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Apple Updates Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server

Apple issued updates Wednesday for Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server. The version 10.6.5 updates, the company said, are recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard or Snow Leopard Server. They include general fixes to improve stability, compatibility and security.

The "combo" package for Mac OS X improves reliability with Microsoft Exchange servers, addresses the performance of some image-processing functions in iPhoto and Aperture, increases the stability and performance of graphics applications and games, and resolves a delay issue between print jobs. There is also a fix that addresses an issue for some Hewlett-Packard printers when connected to an AirPort Extreme.

Address Book To Active Directory

The update also addresses a variety of relatively minor issues. These include resolving a bug that occurs when dragging contacts from the Address Book to iCal, and one that causes the Dock to not automatically hide when an item is dragged from a stack. On some occasions, Wikipedia information does not display correctly in Dictionary, and that is addressed as well.

The update also improves the performance of MainStage on certain Mac systems, resolves spacing issues with OpenType fonts, improves reliability with some Bluetooth Braille displays, and resolves a VoiceOver issue when browsing some web sites with Safari 5.

Other improvements include enhancing Bluetooth pairing with Magic Trackpad, resolving performance issues with third-party displays that use InstaPort technology, adding SSL support for transferring files with iDisk, and resolution of an issue when opening four-up Photo Booth pictures in Preview.

Keyboard responsiveness issues in the Dock when Spaces are turned on is also improved, as is an issue of syncing Address Book with Google. Performance issues for users bound to an Active Directory domain and the reliability of Ethernet and Fibre Channel connections are also addressed.

Security Fixes, Server Update

The combo update also includes several dozen security updates, including ones in which a remote attacker could cause AFP Server to unexpectedly shut down or execute arbitrary code. Multiple vulnerabilities on Apache 2.2.14, the Flash Player plug-in, gzip, "maliciously crafted" images, MySQL, PHP 5.3.2 and 5.2.12, and the Safari RSS are also fixed.

A large number of the security-related updates deal with Flash, which would seem to support one aspect of Apple's continuing battle against the use of Adobe's software on its mobile devices.

The OS X Server update includes general operating-system fixes, as well as specific fixes for such bugs as problems with name queries in Web Calendar, issues with the setup of Podcast Producer when bound to an Active Directory Server, and problems with Podcast Capture always storing passwords in a key chain.

Apple noted that the size of the update from Software Update may vary from computer to computer, and some updates may need to be installed before others.