macFAQ.info - News about Apple

About the security content of QuickTime 7.4.5
Description: An issue in QuickTime’s parsing of ‘crgn’ atoms may result in a heap buffer overflow. Viewing a maliciously crafted movie file may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the issue through improved bounds checking. Credit to Sanbin Li working with TippingPoint’s Zero Day Initiative for reporting this issue.

The are at least 3 other entries in the list credited to Tipping Point’s Zero Day Initiative (ZDI). I think this is win-win. People get prizes, and Apple gets high priority bugs put in front of them. Good work by all who were involved.

Apple forfeits ‘iPhone premium’ as concerns mount over device - MarketWatch

I think this is a very ill thought out piece by MarketWatch. Let me explain. First they admit that the iPhone margins could be as high as 60%, which is a very good thing. If 60% isn’t a “premium” I don’t know what is. Now, let’s talk about this on a deeper level. I want to discuss this in three parts. 1. AT&T exclusivity 2. Limited market access 3. It is all about the upgrade

The exclusive contract with AT&T is great for Apple. It is great for AT&T. It is great for Apple in the short term because it creates this allure for the iPhone. Most people, like me, are locked into a contract, and regardless of how cool the iPhone is, it is not cool enough for me to pay $250 to get out of my contract. Add the $399/$499 for the iPhone, and that is one hell of a dent in the purse for a cell phone. So it is there, in the back of my mind, and everytime I see someone with an iPhone, it might reinforce to me, that hey, when my contract is over, I  might pick up an iPhone.  It is also great for the customer due to the nature of Apple’s relationship with AT&T. Visual voicemail is great, and worth every penny just to avoid “You have…….3…..new messages. TO listen to your messages press 1…… You get the message. This likely can only happen for carrier exclusivity. Read the rest of this entry »

http://www.apple.com/xserve/raid/ now redirects… and http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?family=XserveRAID says that product is unavailable. What gives? Not selling well? Too much commodity? 

I can’t imagine what happened. I was under the impression it was selling at least reasonably well. In this era of digital media, space is turning into a precious commodity, and XServe Raid served the media creation folks well.  We will try to dig up more on this, there was no official announcement from Apple.

Byte of the Apple The iPhone SDK Will Be Late - BusinessWeek

Hmm. I am not quite sure what to make of this. I have heard no word one way or the other about the SDK. I can speculate , perhaps, that Apple may he holding back on the SDK to allow those who are rumored  to have early access to polish their apps. (I am looking at you Adobe)

Otherwise, it could be that the logistics of setting up the iTMS for distribution of, presumably lots of shareware/freeware.  Oh yeah, there was that little incident of a certain little key being released on the net, could that have caused Apple to rethink the way they handle the signing of their/third party applications?

Read the rest of this entry »

E*TRADE FINANCIAL - Quotes & Research

Apple Inc. and News Corporation’s 20th Century Fox have forged a landmark deal that will enable consumers to rent the studio’s recent releases via Internet downloads at Apple’s popular iTunes digital media store, according to reports.

The plan amounts to a new video-on-demand service in that it offers users the ability to download the films for a limited period, the Financial Times reported, citing a person with knowledge of the situations.

The FT report said the tie-up is a showpiece announcement due to be released at Apple’s (AAPL) MacWorld convention on Jan. 14 in San Francisco.

Could it be true? We have certainly seen many hints of rental strings in current versions of iTunes. So I am gonna say this is likely. I have always been a fan of that TIVO/Amazon deal and I think something like this for AppleTV would be excellent. Sort of like Netflix, which I adore, but to the next level, relative instant delivery.

8 Predictions for Macworld 2008

1. iTunes Update
2. AppleTV Update
3. The Strongest Holiday Season Ever
4. Updated Macbooks
5. No iTablet
6. iPhone and iPod Touch Software Updates
7. iPhone SDK
8. One More thing…Mac Nano

In brief there they are. I think most are right on. iTunes update is a no brainer. We already see rental strings in current iTunes software versions. Strong sales has been on for Apple for several quarters, no signs of slowing down there. Macbook updates. I think this will happen, as this is a consumer oriented show…that said. iPhone SDK? MacPro Updates (not mentioned, but often spoken about). Those sound more like WWDC updates to me. Though I think the original PowerBook was shown off at MWSF…so it certainly isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility.
I think it might make sense for the Nano and the AppleTV to merge. The AppleTV hasn’t been selling gangbusters and neither have the competitors. A Mac for the living room, with AppleTV functionality, but with more power might be the way to go. That said, Jobs is notoriously against TV-as-monitor. He sees them, and correctly so, as two different exercises. One is brain on (computer) one is brain-off (television).

Only time will tell.

At the All things Digitial conference today, Steve Ballmer introduced what appears to be Microsoft’s idea for the future of computers. Milan, priced initially between 5-10k, will be bought and manufactured by Microsoft, much like the XBox 360. The specifications were not released. The concept is intriguing, interaction with your computer by touch. We have seen this demonstration, mainly by, Jeff Han and Apple at the iPhone introduction.
Apple has claimed (Steve: “200 patents”, “And boy have we patented it!”) they are well protected when it comes to iPhone patents, and a pretty exhaustive search seems to go along with that idea. Will it be a showdown, or has Microsoft simply found a new way to reach the touchscreen world. Only time will tell.

More later, I am still trying to dive through all of this.

Update x 1:
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The iPhone Conundrum: Why Cingular? - SeekingAlpha

“Why is everyone missing the fact that this phone/device will seamlessly switch between Edge and Wi-Fi saving big $$$ on data rates?”

That is the reason why I passed on the Palm Treo, they refuse to add wifi to it (the Palm OS version) and I refuse to pay $149 for that terrible “add-on”. Since I am in an environment that I always have access to wi-fi, why should I pay a mobile carrier for a data plan?
What do you think?

Apple (UK and Ireland) - Get a Mac

Funny UK versions of “Get a Mac” videos for our friends on the right side of the pond.