• EU Mac Pro sales to stop March 1st (sponsor blog)
• Matrox DS1 (Thunderbolt dock) review (PC Adv. UK)
• Strange days before MW Expo bring back talk of Hackintosh
• Apple Is Cheapest Growth Stock You Will Ever Own (Forbes)
• Apple TV Said to Start Carrying HBO App Later This Year (bloomberg)
  
  
• Many Web reports Thursday (1/31/2013) on Apple disabling Java again via an XProtect update. Here's an example thread (also here) with unofficial workarounds like XProtect plist edits for anyone desperate. (BTW: I thought today's XProtect update (requiring 1.7.11.22 or later) disabled even the (Oracle) Java 7 Update 11 from Jan 13th, as posts said (Oracle's) Java 7 Update 11 was also been disabled, but one web story said the Jan 13th (J7 U11) update wasn't affected. (A later post in the Apple has blocked Java 7 Update 11 (and earlier) thread says FireFox gives him a warning but works, where Safari doesn't.)

  Update (Java 6 Update 39 and Java 7 Update 13 Posted) On Friday (Feb. 1st), Oracle updated their Java Downloads page with Java 7 Update 13 for OS X 10.7.3 and later. They also released Java 6 Update 39 but not for OS X, however on Friday night Apple posted Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 12, which is Java 6 Update 39.
     FYI: I have always linked to Oracle's Developer download pages, not java.com which Apple's Java Updates doc refers to for Mac Java 7 installs. I always used the Dev links from habit, but was glad I'd posted them instead after seeing an article (Zdnet/Windows) recently (Jan 22nd) about 3rd party software installers included with some Java.com updates/DLs.)

• Bluetooth: Unreliable wireless performance may occur when USB 3.0 external devices are close (includes common sense suggestions like moving USB 3 device and better shielded USB 3.0 cables. Note the Macs listed include Mac Pro (none yet have onboard USB3) but not the new iMac which does have USB 3.0. (If not omitted by mistake, then maybe its design is better shielded.) Adding this to my Late 2012 mini page which has some previous notes/links/tips on USB 3 interference with BT/2.4Ghz Wifi.)
  
  
• MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues
  (Ref: 8600M GT repair program (4yr extension) that ended Dec 7, 2012. Appears to have added "and as of Dec 7th 2012, it is unlikely products qualify for this extended repair coverage." Video page here has a -long- article from 2008-2012 on MBP/8600M repairs/tips.)
  
  
• Mac Basics: The essentials
• Mac Basics: Change your screen saver
• How to find out if you have multiple Apple IDs

• Synology DS213air review: Wireless feature doesn't add enough value
• First 25G boards may ride Panasonic's Megtron-6
• Java: How to fix your biggest Internet security risk
• Firmware exploit gains control of 18 brands of security cameras
• NailDisplay shows what's underneath your thumb on touchscreens
• Peeling a City Apart to Show How Structures Survive Disasters
• 6 Rock 'n Roll Urban Legends - Debunked
• (Affordable) Yamaha YAS-101 Soundbar Review

Wednesday Jan. 30, 2013 News Archive
• MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.6
• MacBook Air SMC Firmware Update 1.8
• MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.5 (dmg download fails verify?)
• Review of AutoCAD for Mac 2013
• (Short) Review of iMac 27"
• Review of AQ Audio SmartSpeaker A1 (AirPlay/DLNA)
• Apple's 128GB iPad Defends Against Intel's Haswell Assault On ARM
• New/Updated Apple Support/How-To/Troubleshooting Articles:
  - About HDCP and Apple products
  - Startup key combinations for Intel-based Macs
  - EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs
  - iBooks Author: About HTML widget creation
  - iOS: Setting up Home Sharing on your device
  - iMovie '11: Alert occurs when importing multiple iFrame video files - Mac computers: Apple USB SuperDrive and MacBook Air SuperDrive compatibility
• Other News/Reviews/Alerts/Op-Ed/OT:
  - Intel (mSATA) SSD 525 Review (240GB)
  - Beware sophisticated Twitter phishing scams
  - Browsers Beat Security Software in Phishing Protection Test
  - Mozilla Security Blog: Putting Users in Control of Plugins
  - Toyota recalls 1 million Corollas and Lexus IS sport sedans
  - Welcome to IBM's Supercomputer Waterworld of the Future
  - YouTube Set to Introduce Paid Subscriptions This Spring
  - Win One Of 3 Deluxe Editions Of The Electric Man DVD
  - Affordable Injection Molding Transforms Tinkerers Into Tycoons

For links to older news pages, see the Archives.