This post was written by Mary Joseff
Apple has released the client and server versions of the OS X 10.5.6 update, which includes a range of bug fixes and security patches. OS X 10.5.6 shores up the performance of Airport WLAN connections and specifically addresses issues that Intel based Mac users were having while roaming in large wireless networks. The update also addresses issues with Apple’s MobileMe, and ensures that contacts, calendars and bookmarks on a Mac automatically synchronize within a minute of the change being made on PCs, devices, or online at me.com, according to the release notes.
Apple will demonstrate the latest version of its OS in January and will take the opportunity to wrongfoot Microsoft. Apple and its partners have been privately dropping hints to developers that its upcoming release of its Mac OS X operating system, dubbed Snow Leopard, will ship earlier than expected – and it will debut two new technologies that promise to speed up software without demanding any changes to the hardware. The first technology, Grand Central, is designed to make better use of the Intel processors that sit inside the current range of Macs.
The Apple iPhone now has a 30 percent market share in the U.S. smartphone market and 16.6 percent of the worldwide smartphone market. Apple is now second only to Nokia, which, while still very strong, saw its share plummet from 63.3 to 43.6 percent year over year. Most of that loss went directly to Apple. Additionally, Apple’s strong iPhone launch has prevented this market segment from stalling. The launch of the iPhone is the “only reason” the smartphone market didn’t show a drop in numbers.
Apple Inc.’s servers on July 11 reached their breaking point as people in the United States and 21 other countries rushed to stores to buy and activate their new iPhones or tried to update older models with the latest firmware. People waiting in line at stores reported very slow progress in getting their hands on Apple’s media player-smartphone hybrid. Others trying to update older models with the latest 2.0 firmware, the same operating system powering the new gadgets, fared even worse, since incomplete downloads of the software left their iPhones unusable. Although Apple was not immediately available for comment, it appeared that the company’s servers were overwhelmed with the amount of requests they were receiving.
A couple of months back Apple launched their updated notebooks, and one of the new features was the Mini DisplayPort. This new port becoming more popular as Apple is offering no-fee licenses for those who are interested in developing products that will use the Mini DisplayPort. This new port from Apple is a miniature version of the VESA-approved DisplayPort, the Mini DisplayPort fully supports the protocol, but has been reduced in size. This is not the first time that Apple has used miniaturized versions of VGA and DVI, Mini DisplayPort is keeping up with that tradition.