Anti virus for Mac OS X

We have now permanently moved to EmiratesMac.com and will not be posting anything else at this site. Please join us at the new site where we continue to post on anything concerning Apple, Mac, and iPod in the UAE. We also provide discussion forums where you can discuss issues, ask for help, or comment on what’s going on. See you there!

There’s been some information lately saying that users of Symantec’s Norton Antivirus for Mac OS X make themselves less secure by using the software. I don’t think anyone would blame you for assuming that using an antivirus software would make you more secure, but perhaps that’s not the case.

I’ve been a Mac user a long time and I remember the pre-OS X days as far back as System 6, and the era of Disinfectant by John Norstad. Disinfectant was for a long time the reigning king of Mac antivirus but it retired in 1998. Back then there was actually a problem with viruses on Macs and I used to get them regularly, usually through infected floppies. I’ve never been a big fan of Symantec products anyway, but there’s little choice when it comes to antivirus products for Mac, or so I thought. What if you don’t want to put Norton AV on your precious Mac, what can you do? Some say that you don’t need any antivirus on a Mac because there are no Mac OS X specific viruses. That’s true but there will be sooner or later and by having antivirus software installed you can at least make sure you don’t pass any nasty stuff on to your Windows using friends and colleagues. There’s Intego’s Virusbarrier, which some users say is a really good product, so have a look at that if you want to. Personally, I would stay away from Norton AV. I guess the other alternative is Virex, now by McAfee. I was never a fan of that product either and lately it’s been just sorely neglected.

So is it all bad news then? No, you’re in luck because there’s a good (and free) alternative on Mac and it’s ClamXAV which is based on the widely-uses open source ClamAV. I’ve only used it for a little bit and it certainly hasn’t the polished look of Norton AV and I don’t think it has a resident component (although I may be wrong) but it’s darn good, folks. Give it a try, why don’t you?

iChat problems caused by router settings?

We have now permanently moved to EmiratesMac.com and will not be posting anything else at this site. Please join us at the new site where we continue to post on anything concerning Apple, Mac, and iPod in the UAE. We also provide discussion forums where you can discuss issues, ask for help, or comment on what’s going on. See you there!

Several readers have written me asking if I know something about problems running iChat in the UAE and personally I don’t know of any such problems. I can across this article today which might help some troubleshoot and hopefully fix their problems.

iTunes problem

People have told me about iChat problems, System Update problems, and some other internet and Mac related issues that face users in the UAE. Today I have another one to add – an iTunes problem. No, not the issue of us not being able to spend any money on iTunes (buying songs and video clips) but that of downloading and refreshing podcasts. I subscribe to around 10 podcasts with iTunes and it seems that if I set it to download more than one episode of anything at once, it very often just doesn’t download anything. And it’s not download speed that is the matter, I don’t think, because when I tell it to just download one episode, or update just one podcast feed, then it’s okay and rather fast.

If anyone have any ideas of what the problem could be, please let me know and I’ll share it with everyone here.

Open source Mac software

We have now permanently moved to EmiratesMac.com and will not be posting anything else at this site. Please join us at the new site where we continue to post on anything concerning Apple, Mac, and iPod in the UAE. We also provide discussion forums where you can discuss issues, ask for help, or comment on what’s going on. See you there!

Opensourcemac.org has a pretty comprehensive list of free and open source software for Mac.

Update: Here’s another good list.

iBook in Microsoft ad

Microsoft’s site about their server systems from a couple of weeks ago. Notice the ibook? And notice how the iBook is now gone from the page?

Mac mini projects

The Mac mini is a wonderful little machine and a good choice for most average home users. Apple has launched a site that highlights some of the more interesting things people have done with Mac minis.

Intel Mac rumors everywhere

The frenzy before the MacWorld Expo starting January 9 in San Francisco is worse than usual. The reason is of course that everyone seems to think that Macs based on Intel chips will be announced.

Hardmac.com reports that the 12-inch iBook is listed as “End-of-Life” in France, hinting that the Intel iBook is imminent.

Amanda Cantrell writes for CNN Money:

“I don’t have any independent confirmation on that, but I’d say it’s a pretty good bet,” said Roger Kay, an analyst with Endpoint Technologies. Kay added that Apple may bill the Intel Mac as the penultimate announcement, but then tack on a surprise announcement following that, a formula he said Apple has down cold.

“They try to roll out (new products) at a pace where just as you’re catching your breath with the last one you get whacked with the next one,” he said.

Gardner believes the Intel Mac launch will coincide with the introduction of Intel’s new dual core “Yonah” processors at the Consumer Electronics Show, being held the previous week in Las Vegas. He thinks Apple’s PowerBook will be the first product line to get Intel chips.

NEC has announced plans to launch Intel Yonah (which is what the rumored Intel Mac notebooks will use) based laptops:

NEC Corp. disclosed plans on Monday for its first laptop computer based on Intel Corp.’s Yonah dual-core mobile processor. Yonah is the code-name for the dual-core version of Intel’s Pentium M processor for laptops and small desktops. The chip is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2006 and is expected to be one of Intel’s main new products for next year.

The Lavie RX LR900 laptop was announced on the same day as NEC’s 2006 PC lineup. The company disclosed full technical details for the computer with the exception of the processor and chip set, which it listed as Yonah and Mobile Intel 945 Express family, respectively.

NEC said the LR900 will be based on Windows XP Home Edition, come with 512MB of main memory and a 100GB hard-disk drive. It will have a 14.1-in. LCD, DVD Super Multi drive (DVD-R/+R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW/+RW), 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The machine will weigh about 2 kilograms, and the battery will provide enough power to last about four hours.

Anandtech has tested the Yonah and come to some interesting conclusions:

With updated benchmarks and a more level playing field comparison to the Pentium M and Athlon 64 X2, we’re truly able to see the potential of Intel’s Core Duo processor. Our initial analysis still holds true, that for a notebook processor, the Core Duo will be nothing short of amazing for professionals. Looking at the performance improvements offered everywhere from media encoding to 3D rendering, you’re going to be able to do a lot more on your notebook than you originally thought possible (without resorting to a 12-pound desktop replacement). In the past, power users on the go had to sacrifice mobility for CPU power, but with the Core Duo, that is no longer the case. You will still most likely have to resort to something larger if you need better GPU performance, but at least your CPU needs will be covered. The one thing that Intel’s Core Duo seems to be able to do very well is to truly bridge the gap between mobile and desktop performance, at least in thin and light packages.

Sporadic updates

There’s been very sporadic updates to this site lately and the reason is simple, we don’t have any broadband internet access at home so it’s hard to post. We’ve been without working DSL now for four weeks and they tell us it’s going to be another two weeks before it’s working again because they have to order some parts.

So I’ll post when I can but unfortunately don’t expect much in the coming weeks.

Setting up a new PC is scary

Kim Komando – perhaps the name should give you a clue – writes for Cincinati.com about what you should do this holiday season if you receive a new PC from someone. Already in the introduction we can read “Fresh out of the box it’s vulnerable to viruses, scams and unwanted advertising.” No really? Komando then gives her readers a five-step action plan:

1. Establish a firewall.

2. Update Windows.

3. Prevent viruses.

4. Stop the spies.

5. Extra protection.

Now, I’m not saying this is totally uninteresting for Mac users. Obviously we should be concerned about our security and privacy online, just as PC users. But the simple fact is that there is still not a single virus or other malware for Mac OS X. With that in mind, I’m that if you instead get a Mac as a gift you will have much less problems getting it all set up and going.

Reader question: Mac games

A reader emailed and asked if there is anywhere in the UAE where you can buy Mac games. Unfortunately I don’t know of where, but if you know of a place, please let me know and I’ll add it to the site.