Once a week, we gather together to recap the best stories published on Macworld over the past seven days. This week, those include software updates from Apple—and the problems that go along with them—tips on using your Mac more efficiently, and plenty more. Let’s dive in.
Not so perfect X
As it is wont to do, Apple rolled out a Lion update—10.7.3. But some early adopters were roaring in disapproval, since the updated cat seemed a bit untamed: Apps would crash immediately after launching them, and the error message looked odd to boot. If you haven’t upgraded yet, download the combo updater as an extra precaution, instead of using Software Update.
The same Apple quality assurance gurus who oversaw the Lion update probably also signed off on Wednesday’s release of a Snow Leopard security update; many users found that the update broke Rosetta apps. (Sort of like Lion.) Late Friday, Apple quietly released a fixed version of the Snow Leopard update. Bob Barker would be proud.
Of course, folks with top-notch backups needn’t fret about such woes. So now might be a good time to review how to set up Time Machine, if you’re not using it already. Time Machine is great—as in Scott.
Meanwhile, if your installation of OS X is running smoothly, you might appreciate a few tips on how to get more out of your Mac. It just so happens we had a few up our virtual sleeves this past week: We have a video on using Arrange By in the Finder to find files faster; we have advice on five keyboard shortcuts you should set up right now—or, at least, as soon as you finish reading the Wrap; and we can help you remove System Preferences icons that you just don’t care about.
And if you’ve been feeling that your copy of Lion just isn’t quite iOS-like enough, make sure you check out the latest version of AirPort Utility.
Moving pictures
If the next Scorcese uses an iPad, he’s in luck: Avid launched an iPad app for editing movies. If Scorcese Junior prefers a Mac, hopefully he’s ready to move beyond iMovie soon; if not, he shouldn’t miss our tip on creating freeze frames in iMovie ’11.
And this was a big week for Final Cut Pro; the 10.0.3 update to Final Cut Pro restored numerous professional features, and added new ones, too. You get that sense that if Final Cut Pro were itself a movie, it would be getting awfully close to the end of its training montage and headed towards the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps.
That’s Authorly nice of you
We published our review of iBooks Author, Apple’s app for creating interactive ebooks for use with iBooks for iPad. (Bonus fun: Read that sentence aloud ten times fast. Now look—you made 30 seconds disappear!)
Also this week, Apple updated the iBooks Author End User License Agreement, clarifying the restrictions on what you can do with content created within the app. Disappointingly, even after you install the updated version of iBooks Author, it still can’t make french fries.
Macworld | iWorld | Your World | My World
The Conference Formerly Known as Macworld Expo concluded last week. Macworld’s editors hosted numerous events on the Macworld Live stage; you can watch videos of those shows right here. IDG World Expo reports that attendance at this year’s show remained steady.
We asked two Chrises to analyze this year’s Macworld | iWorld conference, and both Mr. Breen and Mr. Holt weighed in. Incidentally, if you’re looking for a detective agency, I can’t recommend Breen and Holt highly enough.
Apps and downs
And, of course, we wrote plenty about iOS apps. A quick snapshot:
- Numberlys and The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore—two very good ebook apps;
- Ticket to Ride Pocket—a great game when you’ve lost your train (of thought);
- WeatherMob—which disappointingly doesn’t combine my two favorite interests, the weather and the Mafia;
- Wunderkit—a cross-platform app for managing your life, except for the learning to spell “wonder” part of your life;
- TeenAgree—helps you drive your kids crazy by ensuring that they drive themselves safely;
- Dr. Seuss Band—an app both Seussical and musical; and
- Disposable Hipstamatic—an app whose letters can be arranged to spell “slip its amoeba dispatch,” which I think tells you everything you need to know.
And with that, let’s consider this week wrapped. We’ll see you next Saturday for another edition of “Leery Hawk Wept,” also known as “The Weekly Wrap.”