SmartNews – IT news and product updates for business

This update is recommended for all Safari users and includes the latest security updates.

The update is available for:

• Mac OS X v10.5.8,
• Mac OS X Server v10.5.8,
• Mac OS X v10.6.5 or later,
• Mac OS X Server v10.6.5 or later,
• Windows 7,
• Vista,
• XP SP2 or later

Visit the Apple website for more information.

VTrak x30 Series for Mac OS X

The PROMISE VTrak x30 Series RAID subsystem is a high performance, massively scalable 8G Fibre Channel storage subsystem designed to provide 24/7, 365 enterprise-class availability. Optimized to work within a Mac OS X environment, the VTrak x30 Series offers up to four times more performance than the previous generation delivering up to 5.5 GB/s for reads and 2.2 GB/s for writes.

The VTrak x30 Series RAID solution was developed to meet the mission critical needs of today’s demanding video workflows. At the heart of the PROMISE VTrak x30 Series RAID subsystem is an advanced, high-performance RAID engine developed over the course of two decades. Powered by next-generation processing power from Intel, the Xeon C3500 Series processors, the VTrak x30 unleashes tomorrow’s performance, today.

Visit the Promise website for more information.

Apple  introduced Final Cut Pro X, a new version of their professional video editing software at NAB 2011 in Las Vegas. This latest version of Final Cut was completely rewritten from the ground up, with a new user interface and a slew of new features that take advantage of core Mac OS X features like Cocoa, Core Animation, Open CL, and Grand Central Dispatch to improve performance; and it’s  first 64-bit version of the software.

New features in Final Cut Pro X include:

• Fully color-managed Final Cut based on colorsync.
• Resolution-independent playback system up to 4K formats.
• Background rendering built into application.
• Automatic import features
• Media management
• Improved timeline
• Streamlined audio editing

Final Cut Pro X will be available this June from the Mac App Store.

Microsoft releases Office for Mac 2011 Service Pack 1.

This update fixes critical issues and also helps to improve security. It includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code.

• Security is improved: this update fixes vulnerabilities in Office 2011 that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code.
• Stability is improved: this update fixes an issue that causes Office 2011 applications to close unexpectedly when you open or use Office 2011 applications.
• Alt Text authoring is included: this update enables the authoring of Alt Text for objects, such as shapes, pictures, tables, charts, SmartArt, and movies in Office 2011 applications.

Applies to: Office 2011, Office 2011 Home and Business Edition, Word 2011, Excel 2011, PowerPoint 2011, Outlook 2011, Communicator 2011, Office for Mac Standard 2011 Edition, Microsoft Office for Mac Home & Student 2011, and Microsoft Office for Mac Academic 2011

Visit the Microsoft website for more information.

The PROMISE SANLink adapter ushers in a new generation of devices that take advantage of 10Gbps Thunderbolt technology recently introduced by Intel. By using Thunderbolt technology enabled systems, SANLink provides dual 4G Fibre Channel connectivity connected to a Thunderbolt port.

SANLink adapters introduce a new era in storage connectivity by allowing systems and devices on the SAN that never existed before. Taking advantage of the recently announced ThunderboltTM technology by Intel® and brought to the market by Apple®, PROMISE SANLink enables Fibre Channel connectivity to direct attached storage or to the SAN. Each SANLink adapter features full-duplex capable FC ports, that automatically detect connection speed, and can each independently operate at 1, 2 or 4Gbps.

Visit the Promise website for more information.