Multi-protocol chat client Trillian follows up its resurgence last year with a long-rumored Mac version. Trillian for Mac is an unstable alpha, lacking many of the features that make Trillian Astra appealing on Windows, but even so it offers users a good idea of what's to come from Cerulean Studios.

This build isn't really ready yet to compete with the popular Adium, but cross-platform users will appreciate that the contact sync works. Enter in your Trillian username and password and all of your other instant messaging accounts will be imported, including passwords. Basic IM functions are fine, with support for Trillian's proprietary protocol Astra, as well as Windows Live, Yahoo, Facebook Chat, AIM, ICQ, XMPP, Google Talk, Bonjour, and MySpaceIM. File transfers work, as do most Mac hot keys, iTunes tracking, thought bubbles above avatars during chats, and drag-and-drop.

There's much that's missing, though, so don't expect to jump to Trillian right now. Social network feeds don't work yet, nor do group conversations or e-mail support. Growl support is also missing, and while you can see your friends' avatars, personal avatars aren't working yet. The Preferences window is skeletal, too. The full list of what should work and what doesn't is here.

Cerulean Studios also offers an iPhone version, and Trillian for Mac will sync contacts and other changes with its iPhone sibling. Tell us your thoughts on Trillian for Mac in the comments below.

We reviewed the latest version of AVG Free back in October 2009, and found it to be a decent successor to the previous version, 8.5. AVG Free 9 is currently the most popular app on Download.com by a long shot, and this version bolsters its security offerings with the integrated LinkScanner and free identity protection for users in the United States.

Though it's true that in recent third-party testing AVG has been surpassed by several competitors, it remains a viable and effective security option that you're far better off using compared with many lesser-known suites or nothing at all.

Apple issued a patch on Tuesday for the iPhone and iPod Touch that plugs five holes, including several that could allow an attacker to take control of the device remotely.

Three of the vulnerabilities could allow someone to run code remotely, if an iPhone or iPod Touch user opened malicious audio or image files, or accessed a malicious FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server, Apple said.

Another vulnerability could allow someone with physical access to one of the devices to bypass the passcode on a locked device and access the data.

The patch affects iPhone OS 3.1.3 and iPhone OS 3.1.3 for iPod Touch. More information is on the Apple security Web page.

Originally posted at InSecurity Complex

I'm a giant fan of public radio show "This American Life," and I'm not alone: it's long held the No. 1 spot on the iTunes podcast charts.

That being the case, you might wonder why there's now an app for that. Simple: This American Life, the app, lets you stream or download any episode of the show, not just the current week's as with the podcast.

Suppose, for example, you want to hear the much-ballyhooed episode about the subprime mortgage meltdown, or the classic about the "squirrel cops." The "TAL" app provides access to every episode in the show's history.

You can stream episodes for free or download them for 99 cents apiece. The app also provides summaries, preview clips, and buying options for both seasons of the "This American Life" TV show.

But wait, there's more. A tap of the Share It button lets you e-mail an episode to a friend, post it on Facebook, or tweet it. You can add individual episodes to a favorites list, read the "This American Life" blog, and listen to a smattering of nifty extras (such as "Fresh Air's" Terry Gross interviewing "TAL" host Ira Glass).

The app's Live Stream option shows how many days/hours/minutes left until you can listen to the next live broadcast of the show on WBEZ, and lets you set a weekly push-notification reminder.

Perhaps best of all, the app offers many ways to peruse the "TAL" library. You can scroll through the entire thing in chronological order, browse favorites (your own and various collections of staff picks), and find episodes that have specific contributors (John Hodgman, anyone?).

In short, there's never been a better way to enjoy "This American Life." My one complaint is with the search feature, which is accessible only when viewing the chronological list of shows and doesn't always produce the desired results. For example, I went looking for the aforementioned "squirrel cops" episode and found only the follow-up, not the original.

Even so, this $2.99 app is a no-brainer for any fan of the show, or anyone who enjoys interesting stories well told.

Originally posted at iPhone Atlas

Apple has released iTunes 9.0.3, which addresses a number of bugs found in previous versions of iTunes 9. The update provides a number of important bug fixes, including:

• iTunes no longer ignores your "Remember password for purchases" setting.
• Addresses problems with syncing some Smart Playlists and Podcasts with iPod.
• Resolves a problem recognizing when iPod is connected.
• Addresses issues that affect stability and performance.

The "remember password for purchases" fix will be very popular, since it has been the biggest complaint we've ever received from iPhone Atlas readers about iTunes.

iTunes 9.0.3 is available for download via Software Update or you can grab the installer from CNET Download.com for Windows and Mac.

There is currently no indication that this update adds features for iPad, but it's really to early to tell that yet. If you find support for the iPad or have other comments about the update please let us know by posting a comment.

Updated 02/02/2010 at 6:47 AM PST: Mr. Dee commented that he is still experiencing performance issues during syncing, which is usually related to the Camera Roll. I suggest reading iPhone backups--David's iPhone tip of the week for a quick and easy fix for this common problem.

Originally posted at iPhone Atlas