MacRumors

Apple has released QuickTime 7.3.1, which addresses a number of security issues. The release is available for Windows, Leopard (10.5), Tiger (10.4), and Panther (10.3) and available in your software update.

This update is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users and addresses a widely publicized security flaw in QuickTime revealed by Symantec. Details of this and other security fixes are listed in this support document.

Apple is featuring a new Christmas themed 'Get a Mac' advertisement on the front page of their website at Apple.com.

The new ad depicts "Mac" and "PC" as stop-motion-like animated characters whose voices are still played by actors Justin Long and John Hodgman, respectively. The two characters sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" with a Mac vs PC twist.

Appleinsider claims that "dark grey" or "gunmetal" colored slim notebooks have been spotted at Apple campus.

Though noticeably thinner but otherwise similar in size to the company's 13-inch MacBooks, the notebook appeared to have a metallic sheen to it, which set it apart from the current black MacBook.

The report is reminiscent of a 9to5mac report that indicated that new MacBook enclosures made of black and silver aluminum had previously been spotted by their sources.

Rumors of a sub-notebook laptop have been building as we approach Macworld San Francisco. Our rumor roundup summarizes the predictions to date.

A Microsoft blogger revealed yesterday that the next version of Windows ("Windows 7") will contain touch features with specific claims that the new features will 'blow away' the current touch features on the iPhone:

I will say that if you are impressed by the "touch features" in the iPhone, you'll be blown away by what's coming in Windows 7.

The blogger, Hilton Locke, is a Windows test engineer for the Tablet PC which explains his involvement with touch technologies. Microsoft has already integrated some touch features into Vista with support for current Tablet PCs as well as HP's TouchSmart PC, but it appears more advanced features will come with Windows 7. This successor to Windows Vista, however, is not expected to be released until 2010 at the earliest.

Even then, touch features would only be available to manufacturers who take advantage of the new features. Locke suggests that convincing manufacturers to adopt Windows Touch Technology has been difficult.

In May, Microsoft announced their Surface Computing initiative with the introduction of commercial multi-touch tables due in 2008.

Multitouch technologies have been a hot topic since the introduction of the Apple iPhone, with several patent applications indicating that Apple is heavily researching its use. The current incarnation of the iPhone supports two points of contact, allowing the user to zoom in and out using "pinch" and "reverse pinch" motions with two fingers. More advanced multi-touch possibilities include gestures and multi-purpose surfaces.

This Apple Job description (as noted by Daringfireball) invites qualified software engineers to apply for a job at Apple working on new technologies and user interface concepts for "iPhone[s], cameras and remote controls."

HID SW is responsible for delivering the firmware and software for Apples Input Devices, such as Multi-touch for iPhone, cameras, and remote controls. The team is a key part in driving an integrated customer experience involving new HW and SW designs, working with creative, smart people, world-class products and cutting edge technologies.

Of course, the job description is understandably vague, but does seek out applicants specifically with "strong interest in human-computer interaction" and "a proven ability to bring new user interface concepts to life". The reference to cameras and remote controls, however, raise some interesting possibilities.

After the introduction of the multi-touch iPhone and a series of patent applications exploring alternative input methods, it seems that Apple has been paying a lot of attention to the future of user interfaces. Many of the recent patent applications focus on advanced gesturing and unique touch surfaces.

There's been some suggestion that the upcoming sub-notebooks might see some touchpad improvements, though this has been particularly vague.

Engadget posts a photo claiming to be an upcoming TomTom GPS module for the iPhone.

The poor quality image depicts a small add-on device which plugs into the bottom of the iPhone. Meanwhile, the screen shows a typical GPS view.

The validity of the photo itself is difficult to assess, however, its been rumored that select developers may already have access to Apple's upcoming SDK. It's conceivable that Apple has selected key hardware manufacturers to ready new iPhone accessories.

Update: Said to be fake.

Apple is likely to introduce two (one minor, one major) iPhone revisions along with a major Apple TV update in 2008 according to Goldman Sachs analysts.

These conclusions are based on meetings with "key component suppliers and manufacturers" in Asia.

The two iPhone revisions are predicted to be
- Increase in Flash storage (minor update, earlier in the year)
- 2nd Generation iPhone with 3G and could have a different look (major update, second half of year)

Meanwhile, the Apple TV is expected to see changes in 2008 that "could include an LCD display". Other notes include scarce information about the long rumored sub-notebook from Apple with the possibility it may be delayed due to design issues.

Analyst reports have typically been very inconsistent with the accuracy of their predictions, though we have not heard much from David Bailey of Goldman Sachs before.

Apple announced today that they've launched television sales for the iTunes Store in Canada.

"We're thrilled to bring television programming to the iTunes Store in Canada in time for the holiday season," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes. "We're off to a great start with hit shows from CBC, CTV, Comedy Central and MTV Networks, along with the best of classic and current NHL action."

Shows are available for CAN$1.99 per episode. Show availability includes:

- CBC's comedy programs "Little Mosque on the Prairie" and "The Rick Mercer Report," reality programming "No Opportunity Wasted" and "Dragon's Den;"
- CTV's smash hit comedy "Corner Gas," dramas "Instant Star," "Degrassi: The Next Generation" and "Robson Arms;"
- Comedy Central's "Drawn Together," "The Sarah Silverman Program" and Emmy and Peabody Award-winning "South Park;"
- MTV Networks programs "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "The Hills;"
- NHL Games of the Year, including top NHL games in their entirety for the 2007-2008 season, as well as Stanley Cup Classics, a five-game bundle of great Stanley Cup Final games.

Sprint will be "soft-launching" their new WiMax wireless network known as XOHM later this week, according to MacNN. The initial plans will make make WiMax networks available in downtown Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

The official launch is reported to be in the 2nd quarter of 2008 when a number of WiMax enabled laptops are expected to be released. Sprint expects 100 million Americans to be within WiMax range by the end of 2008.

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a next generation wireless technology that promises inexpensive wireless broadband. A USAToday article discussing the new technology reveals that that the network will be "open" with no long term service contracts and customers will be allowed to use any WiMax device on the network. Critics of the service, however, believe that existing 3G cellular technologies, such as HSPA, already fill this need.

Of particular interest is that Intel has been a strong proponent of the technology and will start building WiMax enabled chipsets for its upcoming Montevina platform which replaces Santa Rosa. This is no guarantee that Apple will necessarily use Intel's wireless chipset, as they are not using them in the current iteration of MacBooks.

While Apple has made no public commitments to WiMax technology, the possible introduction of sub-notebook MacBook so close to WiMax's launch has surely raised these possibilities at Apple headquarters. This, however, all remains speculative, as no credible rumors have yet placed WiMax technology in Apple hardware.