Mac OS X 10.5.6 now available via Software Update

Headline pretty much says it all, and it's a big one. Tipping the scales at 377MB (or 190MB for some; see image after the break), the OS X 10.5.6 update is now available via Software Update. We're sucking it down and will report back with any changes. We strongly encourage you to do the same (if you dare).

Update: Apple has posted the official changelog. Here are the highlights:

• Improves the reliability of AirPort connections, including improvements when roaming in large wireless networks with an Intel-based Mac.
• Improves reliability of Address Book syncing with iPhone and other devices and applications.
• Includes general improvements to gaming performance.
• Includes fixes for possible graphics distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards.
• Contacts, calendars, and bookmarks on a Mac automatically sync within a minute of the change being made on the computer, another device, or the web at me.com.
• Improves Apple File Service performance, especially when using a home directory hosted on an AFP server.
• Improves reliability and performance for AT&T 3G cards.
• Improves printing for USB-based Brother and Canon printers.
• Fixes issues that could cause Time Machine to state the backup volume could not be found.
• Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.
• Adds a Trackpad System Preference pane for portable Macs.
• Personal Engadget favorite: Improves the performance and reliability of Chess.
• Nary a mention of Blu-ray. It's still hurting, we guess.
  

[Thanks, Fraser]

[peter @ Dec 15th 2008 12:35PM]

I'd strongly advise waiting for a day or two before upgrading all your mission critical boxes, thanks.

[Sarig @ Dec 15th 2008 12:42PM]

Haha, yeah, weird thing to do for Engadget to recommend everyone rushing to get an update that reports aren't in on yet.

[Paul Hildebrandt @ Dec 15th 2008 1:37PM]

Different priorities. Engadget want's the reports. I want a working system. But, I thank the early adopters for working out the bugs.

[Oli D @ Dec 15th 2008 1:12PM]

Don't you see?
We are the guinea pigs.

[kal326 @ Dec 15th 2008 1:26PM]

HAHA, you said mission critial in reference to a Mac. My wifes iMac gets used so much I think it was complaining about updating to 10.5.5 the other day, it was still on 10.5.2. I wonder how large the 10.5.6 update will be as the 10.5.5 was over 500MB already.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Dec 15th 2008 2:10PM]

Yeah... Engadget: "Upgrade all of your systems immediately!@!$@#$ (don't blame us if something breaks)"

[nerdtalker @ Dec 15th 2008 2:31PM]

Oh crap, is OS X now windows-esque enough to merit waiting for other people to be guinea pigs before applying updates? This doesn't bode well for apple...

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Dec 15th 2008 2:52PM]

nerdtalker,
has been since at least that OS X update in, what, '04, that blew away some firewire drives?

[N3XuS @ Dec 15th 2008 7:29PM]

I took the plunge and updated to 10.5.6, but now my macbook keeps trying to connect to 17.72.255.11:123, all i know is that its an apple server... anybody know what its for?

[fhlh @ Dec 17th 2008 10:02AM]

funny thing is.. not a single one of our macs has anything mission critical on it.

[waiownsyou @ Dec 15th 2008 12:34PM]

LOL BREAKING NEWS

[rock99rock @ Dec 15th 2008 12:43PM]

Oh its breaking alright, the dellintosh i downloaded it to.

[Oli D @ Dec 15th 2008 1:20PM]

Sir, it appears you have marmite stuck in your Caps key.

Or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

[Shadow08 @ Jan 9th 2009 1:37AM]

Yeah, those are some REALLY important and useful updates! Microsoft's service packs don't do anything compared to this...

[neofolklore @ Dec 16th 2008 10:44AM]

not breaking until the Kalyway tutorial gets updated

[iKurt @ Dec 15th 2008 12:35PM]

FIRST!!!!!!

[waiownsyou @ Dec 15th 2008 12:36PM]

GEE TEA EFF OH, son.

[Scott St. Pierre @ Dec 15th 2008 12:50PM]

yeah. first loser.

[waikikibeach @ Dec 15th 2008 12:36PM]

looks like you guys got the "fat" update. I only got the 190MB update which uses the diff file installation method... word to the wise quite tinkering with your systems and updates become a lot easier...

[Jakob @ Dec 15th 2008 3:23PM]

Tipping the scales at 377MB (or 190MB for some; see image after the break)
Haha Engadget you're dreaming, mine says 5612 MB. Time for updating I guess.

[aznofazns @ Dec 15th 2008 12:37PM]

YES now i can watch OS X update beautifully and crisply on my new $900 moneytor.

[Coda @ Dec 15th 2008 12:38PM]

377mb is the combo update (upgrades anything from 10.5.0) while the 190mb download will be the incremental update from 10.5.5. Probably.

[Andre @ Dec 15th 2008 12:42PM]

Nope, I'm upgrading from 10.5.5 w/ all prior updates on a brand new MBP and it's 377MB.

[waiownsyou @ Dec 15th 2008 12:42PM]

Wrong. I'm on 10.5.5 on a 2007 MBP. It's 377 MB. My guess is the 190MB one is for newer Macs... they're always smaller for some reason. Perhaps they have some newer files on the builds that are already there.

[michiel @ Dec 15th 2008 12:48PM]

I'm downloading it for my late 2007 MBP and it's 190MB so what's the deal?

[McCarron @ Dec 15th 2008 12:50PM]

The Combo Upgrade is 669 MB

http://support.apple.com/downloads/Mac_OS_X_10_5_6_Combo_Update

[Joshua Ochs @ Dec 15th 2008 12:52PM]

Updating a 2006 MacBook Pro and Mac Mini - 190MB here. All previous updates already applied, of course.

[Fuego @ Dec 15th 2008 12:58PM]

190 Mo update for the late powerbook 17"...

[Zyber @ Dec 15th 2008 1:22PM]

I'm upgrading from 10.5.5 and I have the 377mb one...

[bmcclure937 @ Dec 15th 2008 1:37PM]

Upgrading a 2.16 GHz Core Duo Macbook Pro 17" (2006 model)

Update rings in at 190MB. I am confused what the 377MB one is for. I was assuming it was for the new Macs with multitouch trackpads and the works....

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Dec 15th 2008 1:47PM]

190 mb on a 10.5.5 macpro from october last year (2x dual core 2.66)

[Jo @ Dec 15th 2008 4:33PM]

I think the 377mb one is for the LED backlit displays judging by everyone's answers.

Correct me if I'm wrong!

[Jon Graft @ Dec 15th 2008 4:40PM]

Updating my 2008 MacBook Pro (no, not the brand new uni-body ones) 15" 2.6GHz MBP...and I got the 190MB update. Thank God because the network here at college is slow as molasses.

[coyotej @ Dec 15th 2008 4:50PM]

@Jo: Nope, that can't be it, because I have an LED-backlit MBP and its 190MB for me. Apparently no one has any idea :)

[Eliav @ Dec 15th 2008 4:50PM]

I'm on the late 2008 (unibody) MBP and I have the 377 MB update...
Everything was up-to-date before.

[Steve @ Dec 15th 2008 8:04PM]

Feb 08 Macbook here. 190MB

[pavlindrom @ Dec 15th 2008 12:38PM]

Of course, I will update my Dell with it. Why not? Apple rules, gotta have all of its updates. Sheesh.

[sabih @ Dec 15th 2008 12:40PM]

Wooo about time

[Oli D @ Dec 15th 2008 1:13PM]

That sounds like your describing a moment
"Wooo (x) about time (t)"

[Oli D @ Dec 15th 2008 1:23PM]

Wait. What moment involves time?

I should pay more attention to my Cerebral Cortex.

[oGMo @ Dec 15th 2008 12:41PM]

"We strongly encourage you to do the same"

Why would that be? Can you confirm it doesn't utterly screw over audio (again)? Or that it doesn't contain some critical bug that'll have to be patched again within a few days?

Not to be overly negative here, and I know this is engadget so we all want the latest-greatest-bleeding-edge, but this sort of thing has bitten people in the past. And it'll still be there a day or few from now when reports have come in confirming that your stuff will still work.

[spam_free @ Dec 15th 2008 1:46PM]

We love our Macs as much as the next Engadget editor, but since 10.5.5 and the Safari 3.2.x issues bit us in the rear, we don't quite feel the urgency to jump into .6. If it wasn't for Time Machine, I would still be rebuilding our Macbook from the .5/Safari fiasco. Apple needs to tighten up on their software QA. It seems as time goes on, every update gets buggier. What's the point of locking down the HW/SW for "better compatibility" when the updates break things? Having said that, I will probably update our mini (our HTPC) to .6 for testing. At least if it chokes, the Tivo is still there to save the day.

[Hotrod @ Dec 15th 2008 12:43PM]

Looking forward to the video driver improvements. Maybe, just maybe, the grids view will be less choppy.

[Hotrod @ Dec 15th 2008 1:06PM]

Nope, still choppy if you have a lot of apps.

[Seb @ Dec 15th 2008 12:45PM]

"Adds a Trackpad System Preference pane for portable Macs."

[Oli D @ Dec 15th 2008 1:08PM]

Does the include Macmini?

I can fit it in my bag (along with a car battery)

[Rick @ Dec 15th 2008 3:54PM]

I suppose it doesn't give older Macbooks (Early 2006) the new multitouch gestures? That would be sweet...if not is there a way to enable them anyways?

[mitchell_pgh @ Dec 15th 2008 12:46PM]

The real question is... how difficult will it be to update all of the OSx86 boxes that are floating around.

[Oli D @ Dec 15th 2008 1:06PM]

Welcome to Lake Hackintosh.

You didn't beleive us when we told you we had Water-Cooling?

[Flunky Carter @ Dec 15th 2008 12:46PM]

if it breaks boxee, i'm time machining back.