Mac OS X 10.5.5 update addresses over 30 issues Apple updates Mac OS X 10.5 Jim Dalrymple, Macworld.com Apple has updated Mac OS X Leopard, bringing the current version of the operating system to 10.5.5. The 136MB download addresses 33 issues with the operating system. This update fixes problems with several of the applications found in Mac OS X, but the one that users may be interested in the most is MobileMe. Updates to the online service in 10.5.5 fixes overall sync reliability and Back to My Mac reliability, according to Apple. There are several updates to Apple's built-in email application. Performance issues related to displaying IMAP messages have been fixed; SMTP settings for AIM, Compuserve, Hanmail, Yahoo!, and Time Warner Road Runner, have been addressed; and an issue in which RSS feeds could temporarily disappear from the sidebar has been fixed. Apple's calendaring application, iCal, will more accurately handle repeating events and be faster when choosing meeting attendees with the update. Syncing published calendars now works correctly and events can now be moved to a different calendar by invitees. The Disk Utility and Directory Utility have been updated improving reliability when rebuilding a software mirror RAID volume in Disk Utility. The reliability of server status displayed in Directory Utility has also been improved. Users of Apple's built-in back-up application, Time Machine, will be happy to hear that the reliability of the app has been improved when using Time Capsule; the update fixes an issue in which an incorrect alert message could appear stating that a backup volume does not have enough free space; and performance issues that may affect initial and in-progress backups has been fixed. There are a number of general fixes that have been made to the operating system, too. Spotlight index

			Back to school with Apple Apple offers free iPod nano to UK students and lecturers Buy a Mac, get a £95 nano rebate - Apple tempts UK education Jonny Evans Apple has launched a new deal for students and lecturers in the UK. Announcing the deal, the company says: "It’s the smartest way to start off the school year. If you’re a student, teacher or lecturer at a higher education institution and you buy a qualifying Mac before October 31st, you can get a £95 rebate on an iPod nano."

			Apple ships iPhone Software 2.1 Apple has released iPhone Software 2.1 Jonny Evans Apple has released iPhone Software 2.1, delivering a range of bug fixes and much improved battery life.   To get the update you must connect your iPhone to your computer using iTunes 8 and follow the on-screen instructions. The update is a 238MB download. The update includes:   - Decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls - Significantly better battery life for most users - Dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes - Improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts - Faster installation of 3rd party applications - Fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes for users with lots of third party applications - Improved performance in text messaging - Faster loading and searching of contacts - Improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display - Repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages - Option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts - Genius playlist creation We don't know just yet if the patch addresses the bug which impacted some users who saw their applications fail and their iPod library content become unavailable.

			OZ gets a new store Melbourne One thousand people greet opening of latest retail store Jonny Evans Apple has opened a second retail store in Australia, this time in Melbourne. The opening saw 1,000 Mac users gathered to greet the opening (and collect one of the prized Apple T-shirts, only available at these events). Apple now has over 225 stores in places including UK, Italy, China, Japan and now Australia; and the number of visitors to Apple store has grown steadily, from 25.2 million in 2004 to 102.4 million in 2007. Apple is also rumoured to be opening more retail stores in the area, with Southland, Eastland and Doncaster shopping centres seen as prospective sites.

			Berners-Lee starts foundation aimed at web's future Tim Berners-Lee launches a new foundation focused on extending the web to all the world's population. Grant Gross Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, is launching a new foundation focused on extending the capabilities of the web and bringing the internet to all the world's people, he announced Sunday. The World Wide Web Foundation, scheduled to launch early next year, will "advance a web which is open and free," Berners-Lee said at a Washington, DC, event. The foundation will promote democracy, free speech and the freedom of internet users to access the online content they want, he said. In addition, a major focus of the foundation will be to provide web access to the 80 per cent of the world's population that is not currently connected to the internet, Berners-Lee said. "It will extend capability of the web to everyone on the planet," said Berners-Lee, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "It will try to." Berners-Lee acknowledged the goals he outlined are a "very big undertaking," but he said it's important for the web to benefit humanity as a whole, not just executives who want the latest pocket device. Anticipating questions about what he envisions for the foundation and the web's future, Berners-Lee said his ideas were limited. The next generation of internet users should think of the web as a blank canvas, he said. "If we can accomplish everything I can think of, we'll have failed," he added. Berners-Lee mentioned two goals for the web in the future: to advance and create new forms of democracy, including meritocracies, and to help improve health care. The Web Foundation will also focus on web standards and interoperability and on advancing web science, he said. The Knight Foundation, focused on improving journalism in the US, will provide $5 million in seed money to help launch the Web Foundation. The web is an important tool for journalism and freedom of speech and the press, said Alberto Ibarguen, the Knight Foundation's president and CEO. Berners-Lee said he had doubts about trying to push the web out to the most remote areas of the world, when many people need basic health-care, food and clean water. People in the web-connected part of the world need to understand others' needs "before we make rash assessments," he said. But an African missionary told him a story about a man there who taught himself English by reading the Bible and other texts, then offered his services as an interpreter over the web. The man could bring money to his village through the Web, Berners-Lee said. Berners-Lee invented the hypertexted web in 1989, while working as a software programmer at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory. He wrote the first web client and server in 1990, and he created the HTML and HTTP protocols.BBC's iPlayer takes online video programming to the edge

			BBC's iPlayer sets the pace for online video in the UK Jeremy Kirk The BBC's iPlayer is setting the pace for online video, embracing the latest technologies while also navigating sticky issues such as digital rights management and bandwidth consumption by viewers. The iPlayer, which is only available to U.K. users, debuted in July 2007 as a stand-alone application for only Windows PCs that could download programs from the previous seven days via P-to-P (peer-to-peer) file sharing. But over the last 10 months, the iPlayer has seen major upgrades to the way it can deliver video, video quality and compatibility with an ever-expanding number of mobile devices, putting the iPlayer on the forefront of Internet video delivery. The BBC is solving many of the problems with online video delivery that have vexed other services around the world. "We are going to be putting a lot of research and development into this," said Anthony Rose, head of the BBC's digital media technology and former CTO of Kazaa, a P-to-P file-sharing service that rankled the music industry. "I hope we'll be a real leader in this area." Last December, the iPlayer began streaming BBC content in Flash video files at 500K bps (bits per second). Flash video offers instant gratification: PC users only need Flash installed in their browser, and the video starts playing nearly immediately. The iPlayer P-to-P client isn't needed, although users can still use it to download a show to their hard drive. Last month, the BBC started encoding shows using H.264 compression, which offers better-quality video that streams at 800K bps, plus a better sounding audio track in the AAC+ format. The video upgrade was made possible by two other advances: Most people are using the latest version of Flash player supporting H.264, Rose said. Also, one of the BBC's partners, Level 3 -- a company that specializes in distributing online video to ISPs (Internet service providers) -- started supporting H.264. But the higher data stream means people use more data, which has caused ISPs to complain that the iPlayer was putting undue stress on their networks. By the end of the year, however, the BBC hopes to begin using variable-bit encoding systems, Rose said. The systems encode video in a way that preserves the highest quality but uses the least amount of data possible. For example, in slow moving or static video scenes, less data is needed. Those scenes would be encoded at a lower bit rate, while fast-moving scenes would be encoded at a higher rate. "We are going to see the rise of quite sophisticated systems that analyze the video as it is processing," Rose said. ISPs spend less money transmitting the video, and users also use less data, which could save them money, he said. Some ISPs had called for the BBC to compensate them as a result of widespread use of the iPlayer. Rose said YouTube remains more popular than the iPlayer, and there's high demand for video across the Web. That demand is the cause of the "short-term pain between a network built for today and market opportunities that will be there tomorrow." Network providers will catch up, he said. The BBC is also grappling with DRM (digital rights management) issues. The broadcaster buys some programs from other networks, many of which are still nervous about piracy and want to mandate a specific DRM technology. Usually, that's been Microsoft's Windows Media system. The BBC also uses it to ensure its programs don't end up on file-sharing networks, although Windows Media has been hacked before. But the BBC encodes video into some 20 different formats for PCs and mobile devices, some of which are not compatible with certain DRM systems. The BBC has a server farm with more than 50 rack-mount PCs running quad-core Intel Xeon processors to encode hundreds of hours of programming a week. IPlayer clients will soon be available for an upcoming Sony Walkman product, a Philips Gogear device and Nokia's N96 phone, Rose said. "You can't mandate a particular technology because it's just not possible across the platforms we cover," Rose said. "Really the goal going forward is to change the relationship with content owners." That goal to ensure content isn't easily pirated, but gives the BBC the leverage to make the decision on what DRM to use. Piracy will always exist, but "my job is to make it so easy to use legally that you wouldn't bother hacking it," Rose said. Flash versions of a program can't be saved. With the iPlayer P-to-P client, a downloaded program will stay on a PC for 30 days before it's unplayable. Once someone starts watching a program, it will stay on a PC for seven days. In June, the BBC introduced iPlayer 2.0, a Web site redesigned to make it easier for people to find content. It introduced a list of the top 10 programs, as well as remembers a user's last watched programs in order to show new episodes when someone goes to the iPlayer site again. It also streams BBC radio programs. But much more is on the way. Soon, the iPlayer will automatically detect a PC's broadband speed and serve up either higher or lower bitrate streams to ensure the smoothest viewing, Rose said. In the coming months, iPlayer users will also soon see social-networking features that will allow people to share and rate programs they like and get recommendations from other people with similar interests. Users will also be able to create accounts on the site. "Last year, the BBC chose what you watched," Rose said. "This year, you choose what you want, and next year your friends will help you pick what you want to watch."

			Some British Mac News: Forum has had a major upgrade and re-organisation and new logo The British Mac Magazine launched! First issue out the 1st of October, first issue free and then 99p an issue or £10 a year. www.britishmacmagazine.com for more info. British Mac.com biggest upgrade ever! The Gallery and Frankenwiget moved to Flickr so listeners can upload their own photos for the podcast and also all the articles and the entire 2006 St. British Mac tutorials offered for free download at Scribd. Website changes with the seasons!

			Howdy Will, You mentioned in the last installment of the podcast that people should write-in with their Ipod Touch and Iphone apps, well... I've the 16gig Touch with the following installed... google... great location sensitive search app writing pad... you have gotta try this, totally slick note writing tool currency... does what it says on the tin ! urbanspoon... fun for awhile, but mostly for American people. Only as London in it's data base. converter... another easy slick tool paypal... easy way to pay via Paypal, straight from my ipod weatherbug... I'm obsessed with weather apps, this is Ok, but I prefer a web app for the Met Office remote... totally amazing, try it and you'll be showing it off to your mates at every opportunity. starmap.. you mentioned this in the podcast...just fantastic light... try the police setting! clickwheel... very nice app to view comics earth3d.. again you mentioned this, very beautiful graphics bomberman.. the first app I bought, it's sort of Ok but getting tired of it now. freecell... a card game monkeyball.. very addictive game aquaforest... addictive and relaxing game suncompass... soooooo cool, can't wait to use it on top of Helvellyn! othello.. nice game, but beats me all the time... I'm rubbish! alarm free... ok for a few minutes pangeaVR... great app to view 360 panoramas from around the world sudoku... got this for my girlfriend reversi magic 8 ball... got this to predict if above girlfriend will forgive me for spending so much money on silly apps. phone saber... may the force be with you... try this with sound and you'll be thinking you're Luke Skywalker dizzy bee... had the free version and now bought the paid version... very, very addictive simple game. I've also quite a few web apps on the Ipod, weather links, website links, apps to my banks, Uk trains time tables, BBC iplayer link etc etc, apart from the standard apps that come with it... Maps, calculator etc. The Ipod Touch is by far and away the most used gadget I have. Everyday i use it to play podcasts whilst driving to work via an iTrip, I use it to write and receive emails, for my contacts and at night in bed i watch YouTube or the iPlayer on it whilst in bed... sweet! All the best, Rob Tomlin

			If some send you a Pages document with an image in you want you can Control-Click the document - show packages contents - and grab the image you're after. This works for loads of items on your Mac - try it! Wonderful...

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			Digital Photography thread is excellent http://britishmac.proboards105.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=228

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			Favourite iPhone Apps http://britishmac.proboards105.com/index.cgi?board=iphone&action=display&thread=176Apps I use... Palringo. The best messaging client for the iphone so far, by miles. I use this at work where I only get a weak GPRS signal and it works flawlessly when chatting to my MSN mates in Australia and the US. NetNewsWire. A good, free, RSS reader from NewsGator that works in conjunction, and syncs with a browser based service on your Mac. When you've read a feed on one platform it syncs as read on the other. FileMagnet. Read/view various types of files on your iphone including PDF, Word, Powerpoint, Excel and many others. Units. A simple conversion utility that works very well. AccuFuel. Monitor your vehicles fuel usage. A handy App to have with the price of fuel at the moment. Paul. My favourite apps are:- Locly. Finds me better than vicinity which thinks I'm 150 miles away from where really am Wikipanion. Simple Wiki access on the go. Solves many arguements Remote Garagebuy. As ebay app is American based and shows prices in dollars. As for games Papijump is incredibly simple but addictive and Face Melter is great fun. Stephen My favourite apps are this - Palringo - super for getting online when not at your laptop Aurora Feint - this is a great game, and you will get hooked so easley Wordpress - to update my blog... works OK ish Shazam - as listed above, what a great app Zenbe - for sorting out to-do lists and then syncing it to a web site... Twitterrific - nice but now they have switched off the TEXT function to South Africa now I am a bit lost Remote - first app installed and still working great cya Gunslinger

			Mucho thanks Will, Also though.... Just been playing with the 'SimplifyMedia' app... Oh my god!! Download the app to your Ipod Touch/iPhone then install the free software also on to your computer. I now can play all my music (i've about 150 gigs but obviously can't fit it all on to my iPod), anywhere i've a wifi connection. So, I'm at work in the studio playing my music from my ipod through the studios sound system, but the music is really coming from my home. And if that's not good enough to get the nerd juices flowing, the app also allows you to read a bio of the artist playing AND will also give you the lyrics of the song being played. And it's all free, totally fab. Rob

			Wow, thanks for that Will! I was sitting on the bus on Tuesday after the bank holiday and experienced a feeling of glee when I realised you were featuring my application-based ramblings on the your desert island. Thanks for offering to mention my band on the podcast, that's really great of you. Hey, you never know who might be listening (nudge nudge, wink wink). Anyway, the band is called Brand New Analogues. Our website is at www.brandnewanalogues.com . From the main page you can choose to either enter the site, or go to the Myspace page. The site has some blurb about us and there is a tiny little Shockwave music player up at the top where you can hear a couple of our songs in pretty decent quality. There are more on the Myspace but as they are on there, they've been compressed to within an inch of their lives. As per usual, in true muso fashion, the time is now rapidly appoaching 2am so it's time to say good night.... Many thanks once again, Josh.

			Hi both, Have a look at this excellent looking software to build a media centre for free. It is available for the Mac which should make an excellent, easy to set up media centre solution based on a Mac mini and TV tuner. http://xbmc.org/home/ -- Darren

			Hi Will, James (the doctor) here - I provided my desert island picks a couple of podcasts ago. Just heard this weeks show and following on from the free Microsoft Office info, I thought it might interest you to know that NHS employees get 6% off hardware at the Apple store, and I believe 5% off software. Saved me over £70 on my recent purchase of an iMac. Just need to show ID in the store. Please pass this on as it is not well advertised. Best wishes, James

			Hi Will Well I am new to your podcast and have just listened to my third one.  I have to say the intro to the first one made me think WTF but it wasn't long before I was smiling away to myself and thoroughly enjoying the ride, as it were. Anyway, my email is two fold, firstly to say hello and that I am enjoying the show, and secondly, as the title suggests, to comment on an email you read out on No75.  I have to defend Leo, as without him, I perhaps never would have thought to buy any more Apple products beyond my first iPod and would not have gained the vast amount of technical knowledge I seem to have acquired over the past three years or so.  Yes, I agree, the Yanks can be a bit annoying sometimes but we might as well get what we can from them! Besides, would life be the same without Tom and Molly from Buzz Out Loud or Patrick and Veronica from Tekzilla? I think I can see myself being a listener of yours for quite some time to come as long as you promise to keep up the great show! Regards Lee in York PS. Apple history so far: 60GB iPod photo 60GB iPod video 4GB iPod Nano - hers! 30GB iPod video - hers again! 16GB iPod touch Black MacBook C2D 2.0 AppleTV 40GB Airport Express ... And no doubt plenty more to come in the future!  Oh and the only fruit my two year old can recognise and name... You've guessed it, Apple!

			Hi Will, it's Neil here again Walsall (originally from Derby - ey up me' duck!) Just to let you know that I have finished the historic podcast session that I started - episodes 1 - 75. Phew! That took some time but it was great to hear how the show has grown over the years. I'm so glad that you got rid of the 'dong' after the news as it always made me jump! Anyway, I've just setup my own site www.britishbrain.com and I've linked your site from there, hope you don't mind. I've uploaded a recent, bad experience with Apple on there so take a read and see what you think. Take care, keep up the good work on what is still the best podcast available! Tally ho and toodle pip! Neil.

			Hi Will, As a long time listener of your podcast, I felt it was high time for me to drop you an email to say "hello". I subscribe to far too many podcasts, so inevitably most of them go unheard and simply serve to eat up valuable disk space on my Macbook Pro! But I do try to keep up to date with yours, whether that means listening to it on the laptop, or listening on my iPhone. The problem is, I don't often have time to listen to one of your podcasts all in one go, resulting in many part-listened to broadcasts. Forgive me if you have already mentioned this on the podcast, but have you thought of a short piece on iPhone Apps in the cast? Keep up the good work Will, Al

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