Author Topic: Ramblings (Read 2004 times)

Xairbusdriver · « **on:** January 29, 2007, 05:26:41 PM »

<MacFixIt> has more info on recovering from the latest Security Update. Check soon, they tend to disappear in a few days.

They also have a link to a <UK blog site> that rather back-handedly reviews Vista. It seems to have been invaded by Windows switchers, however! I haven't seen this many pro-Mac notes since MacWorld!

WARNING: I saw at least one Windows supporter who seems to have a language problem; he knows several curse words but does not, apparently have a spell checker for other words. He could also use a grammar checker...

Finally, this <article> may be an indication that PDFs may become more wide spread and standard.

kimmer · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2007, 05:55:52 PM »

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jan 29 2007, 03:26 PM) [snapback]117354[/snapback]

<MacFixIt> has more info on recovering from the latest Security Update.

I've been holding off on this security update - think I'll keep waiting. Now, the info halfway down the page on the vulnerabilities in "flip4mac" scares me since I just installed it.

QUOTE

Finally, this <article> may be an indication that PDFs may become more wide spread and standard.

So does this mean that soon we will be able to download free software for PDF creation, rather than buying Adobe Acrobat?

edited to add some wink smilies because this is a poor attempt at humorous sarcasm

kbeartx · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2007, 06:33:43 PM »

QUOTE(kimmer @ Jan 29 2007, 06:55 PM) [snapback]117355[/snapback]

So does this mean that soon we will be able to download free software for PDF creation, rather than buying Adobe Acrobat?

You already have 'free' software for PDF creation: it's been built-in to OS-X for several years.

In the std print dialog, there's a button near the bottom left corner labeled 'PDF' and one of the options provided there is 'Save as PDF', so you can create a PDF from any printable file, from any app.

kimmer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2007, 07:18:23 PM »

QUOTE(kbeartx @ Jan 29 2007, 04:33 PM) [snapback]117356[/snapback]

You already have 'free' software for PDF creation: it's been built-in to OS-X for several years.

In the std print dialog, there's a button near the bottom left corner labeled 'PDF' and one of the options provided there is 'Save as PDF', so you can create a PDF from any printable file, from any app.

Yeah, I know -- I've been doing this since it first became a feature not a bug. I missed adding a *wink* to my comment - which was simply meant to be humorous sarcasm - that obviously failed.

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2007, 07:49:19 PM »

Of course, "creating" a PDF is not the same as being able to "edit" a PDF, especially, if you didn't create it in the first place.

Still, I don't see this as the end of Acrobat Pro, just that everyone ( should ) be able to use/read/translate stuff to a PDF. There could be some enterprising third-party developers that try to create/mimic Acrobat or simply convert any PDF to a format the user can then edit in their favorite app and finally convert back to a PDF. Who nose!

I know Flip4mac was recently mentioned as a replacement for WMVs but since this reported security problem is just that and not an actual report of it being used, I wouldn't worry too much, yet. In the next few days, that problem may be patched/nailed, anyway.

Gregg · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2007, 07:42:43 AM »

For OS9, I bought a little shareware application called "Print to PDF" and it works well.

tacit · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2007, 12:22:11 PM »

I've installed the new security update on many Macs without difficulty.

Having read the problems people are reporting with the new security update, I have come to the conclusion that in every case, the problems have nothing to do with the security update and indicate trouble in their computer systems that existed before. The new security update only affects QuickTime; it does not in any way, shape, or form modify any other files. So the people who are having trouble with Mail, or with login, or problems starting up, i can safely say with 100% confidence are having problems for reasons that have nothing to do with the security update.

It's like taking your car in to the shop to get a flat tire changed, and on the way home, your windshield wipers quit working. There is absolutely no way that changing the tire did anything to the windshield wipers; the timing is coincidence, nothing more.

The Flip4Mac vulnerability is not really a big deal. In order to exploit it, an attacker would somehow have to figure out a way to make you watch a specially crafted .WMV movie. There's no way that your computer can be affected unless you intentionally choose to view a .WMV movie that has been constructed in a special way to carry a hostile payload.

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2007, 05:31:30 PM »

MFI tends to agree on your analysis, most people just need something major to happen, like an update, and see the events as related. Still, it's nice to have some suggestions about what one can do to alleviate the problem ( several QT file deletions mentioned today ).

There is also a response from the flip4mac developers saying they'll make a fix on the next release. No hurry or panic seen by them, either. I still feel the "Bug a Day" site is purely for the benefit of the owners. Nor had I even heard anything in the media about the site for several weeks. They may have found their search a little harder than they thought. OTOH, surely they didn't start the site without already having the required number of "problems". Credulity is easy to lose and extremely hard to reacquire. Best to protect it in the first place.

News:

Author Topic: Ramblings (Read 2004 times)