat from the laptop. The simple, geometric form of the AViiQ Portable Laptop Stand, as well as the brushed aluminum finish complements the design of most of today's laptops. The white, vertical lines, while functional, add visual interest and the hit of magenta in the nameplate catches the eye without overwhelming it.
AViiQ Portable Laptop Stand Specs:
Supports up to a 17" laptop
Keyboard Angle: 12 degrees
Folded Dimensions: 12.75" x 2.75" x 0.25"
Unfolded Dimensions: 11.3" x 9.3" x 1.75"
Weight: 5.5 oz
$79.95
For more information, visit:
http://aviiq.com/products/portable-laptop-stand/
CoolBook 2.18 MacBook Temperature Control Utility
[Press Release]
CoolBook is a tool for the MacBook and MacBook Pro computers that lets you monitor the frequency, voltage and temperature of the CoreDuo / Core2Duo CPU.
Registered users can also change the frequency and voltage of the processor. Download CoolBook to find out more.
How effective is CoolBook?
In two different tests using the maximum frequency of a MacBook (1833 MHz), meaning no performance loss. In both tests different voltages between 0.9875 V and 1.2625 V were tested.
In the first test, several processor demanding tasks were repeated. The fan was locked at the max setting (6200 RPM) using the app smcFanControl.
CoolBook was then used to set the maximum frequency, and to change the voltage. When the temperature had stabilized, it was recorded. This procedure was repeated for every voltage in the diagram.
The maximum temperature using 0.9875 V was 58 °C, compared to 73°C using the original settings. But even the modest voltage decrease to 1.1000 V showed a substantial temperature decrease, with temperatures close to 60°C.
As the MacBook gets warmer, the fan will automatically increase the rotation speed. This diagram shows the differences in RPM at the end of the Cinebench benchmark. The original driver ran more than 2000 RPM over the lowest CoolBook setting. Not showing in the diagram is the differences in temperature. At 0.9875 V the temperature reached a maximum of 63°C, while the original driver reaches 72°C.
The price for the license is $10 USD (+25% VAT in the EU) for one unique computer.
You can download and install CoolBook before you buy the license to confirm that it works with your Mac model.
For more information, visit:
http://www.coolbook.se/CoolBook.html
Fan Control 1.2 Open Source Utility Adjusts Minimum Fan Speed On MacBooks
[Press Release]
Do you think your MacBook or MacBook Pro is running too hot? Then give Fan Control a try (it's free). Some MacBooks (Pro) are just to hot for daylong use. Fan Control adjusts the minimum fan speed depending on the current CPU temperature. For safety, it leaves the original automatic fan speed control intact.
System requirements:
• Mac OS X 10.4 or later
System Support:
• Intel
Fan Control is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). The sources are included in the download.
Fan Control is free. Donations still gratefully appreciated.
For more information, visit:
http://www.lobotomo.com/products/FanControl/
OWC Multi-Mount For Adding 2.5" Drives To 3.5" Bays And 3.5" Drives To 5.25" Bays
[Press Release]
Multi-Mount is a complete hardware solution for custom tailoring internal storage to meet individual needs
Install the hard drives you want, where you want them.
The OWC Multi-Mount allows you the freedom to install up to two additional hard drives and/or SSDs into larger drive bays in order to meet your data storage and backup needs. Install a 2.0TB hard drive in your optical drive bay, laptop hard drive in in your full size drive bay, or two solid state drives in your optical drive bay. Check out all our bundle options, each complete with the necessary mounts, screws, cables and installation instructions.
Designed to keep drives cool.
Consisting of heat dissipating aircraft grade aluminum brackets, the OWC Multi-Mount's "open air" design provides maximum air flow to keep various combinations of 2.5" and 3.5" attached drives running cool.
Designed To Keep Drives Quiet
By employing unique hard rubber dampeners to cushion the contact between drives and the computer case, the OWC Multi-Mount reduces vibration and noise transferred through the case by mechanical hard drives. Additionally, this "floating rubber suspension" protects drives from impact shocks delivered to the case as well as potentially extending hard drive use life by reducing vibrations that can cause hard drive failure.
Compatibility:
Compatible with Mac Pro, PowerMac G5, PowerMac G4 "Mirrored Drive Doors" or desktop PC with an available 3.5" or 5.25" drive bay.
For more information, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/owcpages/multimount/multimount.html
Speech Recognition: There Actually Is An Open Source Solution
OStatic blogger Sam Dean says:
If you happen to have followed the path of speech recognition software over the years, you know that it's been a rocky road. Pundits... have, at various times, proclaimed speech recognition to be the wave of the computing future, but you probably rely on mice, keyboards and pointing devices to interact with computers more than microphones. Today, there is an interesting query posted on Slashdot, asking whether there is any free, open source software in this area. Well is there?... I know some journalists who do all their transcriptions with Dragon's proprietary software, or with IBM's ViaVoice. But what are the open source alternatives?
As the commenters on Slashdot note, one of the most robust open source speech recognition solutions comes from Carnegie Mellon University. It's called Sphinx...
For the full commentary visit here:
http://ostatic.com/blog/speech-recognition-there-actually-is-an-open-source-solution
For more information, visit:
http://ostatic.com/sphinx
The Tech Night Owl: Yes, Folks, Macs Are Still Successful!
Some foolish blogger the other day wrote an inane piece claiming that I said that the Mac Pro would soon be history. For the benefit of those who haven't read these columns regularly, and even for those who have, I have never made such a claim.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.technightowl.com/2010/07/yes-folks-macs-are-still-successful/
Notes: You can also access our new RSS feed, available at:
http://www.technightowl.com/rss
Or our new Atom feed at:
http://www.technightowl.com/atom
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