Weekend Apple Software Updates

dhardman writes "iPod Software 1.2.1 adds significant enhancements, including audio playback and user interface improvements, music browsing by additional categories, support for iTunes 3 Sound Check, Calendar, and more. Update can be found online." Also released recently were AirPort 2.1.1 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2.2 (security update), both via Software Update.

Comments

IE "Security" Update

[frawaradaR]

Just seven weeks late... and those security updates are the only updates coming (all of which fuck around with MY preferences). IE 5 for the Mac is getting very old and is way surpassed by Mozilla now. I don't use it anymore. R.I.P.

Re:IE "Security" Update

[selderrr]

me neither, although i still find mozilla a bit bloated, especially on older iron like iMacs. Even on my powerbook G4, I prefer using Chimera (which is essentially mozilla without the GUI overhead).

Chimera IMHO proves that mozilla shot past it's goal : it could have been so much better (and out sooner!) if they had not chosen to included everything and my mother in the interface. After all : how many people use mozilla for something else but surfing ? They should have stuck to just that. Like chimera. The chimera/mail combo is unbeatable in OSX.

BTW : did I mention that chim loads and renders 25-50% faster than IE ?

iPod update

[ActiveSX]

iPod Software 1.2.1 adds significant enhancements, including audio playback...

Finally, the iPod plays audio. You think they would have had that fixed by now.

Re:iPod update

[Alex Thorpe]

That list of improvements includes the ones from 1.2; the only thing changed in 1.2.1 is that the icon showing battery charge is more accurate. This was much needed.

Needed feature

[MalleusEBHC]

Now if only I could set up Software Update to install the nightly build of Chimera I would be set. That and never give me an IE update again.

Re:Needed feature

[singularity]

You mean something like ChimeraKnight ?

Note: I have not used it, but the reviews on Versiontracker are good.

Re:Needed feature

[helixblue]

Steps to Disable Internet Explorer Update:

1. In Finder, Click on the Applications Icon
2. Scroll Down to Internet Explorer
3. Double click on the text for Internet Explorer. Rename it to Internet Monopoly
4. Enjoy being spared the Software Update.

I myself went and tgz'd mine up. This way I can test it when I feel, but not have it show up in System Preferences as a browser choice.

As far as Chimera updates, people may recommend ChimeraKnight, but some builds are really unstable. I myself look through the Chimera Forums in the Nightly Build area, and look for good reports. That said, I'm still using 2002092604 :)

not showing up yet

[austad]

The updates do not show up in software update yet. I checked, and they have not been automatically installed either.

I wish they would add a feature to mail to tell it to reauthenticate against POP or IMAP every number of user defined minutes. My ISP uses POP before SMTP, and after I authenticate, I can relay mail through them for a 30 minute period of time. Since Mail keeps it's connection open, I only have 30 minutes after I start the program to be able to send mail, then I have to kill it and restart it to get another 30 minutes of mail relaying bliss. It's annoying.

Oh, and a task manager in iCal would be extremely useful.

Re:not showing up yet

[Megs]

Oh, and a task manager in iCal would be extremely useful.

Don't tell us, tell Apple!

Meghan

Re:not showing up yet

[amdg]

Oh, and a task manager in iCal would be extremely useful.

You mean like the one that appears when you click on the thumbtack button in the bottom right corner of iCal? Yeah, that would be nice.

why arent they on software update?

[elliotj]

ok, so I can update my MICROSOFT Internet Explorer using APPLE'S Software Update in OS X, but I can't update my APPLE iPod using Software Update. Instead I have to download it from their website?

They used to post iPod updates on Software Update. Whats up?

update explains a lot

[Laplace]

I was shocked when after giving my iPod a supposedly full charge, the battery indicator immediately dropped by one bar. For a while I thought that my battery was hosed, and the apple knowledge base didn't offer any news to the contraty. Looking at the update, I can see that this was a common problem. The update does appear to fix it.

Re:update explains a lot

[Huge Pi Removal]

I would advise following www.macintouch.com or similar (macfixit, macresource, etc). They usually give a good indication of problems bugging Apple products, along with other useful info. At macintouch there are various reports, so you can follow specifically iPod things if you want.

hope they fix this

[mrpuffypants]

my darned ipod has areally annoying bug

when i'm walking around with it and i play on of thoes "smart" playlists (My Top Rated, 25 most listened to, etc.) it won't even get through the first song before the audio stops, the display hangs, and the ipod hard locks

i have to manually reset it every time this happens...but other playlists and listening to just straight albums doesnt do this....pisses me off

Re:hope they fix this

[banky]

I'm having this problem, too, but it isn't related to playlists... It just crashes. I thought perhaps I just had a bum iPod, or perhaps a bad HD.

Re:hope they fix this

[MKalus]

Nope,

happened to me as well.

It just froze.

How do you reset the thing at that point? I just let it sit there until the battery ran out (It was according to the "gauge" on empty already anyways) and then recharged it, but that can be an awful long time of if it happens on a freshly loaded one.

Not new?

[bluestar]

I think the reason most of us aren't getting this through Software Update is that this is not a new update. It looks like the AppleCare Document describing the update was changed, but iPod Software 1.2.1 Updater itself was released two months ago.

As further evidence, all of the visible changes are already on my iPod:

- Browse by album, genre, composer
- Calendar
- Clock
- Batter charge indicator fix
- FireWire feedback screen

Re:Not new?

[tbmaddux]

It is a new update, but the original submitter got it wrong. iPod 1.2.1's only new feature over 1.2 is that "iPod Software 1.2.1 fixes a problem with the battery icon. It now correctly indicates a full charge."

iPod software download

Re:Not new?

[weave]

I hope it also doesn't implement the sound cap level feature required by iPods in France....

Re:Not new?

[tbmaddux]

I hope it also doesn't implement the sound cap level feature required by iPods in France....

It looks like that's what iPod 1.2.2 is for.

iTunes 3 Sound Check sucks!

[teridon]

When iTunes 3 came out, I was thrilled that I wouldn't have to manually adjust the volume for every single song I own. Finally, audio volume compression just like "RockSteady" for Winamp!

Alas, it was not to be. Sound Check is not true compression; it works by determining the maximum volume of the track, then adjusting the volume of the whole track by one value. So you are SOL if the song is partly quiet and partly loud.

When will iTunes/iPod have real compression?

Re:iTunes 3 Sound Check sucks!

[teridon]

Isn't that what you want?

Would I be complaining if I liked it? :)

I don't mind a little distortion; I'd rather have the same volume. I have a Mac at work, where the ambient sound level is pretty high due to the poorly designed HVAC system and multitude of computers. I have to keep the volume on the computer low enough to avoid disturbing coworkers, but loud enough to hear over the noise. With no compression, I can't hear the quiet parts of songs without turning up the volume. During the "normal" parts it is then too loud.

Re:iTunes 3 Sound Check sucks!

[selderrr]

uhm ... headphones ????

You can!

[gidds]

I wish they would add a feature to mail to tell it to reauthenticate against POP or IMAP every number of user defined minutes.

Preferences->Account->Check for new mail. My ISP has only a five-minute window, so I tell mail to check for new mail every five minutes, and I never have any trouble sending mail. (Plus I get new mail promptly.)

Re:You can!

[austad]

Doesn't work. The connection is still active and it doesn't reauthenticate. I have mine set for 5 minutes also.

Re:.ogg?

[2nd Post!]

Even if it costs you $$?

Cause even if ogg is free, ogg support is not; the engineers to implement, test, and QA the ogg support on the iPod as well as the engineers, doc writers, and testers to update iTunes with ogg support.