I will be providing my observations and picks from this year’s MacWorld Expo. But I will not be providing live coverage of the Keynote by Jobs. For that, try the following sites:
Check back here later for my periodic reports of MacWorld.
The Axiotron Modbook was originally announced almost a year ago at MacWorld Expo 2007. At that time, this after-market hardware modification, done by a team of German and American engineers, created quite a buzz.
This mod is built primarily for mobile users, artists, or anyone who wants to draw and write directly on the screen. It uses OS X’s built in handwriting recognition software. It comes with an iSight built in, integrated CD/DVD combo drive that can be upgraded to a DVD burner, and a Global Positioning System. Yes, a GPS system, which turns this puppy into a nice, large-screen, in-car navigation system!
The top shell and interior display frame are built from magnesium alloy. The LCD panel and iSight camera are protected by replaceable screen covers made from chemically strengthened ForceGlass
The QuickTime vulnerability originally reported on November 15 seems to have been spotted in the wild. This is not good news.
Apple made a decision to change the firewall settings in Leopard, provoking some serious questions about the security of this new OS. This latest security issue puts a spotlight on what may become a real thorn in Apple’s side.
This from Symantec:
Originally, the flaw was disclosed on November 23, 2007 by Polish security researcher Krystian Kloskowski and since then we have seen number of exploits targeting the vulnerability being released to the public. But now the exploit is active and in the wild, meaning web surfers are in danger of being attacked. Our current analysis is also leading us to believe that there may be multiple attacks in existence. Further investigation is currently under way to confirm this.
Let me briefly explain what we have seen. The attack we have confirmed today begins with the popular IFRAME. An IFRAME code that causes the browser to make an additional request to another URL, is embedded in a porn site. Without knowledge, users visiting this site are redirected to the malicious site serving the exploit. Currently, the malware that is downloaded by the exploit is detected by Symantec as Downloader. We are still studying the attack in depth, so look out for more information at a later time.
Since a patch to correct the issue has yet to be released, we advise users to be cautious when browsing the web. For those of you seeking extra protection, we also recommend the following options:
- Run web browsers at the highest security settings possible
- Disable Apple QuickTime as a registered RTSP protocol handler.
- Filter outgoing activity over common RTSP ports, including TCP port 554 and UDP ports 6970-6999.
As the debut of Apple’s latest operating system nears, the rumblings about incompatibilities and problems increases. Although the new features are impressive, the problems and barriers to easy upgrade for exiting Tiger users is making quick adoption more difficult.
It’s not clear to me that this new OS will make my life easier/better in the educational environment I manage. For the first time, I will be testing this OS on a non-essential machine, and watching carefully the feedback from folks on several online forums. My move to Leopard will be slow and careful, despite my enthusiasm for new technology.
Check these concerns about Leopard: Leopard Compatibility
If Apple keeps with its pattern of new releases, Leopard should be released to the public on the last Friday of the month (Oct. 26). Tiger was released April 2005 on Friday, April 29.
After the initial 4-month delay in Leopard, what’s a few more weeks? As long as this
