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News & Opinion
Products & Services
Software
News & Opinion
Apple Releases OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.1
Update
PR: OS X Mountain
Lion Update v10.8.1 includes general operating system fixes that
improve the stability and compatibility of your Mac, including fixes
that:
- Resolve an issue that may cause Migration Assistant to unexpectedly
quit
- Improve compatibility when connecting to a Microsoft Exchange
server in Mail
- Address an issue playing audio through a Thunderbolt display
- Resolve an issue that could prevent iMessages from being sent
- Address an issue that could cause the system to become unresponsive
when using Pinyin input
- Resolve an issue when connecting to SMB servers with long
names
- Address a issue that may prevent Safari from launching when using a
Proxy Automatic Configuration (PAC) file
- Improve 802.1X authentication with Active Directory
credentials.
For information on the security content of this update, visit
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222
File Size: 24.2 MB
System Requirements: OS X Mountain Lion v10.8
Publisher's note: The big question for MacBook users is will it
improve battery life. We'll cover that in
today's 'Book Review. dk
Link: About the OS X Mountain Lion
v10.8.1 Update
Why OS X Is Best for Writers
AppStorm's Matthew Guay says that while Macs are used by everyone
from NASA to the White House yet can't shake the perception that
they're designer goods - well-suited for creative types but not serious
hardware for real business work - no matter how often they've been
proven to be simply great computers for anyone who cares about a good
computing experience.
However, Guay observes that perhaps because Macs really are so good
for creatives, many little things make OS X a great writing platform,
maintaining that it's the best OS for writers. He notes that
notwithstanding the iOSification of OS X and increased emphasis on
touch/gesture input in Lion and Mountain Lion, if anything, OS X
remains the best OS for keyboard usage, with a vast array of keyboard
shortcuts with ways to switch between apps and spaces to shortcuts to
automate tasks and jump between words, lines, and more when editing
text, plus contextual menus in most places you can type, the new
Substitutions macro feature in Mountain Lion, proofing anywhere with
OS X's built in spell check and dictionary, and much more.
Link: OS X: The Best OS
for Writing
Why Would You Not Update to OS X Mountain
Lion?
Forbes' Wade Fulton says that being an Apple enthusiast, he
installed OS X Mountain Lion almost the minute it hit the App Store and
says he's loved every moment of his Mountain Lion experience and
recommended the upgrade to all of his clients.
Fulton notes that users who have switched from PC to Mac and still
have a bad taste in their mouth from Windows upgrades that wreaked
havoc on their old PCs and seemed to do more to harm ones workflow than
improve the overall user experience, are in for a nice surprise with
Mountain Lion.
Fulton likens using a Mac instead of a Windows PC to driving a BMW,
Mercedes-Benz, or comparable high performance luxury automobile as
opposed to a run-of-the-mill econobox. The Mac is just more fun to
drive, simple, powerful, finely tuned, leaves you in charge, and works
as an extension of you, and says that what's so awesome about Apple's
OS upgrades is that they're incredibly affordable and make your Mac
even better - like being able to buy a BMW and then continuing to get
all of the new features they come out with every year for a few bucks
instead of having to trade the car in for a new one.
Publisher's note: I have two answers to the question posed by this
article's title. Some Mac users have hardware that does not support
Mountain Lion, including a good percentage of OS X 10.7 Lion users, and some Mac
users have chosen to remain at OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard because
it remains compatible with PowerPC software and doesn't turn so many
traditional Mac features on their head. (It's the last version of
OS X not tainted by the success of iOS.) My 2007 Mac mini falls
into the first category, and my software collection also puts me in the
second. dk
Link: Why Would You
Own a Mac and Not Update to OS X Mountain Lion?
Mountain Lion Gripe List
TUAW's Michael Grothaus says that he thinks OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
is the best OS Apple has ever released, feeling like a completed
version of what Mac OS X 10.7 Lion should have been - fast, clean,
incorporating some more iOS concepts to OS X and that for the most
part, it just works.
However, he has some some gripes about Mountain Lion, most minor and
probably correctable in future updates. His list of Mountain Lion
misdemeanors includes issues with Mail, Calendar, Safari, Notification
Center, and more.
Link: OS X 10.8 Mountain
Lion Gripe List
Products & Services
Logitech Unveils Washable, Ultra-Durable
Keyboard
PR: Logitech has unveiled the latest entry in its line of PC
keyboards, the Logitech Washable Keyboard K310. From a light dusting to
a rinse in the kitchen sink, this keyboard is easy to clean and easy to
dry. It's also designed for a comfortable typing experience with a
familiar layout and sleek, thin profile.
Because life and its messes will
happen, regardless of how careful you are, Logitech designed the
Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 to look and function like new, even
over time.
The Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 can be hand-washed repeatedly,
and can be submerged (with the exception of the USB cable) in up to 11
inches of water. Convenient drainage holes at the back of the keyboard
allow for easy drying while key characters are laser printed and UV
coated to help ensure the letters don't fade in the wash. Plus, the
Logitech claims that the keys can last up to five million keystrokes,
meaning this keyboard can take a pounding as well as a washing,
"We've all experienced that moment of distraction followed by panic,
when a cup of coffee or a soda spills all over your keyboard," says
Sophie Le Guen, senior director of mice and keyboards at Logitech.
"Because life and its messes will happen, regardless of how careful you
are, Logitech designed the Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 to look and
function like new, even over time."
Another matter that a washable keyboard helps address is germ
vectoring with keyboards in multiple-user environments, health care
settings, and such. Studies have consistently shown that computer
keyboards are apt to have higher bacterial counts than typical toilet
seats.
This full-size keyboard's contemporary design complements both your
computer and your work space. It comes complete with F-keys and a
number pad, and is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and
Windows 7. With twelve hot keys for instant access to Internet, e-mail,
play, volume and more, you can readily open your most-used applications
with a single keystroke. To make life even easier, this keyboard
requires no software for setup, simply pull the device straight out of
the box, plug it in and type away.
The Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 is expected to be available in
the US beginning in August and Europe beginning in October 2012, for a
suggested retail price of $39.99.
Publisher's note: This is not a Mac keyboard, but ever since OS X
10.4 Tiger shipped, you can go to System Preferences > Keyboard
& Mouse and select Keyboard, then click on Modifier
Keys to map Option to Command and Command to Option. After that,
the placement of the Option and Command keys will be what a Mac user
expects. dk
Link:
Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 (order from the Logitech Store or
Amazon.com)
Software
ClipMenu: Free Clipboard Manager for OS X 10.5 and
Later
PR: The free utility
ClipMenu can manage clipboard history. You can record 8 clipboard
types, from plain text to image.
To paste a recorded item, just pop up the menu by invoking the
shortcut key, and select the desired item from the menu.
You can also register texts you frequently use - like email
addresses, user IDs, and so on - as snippets and paste these snippets
from the menu as well.
ClipMenu is a freeware/donationware.
System Requirements
- Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or later.
- 64-bit support in Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or later.
- ClipMenu is a Universal binary, so it will run on Intel and PowerPC
Macs.
Link: ClipMenu
Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player Brings Blu-ray to Mountain
Lion
PR: Macgo has released its Mac Blu-ray Player updated to use
with Apple's recently released OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. With 1080p
playback, Mac Blu-ray Player can optimize UHD Blu-ray on your Retina
Display while also offering the convenience of being able to support
all media formats.
Macgo says its Mac Blu-ray Player is not only the first Blu-ray
player for Mac OS, but claims it's also the best media player for both
the Mac and PC platforms. It can support all Mac OS X versions from
10.5 to the latest 10.8, as well as all existing Mac models, including
MacBook Pro, Air, Mac mini, iMac, and Mac Pro. Advanced technology lets
Mac Blu-ray Player play any commercial Blu-ray disc/DVD released in any
region.
This app can also function as an all-in-one media player with all
media formats supported, including Blu-ray, DVD, VideoCD, MOV, MKV,
AVI, FLV, WMV, MP4, MPEG, RMVB, MP3, WMA, AAC, AC3, and even ISO
format. YouTube fans can watch YouTube videos directly from within the
player.
With OS X 10.8, Macs can work better with iPhone and iPad. In this
case, Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player can stream Blu-ray movies from Mac to
iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch wirelessly with its build-in AirX
function.
A full array of features makes Mac Blu-ray Player one of the most
versatile media players on the market. In addition to SNS share on
sites like Facebook and Twitter, the program is also boasts
multi-language support, UHD audiovisual quality, lightning quick
loading speed, and a user-friendly interface, making it a n ideal
choice for those seeking UHD Blu-ray entertainment on Mac Mountain Lion
OS.
System Requirements
- OS Supported: Mac OS X 10.5+ to 10.8
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz processor or higher recommended
- RAM: 512 MB RAM or more
- 250 MB of free disk space.
- An internal or external (USB 2.0 or FireWire) Blu-ray drive
Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player is available now at $39.95.
Publisher's note: Be sure to read Dan Bashur's review of Mac
Blu-ray Player published in July. dk
You cand download a free trial version.
Link:
Mac Blu-ray Player
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