Tag Archives: Mac OS X

Apple issues Mac OS X 10.7.3 Lion Update

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Apple today released Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3. The 1.2 Gb Combo Update (always use the Combo update) includes operating system fixes “that improve the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac”, including:

  • Corrects Wi-Fi connection issues when waking from sleep
  • Corrects an issue that may prevent Safari from opening before joining a wireless network
  • Adds RAW support for eleven additional digital cameras, including compact new interchangeable-lens models from Nikon, Sony, and Olympus
  • Corrects graphics performance issue after sleep on some earlier iMacs that use ATI graphics chips
  • Corrects compatibility issues with Windows file sharing
  • Corrects issues when using smart cards to log into OS X
  • Resolves issues authenticating with directory services
  • Corrects an issue printing Microsoft Word documents that use markup
  • Adds Catalan, Croatian, Greek, Hebrew, Romanian, Slovak, Thai, and Ukrainian language support

The update can be applied via Apple Software Update, however I recommend you use the direct download and install of Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3 Combo Updater. This provides a cleaner install with less possibility of problems.

In addition an update to Mac OS X 10.7.3 Server was also released.

Apple issues 10.6.8 Supplemental Update

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For those who decided to stay with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard a little longer, Apple has issued a supplemental patch to its last version. Snow Leopard 10.6.8 v 1.1 corrects a number of issues, including:

  • Certain network printers that pause print jobs immediately and fail to complete
  • System audio that stops working when using HDMI or optical audio out
  • Transferring personal data, settings, and compatible applications from a Mac running Mac OS X Snow Leopard to a new Mac running Mac OS X Lion

Users who have already updated to 10.6.8 can use the 10 Mb Supplemental Patch. Those with 10.6.7 and earlier should use the 1.09 Gb 10.6.8 v1.1 Combo Updater.

Similar updates are available for Snow Leopard Server.

Mac OS X Lion Release Wrap-Up

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Lots of news all over the internet today about the much-anticipated release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. Here’s a small recap, plus a few things you may have missed:

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

#1 – It’s Out

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion became available at approximately 8:30am EDT this morning at the Mac App Store. You will need at least Mac OS X 10.6.7 already installed and an iTunes/App Store account to purchase and download the $29.99 3.5 Gb upgrade. Please note that this is a significant upgrade in many respects. A lot has changed. If you are not sure whether or not you are ready, check out my prior posts on the subject.

#2 Alternatives to Direct Download

If you have a slow internet connection and the thought of downloading 3.5 Gb worth of update is just too painful – or you work for a company with less than twenty Mac installations and security policies in place that prohibit you from having iTunes accounts on your office computer … well, you need to wait a few more weeks. At that point, Apple will be selling a packaged version of Lion (on a USB thumb drive – no more DVDs) for $69.00. No word yet on how many licensed installations that covers for the additional 40 bucks above direct download.

If you are a part of a vast corporate enterprise with more than 20 Mac installations, have your IT guy secure a Volume License Plan.

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Mac OS X 10.6.8 Released

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Apple has released the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update. The 1.09 Gb Snow Leopard combo patch is expected to be the final Mac OS X Snow Leopard update. Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is slated to ship some time in July.

10.6.8 addresses a number of issues, including:

  • Enhancements to the Mac App Store for a smoother transition OS X Lion.
  • Improved support for IPv6 protocols.
  • Identifies and remove known variants of the Mac Defender malware.
  • Resolves an issue that may cause Preview to unexpectedly quit.
  • Improves VPN reliability.

A corresponding update was also issued for Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard Server which includes many server-specific improvements.

Free Advice: For Mac OS updates this large, you encounter a lot less problems if you DO NOT use Apple’s Software Update feature and instead manually download and install the stand-alone combo updater.

Getting Ready for Lion – go on a Rosetta hunt

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AppleInsider has published several outstanding pieces over the last few days reporting on the first developer preview on the upcoming Mac OS X 10.7 – Lion. Anticipated to be released later this summer, in many ways it will be a radical shift in terms of user interface and functionality. (Think a merge of your iPhone and your Mac.)

In addition to new Finder, Desktop, and Dashboard metaphors, the upcoming OS says goodbye to some previous features, such as Front Row, built-in Java Runtime (not as big a deal as it sounds), and Rosetta. It’s this last one that may affect the most users. Rosetta allows you to run older software, written for the PowerPC generation Macs, on your Intel machine. So if you’ve been running, say Microsoft Office 2004 or Quark XPress 6 – which have been running just dandy on 10.6, you’re going to need to replace them before upgrading to 10.7.

Activity Monitor - Looking for PowerPC Apps

Click thumb for larger image

An easy way to discover which programs you’ll need to upgrade, is to use the the Activity Monitor utility (you’ll find it, naturally, in Applications -> Utilities). This application provides a wealth of information about what’s going on inside your computer, if you truly want to get your geek on. But in this case, all you need to do is to make sure the “CPU” tab is highlighted and sort by “Kind”. All applications listed as PowerPC will have to go before you can upgrade. The applications you are checking on need to be open (launched) to show up in the list.

Don’t say you didn’t get enough warning.

Note: Since Lion is still in development, no feature set (or lack there of) is written in stone. It is possible removed features will be written back in – or more will be written out. Still it’s always good to keeps tabs on what you are running.