Time Machine, the automated back-up system built into Mac OS X Leopard, has been justly celebrated for making the least-fun of all computer practices easy. At the touch of a button, you can find every revision of every single one of your files on hand at the time of its installation. Unfortunately, as Steven Fisher recently discovered, this comes with an ugly side effect: Even executable code can get run from Time Machine. Cool as that might sound, the consequences could be grim:
Let me give you a simple example: You find out Adium (for example) has an available exploit that the developers haven’t patched yet. You remove Adium, but it continues to exist in your backup. You visit a web page that activates the Adium bug, and Adium is launched from your backup. That you can launch Adium from your backup is not a bug. That Mac OS X will do so automatically without confirmation is a bug. The backup should be considered a vault for the user, not Launch Services.
Yikes. Rogue code is bad. Rogue code that you have to go out of
your way to re-delete from your archives? Really nasty. Apple, let’s get a fix going.
Via Daring Fireball
Written by Petemortensen on November 5th, 2007 with no comments.
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I wasn't completely aware of Apple's stealthy allure until this evening I found myself standing outside my local Apple store at 6PM, waiting for Leopard to be released. It was one of those moments when something suddenly clicks, and suddenly I realised I am an Apple addict. Symptoms include wanting things you can't afford, constantly defending Apple from its numerous detractors and spouting techological jargon when someone suggests it isn't the be-all and end-all of computer companies (well, it is...).
Like most Apple followers I have been awaiting the release of Leopard, more to see if Apple can keep the ball rolling rather than to upgrade from the satisfying Tiger. However, given what I've seen today, I want a copy, NOW. From the word 'go' Leopard oozes cool, retaining composure (unlike Vista which has a hissy fit every time you ask it to open the start bar) under heavy loads (i.e. iPhoto, iMovie, CS3 and iTunes all at once). My initial plan for the launch was to buy a copy of this superior OS- heck, I even had a place reserved at the launch, with complementary champagne!- but money issues have prevented me from owning a copy, for now at least.
However, the hour I spent at the store road-testing Leopard was more than enough time to cover the major features and get a general idea of what this new incarnation has to offer.
- First off, it's fast. This, hands down, puts the competition to shame in terms of pure speed. In comparison to Tiger on my 2.2 Ghz Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro, every application opened upwards of a second quicker (on the same in-store laptop). Although Leopard is visually more intensive, Apple have pulled off the feat of keeping things running smoothly: the newly added Coverflow in Finder runs perfectly and RAM heavy features such as Dashboard and Expose are as solid as ever.
- Leopard looks beautiful. Unlike Microsoft with Vista, Apple have succeeded in injecting a bit of life into their newest offering without deducting from the overall polish- did anyone like the gargantuan icons in Vista? No, thought not.... I'm not sure about the translucent dock and task bar, but I'll compromise on the fact that the reflective dock is a snazzy addition. The icons in Finder's Coverflow offer a fun method of scrolling through your files and Coverflow is arguably a quicker way of finding files as you need them due to Preview. Stacks are functionally great as well as being eye candy, but I prefer the grid format for now as the volume of items in the fan is limited. To all you lucky Leopard owners, what are you initial feelings towards Stacks? Functionally helpful, or RAM hogging special effect?
- Spaces is a lot more useful than I suspected- I was initially unsure about the amount people would use this, but 'the key to its success is its ease of use' (that should be the mantra of Apple). Once you set it up, switching between your different spaces is as easy using the arrow keys and it really does keep your desktop organised.
- Unfortunately I didn't get to use Time Machine- arguably the most helpful new feature- due to the lack of attached hard drives in the store. I was also quite annoyed to hear that Apple have pulled wireless support through Airport Extreme, as this would have provided an even easier solution to backing up. However, I'm sure we will be seeing this in the next couple of months, once Apple sorts out any problems (if there were any...).
- The new iChat and Photo Booth effects are cool. I even tested the moving backgrounds in the store, where many people were moving around behind me, and they worked seamlessly. I even have a photo as a souvenir (of me, surrounded by a shoal of fish, of course) which I'm not going to post due to embarrassment.
And that about wraps up the features I tested in my short hour with Leopard. What do you think of the new OS: Is it revolutionary, or just a good update? If the rest of the OS is as polished as the features I tested then we can rest assured in Apple's rapidly rising influence in the computer market. It's just a shame I only had an hour with it- may many more follow...
Written by Will on October 26th, 2007 with no comments.
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