Apple seeds new 10.8.3 build just days after previous one
updated 05:53 pm EST, Thu December 20, 2012
Release likely coming soon for Mountain Lion users
In an unusual move, Apple has seeded a new build of OS X 10.8.3 to developers just two days after the previous version. No explanation was given for the new build, 12D44 (just one build higher than the previous one), and the release notes on the build are identical to the one given out on Tuesday. The new version becomes the fourth beta of 10.8.3 and the third sent out so far this month. Given the identical release notes, it is possible that the new build simply fixes a discovered flaw or vulnerability in the previous build.
As before, developers are asked to focus their testing on AirPlay, AirPort, Game Center, Graphics and Safari. The new build also reminds testers to install the new "OS X Software Update Seed Configuration Utility," which is now Apple's preferred method of seeding new OS X betas to registered developers. The software allows testers to update seeds through the usual Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store. Email notices are still being sent out, but Apple may decide to discontinue that practice at some point in the future as email generally begins to fall as a priority communications medium.
The move to Software Update should make distribution of updates to registered devices more uniform, and allow for better notification of the availability of new builds. Progress has been made over the second beta in known problems, with waking from sleep and VNC remote control issues removed from earlier notes as trouble spots. It's worth noting that the current official release, 10.8.2, went through five betas before being released in September.
