Apple today released two EFI firmware updates regarding issues with the Early 2009 Mac Pro’s and Early 2009 Xserve’s.

Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.4

This update addresses the following issues for Mac Pro (Early 2009) computers:

• Improves compatibility with virtualization products utilizing VT-d
• Improves storage performance under Windows XP for Boot Camp users
• Improves system reliability during the boot process

Xserve EFI Firmware Update 1.2

This update addresses the following issues for Xserve (Early 2009) computers:

Both updates are available through your Software Update.

Firmware Restoration CD 1.8

The Firmware Restoration CD can restore the firmware of an Intel-based Macintosh computer.

Note: Restoring your firmware will reset some of your computer’s preferences to defaults.

Please note that this version is for Early 2009 Mac Pro’s and Xserve’s.

Taiwan’s Economic Daily paper claims that Cheng Uei Precision Industry has received an order for “connectors” for Apple’s new Tablet PCs. According to the report the company is likely to begin shipping in the 3rd quarter of 2010.

Meanwhile Digitimes reports that Innolux, a panel-making subsidiary of Foxconn, will be the supplier for the touch panels in Apple’s Tablet. The screen size is said to be 10-inches for the rumored device.

Apple released several fixes for Xsan, bringing the software to Version 2.2.1. The updates target only the FileSystem portion of Xsan and include the following fixes:

- Improves filesystem reliability
- Improves the cvfsck filesystem repair utility
- Resolves an issue that could cause QuickTime media to report “invalid public movie atom found” on playback
- Eliminates “An unknown disk has been inserted” message when mounting Xsan volumes (occurs in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard only)

The Xsan 2.2.1 FileSystem Update is available in Snow Leopard (39.55 MB) and Leopard (35.15 MB) versions, and an updated Xsan Uninstaller (545 KB) is also available.

Apple also released Mail Services Update 1.0 (20.59 MB), offering several mail services improvements for Snow Leopard Server.

Apple released a pair of Snow Leopard printer driver updates, bringing additional compatibility for printers and multifunction devices from Epson and Lexmark.

- Epson Printer Drivers v2.2 for Mac OS X v10.6.1 (546 MB)
- Lexmark Printer Drivers v2.2 for Mac OS X v10.6 (121 MB)

In this tutorial, we show you how to create a wireless network connection from your Mac that your iPhone or iPod touch can connect to.

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Apple released four software updates, one AirPort client update for Snow Leopard users and three firmware updates addressing optical disk drive noise on a number of computers.

- AirPort Client Update 2009-002 (12.95 MB) addresses several issues experienced by users of Mac OS X Snow Leopard related to wireless networking.

This update is recommended for all Macintosh computers running Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.2 and includes fixes for the following:

- Inability to turn AirPort on or off in some cases after upgrading from Mac OS X Leopard
- An occasional loss of network connection when using Wake on Demand
- Inability to create a computer-to-computer network, or share the Internet connection on some MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini computers

- Individual firmware updates for the MacBook (MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.4, 3.14 MB) and MacBook Pro (MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.8, 3.36 MB) work with the separate SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0 (18.35 MB) to address optical disk drive noises on Apple computers.

This update will eliminate the noise made by the optical disk drive during system startup and wake from sleep on your Mac. This update works with the following EFI updates:

iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.4
Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.2
MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.4
MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.8

Full details on the SuperDrive firmware update are available in the associated support document.

As predicted, Google has finally released an official beta version of its Chrome browser for Mac. The initial beta version, termed Build 4.0.249.30, requires Mac OS X Leopard or Snow Leopard, and is only compatible with Intel-based Macs. In addition to the Mac release, Chrome for Linux has also been made a beta.

Chrome for Mac and Linux will have continuos work done on them, with builds released weekly (presumed). As the “BETA” title states, the web-browser has it a new mark in it’s life, the Beta Channel. Chrome for Mac and Linux will remain on this “Channel” until it is though to be stable enough and promoted once again to the “Stable Channel”.

Yahoo! and Microsoft announced that they have finalized their search deal that will replace the exsisting Yahoo! search engine, and implement Microsoft’s, Bing search engine. The press release by Yahoo! and Microsoft confirmed that the deal made in July of this year is now final.

The deal states that Microsoft will acquire an exclusive license over Yahoo!’s core search technologies. The deal set out will last for ten years and will replace Yahoo!’s search. Microsoft will have the ability to incorporate Yahoo!’s current technologies into Bing.

The deal will come into full effect within the next three to six months, effectively increasing Bing’s market share.

The companies released a joint statement:

“Microsoft and Yahoo! believe that this deal will create a sustainable and more compelling alternative in search that can provide consumers, advertisers and publishers real choice, better value, and more innovation.

“Yahoo! and Microsoft welcome the broad support the deal has received from key players in the advertising industry and remain hopeful that the closing of the transaction can occur in early 2010.”

The deal for Microsoft to acquire Yahoo! has taken more than two years, including rumors of Microsoft purchasing the entire company. The talks eventually came to a search deal that would take Yahoo! off the market to help Microsoft compete against Google’s dominate hold on the market.

Google has always known to be the simplest search engine available. It has also grown to be one of the largest companies in the world and creating new phrases like, “Google It!”. Well, Google has decided it is time to change Google search to make it more helpful and easy to use. Here’s a walkthrough of the Google search, ‘Jazz UI’. Keep in mind that ‘Jazz UI’ is just a codename people are using to name this new design of Google search and nothing has been officially announced by Google. Another thing to keep in mind is that this ‘Jazz UI’ is not available to the public yet, but can be setup using a JavaScript address. To start using the ‘Jazz UI’ for yourself, follow our tutorial: http://cuthut.com/zXm

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