Quick Tip: Connect to FTP through OS X Finder

To quickly access an FTP site through the Mac OS X Finder (without using a third party application such as Fetch, Cyberduck, or FileZilla), just choose Connect To Server... from the Go menu (or press Command+K). You'll get the box above. Type the server address starting with ftp:// and click Connect. Type in your user name and password and the remote site will appear as a mounted drive in your desktop.

Take note though, that the remote site you mount will be read-only so this technique is only good if you want to browse or copy files from the site.

Quick Tip: Decompress Files with Stuffit Expander

For most purposes, Mac OS X's built-in Archive utility is good enough to handle your regular Zipping and Unzipping needs. But if you have a compressed file that ends in something else than .ZIP (or sometimes a .ZIP file with a password), you can use the free Stuffit Expander utility from Smith Micro Software:

• Stuffit Expander from the Mac App Store
• Stuffit Expander from the Smith Micro website

Here are the file extensions that Stuffit Expander can open:

Apple Developing Software to Address Flashback Malware

Apple has posted a support article about the Flashback malware, saying they are developing software to detect and fix it. No specific release date for the software has been given.

Here's what you can do while the fix is being developed:

• For OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and 10.7 (Lion), download the latest Java updates from Apple Software Updates (click Software Update... from the Apple Menu).
• For OS X 10.5 and below, disable Java in your web browser's preferences.

An unofficial app to check and remove the malware is here: Kaspersky Labs Flashfake Removal Tool. 

Mac OS X 10.7.1 Out

Apple just released Mac OS X 10.7.1, which addresses the following issues:

• System hangs when playing videos in Safari.
• HDMI or audio out problems.
• Wi-Fi signal dropping.
• Problems with Migration Assistant.
• Missing admin accounts.

Fire up Software Update to download and install it. For those holding out on downloading and installing Lion until the first maintenance fix is released, it's here, so download now.

The installer is around 17MB, so it's a quick download. One thing I noticed is that it didn't prompt for the account name and password, and it continues installing after logging out, so this may be how updates will install in the future.

FileMaker Pro and Mac OS X Lion Compatibility

From the FileMaker Knowledgebase:
Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and FileMaker 11 and Bento 4.

Basically, FileMaker Pro and Advanced 11 will work with Lion, save for some minor bugs in formatting and .xls file compatibility. FileMaker Server and Advanced 11 will work, except for anything related to web publishing. Software updates to address the bugs will be released on August (FileMaker Pro and Advanced) and October (FileMaker Server and Advanced).

For older versions, only FileMaker Pro and Advanced 10 will work (with issues) on Lion. Older versions of FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Advanced, FileMaker Server, and FileMaker Server Advanced will no longer work and no software updates will be issued for them.

Mac OS X Lion, New MacBook Air and Mac Mini Out

After announcing sales of 20.34 million iPhones, 9.25 million iPads, and 3.95 million Macs last quarter, Apple has made Mac OS X Lion available for download in the Mac App Store, and new versions of the MacBook Air and Mac Mini available for sale.

Mac OS X Lion

Any time soon, Mac OS X 10.7 ("Lion") will be available for download from the Mac App Store. With Apple's website listing down over 250+ new features, it's sure to breathe new life into your Mac OS experience. Should you upgrade? I think the question is whether or not you should upgrade, but when.