14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, Apple released Mac OS X 10.6.5, the fifth maintenance and security update to its Snow Leopard operating system. Available in both Client and Server form, OS X 10.6.5 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.
On the Client side, Apple has delivered the usual bag of general fixes and improvements, such as better reliability with Microsoft Exchange servers, better performance of some image-processing operations in iPhoto and Aperture, as well as more stability and performance of graphics applications and games.
Furthermore, the 10.6.5 update resolves a delay between print jobs, a printing issue for some HP printers connected to an AirPort Extreme, an issue when dragging contacts from Address Book to iCal, an issue in which dragging an item from a stack caused the Dock to not automatically hide, and a problem in which Wikipedia information may not display correctly in Dictionary.
Notably, this last-mentioned fix is needed on Mac OS X 10.5.x Leopard as well, yet Apple has failed to address the problem on its older operating system.
Instead, it provides a workaround on the Support area of its web site, with no promise for a future fix by software update.
Back to the 10.6.5 release, Apple reveals that the update also improves performance of MainStage, a component of Apple’s Logic Studio, a music production suite.
MainStage, for its part, serves as a method of centralizing any virtual instruments that users might have installed on their computers that are normally used in Apple's DAW software Logic Pro for use in live performance.
Other fixes and improvements are listed by the Mac maker as follows:
- 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. For more information, see Mac Pro RAID Card (Early 2009): Enabling system sleep. - Improves reliability of fibre channel connections, resolving a potential Xsan volume availability issue.
Download Mac OS X Client Update (Free)
Download Mac OS X Server Update (Free)
As usual, Apple also added RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras, as well as important security improvements, which are detailed on the company’s Support site here.
Softpedia will take a closer look at the security content of Mac OS X 10.6.5 in a separate post today.