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Best Of The Leopard 10.5.2 Update Coverage

As you probably know, Apple released OS X Leopard 10.5.2 on Monday. This update corrects quite a few "known issues", fixes plenty of bugs and internal problems with Leopard, and evens adds some new interface features.

But rather than repeat what's already been said, I thought I'd provide a few links to some of the best coverage and information out there:

• Straight from the horse's mouth:
  About the Mac OS X 10.5.2 Update [Apple]
• On the interface changes (with pretty pictures):
  10.5.2 Update Shows Apple Listens To Users [MacWorld]
• Lots of discussion both pro and con:
  Mac OS X 10.5.2 Update Brings Welcome Fixes [Slashdot]
• Professional photographer?
  New Digital Camera RAW Formats Supported [Apple]
• For you Photoshop users:
  Leopard Update Fixes Some Photoshop Problems [iSights]

Enjoy!

What's On Your "Obsolete" List?

Zaphu recently posted an article on the number of third-party programs and utilities that OS X Leopard has—in one way or another—effectively put out of business. Or as he put it, "mauled" to death.

Among them are VirtueDesktops, a multipe desktop manager supplanted by Spaces, and OverFlow, which does to Docks what Stacks does to Docks, only better.

This lead me to wonder what else has been eliminated from my Applications and Utilities folders.

"Glass Houses" Feedback

Ah, the Mac audience. Sing hosannas and they adore you. Express a little criticism, however, and the bugs scurry out of the woodwork.

On email I received said I was totally off-base (actually, his phrasing was a little more colorful).

Another reader, instead of refuting the article, resorted to the shotgun approach. "When was the last time you came out with a world class operating system? Developing an OS is closer to art than science. How many software project[s] hit their deadline[s]?"

This was echoed by another reader who said I was making much ado about nothing, as according to my article Leopard was "only" 119 days late.

Those Who Live In Glass Houses...

In a way, the iPhone was a godsend for Apple.

Not just because its revolutionary multi-touch technology boosted Apple's already stratospheric cool factor. Because it did.

And not because it gave Apple an important step into yet another major market. Because it did that too.

But because back in April 2007, the iPhone's upcoming June 29th release date gave Apple a much-needed excuse for delaying OS X Leopard.

OS X 10.5.2 Brings Massive Updates To Leopard

Apple Insider posts that Apple has released OS X Leopard 10.5.2 to external developers for testing.

The update, which weighs in at a mere 345MB, focuses on the Dock, Finder, Mail, iCal, iChat, Quick Look, Rosetta, Safari, Time Machine, Printing, and WiFi/AirPort compatibility.

Hmmm. Perhaps "focuses" is the wrong word here. At any rate, release of the update could be as late as MacWorld Expo in January, so you still have plenty of time to enjoy your Mac as is.

[via Apple Insider]

Leopard Printing And Time Machine "Solutions"

Apple has released two new tech notes on their support site detailing issues with OS X Leopard.

The first note summarizes some printer setup and driver installation issues, a problem when a Canon inkjet printer with built-in scanner does not scan in Leopard, an issue where a shared printer no longer appears in your printer list after waking the computer from sleep, and an error that occurs when printing to a HP LaserJet 1200 printer.

The second note discusses using and troubleshooting problems with Time Machine.

8 Leopard Installation Problems And Solutions

Apple has released notes detailing eight installation problems, startup problems, and login problems one might experience when upgrading an existing system to Leopard.

So here's the deal: If you're planning on upgrading to Leopard, then it might be a good idea to check out each one of the tech notes to see if it applies to you before you start the installation process.

A little preemptive action now might save you hours of time and trouble down the road.

And if it's an older machine, it just might be a good idea to bite the bullet and do a clean erase and install. (After backing up your files, of course.)

OS X Leopard: 30 Days, And Counting

Hard to believe that a month has gone by since the release of OS X Leopard on October 26th. But it has, and I thought I'd do a quick summary of where we are, and where we need to be.

Apple has already fixed a number of issues with an early point release, which included the Finder's "Moving Data" bug that harkens all of the way back to Jaguar, updates to the firewall, and some key patches to Time Machine.

But still missing in action are solutions to quite a few other problems, like Time Machine and AirPort Extreme connectivity, Time Machine and Aperture data corruption, and the vanishing windows in Spaces.

(Being an admitted Space-oholic, the later is one of my pet peeves.)

Let's count 'em down, shall we?

Epson / HP Detail Printer Compatibility Under Leopard

Epson has posted a FAQ detailing the release schedule of full-featured Macintosh OS X 10.5 printer drivers for their Epson Stylus Pro printers.

These "full-featured" drivers allow professional photographers and graphic artists access to the 16-bit color printing subsystems built into Leopard, giving prints better color and tonal accuracy.

HP also recently confirmed that customers will not need to download or reinstall any additional printer software, as full support for nearly all of their printers is built directly into Leopard. New versions, if needed, will appear via Software Update.

Leopard's Firewall Options Not Just "Renamed"

Several blogs have jumped on an entry in the Leopard 10.5.1 update log that reads, "In Security preferences' Firewall tab, the "Block All" option is now called "Allow Only Essential Services"."

They've taken this to mean that Apple didn't do anything about the "holes" in the firewall, and simply resorted to changing the text in the dialog.

This couldn't be further from the truth.

Apple Releases Leopard 10.5.1 Update

As you probably know, Apple today released its first point update for Leopard.

Noticeable are several high-profile fixes, including the "Moving files via the Finder can lose data" bug that harkens all of the way back to Jaguar, and some key patches to Time Machine.

But equally conspicuous by their absence are any mention of the reported Time Machine/AirPort issues, the Time Machine/Aperture issue, the Photoshop problems, the vanishing windows in Spaces, and so on.

Apple OS X Leopard Support Now Available

The Leopard support section of Apple.com is now open for business. Check it out if you need help with installation, Boot Camp, Time Machine, and other issues related to Apple's newest cat.

That said, stick around here as well. We'll keep you up-to-date and let you know what to watch out for, like the latest buzz on potential conflicts between Aperture and Time Machine.

To Do Trouble in Leopard-Land's iCal

How is it that Apple can come so close to perfection in developing new features for their software... and then turn around and for all intents and purposes render the same piece of software useless?

Today's culprit is the new To-Do feature added to Mail.app, in which they make it drop-dead simple simple to make any email you receive a To-Do item. Just select some text, click a button, and boom. You have a To-Do.

Add a date to it, and boom. It also appears on your iCal calendar. Sweet.

Only they forgot one little thing...

Got A Problem With Leopard? Let Apple Know.

Have a problem with Leopard? Don't like the new dock? Have an idea for a new feature or setting that would make your life easier?

Let Apple know about it.

No Resolution Independence in Leopard

When Leopard was introduced, one of the features people eagerly awaited was resolution independence. This would let Apple support much, much higher screen resolutions on their products, all without dropping font sizes down to something approaching six-point FlySpeck Condensed.

Unfortunately, this feature is nowhere to be found in the Leopard interface, nor is it listed in the now famous 300+ New Features page. What happened???

Restoring the "Classics"

Apple just announced that 10.5 (Leopard) will no longer support OS 9 "Classic" mode on any platform, PowerPC or Intel. That's too bad. Not because OS 9 was such a great OS (it wasn't), but because there are still some legacy programs out there that, to this day, people still use and that are no longer available.

One such is HyperCard.

Is Leopard's iChat a "Game Changer"?

Steve Borsch at Connecting the Dots seems to think so. In his words, "I just cannot emphasize enough what a game-changer this could be. Every single day I connect with someone that wants to show me something or have me show them."

I agree. In fact I think it's so much of an advantage that I think Apple needs to do the unthinkable: Port it to Windows.

Mac OS X Leopard Up-to-Date Program

If you've bought a new Mac since October 1st, and that Mac came with OS X Tiger, don't forget that you can get a brand new copy of OS X Leopard for just $9.95 with Apple's Leopard Up-to-Date Program. Since it includes free shipping, that's a savings of over $120!

A list of qualifying computers can be found here.

This is a great offer, and a welcome departure from Apple's standard "14-day" policy on such things. So thank Steve by taking them up on it.