I don’t really know when the update was actually released, Gogole Software Update just informed me that Picasa 3.5.1 for Mac OS X is now available.
Picasa for Windows is still at 3.5.0 at the time of this post.
Microsoft Security Essentials
I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials Beta on day one. I did have some reservations on this product instead of blindly believing whatever Microsoft P.R. (a.k.a. Paul Thurrott) was saying in Windows Weekly Podcast.
My first impressions on Microsoft Security Essentials were:
- Small memory footprint.
- Doing good job at detecting malware on a known infected hard-drive.
- Excessive use of “At Risk” phrase.
Overall I am impressed with the performance and I have installed it on numbers of computers that I managed. Two things that I stumbled upon are:
- VNC is flagged as security threat.
- Explorer.exe uses a lot more memory during the scan. It is unclear if Security Essentials offloads part of the scanning task to Explorer.exe.
In addition to that I have also installed Microsoft Security Essentials for some friends who were having virus troubles repeatedly in the past. This would put Microsoft Security Essentials to the test. Then again, the users often are the weakest links in computer security.
Telemarketer Text Spam from (562) 453-8906.
When you thought that those Telemarketer phonecalls were annoying, now they are sending you text messages to your phones. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the do-not-call list because they actually never called you; they just texted you.
The latest one that came to my phone is from (562) 453-8906 and it says:
(insert web-site here) Is your mortgage payment too expensive? Our Loan Modification program can lower your payments immediately. May we please give you a call?
A query on Google reveals that a lot of people have received such text message with different Web-Addresses attached.
If you received such text messages, file a complaint to FCC (http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm).
Select the options in the following sequence:
- Wireless Telephone
- Telemarketing calls (including Do-Not-Call), prerecorded messages and unsolicited commercial emails received on a wireless phone
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Information for National Do Not Call Registry – http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/donotcall/
Register your phone number in the National Do Not Call Registry – https://www.donotcall.gov/
Apple updates iTunes and Logic.
2009.09.22
Apple releases updates to iTunes 9 and Logic Studio ’09.
iTunes 9.0.1 for Windows (64 bit) | 88.80MB
iTunes 9.0.1 provides a number of important bug fixes.iTunes 9.0.1 for Mac OS X and Windows (32-bit) | 82.95MB
iTunes 9 provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices.Logic Pro 9.0.1 | 183MB
This update improves overall stability and provides numerous fixes and enhancements.Logic Express 9.0.1 | 133.74MB
This update improves overall stability and provides numerous fixes and enhancements.Main Stage 2.0.1 | 206.75MB
This update improves overall performance and provides numerous fixes and enhancements, including the Loopback and Playback plug-ins.
All the updates are available through Software Update and Apple Web-site.
Final Cut Studio: Failed Installation
I was working on a Mac Pro with newly installed Snow Leopard on Wednesday September 16th, 2009. I tried installing Final Cut Studio (2009) and it kept failing.
After a long troubleshooting session, I finally found out what the culprits were.
I managed to duplicate the error on a 13-inch MacBook Pro also running a newly installed Snow Leopard.
For some reasons on both the Mac Pro and MacBook Pro, Final Cut Pro installation failed if iLife ’09 installed. Make sure all iLife ’09 is up to date, especially iDVD.
I succesfully installed Final Cut Studio sans iDVD Theme Element.
If the installation still failed, you can separately install Final Cut Studio elements. The error most likely occurred after Final Cut Pro and Colors are installed. Therefore, install the followings separately:
- Motion Contents
- Audio Contents
- DVD Studio Pro
It is likely that there was an error while reading the installation disc. For example the Mac Pro I was working on was unable to read Motion Contents disk 2. By installing Final Cut Studio components separately, I managed to get all of them successfully installed.
PlayStation 3 Firmware 3.01
Quick post while I still remember.
PlayStation 3 Firmware 3.01 is now available for download through PS3 Software Update or through Playstation.com site.
http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/SystemUpdates/PS3/pc_update.html
Mac OS X Updates for September 10, 2009.
Along with Mac OS X 10.6.1, Apple also releases security updates for Mac OS X Tiger and Leopard.
2009.09.10
Mac OS X v10.6.1 Update | 71.47MB
The 10.6.1 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.
Mac OS X Server v10.6.1 Update | 71.57MB
The 10.6.1 update is recommended for all servers currently running Snow Leopard Server version 10.6 and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your server.
Security Update 2009-005 (Leopard) | 93.14MB
Security Update 2009-005 is recommended for all users and improves the security of Mac OS X. Previous security updates have been incorporated into this security update.
Security Update 2009-005 Server (Leopard) | 93.14MB
Security Update 2009-005 is recommended for all servers and improves the security of Mac OS X. Previous security updates have been incorporated into this security update.
Security Update 2009-005 (Tiger Intel) | 169.75MB
Security Update 2009-005 is recommended for all users and improves the security of Mac OS X. Previous security updates have been incorporated into this security update.
Security Update 2009-005 (Tiger PPC) | 77.95MB
Security Update 2009-005 is recommended for all users and improves the security of Mac OS X. Previous security updates have been incorporated into this security update.
Security Update 2009-005 Server (Tiger Univ) | 206.43MB
Security Update 2009-005 is recommended for all users and improves the security of Mac OS X. Previous security updates have been incorporated into this security update.
Security Update 2009-005 Server (Tiger PPC) | 132.53MB
Security Update 2009-005 is recommended for all users and improves the security of Mac OS X. Previous security updates have been incorporated into this security update.
iMac Graphics FW Update 1.0.2 | 872KB
This update is for iMac computers with an ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics card installed, running Mac OS X 10.5.2 or later.
Apple RAID Card Firmware Update | 26.12MB
The update is recommend for all Mac Pro (Late 2006, Early 2008) and Xserve (Late 2006, Early 2008) systems with the Apple RAID card.
The updates are available through Software updates and Apple Support Downloads page.