Apple on Tuesday released iPhone 8.0.4 (102.27MB), which addresses a rarely encountered issue involving photos imported into a previous version that could affect overall stability. The update, which is recommended for all users of iPhoto '09, also corrects references to a few points of interest and location names that were labelled incorrectly.

On Thursday, Belkin announced its new TuneCast Auto Live FM transmitter with an accompanying ClearScan Live app. The device is the first made to support iPhone OS 3.0, which now allows an iPhone or iPod touch to control a connected hardware accessory.

The transmitter gives owners control of which FM station to use through software on the iPhone itself instead of through the accessory alone. It also uses the iPhone’s GPS capabilities to locate free stations based on fellow users' submissions.

The ability for apps to interface with third-party hardware was revealed when the iPhone 3.0 firmware was announced in March. The firmware was promised to be released this summer, and with Apple’s notice to developers requiring all apps to be compatible with 3.0 several weeks ago and the annual Worldwide Developer’s Conference taking place next week, the final release of the firmware is expected soon.

The transmitter will be available in early fall for $80, while the app itself will be free on the App Store once the peripheral is available.

On Thursday evening, Apple released multiple updates to address issues in iLife, its individual apps, and RAW photography.

iLife Support 9.0.3 (55.1MB closes up memory leaks in the Media Browser that should improve performance. It also fixes problems displaying custom folders in the Browser and preserves time data when bringing images into Aperture from iPhoto. Compatibility and other minor issues have also been addressed.

Among individual apps, iDVD 7.0.4 (27.5MB) resolves a problem with adding titles or commentary to an image in the image details list. iMovie 8.0.3 (35.6MB) adds support for 720p video from cameras that encode in AVCHD Lite, such as newer Panasonic Lumix models, and also ameliorates behavior when deleting beat markers or showing thumbnails in the Video Effects palette for still photos. Lastly, iPhoto 8.0.3 (96MB) improves stability in uploads to Facebook, Flickr and MobileMe as well as geotagged photos and slideshow playback.

Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.6 (3.9MB) adds support for a raft of new entry-level digital SLRs in software like Aperture and iPhoto, including the Canon Rebel T1i (also known as the EOS 500D and EOS Kiss Digital X3), the Nikon D5000, and the Olympus E-30.

Apple on Wednesday night issued AirPort Utility 5.4.2 (16.9MB) for both Macs and Windows PCs.

The upgrade focuses specifically on detection and mends problems with reading certain AirPort device configurations as well as trouble finding devices whenever Back To My Mac is turned on for a given Mac.

It also resolves problems with AirPort Utility failing to download firmware updates for routers and importing Access Control Lists from AirPort Admin Utility 4. Also, AirPort Utility can now show all WiFi passwords in its Equivalent Network Password view.

Macs installing the patch require Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

MacBook Pro SMC 1.3 improves fans under load

Owners of prior MacBook Pro systems were given an update late last week that should improve their tolerance for heat.

SMC Firmware Update 1.3 (833KB) gives 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros from late 2007 and early 2008 improved fan behavior in high workload conditions.

Applying the firmware requires at least Mac OS X 10.4.11 for late 2007 MacBook Pros and 10.5.7 for the early 2008 models, which came preloaded with Mac OS X Leopard.

Apple late last week posted iWork 09 9.0.2 (42.8MB), a minor fix for its overall productivity suite.

The patch improves reliability when saving some iWork documents and when playing some presentations more than once per Keynote session.

It requires at least Mac OS X 10.4.11 or 10.5.6.

As part of its music software updates on Monday, Apple has released GarageBand 5.0.2 (108MB).

The upgrade ameliorates the purchasing experience for Artist Lessons in the GarageBand Lesson Store and solves problems with accessing installed Jam Packs in the loop browser. General compatibility, stability and other minor issues have also been fixed with 5.0.2.

Updating requires Mac OS X 10.5.6 or later.

A lone reference to a computer with a model name of "MacBook mini" recently turned up in the public logs of the popular Adium messaging client, leading some to speculate that Apple may indeed be working on a netbook-like device despite comments to the contrary from company management.

TUAW provides a rundown of the situation while noting that the discovery is likely the result of someone having intentionally modified their computer's Model ID rather than a hint at some future Apple product. Still, the blog was compelled to point out that references to the MacBook Air were identified in similar log files prior to the sub-notebook's first public appearance in January of 2008.



However, as several readers point out, many Hackintosh community members call some of their mini notebook creations "MacBook minis," and several MacBook mini mockup and conceptual videos can be seen around the web. There are also several other conspicuous model references in the same Adium log files, such as "BigMac" and "Mac Pronc."

For its part, AppleInsider believes Apple has absolutely no plans to introduce a mini notebook and is therefore filing this report on its Backpage Blogs.

In a low-key update on Monday, Apple informed MobileMe users that its live online chat support for the mobile sync service would now run all day, all week instead of during limited business hours.

The company didn't directly explain the gesture but is thought to be offering another olive branch to early adopters of MobileMe as part of continued efforts by Apple VP Eddy Cue to rehabilitate the service in the months since it launched last summer. After numerous service failures and a lack of communication, Cue was brought on to the MobileMe team a month after the release specifically to tackle service problems.

Earlier this month, a re-review by the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg gave the updated MobileMe a much higher score in reliability and features, docking it only for less than ideal Windows support.

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