My Freebie – iPod Classic 160GB
Not long ago did this journey start and here’s my freebie to start off!
There are plenty more people enjoying their gifts too…
Just check out the section on the right – “I GOT MY FREE ITEM” – to see what you are missing out.
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Inside the iPhone 3G S
Earlier this morning Macworld brought you the first unboxing of the iPhone 3G S, now they’re going a step further and taking the iPhone 3G S apart, stripping away its parts, and discovering what’s on the inside.
Macworld have teamed up with Kyle Wiens, from iFixIt.com and the iFixIt team in California, who are analysing the parts.
World awaits Apple’s iPhone OS 3.0 release today
The free iPhone OS 3.0 Software Update includes some great new features, as well as all the features from previous updates. iPhone OS 3.0 also lets you run the next generation of iPhone apps, like peer-to-peer games and more. If you’ve never updated before, now is the perfect time.
Microsoft unveils touchscreen Zune
Microsoft has unveiled the first touchscreen Zune, its belated challenge to the hugely successful iPod touch, but appears to have no plans to make it available in the UK.
Like the iPod it has an onscreen keyboard and wi-fi internet access with a browser that imitates features pioneered by Apple such as tap-to-zoom.
What it doesn’t have is the huge repository of applications available to iPod touch users, but it does offer a smattering of features not found on Apple’s player.
The standout feature is built-in HD Radio, which is essentially the US alternative to DAB and as such not supported in the UK. Microsoft has long promised to ship its Zune devices overseas, but that is looking less likely than ever.
Microsoft plans to integrate the new player with its Xbox 360, allowing console owners to download video and television content to the device. The Zune also has an optional docking station with HDMI output, allowing owners to plug the device into a HD TV and playback content at 720p quality.
Zune HD will go on sale in the autumn; pricing details haven’t been announced.
Mac OS X Java Vulnerability
“Several Mac security companies, Intego and SecureMac, have issued warnings related to an unpatched Java vulnerability that affects OS X. The flaw could be exploited to allow local code to be executed remotely, leaving the computer open to ‘drive-by-attacks’ which can install malicious software just by loading a website containing a specially crafted Java applet. Hackers could also access or delete files on a system,” MacNN reports.
“Disabling Java within the browser may serve as the best protection. Users can leave JavaScript enabled, as the issue only affects Java applets,” MacNN reports.
Full article here.
New rubber backed iphone?
“Apple’s new iPhone will go on sale Friday, July 17, according to AppleiPhoneApps.com,” Dan Frommer reports for The Business Insider. “What’ll be inside it?”
Frommer reports, “Here’s a few cosmetic details that are supposedly going to be included in the new phone, if AppleiPhoneApps’ sources are trustworthy:”
- Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device
- Apple logo on the back to light up
- Rubber-tread backing
- Sleeker design
Full article, including plenty of technical specs for the new iPhone, here.
Apple iPhone Apps’ article, along with discussion about the rumored specs (32GB for $299, 16GB for $199, 3.2 megapixel camera, video record, OLED screen, built-in compass, and more here.
Apple releases Leopard, Tiger, Safari updates
Apple has released the latest update to Leopard, whose considerable size belies a relatively short list of changes, as well as Safari and security updates for Tiger and Leopard.
The update addresses: CalDav and MobileMe syncing issues in iCal; problems with Notes and the incorrect population of the BCC field in Mail; and Parental Controls?€ time limit settings and application restrictions.
Parental Controls have also been tweaked to enable non-admin users to add and remove printers.
Other tweaks to printing performance comprise a fix for an issue that may cause certain third-party printers to print to the incorrect paper tray as well as greater overall reliability and stability.
The update also provides a dozen or so general enhancements that fix problems with: logging into Gmail and Yahoo, with searching on devices that do not support Spotlight, including Time Capsule; the unit converter and other Dashboard widgets; video playback on Macs with Nvdia graphics; PCIe configuration on Mac Pros.
It also adds RAW support for several new cameras.
Mac OS X 10.5.7 is available via Software Update or from Apple downloads. For more information see: About the Mac OS X 10.5.7 Update.
Security and Safari
The Leopard update includes the latest security updates, but running Software Update for a second time, once the OS X update process is complete, reveals a security update for the Safari 4.0 Public Beta.
For users of the Tiger (10.4) version of OS X, Security Update 2009-002 is available as well as Safari 3.2.3, both via Software Update or from support.apple.com/downloads
Information about all the security updates is provided at Apple security updates.
The 10 Biggest Tech Failures of the Last Decade
“Several of the best-funded and most-publicized tech launches of the last ten years have ended in failure. Many large technology companies which had significant market share and product advantages in large industries lost those advantages,” Douglas A. McIntyre writes for 24/7 Wall St. via TIME Magazine.
“24/7 Wall St. looked at both start-ups and products introduced by companies that did not survive to create a list of the most colossal tech failures of the last decade. To make the list, a product had to be widely recognized and widely available to customers,” McIntyre writes. “It had to be aimed at a large global market. It had to be technologically equal to or superior to its competition. It had to be a product or new company that had the possibility of bringing in billions of dollars in revenue based on the sales of similar or competing products. Finally, it had to clearly miss the mark of living up to the potential that its creators expected, and that the public and press were lead to believe was possible.”
McIntyre’s list of The 10 Biggest Tech Failures of the Last Decade:
• Microsoft Vista
• Gateway
• HD DVD
• Vonage
• YouTube
• Sirius XM
• Microsoft Zune
• Palm
• Iridium
• Segway
Full article, with McIntyre’s reasoning behind his choices, here
Penny Bazaar 2009
M&S turns back the clock by offering two million items at 1p each
Two million items are to be sold for just 1p each as Marks & Spencer returns to its Penny Bazaar roots.
The sale is part of a celebration to mark 125 years since the company began.
For three days from next Wednesday, all 300 main stores will house an Original Penny Bazaar, offering 20 products including jewellery sets, beach balls, knickers, ties and socks.
Full article here
Microsoft puts Mac users at risk with patch policy
“A security researcher has called foul on Microsoft for doing exactly what it has thrashed hackers over for years: revealing information that can be used to hijack computers before a patch is available,” Gregg Keizer reports for Computerworld.
“Swa Frantzen, one of the analysts at SANS Institute’s Internet Storm Center (ISC) criticized Microsoft for issuing patches yesterday that fix the Windows versions of PowerPoint while announcing that patches for the same flaws in the Mac editions would not be released until June,” Keizer reports.
“‘Microsoft is the one big company screaming loudest over ‘responsible disclosure,’ said Frantzen in a post to the ISC blog late Tuesday. Responsible disclosure, a practice Microsoft has aggressively pushed, demands that researchers delay any disclosure until the bug has been patched. ‘They want an unlimited amount of time to release their patches before those who found the problem are allowed to publish,’ said Frantzen. ‘[But the] policy cuts both ways: You need to obey the rules yourself just as well as demand it from all others involved,’” Keizer reports.
“Microsoft, claimed Frantzen, broke its own rules of responsible disclosure yesterday by revealing that Office for Mac 2004 and Office for Mac 2008 contain three unpatched vulnerabilities, and by releasing information about the same bugs in Windows. The combination, he said, could be used by hackers to craft exploits targeting Macs,” Keizer reports. “‘We all know from past experience [that] the reverse engineering of patches back into exploits starts at the time — if not before — the patches are released,’ said Frantzen. ‘So in the end, Microsoft just released what hackers need to attack.’”
Full article here.
