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Apple Offers Leopard/Snow Leopard Performance Updates

Cory Bohon — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:46:42 -0500

Today Apple offered up an update to fix hard drive problems that some Mac users were reporting. The Performance Updates for both Leopard and Snow Leopard are supposed to, "[Address] intermittent hard drive-related stalls reported by a small number of customers."

A few Mac users were experiencing these hard drive-related problems, and these problems have been reported for a while now.

You can download this update by visiting the Apple Support Downloads page for Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) or Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6), or you can open Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update). Apple has also created a page detailing the steps needed for installing this update.

Not all Macs need this update. The Macs affected are:

MacBook Air (Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009), iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009), MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008), MacBook Air (Late 2008), MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008), iMac (24-inch, Early 2009), iMac (20-inch, Early 2009), Mac mini (Early 2009)

Apple Releases Security Update 2009-005

Arvind Srinivasan — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:27:41 -0500

If you really didn’t feel like shelling out 30 bucks for Snow Leopard, you may want to open Software Update, because Apple has just released Security Update 2009-005 for Tiger and Leopard. The fun thing about reading the notes for security updates is that you suddenly realize how many different ways hackers could nuke your computer, pre-update of course. In this specific one, they talk about CUPS printer driver, PHP, mySQL, CoreGraphics, and even ClamAV antivirus exploits.

The update is live, so download away.

10.5.8 is Ready for Your Loving Download

Roberto Baldwin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:36:03 -0500

Get ready to to fire up Software Update, Apple has released 10.5.8.

What Apple tells us about 10.5.8:

The 10.5.8 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, as well as specific fixes for:

-compatibility and reliability issues when joining AirPort networks

-an issue that could cause some monitor resolutions to no longer appear in Displays System Preferences.

-issues that may affect Bluetooth reliability.

Here is more detailed information.

OS X 10.5.8 Developers Get Latest Build

J Keirn-Swanson — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:43:46 -0500

Inching ever closer to the actual release of Snow Leopard, OS X 10.6, Apple recently seeded OS X 10.5.8 Build 9L30 to developers with just the tiniest of tweaks.

The build, coming just five days after the previous, made some incremental adjustments to waking from the sleep mode when connected with certain external monitors. With such minute adjustments, Apple is unlikely to make any more changes to Leopard prior to the launch of Snow Leopard.

With the bulk of developer attention being focused on synching issues and other behind-the-scenes changes, these tweaks look to bring Leopard as close to the Snow Leopard experience without the drama of a major update.

Snow Leopard is scheduled to be released in September. Leopard users can upgrade for $29.

Mac OS X 10.5.7 Includes Radeon HD 4870 Support

Florence Ion — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:49:05 -0500

Yesterday’s release of Mac OS X 10.5.7 included a pleasant surprise among the flurry of updates for the Mac operating system—integrated support for ATI’s Radeon HD 4870 card.

The Radeon HD 4870 has been a configure-to-order option for new Mac Pro buyers since the line had been updated this past March. At the same time, Apple introduced a Radeon HD 4870 kit for Mac Pro users who had purchased the system in 2008, which would upgrade the older Nvidia card to the faster Radeon. The GPU promises a significant speed improvement over other graphics processors offered with the Mac Pro, along with additional support for the Mini DisplayPort interface found on Apple’s 24-inch Cinema LED Display.

Currently, the Mac Pro comes with the option of an Nvidia Geforce GT 120 with 512MB of memory or the Radeon HD 4870. Early 2008 Mac Pro models shipped with either an ATI Radeon 2600XT or Nvidia 8800Gt, both of which are significantly slower than the Radeon 4870.

The 10.5.7 update includes support for extensions to OpenGL, Apple’s 3D graphics Application Programming Interface (API) required to support the Radeon HD 4870. You can download the update here.

Mac OS X 10.5.7 Now Available

Florence Ion — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:38:24 -0500

So, remember awhile back Robbie said that the Mac OS X 10.5.7 would be available last Friday? Well, he was wrong. Turns out it is now available at Apple’s official site. Or, via Software Update.

The operating system update is recommended for users running Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and includes general system fixes that include the latest security fixes, additional RAW image support for third party cameras, improved performance of video playback and cursor movements for NVIDIA Macs, and improved reliability with widgets, synching contacts with Yahoo!, and logging into Gmail.

The full list of specifications can be found at the official page. Make sure to back up your Mac before installing.

Podcast #69: iPhone and Netbook Hacks and App Store Rejects Return

Roberto Baldwin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:57:30 -0600

The iPhone has been unlocked just in time for OS X 10.5.6 to break DFU mode making the unlocking tool worthless. Third party vendor releases driver for hackingtosh netbooks, and finally Pull My Finger returns to the App Store. Huzzah!

That's right, another holiday song is chosen for our weekly, "Keep or Delete." Each week we download and review the free iTunes song of the week and decide whether we're going to keep or delete the file. This week's artist:

Sarah Brightman - Silent Night

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and ideas for the new podcast. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

OS X 10.5.6 Update Invades Software Update

Roberto Baldwin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:51:51 -0600

The latest update is ready to fix a plethora of issues.

- Address Book gets a reliability boost.
- AirPort connections are improved
- Graphics improvements for gaming, Cover Flow and a fix for distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards
- Mail should quit when you tell it too.
- MobileMe contacts, calendars, and bookmark changes on a Mac sync within one minute
- Improves Safari compatibility with web proxy servers
- Swanky new Trackpad preference in System Preferences

The list goes on and on. Check out the entire list and download away!