After months of anticipation, Apple has released Mac OS X 10.5.7, the latest update for its Leopard operating system. According to Macworld, the update includes more than 20 major updates as well as security fixes.
Included within the fixes are additional RAW image support for third-party digital cameras, improved performance of video playback for recent Macs with Nvidia graphics chips, and resolution for an issue with the Dvorak keyboard layout in 10.5.6.
The update also features fixes to help resolve third-party network services such as improved reliability in syncing contacts with Yahoo and a fix for issues that could occur when logging into Google’s Gmail. The update also improves the reliability and accuracy of several of OS X’s Dashboard widgets, like Unit Converter, Weather, Stocks, and Movies.
Apple-specific fixes within the update include improved reliability for iCal’s CalDav, better syncing with MobileMe, improved Notes syncing within Apple Mail and a bug fix where Apple Mail’s BCC field populated incorrectly in certain cases. Apple also improved consistency with Parental Controls and fixed a bug with the system when using full-screen games and Fast User Switching, and also fixed several printing issues, including adding the ability for non-admin users to add and remove printers.
Other fixes include a number of security fixes in the update for the Apache Web server, PHP, CoreGraphics, as well as patches for three separate vulnerabilities discovered as part of Tipping Point’s Zero Day Initiative, which appear to be the same ones demonstrated at the CanSecWest security conference last March. The fixes address issues in Apple Type Services, QuickDraw Manager, and WebKit, each of which could lead to arbitrary code execution.
Apple also released Mac OS X Server 10.5.7 Update, which rolls out fixes for a number of systems, including Client Management, Directory Services, AFP Server, System Image Utility, and more. The update also includes improved kernel stability and a number of security enhancements which had not been detailed at this writing.
The Mac OS X 10.5.7 update is available via Mac OS X’s built-in Software Update feature and is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Leopard. A combo updater, weighing in at a hefty 729MB download, is also available for those upgrading from versions of Leopard previous to 10.5.6.
Finally, if you’ve installed Mac OS X 10.5.7 and have any feedback, positive or negative to offer about it, let us know and we’ll see that it’s published by Friday.
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