Apple has released Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.8, which adds RAW formats support in Aperture 3 and iPhoto ’11 for a number of new cameras.
This update adds RAW image compatibility for the following cameras to Aperture 3 and iPhoto ’11:
- Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200
- Olympus PEN E-P3
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G3
- Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF3
- Samsung NX11
- Samsung NX100
- Sony Alpha NEX-C3
- Sony Alpha SLT-A35
Microsoft today issued updates for both Office 2004 for Mac and Office 2008 for Mac that addresses security vulnerabilities, and improves stability and performance. These updates are labeled as “critical” and Microsoft recommends them be installed “immediately”. Office for Mac users can update their software via Office Auto Update or from Microsoft Mactopia downloads site.
Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.2 Update addresses security vulnerabilities and improves performance and reliability for Word, Excel, and Entourage. Word gets significantly faster launch times, Excel gets performance improvements for working with large datasets, and Entourage has improved stability when using Microsoft Sync Services.
Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.5.1 Update addresses security vulnerabilities, and fixes Word 2004 stability issue when opening documents containing numbered lists. Entourage 2004 gets the updated Japanese postal codes.
Microsoft’s update support pages provide additional information and detail these improvements.
Apple has released the first update to iPhone 2 software since its release almost one month ago with iPhone 3G launch on July 11th. Version 2.0.1 of iPhone software is a minor point release which Apple says is for “bug fixes”, no update details are available. iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod touch users can download the 249MB firmware via iTunes.
Hopefully iPhone 2.0.1 addresses the random application crashes encountered by many, and improves on the responsiveness and smoothness in general usage. Please share with us if this update solves any of your iPhone 3G or iPod touch problem.
Apple has released Mac OS X Security Update 2008-05 which solves an industry wide flaw of the BIND DNS Server software that allows exploits for spoofing attacks. The updates also include security fixes to CarbonCore, CoreGraphics, OpenLDAP, OpenSSL, PHP, rsync, QuickLook among others. So get your Mac patches up now via Software Update.
Apple has also released a minor release to iTunes. There is not much info available but “iTunes 7.7.1 includes fixes to improve stability and performance.” As usual, get your fix via Software Update.
Not sure if it is released to coincide with Adobe Lightroom’s major upgrade announcement, but Aperture 2.1.1 update is now available. It is a x.x.1 point update which normally means a bug fix release. The description from Apple:
The Aperture 2.1.1 update addresses general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and resolves a number of other minor issues. The update is recommended for all customers using Aperture 2.
Important Note: Aperture updates available via Software Update or the Aperture Download page can be used only to update full versions of Aperture. They cannot be used to update Aperture Trial software, currently Aperture 2.1.
The update is available via Software Update or Aperture 2.1.1 download site, which require you to sign in with your Apple ID for the download.
Apple today released updates to its iLife ’08 applications iWeb, iMovie and iPhoto.
The updates can be obtained via Software Update on your Mac OS X, or download from Apple’s website:
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/iweb204.html">iWeb 2.0.4 (35MB)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imovie714.html">iMovie 7.1.4 (38MB)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/iphoto714.html">iPhoto 7.1.4 (74MB)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ilifesupport83.html">iLife Support 8.3 (10MB)</a></li>
</ul>
<p>iLife Support provides system software components shared by all iLife '08 applications. In general, the updates "address general compatibility issues, improve overall stability and address a number of other minor issues” according to Apple. iPhoto 7.1.4 updates contains new holiday greeting card and postcard themes for use with Apple print products.</p>
<p>This updates also replace all references of .Mac in iLife applications to MobileMe.</p>
Facebook has begun rolling out a major redesign of its social networking site this week with a cleaner and less cluttered user interface. The new design will gradually become available to Facebook’s more than 80 million users over few days.
In the new design, Facebook removed the leftmost column that contains the ‘Search’ and ‘Applications’, and moved the search box and applications menu to the main menu on the top. The site content width has also being expanded by about an inch. These two design changes give a less boxed-up feel to the whole site.
Apple has released the iPhone 2.0 Software for first-generation iPhone and iPod touch, allowing these devices to upgrade to use the iPhone 3G software features and access to the new App Store.
<p>First-generation iPhone users will be prompted to install the upgrade when they connect their iPhone to iTunes. The upgrade will wipe out all data in the iPhone and temporary reactivate the device. Once the Phone 2.0 Software is installed, iTunes will connect to Apple servers to reactivate the device for use, using the same activation mechanism as the new iPhone 3G. Apple activation servers were down on July 11 morning due to the overwhelming load during the iPhone 3G launch day. The service has since been put back online but the the load is expected to be high for the next few days. </p>
iPod touch users will have to purchase the firmware upgrade from iTunes Store for $9.95. Apple has put up on iPod touch website information on ‘iPod touch App Store’ with a firmware update link to the iTunes Store. This latest update for iPod touch includes Mail, Stocks, Weather, Maps and Notes, as well as all the changes in the January update.
Apple today releases iTunes 7.7 which you can update via Mac OS X Software Update or download from Apple website.
iTunes 7.7 is not just another iTunes bug fixes update, it is required for use with iPhone 3G, access to the new iPhone App Store, and for upgrade of original iPhone to iPhone 2.0 software. The free Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch allows you to remotely control your iTunes software, presumably over Wi-Fi. You enable this feature via a preference setting “Look for iPhone & iPod touch Remotes” in iTunes 7.7.
<blockquote>
Use iTunes 7.7 to sync music, video, and more with iPhone 3G, and download applications from the iTunes Store exclusively designed for iPhone and iPod touch with software version 2.0 or later. Also use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home — a free download from the App Store.
</blockquote>
Apple on Monday evening posted the update 10.5.4 for its Mac OS X Leopard operating system. This release “includes general operating system improvements that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.”, Apple said. This release is believed to contain codes that support the upcoming MobileMe online service that will debut on July 11. The 88MB download is available via OS X’s Software Update mechanism or from Apple Downloads website.
Apple Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.4 update includes all recent security updates and resolves issues with several system and third-party applications, such as saving and re-opening Adobe Creative Suite 3 files on a remote server. It adds RAW image support for additional digital camera, improves L2TP VPN client reliability and solves AirPort reliability issues. The update also delivers fixes to improve the stability of iCal calendaring application. Read Apple’s support document for details of Mac OS X 10.5.4 update.
This update is widely believed to support Apple’s new MobilMe online services that will replace the .Mac service coming July 11. MobileMe costs $99 per year and comes with 20GB of storage, an email account with a @me.com domain, contacts, calendar, photos and file sharing services. You can synchronizes these information between Macs, PCs and iPhones so that everything is up to date.
Besides Mac OS X 10.5.4 Leopard update, Apple also released security updates for Mac OS X Tiger, Mac OS X Tiger Server as well as Safari 3.1.2 for Mac OS X Tiger. These updates replicate the security fixes featured in 10.5.4 Leopard update.
