11/06, 2:40pm
Dock-It, Snard, Snippet Monkey upgrade
Gideon Softworks has launched updates for Dock-It, Snard and Snippet Monkey, adding Snow Leopard support to all three. Dock-It 2.7.2 is a multifunctional dock and Finder enhancement tool, enabling users to create or customize multiple docks and navigate folder contents without the need of a Finder window. Docks can be used to hold files, folders, apps and scripts; users can drag-and-drop as well as copy and paste text clippings or URLs.
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11/04, 9:20pm
Build 10C540 seeded to developers
Apple's latest Mac OS X 10.6.2 beta, build 10C540, reportedly includes a wide variety of new bug fixes for software and hardware issues, according to AppleInsider. The software addresses problems with graphics drivers, AirPort performance on the new iMacs, and the latest VMWare Fusion virtualization software.
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11/02, 9:55pm
Support added for Snow Leopard, Windows
Thursby Software Systems has announced ADmitMac 5 and DAVE 8, two updates in the company's line of Mac networking products. The apps are designed to connect Macs to Windows networks, enabling bi-directional file and printer sharing. The latest versions of both ADmitMac and DAVE provide multi-processor and multi-threaded optimizations for Apple’s newest Snow Leopard operating system, in both 64-bit and 32-bit modes, along with continued support for the older v10.5 OS.
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11/02, 3:30pm
Switch from DST hurts CPU performance
The flip from daylight savings to standard time has created unusual problems for Snow Leopard owners, Apple's support forums indicate. Some Mac users note that nearing the point of the official changeover, 2AM on November 1st, their CPU usage peaked as high as 100 percent for no apparent reason. Aside from rendering software unusable, such spikes also run the risk of overheating a computer.
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11/02, 8:20am
Hacked netbooks out of Snow Leopard beta
Apple may have taken out support for Atom processors in its latest beta seed of Mac OS X 10.6.2, one user says. Those testing it claim Apple has changed support in a way that breaks compatibility with the small Intel chips, including their ability to enter sleep mode through an unofficial extension. If it reaches the final build, the move leaves those making "Hackintosh" systems with little choice either to stay with 10.6.1 or else to wait for an unofficial fix.
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10/31, 6:10pm
VMware's Win 7, Snow Leopard update tested
Virtualization on the Mac has had to move forward rapidly in the past several months: where it was once enough to run basic tasks in Windows XP, users increasingly expect an experience much like what they would have in Boot Camp. That's all the more true with the launch of Windows 7, where the visual effects are not only useful but often essential. Between this and the changes in the background brought about by Mac OS X Snow Leopard, VMware's Fusion 3 has much ground to cover. We hope to find out in our review whether it's an essential upgrade or simply nice to have.
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10/29, 9:25am
Concentrates on graphics fixes
Apple has begun distributing a new developer build of Mac OS X 10.6.2, 10C535. The release follows a week after 10C531, and is mainly said to address graphics issues, specifically relating to drivers, QuartzCore and ColorSync. Separately fixed are problems with the Dock; as with the past two builds, Apple has identified no outstanding issues.
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10/27, 7:25pm
Downloads available for Leopard and Snow Leopard
Apple on Tuesday released software updates that add Magic Mouse support to both Leopard and Snow Leopard operating systems. The downloads allow users to take advantage of the new Multi-Touch functionality featured in the new mouse. The top surface integrates sensors that detect gestures for controls such as scroll, swipe, click and double-click.
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10/26, 11:35am
Sour negotiations may be to blame
Support for ZFS was ultimately dropped from Snow Leopard as a result of licensing issues, claims Jeff Bonwick, a project team leader at Sun. The technology was initially expected to be a highlight of Snow Leopard, for instance providing image-based backups, and eliminating the need for drive partitions. Hints that ZFS had been removed came in June however, and the technology is nowhere to be found in shipping copies of the OS.
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10/23, 4:25pm
Company may be working on its own alternative
Despite previous efforts to bring support for the ZFS file-system to Mac OS X, Apple has dropped the project. Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Schwartz several years ago publicly claimed Leopard would utilize ZFS instead of HFS+, although Apple only provided limited support for the new technology. Even the read-only functionality was dropped with the transition to Snow Leopard.
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10/22, 5:45pm
Software assists DIY Mac clones
Psystar has begun offering its Mac virtualization technology in a software package, Rebel EFI, that allows users to install Snow Leopard on their own PC systems. The utility supports generic Intel hardware based on Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, i7 or Xeon Nehalem CPUs. The Darwin boot loader can also be used to load Linux and Windows XP, Vista or 7.
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10/22, 2:55pm
Most newer systems to work in 64-bit mode
Apple has pledged full support for Windows 7 through Boot Camp in Snow Leopard before the end of the year. Many Macs already can run Windows 7, although users have reported varying levels of compatibility. Not all systems are able to run in 64-bit mode, while certain hardware drivers currently create problems. The Boot Camp software update will enable Macs to load Microsoft's Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate variants.
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10/21, 9:40am
Imposes definite deadline on update's release
The forthcoming Mac OS X 10.6.2 update will be required for Magic Mouse compatibility in Snow Leopard, an Apple support document reveals. The mouse's user guide -- quietly published on Apple's website yesterday -- mentions that a "full range of features" will not work without v10.6.2. Leopard users must have a combination Mac OS X 10.5.8 and the unreleased Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0.
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10/19, 11:30am
Tech migrates to first non-Apple OS
Grand Central Dispatch, originally introduced with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, has been ported to its first third-party operating system, says the team behind FreeBSD. When it is released, FreeBSD 8.1 is expected to support Grand Central by default. The technology is said to have been harder to adapt than some other Unix-compatible frameworks, due to the need to make kernel modifications. Mac OS X blends elements of BSD and Mach.
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10/16, 3:45pm
Hints at rapid patch cycle
Apple is already distributing a third beta seed of Mac OS X 10.6.2 to developers, sources say. Called 10C527f, the build adds fixes for 13 different components of the OS. Of special emphasis are corrections for video errors, including several GraphicsDrivers problems which can cause screen flickering, crashes in OpenCL or stuttering while playing 1080p movies in QuickTime X. QuickTime itself has been fixed to allow some movies to play properly.
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10/16, 10:45am
Snow Leopard and Windows 7 benchmarked
A comparison test today revealed that Mac OS X Snow Leopard is faster than Windows 7 in common tasks. Benchmarks run on a 2.53GHz MacBook Pro by CNET show that Apple's own operating system is about 38.5 percent faster in multitasking with media apps than Microsoft's platform and is also more responsive as a whole, taking less time to start up or shut down. iTunes audio encoding is also faster, though as an Apple program it's expected to run faster in its native operating system.
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10/14, 6:10pm
Downloads available for Leopard and Snow Leopard
Apple on Wednesday released performance updates for both its Leopard and Snow Leopard operating systems. The downloads address intermittent stalls caused by hard drives, an issue reported by a a small number of users. The updates do not appear to include any other bug fixes.
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10/12, 7:10pm
Guest login could delete data permanently
Apple on Monday admitted that a serious bug in Snow Leopard could cause permanent data loss and said that it is working to find a fix for the problem. The company, responding to a growing number of posts on its discussions forums, confirmed that users can lose data when logging into the guest account on their Mac first and then logging into their regular account. Although the problem is not widespread, the consequences -- especially for those without backups -- could be disastrous: some users are finding all their data to be missing and their accounts completely reset.
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10/10, 11:15am
Snow Leopard 10.6.2 update adds WWAN support
Apple has reportedly provided a second beta release of its Mac OS X 10.6.2 update (labeled 10C514f) to developers, which incorporates a series of bug fixes and improved support. The update is said to deal with almost 150 different areas including applications such as Address Book, QuickTime Player, and Photo Booth, as well as problems related to app switching within the Dock. Additionally, the update is believed to deal with issues involving Front Row, Spaces and Time Machine apps as well.
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10/08, 12:40pm
Mossberg says Windows 7 closes gap
Microsoft's release of Windows 7 will be enough to eliminate most of Apple's advantage in recent years, Walt Mossberg said today in his review of the new operating system. Normally an outspoken proponent of Apple's platform, the columnist now believes that Mac OS X Snow Leopard only has a "slight edge" over Windows thanks to 7 running faster and sporting multiple interface improvements.
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10/07, 11:40am
Ballmer views only small gain from Win 7
Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer today cast doubt on the likelihood that the imminent release of Windows 7 will spur growth in computer sales. He told those at a Munich press event that he still anticipates a bump in sales from those waiting for the new OS but that it would "probably not be huge." The economy is blamed for the hesitation as Ballmer doesn't see the industry fully recovering for a significant amount of time.
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10/07, 1:30am
Camtasia Relay 1.2
TechSmith has released an update to its lecture- and presentation-capturing software, Camtasia Relay 1.2. The program is designed to create a video or audio record of a lecture, presentation or meeting, which can then be saved as an MP4, MP3 or WMV file. The 1.2 update features improved Real Media output and smaller MP4 file sizes to help deliver faster file transfers. The company has also added support for the latest Snow Leopard and Windows 7 operating systems, along with Windows Server 2008 64-bit.
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10/07, 1:05am
Likewise Open 5.3, Enterprise 5.3 updates
Likewise has announced two new updates to its authentication software for Mac, Likewise Open 5.3 and Likewise Enterprise 5.3. The latest versions add support for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Apple’s Snow Leopard operating system. Likewise Open is designed to connect Linux and Mac machines to a Microsoft Active Directory and authenticate users with their domain credentials.
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10/02, 5:35pm
NVIDIA Fermi with Snow Leopard in mind
The just-unveiled Fermi graphics architecture will find its way into Macs and play an important role in Mac OS X Snow Leopard, NVIDIA chief scientist Bill Dally said today. While it's expected that NVIDIA would continue to play an important part of future Macs, the researcher drew a particular connection between the new GPU design and Apple's new OS, expecting that it would provide a significant boost for those apps that implement OpenCL. Windows 7 will also get support through DirectX 11 and DirectCompute.
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10/01, 5:50pm
NetApplications shows Mac, Firefox gains
More than a sixth of all Macs are already running Mac OS X Snow Leopard in just over a month of use, new findings from NetApplications show. On September 29th, the one month anniversary of the release, about 18 percent of all Macs tracked by the stats firm were using some version of Snow Leopard, or 0.91 percent of all computers.
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09/24, 6:55pm
Separate case now headed to Florida court
US District Court Judge William Alsup has denied Apple's motion to include Snow Leopard in its case against Psystar. Apple initially argued to keep the updated operating system out of the case by "relentlessly objecting to discovery on Snow Leopard," Alsup writes. The company was successful at keeping the issue separate, as the update was released after the discovery period had come to a close.
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09/22, 3:20pm
Supports wide variety of printers
Apple has posted a new cumulative driver update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard, supporting printers by HP. The v2.2 HP update includes software for both scanning and printing, and ensures compatibility with a broad selection of HP hardware. Numerous product lines are covered, including Business Inkjets, LaserJets, Color LaserJets, DesignJets, DeskJets, OfficeJets, Photosmarts and PSCs.
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09/17, 1:50pm
May be intended as competition for Snow Leopard
Microsoft has launched a new educational discount for Windows 7, aimed at college and university students. Eligible buyers can now order a copy of either Home Premium or Professional for just $30; the discount runs until January 3rd at 12AM CST. The homogenized Professional pricing is intended for people at schools with a "domain join" policy, where features like HomeGroup and Remote Media Streaming may become useful.
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09/17, 12:35pm
Firewall adds web updates, other fixes
ProteMac has updated its network firewall, releasing NetMine 1.5. The Mac-based firewall can control all Internet and network access from Mac applications, limiting the possibility of attacks from network worms, trojans malware and viruses. It can limit any specified network traffic from reaching specified Macs. NetMine is a two-way firewall that can prevent the spread of Malware on a network.
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09/17, 11:35am
Best Mac OS launch in years?
Mac OS X Snow Leopard has been Apple's best OS launch in years, at least in terms of sales numbers, according to the NPD Group. Tracking figures are said to show sales more than twice those of the Leopard launch in October 2007, generally considered a success in its own right. The sales are also four times those associated with Tiger, released in April 2005.
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09/16, 1:45am
Asset, patch, license management tool updated
Pole Position has released v5.2 of its network management tool, LANrev, used to collect information about a users computer and software such as monitoring software license compliance and updating and patching software. Version 5.2 adds Mac OS X 10.6 compatibility, enabling the application to track Snow Leopard for asset inventory, theft recovery, lowering energy usage and patching the operating system. The update additionally shortens the time necessary to upgrade multiple machines to the new OS by running an imaging process in the background, saving the home directory files and OS settings.
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09/15, 5:40pm
Back-up software also adds CROs, new reporting
Arkeia has launched Arkeia Network Backup 8.1, an update to its cross-platform backup software. Version 8.1 brings Snow Leopard compatibility and Custom Restore Objects (CROs) that give system admins the ability to assign restoration rights, enabling end users to restore their own systems. With CROs in place, users can recover a volume without requiring IT workers and without the delays of waiting for assistance.
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09/12, 1:45am
MacPractice, CS Odessa add Snow Leopard support
In brief: Cortado has announced an update to its Hosted Exchange service for the iPhone, adding Mailbox creation support. CS Odessa delivers Snow Leopard support to its line of ConceptDraw applications featuring tools for project management and graphics creation. MacPractice, a developer of practice management and clinical applications, has added support for Apple’s latest Mac OS X 10.6 operating system to its MacPractice version 3.6.8 software.
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09/11, 3:05pm
Tech may encourage support
Apple has taken the decision to make Grand Central Dispatch, a key feature of Mac OS X Snow Leopard, available as an open-source project. Developers can now find the component's services API on the web. Grand Central is intended to simplify multi-core support in Mac OS X, which without an intermediate layer can be difficult to program for.
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09/11, 11:50am
Sabotages further app installations
Mac OS X Snow Leopard is preventing some users from installing any further software, posts on Apple's support forums indicate. After upgrading to the OS, users may find that Installer is incapable of completing any kind of installation, whether in terms of first- or third-party programs. Because of Installer's deep integration into Snow Leopard, it is even preventing minor upgrades of existing applications, such as Aperture.
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09/10, 5:15pm
Flash vulnerability addressed in latest Mac udpate
Apple on Thursday released Mac OS X 10.6.1, its first maintenance update following the recent Snow Leopard launch. The company has addressed a variety of compatibility issues involving Sierra Wireless 3G modems, interrupted DVD playback, automatic account setup in Mail, and Motion 4 problems.
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09/09, 9:05pm
Suitcase Fusion 2 updates to 13.2
Extensis has released Suitcase Fusion 2 version 13.2, an update to its desktop font-manager. Suitcase Fusion 2 provides tools for creating or organizing fonts, and allows users to create multiple libraries for simpler navigation. The upgrade features support for Apple’s latest Mac OS X 10.6 operating system, including the Snow Leopard’s improved system fonts. Additional support is also added for TrueType Collection fonts, as well as Adobe InDesign and Illustrator CS2 plug-ins.
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09/09, 9:45am
Final release coming soon?
(Updated with Snow Leopard Server info) Apple has seeded a new build of Mac OS X 10.6.1 to developers, sources say. Titled 10B504, the build is notably only one increment number over that of the initial seed, released approximately a week ago. The turnaround could indicate a short development track, in contrast with some v10.5.x updates, which took several weeks to reach the public.
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09/08, 9:15pm
Unauthorized Snow Leopard clones already on market
Psystar has already circumvented Apple's latest copyright-protection methods utilized in the Snow Leopard update. The clone maker is currently shipping its Open Computer systems with the new operating system, despite the ongoing legal battle between both companies.
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09/08, 4:40pm
Converts standard Outlook e-mails
restoroot.com has released an upgraded edition of its winmail.dat conversion plug-in for Mail, Letter Opener 3. Winmail objects are automatically converted into attachments, vCards and iCal files, allowing proper interaction with Outlook messages. Version 3 features a complete rewrite for Snow Leopard compatibility, as well as a number of small functionality improvements.
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09/08, 11:50am
Windows 7 returns remote BSOD
(Updated with Microsoft advisory) Windows 7 when it ships next month will be vulnerable to an attack that hasn't been possible since 1999, a new vulnerability found by a security researcher shows. Sending a deliberately malformed network negotiation request can force a Windows 7 system into a page fault that triggers a "blue screen of death" error, even without the user's help in launching the code. The attack affects both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the OS.
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09/07, 11:50pm
Cheetah 3D update supports Snow Leopard
Cheetah 3D 4.7, the latest version of the 3D rendering, modelling and animation software for the Mac was released today. The update delivers a series of bug fixes for rendering issues and texture importing, along with support for Mac’s newest operating system Snow Leopard. The software delivers a variety of polygon and spline modeling tools, and enables users to create and animate 3D scenes. A UV editing function is also included that makes it possible to move, scale or rotate UV coordinates, and displays the changes in a 3D preview.
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09/07, 3:30am
Coladia adds Snow Leopard support
Coladia has announced added support for all its point-and-click adventure games, enabling them to work with the latest Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard update. Players can receive the new support download through the software’s update feature within each game, and is available for such titles as Return to Mysterious Island, Cleopatra: a Queens Destiny, Destination: Treasure Island, and the Secret of the Lost Cavern.
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09/04, 6:00pm
Snow Leopard update causing problems for many
Following the recent Mac OS X Snow Leopard release, users have reported a variety of problems upgrading their systems. A number of forum posts on Apple's Support page point to problems with printers. One user reports incompatibility with Canon's Multifunction Laser printers, while several others cannot print to select HP devices.
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09/04, 5:00pm
Suites survey networks, push images
JAMF Software has announced that its enterprise product line is now fully Snow Leopard-ready. Casper Suite 7.1, Recon Suite 7.1, Composer 7.1 and the Imaging Suite are all certified. Casper Suite aids administrators with a centralized framework used to inventory, image, update and maintain Mac computers, while the Recon Suite provides a method of surveying network devices and computers, along with iPhones.
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09/04, 11:35am
Microsoft sued over WGA
Microsoft this week was sued in a Washington district court for allegedly violating privacy laws through Windows XP's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) copy protection scheme. Similar to cases filed in 2006, the new class action case accuses Microsoft of falsely representing what information WGA would send to verify the authenticity of Windows and that it would send back information that could be traced back to individual users. Although the company has claimed no personal information is sent, the authentication system is said to provide daily information on the user's IP address and other details that could be used to trace information back to an individual home.
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09/04, 9:25am
First Snow Leopard update makes minor fixes
The unfinished Mac OS X 10.6.1 update -- now in distribution to a small number of developers -- so far only makes a minor number of fixes, accounts say. These include improvements to compatibility, stability and security, such as better support for Sierra Wireless 3G modems, and the proper display of printer compatibility drivers in the Add Printer dialog. A more critical fix prevents freezing in Motion 4.
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09/03, 10:50pm
Aquafadas announces Snow Leopard compatibilities
Aquafadas has announced that all but one of its software titles are now Snow Leopard compatible. The latest releases of SnapFlow 1.0.1, PulpMotion and PulpMotion Advanced 2.3, BannerZest and BanerZest Pro 1.6 and VideoPier/VideoPier HD 1.3.1 are all Snow Leopard-ready. Users can download the updates directly from the company or via the software update feature within each program.
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09/03, 12:20pm
Update follows quickly after Snow Leopard debut
Just days after the operating system's launch, Apple has already begun a closed test of the first major update to Snow Leopard, according to anonymous sources. Mac OS X 10.6.1 allegedly became available to a small number of developers on Monday, specifically groups of coders invited by Apple. Distribution to all members of the Apple Developer Connection could begin within a week or two, if historical trends serve as a precedent.
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09/03, 10:25am
Issues extend beyond Flash vulnerabilities
Adobe has spotted yet more compatibility problems created in transitioning its software to Snow Leopard, according to the company's principal product manager, John Nack. In particular, Photoshop is currently said to crash when switching to the Menlo font; the only solution at present is to avoid using the font entirely. The editing software may also crash when using the Open and Save commands, and dragging images to the program's Dock icon may not open them, as intended.
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