Apple has just pushed out the newest update to its OS X Leopard (10.5) operating system, with 10.5.8. This could potentially be the last Leopard update we see before Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) is released to the public sometime in the next couple of months.
Amazon already has Snow Leopard available for pre-order, with a ship date expected sometime in September, though it warns that date is not set in stone: “Official release date has not been announced by Apple, though they have indicated this product will be released sometime in September.”
The new OS seems to be getting more buzz for its price (29.99) than its features. The emphasis with Snow Leopard is optimizing Leopard, to make OS X run smoother and faster. Remarkably, it will also have a smaller footprint than its predecessor, saving over 6 GB of hard disk space (though that does likely have a lot to do with the fact that it will only run on Intel processors).
Snow Leopard will of course also be coming out around the same time as Windows 7, Microsoft’s attempt to make its users forget Vista. Windows 7 will be out October 22.
So what’s new in 10.5.8? Nothing too exciting on the face of it, here’s a list of highlights:
- Upgrades Safari to version 4.0.2.
- Improves the accuracy of full history search in Safari 4.
- Resolves an issue in which certain resolutions might not appear in the Display pane in System Preferences.
- Dragging an Aperture image into Automator now invokes an Aperture action instead of incorrectly invoking an iPhoto action.
- Resolves an issue that could prevent importing of large photo and movie files from digital cameras.
- Improves overall Bluetooth reliability with external devices, USB webcams and printers.
- Addresses an issue that could cause extended startup times.
- Improves iCal reliability with MobileMe Sync and CalDav.
- Addresses data reliability issues with iDisk and MobileMe.
- Improves overall reliability with AFP.
- Improves overall reliability with Managed Client.
- Improves compatibility and reliability for joining AirPort networks.
- Improves Sync Service reliability.
- Includes additional RAW image support for several third-party cameras.
- Improves compatibility with some external USB hard drives.
- Includes latest security fixes.
Update: The following two charts comparing the Windows 7 upgrade path to the OS X Snow Leopard upgrade path are pretty hilarious [via Marco.org and (ds)]:
does it break the palm pre itunes sync, just asking
i dont think so, because i dont think there’s an iTunes update included.
$29.99? Is it the real price or is it some limited time offer with some hidden catch? If thats the real price I’ll definitely check it out.
That’s the real price. Google it.
No it’s not. The $29.99 price is for an upgrade disc from Leopard. Granted, almost everyone is upgrading from Leopard, but a true install disc will run the full $129.99.
Thanks HazardousPaste for the info. It sounded too good to be true as I am a PC user and wanted to check it out because of the low price. For $129.99 I’d rather keep using Windows Vista and may be upgrade to Windows 7 later.
I would be very surprised if there was no iTunes upgrade included. Apple updates iTunes pretty much every month, with major upgrades coming every time there is new hardware launched. Given that there is likely to be new Touch available before Snow Leopard… there will be a new version of iTunes as well.
Looking at the “highlights” list, it seems more of a list of minor application upgrades (like, Safari going from 4.0.1 to 4.0.2) than actual OS upgrades. Won’t the owners of Leopard be able to just download Safari 4.0.2 from the internet anyway?
I was curious about that. Coz I already had Safari 4.0.2 before this update came around! So, I was like..Hmmmm..
Cool!
Oh come on MG, this isn’t worthy of being on TechCrunch. You just copied the list over from another website and added nothing at all to the story.
Come on man, are you on a pay-per-post deal?
Oh come on Mark. If you don’t want to read about it….don’t click on the story!
Ah you just added more details without including an UPDATE tag. Clever.
are you aware of how breaking items work?
“Snow Leopard will of course also be coming out around the same time as Windows 7, Microsoft’s attempt to make its users forget Vista”
That’s all it is, huh? Tone down the Apple fanboy-ism please.
are you saying that’s inaccurate?
“One lies by omission by omitting an important fact, deliberately leaving another person with a misconception. Lying by omission includes failures to correct pre-existing misconceptions. If a husband asks his wife if she’s at a bar, the wife may tell her husband she is at a store, which is true, but lie by omitting the fact that she also visited a bar.” http://en.wikip...ia.org/wiki/Lie
“Windows 7 will be Vista, but a lot better,” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer
I don’t see in your quote where it says he is rushing Windows 7 out to cover up for Vista.
It’s a standard timeline for an OS to be released, as a tech guy I’d of thought you would realize this.
Win7 will be a lot better than Vista, just as the new snow Leapord will be a lot better than the previous, or are you saying Snow Leapord will be a cover up as well?.
Maybe because Windows users actually complain when they don’t like something?
While Apple fanboys just ignore and could buy crap on a stick if it had Apple logo on it.
How is your copy paste and video recording features on iPhone? Still enjoying this fascinating “new” technology?
Using information on Wikipedia to support your arguments is not a good thing.
Snow Leopard has significant new technology under the hood that will bring huge improvements in speed and capability of everything from iLife to the pro video apps. This will take time, but it was a necessary step to pave the way for software developers.
So tell us some of that magic mojo – because so far, all it seems to be is a LOT of fixes and the elimination of PPC support, meaning I just spent quite a lot of money updating a number of machines a year earlier than I would normally do so. . .breaking my rotation schedule, just because Apple is deprecating an entire family of machine in order to create a smaller footprint.
Hell, I don’t even make a blanket statement like that about Windows. . .
I agree that the PPC users must be feeling like they’ve been betrayed by Apple. But they must realize that in the world of Technology, if you do not adapt to changes, you’ll be left behind.
Go to Apple’s website and find out yourself.
It’s not very hard.
In related news. AMD just released its OpenCL based STREAM SDK 2.0 beta. You’ll need Snow Leopard to take advantage of OpenCL enabled software.
Interesting article
You think the upgrade path is funny, check this out:
OS Marketshare: July, 2009
Windows – 93.04%
Mac – 4.86%
Linux – 1.05%
http://marketsh...re.aspx?qprid=9
Just getting things into perspective.
Love it. Thank you for pointing out something that people so quickly forget.
There are more Ford Fiestas on the road than there are Bugatti Veyrons…
HAI WINDOZE FANBOI! 8D
Not even close. Apples and oranges my friend.
Quite a good article
Is this really a necessary post on TechCrunch. Its pretty apparent you have a lot of fanboys (which is odd since you bash Apple so much), but we really don’t need a post to say Apple released an update to the OS.
Well, it’s a tech website. And it’s not that Apple releases a constant stream of updates (like Windows). So, I think this news deserves a post.
Plus, at the end of the day, the TechCrunch guys decide what will be posted and what not! Am I not right TechCrunch & Co.?
Its funny how almost every post I read about APPLE or iPhone or OS has this unexciting, upper lip sarcastic tone of the high school newspaper, when kids try to sound like they are so smart. Seems like the pedigree of this blog requires a little more descriptions that was given here about Snow Leopard, as this is not your every day upgrade. But seems like MG did not have enough time, or desire to figure out what is it so good about this 10.6
Very mediocre overview, I can get more info on this topic in ly local newspaper…
I am just curious. Which newspaper gives more details about the Mac OS X 10.6 than a tech website as good as TechCrunch?
I’ve read many newspaper articles about OS X 10.6. And most of them seem to have articles quoted directly from some tech website and added with some journalism chutzpah.
“Upgrades Safari to version 4.0.2.” — latest beta of SL has Safari at 4.0.3 already
“The new OS seems to be getting more buzz for its price (29.99) than its features.” – this one is a gem! I had to point it out! Sorry MG, may be among DELL users it gets more buzz because of the price, but not among APPLE users for sure. Whenever you will have a break – grab Macworld magazine, and read up. The 10.6 is actually quite interesting…
ubuntu, upgrade from any to newest:
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
that’s it, no need for that silly silver disc thingy
Hello Job’s Nut Sucker… Showing your freaking fanboyism again when you get the chance, huh? Seriously Arrington… FIRE THIS FREAKING DUMB WRITER. If he’s unemployed nobody will be sad… cause hes gdamn loser… Just hire somebody else, I cant stand this moronic person!
Let’s start a FIRE MG SEIGLER MOVEMENT, shall we?
Giving your opinion on an article is one thing, calling for the writer to be fired because you didn’t want to read it is another. Just don’t read his articles if you don’t like them.
Do you ever pick up a copy of the New York Times then start a FIRE THE FINANCIAL SECTOR WRITERS movement because you only wanted to read the front page story?
Looks like sanjali here has some major issues he needs to work out….and it’s interesting how Mac haters tend to sound like complete lunatics more often than not.
Even stranger is how they could possibly feel threatened by little ol’ Apple.
Looks like she read the Siegler article while she was having her periods! Hard to find such an illogical combination of hatred, anger and stupidity!
By the way, before you think of starting a movement, at least spell the name right! It’s Siegler and not Seigler.
Wow full of Windows Fanboys! Take a pill guys.
And by the way thanks Siegler, i’m updating now.
Thank MG! Updating now!
The chart at the bottom with the mac upgrade needs an *:
*Note: For non-Intel Macs – throw computer away, buy new computer.
Second that!
ok, sounds like a “OMG, Apple doesn’t care about customers” comment again.
Apple doesn’t sell PowerPC computers for years.
When vista was released, it couldn’t be usable or fully functionnal on any new PC… even monthes after its release.
Snow Leopard is mainly an optimized version of Leopard to make a better use of recent hardware. It’s all logical.
Thanks for the article MG Siegler. Most of this is old news, but nice to see it covered by TechCrunch. Really looking forward to Snow Leopard!
I have a news tip for you MG. I switched on my PC this morning and I had a message that Java needed to be updated.
This is your moment sweety this could be your FIRST SCOOP:
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