Apple Is Training Support Staff on Snow Leopard

Reliable sources have informed the people at macenstein of ongoing Snow Leopard training sessions for Apple’s Support staff. The respective sources also tell the site that Apple is most likely launching the software this week, on the 28th, as previously rumored.

Citing “reliable sources out west,” macenstein reports that, “Support training for Snow Leopard has begun, signaling an imminent release of the next major release of OS X. Sources claim a date of Friday, August 28th is extremely likely.” Several other sources (and mishaps) have previously fueled speculation that Apple was shipping Mac OS X 10.6 early. It remains to be seen whether or not the September time frame is best for Apple, or whether the software will be launching at the same time worldwide.

Leaked screenshots of the test / quiz for Support staffers show that trainees must answer correctly to questions like, “How does the all windows mode of Expose display windows differently in Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)?” by checking all the variants that apply. This question, for example, has two right answers, those being “B: the windows display in a grid pattern” and “D: Expose displays hidden windows.”

The documentation also tells trainees to “leave the printed copy in the lab for the next student.” In the same manner, printed copies of “Snow Leopard Hands-On Lab” sessions are to be left in the lab after the two-hour session ends for the next “agent” to use.

Several downloadable files are available for different support-purposes, while trainees are encouraged to consult with their lab proctor for any questions they might have, or additional materials they may require to conduct a session.

As noted above (as well as earlier last week), such moves on behalf of Apple are painting the picture of an imminent Snow Leopard release. Some even claim they’ve snagged themselves Apple hardware that has been bundled with the latest version of its operating system (Snow Leopard).