Mac software

Star Apps: eBay's Steve Yankovich

When an Apple rep initially contacted eBay about developing a proprietary app back in 2008, the latter hadn't even heard of the iPhone or Objective-C. But seeing the potential of mobile software, a number of eBay employees believed that developing a mobile app would profit the global commerce and payments leader in the long run. In early 2009, they began raising funds for the formation of a mobile-specific group and commissioned an outside company to build the first eBay app.

Many software releases later, the app has helped the largest online marketplace blast off into mobile commerce, as eBay'… Read more

Microsoft patches critical vulnerability in Office 2011 for Mac

Microsoft has issued an update to Office 2011 for OS X, which closes a critical vulnerability that may allow remote code execution from an attacker.

With this vulnerability a maliciously crafted Word document or e-mail message in Outlook (with Word configured as the e-mail reader) could give an attacker the execution rights as the current user, allowing them to arbitrarily run code on the affected system.

While this update is a run-of-the-mill closure of identified vulnerabilities, be sure to keep your system fully updated. While there are undoubtedly other undocumented vulnerabilities in software, malware developers often use known and patched … Read more

With Safari updates, Apple aims to keep pace

SAN FRANCISCO -- Once again, Apple's changes to its Safari browser on OS X represent keeping up with the competition instead of forging new ground.

At the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on Monday, the company unveiled the next version of Safari, which Apple says will have significantly faster page rendering, better security, and will make it easier to read multiple articles on the same site.

The Safari 7 update introduces to the browser stronger connections to OS X's password-management tool called Keychain. Leveraging the iCloud browser syncing that debuted in last year's Safari, … Read more

Features and fixes I want to see in Mac OS X 10.9

Apple's World Wide Developers Conference starts on Monday, and while the main focus appears to be on updates to iOS (read my iOS 7 wish list here) and various Mac hardware, it's highly likely we'll get an update for Mac OS X 10.9 as well. At this point, we don't know what will be announced and we don't even know which "cat" will be associated with the release. Even the picture above (a giant banner currently displayed at Moscone Center) is suspiciously free of any cats at all, so it's hard … Read more

Apple fixes wireless syncing bug with iTunes update

Following the release of OS X 10.8.4, Apple has issued an update to iTunes, bringing the version number to 11.0.4.

This latest update includes the recent new MiniPlayer and song view features of the program, and in addition fixes a bug that would cause iTunes to quit when switching between wired and wireless syncing, and also potentially require you to repeatedly log in to the iTunes store.

The update also includes a number of security improvements, and brings back album artwork as a view option when in list view.

To apply this update, choose Software Update … Read more

Star Apps: Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess

For his contribution to seven Dream Theater albums (including such memorable tracks as the No. 4 single "Wither" off 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" and Grammy-nominated "On the Backs of Angels" off 2011's No. 8 album "A Dramatic Turn of Events"), Jordan Rudess is widely recognized as one of the finest keyboardists of all time. In fact, MusicRadar.com bestowed the honor upon him back in 2011.

These days the synth wiz is applying his technical savvy to the development of new apps that allow fans to unleash their … Read more

Skype your way to a new couch

Skype (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)--the free VoIP app that lets you voice- or video-chat with other Skype users across the world--has become an ubiquitous tool for everyone from grandmas and grandkids to multinational corporations.

Now, the VoIP software ventures into the realm of interior design, with a "Cool My Couch" photo contest that promises the winner a free couch and Skype-enabled TV. To enter, simply submit a photo of your couch along with a caption explaining why you deserve to win. That's it.

The photo contest is open to all U.S. residents who are members … Read more

Star Apps: OKCupid co-founder Christian Rudder

If a profile like Christian Rudder's turned up in an OKCupid user's search results, it would certainly merit a deeper look. As a Harvard graduate, who's helped launch and sell two successful companies (SparkNotes, in 1999, which sold to Barnes & Noble; OKCupid, in 2004, which sold to Match.com) and an indie musician who's appeared in the romcom, "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," he'd be a catch by most standards.

Download.com caught up with Rudder, who's also OKCupid's General Manager and Editorial Director, to discuss his company's … Read more

Camino browser for OS X reaches end of life

Development of the long-standing alternative browser Camino has been cancelled.

Camino was one of the first alternative browsers for OS X, developed using the Gecko engine. Starting initially under the name Chimera, it offered a number of optimizations over Apple's Safari browser, and an alternative to Firefox before Chrome even existed.

Yesterday the browser's development team announced that Camino would no longer be developed, citing an inability to keep up with the fast pace of Web development, and encouraged Camino users to look to other browsers to maintain a secure and fast Web experience:

After a decade-long run, … Read more