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Apple issues Leopard update with Flashback removal tool

Jason Hidalgo — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:01:00 EST

Folks still rocking Apple's Leopard may have been feeling left out after Lion and Snow Leopard both got an update for addressing that Flashback malware. If you're one of them, you'll be glad to know that Apple has finally issued a Leopard fix that comes with a removal tool for the vulnerability afflicting its big cats. In addition to a 1.23MB Flashback update, Apple also released a second 1.11MB fix for Leopard that disables versions of Adobe Flash Player that don't have the requisite security updates. Both should further whittle down the number of Apple computers affected by the Flashback trojan. For the actual updates, feel free to pounce on the source links below.

Apple issues Leopard update with Flashback removal tool originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple offering free Snow Leopard update to MobileMe holdouts

Darren Murph — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:49:00 EST

Mama had it right -- procrastination is bad -- but mama never knew Apple. For Leopard users still clinging tightly to their MobileMe account, it looks like the path to iCloud just got a wee bit cheaper. Qualifying MobileMe holdouts are reportedly receiving email notifications that point them to a special portal; behind a registration form, folks are finding a free copy of OS X 10.6 (on DVD, no less). The goal here is to get customers to make yet another jump to Lion (an extra $29), but the idea of keeping most of that cloud functionality via iCloud is certainly enticing. As MacNN so accurately points out, it's odd that Apple's not including the $69 USB drive version of Lion, which contains the ability to boost even Leopard users to OS X 10.7. If you're one that generally skips out on reading those automated Apple emails, you might want to make an exception for this one.

Apple offering free Snow Leopard update to MobileMe holdouts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smithsonian captures 201,000 wild photos with automated cameras

Kevin Wong — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:31:00 EST

We have this big, fang-filled, claw-sharpened big cat all up in our grill thanks to the researchers at the Smithsonian, who have created a new database filled with over 201,000 pictures of elusive animals in their natural habitats. These candid shots were made possible with motion-activated automated cameras scattered around the world, and feature over 200 species of birds and mammals, and here's most impressive part -- these photos are au naturel. That's right... there's no editing here, these are untouched raw shots straight from the rain forests of places like Peru and China -- which allow us to see these magnificent creatures as scientists do. If you want more info or desire to check out these wild photos, hop over to the source link or check out the gallery below.

Gallery: Smithsonian Wild caught on camera

Smithsonian captures 201,000 wild photos with automated cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USB 3.0 for Mac review and benchmarks (with a LaCie 2big USB 3.0)

Darren Murph — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:45:00 EST

It took LaCie nearly a full year to ship the 2big USB 3.0 RAID drive -- a device that was announced in the fall of 2009 -- but now that it's here, it's being accompanied by a concept that actually far outshines the unit itself: USB 3.0 on a Mac. For whatever reason, Apple has refused to offer SuperSpeed USB on any of its machines, even a fully specced-out Mac Pro costing well north of $10,000. We've seen purported emails from Steve Jobs noting that USB 3.0 just isn't mainstream enough to sweat just yet, but coming from the guy who's still bearish on Blu-ray, we get the feeling that it'll be ~~quite some time~~ far too long before Apple finally caves and upgrades from USB 2.0. We're obviously no fans of the holdout -- after all, even a few sub-$500 netbooks are enjoying the SuperSpeed spoils already -- so we couldn't have possibly been more excited to hear that a longstanding storage vendor was about to fill the void that Cupertino continues to ignore. We were able to pick up a LaCie USB 3.0 PCIe expansion card as well as a 4TB (2 x 2TB) 2big USB 3.0 drive and put the whole setup through its paces on our in-house Mac Pro. Care to see how it stacked up against USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800? Head on past the break for the grisly details.

Gallery: LaCie USB 3.0 PCIe expansion card and 2big HDD

Continue reading USB 3.0 for Mac review and benchmarks (with a LaCie 2big USB 3.0)

USB 3.0 for Mac review and benchmarks (with a LaCie 2big USB 3.0) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Mac App Store: open for business starting January 6th

Darren Murph — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:42:00 EST

Consider the rumors quelled. Despite whispers that Apple would be starting up the Mac App Store in the final year of this decade (or the first of the next, depending on perspective), the Cupertino giant has just affirmed that it'll be 2011 before the general populace gets to dig their hands into it. January 6th is the opening date for the Mac App Store, and unfortunately for those still humming along on OS X 10.5, it'll be a Snow Leopard-only affair. Smack dab in the middle of CES, Apple plans to unleash the store in 90 countries, and it'll feature "paid and free apps in categories like Education, Games, Graphics & Design, Lifestyle, Productivity and Utilities." Naturally, it'll be a free update, and it'll work more or less exactly like the App Store does on your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. As with those outlets, developers are able to set their own prices and then keep 70 percent of the revenue (provided it's a paid app). So, who's ready to blow a little Santa cash to ring in the new year?

Continue reading Apple Mac App Store: open for business starting January 6th

Apple Mac App Store: open for business starting January 6th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake: 'MacBook Pro' runs 'OS X,' dodges questions on 'legitimacy'

Darren Murph — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:22:00 EST

Oh, sure -- we've seen a litany of knockoff MacBook Pro units, but how's about one that actually ships with OS X? As the level of nerve skyrockets towards infinity, an unnamed manufacturer in an unnamed section of China seems to be hawking a lookalike MBP with Snow Leopard onboard -- a feat that even Psystar couldn't achieve for long. As the story goes, around $466 buys you a 14-inch machine with a paltry 1.66GHz Atom D510 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and NVIDIA's Ion 2 graphics platform. Oh, and a glowing Apple logo on the lid. Unfortunately, the dodgy specifications list seems somewhat reluctant to "admit" that "OS X" is actually loaded on, but it's there. Trust us. We think.

Keepin' it real fake: 'MacBook Pro' runs 'OS X,' dodges questions on 'legitimacy' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X Leopard installed on HTC Shift, just a WiFi shy of awesomeness

Darren Murph — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:05:00 EST

Digg It's been well over three years since we saw OS X hacked onto Sony's VAIO UX, meaning that it's just about time for yet another of yesteryear's best tablets to receive the OS that Apple refuses to place on its own tablet. Thanks to dedicated code junkies over at xda developers, HTC's ill-fated Shift is getting a new lease on life by proving its ability to run OS X 10.5.6. Sadly, it looks as if an upgrade to Snow Leopard is out of the question due to some file changes between 10.5 and 10.6, but the biggest killer is the current build's inability to provide WiFi and Bluetooth support. The instructions to follow suit are right there in the source link, but good luck making good use of this without cordless access to the world wide web.

Mac OS X Leopard installed on HTC Shift, just a WiFi shy of awesomeness originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eurocom rolls out workstation-class X8100 Leopard laptop

Donald Melanson — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:49:00 EST

Demand a bit more from your laptop than mere mortals do? Then you might want to give Eurocom's new workstation-class X8100 Leopard some consideration. Apparently designed for gamers and engineers alike, the X8100 packs an 18.4-inch 1920 x 1080 display, a Core i7 Extreme processor, your choice of a slew of different high-end graphics options in single or SLI / CrossFireX configurations (including the ATI HD5870 and NVIDIA GTX 480M), and up to four SATA-300 hard drives in various RAID configurations for up to 3TB of storage -- to name just a few standout features. Of course, the laptop does also weigh twelve pounds and has a price tag that's on a need-to-know basis -- but can you really put a price on five different LED color options? Head on past the break for the complete press release, and hit up the gallery below for a closer look at the laptop itself.

Gallery: Eurocom X8100 Leopard

Continue reading Eurocom rolls out workstation-class X8100 Leopard laptop

Eurocom rolls out workstation-class X8100 Leopard laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drobo FS gains native Time Machine support, we go hands-on

Darren Murph — Thu, 20 May 2010 08:30:00 EST

Praise wasn't hard to find when Data Robotics finally caved and crafted a Drobo NAS drive last month, but ever since we've been itching to test one out and see how it actually fared. We've had our fair share of awful NAS experiences, particularly in mixed-platform environments, but we recently had the chance to sit down with a unit to test out the company's latest addition: Time Machine support. We asked the outfit why support for Apple's innate backup service was coming just after the product launch, and it really boils down to decisions based on fiscal calendars, accounting practices and other scenarios that interest you not. Fact is, though, the gratis update is being pushed out today through the Drobo Dashboard, and all Drobo FS users should be able to download the new build and start taking advantage right away. We stuffed our unit with four different sized SATA drives from different manufacturers, and just like the company promised, the Drobo FS took 'em all in as if they were equal. Hop on past the break for more of our setup experience.

Gallery: Drobo FS unboxing

Continue reading Drobo FS gains native Time Machine support, we go hands-on

Drobo FS gains native Time Machine support, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 May 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA GTX 480M will bring Fermi to laptops this June, crazy power requirements and all

Vlad Savov — Sun, 02 May 2010 06:39:00 EST

We had an inkling NVIDIA wouldn't keep the Fermi goodness just to the desktop and here's our first pseudo-official confirmation. Rushing in ahead of any announcements, Eurocom has started listing a GeForce GTX 480M part, replete with 2GB of GDDR5 memory and a $345 markup relative to ATI's Mobility Radeon HD 5870. It's not clear whether the 100W number refers to the TDP or power requirements of NVIDIA's new GPU, but it's safe to expect both to be pretty high. The MXM 3.0b interface provides a 256-bit linkup between the GPU and CPU, lending plenty of bandwidth, but it also demands plenty of PCB real estate. As a result, Eurocom is offering the GTX 480M on its 17-inch Cheetah and Panther and 18.4-inch Leopard desktop replacements, but not on its 15.6-inch Cougar. Man, no love for the Cougars. According to the listing, we're only a month or so away from release.

[Thanks, Jacob]

NVIDIA GTX 480M will bring Fermi to laptops this June, crazy power requirements and all originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 May 2010 06:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple updates Snow Leopard to 10.6.3, loads of minor quirks get patched

Darren Murph — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:37:00 EST

Nearly five months after OS X 10.6.2 hit the pipes (and just seven months after 10.6.1), Apple has updated its Snow Leopard operating system to v10.6.3. Weighing in rather heavily at 757.3MB (when you upgrade from 10.6.2, anyway), this mammoth update brings along a laundry list of fixes, including improved reliability and compatibility of QuickTime X, a resolution to an issue that prevented files from copying to Windows file servers and boosted reliability of third-party USB input devices. You can check the full changelog after the break, but in all honesty, we're guessing that the unwritten change is integrated support for Intel's mobile Core i5 / Core i7 chips, both of which should become options on the MacBook Pro line as early as ~~tomorrow~~ last week. Fire up Software Update to get the download rolling, but only if you're cool with subjecting yourself to all sorts of unknown application breaks. We're installing it ourselves here at Engadget HQ, and we'll update the post if anything catastrophic happens.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Apple updates Snow Leopard to 10.6.3, loads of minor quirks get patched

Apple updates Snow Leopard to 10.6.3, loads of minor quirks get patched originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charlie Miller to reveal 20 zero day security holes in Mac OS X

Darren Murph — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:29:00 EST

Say, Charles -- it's been awhile! But we're pleased as punch to see that you're back to your old ways, poking around within OS X's mainframe just looking for ways to remotely control the system, snag credit card data and download a few interoffice love letters that are carefully stashed 15 folders down within 'Documents.' The famed Apple security expert is planning yet another slam on OS X at CanSecWest, where he'll reveal no fewer than 20 zero day security holes within OS X. According to Miller, "OS X has a large attack surface consisting of open source components, closed source third-party components and closed source Apple components; bugs in any of these types of components can lead to remote compromise." He also goes on to reemphasize something he's been screaming for years: "Mac OS X is like living in a farmhouse in the country with no locks, and Windows is living in a house with bars on the windows in the bad part of town." In other words, Apple users are "safer" (due to the lack of work that goes into hacking them), "but less secure." So, is this a weird way of applying for a security job in Cupertino, or what?

Charlie Miller to reveal 20 zero day security holes in Mac OS X originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple finally brings official Windows 7 support to Boot Camp (update: 27-inch iMac fix)

Darren Murph — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:53:00 EST

Either Apple isn't operating on the Gregorian calender, or these updates are just straight-up late. Either way, we're pretty stoked to see the suits in Cupertino finally wise up and allow Microsoft's best OS ever to work on its machines, as it has today issued new Boot Camp software (v3.1) for both 32-bit and 64-bit users of Windows 7. The updates add native support for Win7 Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate, and in case that wasn't enough, they also fix "issues" with the Apple trackpad and add support for Apple's wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse. You'll also find model-specific drivers floating around to add even more support, and the Boot Camp Utility for Windows 7 Upgrade is said to "safely unmount the read-only Macintosh volume on Windows Vista" when upgrading from Vista to Windows 7. Hit those links below for all the bits and bytes that you've been so desperately waiting for.

Update: we're hearing reports that the 27-inch iMac is responding to Windows 7 with the Black Screen of Death, so make sure you use this tool from Apple before installing Windows 7. Too late? Then you'll have to manually remove the offending default ATI drivers by starting from point 4 on this page (hold down Option key while booting up to select the Windows install disc, by the way), and then try the Boot Camp update again.

Apple finally brings official Windows 7 support to Boot Camp (update: 27-inch iMac fix) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leopard and Snow Leopard flaw exploited in proof of concept, real-world tomfoolery surely coming soon

Tim Stevens — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:05:00 EST

Look at you, all cuddled up with your Leopard install, sipping on a steamy hot cocoa, watching the snow fall outdoors, and thinking you don't have a care in the world. We hate to break it to ya but you do have a care, a big one, thanks to a proof of concept hack exploiting a buffer overflow in MacOS 10.5 and 10.6. The flaw has been known about since June, but only now has it been proven to work on Cupertino's latest, and a very straightforward code example of how to use it has been posted online. You know what that means: watch out for those e-mail attachments. Interestingly, the flaw is also said to possibly exist in the PS3 as well, which could make for a very interesting spring -- cocoa or no.

Leopard and Snow Leopard flaw exploited in proof of concept, real-world tomfoolery surely coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Psystar to shut down 'immediately,' world shrugs

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:51:00 EST

Has the saga finally come to an end? Dow Jones is reporting that Psystar will be firing its eight employees and then "shutting things down immediately," in the words of the company's attorney with the bad-ass name, Eugene Action. Besides, after the latest round of losses at the hands of Apple, this should come as a shock to nobody. Now that we've put all that behind us, can we concentrate on something of importance -- like Tweeting swears from the Zune HD Twitter app?

Psystar to shut down 'immediately,' world shrugs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Psystar banned from copying any version of OS X, helping others install it

Nilay Patel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:43:00 EST

And it's all over, folks: The US District Court for the Northern District of California has just permanently forbidden wannbe Mac cloner Psystar from selling modified versions of OS X, providing any tools that enable users to bypass the OS X kernel encryption, and / or intentionally aiding anyone else from infringing Apple's OS X copyrights in any way. We knew this was coming following Apple's decisive victory against Psystar last month -- the only open questions were whether the court would include Snow Leopard and Psytar's Rebel EFI software in the ban, since the lawsuit was specifically about Leopard and Rebel EFI wasn't the subject of any proceedings. Both issues were predictably resolved in favor of Apple: the court specifically included Snow Leopard and any future versions of OS X in the scope of the injunction, and while Judge Alsup couldn't address Rebel EFI directly, he did expressly forbid Psystar from "manufacturing, importing, offering to the public, providing, or otherwise trafficking" in anything that circumvents Apple's OS X hardware locks -- which we'd say covers Rebel EFI's functionality pretty thoroughly. Psystar has until December 31 to comply, and the Judge Alsup isn't kidding around: "Defendant must immediately begin this process, and take the quickest path to compliance; thus, if compliance can be achieved within one hour after this order is filed, defendant shall reasonably see it done." Psystar can still appeal, obviously, but it's already got its own hefty legal bills and a $2.67m fine to pay to Apple, so we've got a feeling this one might have reached the end of the line.

P.S.- Amusingly, Judge Alsup appears to be pretty sick of Apple's shenanigans as well: in the section discussing Snow Leopard, he says Apple first tried to block any discovery of Snow Leopard before the OS was released, and then pushed to include the software in the case after it launched. That's why the Florida case over Snow Leopard wasn't merged into this case -- Alsup thought it was a "slick tactic" that "smacked of trying to 'have it both ways,' and offended [his] sense of fair play." Ouch.

Psystar banned from copying any version of OS X, helping others install it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X 10.6.2 update out on the prowl (update: Atom support is gone)

Ross Miller — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:33:00 EST

It's been awhile, but we've got ourselves a brand spanking new OS X update in the mix, 10.6.2 for Snow Leopard. So far the biggest change here seems to be fixing that nagging guest account deletion bug -- and thank goodness for that. As for whether or not it supports Intel Atom processors, last we heard this morning it wasn't going to be there, but we're gonna have wait and see now that it's officially hit the nets. Leopard users who haven't made the upgrade also get a gift today, in the form of a security update. 10.6.2 release notes after the break.

Update: We just installed it -- it took forever and a day on one of our machines, and sped by reasonably quick on another. Everything seems okay otherwise, how about you?

Update 2: We've gotten enough reports to call it -- Atom support is out. Sorry, hackintosh community.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading Mac OS X 10.6.2 update out on the prowl (update: Atom support is gone)

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Mac OS X 10.6.2 update out on the prowl (update: Atom support is gone) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orb for Mac finally arrives, streams media from OS X to any internet-connected device

Darren Murph — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:43:00 EST

Wow, where've you been, Orb? It's been a full year since we heard anything from the once-adored media streaming outfit, and while it's been streaming out content to iPhones for quite some time, those relying on Macs to do it have been left in the damp night air. Until now, that is. Orb for Macintosh has finally hit the streets, bringing with it OS X 10.5 and 10.6 compatibility that enables any and all media from iTunes to be sent out over the internet and consumed on any outside device with access to the web. We're talking laptops, UMPCs, smartphones and even that ancient PC your grandmother still uses with Windows ME. There's no mention of any DRM restrictions, and it'll even allow you to stream live TV if you can manage to connect a tuner card to your Apple. Oh, and did we mention that Orb is completely free? Hit the download link below to get your weekend started off right.

Read - Download Orb
Read - Press release

Filed under: Media streamers

Orb for Mac finally arrives, streams media from OS X to any internet-connected device originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orb for Mac finally arrives, streams media from OS X to any internet-connected device

Darren Murph — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:43:00 EST

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software

Orb for Mac finally arrives, streams media from OS X to any internet-connected device originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZFS open source project abruptly shuts down, Snow Leopard weeps icy tears

Darren Murph — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:09:00 EST

The on-again / off-again love affair between Apple and ZFS seems to be all but over, with a brief but potent message on the Mac OS Forge project site stating the following: "The ZFS project has been discontinued. The mailing list and repository will also be removed shortly." If you'll recall, the implementation of the ZFS file system within Snow Leopard server was so close to happening that Apple actually published it as a feature of the forthcoming OS back in June of 2008. Now, however, all hope has presumably been lost. We'd bother explaining the rumors behind why all of this has suddenly crumbled, but honestly, will knowing the reasons really help the pain? No, no it won't.

[Via TUAW]

Filed under: Software

ZFS open source project abruptly shuts down, Snow Leopard weeps icy tears originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Snow Leopard?

Darren Murph — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:39:00 EST

Ah, Snow Leopard. It's the same cat you're used to caressing (or beating, as the case may be), but in a much, much colder climate. Or something like that. OS X 10.6 promised Leopard users a "refined" experience, and one that would only cost upgrading users $29. At that price, most Apple fanatics figured that picking it up on launch day was a no-brainer, but as we've come to sadly expect from Cupertino's software labs these days, all wasn't perfectly well with the big snowy cat. Even now, users are still kvetching about broken functionality and mental pains that are literally indescribable. Even if you're not in that camp, we're eager to hear how your Snow Leopard experience has been. Are you satisfied with the upgrade? Will you never, ever install an Apple update again before a million others try it first? Are you already looking forward to ~~10.7~~ Windows 7? Tell all in comments below -- you never know who could be tuning in.

Filed under: Software

How would you change Snow Leopard? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard: what's broken (or working) for you?

Darren Murph — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:23:00 EST

Remember that time you installed Windows XP before it even hit the market? Remember how your AGP video card would only display a maximum resolution of 800 x 600 and your audio card would only emit bleeps and bloops? Ah, those were the days. Quite a bit has happened since XP landed to wash away the awful stain that was Windows ME, though it's still no shock to hear that new operating systems leave more than a few applications broken. Over the past few days, we've seen oodles of gripes from across the web from loyal Mac users who just can't believe Snow Leopard has borked their favorite software, but we're wondering how things have been on your machine. Have you realized that your Optimus Maximus no longer boogies with OS X 10.6? Are you bummed that iStat pro isn't giving you the details it used to? What kind of hell has broken loose since you threw caution in the garbage and updated your machine?

View Poll

Filed under: Software

Snow Leopard: what's broken (or working) for you? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard review

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:01:00 EST

Snow Leopard. Even the name seems to underpromise -- it's the first "big cat" OS X codename to reference the previous version of the OS, and the list of big-ticket new features is seemingly pretty short for a version-number jump. Maybe that's why Apple's priced the 10.6 upgrade disc at just $29 -- appearances and expectations matter, and there's simply not enough glitz on this kitty to warrant the usual $129.

But underneath the customary OS X fit and finish there's a lot of new plumbing at work here. The entire OS is now 64-bit, meaning apps can address massive amounts of RAM and other tasks go much faster. The Finder has been entirely re-written in Cocoa, which Mac fans have been clamoring for since 10.0. There's a new version of QuickTime, which affects media playback on almost every level of the system. And on top of all that, there's now Exchange support in Mail, iCal, and Address Book, making OS X finally play nice with corporate networks out of the box.

So you won't notice much new when you first restart into 10.6 -- apart from some minor visual tweaks here and there there's just not that much that stands out. But in a way that means the pressure's on even more: Apple took the unusual and somewhat daring step of slowing feature creep in a major OS to focus on speed, reliability, and stability, and if Snow Leopard doesn't deliver on those fronts, it's not worth $30... it's not worth anything. So did Apple pull it off? Read on to find out!

Continue reading Snow Leopard review

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Snow Leopard review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard packing antivirus software?

Ross Miller — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:28:00 EST

If the online chatter is to be believed, Apple's very soon to be released Snow Leopard has in its code new protection for fighting malware. According to the picture above corroborated by other online reports, a DMG downloaded by Safari was checked by the OS and found to contain the "RSPlug.A" Trojan. The system promptly suggests you eject the disk image to avoid damage. Should Apple really be treading down this path, it begs the question of how often and how comprehensive / aggressive the company will be updating its antivirus logs. If nothing else, it's a certainly a notable symbolic gesture that the one-time underdog might be gaining enough market share to catch the attention of the darker side of the internet -- and all of a sudden, David Puddy isn't looking nearly as bad.

[Thanks, David]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Snow Leopard packing antivirus software? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lucky Mac mini buyer got Snow Leopard disc in the box?

Paul Miller — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST

If his story is to be believed (and it seems pretty believable), an anonymous tipster to Engadget Japanese got a nice surprise with his recent Mac mini purchase: a Snow Leopard install disc. It's one of those vanilla hardware-specific install discs, dubbing itself Mac OS version 10.6, and clearly packing the goods if the screenshots don't lie. This only adds confusion to the ship date, which has been listed as August 28th on Apple's online store, dubbed as "September" elsewhere, and obviously been totally disregarded in this specific case. No matter what, it looks like we won't have long to wait. Hit up the read link for a couple of Japanese-infused screencaps.

Filed under: Software

Lucky Mac mini buyer got Snow Leopard disc in the box? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard shipping August 28th, says Apple's UK online store (update: US too)

Ross Miller — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:33:00 EST

We've heard whispers that Apple might be unleashing Snow Leopard to the unwashed masses a bit earlier than September, but this listing in the company's UK online store is the most concrete evidence we've seen to date. Still up as of this writing, the page clearly says Snow Leopard is shipping by next Friday, August 28th. No way to actually order it at this point and no clue whether or not this is just some glitch, but if the gang at Cupertino are really planning to launch in a week's time, we wouldn't be surprised to hear something official sooner rather than later.

Update: A pair of tipsters have revealed the same August 28th ship date for the US Up-To-Date program. Screenshot of a shipping confirmation after the break.

[Via TUAW, thanks Will G.]

Continue reading Snow Leopard shipping August 28th, says Apple's UK online store (update: US too)

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Snow Leopard shipping August 28th, says Apple's UK online store (update: US too) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard box set makes short-lived cameo in Apple's online store

Ross Miller — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:06:00 EST

Whether or not Snow Leopard build 10A432 is really the ready-for-shipment "golden master," Apple's own site is giving hope to the masses that its next platform iteration is gearing up for a launch sooner rather than later. MacRumors is reporting that a Mac Box Set containing OS X 10.6 , iLife '09, and iWork '09 popped up on Apple's online store today priced at $169 for single users and shipping within 24 hours. The page itself no longer exists, although not before Google's spiders managed to pick up on it. It's probably wishful thinking to think this is indicative of a release before its projected September launch window -- and really, at this point, that's only a couple of weeks away -- if you were gonna hope for it anyway, here's some fodder for ya.

Read - Snow Leopard box set briefly appears in Apple Online Store
Read - Google entry for now-defunct page

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Snow Leopard box set makes short-lived cameo in Apple's online store originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple OS X 10.5.7 released, updating to ensue

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:14:00 EST

That's right Mac lovers -- your mildest dreams have come true. A new update of OS X is now available via your friendly Software Update window... a little something Apple likes to call 10.5.7. What are you waiting for? You know you love updates. Full list of fixes / tweaks after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Apple OS X 10.5.7 released, updating to ensue

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Apple OS X 10.5.7 released, updating to ensue originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 May 2009 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Snow Leopard beta build includes screen recording capabilities, a certain je ne sais quoi

Joshua Topolsky — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:40:00 EST

If you're keeping track of Snow Leopard's progress, you'll be pleased to know that a new build (10A335) has been released into the hands of devs (and consequently, the world). Most interestingly, however, is that it seem this new iteration has a handy screen grab feature that hasn't made an appearance until now -- namely, the native ability (under QuickTime) to "record" your on-screen activities. There are other third-party apps that handle this duty, like the classily-named Snapz Pro X, but the inclusion in this latest beta will almost certainly mainstream the function. It should come in handy if you're constantly trying to tell you parents how to change their network settings, or if you're thinking about producing your own version of You Suck at Photoshop.

[Via Mac Rumors]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

New Snow Leopard beta build includes screen recording capabilities, a certain je ne sais quoi originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked Snow Leopard image potentially indicates a 32 / 64-bit divide

Nilay Patel — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:14:00 EST

Apple's said it's taking a break from adding flashy features to OS X to focus on the foundations and stability of the system with Snow Leopard, and this latest leaked screenshot might indicate that those foundations are moving to 64 bits -- it shows System Preferences saying it needs to restart in 32-bit mode to open the Network panel. That's certainly interesting, given the rumors that Apple's dropping support for non-Intel machines and maybe even 32-bit Intel processors with this release, but it could also just mean that whoever took this screenshot doesn't have a 64-bit-friendly version of that preference pane installed. (We're guessing the latter, since there are a lot of 32-bit only Core Duo Intel Macs out there.) Restarting apps to change modes seems pretty clunky, though -- shades of System 7 and the 32-bit Enabler, for the olds -- so we're hoping Apple's got a more elegant solution in the works. Macworld's just around the corner, we're sure we'll hear more from ~~Steve~~ Phil soon.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Leaked Snow Leopard image potentially indicates a 32 / 64-bit divide originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac OS X 10.5.6 now available via Software Update

Darren Murph — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:31:00 EST

Headline pretty much says it all, and it's a big one. Tipping the scales at 377MB (or 190MB for some; see image after the break), the OS X 10.5.6 update is now available via Software Update. We're sucking it down and will report back with any changes. We strongly encourage you to do the same (if you dare).

Update: Apple has posted the official changelog. Here are the highlights:

Improves the reliability of AirPort connections, including improvements when roaming in large wireless networks with an Intel-based Mac.
Improves reliability of Address Book syncing with iPhone and other devices and applications.
Includes general improvements to gaming performance.
Includes fixes for possible graphics distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards.
Contacts, calendars, and bookmarks on a Mac automatically sync within a minute of the change being made on the computer, another device, or the web at me.com.
Improves Apple File Service performance, especially when using a home directory hosted on an AFP server.
Improves reliability and performance for AT&T 3G cards.
Improves printing for USB-based Brother and Canon printers.
Fixes issues that could cause Time Machine to state the backup volume could not be found.
Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.
Adds a Trackpad System Preference pane for portable Macs.
Personal Engadget favorite: Improves the performance and reliability of Chess.
Nary a mention of Blu-ray. It's still hurting, we guess.

[Thanks, Fraser]

Continue reading Mac OS X 10.5.6 now available via Software Update

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Mac OS X 10.5.6 now available via Software Update originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oki's robot chair heralds a new age of robot-aided seating

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:20:00 EST

The chair is a tool of extreme simplicity and antiquity, and many would argue that it's foolish to mess with something that obviously attained perfection with the advent of air conditioned seat cushions. Of course, those people have never seen Leopard, the high-tech "concept chair" that takes technology originally developed for Oki's Robot Leg (an entire robot with design principles based on the human leg) and places it under your posterior for "seating comfort akin to being held in someone's arms." This is a chair that adjusts itself to your back, cradles your bum, and gives you a helpful little boost when it's time to stand up. Sound wasteful? Extravagant? How about totally awesome? Hit the read link for more details, and feel free to check out the fun little picture of the Robot Leg after the break.

Continue reading Oki's robot chair heralds a new age of robot-aided seating

Filed under: Robots

Oki's robot chair heralds a new age of robot-aided seating originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OS X 10.5.5 update available for download

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:02:00 EST

Apple's latest OS update -- 10.5.5 -- is now up and dancing in Software Update. It includes the latest batch of security updates, Address Book, Spotlight, and iPhone sync enhancements, and iCal, eMail, MobileMe and Time Machine performance tweaks. In other words, it's a biggie. Full release notes just beyond that read link.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

OS X 10.5.5 update available for download originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Studio 17 quickly hacked to run OSx86

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:56:00 EST

Usually it's "only a matter of time" before some new-fangled laptop destined for a Windows kind of life up and gets OSx86 installed on it, but for the Dell Studio, that matter of time was extremely short. Witness a Studio 17 running Leopard out of the box, save for a few minor problems like lack of full video support, sound, WiFi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet. Still, it's pretty encouraging to see the system working at all with such little time and effort put into it. Kind of makes you wish we lived in a super-magical fantasy world where you could run whatever OS you wanted on your laptop, doesn't it?

Update: We had to pull the read link here due to the "Engadget Effect" -- sorry Ken!

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Studio 17 quickly hacked to run OSx86 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple releases Leopard 10.5.4 update

Ryan Block — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:33:00 EST

Looks like the latest Leopard update, 10.5.4, just landed. Nothing big, but all the details are after the break; Mac users, you know how to snag it.

Continue reading Apple releases Leopard 10.5.4 update

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Apple releases Leopard 10.5.4 update originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZFS file system coming to Snow Leopard server edition

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:24:00 EST

It's been almost exactly a year since we heard any chatter over Apple's adoption of the supposedly rock solid 128-bit ZFS file system, but it appears to be heading into the next version of the company's OS... at least for servers. According to the promo page for Snow Leopard for OS X servers, the redundant, error correcting, dynamic volume expanding format will be available when the new system drops, though there's no mention of whether it will make its way onto the standard version of the software. With data handling that's this tight, our only question is why wouldn't it make the cut?

[Thanks, Mark]

Filed under: Desktops

ZFS file system coming to Snow Leopard server edition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snow Leopard to drop PowerPC support?

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:55:00 EST

PowerPC users, your days could be numbered. According to an alleged screenshot of Snow Leopard's system requirements, only Intel CPUs will get to take a ride on the 10.6 train as of now. The grab comes from an early version of the OS seeded to developers at WWDC this week, though given that Jobsy said we're a year out from an actual release, these things could change. Still, it's not looking promising for those of you who've stood by your older models -- but Apple shutting out legacy users doesn't come as a real shock, does it?

[Via Mac Rumors; Thanks, Kiwi616]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Snow Leopard to drop PowerPC support? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple previews OS X Snow Leopard: scheduled to ship "in about a year"

Darren Murph — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:21:00 EST

The next iteration of OS X was mentioned early on during today's WWDC 2008 keynote, but little was said afterwards. Thankfully, Apple hasn't left us completely out to dry, as a recent release gives a few clues as to what Snow Leopard has in store. First and foremost, the OS isn't expected to ship until about this time next year, and just as predicted, it will be more evolutionary than revolutionary. Specifically, it will "enhance the performance of OS X and set a new standard for quality... rather than focusing primarily on new features." Still, we do know that it'll play nice with Microsoft Exchange 2007 from the get-go, provide "unrivaled support for multi-core processors" with a new technology dubbed Grand Central, extend support "for modern hardware with Open Computing Language (OpenCL)," and raise the software limit on system memory up to a theoretical 16TB of RAM. Heck, you'll even find QuickTime X in there. Yeah, we love those new features, but we can honestly say we're looking forward to a nice round of polishing.

Update: Looks like some more solid info has been posted to Apple's page. Head here for more on Snow Leopard desktop and Snow Leopard server (which will include iCal Server 2, 128-bit ZFS support, Podcast Producer 2, the first version of their Address Book server based on CardDAV, and more).

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Apple previews OS X Snow Leopard: scheduled to ship "in about a year" originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next version of OS X will be called Snow Leopard

Darren Murph — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:10:00 EST

You heard right -- the next iteration of Apple's OS X operating system will indeed be dubbed Snow Leopard. As we'd heard just days ago, the next major installment of OS X will be getting all dressed in powder, and we'll be seeing a sneak peek of what's to come right here at WWDC.

Update: Apple has revealed initial details -- check it out here!

Filed under: Desktops

Next version of OS X will be called Snow Leopard originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple updates Leopard to 10.5.3

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:10:00 EST

For the legions of Mac users out there annoyed with Leopard niggles, some possible relief is now available, as Apple has made version 10.5.3 available to users via software update. The new version has a slew of minor adjustments, including fixes for AirPort and networking reliability issues, Time Machine and Time Capsule updates (including improved compatibility with Aperture), and improved Spaces usability. Anyone out there taken the plunge yet? Let us know how it's going.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Apple updates Leopard to 10.5.3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 May 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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