Rosetta

When Apple released its security update for Snow Leopard in conjunction with the OS X 10.7.3 update, a number of people found that it broke the Rosetta dynamic translator that's required for running PowerPC applications on that version of OS X.

After updating, instead of loading and running properly, applications would crash, not be able to save new files, and otherwise behave oddly, causing a number of people who still rely on older versions of popular applications--such as Office 2004, Photoshop CS, and Quicken 2007--to no longer be able to do their work.

Immediately following news of … Read more

Along with the OS X 10.7.3 update, Apple issued Security Update 2012-001 for Snow Leopard to address a number of security vulnerabilities in the latest version of that OS.

After installing the update, a number of people have found that Rosetta applications no longer work properly, and are reporting problems with applications crashing, no longer being able to perform tasks like saving files, or having problems with services like printing.

Rosetta is a dynamic instruction translator for PowerPC code that allows PowerPC-based programs to run on Intel CPUs. This technology allowed for a relatively seamless transition to Intel … Read more

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed in by our readers. This week we had questions on the best format to use for keeping home videos, whether Rosetta could be hacked to install in Lion, power problems after a battery malfunction on MacBook systems, and the system requesting two log-ins with Filevault 2 enabled. We continually answer e-mail questions, and though we present a few answers here, we welcome alternative approaches and views from readers and encourage you to post your suggestions in the comments.

Question: Best format for preserving home movies MacFixIt reader Jerry asks:… Read more

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed in by our readers. This week readers wrote in asking numerous questions about OS X Lion, including ways to set up dual-boot environments, options for clean installs, whether or not Rosetta could be hacked to work, and options for re-downloading the Lion installer either for different Macs or for creating a boot DVD after you have already installed Lion. We continually answer e-mail questions, and though we present a few answers here, we welcome alternative approaches and views from readers and encourage you to post your suggestions in the … Read more

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed in by our readers. This week readers wrote in asking questions about options for installing larger hard drives in MacBook Pro systems, managing larger ASL log files, how to customize Time Machine's scheduling, and managing PowerPC helper applications in OS X 10.7 Lion. We continually answer e-mail questions, and though we present a few answers here, we welcome alternative approaches and views from readers and encourage you to post your suggestions in the comments.

Question: Installing larger hard drives in a MacBook Pro MacFixIt reader "Matt&… Read more

With rumor and speculation about Apple's removal of Rosetta support from OS X, one of the communities most concerned is the people who have become accustomed to using Quicken 2007 for Mac. Quicken was developed with PowerPC-specific instructions for core components of the software, which has made it a daunting and practically impossible task for Intuit to get running on the Intel architecture. As a result, when Apple drops PowerPC support altogether, Quicken will no longer run. However, there are some new developments that may shed some light on the problem for Quicken 2007 users.

According to The Mac Observer, … Read more

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed in by our readers. This week we answer questions about Mail forgetting account passwords, options for dual-booting OS X to maintain PowerPC support when Lion comes out, processes "mds" and "kav" taking up CPU time, and a question on Apple's Server Admin Tools versus OS X Server. We continually answer e-mail questions, and though we present a few answers here, we welcome alternative approaches and views from readers and encourage you to post your suggestions in the comments.

Question: Mail forgetting account passwords An … Read more

With speculation and rumor suggesting (possibly accurately) that OS X Lion will be issued without the "Rosetta" dynamic translator that allows PowerPC code to run on Intel-based Macs, a number of people are undoubtedly concerned about their readiness to use a platform without any form of PowerPC support. Over the years, people have accumulated applications, tools, and utilities that use either Intel or PowerPC, or both, and while numerous developers have updated their software to work natively on Intel Macs, with Rosetta being so transparent, people may be unsure whether their software requires PowerPC.

Another factor that plays … Read more

Attention, all of you who want to learn a second language without leaving your home. Rosetta Stone recently rolled out the next generation of its highly regarded language-learning software, Rosetta Stone Version 4 TOTALe, and we've got a copy of the Level 1-3 package to give away to one lucky winner. And if you win, you get a choice of the Spanish or French package. Your pick.

What does Version 4 TOTALe inlcude? Well, the company says that on top of the Rosetta Stone software, there's now "an entirely new online experience that includes live, interactive coaching … Read more