os

Take online widgets offline with Amnesty Generator [Video]

This post has been updated from the original. Added: Hands-on video with Amnesty Generator.

For those early adopters out there with Windows Vista, you might be struggling to get some widgets from the Web onto your flashy, new sidebar. To help you out is Amnesty Generator, a small and free app that converts nearly every type of online widget into the 'gadget format' that's compatible with Vista's new desktop toolbar. Using the program requires no coding experience; it's as simple as pasting in the embedding code, and the program does the rest.

Amnesty generator works with Google homepage widgets, … Read more

Rumor: Apple TV to put OS X desktop on your HDTV

The Leopard update of Apple OS X will be able to wirelessly transmit the Mac desktop to any HDTV that's connected to an Apple TV box--at least, that's the word according to LoopRumors (as spotted on Digg). Of course, the report is nothing more than a rumor: no source is cited, and there's no way to know if this is based on genuine inside information or whether it's just another fanboy fantasy. But chewing on wild, unsubstantiated rumors is half the fun with Apple products, so--with a massive grain of salt firmly in place--let the speculation … Read more

Palm OS now called Garnet OS

Palm OS will now be known as Garnet OS, Access announced Thursday. Garnet was originally the code name used by PalmSource for Palm OS 5.4, the most current version of the software.

The renaming is part of a process begun in October 2006, when Access announced that its subsidiary, PalmSource, the developer of Palm OS, would also take the name Access.

Access is removing all vestiges of Palm from its products as part of a previous agreement to sell PalmSource's rights in the Palm Trademark Holding Company to Palm, according to a statement.

SlingPlayer coming to PalmOS

Sling Media is makin' the rounds: first Windows Mobile, then Symbian. Now Palm OS users can sling--or placeshift--their own channels to their smart phone.

This is good news for Slingbox owners who also have a Treo 700p, which utilizes Verizon's EV-DO network. Treo 680 users will be able to sling their TV as well, but Sling cautions that the EDGE network it runs on is not an ideal connection.

But that's not all: SlingPlayer will also be pre-loaded onto all HP laptops in 2007 as part of the QuickPlay feature, which plays music, movies, and now TV, … Read more

Apple QuickTime rtsp URL handler buffer overflow

There's a buffer overflow affecting both the Windows and Mac version of Apple QuickTime 7.1.3 real-time streaming protocol (rtsp). The flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code which could allow remote access and the arbitrary execution of malicious code on compromised machines. If a user clicks a very long and specially crafted QuickTime video URL, an attacker could load malicious code onto Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac OS X machines.

At this time, there is no patch available from Apple. Users should avoid clicking URLs that begin with "rstp://." One workaround within QuickTime is … Read more

New Shuffle, Intel-ready iBook predicted for MacWorld

The anticipation is already building for January's MacWorld Expo, when Apple watchers are predicting the introduction of both a new, even smaller iPod Shuffle and an Intel-ready iBook.

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu has heard the new Shuffle will be smaller than a stick of gum and could come in multiple colors, including black. The price points would be $99 and $129 with storage capacities similar to current models.

"We believe this could help offset seasonal weakness in the March quarter similar to last year when iPod Shuffle was introduced," he wrote in a report dated … Read more

Tiger box won't have any CDs

Apple Computer has made sure that Tiger will run on most of the machines running prior versions of Mac OS X, but not all Mac owners will be able to use it out of the box.

That's because Tiger ships on a DVD and a good number of Macs out there that are capable of running Tiger only have CD drives.

Apple does have a program in which customers can pay $10 and send in their installation DVD and then get CDs of Tiger sent back via U.S. mail. Information about the program is posted on Apple's Web site. … Read more

A night at the Oscars for iPod

The iPod is so hot it even got a plug at Sunday night's Academy Awards ceremony from comedian Robin Williams.

Don't worry if Pixar's "The Incredibles" doesn't nab an Oscar, Williams said before announcing the winner for best animated feature, because the producers own "iPod stock." He was referring to the connection between Pixar Animation Studios and iPod maker Apple Computer, the two companies run by Steve Jobs.

As it turned out, "The Incredibles" did win--a "two-fer." Jobs got a plug, too, during the acceptance speech. So it … Read more