Apple Updates Mountain Lion Developer Preview With New Security Features

[TheMacBookPro]

Yep, that's the one. While I'd love to say I had no blood on my hands, I have to admit to more than once letting a troll get under my skin.

You bring up some good points with which I agree, especially leaving the options in the OS to give the intermediate or expert users necessary tools. However, out of the box, I believe any device available to the general public should have all security precautions on (just like with car airbags ).

Even car airbags have manual override switches for the passenger seat (...but that's for when there's a baby seat in the front)

But yeah, I can see the logic behind Apple's 'automatically update unless you specifically go in and disable it' approach. It's one less thing for the user to think about, and less work for the user to do.

Damn! That bites. I'd stay off cellular when running updates, especially developer previews that tend to be HUGE.

It does, probably explains why the Internet speed was so slow on that day too

I would have connected to a regular Wi-Fi network but I had no idea it was even running an update. Probably would have been a good idea to dig through SysPref a bit more to make sure that everything was set to my desires upon first boot, well, that's a lesson learned.

True. I use ClamXav from the Mac App Store and keep it updated (especially since we do a lot of business with other companies using Windows and occasional get a virus-ridden Word or PDF file we don't want to pass along to another entity in case they, too, use Windows). However, most people either succumb to the siren call of the big security firms that typically get their software included as part of bloatware packages, or novice users get duped by one of these rogue anti-virus programs that are just disguised trojans. Hopefully, more and more free anti-virus software will make its way into OS apps stores for those that are budget conscious and/or more computer savvy.

That reminds me, it's probably a good idea to install Clam onto my computer too. You might want to download the package directly from the dev's website though, I notice that the App Store version is missing the quite useful hard drive monitoring function (Sentry), presumably due to Apple's restrictions.

It doesn't really help when the Best Buy salesmen hawk their $200 Norton or McAfee packages to everyone, but it's really up to the consumer to do their own research and make their own educated choice.

True. Last I checked (last year?), Apple owned the $1000+ range with 90% marketshare.

I wouldn't be all that surprised if they still do. The majority of Windows computers I see are fairly low end Dells and HPs. That might be changing with Windows-based PC manufacturers bring up their polish up to the Apple par though.

I'm all for saving money (as long as quality and service don't get sacrificed)! Have a good weekend.

I'm not surprised that Apple are slowly lowering prices (see: 1999 -> 1799 for the base 15" Pro, $100 price drop for the Airs, etc) as manufacturers like Samsung (Series 9), Asus (Zenbook) and HP (Envy) start pushing out some really nice and premium feeling notebooks while undercutting Apple slightly on price.

Competition really is good for everyone, no matter what everyone in the iPhone forums say

 

[MacNewsFix]

That reminds me, it's probably a good idea to install Clam onto my computer too. You might want to download the package directly from the dev's website though, I notice that the App Store version is missing the quite useful hard drive monitoring function (Sentry), presumably due to Apple's restrictions.

Thanks. Believe it or not, I was doing so initially.

It doesn't really help when the Best Buy salesmen hawk their $200 Norton or McAfee packages to everyone, but it's really up to the consumer to do their own research and make their own educated choice.

Gah! I forgot BB sale's people putting pressure on computer novices. You're right about caveat emptor, but I think this needs to be balanced with borderline predatory practices. Hopefully, younger generations will be impervious to such tactics.

That might be changing with Windows-based PC manufacturers bring up their polish up to the Apple par though.

Let's save that debate for another day.

I'm not surprised that Apple are slowly lowering prices (see: 1999 -> 1799 for the base 15" Pro, $100 price drop for the Airs, etc) as manufacturers like Samsung (Series 9), Asus (Zenbook) and HP (Envy) start pushing out some really nice and premium feeling notebooks while undercutting Apple slightly on price.

I completely agree that there is pressure on Window OEMs to undercut Apple (even going so far to ask Intel for help) as their sales decline while Mac sales grow year-over-year. However, I'm not sure how much Apple's price cuts are a reaction to moves by competitors or more the result of the changing market and Apple's ability to buy supplies and unit orders in larger bulks (and thus getting a discount they can pass onto customers without hurting the bottom-line and likely allowing greater unit sales). Meanwhile, 50% of Mac sales at the Apple Stores go to people new to the Mac.

Competition really is good for everyone, no matter what everyone in the iPhone forums say

LOL! Touché.

 

[TheMacBookPro]

Thanks. Believe it or not, I was doing so initially.

I now have Sentry set up to monitor my Downloads folder. I can't seem to get it to stick to my Login Items list though...

I find it a bit strange that I'm actually running AV on my Mac while not on my Windows computer. Seems like it should be the other way 'round!

Gah! I forgot BB sale's people putting pressure on computer novices. You're right about caveat emptor, but I think this needs to be balanced with borderline predatory practices. Hopefully, younger generations will be impervious to such tactics.

Based on conversations I've had with several teenagers, it looks like the younger generations are indeed rejecting any additional paid software. It seems to me that they just get their anti-virus (and other software) by, uh, 'nefarious' means.

Let's save that debate for another day.

Well, whether or not you like the end result of the Apple-inspired Windows notebooks, you can't deny that they're trying a lot harder than they used to

I completely agree that there is pressure on Window OEMs to undercut Apple (even going so far to ask Intel for help) as their sales decline while Mac sales grow year-over-year. However, I'm not sure how much Apple's price cuts are a reaction to moves by competitors or more the result of the changing market and Apple's ability to buy supplies and unit orders in larger bulks (and thus getting a discount they can pass onto customers without hurting the bottom-line and likely allowing greater unit sales). Meanwhile, 50% of Mac sales at the Apple Stores go to people new to the Mac.

IMO the price drops are due to a mix of competition, lower prices from suppliers and more bulk discounts.

While the cost of SSDs are slowly falling, there isn't a massive difference in prices between mid/late 2011 and right now, and there's the additional cost of the faster SSDs in the new Airs which likely minimizes the lower cost of the SSD chips today.

Then there's the processors- if you look at the tray price of the top end Sandy Bridge Core i7 in the 2011 Air (2677M) and compare it to the top end Ivy Bridge Core i7 in the 2012 Air (3667U), you'll find that there's actually been a slight increase in price, from $317 to $346.

While here's no doubt that with they get a lower price due to the massive amount they order, I doubt the price drops were entirely due to the lower supplier costs- Apple saving money on the production side does not usually mean lower prices for their customers, but for some reason it does here.

 

[MacNewsFix]

I now have Sentry set up to monitor my Downloads folder. I can't seem to get it to stick to my Login Items list though...

I find it a bit strange that I'm actually running AV on my Mac while not on my Windows computer. Seems like it should be the other way 'round!

That seems a bit cavalier unless you are just running Windows VMs. I wouldn't recommend anyone use Windows with at least some protection, even if it is just Microsoft's free anti-malware tools.

Based on conversations I've had with several teenagers, it looks like the younger generations are indeed rejecting any additional paid software. It seems to me that they just get their anti-virus (and other software) by, uh, 'nefarious' means.

Sad. They'll likely feel that way until one day they get ripped off.

Well, whether or not you like the end result of the Apple-inspired Windows notebooks, you can't deny that they're trying a lot harder than they used to

I think you misunderstood me if you thought I didn't feel they were a step in the right direction. I think the MBAs' popularity has indeed proven that much of the world is ready to step away from spinning drives in addition to laptops festooned with ports and an optical drive hardly anyone uses. When the MBA was unveiled, many people called it Apple's netbook and "not a serious computer" partially because of it dispensing with the alphabet soup of ports adorning most laptops at the time and no optical drive; we now know that to have been a false assumption for much of the masses. Also, growing adoption of Thunderbolt (will make TB-related merchandise less expensive) and mini DisplayPort is good for everybody, IMHO.

IMO the price drops are due to a mix of competition, lower prices from suppliers and more bulk discounts.

While the cost of SSDs are slowly falling, there isn't a massive difference in prices between mid/late 2011 and right now, and there's the additional cost of the faster SSDs in the new Airs which likely minimizes the lower cost of the SSD chips today.

Then there's the processors- if you look at the tray price of the top end Sandy Bridge Core i7 in the 2011 Air (2677M) and compare it to the top end Ivy Bridge Core i7 in the 2012 Air (3667U), you'll find that there's actually been a slight increase in price, from $317 to $346.

While here's no doubt that with they get a lower price due to the massive amount they order, I doubt the price drops were entirely due to the lower supplier costs- Apple saving money on the production side does not usually mean lower prices for their customers, but for some reason it does here.

SSD prices sure seem to be plummeting. I can buy a 256GB internal drive for what my 120GB cost about 18 months ago.

I have read about the price drops on the MBAs, but it sure seems subtle. The entry level model remains $999, while the more popular 13" dropped $100. Also, the MBAs continue to grow in their share of Apple's laptop sales. While the CPU may be ~$40 more, I suspect (again, pure speculation) much of the motivation for the price drop on 13" is to put more of them in customers' hands (by overcoming a mental barrier on the price tag for some perspective clientele) and thus make up the $100 loss.

I won't fault the PC manufacturers from not wanting to leave money on the table and not go after the +$1000 crowd. Apple is making between $200 and $300 in profit per machine while the PC industry experiences about $50 per unit (the same as they typically pay for each Windows license!). Apple can take their per unit profits and use them to afford call centers where the support specialist are not reading from a script and I don't have to repeat myself three times.

I concede that I don't know the full motivation for the 13" MBA price drop. Whatever the reason, competition is always good for the consumer (again, unless it goes so far as to sacrifice quality control and customer service). The fact remains the PC industry needs to do something to stem the bleeding, and I don't like reading about layoffs.

 

[TheMacBookPro]

That seems a bit cavalier unless you are just running Windows VMs. I wouldn't recommend anyone use Windows with at least some protection, even if it is just Microsoft's free anti-malware tools.

It's not a VM, it's actually my previous primary laptop. Might install MSE later though.

I think you misunderstood me if you thought I didn't feel they were a step in the right direction. I think the MBAs' popularity has indeed proven that much of the world is ready to step away from spinning drives in addition to laptops festooned with ports and an optical drive hardly anyone uses. When the MBA was unveiled, many people called it Apple's netbook and "not a serious computer" partially because of it dispensing with the alphabet soup of ports adorning most laptops at the time and no optical drive; we now know that to have been a false assumption for much of the masses. Also, growing adoption of Thunderbolt (will make TB-related merchandise less expensive) and mini DisplayPort is good for everybody, IMHO.

It seemed like you were doubting that PC manufacturers are bringing their products up to Apple's level- I was talking about the look, design and feel

There's no doubt that removing the optical drive and moving to solid state memory was the right way to go into the future, much like their decision to remove the floppy disk drive 10+ years prior. I genuinely hope that TB doesn't go the way of FireWire.

SSD prices sure seem to be plummeting. I can buy a 256GB internal drive for what my 120GB cost about 18 months ago.

They were dropping quite a bit in price last year, but since late 2011 to right now the drops have somewhat leveled off.

The faster SSD blades over the 2011 model are likely to be more costly though so I doubt they're saving a lot of money, even factoring in SSD price drops. Just my 2c ofc, I don't know for sure if that's actually the case.

I have read about the price drops on the MBAs, but it sure seems subtle. The entry level model remains $999, while the more popular 13" dropped $100. Also, the MBAs continue to grow in their share of Apple's laptop sales. While the CPU may be ~$40 more, I suspect (again, pure speculation) much of the motivation for the price drop on 13" is to put more of them in customers' hands (by overcoming a mental barrier on the price tag for some perspective clientele) and thus make up the $100 loss.

Don't forget how they added 4GB RAM across the range. RAM is cheap as chips (heh, see what I did there?) now but that's still a minor additional cost over the 2GB they used to put in as stock.

I won't fault the PC manufacturers from not wanting to leave money on the table and not go after the +$1000 crowd. Apple is making between $200 and $300 in profit per machine while the PC industry experiences about $50 per unit (the same as they typically pay for each Windows license!). Apple can take their per unit profits and use them to afford call centers where the support specialist are not reading from a script and I don't have to repeat myself three times.

I guess it depends where you are then! I've had pretty good experiences with Apple call centers, but the ones Dell offer here in Hong Kong are local and they do in-home/office repair services.

I don't know how much money Dell are making off my Alienware laptop but I suspect it's a lot if they can afford to send out a tech!

Like I said before, PC mfgs are actually trying to regain 'premium' sales from Apple which would explain the efforts they go to make their computers lighter and thinner than Apple's. Whether or not they succeed is another story but they're definitely trying to sell more $1000+ machines.

I concede that I don't know the full motivation for the 13" MBA price drop. Whatever the reason, competition is always good for the consumer (again, unless it goes so far as to sacrifice quality control and customer service). The fact remains the PC industry needs to do something to stem the bleeding, and I don't like reading about layoffs.

Well, I guess only Apple's sales team really knows why they did a price drop.

I hate to say it but I think Apple's QC (or at least the factories they contract with) is in fact slipping these days- there was a scuff on the back of my iPad 3rd generation out-of-the-box, my MacBook Pro came without an OS installed, my iPhone had a missing bottom screw (it wasn't even in the box). Maybe Apple's aggressive pricing with the iPad and iPhone are resulting in poorer QC? With the number of iDevices they're pushing out these days I somewhat understand though!
I just hope my experience isn't indicative of others'.

 

[kustardking]

I think everybody knows that. The point is that it's a cliche. Something that was once clever, or 'jocular', but has been so overused its lost all of its impact and is now, at best, just a bunch of extra words, and at worst irritating or annoying.

Professional writers are supposed to exhibit skill with words. The first guy to used the phrase 'weighs in at' outside of a boxing context probably did that. The first guy to equate screen space with valuable real estate should be proud of himself. But those gags are done and old. 'Weighs in at' has been used over 1000 times in MacRumors articles alone. If you can't think of a clever way to describe the size of a file, stick with 'x is yMB' for the time being, or risk looking like an amateur.

Yes, I totally agree. Tired cliche. Rather, I was pointing out to JHankowitz that he is being Asperger's literal with the writer's usage.