Brief Hands-On Report--Mac OS X 10.4.6

Apple released Mac OS X 10.4.6 Update for Client and Server editions and for Power PC and Intel-based Macs. They are available for download via Software Update or as stand-alone updaters from this Apple Web page. We recommend using a combo updater where available even though the combo files have become very large--140-191MB.

New things:

There are several important things to know before rushing into applying the new update:

• If you use iSync, you should perform a full sync with your devices before installing this update. Mac OS X 10.4.6 Update includes a later version of iSync with several improvements. For more information and before-you-install steps, see iSync 2.2: Read before updating to Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later, or before first sync.
  
• With the Mac OS X 10.4.6 system software update, PowerPC-based Macs will restart twice, instead of once, after the initial installation.
  
• You may experience unexpected results if you have third-party system software modifications installed, or if you've modified the operating system through other means. (This does not apply to normal application software installation.)
  
• The installation process should not be interrupted. If a power outage or other interruption occurs during installation, use the standalone installer (see below) from Apple Downloads to update.
  
• If issues occur during installation--for example, Software Update quits unexpectedly, please see this article.

We also recommend that permissions be repaired and Disk Utility be run to repair the hard disk before installing an update.

What's It Do?

According to the Read Me file,

The 10.4.6 Update is recommended for all users and includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following applications and technologies:

• login and authentication in a variety of network environments
  
• file access and byte range locking with AFP file sharing
  
• network access when using proxy server automatic configuration files
  
• connecting to Cisco VPN servers using IP/Sec
  
• using Bluetooth wireless devices
  
• searching iWork '06 and Microsoft Office documents with Spotlight
  
• saving Word documents automatically when using a network home directory
  
• creating Automator workflows for iPhoto 6
  
• synchronizing contacts and calendars to .Mac and mobile phones
  
• mounting and unmounting iDisk volumes
  
• compatibility with third party applications and devices
  
• previous standalone security updates

Detailed information on this Update is contained on this Apple Web page.

The update also contains a fix for the following security issue:

Firmware--Intel-based Macintosh computers support the firmware password feature. Prior to this update, a person with physical access to the computer could bypass the firmware password and access the "Single User Mode". This update addresses the issue by enhancing the security provided by the firmware password. Credit to David Pugh of the University of Michigan for reporting this issue.

Our Early Experience:

We downloaded and installed Mac OS X 10.4.6 via Software Update on an Intel-based iMac, a 12" 867MHz PowerBook G4 and their external FireWire hard drives. This is fewer systems than normal because we are currently away from our global HQ. We had no problems with any of the four installations. As noted above, the PowerBook G4 and its external FireWire drive restarted twice after installing the Mac OS X 10.4.6 update. We repaired permissions again and several repairs were made to the PowerBook G4. No problems cropped up during hours of use.[Bill Fox & Dana Baggett]