Apple faces up to iMac flaws

Barely a month after its much-celebrated union with Intel, Apple is facing reports of a fault in some of the video graphics in its latest iMac computer.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that white streaks called "video tearing" have been reported by numerous customers on the company`s discussion board, which they say is mainly affecting the iMac`s Front Row remote access media centre.

Apple confirmed on Friday that it is investigating the problem. News reports say the company advised that any customers with technical issues should contact its customer support unit, AppleCare.

Microsoft`s long-awaited push e-mail capability for mobile devices is finally headed into the market, reports CNet.

Although Microsoft is offering push e-mail abilities later than some mobile specialists, such as Research In Motion and Good Technology, the company says the numbers are still on its side.

Although there are a billion mobile phones and 400 million Outlook e-mail users worldwide, only about 10 million people are getting their corporate e-mail delivered to their phones. Push e-mail gets forwarded to a device as it comes in on the server, as opposed to pull e-mail, in which a user has to manually retrieve e-mail or get it at a certain time.

Microsoft warned users last week that they need to set aside time tomorrow, to deploy seven security bulletins, the most the developer has released since October 2005.

Information Week reports that at least two of the seven will be rated "critical", which by the company`s definition means the vulnerability can be remotely exploited.

One of the critical bulletins affects Windows Media Player, said Microsoft, which as is its practice, offered no details on the bug. Four of the seven bulletins involve Windows of which Microsoft rates at least one "critical".

Vital US infrastructures, including power grids and banking systems, have been put under simulated attack in a week-long security exercise called Cyber Storm, reports the BBC.

The US has been accused of being unprepared for a determined attack by hackers. Cyber Storm reportedly not only tested against attacks by hackers, but also by bloggers - who deliberately spread misinformation in the exercise.

The FBI, CIA, Red Cross, IT companies and state and foreign governments also played a role in responding to the mock attacks. It was carried out on secure computers in the basement of the Secret Service in Washington DC. There was no impact on the Internet.