Here’s the thing; I pragmatically ‘get’ why Apple chose to chart these particular design courses, from a business standpoint. Non-removable batteries, as I’ve already mentioned, guarantee obsolescence and replacement of the entire system. And O/S obsolescence not only guarantees system obsolescence but also simplifies both O/S development (by limiting backwards-compatibility necessity) and subsequent O/S support. But Apple’s stubbornness also fills up lots of landfills with lots of otherwise perfectly good hardware. And it irks me every time I discover that some widget I’ve bought seemingly only a short time before is now archaic.

Sooner or later, I’ll get sufficiently annoyed that I’ll write off Apple and switch allegiances to some other supplier(s). And I doubt I’m not the only one contemplating such a move each time a widget is deemed outmoded by the powers that be at One Infinite Loop. So enjoy the fiscal benefits of forced upgrades while you can, Apple. Because I seriously doubt that the gravy train will run forever. And for other consumer electronics suppliers out there pondering a clone of Apple’s strategy, I’d strongly urge you to reconsider those plans.

http://www.edn.com/blog/Brian_s_Brain/4178...NToday_20120515

But aside from typical security fixes, Apple has made an interesting move in an effort to further protect users. Through this latest software update, Safari 5.1.7 will now automatically disable older - and typically more vulnerable - versions of the Adobe Flash player.

While many software vendors would prefer OS makers to keep their hands off their software, the move appears to be welcomed by Adobe, which has constantly battled vulnerabilities in its widely installed Flash Player.

http://www.securityweek.com/apple-auto-dis...s-x-1074-update

For Mac OS X users who run Snow Leopard, a similar update for Snow Leopard 10.6.8 is available as Security Update 2012-0002.