Tag Archives: OS

Apple to release OS X 10.9 with new power-user features, more from iOS later this year

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OS X 10.9, which is internally codenamed “Cabernet,” will focus on various “power-user” enhancements and take core features from iOS, according to our sources. Unlike operating system updates such as OS X Leopard and OS X Lion, OS X 10.9 will likely not be an overhauled approach to how the operating system feels and functions.

The new operating system includes major enhancements to the Finder application such as tags and tabbed browsing modes. Those additions are notable as many pro-users have relied on third-party solutions and hacks to enable these features. Additionally, the new operating system will include a new Safari web browser with a redesigned backend for improved page loading, speed, and efficiency…

TotalFinder hack

Third-party TotalFinder tool

The ability to keep a different “Space” or full-screen app open on a different monitor (in multiple monitor setups) is another important power-user feature coming in 10.9. This feature was forecasted by Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi last year.

Screen Shot 2012-10-16 at 4.53.23 PM

In October, reader Stephen Gilbert shared an email exchange with Mr. Federighi in which Gilbert complained about the lack of proper multi-monitor support in OS X Mountain Lion. The Apple executive said that Apple is “absolutely aware of [its] customers’ passion on this topic,” according to the email exchange.

According to our sources, OS X 10.9 will see some user-interface changes, but the changes will not be a drastic ones.

Last year, we reported that early builds of OS X 10.9 included Siri functionality. It is unclear if full Siri-support is still in the cards for OS X 10.9 or if the functionality will be glued to future hardware updates (for instance, iPhone 4 versus iPhone 4S). The shake-up at the top of Apple’s overall software group shifted around multiple iOS and OS X projects, so anything on the roadmap prior to this shakeup could have been altered, according to a person familiar with the situation.

OS X Mountain Lion added many app-based features from iOS, such as Messages, Notes/Reminders, Game Center, and AirPlay, but the additions in OS X 10.9 from iOS will focus more on system fundamentals. According to one source, Apple has been testing a new multi-tasking system for OS X that is similar to the quick-app-switcher function on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. The multitasking feature will be functional for applications in the background, according to this person. Additionally, Apple could use app-pausing technologies from iOS to pause background application processes in OS X. This is significant as full performance could be given to foreground apps, which could help optimize battery life on Apple’s notebook computers. It is unclear if this feature will make the cut for 10.9′s public release.

Apple will also likely announce Xcode 5.0 later this year. Apple’s new version of its developer app suite is said to be redesigned and include improved application testing tools. Perhaps hinting at this is Apple’s own WWDC press release (emphasis ours):

Our developers have had the most prolific and profitable year ever, and we’re excited to show them the latest advances in software technologies and developer tools to help them create innovative new apps. We can’t wait to get new versions of iOS and OS X into their hands at WWDC.

Apple’s last two operating systems shipped in the summer, which suggests it is likely that 10.9 will also see a summer release. OS X 10.9 was originally scheduled to be previewed earlier this year, but Apple decided to introduce the operating system alongside iOS 7 at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference. Recent rumors have indicated that Apple moved resources away from OS X 10.9 development in order to focus on iOS 7. This likely contributed to Apple moving back the next OS X’s debut.

As we previously noted, the operating system seems to have already been fairly widely distributed inside Apple, based on views to 9to5Mac with computers running OS X 10.9.

Top image created by Charmanderfan7 on DeviantArt.



Handy iOS version/device matrix chart [PDF]

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The Loop points us to this iOS support matrix (Autumn 2012 edition) posted by app developer Empirical Magic. Definitely a useful resource for developers, the chart shows the number of devices running certain versions of iOS, and makes recommendations for dropping support in future updates.

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Programmer Screw-Up In OS X 10.7.3 Means Your Password Might Be Exposed To Hackers

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It hasn’t been a good year for Mac security so far, at least PR-wise, and it’s about to get a lot uglier: an Apple programmer forgot to turn off a debug switch in OS X 10.7.3′s security settings before the update was distributed to the public.

The result? If you’re running OS X 10.7.3, your login password might be stored in plain text on an unencrypted, easily accessed section of your hard drive.

The massive SNAFU was discovered by security researcher David Emery, who claims that all user login passwords are being stored in a system-wide debug log file in real text in some distributions of the latest Apple security update to Lion, OS X 10.7.3.

According to Emery, this is a serious issue, as this file and all the passwords contained within can be easily accessed by anyone with physical or remote access to your computer:

This is worse than it seems, since the log in question can also be read by booting the machine into firewire disk mode and reading it by opening the drive as a disk or by booting the new-with-LION recovery partition and using the available superuser shell to mount the main file system partition and read the file. This would allow someone to break into encrypted partitions on machines they did not have any idea of any login passwords for.

Worse, it affects Time Machine backups on external drives, and even computers using Filevailt aren’t safe from having hackers access the log file.

According to Emery, the best way to protect yourself until Apple patches this whole is to use Filevault 2′s whole disk encryption, as well as requiring a firmware password to prevent would be hackers from gaining access to the disk by booting the computer in FireWire Disk Mode.

It seems unlikely that Apple won’t rush a fix to this issue out in the coming days, but in the aftermath of Flashback, a stupid screw-up like this is ill-timed. Consumers are already starting to worry that Macs might not be as secure as they have traditionally thought. Apple doesn’t need to help that argument out by forgetting to re-secure user’s systems before they send out the latest OS X update.

Source: Cryptome
Via: ZDNet

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StyleTap iOS Wrapper SDK lets you submit Palm OS apps to Apple

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Last year StyleTap launched their Palm OS emulator platform for iPhone, but for obvious reasons it wasn’t made available through the App Store and instead limited to jailbroken devices. To circumvent Apple’s App Store guidelines, over the past year StyleTap has developed and now launched the ‘StyleTap iOS Wrapper SDK‘, allowing Palm OS devs to wrap their apps in an iPhone app that’s ready to submit to Apple. Here’s how it works:

StyleTap Platform for iPhone® cannot currently be purchased through the Apple App Store because it provides capabilities (e.g.the ability to download other Palm applications) that are restricted by Apple. The StyleTap iOS Wrapper SDK allows you as a Palm application developer to create an iPhone (iOS) application that “wraps” a Palm application inside StyleTap Platform for iPhone in a way that removes all of the restricted capabilities. You can then submit the resulting iPhone application to be included in the Apple App Store.

StyleTap will provide devs with the StyleTap Platform designed for non-jailbroken iPhones through a template Xcode project that also includes instructions on configuring apps for submission to Apple. After devs throw their .prc and .pdb Palm application and license info into the StyleTap Platform setup, they will then have to build an iOS app. Of course devs will still have to be part of Apple’s Developer Program and StyleTap isn’t guaranteeing Apple will accept submitted apps. Also noteworthy is the fact that this enables organizations to deploy Palm apps to non-jailbroken iOS devices, and those apps don’t require submission to Apple.

No word on pricing for licenses, as the new iOS Wrapper SDK just launched and the company is taking it on a customer by customer basis. You can learn more and contact them here.

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Another One Bites the Dust: Intel Halts Development of Meego OS [Report]

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With the news that HP is seriously reevaluating the longevity of the webOS platform, it looks like another mobile OS has fallen by the wayside.

After being largely abandoned by Nokia for Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS, Intel has announced a ‘temporary’ halt on development of Meego. The company will reportedly focus on hardware development for either the Windows Phone OS or Android.

DigiTimes reports that Meego development had been halted “due to a lack of enthusiasm for the platform from handset and tablet PC vendors.”

This is what Intel had to say about the report:

“Intel does not comment on industry speculation or rumor. We remain committed to MeeGo and open source, and will continue to work with the community to help develop and meet the needs of customers and end users.”

Don’t kid yourself, Intel.

The Nokia N9 is one of the few devices left that runs Meego, and Intel’s OS has gained little to no traction in the mobile market. It’s not surprising that the plug is getting pulled.

The only major players right now are iOS and Android. However, Amazon’s new tablet may prove to be a force to be reckoned with. Only time will tell.

It’s the weekend, so I’m using this as an excuse to embed this song:

(via WIRED)

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How to identify the exact model of your old Mac

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Macs last a long time. In fact, they remain functional long enough for most Mac owners to forget what model, exactly, of Mac they use every day. Yet knowing your Mac’s precise model name is essential when you’re ready to upgrade not just the hardware, but also software and major OS updates. After all, it’s very likely that, while upgrading from Snow Leopard to Lion, for example, you will discover that you want to add more memory or otherwise upgrade the hardware, too. To order replacement parts, you’ll need to know the exact model you have.

First, find your serial number

Probably the quickest and easiest way to learn about your Mac is with the serial number. Look on the surface of your Mac or on your sales receipt or original packaging. If you can’t find it either of those ways, you can locate this while running your Mac:

  • From the Apple menu, select “About this Mac.”
  • Click on “More Info…”
  • Highlight the “Hardware” category, and look for the serial number there.

More Info About This Mac

(If you have OS X 10.1 or higher installed on your Mac, you can also go to the Apple menu, choose “About this Mac,” then double-click on the OS version number. It will change to your serial number.)

Then use these sites to get the help you need

With the serial number, you can find out the hip version name of your particular model. For instance, how are you to remember that the MacBook Pro 4.1 was also referred to as the MacBook Pro Early 2008. To get even more information about your Mac, Apple has provided a few online services that can help you out:

  • Apple’s Support’s Tech Spec Search Utility: A great, well-maintained source of information about Apple products that includes all the product information even after it has been removed from the primary site as well as the Apple Online Store. Enter your serial number into the search box, and you will find information about the processor speed, size and weight, memory, storage and much more. support.apple.com/specs
  • Apple’s Service and Repair Web Site: If you are in need of service or repair, whether you have Apple Care or not, this site will help get you started on the road to recovery. You can contact an Apple advisor, make an appointment with a genius at an Apple Retail Store, or search for a local Apple Authorized Service Provider. selfsolve.apple.com
  • Apple’s Apple Care Registered Products List: If you have purchased Apple Care for any of your products, or if you have very recently purchased a new Mac and are still covered by the free Apple Care coverage, then this is the place to go when you need help or support. apple.com/support/applecare
  • Apple’s My Support Profile list of My Products: Relatively unknown site that helps keep track of all of your interactions with Apple support as well as maintain a list of the products you have registered with Apple. In fact, this site will help you keep track of all of your Apple purchases. supportprofile.apple.com

What I find interesting about being an owner of Apple products is the amount of time and energy people, including myself, put into knowing everything there is to know about the next piece of hardware Apple is to release. Yet as time passes, many of us simply forget the exact details of what we already have. I hope this guide will help close this knowledge gap.

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This is big: OS X Lion Update is App Store only

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Phil Schiller - WWDC 2011 OS X LionAs foreshadowed by Apple making many of its leading iWork and iLife products available in the Mac App Store, the next version of OS X will also be sold only through the Mac App Store. This is yet another step away from traditional media distribution as Apple will effectively be cutting out other means of software distribution like Amazon.  The update will be available for download in July for just $29.

Weighing in at just over 4 GB each download, this update will likely be a major contender with Netflix for internet bandwidth.  Especially as Apple’s 54 million Mac users begin to upgrade.  While priced the same as OS X Snow Leopard, this cat is no slouch.  With over 250 new features, Mac users will be more likely to want to update sooner rather than later.

What will be interesting this time around is how one performs this download-based upgrade. While users have gotten familiar with the upgrade process of the disk-based distribution, the Mac OS X upgrade path will likely be a little different; requiring enough free hard drive space for the download, the upgrade process, and the larger OS foot print that will likely result.  At a time when Mac users are opting for the faster yet smaller SSDs, extra hard drive space, like network bandwidth will be at a premium.

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