14 DAY TRIAL // A new beta version of Mac OS X 10.6.4 was reportedly handed to select Apple developers on Thursday, bringing with it an array of patches and compatibility fixes. The seed notes reveal one known issue affecting a font within Snow Leopard. The list of focus areas remains short, and almost identical to that of previous builds.
Apple last updated Snow Leopard at the end of March, when the company issued the public, final version of Mac OS X 10.6.3. As the third maintenance and security update for Snow Leopard, OS X 10.6.3 improvements included a more reliable QuickTime X, complete with compatibility fixes, addressed issues with OpenGL-based applications, improved performance of Logic Pro 9 and Main Stage 2 when running in 64-bit mode, improved reliability of 3rd-party USB input devices, and more.
According to the seed notes for Mac OS X 10.6.4 build 10F46 (at 573.1MB in delta form) obtained by World of Apple yesterday, Apple has further addressed compatibility issues with OpenGL-based applications, as well as 3D animation, drop frame, or frame lock issues, and the reliability of speech and Braille in the VoiceOver Utility. The notes, as posted by the source in question, have been reproduced below.
Included in this update
- Resolves issues copying, renaming, or deleting files on an SMB mounted volume;
- Resolves pairing issues with Apple remotes;
- Resolves issues launching Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CS3;
- Resolves issues playing in Good Quality mode of DVD Player;
- Addresses compatibility issues with OpenGL-based applications;
- Resolves 3D animation, drop frame, or frame lock issues;
- Addresses drawing issues when editing iPhoto in full screen mode;
- Resolves erratic trackpad or keyboard issues with USB;
- Resolves a Cisco VPN connection drop issue;
- Addressees a Parental Controls issue where users are locked out at designated times by the admin user;
- Improvements to the reliability of speech and braille in the VoiceOver Utility.
Known Issues
- You may get an incompatible software error message regarding the HelveticaNeue.dfont.
Focus Areas
- GraphicsDrivers; - SMB; - USB; - VoiceOver; - VPN.
It is believed that Apple will release Mac OS X 10.6.4 in the June timeframe, although no one can really put their finger on Apple’s development cycles. History is the only real indication that three to four months of testing is enough for Apple to roll out a new incremental update. When it’s released, Mac OS X 10.6.4 will not only include improvements to first-party components, and compatibility fixes for third-party software, but also a number of patches for the newest security holes found.