MacVillage.net

Earlier I mentioned the strong possibility of a new “iTablet” a device to compete with the new Tablet PC’s that Microsoft among others will be sporting this fall. I portrayed it as a coffee table device able of acting as a true digital hub from which everything revolved. It was powered by Mac OS X, and is connected to your desktop.

Since that article, I received several emails concerning input, many stated that it wouldn’t be successful since people don’t want a keyboard hanging around. I forgot to mention that Jaguar, the new version of Mac OS X set to debut in just a few weeks includes “Ink”
Jaguar features advanced handwriting recognition. Graphics professionals will appreciate the ability to input text via stylus instead of switching to the keyboard. You can write directly in Mail messages and TextEdit documents, or use the InkPad to write text and draw sketches before sending them to your favorite applications. Ink requires an input tablet.” Says the Apple web site. Always reminds me of the Newton days.

Three top new features: iChat, Sherlock 3, and Address book are all perfect for a new iTablet. Take a look. iChat’s interface is designed for easy reading and interactivity. Address book is also very similar capable of holding pictures of the person. Sherlock 3’s new feature allows it to display results without launching a web browser. Perfect for a Internet Appliance like device which wants a unified appearance. No messy web sites, just a well laid out program. Mail.app is also structured as such.

The ability to use a stylus instead of a Keyboard makes the OS perfect for such a device. Not to mention the timing is just right. It will be a successor to such designs as the iMac G4, and the iPod, both were acclaimed for their unique designs. Apple is on a role. A good design will be critical in an iTablet device. So overall, I think there are serious signs of such a new device. The question is, what will it look like, and how soon will it be available. Not to mention how much it will cost (and then who wants to buy me one?)

[Jaguar Page - Apple.com]

As I stated 1 week ago [Link] Apple released a security update for Mac OS X. [Download] The update provides patches for: Apache v1.3.26, OpenSSH v3.4p1, and mod_ssl v2.8.9. The Apache and OpenSSH security problems have been big news in the industry over the past few days.

Anyone using Mac OS X should take the time and run this update (available via Software Update). The update patches potentially serious holes, and takes only a few minutes to apply.

In John Devorak’s latest article [Link] he seems to have run out reasons to hate Apple. His latest article, which for a second may appear to be intellectual is titled “Mac Versus PC?Offensive Advertising”. It sounds like a legitimate read to begin with. Coming from a respected Magazine’s website, but upon closer inspection, it’s basically a small step above communist propeganda of the Cold War.

It starts off pretty early with “This campaign really stinks”. He does make a valid point of the contradiction from the “Think Different” campaign with many intellectuals such as Einstein, to going to a “Real People”. It is in fact a way of “Thinking Different” on behalf of the advertising group.

Instead of continuing to be a legitimate article, it then turns into “lets just slam the people in the commercial for their appearance.”

No Mr. Devorak, Liza Richardson isn’t ignorant. Perhaps you are when you complement Microsoft for that advanced blue screen of death that you now see 48X as much of.

Mr. Devorak then goes on to make ethnic slur: ” Mike Frauenfelder (if that is, indeed, his real name).” Thinking his own last name was Smith or Jones.

He stops just a little short of “Mac users will eat your children.”

I must admit prior to this I enjoyed reading Devorak’s articles. Even if they were clearly pro monopoly or anti-Apple, they contained a lot of substance, and he backed everything up. It now appears he ran out, and is stuck making fun of people’s appearance.


So what to say about him? I will stop here. Mac users have a bit more class than him.

This fall something new is about to hit the market. Tablet PC’s. To sum them up, they are basically the result of having a Laptop for a father and a Palm for a mother. They are oversized PDA’s. Will Apple be in the market? Microsoft will be. And they are putting XP in the batting order. Will OS X go up to bat? Most likely. It appears they may be at work.

First let me say that they don’t appear to be a replacement for the PDA. They are slightly thinner than the PDA if at all. The main enhancement is the ability to write directly on the screen. They connect to a network with WiFi (Airport) so you can put them anywhere in the house.

At first I wasn’t very interested in such an idea, but now I can see how it could really become part of the digital hub theory. The iTablet would be the perfect coffee table device. Allow me to explain:

If it had infrared a program similar to what exists for the Palms could allow it to act as a universal remote.

An MP3 player would allow the device to function further as a component of an entertainment system.

A possible add-on modem could turn it into a speakerphone. A nice address book like included in OS X with Speech Recognition could allow for a really elequent phone right on the coffee table. Perhaps this is the reason for the iPhone.org domain name.

With WiFi it could get online to get the TV Guide, check email, and Instant Message during the movie.

The ability to connect to a desktop computer and use the Users information would keep all information in sync, creating an Internet Appliance worth while.

It just seems like the perfect device, and the next logical step in the evolution of the Mac digital hub theory.

There is a lot of evidence to back this. One article states “Separately, Apple is seeking production of personal digital assistants?(PDAs)” [Link] There has also been a long rumored partnership between Apple and Palm. There is no acknowledgement of such a partnership, but nobody is quick to deny it either. There have been rumors over the past year of such a PDA including the now infamous SpyMac hoax.

[Next iTablet Article]

Apple included Apache, the most popular server with Mac OS X. The natural choice for Web Sharing in OS X. But the question of the day is:

“To serve or not to serve?”

Security
Apache is a very complex server. It contains tons of options and can be adapted for virtually any purpose. Used incorrectly it can be a wide open hazard.

Obviously anything in the “Sites” directory is publicly accessible. One possible hazard is someone putting a CGI script that contains potential bug into this directory. There are many bots currently patrolling the web scanning IP addresses for a server running one of these scripts. A popular script “Formmail” by Matt’s Scripting Archive can result in spammers using your system.

Another possible hazard is that new security issues are discovered relatively often in Apache, and PHP. Since the release of OS X, there have been several notable security issues. While Apple does provide updates to patch the problem, it can potentially take weeks, leaving your system open to attacks. Knowledge of Apache and PHP is a must for running a server safely on your computer.

An advantage to Apache is having the ability to develop PHP & Perl scripts right on your home system, and test them out. Another is the ability to share files via the web. A good solution to balance security with these uses is to block anyone else from accessing it. To do this create a file titled “.htaccess” (don’t forget the period) and write the following:

AuthName “Private”
AuthType Basic
<Limit GET POST>
order deny,allow
deny from all
allow from 123.456.789.1
</Limit>

Replace 123.456.789.1 with your IP address. Now you can access your site and nobody else can. Add your IP address from work, school, or your second computer to provide access, but still keeping others away. Note if you don’t have a static IP address you will constantly need to update this.

Performance
Another serious issue is performance. It takes CPU time for Apache to work when a user is requesting a file. This does hinder performance, as well as disk access. With a small site hosted, it may not be such an issue, but as a site grows, this can become an annoyance.

Secondly, bandwidth can become an issue. 56k users occupy all their bandwidth with ease. One user downloading a file can bring their system to a crawl. Forget about a spider from a search engine getting through. Broadband users have much more to worry about.

ISP
Most ISP’s have specific policies against running servers off of a connection. Most require that you upgrade to a “business” level plan, which typically runs over $100/month and is based on how much bandwidth is used. Here are a few that have specific statements against the use:

COX’s agreement states “You may not operate, or allow others to operate, servers of any type or any other device, equipment, and/or software providing server-like functionality in connection with the Service, unless expressly authorized by Cox.” [Link]

Comcast’s agrement states “You may not run a server in connection with the Service, nor may you provide network services to others via the Service unless you are subject to a Service plan that permits otherwise. Examples of prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, running servers for mail, http, ftp, irc, wifi, and dhcp, and multi-user interactive forums.”

Verizon DSL’s agreement reads “(q) to use your VIS account for the purpose of operating a server of any type;”

I know for a fact that all 3 actively monitor for servers, and will cancel accounts with little or no notice. Be careful.

So what to do?

Well there are several alternatives to running your own server. If you don’t need CGI access, MacVillage.net does provide free hosting for up to 12 MB. For a few dollars there are no ads [Hosting]. Apple has a similar offer with iTools [Link]. There are many low cost hosts who will be able to provide the space and features you need, and they also will be more reliable since they mostly use multiple uplinks to connect to the net not to mention backup power.


The goal of this article was to make sure that before you switch on Web Sharing in Mac OS X you are aware of all the can happen. While not everything may apply to you, other potential problems may apply that I haven’t even discussed. If you have any doubts you should think twice before using this powerful feature.

Last year I asked you for your MacWorld NY predictions to close to the actual expo. I was pounded with email, and didn’t get through them all until well after the keynote. I actually received several hundred predictions, by far the most comments for an article ever. So rather than go on an email reading marathon, I thought I would start nice and early.

I am finishing up my predictions, which already exist just need to be ordered and ranked, and will release them as we get closer to the expo. My question for you is:

What are your predictions for the expo? New G4? New iProduct? New Laptop? G5? Firewire 2.0? Mac OS X Update? Delays? Profit? Something else?

Let me know. I will go through them and post them throughout the next few weeks as I go through them. Let other Mac users know that I am seeking predictions and tell them to visit this page and email me.

Use the “Give Feedback” button below to email me your feedback (don’t change the subject to make it easy for me.)

It appears Apple will be releasing yet another upgrade to Mac OS X within the next few days. There are a few indications.

First is the networking issues some have experienced with Mac OS X 10.1.5, as well as some other smaller and more isolated issues. Secondly, and most importantly to patch Apache, the web server in Mac OS X from a new and potentially serious security hole. ” Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to the execution of arbitrary code on the server with the permissions of the web server child process. This can facilitate the further exploitation of vulnerabilities unrelated to Apache on the local system, potentially allowing the intruder root access.” Says the Apache Website. The latest 1.3.xx version of Apache is already available and is said to “address and fix this issue”.

Other possible fixes may include the latest OpenSSH (3.2.xx).

Considering the seriousness of the Apache security problem, I doubt Apple will be waiting for Mac OS X 10.2 to be released next month at MacWorld NY. My guess would be within the next few days Apple will be releasing a “security update” at the very least. I would guess it will take a few days for Apple to compile the update and do some testing before a general release.

It’s been quite some time since I gave CarbonLib a mention here at MacVillage.net. Apple silently released an upgrade to CarbonLib yesterday. CarbonLib is a library used by Carbon applications (hence the name.)

In May of 2001 I reviewed 1.3.1, a terrible upgrade [Link]. This time it is the complete opposite, this was a well worthwhile upgrade.

Since installing CarbonLib 1.6, developer releases, I noticed increased stability in all Carbon applications. Which of course is welcome. I have also noticed and increase in speed. I don’t know what exactly causes this, but my B&W G3 had always been a bit sluggish with loading Carbon applications. Since 1.6, Carbon applications have loaded much smoother, faster than older applications. Something I of course welcome. Most applications would hang for the first few seconds of launch (when the name of the Application is centered in the menu bar) now I don’t really have a chance to read the name.

As of yet I have yet to see any new incompatibilities or a downside to the upgrade.

[Link]