The firmware update descriptions are predictably short:

This update fixes several issues to improve the stability of [MacBook Air. Macbook, MacBook Pro, iMac] computers.

Users should note that while the EFI Firmware upgrades are downloaded by Software Update, they are not installed automatically. Instead, the updater is downloaded to Applications/Utilities and must be manually launched in order to update the firmware. Updating the firmware requires the computer to be shut down and it is installed on the next boot. Follow the included instructions carefully.

Apple also issued an Aluminum Keyboard firmware update:

This firmware update addresses an issue with the aluminum Apple Keyboard and the aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard where a key may repeat unexpectedly while typing.

The updates can be found in your Mac OS X software update.

1. When accepting an invitation in iCal, hold down accept instead of just clicking it to produce a pop-up menu of which cal it should go in.
2. If you have Dock magnification disabled, hold “ctrl + shift” while hovering over the Dock with your mouse to temporarily see magnification.
3. Is your registration information always wrong when setting up a new computer? Modify your Apple ID profile @ https://myinfo.apple.com
4. iCal: When clicking the plus sign in the bottom left corner to create a new calendar, hold “shift” to create a calendar group instead.
5. Hold down the “option” key while resizing the Dock using the divider to have the size snap to set increments.
6. Hold “command” + “option” + “control” and hit the “8″ key to inverse the screen colors.
7. In any Open/Save dialog, hit “command + shift + d” to move the selection to the desktop.
8. Finder: When drag & dropping files across volumes, hold down the “Command” key to move the file instead of copying it.
9. Photo Booth: Hold the “option” key to skip countdown and take immediate photo. Hold the “shift” key to disable the screen flash.
10. Hold down the “option” key when clicking on any app in the dock to hide all other apps before showing the selected app.
11. Leopard Mail.app - For attachments, hold “shift” while selecting the “save” button in the message header to bring up the “save as” dialog.
12. Hold down the “shift” key during almost any OS X animation to watch it in slow motion.

It’s an alternative to Apple’s Front Row. It requires at least Tiger and a 1 Ghz G4 processor…

It works with the keyboard, the Apple Remote or your bluetooth enabled cell phone.

The interface is medium, but it has a useful search function.
It’s interesting for those who use EyeTV or have an old Mac.

Download XHub Media Center

It won’t be the black iMac we were expecting 2 months ago. But it could be the aluminium iMac one we talked about before WWDC 07, that should be very similar to the Apple Cinema Display (which would be great).

This rumor is more and more probable judging from the new generation’s keyboard’s image we’re seeing across the internet; some rumors site claims that Apple should announce the new iMac on august 7th; and to be honest I’d LOVE to see a computer again on this page!

Here’s a simple way to use Front Row with Macs which aren’t officially capable of that!

You have to be under OS 10.4.9 or 10.4.8,and have iTunes 6.0.4 or later
iPhoto 6.0.2 or later!

First, download FrontRow 1.3 from Apple’s website.
Read the rest of this entry »

After our post on how to start your Mac in safe mode (which interested many visitors it seems), here are the 11 “possible” key combinations for intel based Mac’s from Apple.

Have you ever wanted to switch to a certain window not just the application it belongs to?
While you can use Exposé to switch windows, doing so can be very clumsy if you’re the keyboard-only type of user.
And don’t all of these windows look just the same when they are scaled down?Here is Witch the application that can do it.
All you need to do is to download the application.
Open the disk image, double click on the Witch.prefpane file -> it will install a new panel in your system preferences.
Then go to “universal access” in your system preferences, enable “access to assistive devices”.And then try this keyboard shortcut: alt + tab.

Amazing isn’t it? (iTunes was minimized in the dock)