This app is viable if for no other reason than it works on OS X 10.5. Apple has stopped supporting OS versions before Snow Leopard so there's no Java update for Leopard users. They might appreciate a tool that can check their systems for infection. Indeed, so might Tiger users. That said, they would all be well advised in the now riskier climate for Mac security to install an app like ClamXav that still supports older Macs.
And the App Store swallows up another, possibly good, program. But I'll never know how good it is (or is not) because there's no trial version to check out. It's supposed to be an improved copy of the free version, but who can say? I don't begrudge the fact that it now has a price tag, but that I cannot test it before I buy is a deal breaker. I'm sure I'm not alone here.
I don't feel the need to call people names. There are different reasons for buying from the app store. I've done so myself. At worst they're beta testers willing to pay for the privilege. At best they read other's reviews and judge them to be sufficient proof of an app's efficacy. Still, it's a bit of a gamble. And, in my opinion, a developer who uses the App Store only is putting his own convenience above that of his customers, an element of disrespect I don't appreciate.
Symantec hasn't used the name Disk Doctor in at least a decade. But that doesn't mean they don't own a copyright on it. Of course, if they've let the copyright lapse then the name is fair game. Still, this app is a pale imitation of what Norton Disk Doctor could do and hardly qualifies as any kind of doctor. It's probably true, though, that most of the people currently using Mac computers came to the platform after Symantec stopped supporting Norton Utilities on the Mac and have no memory of that venerable product. Which is what the developers are no doubt counting on. If this app were more robust I might give it a pass, but all it apparently does is invoke the Cron scripts built into OS X, which is to say, it does nothing that any of a host of other apps don't already do, some of which, like Maintenance, are freeware, and all of which have less pretentious names.
I suppose they could make it harder to download an update to a product you've already paid for but I don't know how. Once you find a download link most of their links don't work. Their website redesign is a disaster in my opinion.
The link on MacUpdate downloads the previous version of the Java update. Even Apple's web site has some old links. And the pages for the Java updates are still labeled with the old versions. However, the download links on the specific pages download the right versions, though the links on the main download page do not - I downloaded numerous times to figure this out. The right link for Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 8 is http://support.apple.com/downloads/DL1516/en_US/JavaForMacOSX10.6.dmg.
As has apparently been the case for some time now, the MacUpdate link downloads an older version of Java than it's supposed to. After installing it Software Update still lists the 2012-003 version. If I download the Java update from the Apple Downloads page, however, I get the right version and SU no longer lists it. I don't know where MU is getting its Java links, but they need to get this straightened out - otherwise, people who think they have patched Java will still be exposed to the Flashback trojan. And this time it won't be Apple's fault.
PS: Even Apple's web site has some old links. And the pages for the Java updates are still labeled with the old versions. However, the download links on the specific pages download the right version - I downloaded numerous times to figure this out. The right link for Java for Mac 2012-2003 is http://support.apple.com/downloads/DL1515/en_US/JavaForOSX.dmg.
They seem finally, after several tries, to have fixed the blinking white page problem. I'm holding my breath that it stays fixed this time.
I think it's significant that Safari updates now seem to be coming only for Lion - and Windows. I haven't tested Safari in Snow Leopard lately so it could be that the problems these last updates address occur only in Lion.
Oops! You're right. I missed the Snow Leopard link at the top of the page. I read the compatibility info at the bottom of the page and there was no link there among the Related Links to the SN version so I jumped to an erroneous conclusion. My bad.
I agree. This is an excellent app, making it easy to customize the Mac and to manage your customizations. Certainly preferable to using the Terminal for the same kinds of tweaks.
The download link on this page doesn't work for me. If you have the same problem, you can download the update directly from Apple at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL859.
[Version 8.0.6]
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Lion Designer
+214
+2
Anti Flashback Trojan
+4
SMARTReporter
+214
Disk Doctor
+214
+2
VMware Fusion
+1
Apple Java for Mac OS X 10.6
Apple Java for OS X Lion
+214
+1
Apple Safari
I think it's significant that Safari updates now seem to be coming only for Lion - and Windows. I haven't tested Safari in Snow Leopard lately so it could be that the problems these last updates address occur only in Lion.
+1
+214
-1
SuperBladePro
+1
Deeper
B. Jefferson Le Blanc reviewed on 28 Feb 2012
Apple iMovie