Notes: Mac OS X 10.4.2, Dell on OS X, Midtown store

As expected, it appears that Apple over the last few days continued its work on Mac OS X 10.4.2, the second maintenance release to Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, pumping out several new builds of the software update.

According to reports already present on Internet blog sites, the company on Tuesday delivered build 8C32 of Mac OS X 10.4.2 to its developer community, which weighed in at approximately 55MB.

Rumor has it that the latest build delivers minor corrections to QuickTime, AirPort, and DVD Player, bringing the total number of bug fixes and enhancements expected in the update to just over 90.

Based on recent developer chatter and the sheer number of fixes rumored for inclusion in Mac OS X 10.4.2, it appears the system update will be one of the most significant in terms of overall stability and system reliability in recent times.

It's believed that Apple hopes to squash every known glitch in the Tiger operating system with the release of Mac OS X 10.4.2, where the prior Mac OS X 10.4.1 Tiger update was reserved for the most immediate and critical incompatibilities.

Dell Happy to Market Mac OS X

In an article on Fortune.com, journalist David Kirkpatrick reveals that he recently emailed Michael Dell, the cofounder and now chairman of Dell, and asked if he'd be interested in the Mac OS, assuming that Apple chief executive Steve Jobs ever decides to license it to PC companies.

"If Apple decides to open the Mac OS to others, we would be happy to offer it to our customers," Dell reportedly wrote back in an email.

Says Kirkpatrick, "It's the first time any PC industry executive has openly shown enthusiasm for selling machines with Apple's software. Though that's all Dell would say for the record, I suspect his interest is not unknown to Jobs."

Apple Store Midtown

As if there was any doubt that Apple will open a very elaborate flagship retail store in the heart of Manhattan this year, a new company job listing posted to Craigslis pretty much spells it out and further confirms the General Motors Building as the site.

The company is seeking both full and part time "Apple Retail Creatives" to "support the vision of creating a legendary gathering place to engage and educate our customers in surprising and delighting ways," the listing says.

At the base of the job posting, Apple states that the primary job location is the "GM Plaza."