Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) 
released an update to its OS X Panther operating system last
night. The release addresses performance 
and vulnerability issues.
The company also made available a stand-alone security update for users of OS X Jaguar that addresses a potential risk with how the OS handles Portable Network Graphics (PNG) images.
Performance and Interoperability
The updates improve existing applications, networking and cross-platform interoperability.
Users are receiving newly updated versions of Address Book, Disk
Utility, DVD Player, Image Capture, Mail, Safari, Stickies, and
QuickTime . In addition, iPod users connecting via USB 2.0
interfaces will now be able to work with iTunes and iSync.
For IT managers and users in mixed-platform environments, the new version of Panther (10.3.5) delivers improved directory services and file sharing across Mac, PC and Unix systems, as well as across wireless networks. This includes refined support for mounting Windows drives formatted with Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) NTFS format. Problems revolving around drive mounting on networks have also been resolved.
The release also includes revisions to improve font management, USB printing, disc burning and recording capabilities.
In a statement accompanying the update, Apple noted that it had uncovered a problem with the firmware on Firewire drives that could cause data loss. Even with the new OS X update, Apple recommends updating firmware on all Firewire drives.
Installation Advice
MacFixIt.com, a premier Macintosh troubleshooting destination, has
published some advice on installing the most recent update, as well as all other updates.
The Web site suggests running Apple's Disk Repair utility after booting from the OS X Install CD. Once a system is restarted from the disk, users should run Disk Utility and Repair Disk Permissions. Finally, after installing the update, they should run the Repair Disk Permissions utility again.
"We've found that using this update procedure avoids many of the common problems reported by readers after each update to OS X," MacFixIt reports.
Paul Troyer, IT manager for Mahon Studios, a print and multimedia design firm in the Midwest, likes to test updates prior to releasing them to his company's users.
"I try it out on my main production machine. If it's all good, I have the other designers install it via software update," Troyer said. "When we add more people, I will start to use Apple Remote Desktop."
For the Macintosh Enterprise
In environments where software updates are controlled via a central testing and deployment point, IT managers may benefit from Apple's Remote Desktop 2 (ARD 2).
IT workers often choose to evaluate the effects of updates on third-party software or custom configurations before installing them. If Software Update is disabled on client computers, technicians can test an update before distributing it via ARD2. ARD 2 reduces Internet bandwidth used on a network, controls installation and handles post-install cleanup.
Geeks Gutsy with Updates
Many IT professionals hold off on updates to wait for problems to emerge, but some Mac users are willing to take risks.
"Talking to my other geek friends, it sounds like most of us are on
the 'jump on the update with one machine' bandwagon," Troyer said. "None of [the users] I polled waited to see if their hard drives would be instantly vaporized [by the update]. We all have more guts than brains. My head says wait, but my trigger finger says go," he added.
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