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Verizon sets it sights on Apple, AT&T in ad campaign
Verizon has upped the ante in its battle verses Apple and AT&T, airing a series of ads which make claims of AT&T's lack of 3G coverage and iPhone shortcomings.
In a thirty second advertisement which first aired Saturday during the ALCS baseball game, Verizon unveiled a new add targeting the iPhone. The ad, which greatly resembles Apple's stylized spots, listed several of the iPhone's proposed weaknesses when compared to Verizon's new Droid smartphone with the tagline "iDon't."
No real details about the Droid phone were presented in the spot, instead viewers were directed to a website where email addresses could be submitted for more information.
This is not the first ad that has specifically lampooned the iPhone. Verizon also released an ad which compares the 3G coverage of their service to that of AT&T's, using the tagline "there's a map for that." It parodies Apple's own iPhone advertisements, which have famously touted that "There's an app for that."
Verizon was one of the carriers that Apple originally looked to before the initial launch of the iPhone, but Verizon ultimately passed on an exclusive 5-year deal, citing a variety of issues from Apple royalties to customer care.
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In a thirty second advertisement which first aired Saturday during the ALCS baseball game, Verizon unveiled a new add targeting the iPhone. The ad, which greatly resembles Apple's stylized spots, listed several of the iPhone's proposed weaknesses when compared to Verizon's new Droid smartphone with the tagline "iDon't."
No real details about the Droid phone were presented in the spot, instead viewers were directed to a website where email addresses could be submitted for more information.
This is not the first ad that has specifically lampooned the iPhone. Verizon also released an ad which compares the 3G coverage of their service to that of AT&T's, using the tagline "there's a map for that." It parodies Apple's own iPhone advertisements, which have famously touted that "There's an app for that."
Verizon was one of the carriers that Apple originally looked to before the initial launch of the iPhone, but Verizon ultimately passed on an exclusive 5-year deal, citing a variety of issues from Apple royalties to customer care.
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Apple ranks among top in social media influence
In an analysis of world' s most valuable brands, Apple ranked among the top companies in generating social media interest on services such as Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter.
Social Media Analytics firm Sysomos issued rankings on the amount of online "buzz" generated by twenty of the top companies as determined by international brand consultancy Interbrand. Google, Apple, and Microsoft took the top spots in the rankings, edging out companies such as Disney, Samsung, and Intel.
Sysomos based the rankings on results from their Media Analysis Platform, which catalogs social media conversations and tracks the trends and sentiment contained within. Interbrand drew their rankings from criteria such as financial data, international scope, and Economic Value Added.
When comparing both lists, Apple showed the biggest gain between the two, going from #20 in Interbrand's rankings to #2 in the Sysomos list.
Apple's growing influence in social media and culture has been well documented:
CEO Steve Jobs was named the most admired entrepreneur in a survey of 1,000 children between the ages of 12 and 17.
Another survey showed that a majority of teens own an iPod, holding an 87 percent share among them.
J.D. Power and Associates' customer satisfaction survey saw Apple at the top of the list, with 811 points out of 1000.
Apple hopes to use this positive public and online sentiment to continue to chip away at Microsoft's share of the personal computer market. With the impending launch of Windows 7, Apple has endeavored to highlight the fact that their platform is best suited to interact with the popular iPods and iPhones in a new series of ads aimed directly at Microsoft.
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Social Media Analytics firm Sysomos issued rankings on the amount of online "buzz" generated by twenty of the top companies as determined by international brand consultancy Interbrand. Google, Apple, and Microsoft took the top spots in the rankings, edging out companies such as Disney, Samsung, and Intel.
Sysomos based the rankings on results from their Media Analysis Platform, which catalogs social media conversations and tracks the trends and sentiment contained within. Interbrand drew their rankings from criteria such as financial data, international scope, and Economic Value Added.
When comparing both lists, Apple showed the biggest gain between the two, going from #20 in Interbrand's rankings to #2 in the Sysomos list.
Apple's growing influence in social media and culture has been well documented:
CEO Steve Jobs was named the most admired entrepreneur in a survey of 1,000 children between the ages of 12 and 17.
Another survey showed that a majority of teens own an iPod, holding an 87 percent share among them.
J.D. Power and Associates' customer satisfaction survey saw Apple at the top of the list, with 811 points out of 1000.
Apple hopes to use this positive public and online sentiment to continue to chip away at Microsoft's share of the personal computer market. With the impending launch of Windows 7, Apple has endeavored to highlight the fact that their platform is best suited to interact with the popular iPods and iPhones in a new series of ads aimed directly at Microsoft.
( Read more )
FreeBSD adds support for Snow Leopard's Grand Central Dispatch
Apple's Grand Central Dispatch technology, which debuted in Snow Leopard as a mechanism for optimizing parallelism across multiple cores and processors, has now been ported to FreeBSD.
Apple publicly announced plans to release its GCD technology as open source last month; the FreeBSD team demonstrated its early port of the new feature at EuroBSDCon 2009 in Cambridge, UK just days after Apple's announcement. Out of the box support for GCD is scheduled to appear with the release of FreeBSD 8.1.
The work required to port Apple's GCD event and concurrency framework to other operating systems is more complex than many other higher-level open source packages because GCD requires integration into the kernel (the core component of the operating system which manages processes, memory, and other hardware).
Most Unix-based software is highly portable between Mac OS X, Linux, and BSD, but significant kernel differences between these systems makes porting low-level, kernel-integrated technologies like GCD more work. In particular, Mac OS X uses a unique kernel design based on a hybrid of Mach and BSD. Porting GCD to FreeBSD required adaptations to account for a more conventional kernel environment without a Mach layer, such as using POSIX semaphores instead of Mach semaphores.
FreeBSD's porting efforts should help to make GCD easier to port to other operating systems with conventional Unix or Unix-like kernels, including OpenBSD, NetBSD, Linux, and Solaris.
In addition to kernel support, GCD requires compiler adaptations (a compiler is used to transform human readable source code language into the binary object code of an application). Apple's work on the Clang compiler front end and LLVM (Low Level Virtual Machine, the back end), makes porting this portion of GCD to other operating systems easier. This is particularly the case for FreeBSD, which has been quick to embrace support for Apple's Clang/LLVM open source projects
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Apple publicly announced plans to release its GCD technology as open source last month; the FreeBSD team demonstrated its early port of the new feature at EuroBSDCon 2009 in Cambridge, UK just days after Apple's announcement. Out of the box support for GCD is scheduled to appear with the release of FreeBSD 8.1.
The work required to port Apple's GCD event and concurrency framework to other operating systems is more complex than many other higher-level open source packages because GCD requires integration into the kernel (the core component of the operating system which manages processes, memory, and other hardware).
Most Unix-based software is highly portable between Mac OS X, Linux, and BSD, but significant kernel differences between these systems makes porting low-level, kernel-integrated technologies like GCD more work. In particular, Mac OS X uses a unique kernel design based on a hybrid of Mach and BSD. Porting GCD to FreeBSD required adaptations to account for a more conventional kernel environment without a Mach layer, such as using POSIX semaphores instead of Mach semaphores.
FreeBSD's porting efforts should help to make GCD easier to port to other operating systems with conventional Unix or Unix-like kernels, including OpenBSD, NetBSD, Linux, and Solaris.
In addition to kernel support, GCD requires compiler adaptations (a compiler is used to transform human readable source code language into the binary object code of an application). Apple's work on the Clang compiler front end and LLVM (Low Level Virtual Machine, the back end), makes porting this portion of GCD to other operating systems easier. This is particularly the case for FreeBSD, which has been quick to embrace support for Apple's Clang/LLVM open source projects
( Read more )
iPhone supply issues could make Apple disappoint on Wall Street
While demand for the iPhone remains high, Apple's apparent inability to keep up with supply during the last quarter could lead to lower-than-expected revenue reported on Monday.
At Apple's September media event, the iPhone maker suggested roughly 3.5 million phones were sold in the quarter with three weeks remaining, Yair Reiner, analyst with Oppenheimer, said in a note to investors Friday. But some analysts believe Apple will have sold more than twice that in the September quarter. While recent surveys suggest the supply issue has been mostly resolved, Reiner believes that bottleneck period could lead to slight disappointment in the company's fourth-quarter fiscal year revenue.
But outstanding demand for the iPhone has an upside for the holiday season, provided Apple can keep up with demand. Reiner recommended that investors "keep some powder dry" to buy shares after Apple reports its earnings Monday afternoon, rather than before.
"With demand for the iPhone apparently outstripping supply, December could be a substantial catch-up quarter, both in terms of sell-through and channel replenishment," he said. "Barring any additional component or manufacturing disruptions, we believe our 8M unit assumption for F1Q10 could prove conserfative, especially given the iPhone's expanding carrier footprint."
Apple's iPhone supply issues were also noted Thursday by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. The handset maker has had trouble keeping the iPhone 3GS in stock, in particular. Overseas, wireless carrier 3 Italia has said though it is selling 20,000 iPhones per month, it could double those numbers if the supply were available.
Like others, Reiner expects a record quarter for Mac sales, with Apple shipping between 2.7 million and 2.8 million units. But the potential to exceed those numbers, he said, is limited, because rumors of new MacBooks and iMacs likely delayed some purchases
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At Apple's September media event, the iPhone maker suggested roughly 3.5 million phones were sold in the quarter with three weeks remaining, Yair Reiner, analyst with Oppenheimer, said in a note to investors Friday. But some analysts believe Apple will have sold more than twice that in the September quarter. While recent surveys suggest the supply issue has been mostly resolved, Reiner believes that bottleneck period could lead to slight disappointment in the company's fourth-quarter fiscal year revenue.
But outstanding demand for the iPhone has an upside for the holiday season, provided Apple can keep up with demand. Reiner recommended that investors "keep some powder dry" to buy shares after Apple reports its earnings Monday afternoon, rather than before.
"With demand for the iPhone apparently outstripping supply, December could be a substantial catch-up quarter, both in terms of sell-through and channel replenishment," he said. "Barring any additional component or manufacturing disruptions, we believe our 8M unit assumption for F1Q10 could prove conserfative, especially given the iPhone's expanding carrier footprint."
Apple's iPhone supply issues were also noted Thursday by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. The handset maker has had trouble keeping the iPhone 3GS in stock, in particular. Overseas, wireless carrier 3 Italia has said though it is selling 20,000 iPhones per month, it could double those numbers if the supply were available.
Like others, Reiner expects a record quarter for Mac sales, with Apple shipping between 2.7 million and 2.8 million units. But the potential to exceed those numbers, he said, is limited, because rumors of new MacBooks and iMacs likely delayed some purchases
( Read more )
Apple looks to improve visual quality of streaming video
Apple has investigated a method to make imperfections in compressed video files less visible to the human eye, a new patent application revealed this week shows.
The described technology would not do away with compression, which is necessary given bandwidth restrictions. Instead, it details a new technology that would mask artifacting that often appears when video files are compressed to reduce their file size.
"Disadvantageously, most video compression standards use lossy data compression techniques in which data determined by a particular compression algorithm to be of lesser importance to the overall content, but which is nonetheless discernible and objectionable to the user, is discarded," the application reads. As a result, certain video compression algorithms may introduce visual artifacts into the decoded video stream, which may be distracting to a user when viewing the decoded video data."
It continues: "Such visual artifacts are generally attributable to the latent error in lossy data compression and may appear more frequently as higher video compression rates are used. Moreover, such artifacts are exacerbated when the decoded video images are scaled to larger high definition displays. "
Earlier this year, Apple was rumored to be working on a new service called iTunes Replay. It was said to allow users to stream iTunes video purchases directly from the company's servers for playback anywhere. Such a system would prevent the need for local storage to save large video files.
Apple has also taken interest in streaming video on the iPhone, with the latest 3.0 software allowing the HTTP Live Streaming standard. Apple has provided the QuickTime Streaming Server for the last decade, but that format has run into issues as it is often blocked by firewalls. But the new HTTP streaming technology allows simple real-time streaming of content and can offer multiple versions of clips in different formats which could automatically switch based on bandwidth availability
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The described technology would not do away with compression, which is necessary given bandwidth restrictions. Instead, it details a new technology that would mask artifacting that often appears when video files are compressed to reduce their file size.
"Disadvantageously, most video compression standards use lossy data compression techniques in which data determined by a particular compression algorithm to be of lesser importance to the overall content, but which is nonetheless discernible and objectionable to the user, is discarded," the application reads. As a result, certain video compression algorithms may introduce visual artifacts into the decoded video stream, which may be distracting to a user when viewing the decoded video data."
It continues: "Such visual artifacts are generally attributable to the latent error in lossy data compression and may appear more frequently as higher video compression rates are used. Moreover, such artifacts are exacerbated when the decoded video images are scaled to larger high definition displays. "
Earlier this year, Apple was rumored to be working on a new service called iTunes Replay. It was said to allow users to stream iTunes video purchases directly from the company's servers for playback anywhere. Such a system would prevent the need for local storage to save large video files.
Apple has also taken interest in streaming video on the iPhone, with the latest 3.0 software allowing the HTTP Live Streaming standard. Apple has provided the QuickTime Streaming Server for the last decade, but that format has run into issues as it is often blocked by firewalls. But the new HTTP streaming technology allows simple real-time streaming of content and can offer multiple versions of clips in different formats which could automatically switch based on bandwidth availability
( Read more )
RIM takes another shot at iPhone, touchscreen with Storm2
Research In Motion Thursday officially introduced the BlackBerry Storm2, the company's latest salvo in its fight for smartphone supremacy with Apple's iPhone.
The successor to the original Storm, the company's first foray into the touchscreen market, features several key updates to its predecessor. The official specs highlight the Storm2's new "SurePress" technology, which replaces the mechanical clickscreen of the Storm with an electronic system for tactile feedback. The new technology also allows for easier typing by enabling the user to be pressing two keys at once, which opens up the possibility for multi-key actions such as Shift or Alt - key combinations.
Features according to RIM include:
Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape) and new SurePress technology that makes clicking the display practically effortless
2 GB of onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB cards today and up to 32 GB cards when available
Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications as well as photo geotagging
Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately 6 hours of talk time on 3G networks and 280 hours of standby time
The Storm2 also now includes Wi-Fi, and displays a full QWERTY keyboard when held in portrait mode, both features that the original Storm lacked. So far, the only announced carrier is Vodaphone, which will sell the Storm2 in time for Christmas in seven European countries, as well as South Africa. Customers in the UK and Ireland will be able to get the Storm2 first through Vodafone, and it will be offered exclusively by Vodafone in Germany, Netherlands, and Spain. It will also be available in France and Italy.
It is not known when the phone will be available in the United States
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The successor to the original Storm, the company's first foray into the touchscreen market, features several key updates to its predecessor. The official specs highlight the Storm2's new "SurePress" technology, which replaces the mechanical clickscreen of the Storm with an electronic system for tactile feedback. The new technology also allows for easier typing by enabling the user to be pressing two keys at once, which opens up the possibility for multi-key actions such as Shift or Alt - key combinations.
Features according to RIM include:
Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape) and new SurePress technology that makes clicking the display practically effortless
2 GB of onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB cards today and up to 32 GB cards when available
Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications as well as photo geotagging
Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately 6 hours of talk time on 3G networks and 280 hours of standby time
The Storm2 also now includes Wi-Fi, and displays a full QWERTY keyboard when held in portrait mode, both features that the original Storm lacked. So far, the only announced carrier is Vodaphone, which will sell the Storm2 in time for Christmas in seven European countries, as well as South Africa. Customers in the UK and Ireland will be able to get the Storm2 first through Vodafone, and it will be offered exclusively by Vodafone in Germany, Netherlands, and Spain. It will also be available in France and Italy.
It is not known when the phone will be available in the United States
( Read more )
Apple announces In App Purchases for free App Store software
Apple has announced that developers who offer free App Store applications can now take advantage of in-app transactions -- a feature that was previously allowed only for paid software.
The In App Purchase feature, which was implemented in the iPhone 3.0 software update for paid applications, has now been expanded for use in free applications. Previously, some developers were forced to charge a nominal $0.99 fee for their software to have In App Purchase capabilities.
The new policy has already affected some prominent applications, including MapQuest's Navigator. MapQuest had previously offered a $.99 price for a 14-day trial. Now due to what the MapQuest blog called "App Store restrictions," they now initially offer the application for $3.99 for one month of use.
TechCrunch suggested that this change will have a major impact the structure of paid and free applications. Due to the previous paid-app restriction, premium app makers have often offered both full and light versions of their software. Now that free applications are essentially upgradeable, developers will not face this problem.
The note sent to developers Thursday reads:
"In App Purchase is being rapidly adopted by developers in their paid apps. Now you can use In App Purchase in your free apps to sell content, subscriptions, and digital services.
"You can also simplify your development by creating a single version of your app that uses In App Purchase to unlock additional functionality, eliminating the need to create Lite versions of your app. Using In App Purchase in your app can also help combat some of the problems of software piracy by allowing you to verify In App Purchases.
Visit the App Store Resource Center
( Read more )
The In App Purchase feature, which was implemented in the iPhone 3.0 software update for paid applications, has now been expanded for use in free applications. Previously, some developers were forced to charge a nominal $0.99 fee for their software to have In App Purchase capabilities.
The new policy has already affected some prominent applications, including MapQuest's Navigator. MapQuest had previously offered a $.99 price for a 14-day trial. Now due to what the MapQuest blog called "App Store restrictions," they now initially offer the application for $3.99 for one month of use.
TechCrunch suggested that this change will have a major impact the structure of paid and free applications. Due to the previous paid-app restriction, premium app makers have often offered both full and light versions of their software. Now that free applications are essentially upgradeable, developers will not face this problem.
The note sent to developers Thursday reads:
"In App Purchase is being rapidly adopted by developers in their paid apps. Now you can use In App Purchase in your free apps to sell content, subscriptions, and digital services.
"You can also simplify your development by creating a single version of your app that uses In App Purchase to unlock additional functionality, eliminating the need to create Lite versions of your app. Using In App Purchase in your app can also help combat some of the problems of software piracy by allowing you to verify In App Purchases.
Visit the App Store Resource Center
( Read more )
Apple's Snow Leopard bests Windows 7 in speed tests
When both Mac OS X 10.6 and Windows 7 were tested on a MacBook Pro, Apple's new operating system clearly beat Microsoft in terms of speed, a new test has shown.
Both operating systems were tested on a 2008 MacBook Pro machine by CNet, and each was given its own, separate, clean hard drive. The 64-bit version of each OS was included in the test, which measured a variety of speed and performance related tasks. Snow Leopard was given true, full 64-bit support with most of its native applications taking full advantage of modern processors.
Each OS had the same software installed: iTunes 9, QuickTime, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Cinebench R10. In the test, Snow Leopard booted and shut down significantly faster than Windows 7.
"In time-based tests, Snow Leopard consistently outdid Windows 7," the study found. "It took only 36.4 seconds to boot up, while Windows took 42.7 seconds. In a shutdown test, Snow Leopard took only 6.6 seconds, while Windows needed twice the amount of time: 12.6 seconds. Both computers, however, took just about 1 second to return from sleeping. For this reason, I didn't actually test the wake-up time as it was too short in both operating systems to produce meaningful numbers or even allow me to measure the difference."
The Mac software also unsurprisingly ran Apple's own native applications more efficiently. Converting a movie from M4 format to iPod in Quicktime X on Snow Leopard took 444.3 seconds, while Windows 7, with QuickTime 7 (the latest version available) took 723 seconds. Similarly, converting 17 songs in iTunes from MP3 to AAC took 149.9 seconds in Snow Leopard, while Windows 7 required 162 seconds.
The test also found that Mac OS X 10.6 had better battery life on the MacBook Pro than Windows 7. The 2008 model has a removable battery. But author Dong Ngo said he believes Boot Camp drivers were mostly responsible for the Windows 7 battery life, as many PC laptops fared much better than the 77 minutes the Microsoft OS fared
( Read more )
Both operating systems were tested on a 2008 MacBook Pro machine by CNet, and each was given its own, separate, clean hard drive. The 64-bit version of each OS was included in the test, which measured a variety of speed and performance related tasks. Snow Leopard was given true, full 64-bit support with most of its native applications taking full advantage of modern processors.
Each OS had the same software installed: iTunes 9, QuickTime, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Cinebench R10. In the test, Snow Leopard booted and shut down significantly faster than Windows 7.
"In time-based tests, Snow Leopard consistently outdid Windows 7," the study found. "It took only 36.4 seconds to boot up, while Windows took 42.7 seconds. In a shutdown test, Snow Leopard took only 6.6 seconds, while Windows needed twice the amount of time: 12.6 seconds. Both computers, however, took just about 1 second to return from sleeping. For this reason, I didn't actually test the wake-up time as it was too short in both operating systems to produce meaningful numbers or even allow me to measure the difference."
The Mac software also unsurprisingly ran Apple's own native applications more efficiently. Converting a movie from M4 format to iPod in Quicktime X on Snow Leopard took 444.3 seconds, while Windows 7, with QuickTime 7 (the latest version available) took 723 seconds. Similarly, converting 17 songs in iTunes from MP3 to AAC took 149.9 seconds in Snow Leopard, while Windows 7 required 162 seconds.
The test also found that Mac OS X 10.6 had better battery life on the MacBook Pro than Windows 7. The 2008 model has a removable battery. But author Dong Ngo said he believes Boot Camp drivers were mostly responsible for the Windows 7 battery life, as many PC laptops fared much better than the 77 minutes the Microsoft OS fared
( Read more )
Apple's Safari gets prime placement in Windows browser ballot
Microsoft's Windows browser ballot in Europe presents its options in alphabetical order, putting Apple's Safari as the first choice for users to install.
The design caught the ire of Jenny Boriss, a Firefox designer, who believes that the layout gives an unfair advantage to Safari over competing browsers. Her personal comments were not made on behalf of the Mozilla Foundation.
"Windows users presented with the current design will tend to make only two choices: IE because they are familiar with it, or Safari because it is the first item," she said.
Microsoft plans to offer the ballot screen in response to an ongoing antitrust dispute with the European Union.
After it was alleged that the Windows maker was engaging in anticompetitive practices, Microsoft was forced to release versions of its operating system without Windows Media Player bundled. Apple's rival to the north was also ordered to pay
( Read more )
The design caught the ire of Jenny Boriss, a Firefox designer, who believes that the layout gives an unfair advantage to Safari over competing browsers. Her personal comments were not made on behalf of the Mozilla Foundation.
"Windows users presented with the current design will tend to make only two choices: IE because they are familiar with it, or Safari because it is the first item," she said.
Microsoft plans to offer the ballot screen in response to an ongoing antitrust dispute with the European Union.
After it was alleged that the Windows maker was engaging in anticompetitive practices, Microsoft was forced to release versions of its operating system without Windows Media Player bundled. Apple's rival to the north was also ordered to pay
( Read more )
Apple seeds new Mac OS X 10.6.2 beta to developers
Apple Friday sent its third beta release of the forthcoming Mac OS X 10.6.2 update with fixes for QuickTime, iChat, and a widely reported guest account glitch that could delete user data..
People familiar with build 10C527f said the latest update has only one known issue, and has a number of fixes in 13 different focus areas. It also reportedly provides reliability improvements for iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, MobileMe, iDisk, and Safari plug-ins.
The update also reportedly fixes a glitch that could delete user data. The problem is triggered by logging in and out of a guest account on a Snow Leopard machine. Upon logging back in to their regular account, some users may find that it has been wiped of all data. Apple acknowledged the issue earlier this week, stating it is working on a fix.
The latest build allegedly provides a number of GraphicsDrivers fixes, including resolutions for crashes with OpenCL, a screen flickering issue, and stuttering while playing 1080p content with QuickTime Player X.
The update is also said to resolve an issue that did not allow some QuickTime movies to play in QuickTime Player X.
A handful of iMovie-related issues were also addressed, including color shift issues and a crash that occurred when looping previews of titles in the skimming palette.
The update is a 483.5MB file, and is the third beta release in less than two weeks. The previous build of Mac OS X 10.6.2 was provided to developers on Oct. 9. The last build addressed nearly 150 general focus areas covering a wide range.
Released just days after the launch of Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6.1 addressed printer issues, updated the Adobe Flash Player plug-in, and resolved issues with the Mail application, among other fixes.
( Read more )
People familiar with build 10C527f said the latest update has only one known issue, and has a number of fixes in 13 different focus areas. It also reportedly provides reliability improvements for iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, MobileMe, iDisk, and Safari plug-ins.
The update also reportedly fixes a glitch that could delete user data. The problem is triggered by logging in and out of a guest account on a Snow Leopard machine. Upon logging back in to their regular account, some users may find that it has been wiped of all data. Apple acknowledged the issue earlier this week, stating it is working on a fix.
The latest build allegedly provides a number of GraphicsDrivers fixes, including resolutions for crashes with OpenCL, a screen flickering issue, and stuttering while playing 1080p content with QuickTime Player X.
The update is also said to resolve an issue that did not allow some QuickTime movies to play in QuickTime Player X.
A handful of iMovie-related issues were also addressed, including color shift issues and a crash that occurred when looping previews of titles in the skimming palette.
The update is a 483.5MB file, and is the third beta release in less than two weeks. The previous build of Mac OS X 10.6.2 was provided to developers on Oct. 9. The last build addressed nearly 150 general focus areas covering a wide range.
Released just days after the launch of Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6.1 addressed printer issues, updated the Adobe Flash Player plug-in, and resolved issues with the Mail application, among other fixes.
( Read more )