Apple has released 10.6.2 via Software Update.
This updated includes numerous bug fixes including the guest account bug that could potentially delete user data.
Also on the list are fixes for video distortion that can occur in Safari and when using external monitors.
You can view the full list of items in the update here.
So far, everything with this update appears ok and we are recommending installation.
As Mac users, we often take for granted that the OS works with all Mac hardware.
Sometimes what can appear to be a hardware issue (the sound card not showing up in System Profiler) is in fact caused by an incompatible version of the OS.
The 13″ MacBook Pro sound card requires a slightly different OS driver that only comes with the OEM install disks (10.5) for this book. If you attempt to install another version of 10.5, the sound card will not show up and there will be no audio out through the speakers or headphone jack.
We saw this kind of issue previously when the PPC models starting including the scrolling trackpad. Only the OEM install disks could be used to install the OS in order to get the trackpad to work.
What can make this even more tricky is that if the wrong version of 10.5 is installed on a 13″ MBP, only a clean install with the right OEM disks will install the right sound drivers (Archive and Install & Software Update won’t work.)
If you need to re-install your OS, use the disks that came with your Mac first and then run Software Update. Installing 10.6 will also fix this issue.
What apps work (and don’t work) with Snow Leopard?
There is a free Snow Leopard compatibly wiki that has a nice list of 3rd party apps and their 10.6 compatibility.
Different versions of software are also listed so you can see if your version of a particular app is 10.6 friendly.
Notes from the developer and known issues are also listed.
Good to check before upgrading or to see if a new app will work with 10.6.
We’re doing a lot of Snow Leopard upgrades today from our Free Snow Leopard promotion.
So far, so good. Average install time is about 1 hour and we’ve had no installation problems.
The only disappointment so far has been that the welcome video and music has not changed from 10.5. While that may seem trivial, when you hear the same welcome song a hundred times a day, you look forward to a new track.
If you’ve received your Snow Leopard disk or are planning to upgrade this weekend, we’d say you’re good to go. Just remember to backup first and run Software Update before installing Snow Leopard.
MyService is giving away Mac OS X Snow Leopard!
From now until the end of August, we’ll include a free retail copy of Mac OS X Snow Leopard with any MacBook, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air hard drive upgrade.
Here’s how it works:
Place an order for any hard drive upgrade (for intel Macs) between 8/26 and 8/31, add the Snow Leopard upgrade, and enter the promo code SNOW.
We’ll install Snow Leopard for free, migrate your data and you’ll get to keep the retail copy.
Apple has announced that the new version of OS X, Snow Leopard, will be released on Friday August 28th.
The single user version is $29 and a family pack (up to 5 computers) is available for $49. You must have an intel processor and 10.5 Leopard installed to upgrade to 10.6 Snow Leopard.
Snow Leopard Server (unlimited client) will be made available at the same time for $499.
Pre-orders online at the Apple Store will be delivered on the 28th so you can avoid any of the retail day of release hoopla (unless you like the hoopla.)
While Snow Leopard is billed as more of an update to 10.5 than a brand new OS, we still recommend checking for any installation issues before installing Snow Leopard.
Backup your data, check Twitter/Blogs and install. [ Snow Leopard ]
With the release of 10.6 around the corner, we thought it would be cool to take a look back at the intro songs that have been used for the different versions of OS X.
10.0 – 10.2 Sofa Rockers by Sofa Surfers
10.3 Panther Eple by Royksopp
10.4 Tiger Bytecry by Weevil
10.5 Leopard Exodus Honey by Honeycut
Apple’s App Store has revolutionized the way we get new applications onto our mobile devices.
We can search, buy, download and install iPhone/Touch apps all through the internet. Just like iTunes did for music, the App store makes the buying process more convenient while eliminating waste (retail boxes and disks.)
So what about desktop applications and other traditional software? Where’s the Mac download store for that?
While desktop apps are bigger (and piracy is more of a concern,) it seems outdated to go to a retail store to buy a version of Office or Civilization on DVD.
The bandwidth limitations are disappearing (we can already download multi-gig movies from iTunes,) and other companies are gravitating towards the download model.
I’d much rather update to 10.6 through iTunes for $29 than to go the Apple Store or order from Amazon. Is the bandwdth cost really more that than the package, shipping and stocking costs of a retail box?
While individual software companies offer some titles for download, a centralized Apple store just makes sense. I’m sure that in a year or two, the on-demand download model will win out, and we can enjoy the same great iTunes shopping experience for all of our apps.
The next version of Apple’s OS X operating system, Snow Leopard, is due out this September.
This new OS (10.6) is being billed as “evolutionary” rather than “revolutionary.” So what exactly does that mean?
Well for starters, the cost of Snow Leopard will be $29 (for current Leopard owners) rather than the traditional $129 that Apple has charged for new versions of OS X in the past. If you buy a new Mac from June 8th on, you’ll get the upgrade for $9.95. No word yet on upgrading from Tiger (10.4)
Snow Leopard will require an Intel-based Mac and is optimized for the intel platform. Here are some of the key features being touted:
Smaller, faster, more efficient OS
Since Snow Leopard is built from the ground up to take advantage of muli-core and 64-bit Intel chips, the Finder is more responsive to everyday tasks like starting up, shutting down and opening apps. Installation time is up to 45% faster (great for businesses and schools) and the OS takes up 50% less disk space than before (actually freeing up 6GB when upgrading from 10.5.)
Grand Central and Open CL
Processor speeds haven’t been increasing much lately, instead processors have been adding cores to get more power (think of it as 4 V-6 engines rather than one V-24.) Apple’s new Grand Central technology helps the OS get the most out of these cores and speed up everything dramatically. As the graphics chips (GPU) continue to get more and more powerful, Open CL is an evolving technology that allows everyday apps to take advantage of this processing power. By better utilizing the current generation of hardware, Snow Leopard increases speed across the board.
Finder Tweaks & Exchange Support
While the UI improvements are not being touted as much on this release (hence the “evolutionary” term) there are some new goodies to get excited about. Expose is now integrated into the dock for easier access and the trackpad is getting more attention with a new Rotor feature that allows fast navigation when used with Voice control. Built-in Microsoft Exchange support is included which will further allow Macs to play nice in corporate networks.
When Snow Leopard was announced, we really liked the idea of taking the time to refine the current OS X (Leopard) before trying to create a whole new OS. From what we’ve seen at WWDC, the OS is shaping up nicely. Unlocking the speed of the current generation of hardware and the built-in Exchange support should really help Apple keep their current customers happy while appealing to a broader audience.
