The changes in 10.5.3 are included below:

The Mac OS X 10.5.3 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X 10.5 and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac.

General

• Includes recent Apple security updates.
• Fixes a font issue that could result in Helvetica Narrow being used in applications instead of Helvetica.
• Addresses an issue with stuttering video and audio playback in certain USB devices.
• Resolves stability issues with Word of the Day, iTunes Artwork, and Slideshow screen savers.
• Fixes an issue in which certain attached hard drives may not show up in the Finder.
• Addresses an issue with .Mac syncing of Dashboard widgets over multiple Macs that use different screen resolutions.
• Includes additional RAW image support for several cameras.
• Improves the accuracy of the Software Update progress bar indicator.
• Addresses an issue in which Finder may not be available if the computer name is blank in Sharing preferences.
• Improves Active Directory binding and login.
• Eliminates a delay when logging in as an Active Directory user in a .local domain.
• Improves Spotlight searches on a AFP file server volumes.
• Clients can now change their password at the login window when bound to a Mac OS X 10.4 Open Directory server.
• Improves Safari reliability when connecting to the Internet through a Microsoft ISA proxy.

Address Book

• Addresses reliability issues when searching for contacts using built-in search.
• Resolves issues with mapping addresses that contain an ampersand character (&).

AirPort

• Improves 802.1X behavior and reliability.
• Improves reliability when using Time Capsule.

Automator

• Addresses an issue in which some actions may not work with the “Show When Run” option enabled.
• Resolves an issue in which the “New iCal Event” action may not work.
• Resolves an issue that prevents workflows from being saved in the Finder’s contextual menu.
• Fixes reliability issues for Automator scripts that search for files by date.
• Resolves an issue that prevents workflows from being saved in the Finder’s contextual menu.
• Addresses an issue in which Automator workflows as Finder plugins do not work when the workflow begins with the “Get Selected Finder Items” action.
• Fixes an issue in which the “Copy Files” action does not reliably work when added from Automator’s warning dialog.

iCal

• Addresses potential privacy issues by allowing events to be marked as private.
• Resolves an issue in which the inspector does not show capacity and availability info for conference rooms within a building.
• Addresses an issue in which the current day could appear in the left-most column of the weekly view.
• Addresses reliability issues with meeting alarms, invitations and attachments.
• Resolves issues with reliability when restoring from iCal backups.
• Fixes accuracy issues with auto-completion, availability data and location names.
• Resolves an issue in which iCal may send cancellation notices for events in the past after a calendar is deleted.
• Fixes reliability issues with iCal syncing.

iChat

• Addresses reliability issues with screen sharing.
• Resolves an issue in which saved chat transcripts may reported as “still in use” after opening and closing them in iChat.
• Resolves an issue with group chats not being indexed in Spotlight.
• Only the last 250 messages of an active chat are saved.  Fixed to save unlimited number of lines.
• Addresses issues with echo cancellation that may occur on portable Macs.

Mail

• Resolves an issue in which Mail may prevent idle sleep when set to automatically check for new messages every minute.
• Addresses stability issues that may be encountered when dragging large attachments into an email message.
• Fixes an issue that could occur if two compose windows are open when dragging a file to the Mail icon in the Dock.
• Addresses reliability issues when changes are made to a mailbox while offline.
• Resolves wrapping issues that may be found with consecutive spaces in plain text.
• Fixes issues with certain web pages appearing garbled when emailed from Safari.
• Fixes an issue in which the Sent, Drafts, and Outbox mailboxes incorrectly list the “cc” recipients in the “To” column.
• Addresses reliability issues with attachments added to plain text notes.
• Fixes reliability issues with authenticated RSS feeds.
• Resolves an issue in which attaching an alias to an email message may not send the actual file.

Parental Controls

• Addresses reliability issues with application logging and time limits.
• Resolves an issue in which Parental Controls may prevent forced sleep.
• Addresses performance issues with web content filters.
• Fixes an issue with managed accounts in which iChat transcripts may not be created.
• Addresses issues with 4-byte files and whitelist.
  
  

Spaces

• Resolves an issue in which switching to a different space and returning back to the original space may reorder the application windows with a different active window.
• Resolves an issue in which activating an application from the Dock switches to a different space, even if there is a window for that application in the current space.
• Fixes an issue in which Command-Tab may incorrectly switch to a new space.
• Addresses reliability issues with Spaces when syncing preferences over .Mac.

Time Machine

• Includes fixes for Time Machine compatibility with Time Capsule.
• Resolves certain issues when backing up a portable Mac that is on battery power.
• Addresses compatibility issues with Aperture 2.
• Addresses reliability issues when performing a full restore from a Time Machine backup.
• Fixes an issue in which certain function keys may be disabled after using Time Machine.
• Fixes a possible alert message that incorrectly states a backup volume does not have enough space.
• Updates Time Machine to reliably restore attachments and messages in Mail.

VoiceOver

• Includes Braille Update 1.0 which enables GW Micro, HandyTech, HIMS, Nippon, and Papenmeier Refreshable Braille displays.
• Addresses an issue with Braille dot 7 and 8 underlining.
• Fixes an issue in which HTML page anchors may be ignored by the VoiceOver cursor.
• Fixes an issue that prevented Hot Spots from being used in text areas.
• Resolves an issue with spell checking in which VoiceOver may only announce the first misspelled word if there are multiple words spelled incorrectly.
  

[Source: Apple]

A good computer tech should be able to reasonably diagnose your computer’s issues in 30 minutes or less. Any more than that, you should be able to negotiate a lower rate — or have them walk away from the whole thing with no obligation.

A good computer tech should be able to provide a fairly sound estimate on the Level of Effort (LOE) involved and stick to it. Any time a tech anticipates further time is needed on a system, they should contact the owner and let them know ahead of time, before accruing more time on it.

A good computer tech will not just reinstall, but rather, know when a computer problem is worth fixing manually and when it isn’t. Further, an experienced technician should be able to fly on his own, not requiring your drivers and discs. (However, requiring your computer’s serial number is understandable.)

A good computer tech will always consult you on backing up and restoring most data, including favorites, saved e-mails, documents, music, videos, and most software that you have on your computer. On that note, a good computer tech will not hold your data “hostage” by charging an exorbitant amount for this service. (This should be no more than an additional $20 at most).

A good computer tech will be able to confidently inform you of their labor rates. Depending on your area of the country, it will range between $40 and $120 per hour. Places like Geek Squad operate on “Flat Rate” (like an Automotive shop), and you are paying a lot more money in the end when the bill is calculated. Most things Geek Squad does only take minutes to complete.

Finally, ask a technician what experience they have — such as asking for certifications like A+ or other similar industry certifications. It’s generally OK if a technician isn’t certified, considering that the material that A+ tests against are from baseline computer standards from over four years ago. Anyhow, feel welcome to ask a technician if they’ve ever resolved issues like yours before. If it’s the first time, you may want to consider another technician.

As I’ve said earlier, these are a handful of tips for folks who are looking for a decent computer tech to hire. Go with your instincts with the information you have — never feel forced to pay a technician if you don’t feel right about it.

Oh, it’s also a good idea and good karma to provide the same technician with repeat business; as they will often provide you discounts and save you a good amount on diagnostics since they are familiar with your computer.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) has been the connection method for millions of users on the Web; but Cable has finally edged out DSL last week. Traditionally, DSL is offered by telephone companies and cable is offered by cable companies.

There is a lot of ads, propaganda and misconceptions floating around that state DSL is better (or worse) than Cable. We’d like to help set it straight

It’s true that DSL lines are private, dedicated lines from the telephone company providing stable and constant bandwith. DSL works off the existing phone lines you have installed, and require the use of a DSL Modem. DSL typically reaches speeds of 768 Kilobits all the way up to 7 Megabits per second.

It’s also true that Cable lines are shared — though securely — with your neighborhood and bandwidth may fluctuate. Cable works off the existing cable lines and require a Cable Modem to operate. Cable typically reaches speeds of 1 Megabits all the way up to 16 Megabits per second.

Should you get cable because it’s faster? Not necessarily.

Let’s take a look at the price for performance:

Considering the speed and the price, Cox’s 9 Megabit plan offers the best overall value. However, based on price alone and total cost, it appears the Qwest 256Kb plan is the best. As you can see, you’re not getting as much value with the 256Kb plan with Qwest, in this example.

We encourage you to compare the prices and determine what’s more important — speed, price or reliability.

If you have one or two computers and simply check e-mail, the Qwest 256Kb plan may be best for you. If you have three or more computers and are heavy downloaders, the Cox 9Mb plan may be ideal. If you live for downloading albums, movies, software and streaming content; the Cox 15Mb plan may be best.

It’s important to understand that all the “hidden” fees in the form of taxes and surcharges. Be sure to inquire how much taxes are when you are pursuing switching to a new provider.Generally, Cable is less regulated than telephone companies — but as soon as you bundle VoIP with your cable service, you will be assessed the same fees as the telephone companies.

Data provided by Cox Communications and Qwest; Arizona, 5/27/2008.

Pidgin is completely free and open source — meaning that the software the work of thousands of dedicated individuals seeking to make it the best Instant Messaging client.

Pictured to the right, here is what Pidgin looks like for me. I’m running Ubuntu Linux 8.10; Gnome desktop and connected to AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). What you can see is that it’s simple, ad-free, and offers features that many Internet users (and likely, your buddies) want.

Pidgin also supports additional plugins that facilitate saving and exporting buddy lists, encrypting messages and more. This is incredibly useful for extending the features of the software or complying with standards in encrypted communications.

Pidgin was originally named, “Gaim,” but after much litigation from AOL, they changed their name and refocused their mission to support multiple IM networks. It supports all flavors of Linux and Windows.

Another popular alternative IM client is Trillian. They offer two versions: a free one and a paid one. Trillian offers many of the features of Trillian, gorgeous skins but lacks some of useful plugins found for Pidgin.

The Mac alternative IM client taking the world by storm is Adium. It’s totally free and is built on the same premise as Pidgin, supporting a wide variety of IM Networks.

No matter what you use, understand that there is choice, and it’s up to you to try it.

We fully recommend Trillian and Adium and support customizing and tweaking these IM clients to your needs — though you probably won’t need our help.

Firefox lets you browse the Web safely by blocking malicious pop-ups, spyware and unsafe Web scripts. Firefox will also let you easily manage your online privacy by enabling you to clear the cache every time after the browser closes. Like you, we love to browse the Web at full-throttle! The Mozilla  Web browser is very fast because it doesn’t come with all the additional junk you don’t need and can be optimized to make use of advanced features to access pages quickly.

How to Clear Private Data Automatically When Firefox is Closed:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click the Tools menu, select Options.
3. Click the Privacy Tab.
4. Check the box labeled, “Always clear my data when I close Firefox.“
5. Click the Settings button and choose what items you’d like to clear.
6. When finished, click the Close button.

Naturally, we all want more speed and efficiency from our consumer products, Firefox isn’t alone. For that you can install the FasterFox, which will fully optimize Firefox to access and display Web content, quicker.

Of course, Firefox isn’t the only other browser in the neighborhood. Opera is another excellent choice for Internet users to consider. This standards-compliant browser is gaining popularity among Internet-standard Evangelists. If you have a Blackberry or similar Smart-Phone, you will appreciate the competitive nature of Opera compared to the Web browser included with your phone.

Mac and Linux users can benefit from these alternative Web browsers. Safari may have some issues loading certain Web sites, but that’s where Firefox’s strength is in — compatibility — with millions of Web sites.

It’s your choice, so try them both see what you like better. We support both of them and can assist with migration of settings if you need help.

We know, it’s annoying, upsetting or even depressing: you’re always nagged to install updates from Microsoft. It’s alright, it’s not personal. Unfortunately, getting these updates is extremely vital to prevent your computer from becoming compromised — spewing spam, viruses and other illegal activities from your computer.

How To Obtain Windows Updates:

1. Close all applications and open Internet Explorer. (The blue “e” on your Desktop.)
2. Click the Tools menu, then click Windows Update. Alternatively, just navigate to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/.
3. Proceed through and click YES, ACCEPT or CONTINUE as needed. Depending on the updates, you may be required to restart your computer.
4. Update your additional software like anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware software to maximize compatibility.

How To Obtain Mac (Apple) Updates:

1. Close all applications.
2. Click the Apple menu, then click Software Update.
3. When asked, enter your Administrative Password.
4. Proceed through and click I AGREE as needed. Depending on the updates, you may be required to restart your computer. (We recommend that you do.)

It’s that easy. It would be a good idea to make it a habit to check Microsoft TechNet to determine at a finer detail what updates are being distributed so you can anticipate the changes.

If you experience Windows Update errors, it’s a good idea to Google for it to find answers, or contact us and we can remedy Windows Update trouble quickly and efficiently.

That tool is named CCleaner (formerly called “Crap Cleaner”). This amazing, free, tool can eradicate junk files in the following areas on your computer:

• Internet Explorer
  - Temporary File Cache
  - URL History
  - Cookies
  - Hidden Index.dat files
  - Last download file location
• Firefox
  - Temporary File Cache
  - URL History
  - Cookies
  - Download manager
• Recycle Bin
• Clipboard
• Windows Temporary files
• Windows Log files
• Recent Documents (on the Start Menu)
• Run history (on the Start Menu)
• Windows XP Search Assistant history
• Windows XP old Prefetch data
• Windows memory dumps after crashes
• Chkdsk file fragment

Perhaps you want to optimize and clean your Registry; CCleaner can do that, too. From our experience, CCleaner can clean a registry very thoroughly compared to other solutions on the market.

Now, if you want to browse some temporary areas of your hard drive, you can do that, too. Often, you can click Start, then Run and enter any of the following:

• Cookies
• TEMP
• C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\

We recommend clearing your temporary files weekly, or at least monthly. Temporary files are useful for making some applications run faster — that’s the idea behind temporary files — but when there are too many temporary files, your computer can get overloaded. Further, we recommend clearing temporary files always before performing a defrag.

What is Defragging?

Take a 1000-piece puzzle set, shake it up and build it under a minute. Sound difficult? Well, that’s what your hard drives do on a continual basis with your files. Over time, the hard drive moves files around but forgets where they put them. This process is known as fragmentation. Fragmented files become slow to access and can result in data loss in severe situations.

To cure fragmented files, you need to perform defragmentation (known as “defragging”). Depending on how often you use your computer, we recommend defragging monthly so you achieve the perfect balance between load and performance for your computer. Defragging is only needed for Microsoft Windows users. For Apple users, they can “Repair Disk Permissions” for a similar benefit. Linux users do not need to defrag.

How to Defrag

Windows XP users can defrag their computer by following these steps:

1. Close all applications and delete your temporary files.
2. Double-click on My Computer, which is often found on the Desktop or the Start Menu.
3. Right-click on the primary drive, often the C Drive, and click Properties.
4. Under the Tools tab, click on the button labeled Defragment Now.
5. At the next window, click the Defragment button.

Windows Vista users can defrag their computer by following these steps:

1. Close all applications and delete your temporary files.
2. Click Start and then All Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools and click Disk Defragmenter.
3. If prompted, allow the Windows Defragmenter to continue.
4. Click Defragment.

Mac OS X users can repair Disk Permissions by following these steps:

1. From Finder, click the Go menu and select Applications.
2. Scroll down and double-click the Utilities folder.
3. Open the Disk Utility, the icon looks like a hard drive and a stethoscope.
4. Click Repair Disk, located on the right side of the window.

Defragging isn’t a cure-all, but a machine that is regularly defragged runs significantly faster. When the operating system can properly account for all the files on the hard drive, it will be much more reliable. It’s recommended that a machine is defragged approximately every month for ideal performance.

When looking into an e-mail provider, you want to be able to leverage features, reliability and ease of use. Not everyone has the same needs, so you may want to create an e-mail account on a number of e-mail providers and test them out to see how they meet your needs.

We’ll take a look at a number of top e-mail providers and share our perspective on them.

• AOL/AIM E-Mail  (http://mail.aol.com)

  • Format: Web, AOL software, POP and IMAP
  • Pros: Easy to use, integrated address book, calendar and Instant Messaging. Short e-mail address — aol.com or aim.com respectively, strong anti-spam controls, integration with AOL Pictures and X-Drive (online storage) at no charge.
  • Cons: Senders experience poor e-mail delivery due to aggressive anti-spam filtering, service experiences frequent outages and downtime without adequate filtering, negative appeal among Internet power users, very heavy on advertisements.

• GMail (Google) E-Mail  (http://mail.google.com)

  • Format: Web, POP and IMAP
  • Pros: Easy to use, integrated address book, GTalk and AIM Instant Messaging. Simple e-mail address — gmail.com.  Strong and flexible anti-spam controls, integration with a wide array of Google services. Offers e-mail forwarding, custom away messages and flexible mail filtering (tagging) and custom “from” addresses.
  • Cons: Web mail loads quickly, but older browsers may experience difficulty.

• Yahoo E-Mail  (http://mail.yahoo.com)

  • Format: Web
    Pros: Easy to use, integrated address book,Yahoo Instant Messaging. Effective anti-spam controls, integration with a wide array of Yahoo services.
    Cons: Web mail loads quickly, but older browsers may experience difficulty, does not offer IMAP/POP connectivity for free, senders may experience sending e-mail to Yahoo addresses, unwanted spam may appear in Inbox.

• Live E-Mail  (http://mail.live.com)

  • Format: Web, Windows Mail/Outlook Express
  • Pros: Easy to use, integrated address book, e-mail address domains: live.com and hotmail.com. Effective anti-spam controls, integration with a wide array of MSN services.
  • Cons: Web mail loads quickly, but older browsers may experience difficulty, does not offer IMAP/POP connectivity for free, senders may experience sending e-mail to Hotmail addresses, unwanted spam may appear in Inbox. Software client access is restricted to Windows Mail (formerly, Outlook Express).

So which one is best?

There really isn’t one, but so far one provider does stand out, GMail. GMail does a pretty good job leveraging features, ease of use and reliability. It may take a little getting used to, but many people have switched and they love it.

Do you have a favorite e-mail provider? Share why in the comments below.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d like to hear from you.

Stay tuned for tips, tutorials and useful information!

All the best,

Joe