Apple released a bunch of software updates over the past week, focusing on fixes and compatibility issues, especially with the iLife software suite.

Here are the whole list:

• iLife Support 9.0.3 – direct download
  iLife Support provides system software resources that are shared by iLife and other applications. This update addresses general compatibility issues, improves overall stability for the Media Browser, and fixes a number of other minor issues. The issues addressed include:
  • Resolved memory leaks for improved performance of the Media Browser
  • Corrected issues to display custom folders when added to the Media Browser
  • Maintained correct image dates when importing from iPhoto to Aperture

• iMovie Update 8.0.3 – direct download
  This update addresses general compatibility issues, improved overall stability and fixes a number of other minor issues. The issues addressed include:
  • Support for 720p AVCHD Lite cameras and camcorders
  • Deleting a beat marker no longer modifies the project duration
  • Video Effects palette now uses the correct thumbnail for still images

• iPhoto Update 8.0.3 – direct download
  This update addresses general compatibility, improves overall stability and fixes a number of issues in the following areas of the application:
  • Publishing to MobileMe, Facebook, and Flickr
  • Slideshow playback
  • Location (GPS) info embedded in emailed photos and exported JPEGs

• iDVD Update 7.0.4 – direct download
  This update addresses general compatibility issues and fixes an issue where iDVD is unable to add title/comment to an image in the image details list. This update is recommended for all users of iDVD version 7.

• Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.6 – direct download
  This update extends RAW image compatibility for Aperture 2, iPhoto ’08, and iPhoto ’09 for the following cameras:
  • Canon EOS 500D, Canon Rebel T1i, Canon EOS Kiss Digital X3
  • Nikon D5000
  • Olympus E-30

• AirPort Utility 5.4.2 for Mac – direct download
  This update includes general fixes and compatibility updates for the following applications: AirPort Utility and AirPort Base Station Agent. The update also installs AirPort Disk Utility on Macs running Tiger.

• QuickTime 7.6.2 for Mac – direct download
  QuickTime 7.6.2 includes changes that increase reliability, improve compatibility and enhance security

• GarageBand 5.0.2 – direct download
  This update addresses general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and fixes a number of other minor issues.

• iTunes 8.2 – direct download
  iTunes 8.2 now supports iPhone or iPod touch with the iPhone 3.0 Software Update. iTunes 8.2 also includes many accessibility improvements and bug fixes.

Did it help fix any issue for you? Let us know

Just a routine update for QuickTime, coming up to version 7.6. To update, you can either access the Software Update from your desktop or go to QuickTimes page.

Details of the updates from the Apple Support Page:

QuickTime 7.6 includes changes that increase reliability, improve compatibility and enhance security. This release is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users.

The updates are as follows:

• Video:
  • Improves single-pass H.264 encoding quality
  • Increases the playback reliability of Motion JPEG media
• Audio:
  • Improves AAC encoding fidelity
  • Audio tracks from MPEG video files now export consistently
• Application Support:
  • Improves compatibility with iChat and Photo Booth

One of the first thing most new switchers ask when they get their first Mac is how do they watch movie files that they downloaded online, some of the most popular ones are like avi and wmv files. By default, the only media player in your Mac is the QuickTime player, which does not support many formats out of the box. So here are three solutions that you need, to allow your Mac to view the files you need.

First thing to do is to download the VLC media player from VideoLAN. This app can play almost all formats available online, including DVDs and VCDs and best of all, it is FREE!

However, if you are looking to play the various video formats straight from your Finder with Quick Look or QuickTime, there are two products that will complete the threesome.

The first one is Perian – the swiss-army knife of QuickTime® components. This covers most formats available except Windows Media.

When you install Perian, it appears as a Preference Pane in your System Preference and allows QuickTime to decode all the various file formats and watch those files.

Here’s the list of supported media:

• File formats: AVI, DIVX, FLV, MKV, GVI, VP6, and VFW
• Video types: MS-MPEG4 v1 & v2, DivX, 3ivx, H.264, Sorenson H.263, FLV/Sorenson Spark, FSV1, VP6, H263i, VP3, HuffYUV, FFVHuff, MPEG1 & MPEG2 Video, Fraps, Snow, NuppelVideo, Techsmith Screen Capture, DosBox Capture
• Audio types: Windows Media Audio v1 & v2, Flash ADPCM, Xiph Vorbis (in Matroska), and MPEG Layer I & II Audio, True Audio, DTS Coherent Acoustics, Nellymoser ASAO
• AVI support for: AAC, AC3 Audio, H.264, MPEG4, and VBR MP3
• Subtitle support for SSA/ASS and SRT

Download it here

And if you need to watch anything that is in Windows Media format, you will need Flip4Mac, that was acquired by Microsoft a while back.

Both the Perian and Flip4Mac makes it possible to watch these files right from your Desktop using Quick Look (press SPACEBAR when you select the file in Finder) or preview it when you choose Get Info (Cmd+I).

MacBook, MacBook Pro Trackpad Firmware Update 1.0

Apple just released a firmware update for the new unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro that will fix some trackpads that don’t register clicks when pressed upon.

This firmware update addresses an issue where trackpad clicks may not be recognized on MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) and MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) computers.

Do be advised that firmware update sometimes can be a dicey affair, so make sure your data are backed up before you do the update.

Start your Software Update or download the firmware updater here.

23″ Cinema Display EOL?

TUAW posted yesterday that Apple has pulled the plug on the 23″ Cinema Display although you can still find it in the Singapore Apple Store for S$1,448.

This might be in preparation for the release of the new 24″ LED display which is also listed at S$1448, that was launched at the last event when the new laptops were announced.

QuickTime H.264 compatibility update

Apple also released a small (2.8Mb) update for QuickTime 7.5.5 that improves QuickTime compatibility with iChat, which kinda says not much at all. But heck, just update.

Start Software Update or download the update here (requires re-booting)