News

• Flashback botnet infects 41,600 Australian Macs

  The Flashback botnet has affected 41,600 Mac computers in Australia, making it the fourth most infected country in the world, according to research from Kaspersky Lab.

• Surveys find Apple most admired, most satisfying company

  Apple, riding continued high demand for its Mac computers and iPad tablets, has topped rivals in two new surveys of customer satisfaction.

• Adobe versus Apple: The Flash saga continues

  Adobe has claimed that Apple's decision to bar Flash from all iOS devices is related to its business plan, and not to technical concerns.

• Apple fans have to face facts on security

  Mac OS X users who still think they are safe should face facts and be prepared for more attacks like the MacDefender scareware bogus security software, according to one security expert.

• With Bumptop, Google Gains Multi-Touch Ammo

  Google just landed some impressive 3D desktop software in its purchase of Bump Technologies, but a looming patent battle with Apple suggests that Google also had BumpTop's multi-touch technology on the brain when it gobbled up the company.

• Mac sales to set another record, says analyst

  Apple will report selling another record number of Macs in the final quarter of 2009 when it unveils its financial figures later this month, a Wall Street analyst said Thursday in a note to clients.

• Cool stuff: Gifts for new Mac owner

  Despite the downturn, Mac sales continue unabated. Whether it's a result of the Windows XP-to-Windows 7 upgrade debacle, the hip "Get a Mac" ads, or a halo effect from the successful iPod and iPhone lines, many consumers are probably celebrating their first holiday season as Mac users.

• Apple Magic Mouse Still MIA as Software Update Arrives

  Apple built excitement last week when it debuted two new iMac desktop machines, a new 13" MacBook, a revamped Mac Mini, and the touch-sensitive Magic Mouse, which ships along with the new iMacs. But about a week later, what it has built around that intriguing mouse is frustration.When Apple provided specifics on pricing and release dates for most of the products last week, it didn't mention that the Magic Mouse (designed to be employed not only with the company's latest iMacs, but also with any Bluetooth-enabled Mac) requires a specific software update. Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.2 will reportedly support the Magic Mouse, but it's not yet available for download. Apple has not commented on when you'll be able to grab 10.6.2, though it's already been seeded to developers

• Apple and Linux forces rain on Windows 7 parade

  Apple and Linux advocate IBM both tried hard to cramp Microsoft's style this week before the Windows 7 rollout even got under way. On Tuesday, Apple launched a new iMac, MacBook, and Mac Mini line, while IBM joined with Linux distributor Canonical to introduce a new "cloud-and-Linux-based" offering called IBM Client for Smart Work.

• Apple immune to Windows 7 impact, analyst says

  Microsoft's introduction of Windows 7 later this month won't cost Apple any Mac sales, a Wall Street analyst said today.

• Apple Needs To Rename the Mighty Mouse

  Speculation that Apple will release a new mouse surfaced last week, but now those rumors are about to rev up, as the trademark for the Mighty Mouse name has been awarded to another company.

• New iMacs and the cheapening of Apple

  The Laptop Hunters be darned, Apple is not just a brand for the rich and trendy.

• Hackers pay 43 cents per hijacked Mac

  A network of Russian malware writers and spammers paid hackers 43 cents for each Mac machine they infected with bogus video software, a sign that Macs have become attack targets, a security researcher said yesterday.

• Microsoft: Outlook will replace Entourage in Office for Mac

  Microsoft on Thursday said that starting next year it will include Outlook in its version of the Office for the Mac platform, replacing Entourage, the e-mail and groupware application for Mac users the suite has now.

• New Web data removes 'Apple bias,' slashes Mac share

  Revised data from a prominent Web metrics company dropped Apple under the 5% market-share mark, about half what the same firm said Macs enjoyed just two months ago.