MacRumors

Apple today released a series of security updates targeting users of Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Leopard. According to the support document for the release, the updates address a single vulnerability related to handling of embedded fonts by Apple Type Services. Discovery of the vulnerability is credited to noted cybersecurity researcher Charlie Miller, who last month disclosed his discovery of 20 new zero-day holes in Mac OS X.

- Security Update 2010-003 (Snow Leopard) (6.50 MB)
- Security Update 2010-003 (Leopard-Client) (218.6 MB)
- Security Update 2010-003 (Leopard-Server) (379.5 MB)

The Leopard versions posted to Apple's site incorporate previous security updates, explaining their large file size relative to the Snow Leopard version.

Apple also released Server Admin Tools 10.6.3, an update to Apple's package for installing remote administration tools to non-server machines. The update delivers 16 documented improvements to several of the package's components.

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at ABC's application for the iPad ten days after the device's launch, revealing that users have streamed at least part of 650,000 television episodes in what the network deems a very successful launch.

The network said that in the 10 days since the iPad's debut, its TV-show watching app has been downloaded 205,000 times, giving the Walt Disney Co. unit a presence on nearly half the 450,000 devices that Apple says it has sold. Moreover, users have watched at least part of 650,000 television episodes using the app, generating "several million" ad impressions, according to an ABC spokesman, although the precise number is still being calculated.

The report notes that ABC has been offering on the iPad the same traditional 30-second ads from a host of advertisers that are seen by television audiences. By fall, however, ABC plans to roll out special interactive ads for users of its iPad application. Additional plans involve allowing local affiliates to offer targeted advertising to users based on their location.

Also provided in the report is an interesting look at the development of ABC's iPad application, which was undertaken by a team of twelve ABC engineers. Development is reported as having occurred "in the five weeks between the Jan. 27 announcement of the iPad and its commercial release on Saturday" despite that fact that that time interval was over nine weeks in length. And somewhat surprisingly given Apple CEO Steve Jobs' position as the largest individual shareholder of ABC parent company Disney, ABC's engineers were not provided with a pre-release iPad for development purposes and had to rely on the simulator included in Apple's development tools for the platform in order to build the application.

Application developers have been able to ride along with strong sales of the iPad, with Apple today announcing that strong U.S. sales of over 500,000 already have forced the company to push back international launch by one month to late May as it struggles to keep up with demand.

Apple announced this morning that due to strong sales of the Apple iPad, they have delayed international delivery for about a month.

Although we have delivered more than 500,000 iPads during its first week, demand is far higher than we predicted and will likely continue to exceed our supply over the next several weeks as more people see and touch an iPad. We have also taken a large number of pre-orders for iPad 3G models for delivery by the end of April.

Apple reports that the high demand is responsible for the delay in international shipments. International delivery will take place at the end of May. Details and pre-orders will be announced on May 10th.

Alongside today's release of refreshed MacBook Pros, Apple also quietly reduced the price of build-to-order upgrades for 4 GB RAM modules in its 27-inch iMacs.

In the United States, upgrading from the standard 4 GB configuration of 2 x 2 GB to an 8 GB configuration of 2 x 4 GB modules now carries a $400 price hike, down from a $600 charge previously. Upgrading all the way to the maximum of 16 GB in a 4 x 4GB configuration now costs $1000 compared to the previous $1400 charge.

While the smaller 21.5-inch iMac can support 4 GB RAM modules in its four slots for a total of 16 GB, Apple's build-to-order options only permit customers to upgrade to a total of 8 GB of RAM in a 4 x 2 GB configuration. Consequently, Apple pricing for 21.5-inch iMac configurations remains unchanged.

Ars Technica reports that Apple's new MacBook Pro models released today now support transmission of both audio and video via a single Mini DisplayPort output. The news comes following speculation that Apple might be preparing to release a Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter of its own after a reference to such an adapter appeared in the tech specs for the new MacBook Pro. According to the latest report, however, Apple has denied that it is planning its own adapter, meaning that users will need to rely upon third-party solutions.

Apple confirmed to Ars that the just-updated MacBook Pros will pass both video and audio signals to an HDTV or receiver when using an miniDP to HDMI adapter. Apple sells one such adapter from Griffin online, though alternative from suppliers such as Monoprice are also available. Apple doesn't have any plans at this time to make its own adapter, contrary to earlier speculation.

Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters have been around for over a year now, and many MacBook Pro users have used them to connect their notebooks to external displays or televisions. Those users wishing to route audio to the external devices have been required to use a separate cable connected to the computer's audio line out minijack or a combination HDMI cable supporting Mini DisplayPort for video and USB for audio.

HDMI, a popular connector standard for home theater applications, has been rumored to be included on the next-generation Mac mini. That report also indicated that Apple had developed its own Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter that could handle both audio and video, but today's statement from Apple suggests that the company has no plans, or doesn't wish to reveal plans, to release such a device.

Update: An Apple support document suggests that the company's latest iMacs also offer this functionality when used with compatible Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters.

Earlier today, Apple launched updated MacBook Pro models, moving its 15" and 17" models to Intel Core i5 and i7 processors utilizing integrated Intel graphics paired with NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics cards. The new 13" MacBook Pro, however, continues to utilize Intel Core 2 Duo processors with a custom NVIDIA GeForce 320 integrated graphics solution. Some observers have questioned why Apple did not make a more substantial upgrade to the processors used in the 13" models.

One interested party even went so far as to send an email to Apple CEO Steve Jobs about the decision, and shared Jobs' response with us. According to Jobs, Apple chose to focus on the graphics performance and combine it with outstanding battery life instead of opting for the alternative of merely a small increase in CPU speed.

We chose killer graphics plus 10 hour battery life over a very small CPU speed increase. Users will see far more performance boost from the speedy graphics.

Early benchmarks show significantly improved performance for the Core i7-based MacBook Pro, and it will be interesting to see how the new 13" models compare to their predecessors in various tasks.

ITworld reports that the dust-up between Apple and Adobe over Apple's refusal to permit Flash content on the iPhone and its recent move to block Adobe's Flash-to-iPhone packager in its forthcoming Flash Professional CS5 is set to move to the next level, with Adobe preparing to file suit against Apple over the dispute.

Usually I write about security here, but Apple's iron-bound determination to keep Adobe Flash out of any iWhatever device is about to blow up in Apple's face. Sources close to Adobe tell me that Adobe will be suing Apple within a few weeks.

It was bad enough when Apple said, in effect, that Adobe Flash wasn't good enough to be allowed on the iPad. But the final straw was when Apple changed its iPhone SDK (software development kit) license so that developers may not submit programs to Apple that use cross-platform compilers.

While Adobe has officially remained silent on the new cross-platform compiler issue other than to note that it is looking into the ramifications of Apple's move, a "platform evangelist" for the company strongly objected to the move, even going so far as to say "Go screw yourself Apple."

For his part, Apple CEO Steve Jobs reportedly noted in an email exchange with a developer that allowing such intermediate layers inevitably leads to a substandard user experience and "hinders the progress of the platform."

Gizmodo publishes preliminary benchmarks comparing the performance of Apple's new top-of-the-line 2.66 GHz Core i7-based 15" MacBook Pro released today to a previous-generation 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo model. With the caveat that the tests did not include the previous top-of-the-line 3.06 GHz model, the new MacBook Pro still seems to show impressive performance gains of nearly 50% on many tests.

The preliminary testing utilized two standard benchmarking utilities, Geekbench and Xbench, as well as a test of video re-encoding with 64-bit Handbrake. The Geekbench and Xbench results showed about 50% improvement over the previous-generation model in overall scoring, although the individual Xbench scores varied fairly significantly from only marginally better in Quartz and CPU tests to over twice as high in Thread and OpenGL tasks.

Handbrake re-encoding speed also increased by about 35-40% in Gizmodo's testing with a 600 MB file, dropping from 32:19 to 19:54.

The performance gains come despite increased battery life in the new models, a result of more energy efficient components and a slight bump in battery capacity for the latest models. Apple's automatic graphics switching will enable seamless shifting between discrete and integrated graphics processors, allowing for maximum horsepower for tasks such as the benchmarks used above and maximum battery life for less power-hungry tasks.

Apple today introduced a refreshed line of MacBook Pro notebooks, bringing several new features to the the company's popular aluminum-clad offerings. Here is a look at some of the changes included in the update:

Processors
Apple stuck with Intel Core 2 Duo processors for the 13" MacBook Pros, bumping the two standard configuration models from 2.26 GHz and 2.53 GHz to 2.4 GHz and 2.66 GHz. The 15" and 17" models, however, saw a bump from the Core 2 Duo line to Core i5 and i7 processors offering Intel's Hyper-Threading technology that allows for four virtual cores on the dual-core processor. While the processors run at slightly lower clock speeds than the Core 2 Duo in the previous generation, the smaller 32-nanometer process, Hyper-Threading, and other enhancements yield performance improvements of up to 50% according to Apple. The Core i5 and i7 processors also support Turbo Boost, pushing clock speeds for the i7 models as high as 3.33 GHz for single-threaded tasks.

Graphics
On the new 13" MacBook Pro, Apple debuted the NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics processor that offers 48 processing cores, three times that of the previous generation. Apple claims a performance boost of up to 80% with the new graphics capabilities while also being able to deliver up to 40% less power usage. The GeForce 320M is reportedly a custom production for Apple, offering greater performance than NVIDIA's standard integrated graphics without building in discrete graphics capabilities.

The 15" and 17" MacBook Pro models utilize the NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with either 256 or 512 MB of dedicated memory, offering more horsepower while also delivering up 30% greater energy efficiency. The 15" and 17" MacBook Pro models also offer automatic graphics switching, allowing the system to seamlessly switch between the dedicated NVIDIA graphics processor and the included integrated Intel HD graphics processor for optimal balance of power and efficiency. Previous MacBook Pro models have required users to manually switch between integrated and discrete graphics and log out of their account for each switch.

Battery
All three MacBook Pro models offer greater battery life than their predecessors, a feat achieved through a combination of larger battery capacity and greater energy efficiency. The 13" MacBook Pro now offers up to 10 hours of power, while the 15" and 17" models boast battery life of 8-9 hours. The previous generation of the MacBook Pro offered 7 hours on the 13" and 15" models and 8 hours on the 17" model. The batteries in all three machine sizes are non-user-replaceable and are designed for up to 1000 full charge and discharge cycles. While designed to last five years for typical users, Apple offers a battery replacement service priced at $129 (13" and 15" models) or $179 (17" model).

Display
The 15" MacBook Pro has gained a new option for a high-resolution display, offering users the opportunity to bump the standard 1440x900 screen to 1680x1050. The high-resolution display is available in both glossy ($100 extra) and anti-glare ($150 extra) versions. Notably, an anti-glare option for the lower-resolution display does not appear to be available. The 17" MacBook Pro continues to sport a 1900x1200 screen in either glossy (standard) or anti-glare ($50 extra). Apple also continues to offer a single standard glossy display running at 1280x800 for the 13" model.

Hard Drive
Apple is offering up to 500 GB, 5400-rpm SATA hard drives across all three sizes, with the 15" and 17" models also offering the option of up to 500 GB, 7200-rpm drives. Solid-state drive capacities have increased with the addition of a 512 GB option, although it carries a hefty price premium of $1300-$1450 depending on which base hard drive the customer is upgrading from.

Inertial Scrolling
The new MacBook Pro offers an enhanced multi-touch trackpad supporting inertial scrolling. The feature, already present in similar forms on Apple's iPhone OS devices and the Magic Mouse, allows users to "flick" while scrolling as the trackpad senses the momentum of the gesture and smoothly scrolls through long documents and libraries.

In the U.S. and Canada, Apple's new MacBook Pro line is currently showing 2-4 business day shipping windows for standard-configuration 13" models, while base 15" and 17" models are showing availability within 24 hours. Apple's international online stores are showing shipping windows ranging from 24 hours to 5 business days for various standard-configuration models, with the 13" models and the mid-range 15" model most frequently seeing the longer delays.

Apple today announced updates to its MacBook Pro line, offering improved performance with new Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. The new 13" MacBook Pro models carry a 10-hour battery, while the new 15" and 17" models are claimed to carry 8-to-9 hours of battery life. Apple has also introduced new high-resolution displays for its 15" MacBook Pro, offering a standard 1440x900 glossy screen with options for 1680x1050 screens in glossy (+$100) or anti-glare (+$150).

Apple today updated the MacBook Pro line with faster processors, powerful next-generation NVIDIA graphics and even longer battery life. The popular 13-inch MacBook Pro features the new NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor for up to 80 percent faster graphics and a groundbreaking 10-hour built-in battery. The new 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and Apple's new automatic graphics switching technology that toggles seamlessly between powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and energy efficient Intel HD Graphics processors.

Pricing has changed slightly from the previous generation, with the low-end 15" MacBook Pro seeing a $100 price hike while the high-end 15" and 17" models experience $100 and $200 price cuts respectively.

As with the previous generation, Apple is offering six standard MacBook Pro configurations across the line's three sizes:

13" MacBook Pro
- $1199: 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive
- $1499: 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive

15" MacBook Pro
- $1799: 2.4 GHz Core i5, Intel HD Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256MB, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive
- $1999: 2.53 GHz Core i5, Intel HD Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256MB, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive
- $2199: 2.66 GHz Core i7, Intel HD Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512MB, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive

17" MacBook Pro
- $2299: 2.53 GHz Core i5, Intel HD Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512MB, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive

The 2.66 GHz Core i7 processor is available on the 17" MacBook Pro as a $200 build-to-order upgrade. All models also offer up to 512 GB of solid-state storage or 500 GB of traditional hard drive storage. All models offer new support for inertial scrolling on the multi-touch trackpad.

The MacBook Pros were last updated in June, and a revision has been widely expected. An entry for an unreleased Core i7-based MacBook Pro appeared in Geekbench's online benchmarking database in early February, and while a number of hints and rumors suggested that a release might be imminent at that time, a shortage of Intel's new notebook chips appears to have delayed things.

Rumors picked up again earlier this month, with a report last week pinpointing today for the launch. Over the weekend, part numbers began to appear at third-party resellers while a number of retailers were running dry of MacBook Pro supplies, further suggesting that an update was right around the corner.

Apple's online stores around the world are currently down for maintenance, and it is widely believed that the company is rolling out updated MacBook Pro models.

AppleInsider reports that it has received last-minute information from a source that has proved reliable in the past showing model numbers and partial descriptions for six new MacBook Pro models spanning all three existing sizes. According to the report, the base configuration models will utilize processors ranging from 2.4 GHz to 2.66 GHz, with 4 GB of RAM standard across the board.

The processor speeds included in the report suggest that Apple may be using Intel's new Core i5-520M (2.4 GHz), i5-540M (2.53 GHz) and i7-620M (2.66 GHz). Those chips were introduced in January had been rumored last month to be in short supply as Intel struggled to meet demand.

Sources for today's report have also indicated that Apple may be using three different screen types on the new MacBook Pro models, although no detail is provided beyond their descriptions of Glossy, High Resolution Glossy, and High Resolution Glossy with Anti-Glare. Finally, a source has indicated that Apple may offer solid-state drives of up to 512 GB with the update, up from a maximum of 256 GB in current models.

Opera today announced that its Opera Mini browser has been approved for inclusion in Apple's App Store. Opera Mini should appear in the App Store within the next 24 hours.

Opera Mini, with more than 50 million users worldwide, enables fast mobile Web browsing by compressing data by up to 90 percent before sending content to the device, resulting in significantly improved page loading. Users of the app will notice an uptake in speed, especially on slower networks such as the 2G Edge network. Surfing the Web with the Opera Mini App on iPhone and iPod touch will also help users save money because of its data compression capabilities. This will hold especially true while the user is incurring roaming charges.

Opera submitted its browser to Apple late last month and started a count-up timer to keep track of how long it had been in Apple's hands for review. Some observers had wondered whether the browser would be accepted by Apple, as it directly competes with the mobile Safari browser application included with the iPhone and iPod touch.

Update: Opera Mini is now available [iTunes link] in the App Store.

Apple today issued a media alert announcing details for the April 20th release of its financial results for the second fiscal quarter and first calendar quarter of 2010. The results will be released after the close of trading on Tuesday at approximately 4:30 PM Eastern / 1:30 PM Pacific. Apple's conference call discussing the results will follow at 2:00 PM Pacific and will be available via a live audio webcast. MacRumors will provide running coverage of the conference call highlights.

Apple offered no major product releases during the quarter, as most of the company's attention was focused on the iPad. The tablet device was introduced in late January, but did not launch until April 3rd, just after the end of the quarter. And even so, the launch was limited to Wi-Fi models in the United States. Availability of 3G-capable models in the United States is expected later this month, while Apple this week announced that availability of all models in its initial set of international markets has been delayed until late May due to high demand in the U.S.

For the quarter, analysts are predicting net earnings of $2.43 per share on revenue of $12.03 billion, above Apple's guidance of $2.06-$2.18 profit on $11.0-$11.4 billion of revenue. Apple's year-ago results for the second fiscal quarter of 2009 initially included net earnings of $1.33 per share on revenue of $8.16 billion. Those calculations were based, however, on earlier accounting methods that utilized "subscription accounting" for iPhone and Apple TV revenue. Apple adopted revised accounting standards at the beginning of fiscal 2010, and after retrospective application (PDF) of the new standards, the year-ago quarter yielded net earnings of $1.79 per share on revenue of $9.08 billion.