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commentary From the time it first announced Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Apple made it clear that this wouldn't be like other Mac OS X releases. Work on the newest operating-system version would not focus on adding hundreds of new features but rather on improving on its previous releases.

While the speed of an operating system may not be considered by some to be a feature like Spotlight or Expose, the snappiness I have felt in using Snow Leopard has impressed me most. Everything I do feels noticeably quicker, from booting the machine to opening applications.

I didn't … Read more

We discuss the developing story that the 4GB RAM limit in Windows is nothing but a license maneuver. Say it ain't so, Microsoft? Also Apple may be trying to sneak in antivirus in Snow Leopard, and guest host Dr. Kiki tells about MIT's effort to teleport data. No more lag in Dalaran!

Apple to retain, redesign plastic MacBook family http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/08/25/apple_to_retain_redesign_plastic_macbook_family.html

Report: Antivirus feature for Snow Leopard? http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10318201-37.html… Read more

The next version of Apple's OS X, which is due out Friday, may bundle antivirus capabilities.

Mac security firm Intego said that the latest version of the operating system, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, could have an antimalware feature, according to reports, in a blog post Tuesday.

The company published a screenshot which it said was of the security feature detecting a Trojan in a download, made via Apple's Safari Web browser.

Intego pointed out that the most recent Mac adverts compare Mac security favorably to PCs. However, security experts have historically been divided over the relative security … Read more

Sneaking in a few days before its promised September release, the tune-up for Mac OS X Leopard costs $29 for current Leopard users, and packs just enough punch to be worth your money. Apple is careful to point out that Snow Leopard isn't a complete system overhaul, but rather a collection of hundreds of smaller refinements to make Leopard run more gracefully. Hidden among smaller tweaks are some technical improvements that result in a smoother, easier-to-use Leopard with plenty for Mac fans to be excited about. The user interface and everyday tasks feel faster in general, although we didn'… Read more

Apple's letter to the FCC makes some pretty incredible claims about what Google Voice does to the iPhone's phone functionality. TechCrunch calls the claims misleading when they're being nice. To us, they sound like lies. We're also kinda taken with the Nokia laptop. Yes, Nokia is making a laptop. And, of course, the week of stars kicks off with guest host Patrick Beja.

Apple answers the FCC's questions http://www.apple.com/hotnews/apple-answers-fcc-questions/ http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/21/the-simple-truth-whats-really-going-on-with-apple-google-att-and-the-fcc/ … Read more

Apple will ship its newest operating system to customers a little earlier than expected. The company said Monday that Mac OS X Snow Leopard will be available this Friday, August 28.

Apple made it clear from the beginning that Snow Leopard was not as much about adding new features as it was about refining the code in the operating system.

For instance, according to Apple, 90 percent of the Mac OS X code has been worked on for the Snow Leopard release. This isn't just application code, it also includes working on the Finder, making it more responsive.

Apple … Read more

While the open-source crowd gets (rightly) excited by Linux's growing market share, three companies are pulling the rug out from under the feet of traditional operating systems.

Red Hat is winning in Linux while IBM cleans up the Unix market. But those are increasingly yesterday's markets as Microsoft, Google, and VMware create different breeds of operating system, each tuned to the strength of its product portfolio.

The easiest to understand are Google and VMware. Google, with its Linux distribution Chrome OS, is placing secondary emphasis on the operating system and primary emphasis on where it takes you: the … Read more

Apple, Google, and Microsoft are facing some dilemmas about what to do with their OSes when it comes to Netbooks.

Even as the recession continues to cool CIO appetites for software purchases, Linux is bucking the trend, according to a new IDC report.

IDC is projecting Linux revenue to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 16.9 percent from 2008 to 2013, topping $1.2 billion in 2013.

As IDC notes, this growth will comprise just 4 percent of total software market revenue by 2013, up from 2.2 percent in 2008. However, for the second time, IDC has also examined nonpaid deployments of Linux, revealing some troubling data.

I've always assumed Red Hat's primary Linux … Read more