MacRumors' Mac Blog: Mac Apps, News and Rumors

In addition to other updates detailed earlier, Apple today released Time Capsule and AirPort Base Station (802.11n) Firmware 7.3.2. Apple provides no details on the update, specifying only that it includes "bug fixes." The firmware update requires AirPort Utility 5.3.2 or later and weighs in at 4...

Microsoft's MacBU has announced that it is working to bring Solver to Excel 2008 as part of a future update. Today, the best option for people who need Solver is to run Excel 2004 and Excel 2008 side-by-side, and switch to the 2004 environment for workbooks that require Solver. However, we have been hearing loud and clear from our customers particularly in education that the side-by-side...

Apple has released two software updates related to their professional creative packages. Final Cut Server Update 1.1 requires Mac OS X 10.5.3 and weighs in at 50.1 MB. This update addresses issues with the check in/check out process for Final Cut Pro projects, fixes issues with double-byte character sets, and improves the general reliability of the software. It is recommended for all Final...

Gizmodo claims that the iPhone 2.0 Firmware could hit Golden Master this Friday. The Golden Master version is the final shipping version of a product, which means we could also see the 2.0 Firmware released as soon as this Friday. Gizmodo warns that the date is tentative, but falls in line with Apple's original plans to deliver the 2.0 Firmware by late June. At WWDC, however, Steve Jobs revised ...

Gartner has announced that more than 1 billion personal computers are in use worldwide, and the number should double by 2014 driven largely by emerging market sales. "Mature markets such as the United States, Western Europe, and Japan currently account for 58 percent of the worlds installed PCs, but these markets only account for 15 percent of the worlds population," said George Shiffler, research ...

Apple today released Xserve EFI Firmware Update 1.1. About Xserve EFI Firmware Update 1.1 This update fixes several issues to improve the stability of Xserve computers. To complete the firmware update process, perform the following steps: 1) Locate Xserve EFI Firmware Update.app in /Applications/Utilities and double click on it. 2) Follow the onscreen instructions. If you will be doing...

Apple has started running another Get a Mac ad starring Justin Long and John Hodgman. Today's ad was spotted running on TheOnion. It features "PC" complaining about how "Mac" is always in the news, and reveals his "PC Newswire". ...

Apple today released several updates for Xsan, their enterprise-class storage area network (SAN) solution. Xsan Filesystem Update 2.1 About Xsan Filesystem Update 2.1 The 2.1 update is recommended for all systems running Xsan 2. This update includes general file system fixes, as well as specific fixes for: - metadata controller reliability - using and validating file system Access Control...

Apple today released "AirPort Utility 5.3.2," available via Software Update or from the Apple Downloads page. No specific details on changes to the software have been announced. AirPort Utility is used to setup and configure AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme base stations, as well as Time Capsule. Apple AirPort Utility 5.3.2 for Leopard (8.8 MB) AirPort Utility 5.3.2 Tiger (9.3 MB) AirP...

Shortly after the QuickTime 7.5 upgrade, Apple also released updates for iMovie (7.1.2) and iDVD (7.0.2). Both updates require QuickTime 7.5 to be installed first. The updates are both described to address general compatibility issues, improve overall stability, and address a number of other minor...

MacNotes.de Apple has seeded WWDC developers with an early release of Mac OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard' today. A photo of the installation disc was posted to MacNotes.de. Meanwhile, a site called OrchardSpy claims to have posted screenshots from the actual installation and reveals a build number of 10A96: OrchardSpy ...

Some of Apple's new products which are due in early July suggest we'll see two updates by then, one for Mac OS X and another for iTunes. MobileMe's terms of service suggest that you need Mac OS X 10.5.4 as well as iTunes 7.7. Meanwhile, the system requirements for the iPhone 3G also list iTunes 7.7 as a requirement. The current version of Mac OS X is 10.5.3 and was released only two...

Apple has released QuickTime 7.5, now available via Software Update. QuickTime 7.5 improves application compatibility and addresses security issues. This release is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users. For detailed information on the security content of this update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798....

10am, June 9th, Moscone West - flickr/twid Apple is giving out T-shirts and laptop bags to WWDC 2008 attendees. The black T-shirt has the time of the Keynote Speech represented in iPhone icons, while the back simply reads "WWDC 2008". Meanwhile, the keynote line has already begun. Additional photos posted at MacNN. MacRumors will have live coverage at MacRumorsLive.com....

iPhone Tab as seen on the Apple.com Apple has made small changes to some of their international websites hinting at the launch of the iPhone in Brazil, Canada and Mexico. In the HTML source code for Apple's websites for Canada, Brazil, and Mexico, one reader found the following placeholder code: This represents HTML code for an "iPhone" navigation tab wrapped in HTML comment tags so Web ...

According to an unverified submission, Apple sent out the following casting call through a major talent agency this week to star in an ad for a "new product": "Apple is look[ing] for a man and woman in their mid-20's to film a demo of a new Apple product. They are not looking for recognizable faces or names, and ideally the person would be "average to mildly attractive with nice hands". They...

TheAppleBlog raises a question that has been on the minds of many this evening regarding the notable lack of "Mac" branding on WWDC banners. Their conclusion? Is Apple planning on distributing OS X to computers other than Macs? At MacRumors, we try to avoid purely speculative conclusions, but in so much as it's been on the minds of readers, we'll post this as a discussion piece. A few...

Forbes takes rumor mongering to a new level by sending a reporter out to the West Coast Distribution center of Quanta Computers -- Apple's contract manufacturer. Inspired by an earlier report from ImportGenius that quantities of new Apple products have been arriving at Quanta, Brian Caulfield set out to...