Yesterday Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.5, the fifth update for Snow Leopard.  The update is available via Software Update or from Apple’s site.  10.6.5 has quite a few fixes, which are listed below:

• Improves reliability with Microsoft Exchange servers.
• Addresses performance of some image-processing operations in iPhoto and Aperture.
• Addresses stability and performance of graphics applications and games.
• Resolves a delay between print jobs.
• Addresses a printing issue for some HP printers connected to an AirPort Extreme.
• Resolves an issue when dragging contacts from Address Book to iCal.
• Addresses an issue in which dragging an item from a stack causes the Dock to not automatically hide.
• Resolves an issue in which Wikipedia information may not display correctly in Dictionary.
• Improves performance of MainStage on certain Macs.
• Resolves spacing issues with OpenType fonts.
• Improves reliability with some Bluetooth braille displays.
• Resolves a VoiceOver issue when browsing some websites with Safari 5.
• Improves Bluetooth pairing with Magic Trackpad.
• Resolves performance issues with third-party displays that use InstaPort technology.
• Add SSL support for transferring files with iDisk.
• Resolves an issue when opening 4-up Photo Booth pictures in Preview.
• Addresses keyboard responsiveness issues in the Dock when Spaces is turned on.
• Resolves an issue syncing Address Book with Google.
• Fixes an issue when replying to a Mail message sent by a person whose name contains certain characters such as é or ü.
• Improves performance for users bound to an Active Directory domain.
• Improves reliability of Ethernet connections.
• Systems with a Mac Pro RAID Card (Early 2009) installed can now be put to sleep.
• Improves reliability of fibre channel connections, resolving a potential Xsan volume availability issue.
• Adds RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras.
• Security improvements; for information about the security content of this update, please visit this article.

Apple has also released Security Update 2010-007 for users on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.  For more info visit Apple’s site.

For our users who just purchased the latest iMac, which comes with the super sleek Magic Mouse, and for those of you who may have just purchased the Magic Mouse alone, there are software updates available.  The only information that Apple has provided about the updates is that you should install the software to “take advantage of your Magic Mouse special features.”

Magic Mouse Update – Leopard

Magic Mouse Update – Snow Leopard

The Mac OS X 10.5.8 Update was released yesterday and you can update by running Software Update from the Apple menu on your machine or by downloading the Update here from Apple’s website.

The following improvements and fixes are included in the update:

• Upgrades Safari to version 4.0.2.
• Improves the accuracy of full history search in Safari 4.
• Resolves an issue in which certain resolutions might not appear in the Display pane in System Preferences.
• Dragging an Aperture image into Automator now invokes an Aperture action instead of incorrectly invoking an iPhoto action.
• Resolves an issue that could prevent importing of large photo and movie files from digital cameras.
• Improves overall Bluetooth reliability with external devices, USB webcams and printers.
• Addresses an issue that could cause extended startup times.
• Improves iCal reliability with MobileMe Sync and CalDav.
• Addresses data reliability issues with iDisk and MobileMe.
• Improves overall reliability with AFP.
• Improves overall reliability with Managed Client.
• Improves compatibility and reliability for joining AirPort networks.
• Improves Sync Service reliability.
• Includes additional RAW image support for several third-party cameras.
• Improves compatibility with some external USB hard drives.
• Includes latest security fixes.

As always, please BACKUP before you install the update.  Also, you may want to visit MacFixIt’s site here and here for reports of issues that some users have experienced with this update.

So far neither our techs nor our clients have reported any incidents with the latest Leopard update, 10.5.7.  However, Macfixit has had a number of users write in with certain problems that they have experienced after updating.

So far they have noted issues with the following:

• Computer hangs at the blue screen upon start-up after the installation of the upgrade.
• Disappearance of certain display resolutions.
• Buffalo external hard drives are not being recognized post-update.
• A few users have reported video issues on their MacBooks and MacBook Pros.
• Inability to print to PDF and some programs crashing when during printing.
• Bluetooth ceasing to work after the update.
• Option to disable trackpad when using a mouse appears to disappear in certain MacBooks with the new update.

For info on workarounds and solutions where available, check out MacFixit articles here and here.  As always, the team at Need Mac Help recommends backing up before the installation of any update.  We also recommend installing the combo update.

As our mac support experts have recommended in the past, it is wise to wait a little bit before jumping to upgrade your operating system.  There may be certain applications that you have on your machine that might not play nicely with 10.5.7 and we we’d like to get feedback from our trusted Need Mac Help techs after they’ve tested the new operating system.

For users who feel they absolutely must upgrade right away, please read Apple’s support document regarding the update.

Recently, a few of our clients decided to finally make the big leap and upgrade to Leopard.  Before they ran out and purchased 10.5 for $129, I told them about the great deal that Apple has with the Mac Box Set.  For an extra $40, users not only get the latest version of Leopard (10.5.6), but they also get:

• iLife ’09, which includes the new iPhoto ’09, iMovie ’09, GarageBand ’09, iWeb ’09, and iDVD
• iWork ’09, Apple’s productivity suite for home and office including Pages ’09, Numbers ’09, and Keynote ’09

The clients who were upgrading to Leopard picked up the Box Set prior to the appointment with their tech and have been very happy with the new software (and, of course, the new operating system).

A note for G4 and G5 users — iPhoto ’09 will be missing some slideshow features and the “Learn to Play” feature of GarageBand ’09 requires an Intel-based Mac with a dual-core processor or better.  More details regarding the missing slideshow features on iPhoto ’09 can be found in a support document on Apple’s website.

I’ve been reading through the support forums and blogs about various problems that users have been encountering with the new upgrade to OS X 10.5.6.  Some of the issues reported thus far include:

• Freezing at “configuring installation” screen
• Mail crashes
• Network issues
• Time Machine backup failure
• Problems with DFU mode

If you are anxious to install the upgrade, we recommend first reading the instructions on Apple’s website and to consider installing the larger Combo update.