Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Wait to Update to 10.4.10:
Last week, Apple released a major update to Mac OS X Tiger. Mac OS 10.4.10 has the distinction of being the highest incremental update since the release of Mac OS X (10.x.9 had been the highest it's ever gone), but that is not the only departure for Apple concerning this update.
Many users are experiencing problems, though most are minor. Perhaps the most annoying of which is a persistent popping sound, most noticeable when using external speakers. Other issues include somewhat degraded sound quality, signal-strength issues when connected to some wireless networks and, the most extreme, problems launching some applications.
So the verdict is still out. LA MACTECH will continue to investigate the various issues associated with this update, as well as the fixes Apple will release to address, in particular, the intermittent popping and clicking faced by the many 10.4.10 users.
The only reason to jump on the 10.4.10 bandwagon right away is that this update brings new iPhone capabilities to Mac OS X. If you are planning to be the first on your block to purchase an iPhone, you will need to update.
Please see last week's issue of iFAQ's for important update guidelines. Also visit MacFixIt.com for complete coverage of the 10.4.10 update.
iPhone. Will uPhone?
While we admittedly have iPhone envy, we are going to wait just a little while to purchase our iPhones. We certainly won't be camping out in front of the Apple Store in the line that iPhone-phanatics have already formed! We will, however, be supporting the iPhone from day one, so bring it on!
The release of the iPhone is almost here. On Friday, June 29th at 6:00 PM (local time) the revolutionary handheld will be available at Apple Stores nationwide and online. Service is locked to AT&T (keep in mind that AT&T is one of the few telephone companies that volunteered confidential user data to the NSA), and requires a 2-year contract with the telephone giant.
In a joint press release issued yesterday, Apple and AT&T announced aggressively-priced service plans. Please visit Apple.com for details.
Another unique quality of the iPhone is the activation process: right through iTunes. Both new and existing AT&T customers may activate using iTunes. iTunes can also handle moving your current mobile number to AT&T! Anyone that has ever waited on hold endlessly to activate their cell phone will certainly appreciate this new, innovative activation method.
However, with the release of any piece of brand-new hardware, the first devices off the assembly line will, no doubt, exhibit some hardware- or perhaps even software-related issues. While Apple and AT&T will work those issues out quickly, one must balance “I've got to have it now” geekery with first-off-the-line reality. Nonetheless, the early adapters will, no doubt, will be the envy of Gadget Freaks everywhere.
Surfin' Safari:
In addition to 10.4.10, Apple released Security Update 2007-006 last week along with a new beta version of the Safari Web browser for Mac and for Windows. The Security Update update is geared toward making Safari more secure. While some users have experienced issues with this update we do recommend applying the Security Update.
To apply the update, go to the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your Menu Bar and select “Software Update..” Your Mac will search for available updates. Select everything EXCEPT the 10.4.10 Update by unchecking that particular update, and then click “Update.”
Remember to follow the update guidelines (see last week's issue of iFAQ's for details). As with any major Operationg System update, you should Quit all open applications, unmount and disconnect USB and Firewire devices, and you should sit back and relax until the update is complete.
For our Type A customers (we include ourselves in that catagory!), repair permissions before and after the update. Do this by going to /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility. Select your startup drive from the list on the left and press “Repair Permissions” toward the buttom of the window. You may quit Disk Utility when you receive the message that permissions have been repaired.
Safari 3 Beta:
Those adventurous types that have already installed Safari Beta 3 do not need to apply the Security Update: It is included in the 3.0.2 Safari beta update. Please also remember that Safari 3 is beta software. Although this beta brings exciting new features to Safari, along with blazing new speed, it is still a work in progress and will have bugs. It also adds new system frameworks to your Mac that affect other programs like Mail, Widgets and 3rd party software that rely on Safari to render pages from the Internet.
You can always revert to Safari 2 using the Apple-supplied uninstall utility to downgrade. The utility, called Safari3BetaUninstall.pkg, is included with the Safari 3 Beta installer on Apple's Website.