Apple have finally seeded the update to Leopard which brings the version and build number up to 10.5.2 (build 9C31). The update weighs in at a hefty 180mb and can be found on Software Update. This update addresses a number of issues and adds features such as the much needed remote disc option for MacBook Airs.

Features include:

– Airport: Improves connection reliability and stability
– Back to my Mac: Adds support for more third-party routers, as detailed in this article.
– Dock: Updates Stacks with a List view option, a Folder view option, and an updated background for Grid view.
– Desktop: Addresses legibility issues with the menu bar with an option to turn off transparency in Desktop & Screen Saver preferences.
– Desktop: Adjusts menus to be slightly-less translucent overall.
– iSync: Adds support for Samsung D600E and D900i phones.
– RAW Image: Adds RAW image support for several cameras, as detailed in this article.
– Safari: Addresses issues with Safari reliably resolving certain domains.
– Time Machine: Adds a menu bar option for accessing Time Machine features (the menu extra can be enabled in Time Machine preferences).
– Time Machine: Improves backup reliability when computer name contains slash or non-ASCII characters.
– Time Machine: Addresses issues in which some external drives are not recognized by Time Machine.

As usual PC_EFI and vanilla kernel users may update immediately using the following instructions. Other hackintosh users may need to wait.

UPDATE: Non vanilla users may now use this to temporarily upgrade until a 9.2.0 kernel is patched. Discuss here.

Click Read More for upgrade method.

So I got annoyed with the site being in a half working state due to various bad upgrades, use of RC’s of Joomla 1.5 and my own bad coding of templates. Anyway, all should now be fixed. The site is now running on Joomla 1.5 Stable, I have fixed my template to correctly handle user registrations and other system messages, the downloads section no longer crashes IE (that took me ages to figure out until I realised the youtube videos code was conflicting with docman and causing and “Operation Aborted” error) and should soon be benefitting from additions.

IE6 users should be aware as usual that the site looks best in IE7, Safari or Firefox. I may be looking into an iPhone version sometime.

The comments section has now been fixed and guests may now also add comments. To render user registration relatively obsolete except in the case of registering a username for comments the downloads section is now open to everyone. You may now login with your Gmail account directly in the login form and an account will automatically generate for your email (e.g. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Unfortunately I had to purge all registered users to fix the site so feel free to re-registe.

Thanks, Neonkoala.

Apple is back to work with OS X after the keynote announcing their various new products with a new seed of 10.5.2. This build (9C16) just addresses a number of issues with the previous update. As usual Apple is working to create a solid base on what they have before moving on.

UPDATE: It is now apparent that 10.5.2 will have a translucent menubar option aswell as the 2 other previously available options of transparent and classic. DVD/CD drive sharing will also hit with this update, an important feature of the Macbook Air. I think it’s pretty safe to assume we’ll being seeing this update launch at the same time that Macbook Airs start shipping as it is a critical feature should you hose your OS X on one for recovery. Also ‘List View’ is available for stacks and network drives will now show up in Time Machine following the release of the Apple Time Capsule at Macworld. The number of fixes included has now apparently risen to ~100.

Upcoming Leopard update, 10.5.2, marked as a “significant update” by many Apple analysts has been seeded to developers with build 9C7. Rumours suggest this update will enhance performance in Macs greatly. Listed details about the update include fixes to 76 separate issues and include printing issue fixes, SMB support and general bug fixes. The final version is expected to appear at the MacWorld Expo in January.

Also a preview of Java 6 has been seeded to devlopers in a 64-bit only form.

Uphuck has released his latest OS X installation DVD which now combines Leopard with many community hacks and drivers in iATKOS v1.0i. Uphuck DVDs have a reputation of being beginner friendly and as such this will be welcomed by many members of the community. The DVD includes Leopard 10.5.1 and also Netkas’ famed PC_EFI solution. Currently this is only for Intel SSE3 users however a universal version shall follow soon. Details and a download link can be found on IRC irc.atlantis-irc.net #uphuck.dvd.

Uphuck forums.

This latest security update effects both 10.4.11 and 10.5.1 users and addresses a number of flaws within the OS. Apple states that it includes updates for the following:

Mac OS X 10.5.1: Core Foundation, CUPS, Flash Player Plug-in, Launch Services, perl, python, Quick Look, ruby, Safari, Samba, Shockwave Plug-in, Spin Tracer

Mac OS X 10.4.11: Address Book, CUPS, ColorSync, Core Foundation, Desktop Services, Flash Player Plug-in, gnutar, iChat, IO Storage Family, Launch Services, Mail, perl, python, ruby, Samba, Safari, Shockwave Plug-in, SMB, Spotlight, tcpdump, XQuery

Vanilla kernel/PC EFI users can update immediately, users with modified kernels wait.

Taruga has been putting a lot of work into his AppleHDA Patcher and I feel it’s time for an update. If you haven’t heard of this then it is used on OSx86 to patch AppleHDA.kext for use with Intel High Definition Audio soundcards, particularly built-in ones found on laptops. All you need is a linux dump of your audio codec.

Firstly, the latest version, v1.20, is optimized for Leopard and can be found here. All you need is to dump your appropriate codec as demonstrated in the FAQ or download a dump from this repository.

Secondly version 2.0 is expected to be released soon and Taruga states that this comprises of a complete engine rewrite and will no longer require dumps instead opting for an ‘all-in-one’ solution that contains the appropriate patches for the majority of sound cards. Stay tuned on the new XLabs forum for AppleHDA here.

Version 8.0 of Netkas’ PC_EFI bootloader is now available with significant enhancements and added features. Features now include:

• Support for MBR and GPT (GUID) partition tables
• Plugable graphics card support
• Multiboot OS X and Windows support using Linux gptsync
• Support for LILO/GRUB from GUID tables
• EFI support as always

Download here.

Graphics card EFI support is done by editing /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist and adding the following lines:

<key>device-properties</key>

<string>73120….32000000</string>

String is dependant on Graphics card. For more help visit Netkas.org.

Netkas has revised PC EFI to his newest iteration, version 7.0. The update brings support for the GUID partition table thus allowing booting from the first 4 partitions (current limitation). Of course this still doesn’t show you non-HFS partitions as it isn’t compatible with those. Also a note from Netkas warning not to use the .startupfiletool for drives with an MBR you wish to keep! As usual find it on the IRC irc.osx86.hu #leopard.

Link