Apple is now selling a thumb drive installer on the Apple online store (and perhaps in brick/mortar stores as well) for $69.00.

The absence of a Lion install DVD has caused a bit of uproar (Lion, roar… never mind) with users who are concerned that if they need to reinstall their system, there’s no easy way to do it, and no way at all without a fast Internet connection.

Several sites published articles on how to create a DVD or flash drive installer, but this is the first official Apple release of a physical tool for the purpose.

If you want to roll your own, these articles may be useful:

How to create an OS X Lion Install Disc

How to make a bootable Lion install disc or drive

How to burn a Lion boot disc

Build your own Lion install USB thumb drive for cheap

I’ve created my own thumb drive installer, and it works.

Related posts:

1. Prep your Mac for Lion Get ready for OS X 10.7 Computerworld posted an article...
2. Notes from a Lion crash-test dummy I installed Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Wednesday afternoon, on...
3. Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, iOS 5 info available It’s been almost a week since the WWDC announcements of...

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Security Update 2011-003 was released a couple of days ago to help protect against malware such as the Mac Defender trojan horse, and to help protect against future malware.

Update! as of today (6/1/11), MacDefender developers have circumvented the detection ability of the current definitions. Browse carefully!

More details on how the new security update works can be found in a Macworld.com article found here.

Snow Leopard has had built-in malware protection since the beginning, but it only had two definitions then, and only four more have been added until now. Apple’s beefed it’s built-in File Quarantine protection to detect the A and B variants of Mac Defender.

Daily definition updates are now possible, without users having to use Software Update to manually download them. Users can opt out by unchecking a box in the Security preference pane labeled “Automatically update safe downloads list”. I do NOT recommend doing this.

Snow Leopard can also remove the Mac Defender trojan if it’s found on your system. Apple says that the OS will look for the trojan, and if it’s found, SL will force it to quit, and will remove any persistent files. It will also fix any changes made to your system, and notify you of it’s removal.

The Mac Defender/Protector trojan is malicious and pernicious. (Those are fun words to use in the same sentence!). If you find yourself redirected to a site that looks like this, close the window immediately, and if you have your browser prefs are set to open “safe” files, follow Apple’s instructions for removing the malware that just installed itself, or tried to. Remember, a web site cannot scan your Mac for malware. It’s a scam, and a vicious one.

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Apple issued a support document last night stating that it was going to issue a patch that will prevent the MacDefender trojan from reaching our Macs.

I expect the patch to be available in the next few days, so please check Software Update (click the Apple menu in the menu bar, it’s the second item) to download the patch as soon as it’s available.

The document also provides a simple method to remove MacDefender if you’ve inadvertently installed it, by opening Activity Monitor (in the Utilities folder, inside the Applications folder) and entering MacDefender in the search field. Then use the Quit Process button to quit each of the processes, then delete the app from your system and removing login items it created. It’s a fairly easy process.

Content of the Apple Support document follows:

A recent phishing scam has targeted Mac users by redirecting them from legitimate websites to fake websites which tell them that their computer is infected with a virus. The user is then offered Mac Defender "anti-virus" software to solve the issue.

This “anti-virus” software is malware (i.e. malicious software).  Its ultimate goal is to get the user’s credit card information which may be used for fraudulent purposes.

The most common names for this malware are MacDefender, MacProtector and MacSecurity. 

In the coming days, Apple will deliver a Mac OS X software update that will automatically find and remove Mac Defender malware and its known variants.  The update will also help protect users by providing an explicit warning if they download this malware. 

In the meantime, the Resolution section below provides step-by-step instructions on how to avoid or manually remove this malware.

Resolution

How to avoid installing this malware

If any notifications about viruses or security software appear, quit Safari or any other browser that you are using. If a normal attempt at quitting the browser doesn’t work, then Force Quit the browser.

In some cases, your browser may automatically download and launch the installer for this malicious software.  If this happens, cancel the installation process; do not enter your administrator password.  Delete the installer immediately using the steps below.

1. Go into the Downloads folder or your preferred download location.
2. Drag the installer to the Trash. 
3. Empty the Trash.

How to remove this malware

If the malware has been installed, we recommend the following actions:

• Do not provide your credit card information under any circumstances.
• Use the Removal Steps below.

Removal steps

• Move or close the Scan Window
• Go to the Utilities folder in the Applications folder and launch Activity Monitor  
• Choose All Processes from the pop up menu in the upper right corner of the window
• Under the Process Name column, look for the name of the app and click to select it; common app names include: MacDefender, MacSecurity or MacProtector
• Click the Quit Process button in the upper left corner of the window and select Quit
• Quit Activity Monitor application
• Open the Applications folder
• Locate the app ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector or other name
• Drag to Trash, and empty Trash

Malware also installs a login item in your account in System Preferences. Removal of the login item is not necessary, but you can remove it by following the steps below.

• Open System Preferences, select Accounts, then Login Items
• Select the name of the app you removed in the steps above ex. MacDefender, MacSecurity, MacProtector
• Click the minus button

Use the steps in the “How to avoid installing this malware” section above to remove the installer from the download location.

Note: Apple provides security updates for the Mac exclusively through Software Update and the Apple Support Downloads site. User should exercise caution any time they are asked to enter sensitive personal information online.
 

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Apple Store return policy eases up

The Apple Store purchase policies web page spells out the new changes on this web page, but the short version is that for Apple products (iPhones have a different policy) may be returned within 14 calendar days of the purchase date.

If the box is unopened, The Apple Store will exchange it or refund the purchase price based on the original payment method. They’ll mail a check for cash and check purchases over $250.00.

For all returns, the item must be returned with the original receipt and original packaging.

Opened software, memory and other media can be exchanged for the same item only.

The big change

What’s different about this policy is that the 10% restocking fee is no longer being charged. This is because of the new Personal Setup program, which involves opening the box, and help in setting up your new Apple product.

This is a new feature, beginning last month, where customers buying Macs, iPhones, iPads, etc. will be offered free setup services, including a product tour, setting up user accounts, email accounts, iTunes, product registration, etc.

iPhones and iPads buyers have had this service available for about a year, and now laptops, Minis, iMacs and the iPod Touch also come with this service, providing that they are purchased at an Apple retail store.

Purchasers of qualifying products will be “strongly encouraged” to take advantage of the service, according to individuals who’ve seen the training plays for the service.

Apple TV, MacPro, and non-connected iPods are not covered by the free set-up policy.

More information about the new service can be found at ifoAppleStore.com.

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Jason O’Grady wrote in the Apple Core the other day, noting that with that day’s 7 point jump in Apple stock value, it became the second most valuable publicly traded company in the world, after ExxonMobil.

The jump to $329.57 a share (I bought at 12 and sold at 59, thinking I was a genius) brought Apple’s market capitalization over $300 billion.

As of today, January 5, 2011, Apple’s stock price at 1:56 pm, EST was $334.20, up another $2.91 from yesterday. The 1 year target estimate (from the NASDAQ site) is $375.

With earnings per share of $15.15 and a Price/Earnings ration of 22.06, Apple is an interesting investment possibility… It’s not a sure bet that it will reach $375, but then I never thought, back 10 years or so, it would ever reach $100!

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Lots of new goodies announced by apple today, including a completely revised MacBook Air line, iLife ’11, and FaceTime (still in beta) allowing video chat between a Mac running FaceTime and an IOS device that is FaceTime capabable.

MacBook Air

4 Models, 2 sizes comprise the new line, all with flash-storage, solid state internal drives rather than hard drives. They have a Core 2 Duo processor with 13.3″ (1440×900 pixel) or 11.6″ (1366×768) displays.

The 11 inch MacBook Air weighs in at 2.3 lbs (1.06kg) and measures .11 inch high at the front, .68″ at the back (0.3-1.7cm), 11.8″ wide (29.95cm) and 7.56″ (19.2cm) deep. The 13: ‘Air has the same height, but is 12.8″ (32.5cm) wide and 8.94″ (22.7cm) deep, and weighs in at a not-so-hefty 2.9 lbs (1.32kg).

Both come with 2 USB 2.0 ports (one on each side), a Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe power connector, headphone and mic ports. The 13″ ‘Air also has an SD card port.

The 11″ has a 1.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache, with an optional 1.6GHz processor available, with an 800MHz fronside bus. Memory options are 2GB (standard) or a 4GB upgrade option. Drive options are 64 GB or 128GB.

The 13″ comes with a 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB L2 cache, offering an optional upgrade to a 2.13GH processor. It comes with a 1066MHz frontside bus, and the same memory options as the 11″. DRives offered are 128 GB and 256GB.

The advertised battery life is up to 5 hours of wireless productivity, with up to 30 days standby time on the 11″ (35 wat-hour, 45W MagSafe Power Adapter) while the 13″ will do up to 7 hours wireless productivity, the same standby time, and uses a 50 watt-hour, 45W MagSafe adapter.

Both ‘Air’s graphics are provided by an NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor with 256MB RAM shared with main memory. Dual display and video mirroring are built in, and support resolution up to 2560×1600 on an external display (while using full native res. on the built-in display) at millions of colors.

The wireless capability and Bluetooth are the same as on the MacBook/Pro lines, and the ‘Air comes with a FaceTime camera, so video chats are basically built-in to the MacBook Air line.

Neither will be rockets, but should be more than adequate for the travelling user they’re designed for. Prices range from $999 to $1,599 for the standard line.

iLife ’11

Free with new Macs, iLife ’11 is priced at $49 retail, which makes it a “deal of the Century” in my opinion. It does more, and better, than any other option for photos, movies and music in the price range.

iPhoto ’11 has new full screen modes for browsing, editing and showcasing photos. Sharing is easy, via email, facebook or slideshows. It has new features for creating books and cards as well.

iMovie ’11 has a Trailer creation feature, so you can create trailers for your home movies using 15 thems from Adventure to Romantic Comedy, with soundtracks and graphics to match. Audio level tools and new visual effects will allow more sophisticated movie editing. People Finder will analyze your videos and mark selections with faces, and iMovie ’11 has new themes for you to make your videos more like professional news or sports shows.

GarageBand ’11 has a couple of new tools for changing the timing of music recordings. Flex Time allows you to move, stretch or shorten individual notes without affecting the rest of the recording, and Groove Matching lets you select any track as the “Groove Track”, and all other tracks will match it’s rythm. GB ’11 also adds 7 new guitar amps, new effects and 22 new Basic Lessons for piano and guitar, with a new “How did I Play” feature that listens when you play a lesson and highlights mistakes and tracks your progress.

iLife ’1 requires OS X 10.6.3 or later, Macs with Intel processors, 1GB RAM, a DVD drive (for installation) and 5 GB of disk space. A family pack including 5 licenses is available for $79, in addition to the individual license.

FiceTime for Mac

A public beta of FaceTime for Mac is available, a new application that allows Mac users to video call iPhone 4 and iPod Touch users as well as other Mac users. Using Address Book contacts and the built-in mic and camera on Mac portables, iMacs and Apple LED dosplays, the new app allows video chats, and video phone calls.

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I bought my first hundred shares of Apple at about $29 a share, and sold around $90. Then the stock dropped down to $9 or so, and I bought at about $12, and sold at about $55.

Good profits there, eh? Thing is, Apple stock has broken $300 recently, and has quarterly results that are stunning… $20.34 BILLION in revenue, and a net quarterly profit of $4.31 billion… $4.64 per diluted share.

Wish I’d hung on a bit longer…

Apple said, in part:

These results compare to revenue of $12.21 billion and net quarterly profit of $2.53 billion, or $2.77 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 36.9 percent compared to 41.8 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 57 percent of the quarter’s revenue.
Apple sold 3.89 million Macs during the quarter, a 27 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 14.1 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 91 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 9.05 million iPods during the quarter, representing an 11 percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter. The Company also sold 4.19 million iPads during the quarter.

Amazing results from a company that was laughed at by the big boys not too long ago. A combination of innovation, much better customer satisfaction (tops in the field the past several years) and OS X with the ability to run Windows in Boot Camp or via Parallels, Fusion, etc. have opened up the minds of businesses and individuals alike.

The iPod changed the way music is sold and enjoyed, world-wide. The iPhone was, and perhaps still is, the best of the smart phones. It’s a great choice, either way. The iPad is a great tool for a large percentage of us, business or home users. And the venerable Mac has been getting better and better for years. I’m not entirely happy with some of the changes, like leaving FireWire off the MacBook, but by and large, the improvements have been substantial.

Hats off to Apple. Good job!

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Computer sales in the United States have been pretty dismal the past three months. Except for Macs…

The Quarterly PC Tracker Survey released by IDC this week, Apple shipped 1.99 million Macs domestically during the third quarter 2010. This amounts to 10.6 percent of the nearly 19 million PCs shipped in the US, and is the highest Apple share in it’s history.

HP’s percentage was 24.3, Dell’s 23.1, both considerably higher than Apples, but their sales are pretty much the same as last year. Apple, on the other hand, had a 24 percent increase in shipped computers over the third quarter last year.

The entire PC market grew 3.8 percent over last year, missing the 11 percent forecast considerably, so Apple’s shipments grew 8 times as much as the rest of the industry.

Considering the current economy, and the fact that anyone with any money seems to be hanging on to it, this is a pretty good showing. 20+ years of being considered the expensive end of the market makes Apple’s sales even more impressive.

The iPod, then the iPhone, now the iPad have clearly driven Mac sales. Users have the opportunity to experience Apple’s version of hardware and software design philosophy, and the fact that customer satisfaction surveys show Macs to be the most trouble-free computers certainly helps.

Worldwide, the story is a bit different. Lenovo, who sells heavily to large businesses had a 32.9 percent growth in worldwide sales as companies hit the “refresh cycle” and replaced employee’s computers in quantity.

HP, the leader in total sales, showed about 17.7 percent of the nearly 90 million computers shipped world-wide in the last quarter, Acer with 13 percent, Dell 12.5, Lenovo 10.4 and Asus 5.4 percent.

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Updated 10.09.10: The Wall Street Journal now reports that Verison will have the iPhone next year.

Apple Inc. is making a version of its iPhone that Verizon Wireless will sell early next year, according to people familiar with the matter, ending an exclusive deal with AT&T and sharpening the competition with Google Inc.-based phones.

Original post:
The Wall Street Journal reported today that Apple will have an iPhone in mass production by the end of the year that will run on the Verizon network, breaking the AT&T monopoly.

Verizon uses CDMA wireless technology, and the new iPhones will use a different chip than the AT&T phones. It’s unlikely that those of us who have AT&T iPhones can switch to Verizon without buying a new phone, but Verizon may create opportunities to make a switch inexpensively… or not!

The “Verizon” iPhone is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2011, and will resemble the current iPhone 4, according to Apple briefings.

So, will Verizon be offering the iPhone? Maybe, maybe not. The report never stated that it is a Verizon iPhone, but a “Verizon-ready” iPhone. This could mean that the phone is made for other U.S. and overseas carriers, not Verizon.

Apple is feeding information in little bites, to an avid audience. We don’t know why, but it’s fascinating to watch the dance unfold.

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Apple released iTunes 10.0.1 to fix a number of bugs in the original iTunes 10 release.

The bugs include:

• Performance problem with visualizers
• Empty library or playslist problem
• Incompatibility with third-party shared libraries
• Video image quality changes related to on-screen control visibility
• unexpected quits when viewing album artwork in separate window

The new release is available using Software Update, or at this page.

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