Tech : Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2 beta brings iCloud support, no bug fixes

We know what you're thinking: Mac OS X Lion (10.7) has been out for nearly a week, so why have we yet to hear anything about Snow Lion? Patience friends, Apple will roar soon enough -- but for now, 10.7.2 will have to do. Apple released the beta update to developers over the weekend, eschewing any acknowledgment of 10.7.1, or correcting any of the bugs that have popped up over the last week. Instead, Lion's pending second update (build 11C26) is required for testing the operating system with iCloud -- a feature notably absent in the public version of the OS released last week. The new System Preferences iCloud module enables granular management of select features, letting you choose which accounts and services to sync. Full iCloud support is coming in the fall with the release of iOS 5, so it's probably safe to assume that Apple plans to patch some of those bugs in the meantime

Software : Mac OS X 10.6.8 update now available

It looks like Apple's getting another fix in before Lion slinks on to the scene. Mac OS X 10.6.8 is now available for download, and brings with it a number of "general operating system fixes," including further support for IPv6, improved VPN reliability, and removal of known variants of Mac Defender. It also promises to fix a glitch that has Preview randomly shutting down, and will get the App Store ready to roar for when Lion lands on the scene. We're getting it going on our laptop at home. If you've done the same, let us know how it's working out for you.

Tech : Apple Promises Software Update to Kill ‘MacDefender’ Malware

Apple's MacBook Air ships with Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

Apple has published instructions on removing a piece of malicious software that targeted Mac customers. The company claims that an upcoming Mac software update will remove the malware from infected systems.
In a bulletin published Tuesday evening, Apple listed steps to remove the malware, and added that an upcoming software update for Mac OS X would detect and remove the malware, as well. The OS X update will also warn customers if they click on the malware’s Install button, according to Apple.
The malware, called MacDefender, MacProtector or MacSecurity, manipulated customers with a web pop-up warning them that they were infected with a virus. The malware promised to remove the virus, but once installed, it sporadically loaded porn-popups on the computer. The ultimate goal of the malware was to steal credit-card information by convincing people to pay for the fake antivirus software.
Wired.com last week reported an uptick in the number of customers reporting malware-infected machines on Apple support forums and to Apple support technicians. MacDefender was the main culprit among the reports.
The growing presence of MacDefender renewed a timeless debate about the state of Mac security versus Windows security. Security researcher Charlie Miller told Wired.com that while he believed the malware problem was growing worse on the Mac, it’s still a small threat compared to malware on Windows.
Miller and many security researchers agree that the Mac architecture is not inherently more secure than Windows to make it invulnerable from viruses; the idea that Macs can’t get viruses is a myth. The simple explanation is that few virus makers target the Mac platform because it has such small market share compared to Windows.
Apple’s software update and security bulletin provide evidence that a considerable number of customers were affected. However, it’s impossible to know just how many, because Apple has not responded to press inquiries about MacDefender.
ZDNet’s Ed Bott, who was first to discover numerous complaints about MacDefender, claims that one AppleCare agent said 50 percent of calls to the support hotline two weeks ago were related to MacDefender. He also claims that AppleCare receives between 10,000 and 20,000 calls a day, and because MacDefender has been making the rounds for the past 25 days, he estimates between 60,000 and 125,000 Mac customers have reported being infected by the malware.
Just because Apple is issuing a software update does not mean the threat of MacDefender is completely squashed. In an e-mail to Wired.com, ESET security noted that the MacDefender malware continues to evolve in appearance and name to fool naive customers.
“The malware’s name is going to change continuously, and it’s likely the user interface will, as well,” said Dan Clark, vice president of marketing at ESET.

Tech : Skype 5.0 hits Mac with group video calling, streamlined interface

Mac users have already been able to do some group video calling with recent beta versions of Skype, but the company has now finally brought things fully up to speed with its Windows counterpart and released the final version of Skype 5.0 for OS X. In addition to group video calling, the application sports a whole new interface that Skype says has been "slimmed down" (compared to the previous beta versions, at least) and allows you to see 30 percent more contacts at once. As with the Windows version, however, that group video calling feature has now been relegated to the premium package which, after a free seven-day trial, will run you $4.99 for a day pass or $8.99 a month for a subscription (though you can get 33 percent off if you sign up before February 28th). Head on past the break for quick video overview.

Tech : Magic Box MagSafe mod kit brings the external battery back to your Mac (some assembly required)

It ain't exactly soldering guns at dawn, but it looks like HyperMac is going through a few somersaults to ensure that its products stay on the market without offending the legal team at Apple. First there was the HyperJuice auto / airline adapter, and now the Magic Box takes things to an even more invasive level. First step: cut the power cord of your Mac's MagSafe power adapter in half. Second step: feed the cable that you cut in half into the MagicBox... and you now have your very own HyperMac battery pack for those extra-long liveblogging sessions. Seems dead simple, right? And for the time being, the company is throwing in a free car charger to sweeten the deal. Available for $50 in March.

Apple's OS X Downloads Site Shutting Down on January 6th

Mac fans will soon be toasting (as is their wont) the passing of Apple.com's Mac OS X Downloads section. In last night's e-mail to developers, Apple announced that the sluggish Web-based app repository will be shutting down on January 6th, 2011, and will be replaced by the brand new, dedicated Mac App Store app. We're not too choked up. The replacement store will finally introduce a search function to the mix, which should make it much easier to hunt down that required QuickTime update.