Apple has released an update to Safari for OS X 10.6 users which, along with the latest Java updates, gives Snow Leopard users the ability to enable Java on a site-by-site basis.

This news is in response to the development of the Java runtime that has moved it past official support for Snow Leopard. While the latest version of Java Apple developed (Java SE 6) is supported in Snow Leopard, support for this version of OS X ended when Apple passed the baton to Oracle to maintain Java.

The new Java management settings can be accessed by clicking this button.

With Java SE 7 requiring OS X 10.7 or later, unfortunately Snow Leopard users will not be able to benefit from new features, including security implementations, that will be developed into the runtime by Oracle. Therefore, instead of requiring these users to disable Java completely and then continue toggling it on and off to enable content for sites they visit, Apple has implemented a new site-specific Java feature that will allow users to enable the Java plugin only for Web sites they trust.

This new feature requires two updates Apple has just released for Java and for Safari, which are available through the Software Update service in OS X that can be accessed from the App... [Read more]

If Google's recent decision to pull the plug on the (incredibly useful and beloved) RSS tool Google Reader has convinced you that the search giant is now the Evil Empire, then join the Rebel Alliance with the RSS reader StarRSS, from user fotcorn at github. Simply enter in an RSS feed into the box on the landing page and a scrolling list of items will appear as familiar horns trumpet the start of that classic movie music.

Why read the news when you can have it cinematically broadcast?

Clicking on the items in your feed as they scroll up and become smaller and smaller isn't the easiest task in the world, but it works adequately. Unfortunately, regular clicks will open stories in your same tab, so if you want to keep the feed and music rolling, you'll need to practice your Ctrl-button-augmented or scroll-wheel-button clicking in order to open links in new tabs or windows. But that's beside the point, isn't it? StarRSS isn't designed to be an everyday RSS reader. It's a novelty app to put your LOLcat blog on par with "Episode IV: A New Hope." And why not?!

With all the time I spend sifting through the iOS App Store and writing reviews, there simply isn't time to use every app regularly. Still, I find that just about every month there are a new handful of apps and games that I keep coming back to.

These aren't the best apps of all time and I'm not declaring them as the best apps even for right now; these are simply the ones that have grabbed my attention and have been getting the most use on my personal home screen.

If you see something here and think "Hey! I have an app that's way better than what Jason picked!" please tell me about it in the comments so I can check it out.

This post was updated on April 15, 2013 with all new apps.

RadarCast Pro ($3.99) This iOS-only weather app gives you animated radar forecasts so you can see current weather anywhere in the continental U.S. and predicts how weather patterns will probably evolve an hour in advance.

This is the latest app from the same folks who made NOAA Hi-Def Radar, a very popular weather app that has continually ranked near the top of the most popular weather apps. But with RadarCast, you get a nice interface layout, quick links to tons of weather information, ... [Read more]

Time Warner Cable subscribers soon will be able to watch certain live channels on their Apple's iOS devices -- even when away from home.

The network, which is the second-largest cable company in the U.S., today announced plans to add both live and on-demand content viewing to its iOS app, which will work even when users are away from their designated home Wi-Fi connection.

The updated service, which launches Wednesday, expands upon one that allowed viewers to access both live and on-demand content but still required the user to be at home.

Not all live TV is available as part of the update. Time Warner announced seven live TV channels from the onset, including BBC America, TVGuide Network, and Pac-12. Time Warner also says it's making 1,100 hours worth of on-demand programming available from about 27 other channels.

A similar update is headed to devices running Google's Android, as well as Windows and Mac computers, in "the near future," the company said.