14 DAY TRIAL // A report over at AppleInsider suggests that Apple's recent efforts in the hardware area should translate into some new OS X 10.6 builds soon. Additionally, the site has received word of minor updates to iWeb, Remote Desktop, and other OS X components being in the works.
As usual, the Mac-focused publication cites people familiar with the development of Mac OS X 10.6 as saying that “Apple is gearing up to provide some developers with a new build of the next-gen OS in the near term.” Reportedly, both the Client and Server faces of the software are labeled 10A286, although Snow Leopard Server is expected to arrive after the seeding of the 10.6 Client.
The report points out to OS X 10.6 build 10A261 seeded to members of Apple's Developer Connection in early February. Back then, the source says, “it was reported that Snow Leopard would include Core Location and Multi-Touch frameworks for third-party developers, and also deliver more intuitive printer driver delivery.”
According to a (translated) Macitynet.it report, Mac OS X 10.6 Build 10A261 was the newest build arriving on developers' footsteps since December's 10A222 release. As Macity's sources indicated, Mac OS X 10.6 Build 10A26 seemed to contain very few changes. Only a noticeable improvement in stability was reported.
“The interface has not been revised and currently there are only small changes in System Preferences, have been resolved a few bugs in the Finder and little else,” goes a rough translation of the report. “According to the sources of Macity the impression is that this release is more reliable than those previously distributed.”
However, World of Apple later took a closer look at the build and found more than stability improvements. Those findings included:
1 - “Minor UI changes” to the System Preferences 2 - The Keyboard Shortcuts Preference pane is now considerably easier to use 3 - Application footprints in Snow Leopard are significantly reduced. Almost all of the applications have been rebuilt in Cocoa and 64 bit 4 - The majority of running processes are now Intel (64 bit) 5 - The new Put Back feature allows deleted files to be returned to the folder they were deleted from 6 - You can now navigate the folder structure in Stacks.
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is expected to launch in the first half of 2009.