Leopard leaked, Tiger updated: It took a little while, but the feature-complete build of Mac OS 10.5 that was given to attendees of the Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month has reportedly been leaked to file-sharing services. Want to see what's under the hood? Think Secret has an informative article and gallery on its hands-on time with the WWDC build. And here's an easy-to-understand explanation of the ZFS file system. And the current Mac OS, Tiger, was updated to version 10.4.10. Apple says the update will improve Bluetooth and USB connections and add RAW image support for more cameras, among other tweaks. And there's also a new app called Yahoo Sync for syncing contact info with your iPhone. People are reporting some problems with 10.4.10, though (try booting in Safe Mode if you run into snags), so you might want to stay away for a bit.
Speaking of the iPhone... Launch is getting closer, and the torrent of hype posing as news just won't stop. But luckily, there's some real news today, too. The latest: AT&T expects iPhones to sell out within 24 to 48 hours, but they'll also be taking mail orders at the stores, with phones expected to ship within 3 to 5 days (say it with us ... "depending on supply"). Two thousand temporary workers are helping AT&T handle the launch, and a memo was leaked related to crowd control, so hopefully it'll be smooth sailing at next Friday's launch. A report claimed that we wouldn't get plan details until launch day, but an AT&T spokesman has denied that. MacRumors has collected (almost) everything known thus far about how to procure an iPhone. Until then, listen to our Mac|Live Podcast #12: How - and Where - to Find Apple's Elusive iPhone, watch this commercial featuring YouTube, let David Pogue know what questions you want him to answer in his review, and check out (or contribute to) iLounge's guide to iPhone software (here's how to test the apps on your Mac). Can't get an iPhone? Walt Mossberg gives you some worthy alternatives. And to get iPhone-esque full Web browsing on your current phone, you can try the beta of Opera Mini 4, a browser that promises full view and zooming abilities.
In other Apple news: A new Lost game is out for the iPod, putting players in the shoes of Jack Shepherd as he experiences events from season 1. And Kaplan has announced three SAT Prep courses for the iPod, for $4.99 each (although we couldn't find them on the iTunes Store today). Apple just barely made its deadline for responding to the EU's antitrust concerns, and the response is now being studied. Brian Eno uses a "massive bank of Macintosh computers" to power 77 Million Paintings, a digital art installation that will run next weekend at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Very cool. Oh, and every single holiday, Steve Jobs in a box!
And finally: Internet radio operators are planning a "day of silence" next Tuesday June 26 to protest next month's fee hikes. Here are some ways that you can help. Sony Style stores are aping the Genius Bar concept with their "Backstage" training counters. And Microsoft says that Zune sales are still on track, but like the author of the article, we can't ever remember seeing a single one being used in the wild. Have you? Let the world know in our Comments area, below.
Anonymous
June 21, 2007 at 5:03pm
"Actually I have seen about 20 Zunes in the school i go to. I go to a private school in the carribean and most of everyone used their ipods for video more than music (The reason those in my class told me). The bigger screen just made sense for that."
That's what happened to all the excessive Zunes! Microsoft dumped them all down in the Caribbean!
Avast ye Scurvy Dogs!!!
Anonymous
June 21, 2007 at 1:24pm
My friend was using a Zune on the subway the other day, but she said her battery was almost dead and needed to recharge her "iPod". Apparently, as insulting as I found that slip up, it shows the ubiquitousness of iPod as now being used as the generic term instead of simply Mp3 player.
Anonymous
June 21, 2007 at 12:39pm
Actually I have seen about 20 Zunes in the school i go to. I go to a private school in the carribean and most of everyone used their ipods for video more than music (The reason those in my class told me). The bigger screen just made sense for that.
Anonymous
June 21, 2007 at 4:47pm
Saw a Zune in a box at New York University's Computer Store. With a student and faculty population in the tens of thousands, I asked the sales person how many they've sold in the year she manned the display. "One" was the answer. The service desk guy right across her piped in, "and it was turned in 2 weeks later because of a failed drive". Needless to say, the hapless owner did not replace it with another Zune. Microsoft probably sold them all to their own holding company so they could say "We sold a million!!!".
KR
June 21, 2007 at 12:35pm
I once saw a Zune in use in the wild. A guy on the subway in NYC. It was only a couple of months after the Zune had been released. I've not seen one since, except in-store display models.
