Apple released Security Update 2008-007 for Mac OS X Leopard and Tiger users today. The update addresses many specific areas of the Mac OS, including: Apache, ClamAV, CUPS, Finder, and more. A full list of the areas affected by the update can be found on the Apple support website. The update is available for the following systems:

• Client systems running Leopard
• Server systems running Leopard
• Client systems running Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Intel)
• Client systems running Mac OS X 10.4.11 (PPC)
• Server systems running Mac OS X 10.4.11 (PPC)
• Server systems running Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Universal)

You can get the update by downloading the installer package from the Apple support website, or by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update).

Continue reading for a change log for this update.

So, that was like a really bad, mean, and cruel joke. But it does seem that the recent Apple TV update is bricking some Apple TVs. According to the Apple Discussion board, some users cannot get past the boot video. If the update bricks your Apple TV, it's not the end of the world (well, it is if you cannot do the following steps).

One discussion board reader reports that doing a restore of your Apple TV will help resolve the situation. To restore your Apple TV, try the following steps:

1. Hold down the Menu and Menu down/scroll (-) buttons on the remote for approximately 3 to 5 seconds, until the LED on Apple TV flashes yellow.
2. After Apple TV restarts, a screen appears asking you to pick a language. Select the language you wish to use.
3. After the Apple TV Recovery screen appears, select "Factory Restore"

Please note that restoring the factory settings will completely remove any and all data on the Apple TV. In most cases, your Apple TV software will be reset to version 1.0 (if you bought your ATV prior to the 2.0 update). For more information on the diagnostic tools, read Apple's support note.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Earlier tonight, Apple issued a Security Update for Apple TV. According to Apple, this update (version 2.2) fixes a bug in Apple TV that could allow a "maliciously crafted movie file may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution." This definitely doesn't sound good to us.

It's not all boring security stuff; Apple also added a Genius playlist function. To access the Genius function, just hold down the play/pause button while a song is playing, and a popup menu will allow you to "Start Genius," or add to an on-the-go playlist.

You can download this update by navigating to Settings > Update Software. Alternatively, Apple TV checks on a weekly basis for any new updates. If it finds an update, it will download, verify, and install the new update. You can read more about this update in this Apple support article.

Have you found another feature of the update? Let us know by sharing in the comments below, or sending us a tip!

Thanks Justin

Today, Apple updated the MobileMe control panel for Windows. Update 1.2 "provides better support for syncing a large number of contacts (more than 2,000) and prevents syncing of data between Microsoft Exchange Server and MobileMe, a configuration that is not supported."

This control panel is required to use MobileMe syncing/iDisk on a Windows computer. This update requires Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2, or Windows Vista SP1 or later. You must have iTunes 8.0.1 or later installed.

You can download this update from the Apple Support website.

Apple released iTunes version 8.0.1 earlier today. This update is 58.8MB in size, and features the following changes:

• Seamlessly plays the current song when creating a new Genius playlist.
• Improves syncing spoken menus to iPod nano.
• Addresses an issue of deleting HD TV episodes when downloading.
• Improves checking for updates from the App Store
• Improves accessibility with VoiceOver.
• Addresses problems syncing Genius results to iPod.

That's quite a detailed release note from Apple! You can get your copy now via Software Update. Let us know if you experience any trouble.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Apple has just released Java Update 2 for Mac OS X. According to Apple, this update "delivers improved reliability and compatibility for Java SE 6, J2SE 5.0 and J2SE 1.4.2 on Mac OS X 10.5.4 and later."

You can find more information about this update by visiting the release notes. You can download this 136.4MB update by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by downloading the installer package from Apple's support website.

Last Thursday, Apple released three updates that we forgot to touch on.

Pro Applications Update 2008-03 (support site link)
Pro Applications Update 2008-03 "addresses general performance issues and improves overall stability." More information about the Pro Apps update can be found in the release notes. You can download the installer package here.

Final Cut Server Update 1.1.1 (support site link)
Apple notes on their support website that FCS Update 1.1.1 addresses "installation issues and general performance issues and improves overall stability." Apple has also posted more information about the update in the release notes.

iPhone Configuration Utility 1.0.1 for Mac OS X (support site link)
The iPhone Config Utility allows enterprises to maintain a large number of iPhones (including installing and provisioning applications). The utility has been updated to version 1.0.1, and in normal Apple update fashion, they have not included any release notes for this version. You can however, download the installer package by visiting the Apple support site.

All of these updates require Mac OS X 10.5.5, which was updated last week. You can download these updates by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by visiting the Apple support website links and download the installer packages.


Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Today Apple released an update for Mac OS X's RAW compatibility. iPhoto '08 and Aperture will now be able to work with RAW formats from the following cameras:

• Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/Kiss Digital F/1000D
• Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n
• Nikon D700
• Olympus EVOLT E-420
• Olympus EVOLT E-520
• Olympus SP-570
• Samsung GX-10
• Samsung GX-20
• Sony DSLR-A300
• Sony DSC-R1

I'm sure this isn't a fix for everyone, but will probably make most photographers happy to see their camera on the list. You can download this update by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by visiting Apple's downloads website and downloading the installer package.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Apple just released two updates for its Remote Desktop product. The client update and the admin update promise the following fixes:

• Improved reliability with the Copy Items command.
• Upgrade Client Software command now uses unicast packets for improved reliability on some networks.
  
• Fixes to the Force Quit All Applications and Copy Items to Computer Automator actions.

The update is available to Mac OS X systems running 10.3.9 (or later) and ARD 3.x. You can download the updates by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by visiting Apple's downloads website and downloading the installer packages.


Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

If you've been a bad nervous Mac user, then chances are that you might not be running the latest updates. If so, you can download the Combo updater for Mac OS X 10.5.5 which includes all important patches up to this point, so you can remain up-to-date even if you skipped a couple of updates.

If you are still running the slightly older OS, Tiger, then Apple has provided an update for you as well. The Security 2008-006 update allows you to stay as safe as your Leopard brethren. Security update 2008-006 is available for both PPC and Intel Macs running Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger).

You can download all of these updates by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by visiting Apple's download page.

With Mac OS X 10.5.5 on the update list for the day, Apple has also decided to release a number of shiny, happy updates for the Mac OS X Server geeks among us. At the top are two versions of Mac OS X 10.5.5:

• Mac OS X Server 10.5.5 (341 MBs)
• Mac OS X Server 10.5.5 Combo Updater (729 MBs)

If you don't wish to update to 10.5 yet, don't worry about it, you can still apply the Security Update 2008-006 that is included in the OS X 10.5.5 server update. This update, available for PPC & Intel Servers running Mac OS X 10.4, weighs in at 118 MBs.

Once you are done with those wonderful happy not so fun system updates and reboots, why not give the "WebObjects Update 5.4.3 for Mac OS X 10.5 " update a whirl?

And there you have it, all the Enterprise updates from Apple today! We know what all the IT people around the country will be doing tomorrow. Rebooting at least once.


Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

It hasn't hit Apple's software downloads page yet, but reader reports are coming in that Mac OS X 10.5.5 is loose in the wild. Check Software Update to see if the big cat is available in your neighborhood ... or, possibly a better idea, wait 24 hours for the early adopters to see what breaks. You can see the full release notes here or in the continuation of this post.

"The 10.5.5 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac." There's the Apple specificity we love so well. Actually, the full release notes (below) are quite detailed, so I retract my snark.

Thanks to John and everyone who sent this in.

As announced on Tuesday, the iPhone 2.1 firmware is out now, downloadable via iTunes.

According to Apple's website, updates include:
To get the update, connect your iPhone to your computer, load up iTunes 8 and click "Check for Update."

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Many new iPod related announcements occurred at the "Let's Rock" event today, but Apple also updated the software that powers all of those inventions: iTunes. iTunes 8 includes many new features, and it's now available for download.

While iTunes isn't yet showing up in Software Update, you can download it straight from Apple's website. So, go ahead, download iTunes 8 and wow yourself with the new features (and don't forget to check out the new visualizer). Update: As you might expect, the new iTunes requires QuickTime 7.7.5 for video playback -- get them both.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!