Chromium via Wine lacks polish and more

CodeWeavers have successfully ported a build of Chromium, Google Chrome's codebase, to non-PowerPC Intel Macs using Wine. Unfortunately, it's incredibly buggy, and while it proves that Chrome can eventually run on the Mac, CrossOver Chromium is more about demonstrating the utility of Wine than creating an effective version of Chrome for the Linux and Mac platforms before Google does.
In fact, in the CrossOver Chromium FAQ, that's precisely what CodeWeavers states: "This is just a proof of concept, for fun, and to showcase what Wine can do." They go on to assure users that they plan to support more of the nitty-gritty features of Chrome, including process security and memory management.

Based on version 0.2.149.0 of Chromium, a big part of the problem is stability. Typing in "nytimes" into the Omnibar caused Chromium to crash. There's a noticeable lag time, probably about half a second, when typing in text fields or even the Omnibar itself. There are also problems rendering images and text, with occasional reports of compressed pictures and misaligned type. However, ripping a tab off into its own window did work without fail. Hands-down, that's one of the best things about Chrome.
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Apple releases Mac OS X 10.5.5

Apple has released the latest version of Leopard, with bug fixes and security updates accompanying the fifth update to the operating system.

The company sent over a list of improvements about 30 minutes ago, and the full list of fixes and improvements should be up on Apple's Web site any moment with the update itself popping up in Software Update. Two notable updates from the "General" section were a fix for the video playback problems that affected some MacBook Air owners, as well as a puzzling bug "in which some Macs could unexpectedly power on at the same time each day", which would be the first time I've heard that one.

In any event, let us know if you have any problems installing the new update. It's hard to believe, but it's getting close to a year since Leopard was first released.

Via Crave CNET

Google Chrome's open-source ally: Microsoft

During Google's launch of its Chrome Web browser, the company went out of its way to acknowledge the debt it owes two open-source projects, Firefox and WebKit. But Microsoft, an uncommon ally in the open-source realm, might also deserve a tip of the hat.
After some digging through the Chrome source code, Scott Hanselman, a senior programming manager for Microsoft, found that the browser uses an open-source Microsoft project called the Windows Template Library, software for building a Windows user interface. (It uses an abstraction layer so other interface software can be employed on other operating systems.)

On its open-source Chromium site, Google lists WTL 8.0 as included third-party software.

Microsoft, while keeping its crown jewels proprietary, has been lurking around the fringes of the open-source realm for years now. Open-source software may be moved freely from one project to another; though license particulars sometimes erect barriers, both Chrome and WTL use relatively liberal licenses.
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A thumbdrive for sober imbibers

USB thumbdrives are going the Swiss Army way in their all-in-one multiple offerings, and this latest gives Victorinox a run for its tools. Who'd have thought that a TrekStor can today not only store digital files (up to 16GB), it'll even pop that beer bottle cap off anytime you fancy a tipple. Bottoms up to two very nice combinations for press launches or office retreats: Data and drinking. What's more, this makes for a pretty nifty keychain addon, too, with its solid brushed-aluminum finish and snazzy bottle opener at the end. TrekStore has slated this for October at US$12-US$88, depending on the capacity.

Via Uncrate

New tool creates fake YouTube pages for spreading malware

Cybercriminals are getting more and more business-like. The latest examples involve a tool that automates the creation of fake YouTube Web sites that can be used to deliver malware and password-cracking services for sale.

Panda Security said it has uncovered a tool circulating in underground hacking forums, dubbed YTFakeCreator, that enables anyone to easily create a fake YouTube page that surreptitiously installs a Trojan, virus, or adware on a visitor's computer, said Ryan Sherstobitoff, chief corporate evangelist of Panda Security.

The tool does not spread the video link on its own. An attacker must distribute it via email, FTP, IRC channels, peer-to-peer file-sharing networks or CD.

Once a visitor arrives at the page, a fake error message appears saying that the video can't be played because an important software component, such as a codec or Flash update, is missing. The visitor is prompted to download the software and the malware is installed.
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