Katie MarsalThe first external pre-release beta of the software, labeled Mac OS X 10.6.1 build 10B503, began making its way to Apple's broad Apple Developer Connection community Thursday evening in the form of a 74.1MB delta image.
Although the update does not provide any new features or sweeping changes, it does address some problem areas with fixes that will likely be welcomed by users. Among the core focus areas for the first round of tests are Bluetooth, the Dock, Mail, printing services, Software Update, and System Preferences.
Once released, Mac OS X 10.6.1 should allow users to delete manually-entered DNS values for DHCP configurations via the system's Network Diagnostics, people familiar with the software say. Meanwhile, a couple of SMTP-related tweaks to Mail.app will tackle issues with blank server responses and upgrades on email accounts that require authentication.
Also planned are a number of printer-related enhancements. For example, local Bluetooth printers should properly connect to Snow Leopard-based Macs on startup. Additionally, printer drivers for both Bonjour and USB printers will be delivered over Software Update, while generic drivers should become visible from printer driver list.
Following this week's news that the retail version of Mac OS X 10.6 bundled an older, less secure version of Adobe Flash, those familiar with with the first builds of 10.6.1 say the update will bump the plug-in to version 10.0.32.18.
Other focal areas of Mac OS X 10.6.1 include graphics drivers, wireless WAN cards and the DVD player. In all, 11 specific issues with Mac OS X 10.6 have been addressed thus far by 10.6.1. Only one know issue, related to log entries, was reportedly noted in documentation accompanying the beta software.
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Appleinsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
38 Comments
I wonder if the graphic driver work includes support for cards other than the 9400M to use hardware-accelerated H.264 playback...because that would be fantastic.
Hey guys,
I don't find the new Expose as useful as before.
I dislike the thick blue glow highlight, and the name of the window underneath
I miss the old Expose where each window would be at the respective size when minimize, and makes easier to spot, and whenever I want to know what the application windows is, I'll just hover my mouse over and it'll highlight like being under a spotlight with the name of the window over.
I know this new Expose has the intension as many would like to see an Table Mac... But can't we have the option to turn it off, or turn it back the way, people are used to...?
Also, I have put my application folder on the dock, and as stack, is find for me... not perfect, but on the Snow Leopard, the size of the icon are freaking huge, Apple, seriously, I"m not blind, and I believe you made it big, also for the intension of a Table Mac, but c'mon... can't you give people the choice of sizing the icons? Like the way you do, with the icons on the dock?
Another thing I've notice that Expose and Space doesn't work as smooth as it was on Leopard, and the Safari actually crash more than it was before, and the Top Site sometimes opens like MOSAIC, there's something wrong with the new graphic engine in Snow Leopard.
I look forward to someone share the scripts to tweak SL...
Otherwise, I might consider downgrading to Leopard...
It's good to see that, despite launching Snow Leopard last Friday, Apple's team is hard at work on 10.6.1 already.
"Once released, Mac OS X 10.6.1 should allow users to delete manually-entered DNS values for DHCP configurations via the system's Network Diagnostics...."
Are you SURE this shouldn't read "...should allow users to manually delete DNS values for DHCP configurations..."?
Hey guys,
I don't find the new Expose as useful as before.
Otherwise, I might consider downgrading to Leopard...
You need to contact the Safari 4.x "put the tabs back on top" crowd. They can fill you in on how they're doing with that project. Stay on 10.5 forever. No one cares.