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Apple releases some surprises with Mac OSX Update 10.5.6

Apple today updated the Leopard operating system to 10.5.6. Depending on what type of system you had, the download was anywhere from 100Mb to 1GB for the Server standalone. The listed features you can see on the website. I've found some others from my own experiences and around the web.

Most notably, 10.5.6 fixed some long standing Mobile Me issues. "This is how it should have worked from the beginning" - is what I've heard some people say. I am personally not a big MobileMe user but people around the web seem very happy.

10.5.6

Apple also rolled the new trackpad system preference to more laptops. Not just for Unibodies and Airs anymore?

Apple also broke the ability of iPhone Pwnage tool to get the iPhone to go into DFU mode, thereby eliminating the quickest path to jailbreaking iPhones. This lock had previously affected unibody MacBook users.

Safari certainly feels snappier. I haven't checked but Apple might have updated it to include a more recent version of Squirrelfish Webkit Javascript engine.

Oh, and my unibody MacBook Touchpad is still annoying me with some errant non-clicks. Also the screen is still glary. Otherwise, I am a happy camper.

I've pasted the Apple notes below for your reference:

If issues occur during installation or if Software Update unexpectedly quits, please visit this article.

Mail, Mac OS X 10.5, iCal 3.x, MobileMe Sync, iChat, AirPort, Safari

What's new in this update?


Address Book

  • Improves reliability of Address Book syncing with iPhone and other devices and applications.


AirPort

  • Improves the reliability of AirPort connections, including improvements when roaming in large wireless networks with an Intel-based Mac.


Client management

  • Improves reliability of synchronizing files on a portable home directory.
  • Fixes an issue in Mac OS X 10.5.4 and 10.5.5 in which managed users may not see printers that use the Generic PPD.
  • Client computers that use UUID-based ByHost preferences now respect managed Screen Saver settings.


iChat

  • Addresses an issue that could cause an encryption alert to appear in the chat window.
  • Setting your iChat status to "invisible" via AppleScript no longer logs you out of iChat.
  • Resolves an issue in which pasting text from a Microsoft Office document could insert an image rather than text.


Graphics

  • Includes general improvements to gaming performance.
  • Includes graphics improvements for iChat, Cover Flow, Aperture, and iTunes.
  • Includes fixes for possible graphics distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards.


Mail

  • Includes overall performance and reliability fixes.
  • Improves Connection Doctor accuracy.
  • Fixes an issue that could cause messages identified as junk to remain in the inbox.
  • Fixes an issue that could cause Mail to append a character to the file extension of an attachment.
  • Addresses an issue that could prevent Mail from quitting.
  • Improves reliability when printing PDF attachments.


MobileMe

  • Contacts, calendars, and bookmarks on a Mac automatically sync within a minute of the change being made on the computer, another device, or the web at me.com.


Networking

  • Improves Apple File Service performance, especially when using a home directory hosted on an AFP server. Important: If you are using Mac OS X 10.5.6 (client) to connect to a Mac OS X Server 10.4-based server, it is strongly recommended that you update the server to Mac OS X Server version 10.4.11.
  • Improves the performance and reliability of TCP connections.
  • Improves reliability and performance for AT&T 3G cards.
  • Updates the ssh Terminal command for compatibility with more ssh servers.


Printing

  • Improves printing for the Adobe CS3 application suite.
  • Improves printing for USB-based Brother and Canon printers.


Parental Controls

  • Addresses an issue in which a parentally-controlled account could be unable to access the iTunes Store.
  • Includes general fixes for time limits.
  • Resolves an issue that prevented adding allowed websites from Safari via drag and drop.


Time Machine

  • Fixes issues that could cause Time Machine to state the backup volume could not be found.
  • Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.


Safari

  • Improves compatibility with web proxy servers.


General

  • Includes Mac OS X security improvements. See this website for more information.
  • Addresses inaccuracies with Calculator when the Mac OS X language is set to German or Swiss German.
  • Improves the performance and reliability of Chess.
  • Improves DVD Player performance and reliability.
  • Performance improvements for iCal are included.
  • Fixes an issue when running the New iCal Events Automator action as an applet.
  • Adds a Trackpad System Preference pane for portable Macs.
  • Improves compatibility with smart cards such as the U.S. Department of Defense Common Access Card.
  • Updates time zone data and Daylight Saving Time rules for several countries.

As stated in the notes, Airport has improved. I am getting more bars in my apartment from my Wifi access point. There are a lot of wireless routers in my area so this is very helpful.

iCal now syncs color categories between iPhone and desktop application.

Some people were noticing some graphic abnormalities.

 

What People Are Saying

can't you get your grammar and spelling right?

Is it SO hard to get your grammar and spelling right? To know the difference between Effect and Affect? Duh!

It is really embarrassing to see people employed by mainstream media who lack even the most basic of writing abilities. Go back to the community college you flunked out of and take a class, dude.

Difference between a writer and writing well.

P.M.
Don't confuse writing well with knowing what to write. There are many famous writers who don't know, nor do they need to know, the difference between effect/affect. A zine could hire someone like you to find those mistakes, and leave it to someone with real ideas/tech knowledge to say something worthwile.
Sorry to be the barer (sp) of bad news.

They're called copy editors.

The people hired to find grammatical/spelling errors are called Copy Editors. They're usally people who obses about proper english rather than comprehension. BORING

grammer not-C

u r a grammer not-C & u r a luz3r lolz. We kin rite inny whey we won't an u cain't estopple us. lolz. Weer kyuler 'n u, an we don't need no education. lolz.

BTW, figger out a differents twixt 'affect' an 'effect'. Even *i* know that one. lolz

Effect or Affect?

From merriam-webster:

Effect and affect are often confused because of their similar spelling and pronunciation. The verb affect usually has to do with pretense . The more common affect denotes having an effect or influence
. The verb effect goes beyond mere influence; it refers to actual achievement of a final result
. The uncommon noun affect, which has a meaning relating to psychology, is also sometimes mistakenly used for the very common effect. In ordinary use, the noun you will want is effect
.

So the phrase "This lock had previously affected unibody MacBook users" can use the noun affected, such as in the example, the weather affected everyone's mood. However I would agree that it is not the best choice as the lock did not really affect the user's mood - unless of course that they were bummed out for not being about to unlock their phones :)

spotlight no longer working as a calculator

After installing the new update to Leopard, I found out that the blue spotlight search field no longer functions as a superfast and handy calculator. This is not a major issue but annoying for I have found the particular feature very handy indeed.

I had the same problem, but

I had the same problem, but after I opened the Calculator application, it worked fine.

Still works for me...

Still works for me...

I'm so glad I don't own a

I'm so glad I don't own a Mac.

shut up loser

you can't own a mac because you're too stupid to read the parts of this site that have to do with the system you prefer. you're obviously an idiot, and the sooner you sit down, shut up, and get your act together, the better for us all.

people like you are just idiots, too stupid to be bothered to READ something like a headline and go "duh gee boss me no likey macs me go read about my 'puter from coleco" and get drool on the keyboard!