Confirming everyone's expectations for the week, Apple has finally released the long-awaited Mac OS X 10.5.7 maintenance and security update. Leopard users can download and install the new software right now (either in simple or combo form), for free. The company has also issued a Security Update 2009-002 for Tiger and Leopard-related security issues.

In usual Apple manner, the Mac maker doesn't fully disclose the contents of the update, while support documents only outline the major changes occurring with the software.

About Mac OS X 10.5.7 Update

The 10.5.7 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.

This is all Apple mentions at first glance. The company does, however, link to two support articles detailing the slew of changes, including security tweaks. We will be discussing those in a separate piece. The folks at Macworld have revealed that the list of programs touched by this updater is large. Those are: Address Book (4.1.2), Automator (2.0.3), Dashboard, DVD Player, Exposé, Front Row, iCal (3.0.7), iChat (4.0.8), Mail (3.6), Preview (4.2), Safari 4 Beta, Spaces, Time Machine, Bluetooth File Exchange (2.1.6), RAID Utility (1.0.3), Remote Install Mac OS X, System Profiler (10.5.7; this is updated each cycle), Terminal (2.0.2), and X11.

The System Preferences are also seeing changes (though small) in panels such as Bluetooth, Desktop & Screen Saver, Energy Saver, MobileMe, Parental Controls, Print & Fax, Sound, Startup Disk, Time Machine, Trackpad, and Universal Access, according to the same source.

Mac owners can use one of two methods to update to the new version of Leopard. To perform the update via Leopard's built-in Software Update mechanism, choose Software Update from the Apple menu, select the Mac OS X 10.5.7 Update and hit install for an automatic installation of the software. To perform the update manually, download the standalone installer using the link below, double-click the downloaded package (wait for the hefty 442MB installer to be downloaded completely!) and follow the on-screen instructions.

The Mac OS X 10.5.7 Update is recommended for all versions of Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.5.6. The delta update lets you update from Mac OS X 10.5.6 to 10.5.7. A combo installer lets you update from Mac OS X 10.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2, 10.5.3, 10.5.4, 10.5.5, or 10.5.6 to 10.5.7, and is available below for free download as well.

Download Mac OS X 10.5.7 Client

Download Mac OS X 10.5.7 Server

Download Mac OS X 10.5.7 Combo Update Client

Download Mac OS X 10.5.7 Combo Update Client Server

Download Apple Security Update 2009-002