HKMacs

iOS 4 now available for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. A complete walkthrough can be found here.

Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.4 Tuesday. The OS update includes several bug fixes, including some sleep and sound issues with MacBook Pro (early 2010) models. The update also fixes some issues for Aperture 3, and it improves RAW image support for some devices.

As of this writing, Apple has not yet published the specific security patches in the update.

Apple’s release notes:

General fixes and improvements

• improves compatibility with some Braille displays
• resolves an issue that causes the keyboard or trackpad to become unresponsive
• resolves an issue that may prevent some Adobe Creative Suite 3 applications from opening
• addresses issues copying, renaming, or deleting files on SMB file servers
• improves reliability of VPN connections
• resolves a playback issue in DVD Player when using Good Quality deinterlacing
• resolves an issue editing photos with iPhoto or Aperture in full screen view
• resolves an issue with Parental Controls Time Limits for Open Directory or Active Directory users
• resolves a display sleep issue with MacBook Pro (Early 2010) computers
• resolves an issue with MacBook Pro (Early 2010) computers in which the right speaker may sound louder than the left speaker
• includes Safari 5.0; for more information about Safari 5.0, see this webpage
• Security improvements; for information about the security content of this update, please visit this article [does not yet include a link to information on this update]

Fixes and improvements for Aperture 3

• adds tethered shooting support for additional digital camera models
• addresses IPTC metadata compatibility issues
• Fixes and improvements for external devices

RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras

• resolves an issue with using third-party USB web cameras
• resolves an issue with noise when using some third-party FireWire audio devices
• resolves pairing issues with Apple remotes

- Mac OS X v10.6.4 Update (607.21 MB)
- Mac OS X v10.6.4 Update (Combo) (887.37 MB)
- Mac OS X Server v10.6.4 Update (615.60 MB)
- Mac OS X Server v10.6.4 Update (Combo) (1.05 GB)

Apple also released a pair of Mac OS X 10.6.4 updates specifically for the company’s new Mac mini released earlier today.

- Mac OS X v10.6.4 Update Mac mini (Mid 2010) (403.38 MB)
- Mac OS X Server v10.6.4 Update Mac mini (Mid 2010) (411.72 MB)

Finally, Apple released Security Update 2010-004 for users on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.

- Security Update 2010-004 (Leopard-Client) (222 MB)
- Security Update 2010-004 (Leopard-Server) (380.29 MB)

I’m intrigued by some of my site statistics that indicate the vast majority of my visitors come from Palo Alto in the IP  address range 66.220.155.xxx and 66.220.145.xxx. Who are you? Please reply in the comments. Maybe I need to relocate there!

I came across this comment on MacinTouch today and I couldn’t resist quoting it in full as it exactly expresses my sentiments:

“from Jonathan Saltzman

Well, it’s Tuesday and yet again no signs of any updates to the Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, the Air, AppleTV, or … well, anything.

It’s just all about the iPad, the “most funnest” thing yet (though no one really knows what it can and cannot do until April 3).

I’m not interested in a 1st-generation iPad. Once you add on all the peripherals (iPad Cover, keyboard with dock, camera connector, blah blah blah), I might as well have a MacBook or a MacBook Air. (Both come with WiFi, too, you know, as well as the ability to use the real apps, not some dumbed-down version (can you say iWork for the iPad?).

Yet, there the computer lineup sits, ignored by Apple for months now.

Doesn’t Apple realize that by not updating any of their computers — while awaiting the release of the all-mighty, all-miraculous iPad — they themselves are cannibalizing sales (i.e., people are sitting on the sidelines waited for the much-awaited updates to the computers). Just a thought…”

Neat new feature of Adobe Photoshop CS5

One quite useful Safari plug-in I’ve found recently is Click ToFlash. It suppresses the loading of of inline Flash content on webpages. You can view the Flash content with a simple click either as Flash or H.64 QuickTime. The advantages are: web pages load faster and there is less drain on memory and battery life and your laptop will run cooler. You can download it here.

As expected the long-awaited iPad is a joke. It’s a large iPod Touch. As expected, I’m totally underwhelmed  and disappointed. Incredible that so much hype can precede such a lacklustre product. It has no camera so it can’t even be used for videoconferencing or iChat which one would have thought would be an obvious use for a device with a large screen (9.7 inches). Only a dock connection. It has a detachable keyboard and carrying case and stand that lets you use it in a variety of positions. Nice screen etc but not much more. It’s all at http://www.apple.com/ipad

However it is clearly aimed at the cruise-liner, retired bricklayer senior market, so it will probably do well. And Grandpa and Grandma can’t even video-chat with their grandkids.