The first update to Snow Leopard, OS X 10.6.1 has just been released by Apple. It seems that it’s mostly bug fixes, which is hardly surprising considering that the OS was just released a couple weeks ago. But one odd thing about the update is just how small it is for some users: 9.8 MB, to be exact.
Again, that is just for some users. Others are reporting it weighing in at a still small 75 MB (this usually depends on what system you have). But plenty, including myself clicked update and got the download in record time as it was under 10 MB. Snow Leopard itself, of course, made headlines for its svelte size, as Apple was able to trim gigabytes off of OS X Leopard’s footprint.
Update under Leopard always seemed to be over 100 MB in size, with some much larger.
You can find the new update now via Software Update. Find out more about the update here. Here’s a brief list of what’s included (yes, Flash has been updated):
- Improves compatibility with some Sierra Wireless 3G modems
- Addresses an issue in which some printer compatibility drivers might not appear properly in the Add Printer browser
- Addresses an issue that might cause DVD playback to stop unexpectedly
- Addresses an issue that might make it difficult to remove an item from the Dock
- Resolves an issue in which the Command-Option-T keyboard shortcut would sometimes bring up the special characters menu in applications such as Mail and TextEdit
- Addresses instances in which auto account setup in Mail might not work
- Resolves issues when sending mail with certain SMTP servers
- Addresses an issue in which Motion 4 could become unresponsive
- Includes an update to Adobe Flash Player plug-in version 10.0.32.18
Oooo la la!
mine was 75mb and i had to restart. that’s called microsoft and there’s nothing svelte about it
i dunno under leopard, all updates seemed to be over 100 megs, some over 200.
For me it is about 250 MB, for the combo update.
How come this much variation occur in size of package? Amazing. 10 MB – 75 MB? Great variation.
Package size matters!
Honestly MG, what is it like to see the world through those rose colored fanboy goggles?
Go Cubs Go!
Looks like it’s 75MB for those who did a fresh/clean installation of Snow Leopard.
I did a fresh install of Snow Leopard on my Macbook Pro and my update was only 9.6mb
Naw, I did an upgrade and mine was still 75MB.
I think this is mostly because they use base 2 instead of base 10 for bit counting… but still, significantly better.
interesting point. are they doing that for sure to measure these updates too?
I mean, they have to – the OS isn’t going to count in 2s in one place and 10s in another, so unless they’re doing like a gzipped filesize instead of an extracted (real) size, it’s being measured by the same standard. I’d have to look at the specs.
For reference:
http://arstechn...c-os-x-10-6.ars
also bear in mind that SL is essentially anti-PPC so any binary is effectively half the size as before.
But it includes 32 & 64 bit code, so binaries are not 1/2 size.
don’t forget Snow Leopard is new, so there’s less to update. how big will the updates be in a year?
I think apple has issue a security patch which is for all user including Leopard users, on mine it is 98.9 MB.
Am I the only one who thinks a point release just two weeks after the main product release looks like they rushed the thing out of the door? I’m not familiar with the details of Apple’s dev/test/release cycles, but I suspect that at least some of these bug fixes have been in development since long before SL released. The Mac forums are full of people who think the quick point release shows Apple being customer friendly and responsive, when in reality it’s Apple choosing to release a manifestly unfinished product…
Have been part of the Snow Leopard beta testers (and I still am) I can affirm you that what you say is false.
Apple is constantly making updates to Snow Leopard but most customers do not know that because most of these updates are NOT publicly released. They are only released to beta testers. Prior to the official public release of Snow Leopard, beta testers saw tens of Snow Leopard versions. After Snow Leopard was officially released, development continued and beta testers saw a couple of beta released versions. It is only when Apple marks a release as public do you (the regular general public) get to see it.
Think of it this way: between one public released version and the next public released version, there are tens of versions in between that are released to beta users but not to you (the general public). What seems like an “out of the blue” release has actually already seen many revisions before you saw it.
And, as this new publicly released 10.6.1 version has been released, development continues and there are already other beta versions out that you (and the general public) doesn’t see but beta testers do.
I hope this explains it. Before I became part of the beta testing program, I too thought the same way you did. Now, I know how wrong it is.
Dou, not at all. This is always what apple does.
My MB C2D is running much cooler after the update. I’m still using coolbook @ 1800mhz & 1Volt
whoops I mean .95 volts
It also fixed the issue on the new MacBook Air where two-finger right-click on the trackpad didn’t work. That one sucked.
So about a week for the first service pack then?
Awesome.
I’m sure you guys would be as sympathetic if MS do that with W7. No, really.
“So about a week for the first service pack then?”
Service Pack ? What are you talking about ?
OS X updates are different from Windows ones. They’re not called “Service Pack” and they are more frequent :
- Leopard : 8 revisions in 2 years
- Windows SP3 : 3 revisions in 8 years
You are a tool. You should come out of your mom’s basement every once in a while. Don’t forget the sunscreen.
P.S. : I’m pretty sure everybody would have be happy if Vista SP 1 had been released a few weeks after Vista’s launch.
and what is the RAM footprint of Leopard, before and after the update?
I laughed and danced with the happiness that was Leopard 10.5 – I was excited about SL 10.6 – but actually, though I’m pleased that updates are happening all the time, I have a personal story of misery and pain currently.
Won’t get into a debate over premature release etc – I only say that tons of extremely important aspects of my mac and the software I use commercially are now seriously compromised and unstable. I feel like a beta tester – an unwilling one. The amount of crash reports across the board I have (automatically) sent to Apple must be huge – and I’ve only had SL for a few days.
Huge issues with Adobe and Entourage being the main – but iTunes and system settings along with third party issues with logitech mouse drivers etc are up there too.
It’s enitrely my own fault. I should have known better. It’s a simple lesson I learned back in the days of Windows. Always wait 6 months after a new release for the rough bits to get ironed out. I trusted Apple and didn’t do a clone boot drive backup before installing SL. How I regret!
Sure many of you are happy with SL – don’t let me put you off. It’s just right now I am clicking “software update” every few seconds in the hope they release a 10.6.2 any time now. And also that the third parties catch up.
The only solace is remembering my days over on the Microsoft dark side.
Vivre Apple! But today I feel like a unwilling beta tester. My advice? Leave Snow Leopard in its box for another month or two.
Sadness – but with anticipation.
I have to agree with Spikey Boy.
Snow Leopard CRASHES EVERYTHING. Including (especially) their own software! I run a very stock machine, few plugins, few pieces of installed software (all claim to be Snow Leopard compatible).
The reason the 10.6.1 update was small, is because they hardly fixed anything but the gaping security holes.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Apple products. Leopard ran great for me, but they definitely rushed this one out the door. Unwilling beta tester absolutely: I ran Windows 7 beta (on my Mac), it was may more stable than the consumer release of Snow Leopard.
Don’t be fooled by the price or the marketing campaign, Snow Leopard was a major change to Leopard – they re-wrote almost everything.
Unless you have nothing better to do but take care of a sick Mac, skip on Snow Leopard until they release a MAJOR bug fix update.
The last time I saw an OS that crashed this much, it was called Windows ME.
Oh,that’s great!