Mac Games and More The Blog

The round up of games is ready (all new games) so please find them here: mac games. Below you’ll find the new releases for mac:

Gmail Studio 1.0.0.5 – Brings Gmail Studio to your desktop with minimal interference to your (Shareware)
Bevy 1.0.4 – Application launcher shows you all apps in one window. (Demo)
AppBoot Jr 1.0 – Open applications with the same files that were open on quit. (Shareware)
LimeChat 1.0 – RubyCocoa IRC client. (Free)
Stumbi 1.0.1 – StumbleUpon plugin for Safari. (Shareware)
Twitter Square Icons 1.0 – Twitter related icons. (Freeware)
The Agency Folders 1.0 – 164 icons (Freeware)
FTPTransfer 1.0 – File transfer application. (Shareware)
Read Right 1.0 – Sideways PDF viewer for small portables/netbooks. (Free)
TrashX 1.0 – Empties your trash and frees up memory. (Free)
Thurly 1.0.1 – Safari plug-in for shortening URLs in a snap. (Shareware)
AssaultCube 1.0.4 – Team oriented multiplayer shooter based on Cube. (Free)
Present Theme 1.0 – RapidWeaver theme. (Demo)
Quiddle 1.02 – Free a number of bouncing balls within a given time. (Free)
June 1.0 – File manager. (Free)
Playback 1.0.2 – Share media with PS3, Xbox 360 or other UPnP device. (Shareware)
Screen Elements 1.0 – Slideshow screensaver with nice background transitions. (Shareware)
QuickList 1.0 – Fast and easy check list widget. (Free)
Litho Extras Vol. 7 1.0 – 6 new icons in the Litho System series. (Free)
Red Pill 1.0 dev 02 – Simple yet powerful image editing. (Free)
FITSImporter 1.0 – Spotlight plugin for Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) files. (Free)
RubyCocoa 1.0 – Framework for Cocoa programming in Ruby. (Free)
Harmony 1.0.1 – Dynamic lyric presentation for worship leaders and churches. (Demo)
EventBox 1.0 – Interact with social websites and receive notifications from them. (Shareware)
revMedia 1.0 – Create stunning Web 2.0 applications. (Demo)
FontGenius 1.0 – Font search and identification utility. (Demo)
OggQuicklook 1.0 – Preview .ogg audio files in the Mac OS X Finder. (Free)
MCS Utilities 1.0 – A set of system utilities, batch rename files, clear caches, more. (Free)
HandBrake Lite 1.1 – Lite version of the popular video encoder. (Free)
Sona Vocabulary Assistant 1.0 – For language learners, provides 9 activities and games. (Shareware)
Developer Color Picker 1.0 – Custom color picker designed specifically for developers. (Free)
Ringer 1.0.3 – Create iPhone ringtones. (Shareware)

Have a good week!

From yahoonews:

“Apple CEO Steve Jobs has confirmed that the iPhone 3G has a kill switch that can remotely remove software from the devices.

Jobs told The Wall Street Journal that Apple needs the capability in case it inadvertently allows a malicious program — such as an application that steals user’s personal data — to be distributed to iPhones through its App Store.

“Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull,” Jobs said.

Switch Not Used

Jobs’ statement reveals Apple hasn’t used the kill switch yet, but the company did remove an application from the App Store last week.

Apple removed the $999 “I Am Rich” application, which had the sole purpose of showing people the owner has money. The program creates a red icon that sits on the iPhone deck with a the words “I Am Rich” underneath. After the user activates the application, it glows on the handset like a ruby.

Apple initially approved the application, which bumps up against the pricing limit for applications sold on its App Store. The company was not immediately available for comment on why it decided to pull the plug.

Disappearing Acts

But the real controversy started when Jonathan Zdziarski, author of the books iPhone Open Application Development and iPhone Forensics Manual, discovered a URL buried in Apple’s firmware. That URL links to a file dubbed “unauthorizedApps” where malicious or simply bad apps might go once they disappear from the App Store.

According to Zdziarski, I Am Rich isn’t the only app to disappear. BoxOffice (renamed to Now Playing) and NullRiver’s NetShare were also removed. But removing the applications from the App Store and removing them from a consumer’s iPhone are two different issues.

“The kill switch is a very controlling gesture. I am not sure why Apple didn’t disclose it up front as simply a security measure,” said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Current Analysis. “Consumers will accept an awful lot if you let them know what they are accepting.”

What Else is Apple Hiding?

In the past, Jobs has said he wants to be careful not to allow applications to bring down the network. Greengart doesn’t see that as a major threat, especially since Apple is approving the applications.

However, Greengart said he’s less concerned with the “heavy-handed and Big Brotherish” kill switch than the fact that Apple didn’t disclose it in the first place. As far as he knows, no other mobile phone has a kill-switch capability.

“To my way of thinking, the issue is that you don’t really know what your phone might be doing or not be doing,” Greengart said. “I am not 100 percent sure what the capability is or is not. That is the problem. What is the capability? When might they use it? When wouldn’t they use it? Is there anything else Apple is not disclosing?”

From Consumerist:

“Do you remember Charlie? About a year ago, Apple refused to sell her a computer because she had “too many gift cards.” The story became very popular (thanks, digg!) and Apple eventually let Charlie buy her computer.

If you thought this meant that you could use as many gift cards as you wanted in order to buy a computer from Apple, you’d be wrong. Rather than correcting the problem, they simply changed their gift card FAQ. It now reads:

Can I use multiple gift cards when making a purchase?
Yes. You can use up to six cards when making a purchase at a retail Apple Store and up to four cards at the online Apple Store

That’s too bad for reader Rhys. Rhys, like Charlie, has 7 gift cards and no access to the Apple Store.

I have exactly the same problem.
I have 7 gift cards totaling $1250. Apple refuses to sell me a computer despite having $1250 upfront.

As soon as I found I could not enter more than half my gift cards on the Apple website, I used their online chat facility. That didn’t work out so I rang Apple and was passed from Sales to Customer Service and told “no” all the way. I have filed a complaint against them with the Better Business Bureau.

Right now I’m more interested in getting money back on my gift cards than in ever getting an Apple computer, given the stupid nonsense they’ve been giving me. I understand that New York law treats gift cards like cash and states that a refund must be given for them so I might follow that route. Having said that, my next most immediate thing is to look into SC law.

We’re disappointed to hear that Apple is still treating their customers this way, because we thought the issued had been resolved. We know Apple can process this order because they did it for Charlie.

We guess that solution was just to stop all the negative PR.

What a shame! Apple has $1250 of Rhys’ money and Rhys has no computer.

Here’s some Apple people Rhys can send a complaint to:

abarney@apple.com
katiec@apple.com
dowling@apple.com
lfox@apple.com
anuj@apple.com

In addition, he could call Diana at (408 974 6401) or Sam Spoor at 800-676-2775 ext. 46447.”

You might have heard already here but just in case you haven’t, a security company has spotted iPhone’s first trojan.

The Trojan specifically targets users that have modded their iPhone so they can install third-party applications.

Makes me wonder who JUST WHO is behind this trojan. Hint: WHO doesn’t want the iPhone open to third-party applications????????

Videos like these are cute and adorable and give us all a warm fuzzy feeling all over but face it, it is wrong. iPhones (all cell phones, in fact) and the iPod Touch are dangerous to people, especially babies and toddlers. Keep these away from kids! Geez, are you evil?

Now, as an adult you have a choice of whether you want to expose yourself to electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) and radio frequencies (RF), which are microwaves, but little kids don’t know any better. Personally, I am not that fond of putting microwaves up to my head, but whatever. If you believe the industry when they say that cell phones are SAFE, just remember: “industries” also said asbestos, thalidamide and blood supply and PVC were safe. You know, for the bottom line. Manufacturers ALWAYS deny the existence of any dangers! It’s just plain obvious, so don’t be a naive twit. Do you think they care about what will happen to people? Answer: NO. (They just want to sell sell sell.)

It really pains me to say this about iPhone and iPod Touch as a Mac fan, but there ARE warnings on those products to “limit the use of these products.” Yes, there are warnings. I WONDER WHY?!

Anyway, please try to keep these EMF and RF emitting devices away from vulnerable parties (babies, toddlers, ill people and the elderly), and please use your devices sparingly.

If you think I’m an alarmist, conspiracy theorist, good for you. Go ahead and live your life that ignoramus way. But maybe if you care (especially about your family), you can do a little research on your own about this subject. In any case, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Links: Cell Phone Dangers Revealed, Patents Prove Cell Phone Dangers from Wired, Hidden Dangers of Cell Phone Radiation, Chemical and Cell Phones, Harmful Effects of Cell Phones, Hazards of the Wireless Age

See and read more about it at gizmodo

Apple sometimes just doesn’t get it. So Apple wants to shut down the very excellent blog, The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs, which is a fan site, and a funny one at that. Here’s the latest in the saga.

View the video

From Appleinsider:

“Apple Inc. is acknowledging that some of its MacBook notebooks shipped with hard disk drives plagued by a manufacturing flaw that can result in permanent data loss even when used under routine operating conditions.

The issue, reported earlier this month by U.K.-based data-recovery firm Retrodata and subsequently covered by AppleInsider, is confined to Seagate 2.5-inch SATA drives that are manufactured in China and loaded with firmware Version 7.01.

The affected drives — model numbers ST96812AS and ST98823AS — are commonly found in notebooks such as Apple’s MacBook or MacBook Pro, the firm says. To determine whether a MacBook has one of the affected drives, it’s suggested that owners go to their Mac’s System Profiler application and check the revision number under the Serial ATA listing.

If the System Profiler indicates that the computer is using a Seagate hard drive with firmware Version 7.01, Retrodata recommends backing up all data and then having the drive replaced.

The firm had previously criticized Apple as being “utterly irresponsible” for its silent stance on the matter and not immediately commissioning a recall of all systems that included the Seagate manufactured part.

While Apple has still not issued a recall or warning to customers, spokesman Cameron Craig said this week…”

Read the full article

From Creative Bits:

I’m sick of anti-virus companies reporting on supposed OS X viruses and trojans.

The latest anti-virus company expressing its greed was Intego, who reported about an OS X trojan that is supposedly out in the wild redirecting unsuspecting browsers to fake sites stealing their credit card info. Woo-hoo!

This trojan is an 8 year old kid dressed in a witch costume. So fitting to Halloween!

Let’s see how you can get infected:

You have to visit an eerie link to a no-name porn site.
You have to believe that the video content on this site is so unique it requires a special codec.
You have to be convinced that this codec is so damn special it can not be downloaded from Apple or any other trusted location, but only from this shady site.
You have to conclude that the only way to get laid tonight is to download the dmg of the codec and install it on your machine.
You are confident enough to give your admin password to have the installer run.
Despite the fact that your DNS settings have now been changed and your browser takes you to random sites, you keep surfing and shopping giving your passwords and credit card details anywhere.
Right. Very likely and truly dangerous scenario. If somebody is stupid enough to do all this, he won’t even realize he’s in trouble, would he?

It’s the equivalent of going to a dark bar in the worst part of your town. Paying a random person for a certain white powder. Being surprised you got bubbles coming out of your nostrils. Realizing you’re not even hallucinating.

Now, I’m not saying that AV companies are useless or that OS X is infallible. But I do think it’s dangerous to report on false stories, because it destroys the AV company’s reputation. And, it is destructive to the Mac community, because people become immune to the announcements and won’t take them seriously when the real shit hits the fan.

From Intego:

A malicious Trojan Horse has been found on several pornography web sites, claiming to install a video codec necessary to view free pornographic videos on Macs. A great deal of spam has been posted to many Mac forums, in an attempt to lead users to these sites. When the users arrive on one of the web sites, they see still photos from reputed porn videos, and if they click on the stills, thinking they can view the videos, they arrive on a web page that says the following:

Quicktime Player is unable to play movie file.
Please click here to download new version of codec.

After the page loads, a disk image (.dmg) file automatically downloads to the user’s Mac. If the user has checked Open “Safe” Files After Downloading in Safari’s General preferences (or similar settings in other browsers), the disk image will mount, and the installer package it contains will launch Installer. If not, and the user wishes to install this codec, they double-click the disk image to mount it, then double-click the package file, named install.pkg.

If the user then proceeds with installation, the Trojan horse installs; installation requires an administrator’s password, which grants the Trojan horse full root privileges. No video codec is installed, and if the user returns to the web site, they will simply come to the same page and receive a new download.

This Trojan horse, a form of DNSChanger, uses a sophisticated method, via the scutil command, to change the Mac’s DNS server (the server that is used to look up the correspondences between domain names and IP addresses for web sites and other Internet services). When this new, malicious, DNS server is active, it hijacks some web requests, leading users to phishing web sites (for sites such as Ebay, PayPal and some banks), or simply to web pages displaying ads for other pornographic web sites. In the first case, users may think they are on legitimate sites and enter a user name and password, a credit card, or an account number, which will then be hijacked. In the latter case, it seems that this is being done solely to generate ad revenue.

Under Mac OS X 10.4, there is no way to see the changed DNS server in the operating system’s GUI. Under Mac OS X 10.5, this can be seen in the Advanced Network preferences; the added DNS servers are dimmed, and cannot be removed manually. (Intego is currently testing previous versions of Mac OS X; it is likely that they can be infected as well, since all versions of Mac OS X have the scutil command.)
The Trojan horse also installs a root crontab which checks every minute to ensure that its DNS server is still active. Since changing a network location could change the DNS server, this cron job ensures that, in such a case, the malicious DNS server remains the active server.

This Trojan horse also provides different versions of itself, perhaps according to the country in which the user is located to provide country-specific spoofing. Repeated downloads of the disk image show that there are several different versions.

Means of protection: The best way to protect against this exploit is to run Intego VirusBarrier X4 with its virus definitions dated October 31,2007. Intego VirusBarrier X4 eradicates the malicious code and prevents the Trojan horse from being installed. Intego recommends that users never download and install software from untrusted sources or questionable web sites.

WTF?

From CBS:

The company replied to the young girl after she sent them some ideas to make the iPod Nano better.

(CBS 13) Like any nine-year-old, Shea O’Gorman spends a lot of time listening to her iPod Nano. So much so, that when her third grade class started learning about writing letters she thought, who better to write to than the man whose company makes her iPod.

“I decided to write to Mr. Steven Jobs,” said Shea. Jobs is the president of Apple Computers.

“She just came home and said ‘mom I have some ideas about the iPod Nano,’ and said ‘I’m going to write Steven Jobs a letter’,” said Shea’s mother. “We were just very impressed and very proud of her.”

In her letter, Shea outlined her ideas for improving iPods like adding song lyrics.

“Have the words on the screen so they could sing along and stuff,” said Shea.

So she mailed it, and waited for three months, and when a letter arrived from apple, the whole family gathered around to read it.

“She was very upset. She kind of threw the letter up in the air and ran into her room and slammed the door,” said Shea’s mom.

The letter was not…

Read the full article

From the NYT:

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 26 (AP) — Apple no longer accepts cash for iPhone purchases and now limits sales of the cellphone to two per person in a move to stop people from reselling them.

The new policy started Thursday, said Natalie Kerris, an Apple spokeswoman. Before then, there was no cash restriction and the purchase limit was five per person.

“Customer response to the iPhone has been off the charts, and limiting iPhone sales to two per customer helps us ensure that there are enough iPhones for people who are shopping for themselves or buying a gift,” Ms. Kerris said. “We’re requiring a credit or debit card for payment to discourage unauthorized resellers.”

More than 1.4 million units of the hybrid cellphone-iPod have been sold since it was introduced June 29, according to Apple. It is expected to be a popular gift for the holidays.

Apple says it thinks some people…

Read the whole article here

I was going to write about the ridiculousness of Apple selling unlocked iPhones in France for the silly, exorbitant price of $1,350, but there’s not much to say except that it’s ridiculous. How’s that for a short post? Click here to see: the listing on France’s Amazon. You really gotta see it to believe it.