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Mac SlingPlayer Public Beta to be released on Halloween!
Well folks, we've finally got a date for the Mac SlingPlayer client: October 31 (well, for the public beta at least). So Mac users, while you're waiting for trick-or-treaters at your front door, kick back at your desk and take the new SlingPlayer for a spin. Sharon Rylander, Sling's beta program manager writes that if some act of God prevents this release from happening: "I will setup a mini-private beta on the 31st for anyone who has posted on Sling Community and is willing to abide by our beta rules. In other words, for all of you who have been hanging out here at Sling Community, waiting all these months, I'm guaranteeing you a download on the 31st." So there you go.[Thanks, TieGuy]
Run OS X 10.4.8 legally on any PC, kinda sorta
There's plenty of folks out there who would love to run Mac OS X on generic PC hardware. In fact we've chronicled some of their efforts on this here blog of ours. Well according to Reg Hardware, one such fellow, Semthex, has just released what he claims is a legal version of Apple's kernel, which will run on any generic x86-powered machine. There's one catch, though: you'll have to run OS X entirely from the command line, so say goodbye to those fantasies of running Aqua full blast to spice up your beige box. That being said, Semthex subsequently posted to his blog that running a GUI is possible, "but it needs a key-salt to be inserted into 'commpage.c,' I won't provide because it would violate Apple Right and the law. But I heard it is already around." No matter which version you try, as always, your mileage may vary, so proceed at your own risk; but if you do reach computing nirvana, or blow up your PC in the process, let us know either way, cool?[Via Reg Hardware, photo courtesy of MacUser]
Bounty makes Mac-BlackBerry tethering a reality
It seems almost criminal that Mac users have been thus far denied the basic human right to tether the immensely popular BlackBerry 8700 series devices to their Macbooks, but thanks to a little elbow grease, determination, and nearly $700 in cold, hard cash, the world's wrongs have been righted. An intrepid character by the name of Daniel Pasco has claimed the bounty offered by Alex King, challenging folks to come up with a solution for using an 8700 as a Mac OS X compatible modem. So far, Mr. Pasco's solution has apparently been verified with the 8700g on T-Mobile and the 8703e on Verizon and Sprint, though we imagine Cingular's would work just the same. In the short term, it looks like the rough cut of the software will be available only to people that had contributed to the reward, but the solution will hopefully find its way into the public domain down the road.[Via TUAW]
SageTV headed for Max OS X
Despite the immense amount of shiny going on in Apple's own Front Row media app, the feature set falls woefully short of a full-blown Media Center killer for the Mac. Now it looks like the SageTV peeps are going to pick up the slack and port their well-loved media app to Mac OS X. Their latest edition of the software, SageTV V5 -- which is already available for Windows and Linux -- includes support for SageTV Placeshifter on Windows, so hopefully SageTV finds time to squeeze that into the Mac edition so Apple users can finally get down with their TV-on-the-go selves. Right now SageTV is seeking out beta testers for a closed beta that should take place in the next few weeks, so it doesn't look like the Mac heads among us will have too terribly long to wait.
Sling CEO sez Mac client poised to launch
There's great news afoot in the world of the Slingbox, so we'll get right to it: in an interview yesterday with The Guardian, Blake Krikorian, chief executive of Sling Media, dropped some pretty significant info on the future of the SlingPlayer and SlingBox. First, he said that the beta of the Mac client would finally be released worldwide this week -- though given that the week is just about over, we're not sure how that's possible. Second, he told the British newspaper that while Sling had already released a Windows Mobile Smartphone version and a Pocket PC version, more mobile support would be added "before the end of the year" -- look out, S60 and Palm fanatics. Finally, he discussed Sling's business plans; specifically, how Sling's recent deal to put its software in another company's box may not just be a one-off. "Slingbox is a type of product where it starts to make sense to get TV and high-speed data from one place because our product means you can get your TV anywhere," he opined. We're not sure if that means we'll see a simple re-brand, or if a whole new licensing scheme is on the table -- Blake, we're watching you.[Via Zatz Not Funny]Update: Sling gave us a ring, and it's not good news, Mac fans. It would appear The Guardian misquoted Blake, and the above with regard to the Mac client is, well, not entirely accurate. According to Sling, they're still on track for release this year of the Mac client, and do actually expect to have the public beta launched by October. But that this-week-launch thing, not gonna happen. Fret not, we have a feeling it's got more to do with them getting it right than it does with unabashedly trying to piss off the Mac community, you know?
Mac OS X Leopard shots aplenty leak to the interwebs
If you haven't yet managed to lay your hands on an illicit download of the developer version of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, which was handed out at WWDC earlier this month, take solace in the myriad of screenshots being leaked to the internet by the lucky ones. Most of the enhancements we've spotted so far have been fairly minor -- Steve Jobs saved the big surprises for his keynote or for when they're closer to launch -- but expected upgrades like Automator 2.0, expanded options for popular programs and fun little Finder tweaks are good signs of things to come.[Thanks, Mark J.]Read - Think Secret Leopard shotsRead - LeopardScreenzors Flickr set
TUAW Poll: Will you buy Leopard?
Steve gave us a sneak peek at Leopard and now we've had some time to digest it all. Based on what you've already seen and read, how eager are you to get your hands on that shiny, black CD? Are you chomping at the bit, do you want to wait and see what the "top secret" features are, or are you happy enough with your current OS to stave off any urgent desire to upgrade? Let us know, and check back tomorrow for the results. Willyou buy Leopard? Now! I want it now! As soon as possible Some weeks after release More info before deciding Nah, I'm happy where I am Free polls from Pollhost.com
Mac OS X update adds regular check-ins with Apple servers
Well, it looks like Windows isn't the only operating system that thinks your computer needs a daily check up. According to Mac developer Daniel Jakult, the most recent update to Mac OS X not only fixes a few security holes, but adds a three times a day check-in with Apple's servers, apparently to ensure that your Dashboard Widgets are up-to-date. A useful feature to some no doubt, but an invasion of privacy to others, especially since the "feature" doesn't exactly make itself known and apparently can't be disabled. For its part, Apple has said that the tool doesn't transmit any personal information back to them, but given Microsoft's recent troubles with its over-eager connectivity, we wouldn't be surprised if Apple added an off switch in their next update.
Yet Another Leopard...wait, video?
Well, well. Those "Leopard" screen shots monopolizing the rumor sites sure are nice to look at, but how much could you possibly get from some images? Yeah, not much. Besides, they're basically all confirmed as fakes.Which is why I was incredibly interested to see this blog point to this video(!!), supposedly depicting an early version of the famed cat/OS -- particularly a new iTunes-themed Finder with tabs. There's nothing in it that strikes me as glaringly fake, but of course this could all be an elaborate hoax concocted by an OS X themer who lives with his mother, gets a high by fantasizing about using the latest unreleased Mac OS, and has way, way too much time on his hands.And of course I'm leaving it to you, dear readers, to point out all the things in this video that make it a fake. Ready? Go![via LeopardTracker]
Get your next Mac from Dell
The world is getting stranger and stranger I tell you. During this PC Magazine podcast Michael Dell talks about how important industrial design is to Dell. One day they woke up and said, "Why are we shipping ugly boxes?" and so they went ahead and starting using a little bit of design (and I have to say that Dell's products are looking better. They don't compare to Apple's stuff, but baby steps).Another thing that Mr. Dell said is that Dell 'would be happy to sell Mac OS X as soon as it is available.' He thinks that Apple will license OS X, and Dell will be amongst the licensees.My prediction? As long as Steve is running Apple OS X won't be licensed.[via digg]
Give Windows a touch of Mega Man class
Sure, Windows users (used to) get all the games but until now there was one major advantage to Apple's Mac OS X operating system: Mike Zornek's Mega Man Effect. The legion of Windows users have waited long enough; Levi Wolfe has done the grunt work and ported the handy* little app over to the Windows platform for the rest of the computer-using world to enjoy. *By "handy" we of course mean "of no discernible value." The program duplicates the music, parallax stars, and name banner shown before every boss battle in Mega Man by showing the same effect every time you launch an application. To be fair, sometimes those Excel spreadsheets are worse than Dr. Wily and company. [Thanks, Sense]
Gordon Freeman goes to Boot Camp on a Mac
Consider this a followup to our earlier post about Half-Life 2 running on an Intel Mac hacked to dual boot both Mac OS X and Windows. Now, with Apple's Boot Camp software and the official drivers bundled therein, Macs can not only run PC games (like Half-Life 2) in Windows, but can run them "shockingly well."The test computer -- an Intel-based iMac, with an ATi Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics chip -- does indeed appear to run Half-Life 2 swimmingly. If the embedded YouTube version is acting up, be sure to check out the higher quality Quicktime version on Cabel's site.[Thanks, kevan]
Mac game devs cautiously optimistic about Boot Camp
Mac gaming website Inside Mac Games has posted a selection of Mac game developers reaction's to Apple's Boot Camp software. The overall feeling from the developers is one of cautious optimism: any loss in interest for OS X specific games could be offset by an increase in overall Mac market share from casual Windows gamers flooding to the platform. Andrew Welch, the founder of Ambrosia Software (creators of classics like the Escape Velocity series of games), doesn't "view it as a threat at all... but then again, we're not in the porting business". Aspyr's Glenda Adams and Brad Oliver are in the porting business. Fortunately they also publish and port games for other platforms. According to Brad "if Mac sales tank, we've got enough revenue coming in from PC and console ports that it probably won't hurt the company too much and we'd just focus on the other platforms." Mac game sales will only tank if people stop buying Mac games and instead play their games in Windows but as Andrew says, "people will get sick of dual-booting, and would prefer to run native games, just like Linux users prefer native games". Ian Lynch Smith of Freeverse points out that this may be only the first step: "Apple is pushing the intel roll out very aggressively, and now aggressively pushing dual boot (and virtualization eventually from someone)". Hopefully in the next 6 months we'll see effective virtualization of Windows games from within OS X. That's the most desirable outcome for both Mac users and developers.[Via TUAW]
Apple's official Mac gaming solution: Windows
Tired of the long wait for the few games that do get ported to Mac OS X? Tired of waiting for that one favorite game to get upgraded to Universal so you can play it on your Intel Mac? Tired of playing an unaccelerated Half-Life 2 on the hacked together, unsupported version of Windows XP you managed to get running on your Mac? This morning, Apple announced an official solution: use Windows, with (almost) full hardware support. "Boot Camp lets you install Windows XP without moving your Mac data, though you will need to bring your own copy to the table, as Apple Computer does not sell or support Microsoft Windows." The download includes a driver CD with Windows XP compatible drivers for the ATi graphics chips, Intel's integrated graphics chips, ethernet, audio, WiFi, Bluetooth, and more. The only unsupported items are iSight, the Apple remote, Apple's USB modem, and the MacBook Pro's backlit keyboard. While this is great news for would be hardcore Mac gamers, whose choices have been limited by market pressures for years, it also raises doubts about the continued economic viability of porting games from Windows to Mac OS. Will companies continue to invest the resources in providing a seamless Mac experience for gamers, or expect them to pony up for XP and dual boot their boxes?[Via TUAW]
Mac OS X on Beige Boxes; An Excellent Essay
An excellent essay written by Codepoet at MacGeekery.com popped up on my news radar today: Should Apple Sell Mac OS X For Beige Boxes. And I'm shocked that at the time of this writing, its read count is only 56. This essay is too well-written and makes too many cogent points to have only been read 56 times. The author makes a compelling argument for why Apple shouldn't sell Mac OS X for computers other than Macs. Go read it.What, are you still here? Go read this essay!
Univ. of Wisc. Madison Mac OS X Security Challenge Update
If you remember, Mac sysadmin at University of Wisconsin Madison, Dave Schroeder, set up a Mac mini as a type of honeypot to challenge the "hacking" community to see if anyone could compromise a Mac OS X 10.4.5 system. The Mac mini in question was set up as an "out-of-the-box" system with Apple's Security updates applied, and he turned on both SSH and Apache, two common Internet services, but not ones that the average Mac OS X user would ever enable.Initially, the contest was set to end on Friday, March 10th, after which he would publish the details of his experiment. However, checking the site this evening, I see that he's scheduled it to end tonight at midnight (Central Time). Dave Schroeder also says that "the machine is under intermittent DoS attack. Most of the other traffic, aside from casual web visitors, is web exploit scripts, ssh dictionary attacks, and scanning tools such as Nessus."Has the box been compromised? He doesn't say, but he will be publishing the results of the experiment (probably tomorrow). I'm very interested and intrigued to read what the end result will be, even if it the news isn't good (i.e. the machine was actually compromised). Whatever the results, it's sure to be a better analysis of Mac OS X security than the misleading and poorly-designed example making the news rounds yesterday.
MacLive registration opens
MacLive is a 3-day conference and workshop for Mac-toting creative professionals everywhere. The more than sixty workshops focus on Photoshop, Motion & DVD Studio Pro, Final Cut Pro, Mac OS X, the iPod, After Effects and a lot more. This is the very first MacLive conference, and it's put on by the folks at Layers Magazine (which is the successor to Mac Design Magazine). Registration is $699US, but you can save yourself $100 if you sign up before April 17th. The event will take place at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC on May 11-13, 2006. Sounds like a great time.
I know I shouldn't, but
You're a good little Mac user. You back up your files. You repair your permissions. You install the latest updates. But, there's that one bad habit you maintain that isn't in accordance with your regular behavior. Maybe you don't back up regularly, or you've shut down your Mac by just yanking out the power cord. When I was using Mac OS 9 (and I still do at work sometimes), I've been known to force quit the Finder, just so I could rebuild the desktop without having to restart the machine (because laziness is the mother of invention). So it's confession time, TUAWers. What's your bad Mac habit? It's ok, we'll protect your anonymity.
Possible Mac OS X Trojan Horse (mostly harmless)
So I saw the news this morning about a possible first trojan horse for Mac OS X and decided I didn't really want to deal with the inevitable ensuing hysteria, flames, and crazy comments that would be sure to follow such a post. It was 8:00am and just way too early to deal. I mean, if I want to read stupid comments about Macs all day long, I'll just spend my time over at Digg.Heh heh..I thought to myself, I'll let some other TUAW staff member post this news story. Then they can deal with the puerility.But now it's almost noon and something like 42 people have sent in a tip and no one's stepped up to the plate, so I figure I probably should write up something.Here's a quick summary: Someone uploaded a trojan horse to the MacRumors.com forums which claims to be a .tgz archive of screenshots of Apple's upcoming Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Problem is that it seems to be a proof-of-concept trojan and isn't very successful at doing what it's supposed to do, which is propagate itself out via your IM buddy list. Andrew Welch, who founded Ambrosia Software (thanks for Apeiron, BTW!), has been doing a bang-up job of dissecting the trojan and has determined that it's mostly harmless. You can read the specifics in the Ambrosia forums. Sophos has already posted a definition for this trojan here.The bottom line is that this really seems to be a proof-of-concept trojan more than an actual "in the wild, self-propagating" virus. So yeah, it's certainly very interesting, but I'm not about to start watching for the sky to fall. Leave that to cartoon birds, storybook characters, and PC magazine columnists.
Xbox 360 controller driver for Mac OS X
That didn't take long! An industrious hacker has written a device driver for Microsoft's lovely Xbox 360 controller so you can use it with the lovely Mac OS X. The release is binary-only for now while he cleans up the code, but expect an open source release in the near future.I know, I know. "But there aren't any games on Mac OS!" Not true, there are plenty. There might not be as many as on Wintel systems, but that doesn't mean plenty of people won't enjoy the heck out of this functionality.Not to mention, in just a few short hours, Mac gaming could get a whole lot bigger... Intel Macs anyone!?[Via XboxHacker.Net]
