Mac OS X 10.5.5 update

Apple is now distributing the latest upgrade to Mac OS X, v10.5.5, through Software Update. The patch addresses a considerable number of aspects in the operating system, such as Mail, MobileMe and Address Book, as well as some "general" concerns, according to Apple's support notes. Some of these include Spotlight indexing, the reliability of iPhone sync with both iCal and Address Book, and problems with Macs powering on involuntarily at the same time every day. The update is sized anywhere between 136 and 353MB, depending on the number of minor patches already installed.

iCal has been updated to better deal with repeating events, and fix a number of other bugs, such as problems with syncing published calendars, and maintaining access to the "Refresh All" button. Address Book has been tweaked for issues with Smart Groups and printing multi-page cards, and MobileMe has had reliability enhanced for sync and the Back to My Mac feature.

Disk Utility should be more reliable when rebuilding a software mirror RAID volume, and Directory Utility has had server status improved. Mail updates are numerous, incorporating answers to problems like SMTP settings for services like AIM and Road Runner, RSS feeds disappearing from the sidebar, and IMAP messages bogging down performance.

Apple has lastly made adjustments to Time Machine, improving reliability with Time Capsule, and smoothing out the performance of both initial and ongoing backups. Bad warnings about drives lacking space have been eliminated, and iPhone backups are now saved alongside other items.

by MacNN Staff