Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Apple Fixes MySpace QuickTime Security Hole

As previously mentioned here on the AppleBlog, a QuickTime web security hole was first recognized on the popular social networking site MySpace. The security breach in QuickTime was successfully manipulated by phishing scammers in attempts to steal personal account information. Very bad.

Apple posted a security fix for the QuickTime multimedia player today, available from the Mac OS X Software Update menu. Very good.

Friday, December 15, 2006

Photoshop CS3 Beta Available Today

Adobe is expected to release Photoshop CS3 Beta this afternoon for download and testing. (Direct download)

This beta release offers the first look at the Intel-native version expected to be available for purchase during spring of 2007. The most apparent enhancement is a substantial speed boost over previous versions of Photoshop on Intel Macs. Other changes include expanded non-destructive filters, new icons on revamped collapsing palettes, and a major reworking of the file browser, Bridge. A detailed initial review from Photoshop User examines what's new and different.

The download file for Photoshop CS3 Beta is huge (about 700 MB), thus you may want to pluck this tool from Adobe after hours. Those with a license for any version of Photoshop may use the new beta until the final version is released, whereas those without a license will discover that the beta expires in two days.

Following the switch from PowerPC processors to Intel this year, some graphic artists chose to wait for more Intel-native applications such as Photoshop before upgrading. With the release of Photoshop CS3 Beta, adding an Intel Mac Pro tower or MacBook Pro laptop for graphic arts production is looking ever more enticing.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

FixMacs Clients Make College News


Donated computers from FixMacs clients have made it possible for the award-winning student newspaper at Contra Costa College to migrate to modern production tools this year.

The Advocate, a weekly newspaper published (in print and online) by the journalism students, was using antiquated software on ancient Macs until recently. With Mac computer donations kindly originating from FixMacs clients, the journalism department, under the tutelage of Paul DeBolt, has been able to migrate newspaper production from ten-year-old QuarkXPress 3.3 to InDesign, a state-of-the-art desktop publishing application.

The college is grateful for the enduring, tangible educational improvements that flowed directly from your valuable contributions of computer hardware. FixMacs continues to accept donated Apple computers for the college. Although the department has received several G4 Power Macs and a G5 recently, great value and usage is realized by the students with even modest contributions. For example, optical mice are sorely needed. If you have a spare optical mouse around the house or office that you will part with, please do contact me. Your contributions are tax deductible.

Thanks also go out to Infrant Technologies for their donation of a file server (ReadyNAS NV), and to GeeThree for several G4's with Sweet Multiports.

Each and every donation is valued.

Monday, December 04, 2006

QuickTime Phishing Exploit at MySpace

Users of the popular social networking site, MySpace, beware.

Due to a "feature" in QuickTime, a phishing exploit is racing through MySpace capturing personal data such as logins from the unsuspecting. Take care when logging in to your MySpace account, making sure the URL for the login window is in fact myspace.com.

Until Apple releases a fix for this problem, MySpace fans are urged to use caution. Details about this phishing exploit are outlined on the Guardian Technology blog.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

FixMacs Offers Free Passes to Macworld Expo

I will be working at the GeeThree.com booth again this year during Macworld Expo. If you'd like to attend the show held January 9th-12th, I have a limited number of free passes available to clients on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring your interest to my attention with an email.

Apple Releases Major Security Update

Apple released a major security update which can be downloaded from Software Update within Mac OS.

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