Outlook for Mac seems like an acceptable alternative to Mail.app. Even though I probably won’t really use the Exchange support and other integration into Microsoft products, it handles the simple tasks of adding Gmail and other mail accounts very well. If there came a point where I absolutely needed Outlook for one of these features, I certainly wouldn’t mind having to officially switch from Mail.app.

Microsoft’s MacBU today released pricing information and specific timing around this year’s release of Office for Mac 2011. Those looking to get their hands on the venerable office suite will be able to so in October, and Microsoft will offer three editions of the new suite in more than 100 countries around the world and in 13 different languages. Packing details include…

Turns out surreptitious Microsoft updates are no longer a PC-only problem. Microsoft’s Genuine Advantage program is designed to check that copies of Windows as well as Windows-based software (mainly Office) are properly licensed. The stated goal of this program is to “… giv[e] you full capabilities, access to all the latest updates, and confidence that you are getting the experience you expect.” (Source: MS Genuine Advantage Program Information). Until now, the nagging, pop-up reminders, and reduced functionality that accompany pirated Windows software have been exclusive to the PC realm. Unfortunately, with Office 2008, this appears to have changed.

Here is the scenario…

The Mac BU at Microsoft has acknowledged a security issue, and has released a fix, and plans to release an update.

The problem is that the Microsoft Office Installer changes permissions for the Microsoft Office install and the Automator Library folder to user 502, or the second account created on a given Mac. It’s not a huge problem, because there is no threat if you only have one user, and if you have more than one user, all that they can do is mess with your Office install. They cannot really do anything malicious to your Mac.

Pat O, Director of Marketing and Planning for Microsoft’s Mac Business Unit announced via Microsoft’s Mac Mojo blog that Microsoft Office 2008 will “launch” on January 15th. On January 14th, many MacBU team members will be available at Macworld for the “A Day at the Office” conference, “a day-long conference at the Moscone [...] dedicated more »