Apple has just rolled out version 10.8.5 of OS X in order to remedy a number of recent issues with Mountain Lion. The update packs fixes for WiFi file transfers over 802.11ac, message display issues in Mail and unwanted screen saver appearances, along with the usual less-specific tweaks. If you haven't already seen the App Store notification in your Dock, a quick trip to that repository should reveal the fix after a required restart.
We've some good news to share for Mountain Lion users: OS X 10.8.3 is now available for download. As you'd expect, the new software brings a number of fixes and enhancements, but in a delicious twist of irony, the most substantial may very well be for Windows users. That's because version 10.8.3 introduces official support for Boot Camp with Windows 8, and it also brings compatibility for Boot Camp on Macs with hard drives larger than 3TB. Meanwhile, OS X users will benefit from Safari 6.0.3 and the ability to redeem iTunes gift cards in the Mac App Store by using the built-in iSight camera. OS X 10.8.3 is also said to resolve an audio stutter issue for 2011 iMacs and correct any unresponsive plugins that Logic Pro users might've noticed. You'll find the complete list of improvements after the break, but while you read, you might wanna dig into that Apple menu and get downloading.
Via: MacRumors
Source: Apple
When Twitter put out its strict new API guidelines, there was some doubt as to whether or not third-party clients like Tapbots' Tweetbot for Mac would even make the cut -- the user caps and other curbs on unofficial apps potentially made it tough to develop competition around a different (and possibly better) experience. That makes today's official appearance of Tweetbot in the Mac App Store as much symbolic as it is practical. While there won't be many significant shocks for those who've been participating in Tweetbot's alpha and beta stages, the finished version gives everyone running OS X Mountain Lion a major and sometimes more advanced alternative to official choices, such as TweetDeck, as well as existing third-party options like Twitterrific. A $20 price doesn't make Tweetbot the cheapest way to buck convention by any means, but it might be worth the investment if you're already committed to Tapbots' iOS apps or want to make a statement on the value of third parties in an ecosystem.
Filed under: Internet, Software
TweetBot for Mac reaches the Mac App Store, keeps the 3rd-party Twitter client flame alive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Looks like one major software update wasn't enough, as Apple is following its push of iOS 6 with OS X 10.8.2. Weighing in at 697.54MB, it's a pretty substantial update for Mountain Lion users, with that long-awaited Facebook integration chief among the changes. As Twitter presently operates within the OS, Facebook will now too enjoy single sign-on simplicity, and all of OS X's sharing portals will now include Facebook as an option. You'll get Facebook notifications in Notification Center, and you can share Game Center scores with your Facebook pals. It's also being reported that this build restores laptop battery life levels to those seen with Lion.
Other new features include the addition of Power Nap for the Late 2010 MacBook Air, a few iMessage tweaks (iMessages sent to your phone number will now appear on your Mac), a new shared Reminders list and the ability to receive FaceTime calls initially sent to your phone number. Passbook users will also enjoy the newfangled ability to add passes right from Safari and Mail, and Dictation now understands Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Canadian English (!), Canadian French and Italian. We're installing the update now, and you can peek the full changelog after the break. Feel free to toss your post-install impressions in comments as well.
Filed under: Desktops
Apple releases OS X 10.8.2 update for Mountain Lion: Facebook integration, iMessage fixes and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Over the years we've come across a few signs that pointed to the possibility of touchscreen-enabled iMacs, but Steve Jobs had already dismissed this as a possibility for current Mac form factors. Quoting the man at the "Back to the Mac" keynote from two years ago: "It gives great demo, but after a while your arm feels like it's going to fall off. Touch surfaces want to be horizontal."
So perhaps our fantasy's still stuck in the "research project" phase.
Luckily, the more adventurous touchscreen lovers can look to third-party solutions. For MacBooks you have Axiotron's Modbook, except you lose the keyboard and you can't perform the modification yourself. As for iMacs and Cinema Displays, we've been following Troll Touch for its resistive touchscreen replacement panels, but they aren't exactly affordable and most of them have to be installed by the company. Even its user-installable SlipCover series starts from $899, anyway.
This leaves us with the Zorro Macsk, a cheekily named iMac accessory hailing from TMDtouch of Shenzhen, China. The 21.5-inch model is priced at just $199 on Amazon with no modifications required. Plus, it supports multitouch -- a glaring omission from Troll Touch's Mac lineup. So is this truly a bargain? Or is it just a case of "you get what you pay for?" Follow past the break to see how we got on with the Zorro Macsk.
Continue reading Zorro Macsk review: instantly add touchscreen functionality to your 21.5-inch iMac
Filed under: Peripherals
Zorro Macsk review: instantly add touchscreen functionality to your 21.5-inch iMac originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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There's a special moment in every operating system's life when it loses its innocent .0 status and grows up. It's OS X Mountain Lion's turn to mature, as Apple has just pushed out the 10.8.1 update for early adopters. Most of the fixes are for issues that plague specific use cases, such as audio output from a Thunderbolt Display or crashes in Migration Assistant. There are a few remedies that a wider audience might appreciate -- a fix for iMessages that don't send and an improvement to Exchange compatibility in Mail, for example. We don't yet know of any surprises lurking underneath, but it can't hurt to have a smoother-running Mac while we investigate.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software
Apple posts OS X 10.8.1 update, mends your Mountain Lion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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With Mountain Lion newly available and Windows 8 on the verge of shipping, now was a pretty good time for VMware to update its Fusion virtualization software, dont'cha think? The company just announced Fusion 5 with 70-plus new features, including support for Win 8 and tight integration with OS X 10.8. For instance, you can now view Windows programs in Mountain Lion's Launchpad, while VMware software updates pop up in the Notification Center. Fusion also supports AirPlay for the first time, and you can also run either Mountain Lion or Mountain Lion Server as a virtual machine. The company also added support for Retina Display MacBook Pros, so that everything looks crisp on that 2,880 x 1,800 screen. Also of note: Fusion now supports USB 3.0, and Linux users get some love in the form of Open GL 2.1 graphics support.
The standard version of Fusion 5 is available now for $49.99, but people who bought Fusion 4 since the release of Mountain Lion can upgrade for free. There's also a professional version ($100 for one license), which includes all the above features, and also lets IT departments lock down settings for employees' virtual machines.
Filed under: Software
VMware intros Fusion 5 virtualization software with support for Win 8, integration with Mountain Lion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tweetbot's been offering a rough-around-the-edges alpha version on its upcoming refresh for a few weeks now, but it's the latest update that's caught our attention -- again. There's several substantial changes that could tempt you away from other desktop Twitter clients. These include a new multiple account view, with separate columns that can either be docked to your main feed or left in their own window. You can spin out mentions and search results into their own space, and even adjust each column's height and width -- if you're looking to squeeze even more Twitter content into a single screen. A new menu bar icon offers access to your multiple accounts, new tweets, direct messages and mentions, while the latest build also improves support for media upload and Mountain Lion's notification bar. Tweetbot's alpha is still free to try for now, but once the kinks are eventually worked out, expect to pay for the finished article.
Filed under: Internet
Tweetbot for Mac's latest alpha adds experimental 'snap-together' column layout originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We've seen plenty of users report that Apple's latest OS, Mountain Lion, has caused a massive drop in battery life. While we haven't been able to confirm any decrease in longevity with our own OS 10.8 machines, which include previous generation MacBook Pros and the company's latest Retina model, it's clear that some of you who were able to get the operating system downloaded and installed have experienced some not-so-favorable side effects with your Pros and MacBook Airs. While there are plenty of theories, there has yet to be a fix, though Apple is reportedly investigating the issue. This isn't the first time users have reported decreased battery life after an OS update, with a lengthy support thread popping up after Lion's release last year. So, how has the upgrade affected you? Sound off in the poll below to let us know.
Filed under: Software
Poll: Is Mountain Lion devouring your Mac's battery life? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We heard some rumblings ahead of the weekend from third-party sources, and like clockwork, Apple has kicked the week off with its weekend box office returns. According to Cupertino's numbers, the latest version of OS X hit 3 million downloads in four days, making for "the most successful OS X release in Apple's history." Price has surely played a role in Mountain Lion's speedy success, running $20 for 200-plus features, according to Apple's numbers. That list includes big additions like Notification Center and AirPlay Mirroring and a selection of smaller tweaks to the decade-old operating system. More information can be found in the customarily self-congratulatory press release, after the break.
Filed under: Software
Apple reports 3 million Mountain Lion downloads in four days, 'most successful OS X release' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 08:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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