Apple Posts Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.1 Update

Addressing numbers of known bugs, Apple posts Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.1 update (build 9B18). The update can be obtained through Software Update or through Apple Support Downloads site.

Software Update icon small

Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.1 on MacBook Pro Core Duo

Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.1 9B18

Mac OS X Leopard

11/15/2007
Mac OS X 10.5.1 Update Client110MB | Server110MB
This update includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac and server.

Details on this Mac OS X 10.5.1 update:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306907

AirPort
Allows password-protected accounts on AirPort Disks to show up on in the Finder’s Shared Sidebar.
Resolves an issue with saved passwords for wireless networks.

Back to My Mac
Improves the reliability of Back to My Mac-enabled Macs appearing in the Finder’s Shared Sidebar.
Improves compatibility with D-Link NAT gateways.

Disk utilities
Restores the functionality of the progress bar during permission repairs in Disk Utility.
Addresses an issue that could produce an alert when creating disk images using Disk Utility or Terminal.
Improves disk partitioning when multiple RAID sets are created on the same disk.

iCal
iCal alarms are now more reliably delivered via email.
Resolves an issue when inviting attendees via a CalDAV account.

Mail
Improves stability when resizing columns in the message viewer or switching between Stationery templates in email messages.
Addresses an issue in which attachments enclosed inside an HTML link may not be clickable in email messages.
Fixes an issue with email accounts added using the “Simple Setup” feature in which messages cannot be sent due to an SMTP connection failure.
Improves Smart Mailboxes compatibility with .Mac Sync, and addresses an issue with To Do’s disappearing when using Smart Mailboxes.
Resolves an issue with syncing Mail accounts with .Mac in which multiple On My Mac folders appear in the Mailbox pane.

Networking
Addresses an issue in which Microsoft Windows shared folders may be read-only when connected via SMB.

Printing
Resolves an issue in which user-selected values on Paper Feed PDE are reset to default while saving a custom preset.

Security, Firewall
Addresses a code signing issue; third-party applications can now run when included in the Application Firewall or when whitelisted in Parental Controls.
In Security preferences’ Firewall tab, the “Block All” option is now called “Allow Only essential services”
Includes recent Apple security updates.

System and Finder
Addresses a potential data loss issue when moving files across partitions in the Finder.
Resolves an issue with login after turning off FileVault for a specific user account.
Improves compatibility with Adobe Flash-based uploaders used by .Mac Web Gallery and certain other websites and applications.
Resolves a potential text drawing issue with certain Adobe Flash-based websites and applications.

Time Machine
Addresses formatting issues with certain drives used with Time Machine (specifically, single-partition MBR drives greater than 512 GB in size as well as NTFS drives of any size and partition scheme).
Resolves an issue in which files restored in Time Machine may be restored to the backup hierarchy rather than the folders to which they belong.

Mac OS X 10.5.1 addresses Leopard Firewall security. For more information, you can read it here.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307004

Apple Introduces Final Cut Express 4

Apple introduces Final Cut Express 4.

Final Cut Express 4 box

For more informations on Final Cut Express 4, head to:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/

System Requirements

  • A Mac computer with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, or Intel Xeon processor
    For AVCHD: A Mac computer with an Intel processor
  • 1GB of RAM or more
  • An AGP or PCI Express graphics card compatible with Quartz Extreme; or an Intel GMA integrated graphics processor in a MacBook or Mac mini computer
  • Some FxPlug filters are not compatible with integrated Intel graphics processors.
  • A display with 1024-by-768 resolution or higher
  • A DVD drive for installation
  • Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later
  • QuickTime 7.2 or later
  • 500MB of disk space to install Final Cut Express and LiveType
  • Additional 500MB to install LiveType content

It is finally answering the one question out of many that I currently care about.

“Why doesn’t Final Cut Express support AVCHD? Final Cut Pro can, but I rarely use it for small projects. Wait a minute, iMovie ’08 can too. I feel that iMovie ’08 is under-powered, and Final Cut Pro is an overkill. Apple, please add AVCHD support to Final Cut Express. I would like to import and edit the AVCHD-encoded clips that I took using my new Panasonic HDC-SD5 camcorder.”

OK, apparently Apple was not going to add AVCHD support to Final Cut Express 3.5 and older. The AVCHD support will be built in Final Cut Express 4.

Anyway, I like using Final Cut Pro; but it’s a bit overkill at many times. I like using iMovie HD ’06; but it’s a little bit limited in features. I like using iMovie ’08; but it’s missing some important features such as audio extractions, and many others. In my mind, I’d say that for most of the projects I’m working on, I can sufficiently handle them in Final Cut Express. I recently purchased Panasonic HDC-SD5 camcorder and it records into the AVCHD format. I was going to fire up Final Cut Pro to work on some videos, but since Apple announces Final Cut Express 4 with AVCHD support; I don’t need Final Cut Pro for most of my projects.

Futurama: Countdown to “Bender’s Big Score”

“Good News, Everyone…….. Futurama is BACK!”

First and foremost, I can’t wait to watch the brand spankin’ fresh and new Futurama. I’m a big fan of the show. I cursed the day Fox Network revealed that they are canceling the show. Anyway, the first installment of the “Return of The Futurama” is coming within a “feels like a space eternity” 2 weeks. Can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait, and Bender is Great! Bender is Great!

B E N D E R

Bender! Bender is Great!

I got carried away there.

Futurama The Movie – Bender’s Big Score” will be released on November 27th, 2007. I already pre-ordered it through Amazon.com. The crazy part is that I know that I’ll be picking it up at the local Target or Circuit City store. I despise “Best” Buy, and have no plan to spend my money there. OK, I’ll buy the DVD from Best Buy if they would give me a life-size Bender statue.

Silly Futurama Preview @ Amazon.com

Futurama The Movie - Bender's Big Score

Based on the available informations, the “Futurama The Movie – Bender’s Big Score” will be in a “glorious” widescreen format.

From Fox Home Entertainment and courtesy of GotFuturama.com (there’s where I got it from):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE FEATURE-LENGTH ACTION EPIC 1000 YEARS IN THE MAKING ARRIVES…

FUTURAMA IS BACK, BABY!

In Fox Home Entertainment’s First Carbon-Neutral Release, Fry, Leela, Professor Farnsworth And Bender Triumphantly Return On DVD November 27

Century City, CA – The future is back…and it’s cleaner than ever! Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents the first of four direct-to-DVD Futurama adventures when Futurama: Bender’s Big Score makes its highly anticipated DVD debut on November 27. As the studio’s first carbon-neutral release, the carbon impact of the production, manufacture and distribution of the Futurama Bender’s Big Score DVD was directly assessed and actively reduced. For the unavoidable emissions, the studio used high-quality, verified carbon offsets. Futurama: Bender’s Big Score also features an eco-friendly highlight: a cameo from former Vice President Al Gore, guest starring as himself.

The first feature-length Futurama action epic, with three more adventures expected through 2009, finds the Futurama crew fighting to save Earth in an epic battle against nudist alien Internet scammers. It’s nearly Christmas 3007 when evil naked aliens launch a cyber-attack on the Planet Express and make a shocking discovery: the secret of time travel, mysteriously tattooed on Fry’s buttocks. Using their devious nudist software to control Bender, the aliens send him through history where he has run-ins with the likes of Al Gore, Coolio (Daredevil, Batman & Robin) and Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program, School For Scoundrels).

In addition to the never-before-seen movie, the Futurama: Bender’s Big Score DVD features commentary from Matt Groening, David X. Cohen and cast members Billy West, John DiMaggio, Phil LaMarr, Dwayne Carey-Hill and Ken Keeler; an animated promo for An Inconvenient Truth starring Bender and Al Gore, with commentary by the former Vice President, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen; an all-new episode entitled “Everybody Loves Hypnotoad” including TV commercials of the future; a Futurama mind-shattering math lecture; character and design sketches and deleted scenes. Futurama: Bender’s Big Score will be available for a suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S./$37.98 Canada.

Tech Specs (yeah, I cmd-x and cmd-v from GotFuturama.com):

DVD Special Features:
The Futurama: Bender’s Big Score DVD will be presented in full screen WideScreen format with English Dolby Surround 5.1, along with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:

  • Commentary By Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Billy West, John DiMaggio, Phil LaMarr, Claudia Katz, Dwayne Carey-Hill and Ken Keeler
  • Futurama Returns! A Live Comic Book Reading By The Futurama Cast Featurette
  • Everybody Loves Hypnotoad – A Spellbinding Episode Of The Future’s Most Popular TV Program
  • A Terrifying Message From Al Gore: Animated Promo For An Inconvenient Truth
    • Video Commentary by Al Gore, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen
  • Bite My Shiny Metal X: A Mind-Shattering Futurama Math Lecture Featurette
  • Bender’s Big Score: The Original First Draft Of The Script Featurette
  • New Character/Design Sketches
  • Original Five-Minute Comic-Con Promo
  • Deleted Scenes
    • Monte Carlo
    • Robot Mafia
    • Limbo Contest


FUTURAMA: BENDER’S BIG SCORE
Street Date: November 27, 2007
DVD Price: $29.98 U.S. / $37.98 Canada
Closed Captioned: Yes

BENDER IS BACK, BABY!!!!