Stan's List

Airport Extreme 5.7 addresses reliability and resolves issues with AirTunes, AirPort compatibility, and issues with some third party Routers.

AirPort Express - 6.3 addresses reliability and resolves issues with AirTunes, AirPort compatibility, and issues with some third party Routers.

Fixes:

* Resolves issue with Audio dropout when playing to AirPort Express with AirTunes
* Resolves issue with Wireless Disabled mode for AirPort Express
* Resolves issue with AirPort Extreme LAN Performance
* Resolves issue when enabling AOL Parental Controls
* Resolves issue with vulnerability to Denial of Service Attacks (bonk)
* Resolves issue with wireless internet access through AirPort via some PPPoA DSL Routers
* Improved reliability when printing through AirPort base stations
* Improved support for RADIUS servers
* Improved support for Network Time Servers (NTP) for AirPort when using an IP addresses

Product Requirements:

* AirPort Extreme Base Station or the AirPort Express Station
* Mac OS X 10.3.9 or
* 10.4.3 or higher

MacInTouch has published an extensive survey (10,627) of Mac portable reliability and service patterns. Here’s a snapshot of the numbers they’re reporting:

• Overall average: 41% repaired (lifetime)

• Most-reliable—Original (colored) iBooks, PowerBook G3, 12-inch PowerBook (’05), recent 12-inch iBooks

•Most-troublesome—iBook G3 (especially ‘03 models), 15-inch TiBook, 15-inch Al-Book G4 (first version)

MarketWatch reports that Disney and Apple will expand their small-screen offerings with the addition of fresh ESPN, ABC Sports and ABC News content to the iTunes Music Store.

This latest content increase comes on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show and eclipses Motorola’s announcementa that it will end the iPod/phone alliance with Apple.

InfoWorld has voted Mac OS X.4 (Tiger), Best Client and Best Server Operating Systems in the 2006 Technology of the Year Awards

The Power Mac G5 also earned awards for Best Workstation, in its Quad guise. Of the G5, InfoWorld wrote, “impressive hardware specs, sub-$5,000 price tag, and the magic of OS X.”

The Bluetooth Firmware Update 1.2 improves Bluetooth performance and reliability issues.

When the update package is downloaded, the Bluetooth Firmware Updater application will be launched. Follow the on screen directions to update your Bluetooth Firmware.

The Bluetooth Firmware Updater supports D-Link USB Adapters and Apple internal Bluetooth modules on the following CPUs:

iMac G4 (Gooseneck)
12″ Titanium PowerBook
15″ Titanium PowerBook
iMac G5
Mac Mini

Did not show up in my Power Mac Software Update, and I understand will not install on some Titanium PowerBooks nor all iMac G5, giving an alert, “This update is not needed on this computer.”