Product Reviews Net » Mac OS X http://www.product-reviews.net Information on the latest gadgets, technology, news and product reviews Sat, 26 May 2012 11:39:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Mac Flashback Trojan is not a virus http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/04/09/mac-flashback-trojan-is-not-a-virus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mac-flashback-trojan-is-not-a-virus http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/04/09/mac-flashback-trojan-is-not-a-virus/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:51:31 +0000 Daniel Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=150033 Apple Mac OS X users have been taking it for granted where viruses are concerned, and most Windows users would have been shocked to hear they don’t need antivirus software when moving to Mac, although it has always been expected for things to change the more popular Mac OS X becomes.

Meet the Mac Flashback Trojan that some people confuse as a Mac Virus – most people might like to categorize the Flashback as a virus, although it’s really a Trojan horse and shouldn’t be able to hurt other computers directly but should be taken seriously, especially if you still consider your Mac computer untouchable. While Mac OS X is less of a target when compared to Windows software, it’s also becoming more popular, which means an increase in malware targeting Mac users.

How to check for Flashback Trojan on Mac and ways to remove the infection – some reports claim that over half a million Mac users have been infected by the Flashback Trojan (aka BackDoor.Flashback.39), and the good news is there are ways to check if you have it and also some good sources that show users how to remove the Trojan.

Our recommendation is to skip the tools and first click update within Mac OS X, which should give you an update titled “Java for OS X Lion 2012-002“, although this name would change depending on the software you have installed. Our update was 66MB in size for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 7, which is well worth an install and recommended by Apple (read an article on Apple’s support website), so install that as soon as possible and before looking for system checkers. If you still want to use a tool to check your computer for this Flashback Trojan, then you can do so on Dr Web.

Are you worried about an increase in malware on Mac OS X? You can also read a full guide on how to remove the Flashback malware from OS X here.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/04/09/mac-flashback-trojan-is-not-a-virus/feed/ 0 iOS 5 and OS X Lion 10.7.2 live, problems discussed http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/10/12/ios-5-and-os-x-lion-10-7-2-live-p-roblems-discussed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ios-5-and-os-x-lion-10-7-2-live-p-roblems-discussed http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/10/12/ios-5-and-os-x-lion-10-7-2-live-p-roblems-discussed/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:49:37 +0000 Jamie Pert http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=142838 It’s that time of the year again folks, Apple has just rolled out iOS 5 for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, so we thought we would open up a post where people would be able to discuss any problems which were encountered when updating or post update, also as OS X Lion 10.7.2 has just launched we thought it would be worth discussing any issues encountered with this OS version.

Let’s start with a quick recap, firstly you can find out everything you need to know about iOS 5 here, as we predicted the update went live at the time mentioned in this post. Getting the update is simple, you can’t install it over-the-air, so load up iTunes, connect your iDevice and click “Check for Updates”.

As for OS X Lion 10.7.2 this will arrive via Software update, you can find out all about the delightful new features this update will bring here, however with so many different software and hardware configurations out there, don’t be surprised of you experience some teething issues.

We would love this to become the central point for any iOS 5 or Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2 update problems, this may allow us to help you fix the issue you encounter, or at least point you in the direction of known problems and potential fixes. So feel free to list any imperfections which you have spotted during the update process, or perhaps post update – remember to list which device you are using.

So far, us and some acquaintances have installed both iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion without any problems, we hope it goes as smoothly for you….

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/10/12/ios-5-and-os-x-lion-10-7-2-live-p-roblems-discussed/feed/ 4 Become a pinball wizard on your Mac or iOS Device http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/10/04/become-a-pinball-wizard-on-your-mac-or-ios-device/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=become-a-pinball-wizard-on-your-mac-or-ios-device http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/10/04/become-a-pinball-wizard-on-your-mac-or-ios-device/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:47:09 +0000 Gary Johnson http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=140648 There are a variety of different games that gamers can enjoy on their mobile devices of home PCs, and some are a take on the classics of years gone by or remakes from the arcades. Today we are looking at how you can become a pinball wizard on your Mac or iOS device.

First for owners of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch we have Hyperspace Pinball 1.1 by Gamieon, Inc. The game combines the classic pinball format but with the best from classic arcade shooters all in one app. Players have to try and save the world from invading aliens by using the pinball flippers to destroy them with an alien smashing light ball.

There are twenty levels for players to test themselves with, and Game Center integration included. You will need a steady hand and good aim to defeat the attacking aliens. Users will find three levels of difficulty and great graphics and game play. Hyperspace Pinball 1.1 is available worldwide on the App Store for only $0.99/£0.69.

A game that is available for users of the Mac is Pinball Tristan 1.0, and is another title that has received favorable reviews from users. Available to download via the Mac App Store the game has the retro feel and look of the classic arcade pinball machines. Users are provided with colorful 3D tables that have glittering lights and sounds. It will bring all the excitement of playing pinball to your Mac, and can be played in full screen mode.

There are several game techniques to master such as the nudging function and pass flip. The game is suitable for all ages to enjoy and will have you playing for ages. Hit the Mac App Store for more information and to download.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/10/04/become-a-pinball-wizard-on-your-mac-or-ios-device/feed/ 0 Robin Hood The Legend of Sherwood lands on the Mac http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/27/robin-hood-the-legend-of-sherwood-lands-on-the-mac/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=robin-hood-the-legend-of-sherwood-lands-on-the-mac http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/27/robin-hood-the-legend-of-sherwood-lands-on-the-mac/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:23:24 +0000 Gary Johnson http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=141348 There have been a few Hollywood films about the famous Robin Hood, and today we can tell you that Robin Hood The Legend of Sherwood lands on the Mac. The game has just been launched on the Mac App Store this week, as you take on the role of the hero to help the poor.

Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood 1.0 that was originally developed by Spellbound Entertainment is now available for OSX Lion. There are versions in English, French, and German as you take on the role of Robin Hood as well as his merry men. Players can also be Friar Tuck, Little John, or Will Scarlet as they take on the infamous Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy Gisbourne.

This is a real time strategy game as you take the battlefield against the likes of nasty Prince John Lackland. During the game you will enjoy the great English landscape of 1190 with massive castles and comical characters.

Your first mission will have you taking control of Robin Hood as you attempt to free your comrades, but you will have to be smart and fast. There are over thirty non-linear missions with five different castles that are visited at night and day times. You will even experience different weather conditions as you take the role of nine characters.

Users can take control of their hero’s sword in battle with an innovative fighting system, and a variety of tactics can be used to gain victory. Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood 1.0 is available worldwide on the Mac App Store for $19.99.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/27/robin-hood-the-legend-of-sherwood-lands-on-the-mac/feed/ 0 StarCraft II: New free-to-play ‘Starter Edition’ launched http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/04/starcraft-ii-new-free-to-play-starter-edition-launched/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=starcraft-ii-new-free-to-play-starter-edition-launched http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/04/starcraft-ii-new-free-to-play-starter-edition-launched/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:49:07 +0000 Tina Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=138416 If you haven’t quite got around to playing Blizzard Entertainment’s hugely popular real-time strategy game StarCraft II – which released back in July last year – yet, then now might be the ideal time to give it a go. The developer has just announced the launch of the new free-to-play StarCraft II: Starter Edition, which has in fact replaced the previously available demo.

As noted over on the us.battle.net website, all players need for the free-to-play StarCraft II: Starter Edition is a connection to the Internet and a Battle.net account. Those who sign up for the StarCraft II: Starter Edition will be allowed access to the first four missions of the game’s single-player campaign, including Mar Sara 1-3 and a choice of either Dr. Hansen’s first mission or Tychus’s first mission.

It will also provide them with access to the first two Challenge Missions: Covert Ops and Tactical Command and the terran race in Single-Player vs. AI and Custom Games, as well as access to custom maps such as High Orbit, Shattered Temple, Discord IV and Xel’Naga Caverns. Any achievements or campaign progress they earn while playing the Starter Edition will be automatically saved onto their Battle.net account.

This of course means that if players then choose to upgrade to the full version of the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty game, their achievements and progress will carry over. The custom game and multiplayer maps could be cycled from time to time. In addition, Starter Edition players will also be able to view their profile, ladder and achievements pages.

StarCraft II: Starter Edition players will only be able to play up until the 4th campaign mission, and most of the Challenge Missions will be unavailable. They won’t be able to use versus, co-op matchmaking, chat channels, most custom maps and the party system either. Although there are only 4 maps available at this stage, another will be made available soon.

Will you be signing up for the free-to-play StarCraft II: Starter Edition?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/04/starcraft-ii-new-free-to-play-starter-edition-launched/feed/ 0 Invalid serial number problem hounding Mac OS X 10.7 Lion upgrades http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/20/invalid-serial-number-problem-hounding-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-upgrades/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=invalid-serial-number-problem-hounding-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-upgrades http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/20/invalid-serial-number-problem-hounding-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-upgrades/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:10:35 +0000 Jamie Pert http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=137227 Earlier today we confirmed that Max OS X 10.7 was live and available to download, now we are hearing that some people are experiencing upgrade problems when it comes to the upgrade procedure’s serial number check, therefore we thought we would attempt to shed some light on the situation.

From what we can see some people are seeing an error which reads “invalid serial number” when attempting the upgrade to OS X Lion, one Twitter user (see here) suggests that this is a known database problem which Apple is working on, if you are affected you should try again in a few hours. One comment we read says “Anyone else getting “Invalid serial number” when going through the upgrading process at http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate?”, since then 19 people have replied, which suggests that it is not an isolated problem and should definitely be something Apple should be taking notice of.

We searched Twitter and Apple Discussions for some sort of official comment on the situation, however we did not find anything, we did spot a pattern and it seems as if people who bought their Macs more recently are more likely to be affected. You can check out a thread which talks about this particular issue over at Apple Discussions, people complaining about the problem reveal that they bought their Macs in June or July of this year. This suggests that Apple needs to update its database with serial numbers of recently sold Macbooks etc, perhaps this will resolve the issue.

We searched Twitter for recent tweets containing the term “serial number” and saw lots of reports of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion upgrade problems, it doesn’t seem to be affecting one particular model, in fact we have seen reports suggesting that the MacBook Pro and standard Macbooks are affected by this annoyance, that said we have seen no reports of iMacs being affected.

If you have experienced a serial number-related problem whilst upgrading to OS X 10.7 Lion we would love to hear from you, therefore feel free to answer any of the following question in the comments section below. What Mac are you trying to update? Did the problem resolve itself over time?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/20/invalid-serial-number-problem-hounding-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-upgrades/feed/ 31 Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, basic system requirements / compatible products http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/19/mac-os-x-10-7-lion-basic-system-requirements-compatible-products/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mac-os-x-10-7-lion-basic-system-requirements-compatible-products http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/19/mac-os-x-10-7-lion-basic-system-requirements-compatible-products/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:36:44 +0000 Jamie Pert http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=137150 We are still waiting for Apple to confirm the Mac OS X Lion release date, however in the mean time we have just come across an interesting article posted on Cnet which speaks about compatibility and is a good read if you are looking to buy Mac OS X 10.7 when it is available for download.

If you remember mid 2009 quite well you may recall that Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard required a Mac which featured an Intel processor, which made it the first OS X version to not support the PowerPC architecture, this is the case with Lion, however it also requires a 64-bit CPU. The good news is that any Mac purchased brand new from 2007 onwards should be compatible, however if you bought your Mac new in 2006, or perhaps purchased a used Mac which was manufactured in this year there are a few things you need to check.

The first thing you should do is to select “About this Mac” from the Apple menu, here processor information is shown. What you are looking for is “Core Duo”, “Solo” or “PowerPC” in the processor’s name, if you see this your Mac is not compatible with OS X 10.7 Lion, however don’t get “Core Duo” and “Core 2 Duo” mixed up as the latter will support the upcoming OS X version. If you see “Xeon”, “Core i3″, “Core i5″ or “Core i7″ your Mac should run Lion.

If you check out Cnet’s article you can see another way of checking to see if your Mac is compatible, this requires you to go into Terminal, enter a certain command and then check your Mac version via what Terminal shows, check out this link for full details.

As you can see the baring factor is whether or not your Mac features a 64-bit CPU, however according to OSXDaily you also need at least 2GB of RAM, OS X 10.6.6 or later, at least 4GB of free disk space (more recommended) and the Mac App Store installed. For those of you who do not have the Mac App Store installed you can find out how to get this here.

You can find out all about Mac OS X 10.7 Lion here, as you can see Apple clearly state that it will arrive in July, this means that at the time of this post it is a maximum of 12 days away, however many experts suggest that it will almost certainly arrive within the week.

Is your Mac incompatible? If so, will you buy a newer model?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/19/mac-os-x-10-7-lion-basic-system-requirements-compatible-products/feed/ 1 Mac OS X Lion printer compatibility problems need to be avoided http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/14/mac-os-x-lion-printer-compatibility-problems-need-to-be-avoided/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mac-os-x-lion-printer-compatibility-problems-need-to-be-avoided http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/14/mac-os-x-lion-printer-compatibility-problems-need-to-be-avoided/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:45:13 +0000 Jamie Pert http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=136821 When Apple released Snow Leopard back in August 2009 we posted this brief article which confirmed that upon download and installation people noticed that their HP printers were no longer supported, today we are wondering whether something similar will happen this time round and whether consumers will accept this if it occurs.

Let’s start by saying that when such a substantial update is released there are bound to be some problems affecting a relatively small amount of users, this is exactly what happened with Snow Leopard and most people found that updating printer software and drivers resolved most issues, so this time round don’t worry too much if you printer no loner works after the update as it could be easily resolved.

We have no reason to believe that any printers will suffer problems, however given the fact that HP printers experienced problems last time round we thought that we would try and help you out with ideas for simple fixes rather than you rushing out to buy a new model.

Firstly you may find that if you printer no longer works after installation re-installation of the device may resolve issues, firstly delete the printer by going into System Preferences and then selecting “Print and Fax”, here you will be able to delete the printer, which means that you will be able to re-install it from scratch. Simply unplug the printer and then plug it back in (if USB), you may find that OS X Lion installs your printer automatically, however if it does not or perhaps you have a wireless printer you may want to install the printer using the disc which was provided with the printer. If you find that this either does not fix the printer or perhaps will not run on OS X Lion, don’t worry though as there may be a simple solution.

Many peripheral manufacturers will release new driver downloads and software which makes their existing devices compatible with newly released operating systems, however you must remember that this is not an obligation and it is up to the companies as to whether they do this. If your printer ends up being incompatible it may be worth downloading the latest drivers to try to resolve the issue, the following links will take you to the applicable company’s driver download page (simply enter or find your printer model and then attempt to download the latest drivers). Canon, Epson, HP and Lexmark.

If you experience any problems with your peripherals after installing Mac OS X Lion let us know in the comments section below and our writers and readers will do our best to resolve the issue, it will also give us some insight as to which models are incompatible with the Apple’s latest OS X version.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/14/mac-os-x-lion-printer-compatibility-problems-need-to-be-avoided/feed/ 212 Update to Firefox 5.0.1 for Mac OS X Lion support http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/14/update-to-firefox-5-0-1-for-mac-os-x-lion-support/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=update-to-firefox-5-0-1-for-mac-os-x-lion-support http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/14/update-to-firefox-5-0-1-for-mac-os-x-lion-support/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:45:13 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=136763 Anticipation for Mac OS X Lion release date is very high right now; this is due to rumors that the new version will be available today. We had assumed that it would have been at 1am GMT, but that time has been and gone. Anyway, we know that it will not be long, which is why Mozilla is pushing you to update to Firefox 5.0.1 for full support. The reason for this latest update was due to an issue, which could have seen the browser crash while running in Apple’s new OS.

We know that Firefox has never worked its best with Mac OS X, so we can only hope that this issue has now been solved. Having tried both Safari and Firefox, the former has the edge in performance, but much prefer the features on the latter. Having said that, I could go on for hours about the pros and cons of both products.

Anyway, back to the subject of the update, GMA News reports that last week Mozilla had learned of a bug that would cause the browser to crash in Lion, as well as a Java plugin issue with 10.6 update 5. Thankfully both issues have now been resolved. Could you imagine the pain that Firefox users would have endured, having spent hours getting their system ready (with these five easy steps) only to find that it would crash in Firefox?

Firefox 5.0.1 will be an out of cycle update, but is considered one of the most important, because if Mozilla had not launched it before the Lion release this would have been considered unwise, as it would have angered a number of its users.

Users of the current version of Mac OS X do not need to worry, as this is a non-issue for them. We also need to point out that this Firefox update does not affect any other OS. As for the next official Firefox update, version 6 is due on August 16 – 17, 2011.

Mac OS X Lion will offer a couple of firsts for Apple; the first is that the update will be made available for download via the Mac App Store. The second is its price, the upgrade will cost just $29.99 – how many new operating systems do you know that costs as little as that? This will be a huge test for the company; so will be interesting to see how many people take Apple up on this inviting offer.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/07/14/update-to-firefox-5-0-1-for-mac-os-x-lion-support/feed/ 1 Avernum 6 on Mac App Store – final game in series http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/06/15/avernum-6-on-mac-app-store-final-game-in-series/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=avernum-6-on-mac-app-store-final-game-in-series http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/06/15/avernum-6-on-mac-app-store-final-game-in-series/#comments Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:34:13 +0000 Marlon Votta http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=134556 The great role-play game Avernum 6 on the Apple Mac is the final game in the series.

Avernum 6 by Spiderweb Software is the final game of this epic fantasy. Spiderweb Software Inc has just announced the release of the unique award winning RPG. Avernum 6 is a game packed with captivating storylines, countless quests, epic battles and many great characters.

Keep your people safe using over 50 spells, battle options and many secret skills that you will have to unlock. The weird world of Avernum is underground and hosts labyrinths, dungeons and caves for you to journey through. With many enemies to encounter you will have to concentrate using certain skills to defeat them.

Many disasters are happening making Avernum a dangerous place. With starving refugees, looking for power and treasures there are many surprises to watch out for during your adventure. This unique game has individual encounters with treachery, epic battles and many magical items to find and adapt as weapons.

The Avernum series has a great individual theme and comes to a conclusion with Avernum 6. To download this application and get more details, visit the Mac App Store.

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