Source claims to have learned that Apple is announcing two major Mac updates at WWDC 2010

Jun 7, 2010 07:06 GMT  ·  By

Apple is planning to release a major update to its Safari web browser, adding a Reader function, 25% faster JavaScript, more DNS prefetching and caching to further speed up the application, as well as improved HTML5 support, a report claims. The final version of Mac OS X 10.6.4 is also expected to drop at WWDC 2010.

MacGeneration, the French website leaking details about the two upcoming releases, has the actual release notes for both Safari 5 and Mac OS X 10.6.4, adding credibility to the report. For starters, the changelog for Safari 5 reveals that the flagship feature of this release is “Safari Reader,” a new function allowing users to “view articles on the web in a single, clutter-free page,” Apple allegedly states. The Mac maker is also set to disclose a new TimeLine Panel in the Web Inspector. Addressing the needs of those working with Safari’s Developer Tools, the new feature “shows how Safari interacts with a website and identifies areas for optimization,” the changelog says. Apple allegedly adds that, “New keyboard shortcuts make it faster to switch between panels.”

Other key improvements concern overall performance, including the aforementioned faster JavaScript, better page caching and DNS prefetching, and support for over a dozen HTML5 features. Also mentioned as a new addition is the “Bing Search Option,” according to the alleged Safari 5 release notes. Going by the description posted at MacGeneration, the option has been added in the drop-down menu of Safari’s search field.

Additional improvements are also mentioned, including a smarter address field, hardware acceleration for Windows, search history with date, a Top Sites / History button, a private browsing icon, and an XSS auditor (an added layer of security).

As noted above, the French site has also received word that OS X 10.6.4 is launching today. It posts what look like Apple’s official release notes for the new release. According to the leaked documentation, Apple allegedly stresses that, “The 10.6.4 Update 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, including fixes that:

“- resolve an issue that causes the keyboard or trackpad to become unresponsive; - resolve an issue that may prevent some Adobe Creative Suite 3 applications from opening; - address issues copying, renaming, or deleting files on SMB file servers; - improve reliability of VPN connections; - resolve a playback issue in DVD Player when using Good Quality deinterlacing; - resolve an issue editing photos with iPhoto or Aperture in full screen view; - improve compatibility with some Braille displays.”

Apple is set to kick off its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2010 with a keynote address by CEO Steve Jobs today, June 7, at 10:00 a.m (Pacific). Softpedia will be posting the “event coverage” later today to update its readers on Apple’s new announcements.