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Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.2.6

Posted by pudge on from the six-megs-of-monday-goodness dept.

Numeric writes "Apple has released 10.2.6 update, which you can read in detail. Here's a partial list: Addresses an issue for Mac OS X 10.2.5 in which a kernel panic message may appear if certain USB hubs or devices are connected. Addresses an issue for Mac OS X 10.2.5 in which English is the default language and Asian language scripts are not be available in the International preference pane, if a script's font is not available. Address Book now supports the Sony Ericsson T610 phone."

15 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Repair Permissions by mgaiman · · Score: 3, Informative

    As always, it is a good idea to repair your permissions after an OS update (though this update isn't huge). It always seems to speed things up a little for me.

    Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility

    1. Re:Repair Permissions by foniksonik · · Score: 5, Informative

      It also does a fsck -y to the system... and runs the rest of the standard UNIX maintenance jobs, like log rotation, etc. There is a slim chance you would see a noticeable difference.

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
    2. Re:Repair Permissions by stefanlasiewski · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Two questions:

      - Why are the permisions not installed correctly in the first place?

      - Why is it called 'repair permissions', when it actually runs a slew of other tests like fsck?

      --
      "Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
    3. Re:Repair Permissions by switcha · · Score: 3, Funny
      Why is it called 'repair permissions', when it actually runs a slew of other tests like fsck?

      Because, due to the nature of the marketing of this product, it's made to be "Grandma Friendly".

      Doesn't "Repair Permissions" sound better than "I'm gonna do a whole bunch of shit to your hard drive right about now buddy. You sure you want to do this?"?

      --
      You know what? ... A little club soda *did* get that out!
    4. Re:Repair Permissions by tbmaddux · · Score: 4, Informative
      - Why are the permisions not installed correctly in the first place?
      - Why is it called 'repair permissions', when it actually runs a slew of other tests like fsck?
      Right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. The permissions/privs get mucked up when an installer or coder doesn't set them up correctly. "Repairing" them checks the existing permissions of your MacOS X install against a canonical listing of "the way permissions should be" that Disk Utility has.

      It's worth noting that that listing has changed, and if you repair permissions while booted from a MacOS X 10.2 CD it will make "fixes" that a later version of Disk Utility will fix back. Permissions war! Also, don't run the standalone "Repair Priviledges" program in MacOS X 10.2; that software was for 10.1.5 only.

      "Repair permissions" is one task that Disk Utility does, separate from verify/repair disk volumes (aka fsck) or formatting/partitioning. It also runs on the command line (type 'diskutil' for a list of options; it has no 'man' page).

      Lastly, IMO this is something of a "voodoo" fix. I have run many Software Updates and not seen broken permissions after the installation. Sometimes I do see them. It's never caused me much concern but I still do it. Better go run it now, bye!

      --
      Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?
  2. Re:Kind of a small list by stefanlasiewski · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It is a small list of fixes. 10.2.5 was released less then 3 weeks ago, if memory serves.

    Apple just needed to get the 10.2.6 patch out quickly, because it was a pretty signifigant bug for some people.

    Since the fix is probably at the kernel level, the fix warrants it's own patch version.

    This was my first real experience with an OS X problem. Took me 3 hours to figure out that my Godmother's G4 was crashing because of the USB hub. Pro bono, but at least I got some homecooked meals and some education out of the exchange :)

    --
    "Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
  3. Re:Kind of a small list by JGski · · Score: 3, Insightful

    :-) Yes, but if you are the one the kernel panic happens to... My Epson 1640U scanner started causing panics seemingly out of the blue about two weeks ago. I had update to 10.2.5 a while back but had brought the scanner out of the garage for a quick project two days before. The timing of both events obscured the cause pretty well. Since my Mac is my primary Let me forgot I know anything about computers and just get the work done machine, this gave me a fright. Did I install something evil? Did I run out of disk? Worst it would kernel panic again within 5-10 minutes of rebooting from a kernel panic. Fortunately I tracked it down to the USB from the logs and presumptively to the scanner. Shutting it off did the trick. I'm actually excited about this patch! :-)

  4. Re:Perhaps not so 'minor' as first appears by Sahib! · · Score: 4, Informative

    The text you pasted is from the description of the "Combined" 10.2.6 update, which includes all minor version updates and security patches since 10.2.0.

    Here are the relevant KnowledgeBase articles:

    --

    I prayed about it, and God said, "Don't do it!" But I thought, "I know better."

  5. Slightly Off Topic... by macmurph · · Score: 3, Interesting

    10.2.5 really fixed my v.92 powerbook modem 'modem on hold' feature.

    In 10.2.3, when someone would call while Im online, I would get a message saying "an unknown caller is calling, answer, ignore". I would click answer, and I couldnt hear anyone half the time.

    In 10.2.4, if someone called while I was online, I would get a kernel panic and lose all of my work... ouch.

    In 10.2.5, when someone calls, I can actually click the answer button and talk to them every single time. Im really happy someone is working on this over at Apple.

    Im downloading 10.2.6 right now. We'll see what changes that brings. I hope it allows you to resume your connection from the modem menuling. Im tired of digging around for the resume dialog behind all of my windows. I also would love if it put downloads on hold... when Im downloading something, it usually just kicks me offline when someone calls.

    And no resumable downloads in Camino... whats up with that?

  6. Re:perhaps not that small, actually by JJSpreij · · Score: 5, Informative

    The above list is not correct for the 10.2.6 update. Software Update just says:

    The 10.2.6 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, services and technologies: Address Book, Graphics, Printing, OpenGL, and PC Card and USB hub device compatibility.

    For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n25448

    The too-long list in the parent is probably the full list of changes from 10.2 to 10.2.6

    --
    "These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others." --Groucho Marx
  7. Unsupported CD Burners by Paladeen · · Score: 4, Informative

    Well, have you taken a look at xlr8yourmac.com?

    They happen to have a huge drive compatibility database which lists tons of drives people have managed to get to work with Finder disk burning and iTunes by modifying configuration files. I have an *officially unsupported* Samsung 32x CD-R/DVD which now works fine with both, thanks to some minor tweaking.

    I prefer Toast for these functions, but I didn't like the *Unsupported* label I saw by my drive in the System Profiler.

  8. Re:List is misleading by JJSpreij · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not everyone is sitting at 10.2.5. New computers on the shelf, as an example, are at 10.2.3.

    Like I said: The too-long list in the parent is probably the full list of changes from 10.2 to 10.2.6. What part of 'probably' in the parent caused you confusion ;-?

    But seriously, in the context of this specific update that's just come out it's not very interesting (not to say misleading) to list all changes of earlier updates, attributing them all to 10.2.6.

    For the specific changes from 10.2.1 to 10.2.5, if that's what you're interested in, just check these Apple knowledgebase articles: 107036, 107140, 107263, 107362, 25405 (for instance 107036)

    I could make you a list of changes since 10.0, or even Mac OS 7.5.... that would look even more impressive. But it wouldn't help anybody much.

    --
    "These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others." --Groucho Marx
  9. Re:Slightly off topic, but it should be an update. by Andre+Breton · · Score: 4, Informative

    "The only problem is that to do this, you need to have a supported drive."

    Take a look at /System/Library/Frameworks/DiscRecording.framework /Versions/A/Resources/DevicePlugIns/

    I have an unsupported Samsung CD-RW. I just opened the SamsungCDR.device-plugin with an hex editor and changed the model description I found there to my model. Use the model description that Toast shows or use any UNIX tool you like.

    Make a backup of the changed file, bcz with some system updates it got reset.

  10. Appears to re-introduce the DNS bug by Alrescha · · Score: 3, Informative

    A previous Apple update fixed a DNS bug where large DNS reponses (typically from Akamai-based sites) would get dropped. The most notable victim was Apple itself.

    10.2.6 appears to re-introduce this bug, making Safari pretty much useless for me.

    Did anyone else notice this un-fix?

    A.

    --
    ...bringing you cynical quips since 1998
  11. Unsanity's SafariNoTimeout by Xenex · · Score: 3, Informative

    SafariNoTimeout is a little utility that removes the 60 second connection timeout from Safari.

    Without it on my dial-up connection, Safari is virtually useless while downloading and/or with a few tabs loading at once.

    It should make Safari useful again for you. It sure did for me.