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Apple news
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
IPAD REFUSES TO FLASH
Apple have announced their latest hardware release, the much speculated-over iPad, which like the iPhone does not support Flash. The iPad appears to be a much bigger version of the iPhone, with a 10 inch multi-touch display panel, wi-fi and optional 3G support, built-in speakers and microphone and a selection of memory capacities – 16gb, 32gb and 64gb. Whilst the iPad is certainly a pretty machine it lacks USB connectivity and the ability to multi-task, features that in the current generation of hardware are essential to remain competitive. Other tablets due to hit the market soon will look less stylish, but will feature enough necessary bells and whistles to trump Apple’s latest offering.(Source: El Reg)
Epicentre Says: “Apple has missed a few tricks with the iPad by omitting key features, though later versions will probably address these oversights. Early adopters may find themselves regretting their purchases when they discover they’re only able to run AppStore applications and not full-featured software packages. Apple’s continued refusal to offer support for the Flash plug-in may also turn many users away from what appears to be intended as a browsing solution for those that don’t want a full desk- or laptop machine.”
Friday, 22 January 2010
APPLE FLINGS FIXES, EYES 7
Apple has released a new security update patch, addressing issues in both OSX 10.5 and 10.6. The included fixes patch a number of issues, including two that limit potential code execution vulnerabilities. The fix also includes a previously released fix from Adobe for the Flash Player, which originally arrived in December of 2009 but has been added to the bundle for anyone that missed it. Other security elements have also been updated and are available through the automatic software update feature of OS X. Apple have also released an update for Boot Camp, 3.1, finally providing support for Windows 7.(Source: CNet)
Epicentre Says: “Boot Camp’s support for Windows 7 will be welcomed by many Apple users wanting a look at Microsoft’s distinctly Apple-flavoured OS. The wealth of fixes and tweaks available in the security update shows Apple’s ongoing commitment to providing the most secure operating system on the market.”
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
SAFARI BITS FIXED
Apple has released a minor update to Safari, 4.0.4, addressing a number of security issues and adding some performance and stability tweaks. Amongst these are a fix for HTML5 object handling and a fix for opening pages in new tabs or windows which could lead to disclosure of information. Another fix has prevented execution of code in the libxml 2 library. A tweak for JavaScript handling has also been included, offering greater performance when searching large sections of history.(Source: Ars Technica)
Epicentre Says: “Safari doesn’t offer much in the way of impressive features, but its performance is generally rock solid and reliable. As tweaks and fixes are applied its sturdiness improves, but whether or not this will gain it any new users remains to be seen. With Firefox growing stronger by the day and threatening to eclipse IE, Safari may remain the exclusive preserve of Apple users.”
Monday, 2 November 2009
BOOT CAMP HAS 7 COVERED
Apple has confirmed that their Boot Camp software will support Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7, in OSX Snow Leopard. Boot Camp will support the Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate versions, though this will require an update to the boot managing software. Support is expected to begin before the end of the year. Apple has also stated that early-Intel based Macs, including older iMacs and MacBook Pros from 2006, would not feature this support.(Source: El Reg)
Epicentre Says: “Apple’s announcement isn’t much of a surprise, as previous versions of Boot Camp have supported the most commonly-used Windows operating systems. However, the announcement’s timing, arriving the day of 7’s release, may have a small impact on Microsoft’s release.”
Friday, 23 October 2009
MACS ALMOST GET CHROME AT LAST
Google’s Chrome browser finally has a stable Mac release, which should be of great interest to the Apple faithful. The release is mooted as a developer preview build, with Google warning that this is neither a beta nor a full release, though various nightly developer builds have been made available previously. As with the many Windows versions that have surfaced to date, Chrome for Mac features the ‘sandbox tabbing’ that runs each tab as its own separate process, which can prevent a single tab from crashing the whole browser.Google’s Chrome has performed well in both speed and security tests, with Chrome being the only browser to have not been hacked at the most recent Pwn2Own hacking contest in the spring. Chrome is also able to import bookmarks, settings and history from Safari and accesses the Mac Keychain system for passwords saved on your machine. This release will do well for Google’s foray into the browser market, opening themselves to the Mac audience which is quickly gaining presence.
(Source: Ars Technica)
Epicentre Says: "Chrome’s performance to date has been impressive, with the browser rapidly sinking its teeth into the market and garnering itself many happy customers. Whilst this release appears stable enough to use for general daily use, it is not intended to be anyone’s default Mac browser as of yet. This latest release shows that Google are taking the Mac seriously and shows an intention to stick with the platform, which will in turn create an even wider area of compatibility issues to be aware of when developing. Epicentre advises keeping an eye on Mac Chrome and getting to know the browser better as these early builds arrive."
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