Apple released a new security update today, more info can be found here. It’s available for Mac OS X v10.5.8, Mac OS X Server v10.5.8, Mac OS X v10.6.4 and Mac OS X Server v10.6.4.

It blocks several security holes, and I recommend all Mac users keep up to date with ALL security updates. Use Software Update to download and install them, with a restart if necessary. This could prevent a malicious criminal from accessing your information and stealing your money, or your identity.

I don’t like to be alarmist, but it only makes sense to take advantage of Apple’s security updates. They haven’t caused any serious issues, and are worth the protection they provide.

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An update to Mac OS X 10.6.4 was released this morning, with additions specific for the new iMacs… oh, you didn’t know about the new iMacs? Read the next post! Unless you have one of the new model iMacs, you won’t need this update.

The new update addresses graphic anomalies occurring in the new iMacs with the current version of 10.6.4. It also fixes compatibility issues with reading SDXC memory cards.

A new driver for the Magic Trackpad (read the next post) was released as well, and is required for the new device. It also enables iertial scrolling and 3-finger dragging gestures on the newest MacBook and MacBook Pro lines. Download it here.

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iTunes 9.2.1 was released yesterday to improve security and fix bugs.

Some of the changes:

• Disables older versions of some incompatible third-party plug-ins
• Addresses minor issues with dragging and dropping items
• Addresses a performance issue when first syncing to some devices with iTunes 9.2
• Addresses an issue upgrading to iOS 4 on an iPhone or iPod touch with encrypted back-ups
• Addresses other issues that improve stability and performance

In addition, there are new features and improvements, including iPhone 4 sync improvements, the ability to organize and sync PDF documents as books and read with iBooks 1.1 on the iPad or any iPhone/Touch with iOS 4 and more.

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The new iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch operating system is available, and downloading as I write. I’m excited! I plugged my iPhone in to my Mac, fired up iTunes, and… my software was up to date, supposedly. I clicked the button to update, and lo and behold, I was offered the option of downloading and installing, downloading only, or canceling. Which do you think I took?

The update provides more than 100 features, and all kinds of new goodies for app developers, the most interesting from my point of view is multitasking support. Now we have the possibility of at least limited functionality for apps in the background, and quicker app switching.

Another big deal is the ability of creating folders for organizing apps. The limitations of OS 3 are gone, hardware permitting.

Speaking of hardware, this new OS works on the iPhone 3GS, the 3G, iPod Touch (2nd and 3rd generation only), as well as the iPhone 4 releasing this Thursday. Some features aren’t supported on the older devices, but enough will for this to be a big deal.

Original iPhones won’t run the new OS at all, and iPads won’t update until sometime this fall… the latter irritates me no end, but I’ll be patient.

Open iTunes (version 9.2 required), plug in your iPhone, and click on the Update button under Version on the Summary page. The process takes a bit of time, and the size of the download depends on the device you’re updating.

This morning Macworld and others seemed to have no problem updating, but after the iPhone 4 pre-order fiasco last week, I’ll be curious to see if the servers can handle the load. So far so good, for me (2:30 Pacific Daylight Time).

Hey, my iPhone is restarting! The download and update took around 10 minutes, and the restart about 5 more minutes. Guess I should have timed it, but my stopwatch is my iPhone!

Early experiences

Multitasking… not the same as on my Mac, and Apple says it is a battery drainer.

Folders… I have way too many apps anyway, since I’m a crash-test dummy for my clients, but now I can organize the ones I use a lot, the ones I need to test, and the ones I’ll get around to one day. I had to go to Apple’s site to figure out how to make a folder, but it’s easy. Simply drag an app onto another and a folder is created. It’s given a name based on the category of the app, but it’s easy to rename. It works the same way using the Apps tab in iTunes, and is easier to navigate. I recommend giving it all some thought… I spent about 30 minutes, and am only about half-way organized. Once done, tho, what a timesaver!

Now I can have 180 folders, with 12 apps each. That’s 2160 apps, which means that if I use one every minute, I’ll be done in… 3 days!

Something I didn’t expect, even tho I’d read about it, was seeing my “desktop picture” behind the app icons. Not sure how I feel about that. The black background is something I’ve got used to over the last 3 years. I may have to choose a new picture. Even so, it’s certainly more interesting than it was.

Mail app improvements include a unified inbox, which allows us to see all incoming messages, no matter how many accounts they come in to. Threaded messages are supported, and tapping attachments allows separate apps to open them.

iBooks is nice, but I now depend on the iPad for books. Still, it’s not bad. Camera and Photo apps are improved (hardware permitting), and bluetooth keyboard support is very nice. You also can choose between Google and Bing as your default browser search engine.

Conclusion

I LIKE it!

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Apple released the newest update to Mac OS X 10.6 yesterday. They have more info on this page.

Updating instructions from Apple:

Updating your system

You should back up your system before installation; you can use Time Machine.

Do not interrupt the installation process once you have started to update your system. You may experience unexpected results if you have third-party system software modifications installed, or if you’ve modified the operating system through other means.

Choose Software Update from the Apple () menu to check for the latest Apple software via the Internet, including this update.

If your computer is not up-to-date, other software updates available for your computer may appear, which you should install. When Software Updates states “Your software is up to date,” you can be sure that all available updates have been installed.

Note that an update size may vary from computer-to-computer when installed using Software Update. Also, some updates must be installed prior to others, so you should run Software Update more than once to make sure you have all available updates.

You can manually download the update installer. This is a useful option when you need to update multiple computers but only want to download the update once. These versions of the standalone installers are available from Apple Support Downloads.

I always recommend downloading the Combo Updater, as there is a small percentage of users who have issues updating through Software Update. Combo Updaters seem to be a trouble-free approach.

That said, I’ve used Software update regularly, and never had an issue. As I said, it’s a small percentage of updaters that have any problems.

General fixes and improvements

• improves compatibility with some Braille displays
• resolves an issue that causes the keyboard or trackpad to become unresponsive
• resolves an issue that may prevent some Adobe Creative Suite 3 applications from opening
• addresses issues copying, renaming, or deleting files on SMB file servers
• improves reliability of VPN connections
• resolves a playback issue in DVD Player when using Good Quality deinterlacing
• resolves an issue editing photos with iPhoto or Aperture in full screen view
• resolves an issue with Parental Controls Time Limits for Open Directory or Active Directory users
• resolves a display sleep issue with MacBook Pro (Early 2010) computers
• resolves an issue with MacBook Pro (Early 2010) computers in which the right speaker may sound louder than the left speaker
  includes Safari 5.0; for more information about Safari 5.0, see this webpage
• Security improvements; for information about the security content of this update, please visit this article

Fixes and improvements for Aperture 3

• adds tethered shooting support for additional digital camera models
• addresses IPTC metadata compatibility issues
• Fixes and improvements for external devices

RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras

• resolves an issue with using third-party USB web cameras
• resolves an issue with noise when using some third-party FireWire audio devices
• resolves pairing issues with Apple remotes

Additional Information

This update also includes the improvements found in the Mac OS X v10.6.1, 10.6.2, and 10.6.3 updates.

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By Topher Kessler, published originally at MacFixIt

Regardless of how you have decided to install OS X (Software Update, Delta, or Combo installers), you may run into a problem where the system might hang on installation. Though the occurrence of this with the 10.6.3 update seems to be rare, when it happens you may see it sit forever with the spinning color wheel, or go blank to a blue, black, or gray screen and require a forced restart. Even if the system appears to be healthy after the forced restart, there is the possibility that some files could be corrupt. As a precaution we recommend reapplying the combo updater.

Most hangs at installation usually happen when the system is running more maintenance-based routines or performing commands like restarting, so the system will not necessarily be hurt; however, there is always the chance that files can get corrupted by interrupting the installation process.

If your computer hangs during installation, try the following steps:

1. Give it time

Many times the system will sit at a blue or black screen for a while, so be sure to give it ample time before concluding the system is hung up. Let it sit there for about half an hour to see if it resolves the hang and continues the installation process properly.

2. Hard-reset only if the system is not doing anything

If the system does not respond after waiting, only hard-reset it if the hard drive is not working. Put your ear to the case of the system to hear if the drive is working. If so, wait until you cannot hear the drive chattering away and then press and hold the power button until the system shuts off.

3.Immediately boot to safe mode

Once the system has been powered down, boot it up and immediately press the Shift key to go to Safe Mode. This will run some diagnostics scripts at boot-up, and also load the OS in a minimal way to prevent any interference. When booted, run Disk Utility’s permissions fix and hard-drive verification routines, as well as run any maintenance utilities you may have for cleaning the system’s temporary files (caches, etc.).

4. Reapply the combo updater

Even if the system seems to be working fine, after any fault in the installation it is always best to re-run the installation using the “Combo” updater. This will ensure that all installed files are in working order, and prevent any currently unused but corrupt files from causing problems later on. We recommend you download the Combo updater and run it when booted in Safe Mode.

5. Check permissions after installation

Once you have completed the installation with the Combo updater, use Disk Utility to run a full permissions fix on the hard drive. This will ensure that all updated files are properly accessible by the system, and prevent slowdowns and hangs that could result if the system cannot access these files.

6. Start over from backup

If the installation is still not working properly, even after reapplying the Combo updater, then it is highly recommended you start over. This can be done by reverting to a backup you made before applying the 10.6.3 update (Time Machine or a cloned drive), or by performing a reinstall of the OS from the Snow Leopard DVD. When you have reverted to the backup, be sure to fully prepare your system for the update by following the procedures suggested in this article.

7. Full reinstall

Reverting to a backup is the preferred method, since it will keep all of your settings and program installations intact; however, some people may not have this in which case a reinstallation may be necessary. Snow Leopard will perform an archive and install, which will preserve user data and installed applications, so reinstalling should keep most settings intact.

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It came out March 29, and I’ve been using it since then, without any issues.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1017 (combo update)

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1018 (10.6.2 to 10.6.3 update)

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1019 (server combo update)

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1020 (server 10.6.2 to 10.6.3)

I do recommend updating with the Combo Updater. For some reason, updates using the delta updater (one step update) or Software Update has created problems for a few users. Using the Combo Updater seems to avoid and in fact solve any of those problems.

The details:

General operating system fixes and improvements:

• performance of Logic Pro 9 and Main Stage 2 when running in 64-bit mode.
• printing reliability.
• sleep and wake reliability when using Bonjour wake on demand.
• a color issue in iMovie with HD content.
• glowing, stuck, or dark pixels when viewing video from the iMac (Late 2009) built-in iSight camera.z
• an issue in which the Finder reports a -36 error when copying directories to a drive formatted as FAT32.
• reliability of photo screen savers.
• compatibility issues with OpenGL-based applications.
• an issue in which shadows in PDF of Aperture book are black instead of gray.
• an issue in which the microphone level in iChat may not increase the volume after reducing it to prevent a feedback event.
• the reliability of certain third-party USB devices.
• the Accounts preference pane can now limit login to members of groups hosted by a non-Apple directory service, such as Active Directory.
• DNS server ordering as specified in Network Preferences and DNS reliability.
• the reliability and compatibility of QuickTime X.
• Data Collection: Mac OS X v10.

6.3 can collect diagnostic and usage information from your Mac and send it to Apple for analysis automatically. The information is only collected with your explicit consent, and is submitted anonymously to Apple.

AirPort and wireless networking fixes:

4GHz wireless networks.

Date and Time fixes:

Directory Services fixes:

File Services fixes:

iCal fixes:

For details, see this article.

Mail fixes and improvements:

Mobile Accounts fixes and improvements:

MobileMe fixes and improvements:

Parental Control fixes and improvements:

Rosetta fixes:

System Imaging fixes and improvements:

5 system with a QuickTime 7 Pro key installed to Mac OS X v10.6.

Time Machine fixes and improvements:

Xsan fixes and improvements:

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Microsoft released updates to Office for Mac 2004 and 2008, primarily to plug security holes in the program. The 2008 version should be more stable, as well, following the update.

The Open XML converter needed by 2004 users to read documents created by the latest versions of Office has been updated as well.

Back up your system before updating is always recommended. If you live by Office applications, this is a must. You shouldn’t have any problems with the update, but stuff happens, and it’s always better to be safe… A complete, restorable backup keeps you safe. If you’ve any questions about how to back up, please contact me.

I downloaded the updates with Microsoft Auto-Udpate, but the downloads are available online as well. Links:

Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.5.8 Update

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.2.4 Update

Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.1.4

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Apple has posted a few software and firmware updates, which address issues with airport not able to turn off or on, and drive noise with optical drives. The updates should be available through Software Update, so be sure to check there.

Apple AirPort Client Update 2009-002

This update fixes a problem we reported on a little while ago where people were unable to turn off airport if it was on, or turn it on if it was off. This affected Snow Leopard users, and while some workarounds helped a few people, this update is needed to fully address the issue.

This update also fixes problems with network loss when using “Wake on Demand” features, and the inability to create computer-to-computer networks and share internet connections. The update is 12.95MB in size.

MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.8

This update is for MacBook Pro 5,1 and 5,2 computers (Late 2008, Early 2009 MacBook Pros) and addresses an issue where the optical drive makes noise when waking from sleep or starting up.

Be sure to apply the SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0 (below) after installing this update.

MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.4

This update is for MacBook 5,1 and 5,2 computers (Early and Mid 2009) and addresses the optical drive noises in these non-pro systems. As with the MacBook Pro update, this will require you to install the SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0 after installing. I wonder who the mysterious person “Glenno” is, who is mentioned in the KB article about this firmware update.

Glenno has a nice suggestion…

SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0

This updates the drive's firmware to address the noise issue, as long as the computer's firmware is of the appropriate version. The update requires OS 10.5.7 or later, and is 18.35MB in size. More information on the update and how to apply it can be found here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3744

via Apple updates Airport, MacBook, and Superdrive Firmware. | MacFixIt – CNET Reviews.

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Apple released the Snow Leopard update that is supposed to fix all the problems. I for one haven’t had any problems to speak of, nor have the majority of users, but there have been a few reported that could be serious. Now they’re fixed, one hopes.

Apple’s About the Mac OS X v10.6.2 Update page has the info on various fixes. They also advise using Software Update, which for some users can cause problems.

I recommend that you use the Combo Updater., which will update 10.6.0 or 10.6.1 to 10.6.2. It is not quite as simple as using Software Update, but solves some installation problems experienced by a few users.

MacFixIt has a 10.6.2 update problems report page, listing a few issues experienced by a limited number of users. They’re pretty minor, including no sound after updating, which I experienced. I fixed it by re-selecting the appropriate output (headphones in my case) in the Sound pane in System Preferences.

Others have sorted the problem out by reinstalling the update with the Combo updater, a good solution for any Mac OS update issues.

Some users have experienced a pause at the blue screen after rebooting. Apple worked hard on eliminating this issue, but it still happens for a few users.

Patience is the best solution. Usually after 5 to 10 minutes the system will complete the boot process normally. Usually it only happens once. I’ve experienced this with updates to 10.5 and 10.6 from time to time.

If the problem continues, boot from the 10.6 installation DVD (or an external drive with a good system) and repair permissions on the boot drive with Disk Utility. MacFixIt recommends running a disk verification and repair… it can’t hurt, but is unlikely to help, either. Then try rebooting into Safe Mode (hold the Shift key while your Mac boots). If all goes well, you can restart and all should be normal.

If you can only boot in Safe mode, the Combo updater will most likely solve the problem, which is why I always use it rather than Software Update. Mostly.

If you have the whole update process stop partway through with an error message, try the combo updater. If this doesn’t work, reinstall (Archive and Install) 10.6 and then update. The downside of this process is that some apps may need reinstallation, or need the serial number/registration code reinstalled.

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