Remember my "why is it so difficult" post? Uh... never mind. *grin*

Hot, and like-minded ... intelligent, sarcastic with a healthy touch of the wicked, and filthy, filthy, filthy. To all those claiming I was looking for a unicorn... it seems to be grazing in my back yard.

I've been told I think like a man, and more recently, like a gay man (fickle as fuck)... but I could stand this for a while. I know there isn't a third arm anywhere, but, Dear God... fingers crossed there aren't dead bodies in his cellar (unless, of course, he purchased them from the Bone Room), he doesn't get hit by a bus, and his gf doesn't boil my cat.

Off to AU to hunt wallabies. And perhaps, more unicorns...

Yes, I know, insatiable. *wide grin*

Today at a BBC historical exhibit in one of our buildings, I read a "strictly confidential" letter. It was from a manager at the BBC replying to someone that yes, they would be interested in discussing whether an "electronic brain" could help reduce BBC clerical staff.

The letter was dated 22 November, 1949.

http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014651.html

Brooklyn family court employee: What's your daughter's name?
Mother: Chicago.
Brooklyn family court employee: Like the state?
Mother: Yes.

--Brooklyn Family Court

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289471903/crutch-vader-avoids-jail-dark-side-wins-again

http://gizmodo.com/389892/crutch-vader-avoids-jail-dark-side-wins-again

District Judge Andrew Straw has given Crutch Vader a "suspended 12 months" jail sentence plus an order to pay $500 to the "victims"—two morons members of the Jedi Church of England—and their lawyer. This means that Sir Lord Vader Von Drunk—real name Arwel Wynn Hughes—will avoid jail. Quite frankly, after seeing the video of his innocuous attack, I can't believe the judge actually considered putting this guy in jail. [BBC News]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289471904/phonetag-hacked-for-grandcentral-converts-voicemail-to-e+mail

http://gizmodo.com/389881/phonetag-hacked-for-grandcentral-converts-voicemail-to-e+mail

PhoneTag, the dudes who turn voicemail into text, have "hacked" Google's GrandCentral. The service that consolidates all of your phone numbers into one is useful for people on the go, but its voicemail system is clunky, especially for those needing fast access to messages. That's what makes this hack so clever.

When you sign up for PhoneTag, which formerly went by the incredibly nerdy name SimulScribe, you get a phone number to add to your GrandCentral account. When you miss a call, PhoneTag picks it up and records the message. The speech is converted to text, which is then sent to you via e-mail or text message, along with an audio attachment of the voicemail—two things Grand Central doesn't do. If you add your contact list to your PhoneTag account, the messages will appear from the senders so you can reply through e-mail right away. PhoneTag is free for a month, and plans range from $0.35/message to $30/month for unlimited messages.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289461770/lightcap-transforms-cancer-into-neat-lantern

http://gizmodo.com/389884/lightcap-transforms-cancer-into-neat-lantern

For those among us not afraid of mosquitoes or Bisphenol A, the LightCap 200 is a solar-powered LED light that screws onto 2" water bottles (like those from Nalgene), transforming them into lanterns. Just 2.6 ounces heavy and weatherproof (though "waterproof" might have been more reassuring), the $20 LightCap seems like a practical way to reduce the load of your camping gear while still reining over wildlife as its technological master. Plus, drop it into a bottle of Gatorade and you've got yourself a party light. [product via OhGizmo!]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289449261/a-new-worlds-most-expensive-gadget

http://gizmodo.com/389869/a-new-worlds-most-expensive-gadget

Watches were the original gadget. But unlike their silicon counterparts, good watches tend to appreciate over time. So barring that 5G iPhone prototype sitting in Jobs' desk, we believe this $2,157,760 Patek Philippe watch just auctioned at Sotheby's may be the world's new most expensive gadget. While the watch itself is a masterpiece, its historical weight tips the scales—owned by race car driver Carlo Felice Trossi, the watch was released in 1932, "a turning point which also saw car racing and the emergence of airplanes," as described by Sotheby's. [Telegraph via LuxuryLaunches] [Image: Reuters]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289471905/16+year+old-builds-elaborate-stalker-chernobyl-themed-pc

http://gizmodo.com/389700/16+year+old-builds-elaborate-stalker-chernobyl-themed-pc

It took around a year to put together from scratch, but a German PC modder going by the name "Froop" managed to build an elaborate PC casemod inspired by the Chernobyl theme in the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. The result is "Unit 4," a working PC model of Chernobyl complete with a flip-top that allows you to peer into the bowels of the destroyed power plant. The construction process is outlined in its entirety in the following links, but you can check out some pics of the early stages as well as the final product in the gallery. [Thebestcasescenario and bit-tech forums via TechEBlog]

http://lwn.net/Articles/281910/rss

Fedora 9 is out. "First to hit were the live USB keys. The heathens
cried out for mercy, but were powerless to resist. The sticks were damn
persistent and non-destructively formatted - non-destructively! They showed
up everywhere, casting out demons from computers infected by the dark one
of the interwebs and rescuing lost data from the influence of the evil
crackers." See the
release notes for a rather more sober description of Fedora 9.

http://lwn.net/Articles/281908/rss

The long-awaited KMyMoney 0.9 release is out. There's a lot of new stuff
here, including charts, budgets, forecasts ("Sadly, we are unable to accurately predict the future value
of your investments") a whole new set of wizards, better transaction
auto-filling, and more. Note that this is a development release, but it's
still an important step forward for a promising project.

http://lwn.net/Articles/281901/rss

The Debian project has sent out an
advisory stating that, due to a Debian-specific modification to the
openssl package, cryptographic keys generated on affected systems may be
guessable. "It is strongly recommended that all cryptographic key
material which has been generated by OpenSSL versions starting with
0.9.8c-1 on Debian systems is recreated from scratch. Furthermore, all DSA
keys ever used on affected Debian systems for signing or authentication
purposes should be considered compromised." The project has disabled public key logins on its internal
infrastructure in response.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/links/ZvUZ/~3/289423922/

http://www.links.org/?p=327

I’ve ranted about this at length before, I’m sure - even in print, in O’Reily’s Open Sources 2. But now Debian have proved me right (again) beyond my wildest expectations. Two years ago, they “fixed” a “problem” in OpenSSL reported by valgrind[1] by removing any possibility of adding any entropy to OpenSSL’s pool of randomness[2].

The result of this is that for the last two years (from Debian’s “Etch” release until now), anyone doing pretty much any crypto on Debian (and hence Ubuntu) has been using easily guessable keys. This includes SSH keys, SSL keys and OpenVPN keys.

What can we learn from this? Firstly, vendors should not be fixing problems (or, really, anything) in open source packages by patching them locally - they should contribute their patches upstream to the package maintainers. Had Debian done this in this case, we (the OpenSSL Team) would have fallen about laughing, and once we had got our breath back, told them what a terrible idea this was. But no, it seems that every vendor wants to “add value” by getting in between the user of the software and its author.

Secondly, if you are going to fix bugs, then you should install this maxim of mine firmly in your head: never fix a bug you don’t understand. I’m not sure I’ve ever put that in writing before, but anyone who’s worked with me will have heard me say it multiple times.

Incidentally, while I am talking about vendors who are bad for security, it saddens me to have to report that FreeBSD, my favourite open source operating system, are also guilty. Not only do they have local patches in their ports system that should clearly be sent upstream, but they also install packages without running the self-tests. This has bitten me twice by installing broken crypto, most recently in the py-openssl package.

[1] Valgrind is a wonderful tool, I recommend it highly.

[2] Valgrind tracks the use of uninitialised memory. Usually it is bad to have any kind of dependency on uninitialised memory, but OpenSSL happens to include a rare case when its OK, or even a good idea: its randomness pool. Adding uninitialised memory to it can do no harm and might do some good, which is why we do it. It does cause irritating errors from some kinds of debugging tools, though, including valgrind and Purify. For that reason, we do have a flag (PURIFY) that removes the offending code. However, the Debian maintainers, instead of tracking down the source of the uninitialised memory instead chose to remove any possibility of adding memory to the pool at all. Clearly they had not understood the bug before fixing it.

P.S. I’d link to the offending patch in Debian’s source repository. If I could find a source repository. But I can’t.

(Update)

Thanks to Cat Okita, I have now found the repo. Here’s the offending patch. But I have to admit to being astonished again by the fix, which was committed five days before the advisory! Do these guys have no clue whatsoever?

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http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289439448/canon-brings-bucket+shaped-selphy-cp770-to-us

http://gizmodo.com/389861/canon-brings-bucket+shaped-selphy-cp770-to-us

It was one of those wacky things we thought might not make it to the US but sure enough it has: Canon's CP770 Selphy printer lives, hermit-crab like, inside a bucket. Details of the thing are after the jump, but the US price is $150. Canon also announced the CP760, which won't be as cute, but is "compact" and costs just $100. Both printers use dye-sub layered printing, now with an "overcoat" technology to help cut back on blurring.

CANON U.S.A. TURNS PRINTING INTO PLAYTIME WITH TWO NEW COMPACT PHOTO PRINTERS New "Basket-Style" Photo Printer Blends Style With Convenience For All Ages LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., May 13, 2008 - Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging, announces two new additions to its line of compact photo printers: the radical SELPHY CP770 and the exciting ultra-compact CP760 Photo Printers. These sensibly sized photo printers tout a fresh, unique design which simplifies printing for all users and makes it easier to print photos instantly, almost anywhere. Whether it's baby's first steps in the nursery or grandma and grandpa's summer road trip, these compact photo printers can provide the whole family with instant memories almost anywhere -all without having to use a computer or camera to download images. These new printers are the perfect choice for anyone who wants to experience the joy of printing photos. The Canon SELPHY CP770 compact photo printer is the cute carry-it-all solution for those looking for a small photo printer for the home or on-the-go. The SELPHY CP770 photo printer comes bundled in a basket-style storage bucket, which not only houses the printer, but also stores coordinating accessories including paper, ink cartridge and power cord. The unique design is the first of its kind and allows consumers to tote the printer virtually anywhere they need to go: summer camp, birthday parties, wedding showers, or a scrapbooking get-together. Canon's new design innovations were created with a focus on improving mobility and usability based on the printers' broad range of uses, including printing photos for family albums, school art projects and scrapbooks. Each printer has larger buttons arranged in a "makes-sense" layout, designed for simplicity and easier navigation through menus. The number of buttons on each printer has been reduced from 12 buttons on previous models, down to nine for more simple functionality. "Canon wants to keep photography fun for the whole family by making it easier for children and adults to print out instant memories and share them with everyone," said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "The fun design and ease of use helps make these printers the perfect gift for anyone who wants a new and convenient way to display and share their photographs." Canon SELPHY CP770 Compact Photo Printer The inviting "basket" design and fun colors make this printer appealing for moms, kids, grandparents or anyone who wants access to a photo printer for their entire memory portfolio. At first glance, many might not think of the SELPHY CP770 as a photo printer because its appearance is such a natural fit for a child's playroom or family living room. An on-the-spot photo printer makes a great gift for friends and family, too. The printer is equipped with a 2.5" High-Definition LCD monitor to preview images before printing. The monitor itself has also been angled so that it can be easily viewed, even when sitting at a table that the printer is resting on. The SELPHY CP770 compact photo printer is available in a friendly apricot and crisp white color. The optional Canon NB-CP2 battery pack, makes it easier than ever to print photos while on the road or camping. The NB-CP2 battery pack can provide hours of printing power before each recharge and has a suggested retail price of $79.991 This printer makes it easier than ever to print out priceless shots taken from a mobile phone or other handheld device2 3. The CP770 compact photo printer supports the new, must-have "IrSimple" feature4 — a high-speed infrared wireless communications standard allowing consumers to wirelessly print snapshots from their mobile phones, PDAs or other digital devices. The printer accepts a wireless infrared signal to transmit photo data from mobile phones and other devices that support this standard. Canon SELPHY CP760 Compact Photo Printer Easy to use, the new Canon SELPHY CP760 compact photo printer helps turn digital images into photography with a compact simple to use design to print great 4x6 inch photographs and make the most out of a digital camera. Now the whole family can crowd around the printer and easily see images on the new 2.5 inch, Thin Film Transistor (TFT) control screen which can be clearly viewed from various angles. The easy-to-view screen also lets users quickly navigate through menus and neatly preview images before printing. The addition of simplified card slots lets users plug in memory cards or print straight from the camera with a USB cord. Portrait Image Optimize & Face Detection Without A Computer New Portrait Image Optimize technology from Canon allows users to correct and improve their image quality all without a computer. When "red-eye" occurs in photos, the CP770 and CP760 printers can automatically determine the position of the red-eye and change the pupils back to a natural color for printing. The CP770 and CP760 printers can lighten or darken individual areas of an image, making it possible to create a photograph where the face and background are well balanced. These functions will also identify a subject's face inside an image, and correct to the ideal brightness and coloring for "brilliant" images. New and Improved Photo Lamination Both the CP770 and CP760 photo printers feature new overcoat technology to help reduce blurring, and fingerprint smudges. After the yellow, magenta and cyan colors have printed, a special overcoat layer is applied to the image through a proprietary lamination process. Not only does the lamination help to reduce bleeding and blurring of printed photo, it also helps to reduce the risk of water and fingerprint smudges, as well as fading that can be caused by ultraviolet light, gas and other such environmental factors. Canon BU-30 Bluetooth Adaptor Making it even more convenient to print images is the optional Canon BU-30 Bluetooth adaptor. Available for both the SELPHY CP770 and CP760 photo printers for a suggested retail price of $49.991, the BU-30 adaptor allows images to be sent from Bluetooth enabled devices directly to the SELPHY model to be printed2. The SELPHY CP770 and CP760 compact photo printers carry an estimated retail price of $149.99 and $99.991, respectively.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289433105/microsofts-lifecam-vx+5000-webcam-is-bendy-portable-not-ugly

http://gizmodo.com/389815/microsofts-lifecam-vx+5000-webcam-is-bendy-portable-not-ugly

The LifeCam VX-5000 is Microsoft's first attempt at a halfway decent looking webcam: a lightweight, compact unit with a flexible base, it can hook on a laptop or monitor, or rest on a desk. The 640x480 video camera (1.3MP still) has 3x digital zoom as well as pan and tilt functions. The LifeCam features a Windows Live Call button on top to quickly start video chats with contacts, and PhotoSwap, which allows you to share pictures in a virtual photo album. The ring around the camera's outside comes in blue, green, or red, a very tiny way to express your individuality. It will retail for $50 when it comes out in June; full release after the jump. [MS Hardware]

REDMOND, Wash. May 13, 2008 Today, Microsoft Corp. reshapes the webcam experience with the LifeCam VX-5000, a webcam with a unique bendable attachment base that molds to virtually any surface — from your notebook to your desktop — so you can take it anywhere. For personalized flair, the LifeCam VX-5000 features a brightly colored ring around the front of the webcam that will be offered in the colors Cool Blue, Lucky Green and Fire Red, allowing consumers to choose their favorite to suit their style. To complement the fresh new look, the LifeCam VX-5000 features MSN Photo Swap, a special feature that lets consumers share digital photos in midvideo conversation and see real-time reactions as both callers view the pictures. The new webcam arrives just in time to help share summer vacation memories and keep consumers connected throughout the year. "With the LifeCam VX-5000, we are changing the perception of webcams from boring and bulky to fun and flexible," said Michael Cowan, product marketing manager for the Hardware Division at Microsoft. "We designed this LifeCam to match the experience its technology delivers — it's all about fun and letting consumers share their personalities."

Photo Swap: A Feature You'll Flip Over
Digital camera owners have on average more than 1,200 photos stored on their computer, and Photo Swap helps bring the pictures to life as a virtual photo album. Using Windows Live Messenger, consumers can easily share pictures from summer vacations or holiday gatherings with ease. The best part is with Photo Swap they can see and hear the reaction of their friends and family — whether across town or across the country — and feel like they are sitting right next to each other.
See, Hear, Share — Easy as 1, 2, 3
The VX-5000 comes with Windows Live optimizations and the latest version of LifeCam software, making it easier than ever for users to experience a great video call. Key features and benefits include the following:
Windows Live Call Button, located on top of the LifeCam, allows users to open their Contact Picker (a tool showing which contacts are currently online) with one touch, so they can quickly initiate video calls to friends and family.
LifeCam Dashboard incorporates full LifeCam navigational controls (pan, tilt, zoom, face tracking and Video Effects) within the Windows Live Messenger interface, enabling a seamless and easy navigating experience.
World-class VGA optics with a VGA sensor, 640x480 video resolution and 1.3-megapixel still photography (interpolated) offer high picture quality.
Built-in unidirectional microphone with acoustic noise cancellation delivers crystal-clear audio.
Pan, tilt and 3X digital zoom features allow users to adjust the image to see more clearly.
Pricing and Availability
The LifeCam VX-5000 will be widely available in June 2008 for an estimated retail price of $49.95. The webcam is available now for pre-sale on Amazon.com and will ship in June when it is widely released. The LifeCam VX-5000 will be backed by a worldwide three-year limited hardware warranty from Microsoft Corp. More information about the LifeCam VX-5000 can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289425905/memento-memory-lifebook-rocks-the-oldies

http://gizmodo.com/389850/memento-memory-lifebook-rocks-the-oldies

While much of the world is concerned about baby boomer populations of their own, we finally have the simple technologies to, if not prevent conditions like Alzheimer's, help improve the independence and quality of life for those inflicted. This Memento Memory LifeBook concept is a feasible idea for those who need constant, quick reminders and easy access to information.

A clamshell design, one set of buttons sits on the outside of the device with another set inside. E-Ink drives the displays (for simple reading and power efficiency) and a stethoscope earpiece can issue vocal commands clearly.

While there appear to be a few UI flaws to the device (you make calls on the outside buttons, but the phonebook is on the inside), we really like some of the ideas, like RFID tagging important belongings that could otherwise be easily misplaced, and a "passive" camera that can automatically snag shots of people one talks to (combined with some automatic meta data, this could be pretty darn useful and a nice way to remember the family stopping by).

Hit the comments to talk about what you love/hate about the device. Because sooner or later, we may all need one of our own. [SinguilidDesign via medGadget]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289425906/apple-reveals-wwdc-plans-keynote-set-for-monday-june-9

http://gizmodo.com/389853/apple-reveals-wwdc-plans-keynote-set-for-monday-june-9

Today Apple revealed its plans for WWDC, confirming that the Jobsnote this year will take place 10AM PST on Monday, June 9, rather than the usual Tuesday. (No word as to whether the turtleneck will still be black, or if the 3G iPhone will actually be present.) The WWDC will of course have two separate tracks, one for iPhone and one for OS X. More info at Apple's WWDC website, or in the press release after the jump.

Apple Executives to Showcase Mac OS X Leopard and OS X iPhone Development Platforms at WWDC 2008 Keynote

CUPERTINO, California—May 13, 2008—Apple® today announced that a team of Apple executives, led by CEO Steve Jobs, will kick off the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2008 at San Francisco's Moscone West. This year's WWDC will showcase two revolutionary development platforms, the ground-breaking innovations of OS X Leopard® and OS X iPhone™, the world's most advanced mobile operating system.

The five-day WWDC event, which runs from June 9 to June 13, will feature the first ever iPhone track for mobile developers with in-depth sessions and hands-on labs to fully explore the capabilities of the OS X iPhone 2.0 software, including the iPhone SDK and the App Store, a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to iPhone and iPod® touch users.

The iPhone track will also enable mobile developers to work side by side with Apple engineers to create amazing applications that leverage iPhone's revolutionary Multi-Touch™ user interface, animation technology, rich set of APIs, including programming interfaces for Core OS, Core Services, Media and Cocoa® Touch technologies, built-in three axis accelerometer and geographical location technology to deliver truly innovative mobile applications.

This year's Mac® track will give newcomers and seasoned veterans alike the technical foundation and techniques needed to develop world-class OS X Leopard applications with sessions that discuss every level of the system, including interface design and implementation, application frameworks, security, localization and networking.

WWDC 2008 will offer over 150 information-rich sessions and labs where Apple engineers will go in-depth on the innovative technologies that power OS X iPhone and OS X Leopard. Developers can bring code to the labs and work one-to-one with Apple engineers, applying development methods and best-practices gained from sessions to enhance their applications.

Other activities at Apple's WWDC 2008 include:

* presentation sessions led by engineers that provide an in-depth look at OS X iPhone, OS X Leopard and innovative tools and technologies such as the iPhone SDK, Cocoa Touch, Interface Builder, Xcode® and more;
* practical hands-on sessions where attendees can learn Apple's own coding strategies and techniques;
* technology labs where attendees can work one-to-one with Apple engineers; and
* special events, including the Welcome Reception, Apple Design Awards, Lunchtime Speakers and Stump the Experts.

Visit Apple's WWDC website for registration and complete session details at http://developer.apple.com/wwdc.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289414070/music-video-is-complete-mac-os-x-leopard-tour

http://gizmodo.com/389833/music-video-is-complete-mac-os-x-leopard-tour

Whether you like the song or not—Addy says technically this is called Wimp-Pop, but it sounds more to me like Foux Da Fa Fa*—I've got to say that this music video made using The Bird and the Bee's Again and Again is mesmerizing. Or at the very least, a really cool musical tour through 40 Mac OS X features and applications: it starts slow and boring with Word, but it ends being a complete explosion of synchronized eye candy using everything from Photo Booth to Stickies to Spotlight to Dashboard widgets to Stacks. See if you can distinguish each and every one of the features and apps featured, then compare it to the list after the jump (I think we are missing a few.)

• Capture
• iTunes
• Microsoft Word
• Photo Booth
• iChat
• Stickies
• Photoshop CS3
• iPhoto
• Fast User Switching
• Mac OSX Zoom Tip
• Finder
• Spotlight
• Quicktime Player
• Stacks
• Quick Look
• Desktop
• Screensaver
• Dashboard
• Dashcode
• Illustrator
• Final Cut Pro
• Exposé
• Time Machine
• iMovie
• Spaces
• Windows Media Player for Mac
• Flip4Mac
• Flash CS3
• VLC Media Player
• Shake
• Mplayer
• DVD Studio Pro
• Real Player
• iDVD
• Color
• Screenflow
• Cinematize
• Safari
• iTunes Store

[YouTube, The Bird and the Bee—Thanks Kalle]

* It's FOTC day.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/289414071/office-for-mac-2008-service-pack-1-out-today-visual-basic-coming-back-to-macs

http://gizmodo.com/389845/office-for-mac-2008-service-pack-1-out-today-visual-basic-coming-back-to-macs

Today Microsoft is hooking up all Office for Mac 2008 users with Service Pack 1. The company is also announcing the return of Visual Basic for Applications—in the next version, though, so no specified date yet. Hey, at least they heard your concerns, right? Here's a link to the SP1 download, which is said to provide "increased stability, security and performance enhancements to the suite." After the jump, there's a press release with details on all the particular bug fixes.

Microsoft Mac BU Delivers Strongest Launch in History of Office for Mac

Group releases Service Pack 1, announces the return of Visual Basic for Applications in next version.

REDMOND, Wash. — May 13, 2008 — Microsoft Corp.'s Macintosh Business Unit (Mac BU) today announced details about the success of Office 2008 for Mac and reaffirms its commitment to future products for the Mac. Office 2008 launched at Macworld Expo 2008, and sales for the productivity suite continue to soar, selling faster than any previous version of Office for Mac in the past 19 years. The Mac BU developed Office 2008 to help Mac users simplify their work with a Mac-like interface, tools to easily create professional documents, and, most notably, the most cross-platform compatible suite on the market for the Mac. The Mac BU today is releasing Service Pack 1 (SP1) that provides increased stability, security and performance enhancements to the suite. The group also is providing a glimpse at the road map of Office for Mac by announcing the return of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) in the next version.

"The response has been amazing — since we launched in January, the velocity of sales for Office 2008 is nearly three times what we saw after the launch of Office 2004," said Craig Eisler, general manager of the Mac BU at Microsoft. "As we set our course for future versions, we are working closely with customers and will also expand our staff to ensure that Office for Mac remains the most powerful and compatible productivity suite for Mac customers."

Office 2008 for Mac Gets Updates Requested by Users

The Mac BU consistently seeks and uses customer feedback to identify, prioritize and then improve its products through beta programs in pre-release stages. The team looks to user forums and tools such as the Microsoft Error Reporting Protocol (MERP), which allows customers to anonymously communicate issue reports, once a product is launched. With the launch of SP1, the Mac BU is addressing the top issues as reported by customers via MERP and other feedback channels. Office 2008 for Mac SP1 features key suitewide updates for increased stability, increased security and overall performance improvements. Users also will find application-specific updates, including the following:

Microsoft Office Excel

· Compatibility. Improved compatibility with files exchanged between Excel 2008 for Mac and Excel 2003 and Excel 2007 for Windows

· Custom Error Bars. Restored formatting option on the Error Bars panel for data series

· Printing. More reliable printing for elements on Excel 2008 workbooks

Microsoft Entourage

· Calendar. Significant enhancements to improve calendar view and all-day reminders with reoccurrence

· Exchange Server support. Overall improvement to synchronization support, including removing attachments from Exchange Server messages and synchronizing to the server, as well as support for editing the contents of Exchange Server messages via AppleScript and synchronizing the changes to the server

· E-mail images. Ability to send and view images in Entourage from third-party tools

Microsoft Office Word

· Printing. Improved accuracy when orienting tables with cell shading

· Document map. Improved reliability and responsiveness to select items

· Notebook layout. Updated formatting, recording status and a variety of display options

Microsoft Office PowerPoint

· Printing. Improvements to eliminate crashing when printing documents to high-dpi printers and increased overall printing speed by 10 times on some large presentations

· Mobile viewing. Ability to view Mac .PPTX files on Windows Mobile phones

· AppleScript. Ability to use the PowerPoint selection object in AppleScript to implement custom scripts that operate on the current selection in PowerPoint

Customers can download the update for free at http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.mspx1, and it will be also available from Microsoft Auto Update.

VBA Returns to Future Versions of Office for Mac

The Mac BU also announced it is bringing VBA-language support back to the next version of Office for Mac. Sharing information with customers as early as possible continues to be a priority for the Mac BU to allow customers to plan for their software needs.2 Although the Mac BU increased support in Office 2008 with alternate scripting tools such as Automator and AppleScript — and also worked with MacTech Magazine to create a reference guide, available at http://www.mactech.com/vba-transition-guide — the team recognizes that VBA-language support is important to a select group of customers who rely on sharing macros across platforms. The Mac BU is always working to meet customers' needs and already is hard at work on the next version of Office for Mac.