OSX
Apple releases first Leopard update
Also fixes flaws that made researchers call the firewall ‘a mess’
Apple Inc. today issued the first update for Leopard, its three-week-old operating system. The update fixes a wide range of out-the-gate bugs and patches three security-related design flaws in the revamped firewall.
The update to Mac OS X 10.5.1 includes changes to a host of Leopard features, including some that have given early adopters fits, such as a gaffe that cripples some software, including Skype, when the firewall is set to the most flexible option. It also tackles problems formatting drives before they can be used with Time Machine, the integrated backup and restore software.
Other non-security fixes address a file copy bug that deleted data if the destination drive suddenly went offline during the job, boost the reliability of iCal in delivering alarms via e-mail, improve Mail’s synchronizing with .Mac, makes Windows shared folders both read- and write-enabled when connected via SMB, and resolves an issue with saved passwords on wireless networks.
Two other corrections to the firewall make sure that any application marked not to accept incoming data actually complies, and immediately applies changes to the firewall’s settings.
Mac OS X 10.5.1 can be downloaded from the Apple Web site or retrieved using Leopard’s built-in Software Update feature. The update is approximately 40MB in size, while the stand-alone installer version weighs in at 110MB.
