World of Apple

Just one month after the first Leopard update, Apple had begun external testing of the second update which is set to pack a large list of fixes for Mac OS X 10.5.

Those familiar with the seed state that it first appeared on Tuesday evening and was labelled Mac OS X 10.5.2 build 9C7.

Developers have been advised to focus testing on Data Detectors, the Dock, the Finder, grammar checking, iCal, iChat, Mail. Parental Controls, Rosetta, Quick Look, Safari, Time Machine, and 802.11 AirPort operation.

The seed comes with a 76 item long fix list with significant fixes to CUPS (Common Unix Printing System), Mail and Rosetta.

Previous rumours have suggested that Mac OS X 10.5.2 will be released during Macworld Expo next month.

Apple today released a security update aimed for users of both Mac OS X Leopard and Tiger.

Security Update 2007-009 (10.5.1) is recommended for all users and improves the security of the following components:

Security Update 2007-009 (10.4.11 Universal) is recommended for all users and improves the security of the following components:

Security Update 2007-009 (10.5.1)
Security Update 2007-009 (10.4.11 Universal)
Security Update 2007-009 (10.4.11 PPC)

According to Mac Rumors, Apple notified retailers on Friday about a change to the retail box copies of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. The latest version of the retail box is now OS X 10.5.1 which was released on November 15th 2007.

The update was previously only available via an online update, now new buyers of Macs or those upgrading using the retail box copy will not have to run the update.

French Mac site MacBidouille is reporting (translated by HardMac) that Apple will unleash new versions of its high-end Mac Pro workstation at Macworld 2008 to held in January.

The French site reports that the new Mac Pros will see an update to 45nm quad-core Penryn processors, clocking up to 3.2GHz and include NVIDIA’s new Quadro FX.

A Blu-Ray drive will also reportedly be an option.

The site goes onto report that due to the significant update, Apple is also planning to simultaneously release Mac OS X 10.5.2. With the update will come a new set of SSE4 instructions built for the Penryn processors which should see Leopard given a big speed boost on top of the clock-speed increase.

The update is said to be the most significant interim update is OS X’s history.

[Update] - Blu-ray plaback will reportedly not be included due to a conflict between Apple and AACS LA.

Mac OS X 10.5.1 in Software Update

Following extensive testing over the last few weeks, Apple has finally released the first update to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.

The mighty 110MB update is recommended for all users of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.

The 10.5.1 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac.

Apple offers detailed notes about the update in this support document.

In just under a week since Apple last seeded Mac OS X 10.5.1, another build of the first update to Mac OS X Leopard has reached developers hands for testing.

The latest build labelled 9B16 has “no known issues” in its current state, a note accompanying the seed mentions a fix for a serious bug in which file loss can occur in the Finder when moved between directories.

Developers are asked to focus their testing on Time Machine, Mail, iCal, Back To My Mac, Bonjour, AirPort, gaming graphics, networking and the Finder.

As widely expected Apple has started seeding Mac OS X 10.5.1 to developers for testing. The seed carries the build number 9B13.

Apple states that the following areas should be targeted for testing; Mail Sync, Spotlight Index, Disk Management, Text Drawing, iCal and CalDAV syncing, Keychain login, Read-Only Issue with SMB, AirPort 802.1X, Application Firewall, To-Do Notes, and Smart Mailboxes.

[Update] It appears that AppleInsider is able to shed more light on the seed.

The rumour site reports that the beta software weighs in at at a “hefty” 267MB.

Also reported is that Mac OS X 10.5.1 delivers a “significant number” of bug fixes and over two dozen fixes and code corrections.

Apple has reportedly asked that its developers test the update broadly, paying particular attention to Time Machine, Mail, iCal, Back To My Mac, Bonjour, AirPort, gaming graphics, networking and the Finder.

The timeframe for a public release of Mac OS X 10.5.1 is reportedly a few weeks.

Mac Rumors and AppleInsider are both reporting that Apple has begun passing around pre-release builds of Mac OS X 10.5.1. Widespread testing is expected to start as early as next week.

The update will naturally help fix bugs and address security issues that are prevailing the shipping build of Mac OS Leopard.

AppleInsider reports that Apple is working on bring back the ability to backup using Time Machine to a hard drive connected to an Airport Extreme base station.

The feature which was widely touted prior to Leopard’s release was pulled at the last minute with all mention of it being removed from Apple’s website.

According to a person familiar with Leopard’s ongoing development, Apple is internally classifying the inability to select an AirPort Disk under Time Machine as a known issue. The matter is documented under a unique “Bug ID” number and titled: “Cannot set Time Machine Backup to AirPort Disk.”

In the bug report Apple notes that the issue is “currently being investigated by engineering.”

The feature is widely expected to return in an upcoming update to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard which is well under development.

Apple has announced that it has sold over 2 million copies of Mac OS X Leopard which was released on Friday 26th October. So far Leopard is far outpacing the speed of which Tiger was sold in its first weekend.

“Early indications are that Leopard will be a huge hit with customers,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Leopard’s innovative features are getting great reviews and making more people than ever think about switching to the Mac.”