Apple patches 22 security holes in Mac OS X

A new security update released by Apple Computer on Tuesday patches several exploits recently discovered in its Mac OS X operating system, including one widely publicized issue with its disk image software.

Of the twenty two vulnerabilities fixed by the updated --which is labeled Security Update 2006-007 -- twelve are related to flaws that could lead to arbitrary code execution.

For example, the update addresses an issue where a heap buffer overflow may be triggered when the Mac OS X Finder is used to browse a directory containing a corrupt ".DS_Store" file. The system file may be included in archives, on disk images, and on network file systems.

"By enticing a user to browse a directory containing a maliciously-crafted ".DS_Store" file, an attacker may be able to trigger the overflow," Apple explained. "This could lead to an application crash or arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running Finder."

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company said the security update addresses the issue by performing additional validation of ".DS_Store" files.

Another flaw addressed by the update relates to a glitch in VPC that could allow malicious local users to gain system privileges.

"Under certain circumstances, the VPN server may execute commands without properly cleaning the environment," Apple said. "This may allow a malicious local user to create files or execute commands with system privileges."

Also covered by Tuesday's release are vulnerabilities affecting AirPort, ATS, FontBook, Font Importer, Installer, OpenSSL, PHP, PPP, Samba, Security Framework, WebKit, gnuzip and perl.

The update is available Mac OS X 10.4.8 Client Intel (23MB), Mac OS X 10.4.8 Client PowerPC (11MB), Mac OS X 10.4.8 Server PowerPC (12MB) Mac OS X 10.4.8 Server Universal (25MB), Mac OS X 10.3.9 Client (33MB) and Mac OS X 10.3.9 Server (46MB).

Read more about it in Blog about Macs

Apple iPhone soon!

This is not the real iPhone that will supposedly be released soon, but I just love this little clip. If the phone ended up looking like that I would be really excited for it. I can't wait to see how it actually ends up. I just hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Here are some speculations that I have heard flying around:
1. The phone might integrate with iChat for IM.
2. There might be video chat capabilities.
3. It will be more like an iPod with a phone in it.

As always, Apple has been really tight lipped about it leaving the rest of us to endlessly speculate and drool over trumped up rumors. Thanks a lot! But I guess that is half the fun.

Apple Mac Tablet PC With Docking Station In 07

Apple researchers have built a full working prototype of a Mac tablet PC and three Companies in Taiwan are now costing a product for a potential launch in mid 2007.

Sources in Taiwan have said that the focus has been more on the home and the education environment than the enterprise marketplace. Several months ago I was told that Apple was exploring a neat new device that is basically a touch screen that links to various source devices including a brand new media centre that Apple is planning to launch next year.

The Mac tablet has been designed to handle third party applications such as home automation software that will allow users to control lighting, audio, entertainment devices and security feeds. It also acts as a full blown PC has wireless linking for a new generation of Wireless Hi Fi speakers that are currently being tested by Apple.

One set of speakers which are similar in size to the small Bose speakers have been developed by an Australian Company.

Also taken into consideration was the use of the device in educational environments where presenters often want to walk around while having access to source material being presented to a screen or auditorium speakers.

The new MAC tablet has Intel processors as well as a docking station that allows the device to link to screens with HDMI input. The docking station also has additional memo0ry capability so that users can stream content to either the tablet PC or the docking station or directly to a media centre if one is being used.

During the past year Apple has lodged several touch screen patents. They have also lodged patents for wireless devices. However three patents according to sources have been lodged by third part Companies who are licensing technology to Apple.

During the last two weeks, Apple’s stock price has soared to record highs, as investors bet on the success of the new iPhone which will be launched early in 2007.

On November 16, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple’s patent application titled ‘mechanical overlay’ which was originally filed in May 2005. Apple’s patent relates generally to overlays for touch sensing devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to mechanical overlays that include one or more mechanical actuators that provide touch inputs to the touch sensing devices. This powerful patent provides several great examples of mechanical touch screen overlays which could be used with a future iPod, cell phone, PDA, remote control or gaming device. Furthermore, the patent provides us with a unique glimpse into how touch screens will eventually replace traditional MacBook keyboards in addition to providing users with the ability to transform the new keyboard-GUI into being a piano keyboard amongst other applications.

Quanta and Hon Hai Precision Industry are Taiwanese Companies that make notebooks and other devices for Apple. Both have signed confidentiality agreements with Apple for the Tablet Mac.

Apple iPhones & iTV

Been hanging out at smartmoney.com and am thrilled to learn about a couple new things...both coming from the focus of my next stock investment: Apple. Thanks Steve Jobs.

They report that Apple has mentioned an upcoing iTV box that'll connect to a television and wirelessly receive digital movies from your computer via WiFi. The $299 iTV will go on sale early next year. Is this something that I need? I don't know yet. I didn't realize I needed a cell phone until I got one. I didn't realize I needed TiVo until I got a box. I didn't realize I needed Jesus until...that's another blog for another day.

But my favorite news, and if my family actually did Christmas GOS (gifts of substance), this would be on my wish list. There are rumors (perfect for us snarky web geeks) of an "iPhone" being released. It would be an Apple-branded mobile phone that will most likely include iTunes music-playing capabilities. People are looking for proof of its non-Virgin birth happening in the next month or so (hmm, same time as the birth of Someone else...) in an article last month in Taiwan's financial newspaper, Commercial Times, that provided some evidence. Citing industry sources, the article said Taiwanese manufacturing powerhouse Hon Hai Precision Instruments received an order from Apple to make 12 million mobile handsets by early 2007. Slam dunk, badonk-a-donk.

Is this something that I need? Unquestionably. Especially if my phone will hold my music collection and will be able to be played through my car stereo. This is the kind of stuff that makes me wet my pants just a little.

Apple iTalk

Rumors for years have been going on about Apple's supposed iPhone. I'm not sure how the masses will react if they are disappointed again by a Media Announcement from Steve Jobs with no iPhone. I just feel bad for Apple and the hype that has been behind this thing for years and it's not even a guaranteed future product. This is a interesting fake ad released by somebody. If that phone actually existed... it would be pretty impressive. But I doubt technology is quite there yet. Nevertheless, this video is still pretty cool.

iPhone to "muddle the handset market"

Apple's much-rumoured iPhone could shake up the mobile handset market next year - if it is actually released.

Either way, music-playing mobiles with high levels of storage capacity will become more mainstream during 2007, according to analyst house Informa Telecoms and Media.

Rumours are rife among Apple watchers about the next generation of iPod – a mobile phone/MP3 player hybrid dubbed the iPhone. The gossip mill on the iPhone has been turning for some time but, as yet, Apple hasn't felt the need to reveal any details of its plans.

David McQueen, principal analyst at Informa, said "iPhone could completely muddle up the handset market in 2007".

McQueen said Apple has to warm operators to the iTunes ecosystem which the iPhone will plug into in order to produce revenue.

The iTunes-enabled Rokr phone entered the handset market in 2005, and was expected to be the forerunner to the iPhone, but experienced problems as Motorola, Apple and operators competed for revenue, McQueen said.

iPhones are now expected to enter the handset market in early 2007, he predicted.

Mobile entertainment is predicted to be big business for mobile operators, with Informa estimating it to be worth $23.1bn in 2007 and increasing to $38.1bn by 2011.

A stonking $8.76bn of the 2007 figure will be generated from the music sector.

Nick Lane, principal analyst at Informa, said the iPod has educated the user about digital music-file storage and has played a pivotal role in creating the 'sideloading' phenomenon that allows users to transfer music to their mobile from their PCs.

Mobile music has been the indisputable driver of the mobile entertainment market during 2006, a period which has seen the industry's reliance on ringtone revenues subside with the emergence of the full-track download, Lane added.

Apple iPhone - Expect it in Macworld2007 next January

After the all time hit in the form of ipod, Apple seems making another killer gadget. The proposed device is considered to be a hybrid mobile phone and music player, widely known as the iPhone. There is enough reports that keep leaking out to suggest that the new device will be unveiled at MacWorld 2007 in San Francisco next January.

Last week, a report in the Commercial Times, a Taiwanese financial newspaper, claimed that contracted iPod manufacturer Foxconn had received an order to produce 12 million iPhones, Now analysts are speculating as to what shape the phone will be, as if its arrival is a fait accompli.

Apple has sold about 70 million iPods so far and the popular music player continues to sell at a rate of about 8 million a quarter. However, if the company can successfully make the transition into the cell phone space, which has about 2 billion users, its market would be dramatically expanded.

. reported that the entry into the mobile phones space could also enable Apple to take advantage of the subsidized payment plans offered by mobile carriers when users purchase phones under contracts. If so, this would be the first time a portable music player would be sold under such a scheme and it would open up the market to a much wider audience, young and old.

However, with Apple saying nothing, the iPhone is still just speculation, although the name itself has been registered by Apple.

iPhone Dimensions

Height: 4.76 inches Width: 1.92 inches Depth: 0.32 inches Weight: 3.4 ounces
2.2-inch (diagonal) QVGA transflective, color LCD with white LED backlight
320 by 240 pixel resolution
GSM 850/GSM 900/GSM 1800/GSM 1900
Bluetooth support
Apple Wireless Earbuds with 20Hz to 20,000Hz response, 20 hour rechargeable battery life
Battery: Video: 3 hours Talk/Music: 7 hours Standby: 300 hours
Memory: 6/8 GB

Apple thinks different about marketing iPhones

Bloomberg.com reports today that Apple has signed with contract manufacturer Hon Hai to make 12 million iPhones next year. Given that this is a product untested in the market, if this is true, it would certainly demonstrate how serious Apple is in attacking the phone market.

One of the rather interesting marketing aspects I've read about is the idea that the iPhone won't be tied to any specific carrier. Instead, it will be sold "unlocked", requiring you to insert a GSM subscriber identity (SIM) card. The downside: Apple won't get any subsidies or special deals from working with the likes of Cingular or T-Mobile. The upside: such an approach opens up most of the world as the target market instead of just the US. This approach would prove that Apple is thinking globally with its next product segment -- and that phone market could bring literally hundreds of millions of new prospects to Apple.

Who knows: that 12 million unit phone contact could be too small.

UPDATE: Other sources such as CNN attribute the contract to Foxconn, not Hon Hai. Could Apple possibly have let two different contracts for 12 million each? More likely, this just means that our translations of the original Chinese source, Commercial Times, aren't what they should be.

UPDATE 2: A reader notes that FoxConn is the registered trade name for Hon Hai, so there's no confusion above. They are one and the same company. Thanks, Jersey Guy!

Taiwan's Hon Hai wins Apple orders for mobile handsets, notebook PCs

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd (2317.TW) has secured contracts from Apple Computer for 12 mln mobile handsets that also function as music players, the Commercial Times quoted industry sources as saying.

Apple will launch the mobile handsets in the first half of next year, the newspaper said, without providing financial details of the contract.

The daily also reported that Hon Hai won orders from Apple for its new 15-inch 'MacBook' personal computers which it will deliver starting next month or in January.

The Commercial Times, which also cited industry sources, did not provide the quantity or value of the MacBook contract.

Apple's existing contracts with Asustek Computer Inc (2357.TW) for other MacBook models will not be affected by the new orders made to Hon Hai, according to the report.

Officials of both Hon Hai and Asustek declined comment, the daily said.

Hon Hai is the world's leading manufacturing services provider for information technology devices.