Mac software updates

[Gary]

I used to get MS software for postage rates under their Home User Program ,since that avenue has closed I find it difficult to justify the expense. iWork is certainly good enough for my needs , a family pack doesn't cost a fortune either. It's just whether we at home can cope with the odd incompatibility as both of us use Office Windows at work.

Thats the only issue really, tbh I think at some point I'll do a clean install of the Mac and not add any of the MS packages back and stick to iWorks, uninstalling 2008 would be a waste right now as I want to get my moneys worth out of it so to speak

[Steve]

Snow Leopard 10.6.5 is reportedly out although no sign of the combo release tonight. Software update is 517MB. Also out is Xcode 3.2.4 at 600Mb.

[Bill]

Software update is 517MB.

680MB here... but size doesn't matter

[Gary]

680MB here... but size doesn't matter

680MB for me as well 

[RogerP]

Hi

680.1 for me installed and running OK


Rogerp

[Steve]

I 'll try later, just downloading the combo now on cheap rates.

[Gary]

I 'll try later, just downloading the combo now on cheap rates.

I downloaded mine just after midnight, unplugged all peripheral USB devices etc and installed, very smooth indeed so far 

[Steve]

The combo was near enough a Gb but it will still work out "cheaper" for me.

[Gary]

The combo was near enough a Gb but it will still work out "cheaper" for me.

It was a whopping big update.

[Bill]

unplugged all peripheral USB devices etc

Any particular reason for that?

I've never bothered.

[Gary]

Any particular reason for that?

I've never bothered.

I do it as sometimes drivers and USB devices are upgraded so then nothing is attached that may affect the update, either during or on reboot, Im sure its just me being overly paranoid, but I can see no harm. I'm sure its not needed, but I have seen a few people and forums recommend it.

[Bill]

Fair enough, I wondered if I'd missed something.

Too much of a rat's nest round the back here

[Rik]

Garden shears, Bill?

[Gary]

Mines tidy and easy to get to, then again I spent years running cables at gigs so its a habit to be tidy

[Rik]

Mine starts tidy. Then, at night, while I sleep, the cables indulge in self-weaving.

[Bill]

Just remembered I hadn't done the MacBook... only 517MB for that.

[Gary]

Mine starts tidy. Then, at night, while I sleep, the cables indulge in self-weaving.

[Steve]

Unfortunately 10.6.5 it seems to have disabled the Widemail and the Letterbox mail add ons

[RogerP]

Hi

according to the website an update for 10.6.5 should be available shortly for Widemail, Letterbox website down at present



Rogerp

[Steve]

Thank's Roger I do miss either of those when they are not available, sadly I do recall a similar message for Widemail when SL came out and it took him months then so 

[RogerP]

Hi

Download for Widemail 2.0 pre-release 3 now available on website and is compatible with 10.6.5

Rogerp

[Steve]

 


Thanks Roger ,and it works

[Steve]

10.6.5 summary

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/11/11/mac-os-x-10-6-5-notes-exfat-support-airprint-flash-player-vulnerability-fixes/

"Since yesterday's release of Mac OS X 10.6.5, users have been testing out the updated version of Snow Leopard to find out what has changed, and we've collected a few notes on what has been found.

- exFAT Support: Apple began including support for the exFAT file system in builds of Mac OS X 10.6.4 shipping on some of the company's latest iMacs and Mac minis with SDXC card slots, but Mac OS X 10.6.5 extends compatibility to all Macs.

- AirPrint: As had been rumored, Apple at the last minute removed support for printing via AirPrint from iOS 4.2 devices to printers shared on Macs running Mac OS X 10.6.5. The feature had been touted by Apple in its initial AirPrint press release and was present in early developer builds of Mac OS X 10.6.5, but was removed for unspecified reasons. Note that the basic AirPrint functionality, including direct printing to compatible HP printers, is included in Mac OS X 10.6.5.

We've heard claims of technical or legal/patent issues being behind the removal of support for shared printers, but have not received confirmation of any single reason for the change. Notably, those developers who installed earlier developer builds of Mac OS X 10.6.5 have retained access to the shared printing feature even with the public release, and one developer has outlined a process by which users can add the capability.

- Flash Player Vulnerabilities Fixed: Apple's attempts to distance itself from Adobe's Flash technology are well-known, and the list of security issues addressed in Mac OS X 10.6.5 is only adding fuel to that fire. Of a massive 134 security issues addressed in the update, 41% of them are directly attributable to Flash, the largest single source of security holes patched in the update. The second largest source of security flaws patched in Mac OS X 10.6.5 is X11, the optional install that allows Macs to run certain windowed Unix applications, with 12% of the total fixes."

[RogerP]

Hi Steve

As regards flash player I have uninstalled Adobe PDF reader along with flash player, only to find my laptop battery now lasts longer as the processor is working less, and my CPU temp has dropped by 10 degrees.

Details provided by iStat Pro which i had installed before and after Adobe removal, laptop now runs around 45 deg C for CPU and heat sink, even when working on photo's it only gets unto about 60 deg C, instead of 85/90.

Laptop was to hot to have on your lap at times and had to be propped up at times to keep cool.

So for me Steve Job's points have been substantiated, software full of holes and vulnerabilities and hogging processor power.

Regards


Rogerp

[Steve]

Thanks Roger,I dont use Adobe reader but the absence of flash may be a nuisance on my laptop , certainly something to consider.