World of Apple

Apple has released the eighth major update to Mac OS X Snow Leopard via Software Update. The update which will presumably be the last for Mac OS X 10.6 primarily prepares users systems for the next major Mac OS update which is due in July.

Mac OS X 10.6.8 is described by Apple to have the following improvements:

• Enhance the Mac App Store to get your Mac ready to upgrade to Mac OS X Lion
• Resolve an issue that may cause Preview to unexpectedly quit
• Improve support for IPv6
• Improve VPN reliability
• Identify and remove known variants of Mac Defender

Apple also offers a detailed knowledge base note on Mac OS X 10.6.8 as well as the security updates included.

Mac OS X Lion which was heavily previewed at this years WWDC earlier this month will be available in July exclusively from the Mac App Store for $29.99 (£20.99). Some 250 updates are said to be included in Lion with some of the most amazing features in Lion being: new Multi-Touch gestures; system-wide support for full screen apps; Mission Control, an innovative view of everything running on your Mac; the Mac App Store, the best place to find and explore great software, built right into the OS; Launchpad, a new home for all your apps; and a completely redesigned Mail app.

Apple has today released the promised security update which tackles any installations of a recent spate of malware applications. The update labelled Security Update 2011-003 for Snow Leopard is available from Apple’s website or Software Update.

Apple has also posted a knowledge base article explaining what the security update does and how it will help tackle similar variants of Mac malware in the future, also included is a detailed look at the file quarantine function that was built into both Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard.

The update will also enable a locally stored list of malware to be updated daily, the list is used during the safe download check to determine if a file contains malicious software.

Apple maintains a list of known malicious software that is used during the safe download check to determine if a file contains malicious software. The list is stored locally, and with Security Update 2011-003 is updated daily by a background process.

[...]

Security Update 2011-003 provides additional protection by checking for the MacDefender malware and its known variants. If MacDefender malware is found, the system will quit this malware, delete any persistent files, and correct any modifications made to configuration or login files.[...]

Late last week Apple gave developers the third build of Mac OS X 10.6.8 labelled build 10K531. The latest build which comes as a 1GB download includes the same focus areas as the previous build: Airport, Graphics Drivers, Mac App Store, Networking, QuickTime and VPN.

Today a number of changes that will be included in Mac OS X 10.6.8 have surfaced in the form of release, suggesting that Apple is nearing a final release of the minor Snow Leopard update.

The notes published by fscklog read as follows:

The 10.6.8 update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes that:

• Enhance the Mac App Store to get your Mac ready to upgrade to Mac OS X Lion
• Resolve an issue that may cause Preview to unexpectedly quit
• Improve support for IPv6
• Improve VPN reliability
• Identify and remove known variants of Mac Defender

Apple has today delivered the second build of Mac OS X 10.6.8 to registered Mac developers. Apple began testing of the latest update to Mac OS X Snow Leopard last week.

The 1GB delta update is labelled build 10K524 and is accompanied with the following seed notes.

Known Issues

• None

Focus Areas

• AirPort
• Graphics Drivers
• Mac App Store
• Networking
• QuickTime
• VPN

The update to Mac OS X Snow Leopard could be the last as Apple heads towards a summer release of the next major operating system, Lion.

Apple has given developers access to the first build of Mac OS X 10.6.8, the release which is labelled build 10K521 comes two months after Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.7 to the public.

Apple includes the following notes with this build of Mac OS X 10.6.8:

Known Issues

• None

Focus Areas

• AirPort
• Graphics Drivers
• Mac App Store
• Networking
• QuickTime
• VPN

The update to Mac OS X Snow Leopard could be the last as Apple heads towards a summer release of the next major operating system, Lion.

Apple has released a minor update to Safari pushing the browser to version 5.0.5. The company also released a security update package for both Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Leopard.

Safari 5.0.5 which is available through Software Update or Apple’s website and according to the company only includes the latest security updates.

Apple also released Security Update 2011-002 for Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Leopard:

• Security Update 2011-002 (Mac OS X Snow Leopard)
• Security Update 2011-002 (Mac OS X Leopard)

Following several months of developer testing Apple has today released Mac OS X 10.6.7, the update which is available to download from Apple or through Software Update addresses a number of issues.

Mac OS X 10.6.7 is accompanied with the following releases notes:

The 10.6.7 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes that:

- Improve the reliability of Back to My Mac
- Resolve an issue when transferring files to certain SMB servers
- Address various minor Mac App Store bugs

For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4472.
For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222.

Apple is also offering a separate Mac OS X 10.6.7 update specifically for Early 2011 MacBook Pro models which in addition addresses:

• Address minor FaceTime performance issues
• Improve graphics stability and external display compatibility

Apple has today given developers access to the eighth build of Mac OS X 10.6.7. The latest build labelled 10J869 (an increase of just one build number) comes just six days after the release of the seventh build.

The new build which is a little under 500MB for the delta update and just over 1GB for the combo includes the same focus areas as the previous builds and comes with no known issues.

Apple included the following notes with the latest Mac OS X 10.6.7 build:

Known Issues

• None

Focus Areas

• Safari
• Mac App Store
• AirPort
• Bonjour
• SMB
• Graphics Drivers

Apple has today given developers access to the seventh build of Mac OS X 10.6.7. The latest build labelled 10J868 (an increase of just two build numbers) comes a lengthy two weeks after the release of the sixth build.

The new build which is a little under 500MB for the delta update and just over 1GB for the combo includes the same focus areas as the previous builds and comes with no known issues.

Apple included the following notes with the latest Mac OS X 10.6.7 build:

Known Issues

• None

Focus Areas

• Safari
• Mac App Store
• AirPort
• Bonjour
• SMB
• Graphics Drivers

Apple has today given developers access to the sixth build of Mac OS X 10.6.7. The latest build labelled 10J860 (an increase of just two build numbers) comes just five days after the release of the fifth build.

The new build which is a little over 400MB for the delta update and just under 1GB for the combo includes the same focus areas as the previous builds and comes with no known issues.

Apple included the following notes with the latest Mac OS X 10.6.7 build:

Known Issues

• None

Focus Areas

• Safari
• Mac App Store
• AirPort
• Bonjour
• SMB
• Graphics Drivers