Microsoft has sent some cross-court love again for its Mac users with Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Update 12.0.1. The latest changes takes on critical bugs and stability issues among others. For the complete details, jump to the full article.

In case you turned off the Microsoft AutoUpdate feature on your Mac, be informed that there's a new version of MS Office 2004 ready for download. The file is around 59.5 MB and contains several improvements that will enhance the security and stability to your system.

Aside from the above mentioned, Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.5 also contains fixes for vulnerabilities that, when exploited by attackers, overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with various malicious codes. Online site Power Page noted as well the following additions:

• Corrects a bug that can increase the use of system resources when files or objects are dragged to an Office application windows
• A patch for Excel which would prompt the program to suddenly open workbooks or other files
• A patch to reduce PowerPoint's number of unexpected quits
• An update which improved responsiveness in Microsoft Entourage

The update should be used on Mac OS X 10.2.8 (Jaguar) or any other higher versions of Mac operating system. Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.5 applies to Office 2004 Standard Edition, Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition, Office 2004 Professional Edition, Word 2004, Excel 2004, PowerPoint 2004, Entourage 2004.

The Read link below should take you to Microsoft's download page for the update.

A couple of days ago, we learned that Office 2008 for Mac will be shipped during the second half of 2007. While there is still no mention of pricing whatsoever, details regarding the new application are beginning to trickle. We've given you a rundown of some of its features the last time around and this time, we'd like to show you how they actually look.

By the way, the one above is for PowerPoint 2008. The ones below, from left to right, are Ledger Sheets, Publishing Layout View, My Day, and Document Parts.

    

Apple finally released the latest update for Mac OS X 10.4.7 -- the Mac OS X 10.4.8 Update, also called "delta". Those who are updating from Mac OS X 10.4, 10.4.1, 10.4.2, 10.4.3, 10.4.4, 10.4.5, or 10.4.6  to 10.4.8 should install Apple's "combo" update instead.

Apple offers troubleshooting tips if your installation encounters issues. Basically, you use one of the two methods in updating to Mac OS X 10.4.8: The Software Update or the standalone installer.

The update addresses some important issues in the printing, Finder and other Apple applications, networking and modem, and third party software, and security among other things. It's a leap from the 10.4.7 version, especially when it comes to improving reliability and support with other apps as well as enhancing the software's general performance.

With the latest version, it's now possible to sync iTunes with other iPod models with less hassle. Furthermore, the external Apple USB modem has improved the connection reliability when faxing in France or Belgium. Issues with Microsoft Word's OpenType fonts, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, Canon EOS Utility and even with the TV Tracker 2 Dashboard widget have also been resolved.

Note that the update applies for both Intel- and Power-PC-based Macs. Download your standalone installer for PowerPC and Intel-based Macs here.

This isn't a how-to on using your gadget as a remote to advance slides on the PowerPoint presentation you've got loaded up on your laptop. This is a how-to on using your iPod, BlackBerry, or Treo to load up your presentation without your laptop.

Okay, those with common sense would ask, "Why?" There are a ton of laptops out there that are already handy and easy to lug around. Plus, these laptops are obviously more powerful than a handheld. Well, read these three practical reasons that may just convince you to use your handheld in some other way.

• Your gadget can be a last resort, just in case your laptop decides to conk-out or get depressed on you like "Marvin the Paranoid Android" from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
• It frees you to travel on business without a laptop; laptops are so last century.
• You can be prepared for your pitch anytime, anyplace.
  

There are three processes when it comes to presenting from handhelds. The first is the conversion of PowerPoint Slides, next is the issue of how to connect the handheld to the projector, and the last is  how you'd display the slides properly.

You could use any iPod as a presentation device, but first you need a product called "ThinkFree Office 3 Show iPod Edition." It basically lets you create, edit, convert, and store presentations in your iPod. The conversion process saves each slide into images that you can scroll through on your iPod as you present them. If "ThinkFree Office 3" is too pricy for you, there's "iPresent it."

If you're really a cheapskate, PowerPoint actually lets you save your presentation as .TIFF or JPEG files. So you can use the iPod's slideshow functions, and there you go, you've got a presentation.

Getting your iPod connected to a projector is a bit harder though. There's the "Monster iTV Link" for iPod, and you could use that and its high-quality S-video option. You'll also need to buy the $39.00 Apple iPod Universal Dock if you don't already have one. You can leave the iPod in its cradle, and advance slides using the included remote. So there. Really easy right?

Now imagine hooking your iPod up to this.

Buy: [iPod]
Buy: [PowerPoint]
Buy: [Thinkfree Office 3]
Buy: [iPresent It]
Buy: [Monster iTV Link]

Here comes yet another iPod software bundle that will further enhance your iPod's capabilities. Now, you can view files and present slideshows or other media while listening to music.

Released by Zapptek, this new iPod software bundle includes iPresent, which converts PowerPoint, Keynote, and PDF presentation into slideshows that are synched with an iPod. Meanwhile, with the iSpeak It, you can now convert any document or RSS feed into an MP3/AAC track in iTunes using the Mac's built-in text-to-speech capacities. The iPDA software then enables you to sync PIM data such as Word, RTF, or text documents, as well as Web content (including RSS feeds, weather forecasts, and news headlines.

This pretty bundle could all be yours for just $45.

This new update, aside from containing fixes for Microsoft Entourage 2004, also includes all of the previously released improvements on Office 2004. But the highlight of this nifty download is that it covers Microsoft Office 2004's vulnerabilities, including a potential security breach that hackers may capitalize on, where they can overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code.

This update is applicable to Office 2004 Standard Edition, Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition, Office 2004 Professional Edition, Microsoft Word 2004 for Mac, Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac, Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 for Mac, Entourage 2004. You must have  Mac OS X 10.2.8 (Jaguar) or a later version of Mac OS, Mac OS X-compatible processor that is a model G3 or a later and 256 MB of RAM.

A complete and detailed how-to is available upon clicking on the read link just below the article.

Download: [English Version]

Sofa Control - that should say it all. But for those who still don't get it, dig this.

Sofa Control is an application that wasn't included in your Mac boxes but should've been, so CASE Apps made it especially for you. This application uses and extends the power of your Apple Remote via the AppleScript which is included in your packaged Macs. Along with automated workflows and controlled applications on the Mac, your Sofa Control also comes with support for several apps like Powerpoint, Preview, VLC, EyeTV, and Keynote, among other things.

If this isn't enough good news, then read this: you can download scripts from a designated place so the number of the applications supported by the Sofa Control gets larger. Scripts will be provided by other users like yourself and share them with other Mac users.

Sofa Control has two modes that you can use to interact with your Mac via the remote control. The first one is the Sofa Mode where you can use your Remote Control to access videos, documents and other files even when you're just resting on a chair (or a sofa). It provides an application switcher, big menus and file chooser.

Auto Mode on the other hand, will allow you to use your Remote Control like another input device when in front of your Mac. Sofa Control will automatically recognize the application which you are using. Default actions are used when there are no defined actions for a certain application.

Lifetime license for the Sofa Control is priced at $9.99 USD.

Microsoft has just released Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.2.4 Update. Several fixes on security issues and some unidentified enhancements to the work productivity suite are included in this latest update.

One of the security issues this update fixes is the vulnerability in Office 2004 for Mac that gives an attacker means to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. Also fixed were some of the issues in Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 and Entourage 2004 plus the improvements in all previous Office 2004 updates.

This latest update applies to Microsoft Office 2004 Standard Edition, Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition, Office 2004 Professional Edition, Word 2004, Excel 2004, PowerPoint 2004, and Entourage 2004.

The following minimum system requirements are needed to be able to install Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.2.4 Update:

• Processor: Mac OS X-compatible processor that is a model G3 or a later model
• Operating system: Mac OS X 10.2.8 (Jaguar) or a later version of Mac OS; if you want to use Spotlight, Sync Services, or smart cards, you must be running Mac OS X 10.4.3 (Tiger) or a later version
• Memory: 256 MB of RAM

Over the next month, other improvements will be delivered to the Office 2004 with Update 11.2.5 and to Office X with 10.1.7. In the meantime, for instructions on how to install Update 11.2.4, just visit Mactopia.

Download: [Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.2.4 Update]