Truth be known, I do have a HoTMaiL account just for registration to sites that almost certainly will spam me. There have been rumors that access to Hotmail accounts through things like Outlook Express, Entourage, and third party plugins, such as the one for Mail.app would be shut off. You’d be forced into using the web interface (which still sucks).
It became official today:
Dear MSN Member,
Recently, Hotmail announced that in order to improve customer experience and reduce spam and junk e-mail abuse on MSN services, Hotmail will no longer allow new e-mail accounts to be accessed via Microsoft Office Outlook and Outlook Express.
We are pleased to inform you that because you are an existing and valued customer, at this time your current Hotmail and MSN account(s) are exempt from this restriction and you will be able to continue enjoying access to those accounts from Outlook or Outlook Express. However, any new Hotmail or MSN accounts you create will not be accessible via Outlook or Outlook Express.
Note that only new accounts will be affected. That means your existing accounts will keep working with these services. Hoard those existing addresses or dump it all together and get Gmail (I have over 40 invites left).
Apple’s sticking with the new security update naming convention. Security Update 2005-002 is primarily a Java fix.
According to Apple:
Security Update 2005-002
Available for: Java 1.4.2
CVE-ID: CAN-2004-1029
Impact: Updates Java to address an issue where an untrusted applet could gain elevated privileges and potentially execute arbitrary code.
Description: A vulnerability in the Java Plug-in may allow an untrusted applet to escalate privileges, through JavaScript calling into Java code, including reading and writing files with the privileges of the user running the applet. Releases prior to Java 1.4.2 on Mac OS X are not affected by this vulnerability. Further information is available in Document ID 57591 from Sun.
But what does that mean Professor? One of the rules of untrusted Java applets was that they had no access to the hosting computer’s filesystem. This prevents things like collecting your personal information and sending it to their servers (and then to spammers). It also prevents modifications to your data and prevents things from being written out, like say the Opener malware. Not good.
Anyway, run software update so you too can feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Apple updated its line of iPod MP3 players. Specifically, the iPod mini and the iPod photo. The mini now comes in two sizes, and the photo had some pronounced price changing. In fact, it’s created an interesting pattern. For the most part, the pricing of all the models and sizes are separated by $50.
- iPod shuffle 512 MB $99
- iPod shuffle 1 GB $149
- iPod mini 4 GB $199
- iPod mini 6 GB $249
- iPod 20 GB $299
- iPod U2 20 GB $349
- iPod photo 30 GB $349
- iPod photo 60 GB $449
What’s really interesting about this is that while Apple has established a linear pricing structure, the sizes are exponential. Of course, the biggest bang for your buck change is still the difference between the high-end mini and the regular iPod (14 GB for $50). Apple has bent over backwards to woo the various MP3 player customer types.
The (very) bad thing about this update is the removal of firewire cable as a standard accessory. Let that sink in. Apple is now making USB 2.0 the standard interface for the iPod. While USB 2.0 has higher theoretical speed, it has lower real world speed than firewire, isn’t available on many existing Macs, and can’t deliver the same amount of power. One has to trickle charge their iPod unless they use the AC adapter. Boo.
Apple did pick up on customer desire by announcing a new $29 iPod Camera Connector which allows one to download their photos straight from their camera to their iPod photo. That’s huge. Photographers can take boatloads of pictures without carrying around a big laptop or terribly expensive photo cards. Then they can review them right on the iPod. It’s sweet functionality for a terrific price.
Update 1: Rosyna of Unsanity also noticed the lack of a Firewire cable and denounced the move.
Update 2: CNET has a full length article on the decision to leave out Firewire.
