Updates to QuickTime, Security and FrontRow

Security Update 2006-003 was released

Big security updates and looks like Apple addressed most of the flaws with image files and CoreImage as well as Safari. Also has a Flash Player update.

QuickTime 7.1

Delivers numerous important bug fixes and addresses critical security issues

FrontRow was updated to version 1.2.2

Song Shuffle

Movie Trailer "Loading Trailer..." instead of “Could not connect to the movie trailer server.”

Corrects bugs that prevented authorized Audible Audiobooks from playing

Fixes a variety of DVD compatibility issues

Purchased movies located in the Movies folder are now correctly recognized

Includes a variety of fixes for VoiceOver accessibility

Fixes a bug that prevented Front Row from reconnecting to shared video libraries after wake from sleep

Some reports of random freezes after startup--especially on Intel-based Macs.

Issue seems to be related to some startup items like Adobe Version Cue

Some report having to do a reinstall of OS X to get things back to normal

Apple Store Fifth Avenue opens May 19th

The store is located at 767 Fifth Avenue at 59th Street and will open at 6:00 PM on Friday May 19th. Steve Jobs is supposed to make an appearance

Apple Fith Avenue

A 20,000-square foot retail store with a Steve Jobs designed $9 million 32-foot glass cube in front

The cube sits above the store which is actually in the underground concourse of the General Motors building.

Apple partner announces iPod Phone

The Japanese company Softbank claims they partnered with Apple earlier this year to build a new cell phone with iPod-like features

The phone would have the ability to download songs from the iTunes Music Store for music on the go.

It will be a G3 phone and may arrive in Japan sometime this year at the earliest with a US launch to follow.

Walt Mossberg recently reported Apple was planning an iPhone

FOX adds huge lineup to iTunes Music Store

Fox, which includes FX, SPEED and FuelTV have joined iTunes with 16 different series now available

Current popular shows like "24" and "Prision Break" along with series like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Firefly".

Apple changes "Made for Mac" licensing fee

Program for vendors who make products that connect to Apple's iPod 17-pin Dock connector.

Old fee was 10% of the wholesale value of the product. New fee is a $4 flat fee

Great for high priced vendors like Bose, but not so good if you make a $20 cable (used to pay $2).

In addition vendors have to buy the connector from Apple because it is patented.

Get video from your Mac to your TiVO

Tivo Desktop for Mac

With a simple little hack to the plist file of the TiVo Desktop 1.9.3 software you can transfer MPEG2 video from your Mac to your TiVO. Details of the hack can be found on the TiVO community forum

Video from Mac to TiVO

Video need to conform to the TiVO specs

TiVO MPEG2 Spec

TiVOizer will convert video to the correct MPEG format. Requires FFMPEGX to be installed at the root of the Application folder

Tivoizer
ffmpeg X

Can also play un-DRMd AAC files if the LAME command-line utility exists at /usr/local/bin/lame. DOes a realtime AAC to MP3 conversion.

Instructions on Mac OSX Hints.com for getting LAME via Fink and installing. Also mentions you can get better performance from the real time AAC to MP3 converter if you compile LAME yourself.

Play AAC on TiVO

17" MacBook Pro Review

Play review from John

Listener Shaun confirmed Johns performance findings for Rosetta apps. Also has 2GB RAM in his 17" MacBook

Recommends setting up a larger XP partition if you use BootCamp. Default is 5GB.

Right Click on trackpad or with one button mouse

Apple Mouse for XP

Apple so far has not licensed the MagSafe connector technology. No 3rd part adapter, especially DC ones for airplanes. Apple has not made their own airplane adapters in the past.

Getting better battery life

Do like listener Jeff did

Take a look at what is running under the hood on your Mac by sing the Activity Monitor. Applications-->Utilities-->Activity Monitor

Then use a tool like iBatt to see what your drain rate is like. iBatt is an awesome Battery monitoring tool from Rayner Software. I like the Internet feature where you can submit and compare your battery against other batteries from the same model Mac.

iBatt

Using this technique Jeff discovered his Virex was using 100% of the spare processor capacity all the time. Disabling it battery life literally doubled his battery life from 1.5 hours to 3.3 hours.

BootCamp for day to day work in XP

Antonio was wondering:

He is a .NET developer and was curious about doing actual work under Windows.

Does Visual Studio 2005 run?

How reliable, efficient and stable the system is while running Windows?

Is it good enough to consider working on it?. Would you use it for work?

I have done simple testing and the software is still beta, but I would say yes. Both Parallels and BootCamp solutions work, but I think for heavy Windows usage BootCamp will offer better performance.

Driver and support for external devices like scanners, printers,etc. may be tricky

BootCamp quick Xp boot and command re-map

Play question from MIchael

Don't think there is a boot bypass command. Can use the Startup Disk control panel prior to rebooting.

Install the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools in order to obtain the program ReMapKey.exe.

ReMapKey for Windows

Drag the ctrl key from the top keyboard to the Windows Key in the bottom keyboard on the left side.

Trick to use an XP SP1 CD to install under BootCamp

You can use a process called SlipStreaming to build a new CD with the SP2 update on it

Slipstream XP SP2 CD

Listener Gary did it and said it worked great. Saved him having to spend $135 on XP Pro SP2 or $75 on Home (upgrade prices?).

MacGathering Free Passes

If you would like to go to the exhibit hall at the Mac Gathering event there are a limited number of free passes available. Go to the website and use the code 'MacCast'.

www.macgathering.com

If you want to go to the seminars the same code will get you a one day pass for US$49 or a two day pass for US$89