Mac OS X 10.5.7 Update Is A Whopper, But No Big New Features

Leander Kahney ()

osx_update

The Mac OS X 10.5.7 Update is one of the biggest Apple has ever released — but there appears to be no major new features, just a bunch of bug and security fixes.

It looks like Apple is putting the finishing touches to OS 10.5 before releasing Snow Leopard in the fall, which will have major code changes under the hood.

The Mac OS X 10.5.7 delta update, which updates 10.5.6 to 10.5.7, weighs in at 442MB; while the combo update, which transforms any version of 10.5 into 10.5.7, is a whopping 729MB.

According to an Apple support document, the update fixes bugs and security issues in the core OS, iCal, Mail and printer controls. Possibly the biggest change is adding RAW support for several new cameras, and improved video playback on recent Macs with Nvidia graphics cards.

But according to Macworld Rob Griffiths, who examined installer log files, the update tweaks a long list of applications, from Address Book to Terminal.

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“What’s most surprising about the number of modified applications is that very few of those are mentioned on Apple’s 10.5.7 notes page—only Dashboard, Time Machine, iCal and Mail are directly called out, but none of the rest,” writes Griffiths. “(The log) reveals a total of 16,915 changed files on my MacBook Pro. Despite that, things seem to be running very smoothly here after the update.”

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About the author

Leander Kahney

is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: Inside Steve’s Brain, the New York Times bestseller about Steve Jobs; Cult of Mac; and Cult of iPod. Leander has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Guardian in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.

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Posted in Macintosh, Software |

  • Steve

    My Software Update is telling me its only 286Mb, what gives?
    http://yfrog.com/ejpicture1bixp

    Macbook Pro 2.4Ghz C2D

    • http://cultofmac.com Leander Kahney

      @Steve. You’re absolutely right. Sorry, I skipped over that. Thanks to the magic of Software Update, not everyone’s update is the same size. It depends on the previously installed updates, what software you’re running etc. So, for example, the update is bigger if you are running the new Safari beta. If not, the Safari update is ommitted. More info here: Mac OS X: Software update sizes can vary

  • LeChiffre

    Why does Apple need to release software updates for security and stability when we all know Macs are invulnerable to viruses and that they never, ever crash?

    It doesn’t make sense.

  • imajoebob

    @LeChiffre: It’s called staying one step ahead of the bad guys, which keeps OS X the safest OS. This is unlike Windows, which has a long history of patching only AFTER threats are in the wild.

    And I was impressed with my 10.4.11′s 70+MB patch.

  • Steve

    @Leander, actually I do have the new Safari beta. I have an Australian Macbook and the update was only 286Mb but on my UK iMac, same prior OS version (10.5.6) and Safari beta, its 442Mb. Strange!

  • Steve Swinsburg

    And the Unit Converter widget is fixed!

    Broken info and old workaround here: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20090225162441861

  • Tom

    So far I have seen two apple powerbooks freeze up during the install of the 10.5.7 update.
    There is no explanation or warning, the problem was only fixed with doing a hard shutdown, and rebooting.
    I have used apples for a number of years and installed many updates with never a problem.
    Now that mac’s are becoming more popular are we going to have to endure the same crashes and install problems that plague winblows and are the primary reason I use mac’s in my home and business?

  • ARt

    This update really created a mess for me with my Epson printer/scanner. New icon. All new printing menu which is much more complicated. Don’t mind more detail, but n ot even sure it now works right. Any way to uninstall this update?

  • Cam

    2 Days after the update my brand new imac crashed! Screwed up all day, then this morning locked up. Hard reset and white screen :( had to go back to 10.5.6

  • Justin

    I was a little worried that my 1GHz PowerPC G4 Double Silver Door 2005 model mac would not take the updates very well. But I was wrong..it took a long time to load it but now I have almost no errors. I think I would have to get a new mac for anything above 10.5 but so far so good. I had alot of errors and even lost programs when I was running 10.5.5 or lower. The fact that I am running a non mac wi fi adaptor could be the glitch with my internet connect I guess?