Researcher digs up another zero-day Java bug

Computerworld - A security researcher known for finding Java bugs has uncovered a new critical zero-day vulnerability in all currently-supported versions of the popular Oracle software.

The bug, which was publicly reported on the Full Disclosure security mailing list Tuesday by Adam Gowdiak, the founder and CEO of Polish security firm Security Explorations, can be leveraged to hijack a machine equipped with Java, letting attackers install malware on the system.

Windows PCs and Macs are equally at risk if their users have installed Java, or in the case of OS X, are running 10.6, aka Snow Leopard, or earlier. Snow Leopard was the last edition where Apple bundled Java with the operating system.

All currently-support versions of Java, including Java 5, Java 6 and Java 7, contain the bug.

Read more about a researcher digs up another zero-day Java bug

Apple WWDC 2009

Check out the Engadget coverage of WWDC

Today Apple announced that the 8GB iPhone 3G will sell alongside the iPhone 3GS with a price drop. However of many users the new iPhone updates are not going to be inexpensive.

Summery of announcements:
• The iPhone S will sport a better battery and camera that in addition to taking better photos can shoot movies as well.
• The iPhone will now support voice dialing and additional voice commands.
• Find My iPhone' Lets You Ping, Remotely Erase Your Lost Phone (If You Have MobileMe)
• AT&T will support MMS for the iPhone at a later date.
• iPhone OS 3.0 Available on June 17th
• Safari 4 out of beta and shipping
• Snow Leopard will sell for only $29.95 whereas Windows 7 is rumored to sell for $44.95.
• 13-Inch MacBook Pro Arrives
• MacBook Air Gets a Price Cut
• New 15-Inch MacBook Pro Features 7-Hour Battery Life and SD Card Slot
• Apple's iDisk iPhone App Lets MobileMe Users View and Send Documents, Videos, and More

Read all the details as Gizmodo WWDC 2009 Keynote in 3 Minutes

OS X Leopard one year on five lessons Microsoft should learn

One year on from Leopard's launch, we take a look at the state of the operating system. Along the way, Apple -- and its competitors -- have learned some important lessons this year, analysts say. Lessons
1. Fix Problems Fast.
2. Style and Substance Matter.
3. One OS to Bind Users.
4. Don't Let Your Rival Shape Your Brand.
5. Macs Must Mean Business.


read more | digg story

Apple releases Mac OS X 10.5.5 Combo Update

Apple has released Mac OS X 10.5.5, a recommended update for all users of Mac OS X 10.5.x. A deatailed list of the update can be found here. IMHO, you should update via download the combo standalone updater rather then software update.

General
• Includes recent Apple security updates. Mac OS X client is now doing the required DNS  address port randomization.
• Addresses stability issues with video playback, processor core idling, and remote disc sharing  for MacBook Air.
• Addresses an issue in which some Macs could unexpectedly power on at the same time each day.
• Resolves a stability issue in TextEdit that could be found when accessing the color palette.
• Improves Spotlight indexing performance.
• Fixes an issue in which contacts might not sync properly with PalmOS-based devices.
• Improves iPhone sync reliability with iCal and Address Book.
• Includes improvements to Active Directory (see this article for more information).
• Improves Speech Dictionary.
• Fixes Kerberos authentication issues for Mac OS X 10.5 clients that connect to certain Samba  servers, such as Mac OS X Server version 10.4.
• Includes extensive graphics enhancements.

Address Book
• Addresses stability issues that may occur when creating a Smart Group.
• Resolves a printing issue with address cards containing information that spans more than one page.

Disk Utility and Directory Utility
• Improves reliability when rebuilding a software mirror RAID volume in Disk Utility.
• Improves reliability of server status displayed in Directory Utility.

iCal
• Updates iCal to more accurately handle repeating events.
• Improves performance when choosing meeting attendees.
• Resolves an issue in which the "Refresh All" option may be dimmed ("grayed out") in the  contextual menu for certain calendars.
• Fixes issues with read-only calendars.
• Addresses an issue that prevents an invitee from moving an event to a different calendar.
• Resolves an issue with syncing published calendars.

Mail
• Addresses performance issues related to displaying IMAP messages.
• Resolves an issue with SMTP settings for AIM, Compuserve, Hanmail, Yahoo!, and Time    Warner Road Runner email accounts.
• Addresses stability issues that may occur when dragging a file to the Mail icon in the Dock.
• Addresses an issue with the "Organized by Thread" view in which the date does not appear        when the thread is collapsed.
• Resolves an issue in which RSS feeds could temporarily disappear from the sidebar.
• Improves Mail robustness when sending messages.
• Improves reliability when saving drafts that have attachments.

MobileMe
• Improves overall sync reliability.
• Improves Back to My Mac reliability.

Time Machine
• Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.
• Addresses performance issues that may affect initial and in-progress backups.
• Fixes an issue in which an incorrect alert message could appear stating that a backup volume     does not have enough free space.
•Time Machine can now back up iPhone backups that are on your Mac, as well as other items in (~/Library/Application Support).

Road to Mac OS X Snow Leopard 64-Bit: Santa Rosa PC Swindle

Snow Leopard's across-the-board leap to 64-bits, from the kernel to all of its bundled apps, will do more than just make more memory available. It also exposes a great PC swindle and highlights Apple's lead in 64-bit computing. Here's why. "Microsoft even changed the way the OS reports the amount of RAM available; rumor is, due to pressure from OEMs," the developer told us. "In Vista and prior, it reported usable RAM, while in SP1 they changed it to report installed RAM ignoring the fact that much of the RAM was unusable due to overlap with video memory." And so many PC users are installing 4GB of RAM in their PCs and thinking that it is being used by the system, when in fact it is no more beneficial than if the RAM were simply poked halfway into the CD slot.

read more | digg story

Why PC Coders Avoiding Vista and Mac Coders embracing Leopard

PC World - Business Center: Coders Tell Why They're Avoiding Vista: "Windows developers are confirming the results of a survey released yesterday that found fewer than 1 in 12 programmers currently writing applications targeting Windows Vista."

"None of our customers are saying, 'G******it, we need those WPF controls now!'" said Julian Bucknall, CTO for Windows programming tools maker Developer Express Inc. , referring to one of Vista's most highly-touted features, its new graphical subsystem, Windows Presentation Foundation . Rather, "we find most are still sticking with ASP.Net and Windows Forms applications."

"Microsoft tends to dump ten new technologies on us, but only 2 or 3 really stick," said Michael Krasowski, vice-president of PDSA Inc., a Microsoft-focused 20-developer firm in Tustin Calif., citing the Windows DNA Architecture as an example."

"Vista is too bleeding-edge -- not for us, but for our clients," Krasowski said. PDSA's clients include large, blue-chip customers such as Kaiser Permanente and Boeing Inc. "They're all leery of Vista."

"Contrast this against the following article, published in January over at Theocacao. Cocoa developers are champing at the bit to implement their products using the new libraries available in Leopard and pushing the compatibility envelope along with it. More and more applications are Leopard-only."

Article continues... 

Interesting news from Europe & USA

There have been a flurry of articles on the net this weekend and I am sure more will follow this week talking about the iPhone (part touch iPod and phone) that will start selling in the UK this Friday. The iPhone is going to do wonders for Apples bottom line and so far the iPhone has been a total success even though it's not selling overseas yet un-lockers have been shipping them to needy buyers. But that's not all Macintosh sales have seen a strong increase and that's good news all around. Those of us in the USA who travel can now enjoy the new AT&T international plan with rates starting as low as $25! 

What about those rude cell phone users doesn't it make you crazy the way they yell into their phone and then give you the evil eye for daring to look their way? Some people it seems lack the common sense to step out side or if that's not possible talk in a whisper. After all do we really need to know what outfit your wearing in the morning or what an idiot your boyfriend is? Well now there is a solution, however lets just say it's not legal but oh does it sound fun! 

Not only those who are developers might find the article "Why Cocoa Bloat is Nonsense" an interesting read. 

I am sure you have all had a chance to hear about how Leopard is a security risk because they have an open firewall. Well that's in part true ipfw only has one rule that allows all incoming traffic but then it routes that traffic to a new custom Apple firewall. So its a bit of a mystery as to why Apple went the custom route for their firewall but I am sure they will be forthcoming with details soon.

Asus is shipping the Eee PC starting at $399. This PC is running a custom Linux install that is said to be very simple for new computer users to learn. However the Eee PC seems to suffer from a lack a space to store your documents or even install new programs. The Eee PC is very small and light but still even if Im a new user I want room to grow. This weekend I know I saw an ad in the local news paper saying they were selling an Acer laptop with Windows Vista for $399 so I am not sure what the advantage of buying an Eee PC would be? I hear if you buy the Eee PC in bulk then the price drops to $199. I think Id save my money for a MacBook.

Tidbits from around the Internet

Time Magazine online has said that the Invention of the year is the iPhone. While I don't personally have an iPhone yet I want one! I have used Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Palm phones and they just don't stack up to the iPhone. I have yet to meet a person who owns and iPhone say they hate it.

Heros actress Hayden Panettiere recently was in Japan attempting in vain to save some dolphins  children should not click on this link (WARNING GRAPHIC). If you have a moment swing by her my-space page and well I learn something new every day as it looks like she can sing too!

Oh my gosh there is a new virus for OS X, NOT! There have been a plethora of articles on the Internet today all talking about security problems with OS X and a new virus. Nothing has changed and OS X 10.5 is still one of the most secure operating systems in the world not matter how much others might not like it. However nothing will save you on any OS if you download a program and double click it. So no there is no OS X virus but there is a trojan that can be found if visit porn sites. Even if that were to change remember as of today there are no Macintosh viruses and there is virtually no malware that is targeting Leopard and one new Trojan does not change this fact. So if it makes you sleep better to buy anti-virus software (there is a free option too) for our Mac then by all means do so. But its not required as in the Windows word. While we are at it here is short list of how to avoid a virus on your computer:

1) Don't go to porn sites!

2) Don't go to sites that offer pirate (stolen) software or music!

3) Turn on your computers FireWall software.

3) If you purchased anti-virus software don't be cheap pay for your updates. Outdated software is useless.

AppleInsider has written a very informative article not only covering the early origins of Apple Developer tools but all the new features of the Apple Developer tools for Leopard. Some have complained that Leopard does not have the most current Java 6, but really most corporations as still a version behind so it's really much ado about nothing.