With user complaints piling up since September, Apple has now publicly acknowledged a nasty data-destroying bug related to using the guest account in Snow Leopard.

Microsoft will extend Mainstream Support for Office 2004, originally slated to reach end-of-life status on 13-Oct-2009, until 10-Jan-2012.

Notable software releases this week include Epson Printer Drivers 2.1 for Mac OS X 10.6.1, iPhone OS 3.1.2, and Nisus Writer Pro 1.3.1.

Professional photographer Chase Jarvis has released an iPhone photo app called The Best Camera that can take pictures, add effects, and upload photos to sharing sites, all in one fell swoop.

Vonage has released calling apps for the iPhone and iPod touch, which are restricted to cheap, fee-per-minute outgoing VoIP calls placed to countries other than the United States. Surprisingly, the iPhone version can use a cellular voice connection when Wi-Fi isn't available.

Discussion trend toward support questions this week, with several users seeking advice and help on minor Snow Leopard compatibility issues, keyboard remapping, system cache problems, Address Book syncing, and Spotlight searching. Readers also discuss chess apps for the iPhone, RIM's new BlackBerry Desktop for Mac, and the fragmentation of online communities.

Notable software releases this week include ClickToFlash 1.5.3, BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac 1.0, VMware Fusion 2.0.6, Camino 1.6.10, Growl 1.2, BusyCal 1.0, PDFpen 4.5, Typinator 3.6, Bento 3, and iWork '09 Update 3.

If you're interested in attending this year's Macworld Expo, 24-Sep-09 is the last day to register for a free floor pass!

In a followup to our coverage of widespread - but elusive - SuperDrive issues, we are pleased to report that Apple has informed at least one TidBITS reader that they are investigating the problems.

NewsGator has released NetNewsWire 3.2 for Mac OS X and NetNewsWire 2.0 for iPhone after some delays and a bit of confusion. The latest versions for Mac and iPhone now rely on Google Reader for their synchronization services.

Notable software releases this week include Nicecast 1.9.9, Audio Hijack Pro 2.9.4, Airfoil 3.3.4, Phone Amego 1.0.5, Logic Pro 9.0.1, Logic Express 9.0.1, Main Stage 2.0.1, HP Printer Drivers for Mac OS X 10.6, TweetDeck v0.30.5, and Quicken 2007 Certificate Updater.

Notable software releases this week include Sandvox 1.6.4, Mellel 2.7, MercuryMover 2.0.6, Camera Raw 5.5, Lightroom 2.5, and Things 1.2.2.

Apple's release of Snow Leopard is for many people the first time they've heard of the big cat, and many more don't know that the actual snow leopard is an extremely endangered species. Here's a look at current efforts to protect the animal, and how you can get involved.

Notable software releases this week include Default Folder X 4.3.1, Phone Amego 1.0.3, PDFpen 4.2.1, PhoneValet Message Center 6.0.3, Simon 2.5.3, Airfoil 3.3.3, Audio Hijack Pro 2.9.3, Cocktail 4.5, ConceptDraw Updates, HP Printer Drivers for Mac OS X 10.6, iMac Graphics Firmware Update 1.0.2, Apple RAID Card Firmware Update, Firefox 3.5.3, QuickTime 7.6.4, and Suitcase Fusion 2.v13.2.

An attempt to track down reports of widespread defective SuperDrives via Apple discussion forums reveals the difficulty in assessing these sorts of large-scale issues, yet also confirms the existence of some kind of significant problem at play.

Notable software releases this week include BeLight Software Updates, Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 5, SOHO Labels 4.1, Teleport 1.0.2, Opera 10, Yojimbo 2.0, Omni Group Software Updates, Fetch 5.5.2, SuperDrive Firmware 3.0 Update, Apple Server 10.5.8 Update 1.1, Mac Mini EFI Firmware Update 1.2, HoudahGeo 2.3, Server Admin Tools 10.6, Scrivener 1.52, Apple Network Registration Update 1.0, ODBC Administrator Tool for Mac OS X, Aperture 2.1.4, and Gutenprint Printer Drivers for Mac OS X 10.6.