MacHELP

Apple has released Quicktime 7.5, available via Software Update or Apple Downloads. This update addresses security and application compatibility issues.

Apple has released the Mac OS X 10.5.3 update, with too many fixes to list. It is available as a standalone download or via Software Update.

Apple and HBO have announced that HBO television series such as “The Sopranos”, “Sex and the City”, “Rome”, and “The Wire” is now available for purchase on the iTunes Store for between $1.99 and $2.99 an episode.

On May 20th, Apple released version 8.0.2 of Logic Pro. The update is 139 megabytes in size and can be downloaded at no charge.

Apple has released quite a few updates in the past week:

Aperture 2.1
Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.3
Firmware Restoration CD 1.5
Security Update 2008-002 v1.1 for Leopard

The second beta version of the iPhone SDK has been released and now includes Interface Builder.

As seen here on TUAW, Mac OS X turned seven years old last Friday - it was launched on March 21, 2001.

A timeline of releases:

* Mac OS X Public Beta (September 13, 2000)
* Mac OS X 10.0 Cheetah (March 21, 2001)
* Mac OS X 10.1 Puma (September 25, 2001)
* Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar (August 23, 2002)
* Mac OS X 10.3 Panther (October 24, 2003)
* Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (April 29, 2005)
* Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard (October 26, 2007)

At a special media event on March 6th, Apple announced availability of the iPhone Software Development Kit and the iPhone Enterprise Beta Program.

The SDK allows developers to write applications that run directly on the iPhone and consists of a new version of XCode (3.1) and an iPhone Simulator that runs on an Intel-based Mac (the iPhone SDK will not work on a PowerPC-based system). Application distribution will be through the iPhone App Store in the next version of the iPhone software/firmware.

The SDK and development environment are available as a free download from Apple’s developer site. For $99, developers will receive a signed key from Apple that lets them sell (or give away at no charge) an application through Apple’s distribution and hosting network. For applications that are sold, Apple will take 30% of the purchase price; free apps will be distributed at no charge other than the cost of the signed key.

The new iPhone Enterprise features consist of Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support, secure enterprise-grade virtual private networking, and security features like the ability to remotely wipe/erase a lost iPhone.

Version 2.0 of the iPhone software/firmware is expected to be available to end users in June; certain developers and some companies in the Enterprise Beta program will have access to beta and pre-release versions.

The NetNewsWire 3.1 RSS feed reader is now free for everyone. I’m happy to have been a paying user (and beta tester of 3.1), and am even happier to see that the application is now available to everyone at no cost.

In addition, NewsGator syncing is available at no charge once you create a NewsGator account. I use a NewsGator account to keep my RSS feeds synced between home and work.

Apple has released the 10.5.1 update for Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard”. Details available at the link above. This update “includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac”.

Apple has released OS X version 10.4.11, available via Software Update or download from their support site. A list of fixes and improvements is available here.