Following up on a previous article on using the Home Folder in OS X, Sandro Cuccia discusses the advantages of using the Shared Folder and shows you how.

Origin, EA’s Steam-like digital distribution platform, has just launched for OS X. The project was first announced in August 2012. The free software allows users to browse, purchase, and play EA software titles that are compatible with OS X. As of now, that includes 49 games ranging from casual options to newer blockbusters.

Apple is continuing to extensively test the next maintenance update to OS X Mountain Lion. The tenth prerelease build of 10.8.3 was released to developers Wednesday. Notably, the build fixes the file bug reported earlier this week.

So you need to use the copyright symbol or an ellipsis while you're writing a document. Did you know that there's an easy way to figure out what the keyboard shortcuts are for a variety of special characters on your Mac? Yup, it's simple, and once you know the shortcuts for the symbols you use most frequently, you'll be a faster typist and even more impressive than you already are. And we know you're already pretty impressive.

Apple released OS X Server 2.21 on Monday with improved support for managing Time Machine backups and Mac App Store downloads. OS X Server is an add on package for OS X Mountain Lion that adds server features.

What will Apple call OS X 10.9? Inquiring minds want to know, and we think we may have it.

Apple has begun extensive testing of the next version of OS X. Traffic logs at The Mac Observer and several other Apple-focused sites reveal a significant jump in hits claiming to be from Apple's next big cat since the beginning of 2013. If Apple follows the release schedule of 10.8 Mountain Lion, the company could introduce the first prerelease builds of 10.9 as early as next week.

An odd bug in OS X Mountain Lion was discovered last week. Typing a specific phrase into almost any OS X app will immediately cause the app to crash.

The Java security saga continued Friday as Oracle released yet another critical update to the software platform, just two days after Apple remotely blocked it in OS X. The update claims to address all known security issues associated with a serious exploit that was first revealed to the public by the Department of Homeland Security in early January.

Apple has remotely blocked the Java Web plugin in OS X for the second time in a month following a major security vulnerability reported in the software several weeks ago. Security researchers claim that only one of the two vulnerabilities was fixed by an Oracle update to the software.