News for Monday, 15 December 2008

Probably to go along with the MobileMe sync updates brought by the fresh OS X 10.5.6 update, Apple has quietly updated the online component of MobileMe, as explained in a Knowledge Base article:
Sync

• Contacts, calendars, and bookmarks on a Mac sync automatically within a minute of the change being made on the computer, another device, or the web at www.me.com; Mac OS X 10.5.6 is required


• Resolved an issue that could cause some contacts to temporarily disappear on iPhone or iPod touch when syncing with MobileMe over an intermittent network connection; iPhone Software 2.2 is required to take full advantage of this


• Reduces inconsistent data alerts when syncing contacts and calendars between a computer (Mac or PC) and the MobileMe cloud

Mail

• Improves reliability of new email notifications on an iPhone/iPod touch


• Messages just deleted on iPhone, iPod touch, or a desktop mail application now update more quickly on webmail


• Improves startup time for webmail when message preview is enabled


• Addresses an issue that could cause inconsistency between the time stamp for messages in MobileMe Mail and the account’s time zone setting

Calendar

• Resolves an issue that caused some recurring events to have an incorrect number of recurrences


• Resolves an issue that caused certain events to reflect incorrect international time zone or Daylight Saving Time settings

Login

• The login page no longer removes your member name if you mistype your password


• Tabbing between login fields is now supported

Account

• Resolves an issue that prevented some members from purchasing a Family Pack upgrade

Mac OS X 10.5.6 is now available through Software Update:

The Mac OS X 10.5.6 Update is recommended for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard versions 10.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2, 10.5.3, 10.5.4, and 10.5.5. It includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac.

On a MacBook Pro c2d, it weighs 190MB, while it goes up to 377MB on an Unibody Macbook Pro...
The list of changes is HUGE and, for once, extremely detailed, and you can read it here.
And, by the way, the best feature probably? REAL PUSH UPDATES to MobileMe:

MobileMe: Contacts, calendars, and bookmarks on a Mac automatically sync within a minute of the change being made on the computer, another device, or the web at me.com.

This is quite fascinating: Technologizer has compiled a history of major patents that Apple submitted since its creation.
You'll find jewels like the first Apple II mobo,

the first Apple mouse or the original Bondi blue iMac, some duds (like this virtual rotary dial using an iPod clickwheel) and some wonderful things that never were, like that great example of a skier broadcasting music from his iPods to his fellow skiers' iPods!.

Very interesting, entertaining and instructive at the same time... And you have to just love the graphic style ;-)

If you start using the Mighty Mouse, you will have to deal with its unfortunate ability to trap dust, leading the rotating ball to lose its function. In a TechNote featuring a video, Apple explains how to clean the stacked ball of your Mighty Mouse:
http://www.info.apple.com/images/kbase/302417/302417_1.mov
This procedure does not offer a true solution, nor is a true revolution, with time and despite the appropriate tissue and the use of a bit of alcohol, the ball will remain irreversibly stacked.

From our experience, you will have to crack-open the base of your Mighty Mouse, in order to get access to the rotating ball mechanism to fully clean it. To date, this is the only procedure to maintain the mechanism fully operational, however, you will have to glue the case or tape it as once cracked opened, the mighty mouse is rather hard to re-assemble.

While the MacWorld will open its door in about 3 weeks; the current program does not mention any inaugural keynote usually delivered by Steve jobs. For the time being, David Pogue will give a presentation during an opening session, that's all.
Of course, rumors are back regarding Steve jobs health, to try to explain why there is no keynote this year; however, it should not necessarily be linked. Since couple of years, Apple decided to reduce or stop its contribution to major Mac events worldwide. Chronologically, Apple stopped participating to the mid-year MacWorld on the East coast, leading to its "death", as Apple decided to strongly advertise its own event: the Mac Worldwide Developer conference (WWDC), then this year, Apple did not contribute to the European Mac Event in Paris; the Apple Expo renamed "REMIX".
So, we would not be surprised to see Apple reducing its involvement in the forthcoming MacWorld San Francisco, as such events are now considered by Apple as "Old school". Adobe will not be present at the MWSF, as well as other major contributors, and this might well be linked to the absence of Steve jobs. IT does not mean that we will not see Steve Jobs anymore in public event or show. He will certainly keep delivering keynote at the WWDC as well as leading introduction of new products during some special events organized by Cupertino with elected news network invited.

L'EFI-X is a rather special USB key:

Once plugged into a PC, it allows you to install Mac OS X and to turn it into a Hackintosh without requiring modifying the default Mac OS X Installation DVD.
On the legal point of view, it might well become a big nightmare for apple legal as it does not seem to break any claims linked to the use of Mac OS X. So, far the company distributing EFI-X did not receive any letters from Apple Legal yet, but it might quickly change. Indeed, the another company Efi-X USA decided to sell PC models bundled to the key, so offering all components to make a Hackintosh. For sure the second company is trying to surf on the wave generated by the smart EFI-X product, by fouling some customers.
In summary, the number of Hackintosh seems to increase substantially as well as the solution to help customers to have better graphic cards in their Hackintosh, so experiencing Mac OS X with the latest GPU available on the PC/Win world, due to Apple's decision not to collaborate with AMD/NVidia to release/develop improved and/or updated drivers. Apple might also strengthen its protections to prevent such installation on non-apple-branded hardware. Let’s hope it will not complicate the life of Mac users running OS X on Mac hardware.

According to Daringfireball which quotes an "Apple" source; the sales of the iPod Touch is very strong in spite of the economic crisis and the high price of these mp3 players.
If the information is confirmed, it will be the proof of the gravitational power of the AppStore which multiplied by ten the advantage of this mp3 player (even more than for the iPhone) and which should consolidate Apple in its will of to impose in a market that one believed saturated, that of the portable game consoles.
It should be said that even if the iPod Touch does not have the possiblity to telephone, it has at least a price "complete" , not obliging one to engage in a heavy subscription over a two years period. It can especially be offered as a gift, certainly expensive, but less than the iPhone of which the total price with its two year subscription exceeds the thousand euros.