MacRumors' Mac Blog: Mac Apps, News and Rumors

TUAW claims that they have heard from an "anonymous Apple reseller" saying that Apple has instructed them to remove all Apple TV displays and literature by September 30th and that there would be a webcast "kick off" on September 30th. We have not yet heard any verification of this information from any other resellers. Update: The marketing materials licenses are simply expiring at this...

Apple has updated Java for Mac OS X today with two releases for Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.4: Java for Mac OS X 10.4, Release 7 Java for Mac OS X 10.4, Release 7 delivers improved reliability and compatibility for Java 2 Platform Standard Edition 5.0 and Java 1.4 on Mac OS X 10.4.11 and later. This release updates J2SE 5.0 to version 1.5.0_16 and Java 1.4 to version 1.4.2_18. Java for Mac OS X...

German site wiwo.de (English translation) is claiming that Apple will launch iTunes movie purchases and rentals within the next few weeks in Germany. According to the site's sources Apple is currently building a catalog of German movies to provide at launch. Apple began selling TV shows in Germany in April 2008. By year's end, HDTV-quality offerings should also be available according to w...

Several sites have noted that Apple is running low on inventory of 8 GB iPhone 3Gs. Fortune's Apple 2.0 blog notes that as of last night only 36 of Apple's 197 U.S. retail stores had stock of the 8 GB model remaining. From this raw data several sites are speculating on possible causes of the shortage. AppleInsider has suggested that the 8 GB model may be discontinued and a 32 GB model be...

Computerworld reports that several of the "I'm a PC" ad images that were posted to Microsoft's website were created on a Mac. Four of the images that Microsoft made available on its PressPass site today display the designation "Adobe Photoshop C3 Macintosh" when their file properties are examined. The images appear to be frames from the television ads that Microsoft will launch later today.The...

Apple today released two updates for users of their professional creative software packages. Pro Applications Update 2008-03 includes Compressor 3.0.4 and Qmaster 3.0.4 and is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio. According to the release notes, the update addresses an issue with missing clusters in Compressor and Batch Monitor and missing...

A company called T Systems in Germany posts a strange photo of what is claimed to be a new MacBook Pro. The image carries a black border around the screen and could very well be a mockup. Unlike iPod cases, it's very unlikely for a random retailer to have gotten promotional images of an unreleased Apple notebook. Update: It appears the original image can be seen at other sites, making...

After releasing Mac OS X 10.5.5 and a number of other updates yesterday, Apple today released a few additional software updates. Apple Remote Desktop 3.2.2 Admin (30 MB) and Apple Remote Desktop 3.2.2 Client (2.8 MB) What's Included: - Improved reliability with the Copy Items command. - Upgrade Client Software command now uses unicast packets for improved reliability on some networks. -...

As noted by our forum members and iLounge, Apple has released iPod Nano 4G Software 1.0.2, notably skipping software version 1.0.1. iLounge notes that some small typographical errors have been fixed but otherwise nothing groundbreaking is included in the release. The software is available via the iPod software update feature of...

Apple today released HP Printer Driver 1.1.1. The release notes suggest that this update contains a fix for an issue with LaserJet Printer Presets. The update weighs in at 405 MB, requires Mac OS X 10.5.3 or later, and will only be visible in Software Update if a printer requiring the update "is connected to your computer or a print queue has been created for an earlier version." Apple...

Crave.cnet.co.uk has posted a brief look at the new iPod Classic (120GB) that was released at Apple's media event yesterday. Like the new iPod Nano, the new Classic incorporates on-the-go Genius playlists. According to Apple representatives, the company will be releasing a software update to bring Genius playlists to existing iPod classics: Apple representatives at the event yesterday told us,...

In addition to yesterday's previously-reported hardware and software releases, Apple also released two minor updates specifically for Windows users. MobileMe Control Panel 1.1 (for Windows) weighs in at 1.6 MB and requires Windows XP Home SP2, XP Professional SP2 or Vista SP1 or later, iTunes 8.0 or later, and a MobileMe account. Bonjour for Windows 1.0.5 weighs in at 2.1 MB and requires...

Apple also released QuickTime 7.5.5 today and is recommended for use with iTunes 8: QuickTime 7.5.5 includes changes that increase reliability, improve application compatibility and enhance security. This release is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users....

Stream Available: Warning There is a spoiler on the landing page of the stream: Click here to stream the video (with spoiler). If you prefer, you can download the podcast from iTunes (700+MB) but with no spoilers. Apple will kick off it's "Let's Rock" media event on September 9th, 2008. News sites across the web will cover every announcement in detail, while Apple's site will be updated...

Various users are reporting receiving phishing attempts regarding Apple's Mobile Me services. Dear Apple Online Member, Thank you for choosing Mobileme. Unfortunately there has been a problem processing your billing information for the month of Sept, 2008. Please review our billing requirements at KW: Billing. To ensure that your service is not interrupted, please visit our secure server...

MyOldMac.net is seeking a buyer the original artwork for a Swedish Mac SE ad campaign commissioned in 1987. The artist describes the history: I painted them in Gothenburg Sweden in 1987 for HLR-BBDO advertising agency Stockholm. Tore Claersson was the art director with the vision to OK the marketing concept (now at or last seen at Ogalvy&Mather NY USA). Head of Apple in Stockholm at the time...

Valleywag excerpts a Kara Swisher interview with Google cofounder Sergey Brin. At one point, the Swisher asks about a Mac version: Google cofounder Sergey Brin asked BoomTown's Kara Swisher if she'd try it out. "But you don't have a Mac version, baby, so no," Swisher tells him in this clip, excerpted from Swisher's longer interview. "I know, I know, it's embarrassing," says Brin.Brin states he...

Apple today released Final Cut Express Update 4.0.1 via Software Update for existing Final Cut Express 4 users. This update addresses compatibility issues with AVCHD camcorders, improves stability when using third-party FxPlug plug-ins, and addresses a number of other minor issues. For more information about this software update, see the Release Notes. Changes detailed in the Release Notes...