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]

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 2:44PM]

updating MBAir, 1st gen 190mb

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 2:45PM]

Yay Chess!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 2:47PM]

I thought this was a gadget blog and software is not a gadget?

Darren answer this question please.

[GMoney Posted Dec 15th 2008 2:51PM]

Biggest deal for me is CS3 printing improvements. CS3 *hates* Leopard.

[Augmented Insanity Posted Dec 15th 2008 3:51PM]

And it hates case sensitive file systems.

[ayle Posted Dec 15th 2008 2:58PM]

Who is you Daddy and what does he do?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 3:05PM]

i tried updating it twice, it get frozen both times. any advice?

[Mr Nuclear Posted Dec 15th 2008 4:46PM]

Try downloading from the apple website and running that, instead of going through software update.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 3:20PM]

Anyone know if they fixed the ATSServer crashing problem from malformed pdfs?

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8430669

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 4:00PM]

Err update is installed but it certainly don't feel snappier! feelin a lot slower in fact! Hmmmmm…

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 4:01PM]

does this affect final cut at all? i know there is also a pro applications update on my list, but I'm trying to not update final cut until I get the OK from the machines owner...if I install 10.5.6 is there an issue?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 4:06PM]

Hmm weird how one core duo macbook pro owner gets the 190mb update, and me on my macbook core duo gets the 377mb update.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 4:13PM]

Startup was slower, but the mouse feels much smoother now.

[UnixSystemsEngineer Posted Dec 15th 2008 4:39PM]

FWIW, I updated my G5 tower at work, nothing seems any different, but I didn't have any of the issues mentioned.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 4:53PM]

My update comes up with 190mb on my Intel core 2 duo macbook 2.4ghz. After restart installation hangs. I have to force power off and restart with out installation.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 4:57PM]

190MB on my mid-2004 12" PowerBook G4, coming from an otherwise patched 10.5.5. No idea what's going on there.

[solarpos Posted Dec 15th 2008 5:18PM]

Without a hitch and zippier! Thanks Steve!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 6:29PM]

Could the windows wankers who are getting their jollies by making jokes about "macs not just working" because they have software updates go back to wanking, please? System updates and bug fixes are not evidence that an OS has problems: these "point" upgrades come much more frequently than Service Packs, and I'm personally thankful it doesn't take Apple a year to fix widespread issues (other than security updates).

[User7 Posted Dec 15th 2008 8:01PM]

After doing the update I decided to to update my Toast Titanium (it had been nagging me). After downloaded and attempting to install the update it says that I already have a newer version (I don't) and stops the install, now I can't use toast at all ( won't even bounce on my dock). I somehow feel this is related to the 10.5.6 update.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 8:57PM]

This is important? Well, I guess it *is* important to Mac users, but breaking news important...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 9:21PM]

i'm not in a rush to get this update at all.

[ChrisMav Posted Dec 15th 2008 10:17PM]

Downloading now, i have a late 2007 iMac and its 190mb

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 10:53PM]

Now they started to remove the firewire ports from their computer, what about an update improving the USB2 transfer speed (at least as "fast" as windows) and a SuperDrive which can still burn CDs or DVDs once you install a real burning software (Toast) ?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 16th 2008 5:51AM]

where did my fast energy saver profile switching go in the menu bar????

[mellenger Posted Dec 16th 2008 11:33AM]

It's about time they fix the Chess game. It's way too easy and once i have it cornered it always crashes.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 16th 2008 5:40PM]

i have heard that PPC systems running Leopard went into restart loops when installing this. so be careful if you are PPC. I"d recommend having a fresh backup on your external drive and the original system disk within reach.

course you do could what I did and make your external a bootable drive with an image of your system. I copied the idea off the folks at my local apple store. seems that's how they restore the computers on the floor that customers play with. at least when they have big restores where new companies paid up to get their shite on the machines (cause you know apple makes them buy space or give them a free license for all those spaces, maybe both). I make a new image about once a month and put it on a firewire I can boot from. then I have my time machine backups for the chances in between. works like a charm

[Grusic Posted Dec 17th 2008 11:38AM]

An OS X update that fixes and improves things?!?! WTF?!? I thought Mac's just worked! *roll eyes*

[The Dead Marxist Trio Posted Dec 17th 2008 12:14PM]

Anybody elses gmail notifier just stop working?

After updating I can't get it to open, crashes every time.

Also noticed that if you turn the backlight all the way down and leave it runnng (utorrent) when I come back a while later its not sleeping (I can see the dark image on the screen) but it takes 5-10 seconds for the backlight to turn on again, and then registers all brightness+ presses at once, making it much brighter than I want. Annoying.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 8:06PM]

it made my os x extreamly faster on my MDD Single G4!!!! GREAT STUFF!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 8:07PM]

oh! and mine was 677MB... NO BS!!! LOL

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 17th 2008 9:56PM]

My MacBook (black) updated just fine, but I wrote here that there are some issues for some users with PCIe cards:

http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/mcurtis/story/beware_1056_upgrade_2007_mac_pro_owners/

Beware those with PCIe cards like RAID and HD-SDI!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 19th 2008 2:16PM]

I believe that anyone with Bootcamp gets the big update. There is a graphics driver issue in games right now that cause it to crash. (Far Cry 2!)

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2008 1:27PM]

upgraded to 10.5.6 as soon as it was out. now am faced with a crashing iMac and sometimes infinite loop (pun intended) while rebooting. curiously all this started just y'day; everything was fine until then. anyone else? any remedies?

tia

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 30th 2008 2:23AM]

i downloaded Mac OS X Update 10.5.6 and upon restarting (after it finished downloading) the auto installation stalled. Can anyone tell me how I can manually install the update without having to download it all again?

Your help is greatly appreciated!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2009 3:03AM]

Your Mac might be bit sluggish after the update. They have the cure.

http://youaskme.ca/macbook-unibody-slow-startup-after-1056-update/