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Archive for the ‘Software Updates’ Category

Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.8 Supplemental Update To Address Known Issues

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Update 7/26/11: If you have already installed 10.6.8 and you’d like to fix the issues with it, then you need this version of the update.

If you’d like to upgrade from 10.6.7 to 10.6.8 then you need this version of the update.

If you’re running 10.6.6 or any previous version of 10.6, you need this version of the update.

If you’ve already applied the v1.1 update of 10.6.8 (Delta or Combo), then you don’t need to apply the 10.6.8 Supplemental Update, as it’s built into v1.1 update.

About Mac OS X 10.6.8 Supplemental Update:

The Mac OS X 10.6.8 Supplemental Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8 and resolves issues with:

-Transferring personal data, settings, and compatible applications from a Mac running Mac OS X Snow Leopard to a new Mac running Mac OS X Lion.

-Certain network printers that pause print jobs immediately and fail to complete.

-System audio that stops working when using HDMI or optical audio out.

You can manually download the update installer. This is a useful option when you need to update multiple computers but only want to download the update once. These versions of the standalone installers are available from Apple Support Downloads.

What’s included?

-Enhancements to the Mac App Store to get your Mac ready to upgrade to Mac OS X Lion.

-Resolves an issue that may cause Preview to unexpectedly quit.

-Improves support for IPv6.

-Improves VPN reliability.

-Identifies and removes known variants of MacDefender malware.

-Corrects timezone data in iCal for Lisbon-Portugal.

-Adds the ability to use Kerberos authentication to a web proxy server.

-Fixes an issue when saving documents from Xcode or TextEdit when using an NFS home directory.

-Fixes an issue when importing certain media files into Final Cut Pro.

-Includes RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras.

Mac OS X v10.6.8 also includes fixes provided in the Mac OS X v10.6.7 Snow Leopard Font Update:

-Addresses an issue in which some OpenType fonts don’t display correctly in certain applications.
Resolves issues printing from Preview.

-Addresses an issue with PDF files not opening in third-party PDF viewing applications.

-Resolves invalid font errors when printing to PostScript printers.

Update 9/27/11: Thanks Microsoft! Botnet that hosted MacDefender scareware/malware shut down thanks to Microsoft. http://t.co/LNpIXZWx

LoJack For Laptops Lion Work Around Until Update Is Released

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Update 1/25/12 Lojack For Laptops is not available from the Apple App Store. See our link below for 25% off.

Update 1/8/12: If you don’t already own LoJack for Laptops for your Mac (or PC for that matter), we highly recommend it. Also, a pro tip from your friends here at MacMedics: Just because this product it called Lojack for Laptops, there’s no reason you cannot install it on any Mac computer. Obviously the iSight camera capture features are not going to work on a Mac Pro or Mac mini, but they can still be tracked, erased, and potentially recovered! Since this MacMedics Blog post seems to get quite a bit of traffic, we’re posting our link for special Lojack pricing that is currently 25% off any version, here:

http://www.macmedics.com/lojack

The LoJack team have been working hard to ensure that LoJack for Laptops will be fully compatible with Apple’s new version of OS X, Lion (10.7)

If you plan to upgrade to OS X Lion before July 25th, you will need to take a few simple steps to maintain your LoJack for Laptops protection until our update is fully distributed.

Step 1: Download and Install OS X Lion (10.7) from the Mac App Store

Step 2: Go to www.lojackforlaptops.com/login and login to access your account (Note: If you have more than one Mac in your account, first click on the Mac you are upgrading.)

Step 3: Click Remove

Step 4: Click Install

Step 5: Download the installer

Step 6: When prompted, enter your registration code.

Step 7: Follow the remaining steps to complete the reinstallation of LoJack for Laptops.

Your LoJack recovery info won’t be of much help to you when you need to report your MacBook or MacBook Pro stolen if you don’t have that info with you. Lojack suggests you print your license info and put it in a safe place. It is not likely that you will be able to find it quickly, or have that info with you while traveling or at work.

Macs get ripped off all the time, so be sure to save this info as a PDF and upload it to your iPhone or iPod touch to iBooks via iTunes, so you’ll have it when you need it the most! See our new Blog post for more info.

Sign up for LoJack for Laptops for Mac here: http://www.macmedics.com/lojack

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Apple Security Update 2011-003 For Snow Leopard 10.6.7

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If you are still running Snow Leopard 10.6.7 and you DO NOT wish to upgrade to Snow Leopard 10.6.8, there is an Apple Security Update that you should run.

Because Apple expects you to just upgrade to 10.6.8, the new Security Update for 10.6.7 will not show up in Software Update.

In order to install this update, you need to download it manually. See this link from Apple for grab it:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1387

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Written by Dana Stibolt

July 6th, 2011 at 3:25 pm

Apple Releases Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 5

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Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 5 delivers improved compatibility, security, and reliability by updating Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_26.

Please quit any web browsers and Java applications before installing this update.

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4593 for more details about this update.

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222 for information about the security content of this update.

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Written by Dana Stibolt

June 28th, 2011 at 3:38 pm

Apple Releases Snow Leopard 10.6.8 Update

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Update 7/25/11: Until Apple released the 10.6.8 Supplemental Update we were recommending that our clients NOT install this update. Now that Apple has addressed the Printing and Font issues, we are now endorsing this update. See our new Blog post for details.

Here’s some info from around the web about the 10.6.8 problems:

10.6.8 update issue roundup

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/06/28/xserve_users_report_performance_issues_after_apples_mac_os_x_10_6_8_update.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20074767-263/how-to-fix-printers-not-working-in-os-x-10.6.8/

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20074227-263/security-tool-hands-off-causing-panics-with-os-x-10.6.8/

The 10.6.8 update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes that:

-Enhance the Mac App Store to get your Mac ready to upgrade to Mac OS X Lion

-Resolve an issue that may cause Preview to unexpectedly quit.

-Improve support for IPv6.

-Improve VPN reliability.

-Identify and remove known variants of Mac Defender.

For detailed information and precautions on running the 10.6.8 update from Apple, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4561.

Please see this page for more information on precautions and warning from MacMedics. ALWAYS back up your data, and test your back up before your run ANY Apple Software Update!

For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222.

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Written by Dana Stibolt

June 26th, 2011 at 1:32 pm

ALERT: MacDefender/MacGuard Mac OS X Security Update 2011-003 Is Now Available

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Update 5/31/11 18:43: Early Twitter reports indicate that OS X security update designed to target MacDefender missed finding MacGuard. Be aware that there could still be malware on your Mac if you were infected prior to the new update. Also, it is now being reported by zdnet.com, that MacDefender/MacGuard is now spreading via Facebook.

Security Update 2011-003 is now available and addresses the
following:

File Quarantine

Available for: Mac OS X v10.6.7, Mac OS X Server v10.6.7

Impact: Definition added

Description: The OSX.MacDefender.A definition has been added to the
malware check within File Quarantine. Information on File Quarantine
is available in this Knowledge Base article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3662

File Quarantine

Available for: Mac OS X v10.6.7, Mac OS X Server v10.6.7

Impact: Automatically update the known malware definitions

Description: The system will check daily for updates to the File
Quarantine malware definition list. An opt-out capability is provided
via the “Automatically update safe downloads list” checkbox in
Security Preferences. Additional information is available in this
Knowledge Base article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4651

Malware removal

Available for: Mac OS X v10.6.7, Mac OS X Server v10.6.7

Impact: Remove the MacDefender malware if detected

Description: The installation process for this update will search
for and remove known variants of the MacDefender malware. If a known
variant was detected and removed, the user will be notified via an
alert after the update is installed. Additional information is
available in this Knowledge Base article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4651

Update 9/27/11: Thanks Microsoft! Botnet that hosted MacDefender scareware/malware shut down thanks to Microsoft. http://t.co/LNpIXZWx

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iMac Hard Drive Firmware Update 1.0

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iMac Hard Drive Firmware Update 1.0 fixes a hard drive issue that may prevent some iMac (21.5-inch and 27-inch, Mid 2010) systems from booting properly.

You can download it at this link: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1378

Written by Dana Stibolt

April 26th, 2011 at 8:44 am

Snow Leopard OS X 10.6.7 And OpenType PostScript Font Issues

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Update 4/26/11: Apple has released the Snow Leopard Font Update patch that will resolve this troubling issue.

The Snow Leopard Font Update addresses issues displaying and printing certain OpenType fonts and is recommended for all Mac OS X v10.6.7 users.

The update includes fixes that address the following issues:

– Address an issue in which some OpenType fonts don’t display correctly in certain applications
– Resolve issues printing from Preview
– Address an issue with PDF files not opening in third-party PDF viewing applications
– Resolve invalid font errors when printing to PostScript printers

For more information about this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4605.

Apple recently released the OS X 10.6.7 update, designed to improve Back to My Mac reliability, resolve SMB connection issues, and address other minor problems. Unfortunately, this update introduced a major problem for designers working with OpenType PostScript fonts, resulting in garbled output and problems creating PDF files.

With no clear and reliable resolution to this issue just yet, MacMedics is still recommending that anyone needing to work with these fonts avoid applying this update. For clients on our Scheduled Service System, your technician will not be applying this update at this time (you may want to remind your users not to manually launch Software Update).

Although unfortunate, this is an excellent example of why we make our recommendations regarding new updates.

Other recently released updates:
iTunes 10.2.2
Safari 5.0.5
Security Update 2011-002 for Snow Leopard*, Leopard, and Leopard Server.

*As this update requires OS X 10.6.7, MacMedics recommends that Snow Leopard users hold off on this update until a resolution for the 10.6.7 font issue is available.

This Blog post seems to be attracting quite a bit of attention, so if this is the type of Macintosh information you like, please consider signing up for the MacMedics email newsletter (That is where this post came from). Also, we are quite active on Twitter and Facebook, so if you want info like this as soon as it becomes available, both of those outlets are a good place to watch.

iTunes 10.2.2 Is Now Available Via Software Update

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iTunes 10.2.2 provides a number of important bug fixes, including:

• Addresses an issue where iTunes may become unresponsive when syncing an iPad.

• Resolves an issue which may cause syncing photos with iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to take longer than necessary.

• Fixes a problem where video previews on the iTunes Store may skip while playing.

• Addresses other issues that improve stability and performance.

iTunes 10.2 came with several new features and improvements, including:

• Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.3.

• Improved Home Sharing. Browse and play from your iTunes libraries with Home Sharing on any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 4.3.

For information on the security content of this update, please visit: support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

Written by Dana Stibolt

April 18th, 2011 at 3:55 pm

Apple Releases OS X Version 10.6.7

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Update 6/25/11: Apple has released 10.6.8 that fixes the issues listed below and preps your machine for upcoming release of Lion. See this post for more info.

Update 4/1/11: MacMedics is recommending that you hold off on this update until a fix for the font problem is released: See this MacMedics Blog post for more info.

The 10.6.7 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes that:

• Improve the reliability of Back to My Mac
• Resolve an issue when transferring files to certain SMB servers
• Address various minor Mac App Store bugs

For owners of the new model “Thunderbolt” MacBook Pros it also resolved the following:

• Address minor FaceTime performance issues
• Improve graphics stability and external display compatibility

For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4472.
For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222.

Before you install this or any other software update, be sure to check out the MacMedics Software Update Warnings webpage.

You can grab the Combo updater from Apple at this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1361