Apple Patches iPhone, iPod, QuickTime Security Flaws

Apple has released its first security updates of the new year, fixing bugs in its QuickTime media player and iPhone and iPod touch devices.

As with previous updates, the iPhone 1.1.3 software patch sent those who had installed the unauthorized Jailbreak software -- used to run third-party applications on the iPhone -- scrambling to get their phones up and running. That's because Apple's updates have so far always rendered Jailbreak unusable, forcing users to go through a complex re-installation process.

According to the Unofficial Apple Weblog, it is possible to run third-party software following this latest update, but the process is complex. A simpler Jailbreak 1.1.3 script is expected to be posted eventually at the iPhone Wiki, which is the hub of much iPhone hacking.

The iPhone update fixes two flaws in the Safari browser, including a critical bug that could be exploited to run unauthorized software on the device. A third bug could let an unauthorized user bypass Passcode Lock and launch iPhone applications. The iPod touch is susceptible to the Safari bugs, Apple said.

These updates will be rolled out to customers over the next week via the devices' iTunes update mechanism.

The QuickTime 7.4 update fixes four critical flaws in the software that could be exploited by attackers to crash the media player or even run unauthorized software on a victim's computer. The update is available for both the Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.

However, the software does not fix a serious flaw in the player that was disclosed over the weekend.

Security experts are particularly concerned over this flaw because attack code showing how it can be exploited has also been published. Apple is still working to fix the vulnerability, which has to do with QuickTime's use of the Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).

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Warner Bros to back Blu-ray DVD format exclusively

Warner Bros studio on Friday said it would exclusively release high-definition DVDs in Sony Corp's (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) Blu-ray format, dealing a big blow to Toshiba Corp's (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) rival HD DVD technology.

Some saw the move as an end to the war that has confused consumers and delayed the development of a multibillion-dollar market. Warner Bros, Hollywood's biggest seller of DVDs, represents about 18 to 20 percent of sales in the United States and was one of the few studios that backed both formats.

"We expect HD DVD to 'die' a quick death, versus a prolonged format war," Pali Capital analyst Rich Greenfield told investors in a note.

But Toshiba said it was "quite surprised" by the move and vowed to fight on.

Blu-ray discs outsold HD DVD by nearly two-to-one in the United States last year, but HD DVD won major allies in August when Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc said they would go exclusively with the Toshiba technology.

"I have not seen anyone give up in this fight. Every time one shoe drops and you think 'Oh, it's over,' the other side comes up with something else," said Stephanie Prange, Home Media Magazine editor in chief.

The battle has confused consumers, she confirmed, but many people don't see the need for high-definition anyway, she added.

The stakes are particularly high because sales of traditional DVDs last year posted their first significant drop since the disc format debuted in 1997, according to Adams Media Research. Total DVD unit sales fell 4.5 percent in 2007 and sales fell 4.8 percent to $15.7 billion.

"The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers," Warner Bros Chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer said in a statement.

News Corp's (NWSa.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Co (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research), and Lionsgate (LGF.N: Quote, Profile, Research) are among studios backing the Blu-ray format. Viacom Inc's (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Paramount studios and General Electric's (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) NBC Universal release movies in HD DVD format. In addition, Sony's PlayStation 3 video game system can play Blu-ray movies while Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Xbox 360 works with HD DVD.

Warner said it would continue releasing in the HD DVD format until the end of May, although those releases would follow the standard DVD and Blu-ray releases.

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Halo 3 Named TIME's Best Game of 2007

Magazine calls Bungie's latest gaming effort the "perfect" shooter and "graphically gorgeous."

"In one of the greatest years video gaming has ever seen, Halo 3 is the very best of the bunch," writes Lev Grossman, author of TIME's Top 10 Video Games of 2007. Grossman called Bungie's latest effort the "perfect" shooter and "graphically gorgeous."

Master Chief was so good, in fact, that he outranked The Orange Box, Rock Band, and Super Mario Galaxy -- all of which hold a greater average review score on Metacritic.

Other considerations on TIME's list include BioShock, Call of Duty 4, Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Mass Effect, Ace Combat 6, and God of War 2.

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How to Send Self-Destructing Emails

Ever sent an email you later regretted writing? We all have, but it can be especially bad when those emails are sent to the wrong person or get leaked on the Internet. You might not know this, but there are many providers that offer self destructing email services. These services give you complete control over who reads them, how long they exist, or whether they can be printed, copied, or forwarded.

Hey, you don't have to be a secret agent to send self-destructing emails, just a very smart geek with a reputation to maintain, so check out what these four services can do for you:

• Will Self-Destruct: This service is free. There's no sign up process, but you have to fill out a web-based form with the recipient's email address, subject, and your message. The recipient receives an email with a link to a web page containing your message. Once the link is accessed, a countdown begins, and the message is destroyed. The email itself looks like spam, so make sure you tell your friend to expect something from willselfdestruct.com. SDMessage and Destructing Message are two similar alternatives.
  
  
• KickNotes: Another web-based service that sends self-destructing messages after filling out a form. You can actually control the times the message can be viewed or how long you want the message to exist. Once the message is created, you can either send a link to a web page through your own email address or from KickNotes.
  
  
• Kablooey Mail: This free service requires sign up, but it gives you complete control over emails you send. Kablooey lets you retract emails, set the number of times it can be read, set an expiration date, and blocks the recipient from copying, forwarding, or printing its contents. I had some problems signing up for the service so I haven't tested this one, but apparently the Wall Street Journal did, so here's their review.
  
  
• BigString: You'll have to sign up for this free service, but the list of features is impressive. All email accounts feature optional self-destruction, email recall, expiration dates, tracking, masquerading, and restrictions on printing and forwarding. This service rocks! I signed up for an account, and I just love how I was able to change the contents of an email, even after I had pressed the send button. I wish all email services had this feature.
  

There are many others like the ones above, so if you want other options check out Tech[dot]Blog, who rounded up a great list of self destructing email providers.

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