Slow network speed on newer PCI-based Macs: YARC modifies its statement

In a previous item on slow network speed with some PCI-based Macs with PCI cards installed, we quoted YARC Systems as claiming that the cause of the problem was apparently the rev. 2.8f2 boot-ROM. They have now modified this position: "Through Apple's assistance, it has been established that the cause for the Slow Network Problem is not the 2.8f2 itself. The observation that the error only occurs on machines with the 2.8f2 ROM is still valid though." Additionally, they note that not all machines with the f2 ROM revision will necessarily show the problem. … Read more

Security Update 2005-001 (#3): Software Update problems; slow app launching; Safari site problems; PHP issues; more

Cannot install via Software Update Yesterday we noted reports that some users are unable to install Security Update 2005-001 via Software Update, instead receiving the error Some of the checked updates could not be installed. Make sure you have permission to write to /tmp/501/TemporaryItems/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate, then try again. (This error may also appear as The update could not be verified and expanded correctly. Make sure you have permission to write to /tmp/501/temporaryitems/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate, then try again or The update "Security update 2005 001" could not be verified and expanded correctly. … Read more

Utilities Updates: RealView; FinderPop; Technical Snapshot; more

RealView 2.6.5 is an "application for the Mac OS computers, designed for fast viewing, converting and printing of text, image and data files. RealView can open any file and display its contents as an image, styled text (including embedded pictures), Plain Text or as a Hex dump."

FinderPop, the excellent contextual menu utility, moves up to version 1.8.

Technical Snapshot 2.0.2 is out. "The next time you contact a company for technical support, save yourself a lot of time and frustration by including a snapshot of your entire system. Technical Snapshot is … Read more

AOL blind copy: glitch a work-around

Raul Gutierrez recently purchased a LaserWriter 8500 printer. He had a number of minor problems. In particular: The Installer disk installs a number of fonts (Postscript Type 3/True Type). I had problems with several of them. Courier, for example, displayed in Emailer as garbage. To try to fix this I removed the TrueType part of the font. This fixed my display problems but then I noticed that the new Courier had slightly different spacing than the old so I installed an old copy of Courier. This caused ATM to display the message "Cannot load due to lack of … Read more

Odds & Ends: Troubleshooting G3 Firmware Update; MacWEEK cracked; more

Troubleshooting G3 Firmware Update 1.0.2 The item posted Saturday, called "Troubleshooting G3 Firmware Update 1.0.2," has been updated and reposted as a new MacFixIt Extra.

MacWEEK site cracked: it's back Last time, we reported the cracking and subsequent temporary removal of the MacWEEK web site. MacWEEK's Rothenberg informs us that "it turned out these guys wrought serious havoc with our site, and the restoration took a lot longer than expected." It is now back online (although when I just tried it, graphic images were loading more slowly than usual; they … Read more

Privacy issues: MS and GUID numbers, Apple, and Intel follow-ups

Regarding previous reports of problems with Epson 600 printers and printing from Internet Explorer, Jerome Yesavage claims that he has had similar problems with many other applications. Other users note that the problem certainly extends to AOL's web browser (which is simply avariation of Internet Explorer). Harvey Ellis fixed the problem on his Mac by disabling the World Scripts I and World Scripts II extensions.

Tom McGee had the same problem on an Epson 800.

Utilities Updates: EpsonShare 1.0b10; MRJ plugin for Netscape; more

EpsonShare 1.0b10 is out. This does not have the data loss problem mentioned here on Monday.

Mozilla has released MRJ plugin 1.0d3. "It enables current Netscape browsers (version 4.X and later) on Mac OS to use the Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ) to run Applets. This is a development only release and support is limited. Use this plugin at your own risk."

VST USB Floppy Drive driver 1.2 is out.

RealPlayer G2b1 is out. [Some readers are reporting that the download is corrupted.]

EZNote 1.4 is out; excellent "note" utility

EZNote 1.4 is out: A press release states: "Great for web browsing, save selections of text as individual notes or append them to one single note! Bring up a text editor instantly with one key press! Copy selected text from any application with one keystroke and store it for later reading or editing."

New features added in version 1.4: Added searchable comments for each note (which are linked with the Finder comments), can now choose between saving notes as clipping files or standard text files, window is moveable and resizable (and the location & size is … Read more