Apple rolls out Mac OS X Lion, Snow Leopard updates

Apple rolls out Mac OS X Lion, Snow Leopard updates

By Mikey Campbell

Published: 04:26 PM EST (01:26 PM PST)

Apple on Wednesday released a host of Mac OS X updates, including 10.7.3 Lion and Lion Server, which brings various system improvements and expanded language support along with Safari 5.1.3, a new version of Sever Admin Tools, fixes for Apple Remote Desktop and security updates for Snow Leopard.

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Client

Updates to Apple's newest operating system mainly look to fix existing problems to offer more stability, compatibility and security, but a host of new features is also offered like support for a number of new languages, Wi-Fi connectivity fixes and Windows file sharing compatibility among others.

Another main component of the update is fixes to directory services, which adds improved reliability of Dynamic DNS updates and other Active Directory tweaks.

A full list of system improvements is outlined below:

Add Catalan, Croatian, Greek, Hebrew, Romanian, Slovak, Thai, and Ukrainian language support

Address issues when using smart cards to log into OS X

Address compatibility issues with Microsoft Windows file sharing

Address an issue printing Microsoft Word documents that use markup

Address a graphics performance issue after sleep on some earlier iMacs that use ATI graphics

Resolve a Wi-Fi connection issue when waking from sleep

Address an issue that may prevent Safari from opening before joining a wireless network

Fix a potential issue authenticating to an SMB DFS share

Include RAW image compatibility for additional digital cameras


Directory Serivices
Improve binding to read-only Active Directory Domain Controllers

Improve binding and login speed for Active Directory users in a domain whose name ends in ".local"

Improve reliability of Dynamic DNS (DDNS) updates by Active Directory clients

Allow login with an Active Directory username that contains a space

Improve compatibility with Active Directory schemas that have been extended with the "apple-user-homeDirectory" and "apple-user-homeurl" attributes

Fix home directory Dock item for Active Directory users with mobile accounts

Allow NIS users with MD5-hashed passwords to log in





Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3 with Safari 5.1.3 can be downloaded via Software Update or through Apple's support page that offers Client, Client Combo versions that are 997.01 MB and 1.2 GB, respectively. Users must be running Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2 to update.

Mac OS X Lion Server and Server Admin Tools

Along with the updates to the Client version, the Mac OS X Lion Server update brings fixes and features to the server side of the operating system, including file sharing and VPN server app improvements, enhancements to the web and Wiki server applications and updates to the profile manager. Beyond the new components, various bug fixes and security upgrades were added.

The full list of server additions can be found here.

The Mac OS X Lion Server update is 1 GB, while the Server Combo version comes in at 1.34 GB, and both require Lion 10.7.

Released alongside the Lion Server update is a refresh of Apple's Server Admin Tools, which adds supplementary applications for use with the Mac OS X server. New versions of Podcast Composer, Server Admin, Server Monitor, System Image Utility, Workgroup Manager and Xgrid Admin are included in the 202.59 MB update. Mac OS X Lion or Lion Server are required.

Snow Leopard and Apple Remote Desktop

Apple's legacy Snow Leopard and Snow Leopard Server operating systems saw only minor security patches, though it is recommended that users install the latest software.

The Snow Leopard downloads, which can be found through Software Update or at Apple's support page, weigh in at 192.73 MB for the Client version and 212.09 MB for Snow Leopard Server, with both requiring Mac OS X 10.6.8.

Apple's Remote Desktop Client received improvements in screen sharing authentication when using Kerberos or when authenticating as a user with no password and a fix regarding the control of a remote computer with two displays when the primary display is on the right.

The Apple Remote Desktop 3.5.2 update comes in at 3.75 MB and requires Mac OS X 10.6 or later.

Yeah, I've been holding off on buying a Mac until the Catalan support is there...

www.apple.cat doesn't go to Apple!


But finally the first proper bug fix update for OS X Lion.

Looks like a lot of enterprise fixes with Active Directory leading the way. I always put them on as soon as they come out.

JEK said:

Looks like a lot of enterprise fixes with Active Directory leading the way. I always put them on as soon as they come out.

Click to expand...

Me too. I'm never in the "I'll wait for the .1 version" camp


But I had to re-install OS X Lion to our Macbook last night. It was the only machine I upgraded instead of doing a clean install when Lion arrived. It had just a handful of apps installed and was super clean OS X to start with.

But it was acting up quite frequently, Laura often used his work Windows laptop instead which is always a bad sign. I used the machine a few times over the last two weeks and Safari stopped working. The icon was just bouncing on the dock. Not good at all.

I did a clean OS X install last night, took ages but now the Macbook feels snappy again.


Our "basic set" seems to be Dropbox, 1Password, BetterZip, Cyberduck (for FTP), Disco, EyeTV (we have Netstream on the network), Firefox, Google Chrome, Google Earth, iStat Menus, Pixelmator (Photoshop-alternative to the secondary machines, I hate Adobe's licensing), SaunaSMS (to send free SMS's from our phone subscriptions, easier to type on computer than touchscreen), Skype, Spotify and vlc.

Plug-in's Flip4mac (wmv), Perian, Quicktime 7 Pro (QT X lacks some editing), Silverlight, Adobe Flash
Firefox extensions: Adblock, Flashblock
Safari extensions: Adblock, ClickToFlash
Printer drivers for our two lasers

iMovie, iPhoto and iWork '09, MS Office 2008 (legacy, maybe one day I'll upgrade or maybe not, the Updater stopped working so I won't be installing it any more)

Apple pulled the delta update and only the combo remains. Suggestion is to install the combo and then check permissions.