Apple releases Mac OS X 10.5.3

Apple has posted Mac OS X 10.5.3 to Software Update. This relatively major release addresses a number of issues extant in previous editions of Mac OS X 10.5.x, including problems with AirPort, Time Capsule, Mail, iChat, iCal and more. With regard to general fixes, the update a font issue that could result in Helvetica Narrow being used in applications instead of Helvetica and also addresses an issue with stuttering video and audio playback in certain USB devices. It also fixes an issue in which certain attached hard drives may not show up in the Finder.

AirPort fixes include improvements to 802.1X behavior and reliability and better reliability when using Time Capsule. iChat includes resolution of reliability issues with screen sharing and elimination of an issue in which saved chat transcripts may reported as "still in use" after opening and closing them in iChat. Also resolves is an issue with group chats not being indexed in Spotlight. The new release can also save an unlimited number of lines of active chats, up from 250.

In Mail, an issue was resolved in which the app may prevent idle sleep when set to automatically check for new messages every minute. Also addressed stability issues that may be encountered when dragging large attachments into an email message. 10.5.3 also fixes an issue that could occur if two compose windows are open when dragging a file to the Mail icon in the Dock.

The new edition of Parental Controls addresses reliability issues with application logging and time limits and resolves an issue in which Parental Controls may prevent forced sleep. It also eliminates performance issues with web content filters and fixes an issue with managed accounts in which iChat transcripts may not be created. '

Spaces no longer exhibits an issue in which switching to a different space and returning back to the original space may reorder the application windows with a different active window, and resolved is an issue in which activating an application from the Dock switches to a different space, even if there is a window for that application in the current space.

Time Machine has improved compatibility with Time Capsule and resolves certain issues when backing up a portable Mac that is on battery power. The new release also addresses compatibility issues with Aperture 2 and reliability issues when performing a full restore from a Time Machine backup.

The new version of Automator addresses an issue in which some actions may not work with the "Show When Run" option enabled. It also resolves an issue in which the "New iCal Event" action may not work and another issue that prevents workflows from being saved in the Finder's contextual menu. The new release also includes fixes reliability issues for Automator scripts that search for files by date and an issue that prevents workflows from being saved in the Finder's contextual menu. Another problem in which Automator workflows as Finder plugins do not work when the workflow begins with the "Get Selected Finder Items" action has been fixed as has an issue in which the "Copy Files" action does not reliably work when added from Automator’s warning dialog.

VoiceOver now includes Braille Update 1.0 which enables GW Micro, HandyTech, HIMS, Nippon, and Papenmeier Refreshable Braille displays. Also, an issue with Braille dot 7 and 8 underlining has been addressed, as has an issue in which HTML page anchors may be ignored by the VoiceOver cursor. The new release also fixes an issue that prevented Hot Spots from being used in text areas and resolves an issue with spell checking in which VoiceOver may only announce the first misspelled word if there are multiple words spelled incorrectly.

Filed under: software, audio, Apple
Other story tags: Mac OS X, video, update, Mac, USB, hard drive, iCal, AirPort, Software Update, Time Capsule