OS X Leopard 10.5.4 Available

Apple has released OS X 10.5.4 today. Check out your software update app to download the newest version. Here’s the lowdown on what it fixes.

General

• Includes recent Apple security updates.
• Resolves an issue with saving and reopening Adobe Creative Suite 3 files on a remote server.
• Includes additional RAW image support for several cameras.
• Addresses an issue that may result in a partially installed X11 application.
• Improves L2TP VPN client reliability.

AirPort

• Addresses AirPort reliability issues with 5GHz networks.
• Addresses AirPort issues that may result in slower performance in Logic Studio or MainStage.

iCal

• Improves overall iCal reliability for meeting requests, cancellation notices, delegation, and syncing with iPhone.
• Resolves an issue that prevents deleting an iCal event without notifying the creator.
• Addresses an issue in which events in all calendars affect availability.  A checkbox now enables information-only calendars to be transparent from free/busy lookups.
• Resolves a UI issue preventing delegated calendars from showing up as a separate window.
• Addresses an issue with copying and pasting attendees from one event to another.
• Resolves an issue in which iCal may not delete events after a specified time interval, even when set to do so in iCal preferences.
• Addresses an issue in which To Dos cannot be marked private.

Safari

• Addresses a potential performance issue when loading secure web pages.
• Resolves issues that may be encountered when accessing secure web pages with client certificates that reside on a smart card.

Spaces and Exposé

• Addresses an issue in which switching from a space with a Finder window keeps the Finder as the active application instead of the application residing in the destination space.
• Fixes an issue in which dragging an application from the list of application assignments in Spaces System Preferences does not assign the application to the desired space.
• Resolves an Exposé issue that may result in only a subset of windows being shown.

[Read via Apple via Chris Pirillo]

iPhone 3G Activations Slightly Clearer

[Image via techtarget.com]

Another memo from AT&T regarding iPhone 3G activation has been leaked. An iTunes utility shortcut has been pushed to AT&T stores to help facilitate the unbricking of the iPhone. Employees have been told, though, to not open it until July 11 as it is a partial version used only for activations. 

It looks like that activations will be done in-store although it hasn’t been clarified if the two-step process will be used. The memo also asks that employees take on extra shifts as greeters, crowd managers and floor coordinators. Network engineers are also at work, continuing to make fine adjustments to the 3G network, readying it for July 11.

I wonder how fast 3G will be on opening day? There’ll be many iPhones hitting the airwaves in 3G, me included.

Memo in its entirety is over at MacNN.

 

[Read at MacNN via Mike Kochansky]

Happy Birthday iPhone!

Yep, your favorite buddy is turned 1 year old at 6:00 EST. This was the phone that changed it all! Now there’s a pile of touchscreen mobile phones, but only one can take the cake (no pun intended). The iPhone changed every notion of what we thought a smart phone should be, and has, of late, given RIM, Palm, and other smart phone manufacturers a run for their money. Currently, the iPhone has 90% customer service satisfaction. 98% use mobile safari, 94% are using email, 90% are text messaging, and 80% are using 10 or more features.

Amazing huh?

A lot has also changed in one year for ‘ol iPhone. One major change is pricing over the year. From the $599 8GB and $499 GB models, to dropping the 4 GB model, and finally $399 for 8GB and $499 for 16 GB. Now, iPhone 3G is priced at $199* and $299* for the 8 GB and 16 GB models respectively.

Now, the real moment is July 11th.

 

[Read at TUAW]

 

*$199 and $299 prices are for those qualifying for AT&T handset upgrades. Click this link for further information.

Blizzard Announces Diablo III for Mac, Starcraft II

Blizzard has officially announced Diablo III, almost a decade after Diablo II. Plans are to simultaneously release Starcraft II on the same date, both of which will come in delicious PC and Mac versions.

Specifics on D3, like system requirements and release date, haven’t been released to public yet. What is known is that D3 will run on a custom 3D graphics engine and will contain worlds similar to D2.

Starcraft II and Diablo 3 on the same day? Can you say nerd freakout?

EDIT: Sorry! I said that Starcraft II and Diablo III will release on the same day, this was incorrect. I misread the TUAW entry and posted that statement immediately. Premature excitement . Thanks to rbarris at Blizzard for that correction!

 

[Read at TUAW]

It’s About That Time of Year

No, not THAT time of the year – but it has just about the same amount of excitement.

That’s right folks, it’s the time of refreshing for the iPod lines! FBR research analyst Craig Berger, with his number crunching and analysis abilities, predicts that there will be a lower priced iPod nano and a refresh to the classic and touch lines. It’s almost been a year since the touch intro and “classic” branding, so his prediction is most likely correct. Also, and this goes without saying, Apple will make iPhones by the boat-load.

What features do you want to see in the classic/nano/touch lines?

 

[Read at Engadget]

US Businesses Likey The Mac

According to Computerworld, a Yankee Group Research report found that 80% of US businesses now use Macs. Doesn’t that give you just a warm fuzzy feeling? This is almost twice as much than what was reported two years ago. Yankee Group also estimates that Apple’s market share is up to 8-10% overall.

That’s right, Mac has a hold on the corporate industry as well.

I’m sure that iPhone and iPod have contributed to this change dramatically. Called the halo (not this) effect, iPhone and iPod sales have turned on their customers to try the Mac out. I know a few people that, after buying an iPod or iPod touch, have converted over to a Mac. Also, lets face it, iPhone IS a Mac. Built on the same API’s as OS X such as Open GL ES, Core Animation, and Power Management, the iPhone is essentially a Mac on the go. When people see how easy it is to use iPhone or iPod/iPod Touch, they think it must be the same with Mac and… Voila! Halo effect.

Mark another one on the scoreboard for the boys at Cupertino!

 

[Read at TUAW]

 

Me.com Email Address Up and Running

 

For all of you .Mac subscribers, you may have noticed that your pretty @mac.com suffix has changed to the fantabulous @me.com. Now if we can get the cloud working soon…

 

[Read at MacRumors]

 

iPhone Rates Announced in Canada

This really wasn’t that much of a well-kept rumor, but Rogers is the official carrier for Canada. Prices have been posted by Rogers at the link. Happy to get that iPhone eh?

Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

[Link]

 

[Read at TUAW)

Parallels on Sale for $49

MacHeist has Parallels discounted to $49, $39 for previous MacHeist bundle owners. I personally prefer VMware Fusion, but that’s just me.

Wall-E!!!

So, if you haven’t seen Wall-E yet… you must!

No spoilers here, but you will get tears. But just tell your girl or group of friends they’re “man-tears.” For the hardcore mac-heads in here, if you listen in when Wall-E boots up, you hear the classic Mac startup sound. This does make sense since Steve Jobs is the CEO and largest shareholder of Pixar. Not to mention Johnny Ive designed Wall-e and Apple products.

And if this isn’t enough for you, Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 97%.

UPDATE: Adam Frucci from Gizmodo posted an excellent review! Check out the link below.

 

[Link]