Look Out for Mac OS X 10.3.6 Update Quirks--File Size and Safari Developer Beta 1.3

Late yesterday afternoon Apple released Mac OS X 10.3.6 Update for client and server versions of the operating system. They are available via the Software Update preference pane or as stand alone updaters. While we favor the combo versions for client and server (complete update from any version of 10.3), there are also delta updates for client and server (updates only from v10.3.5).

Key client enhancements include:

- network volumes are now available in the Finder sidebar and Desktop for convenient access
- improved file sharing and directory services for Mac (AFP), UNIX (NFS) PC (SMB/CIFS), PPTP, and wireless networks
- improved support for NTFS formatted volumes
- improved reliability of user logins, mounting of home directories in a networked environment, and launch of network applications
- improved PostScript and USB printing
- improved font management
- improved disc burning and recording functionality
- improved Bluetooth compatibility for Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse and Bluetooth phones.
- iPods connected via USB 2.0 are now recognized by iTunes and iSync
- improved Open GL technology and updated ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers
- updated Address Book, Calculator, Disk Utility, DVD Player, Image Capture, Mail, Safari, Stickies, and QuickTime applications
- improved compatibility for third party applications
- additional support for FireWire and USB devices
- FileVault, FireWire 800 and WebDAV improvements from Update 10.3.1
- previous standalone security updates and Bluetooth Update 1.5.1

Key server enhancements include:

- improved reliability of AFP, CIFS and NFS file services, and network automounts
- enhanced Server Admin, Workgroup Manager and Network Image Utility applications
- improved Open Directory scalability and reliability, Active Directory integration and Kerberos support
- updated QuickTime streaming and broadcast services for compatibility with 3G phones - added support for background rebuilding of RAID mirrors, and network VLAN tagging
- updated to Samba version 3.0.2 and MySQL version 4.0.18
- improved PostScript and USB printing
- added Fibre Channel Utility application and multipathing with support for bandwidth aggregation and failover
- additional support for FireWire and USB devices
- improved compatibility for third party applic ations and devices
- previous standalone security updates

There are some quirks, however. A harmless one is that the file size varies by computer when installed from the Software Update preference pane. The 10.3.6 client updater weighs in at only 14MB for our PowerBooks and iBooks but 34MB for our desktops, including a G5. This Apple article explains why computers receive different sizes of files via Software Update. The stand alone client updaters weigh in at 34MB for the delta and 92MB for the combo.

Another quirk is more problematic. We had the WWDC 2004 developer beta v1.3 of Safari installed on a test Mac. Applying 10.3.6 via the Software Update preference pane rendered Safari 1.3 unable to completely launch. We may get away with fixing perkissions or may have to do an Archive and Install of Mac OS X 10.3 and apply the combo updater to get a working copy of Safari v1.2.4, the release with Mac OS X 10.3.6.

Otherwise, we have found v10.3.6 to work well and fix some network problems on a Windows network. We can now connect to Windows shares via the Finder's network browser without receiving the "original item can not be found" error. Connected computers also have an icon on the Desktop now as well as in the Finder sidebar. [With contributions by Dana Baggett]