May 21st, 2008
Psystar offers 13 non-Apple Software Updates
Yesterday, Mac cloner announced a series of Software Updates for their Open Computer:
Safe updates, as well as bug fixes and workarounds, are now available in our Support section. We have released a couple of fixes for things like Time Machine as well as a fix for DHCP issues that some customers are having. Computers shipped as of today have all updates available preinstalled with Leopard. Please check our website regularly as we will begin releasing safe updates through the operating system’s Automatic Updates and will require all of our existing users to download a small update manually and install it to enable this functionality.
This is the first time that a third-party has distributed modified versions of Apple software updates that I’m aware of. As I noted in my gallery on installing a WiFi card, Psystar has disabled the Software Update feature found in the Mac OS as a safety valve against users installing an Apple update that may render the machine useless.
The first thing I tried to do after getting WiFi up and running was to run Apple’s Software Update. It throws a (-1001) error, despite being connected to the Internet.
The Psytar fixes address a range of troubles, from glitches in Apple’s Time Machine to quirks in the Keyboard Viewer and Character Palette entries in Leopard’s system preferences menu. Psystar says that all the new patches comes pre-installed in all models shipped as of Monday, 19 May 2008. The patches can also be downloaded individually from Psystar’s Web site (under Home > Support > Open Computing Updates).
I had already installed iTunes 7.6.2 and QuickTime 7.4.5 on my Open Computer because my migrated iTunes collection wouldn’t play on the older version of iTunes that came on with the Open Computer. I threw caution to the wind by downloading them directly from Apple, both installed without issue. I’ll install the rest of the updated from Psystar over the next few days and blog about the experience.
Read the list of patches after the jump…
- Character Palette and Keyboard Viewer Fix - This is a known issue with OS X Leopard. To enable the Keyboard Viewer, Character Palette, and Japanese Kanji Palette just download, extract, and run this .pkg file.
- DVD or CD Sharing Setup Update for Mac - This update installs the required software to allow users to share their optical drive with a MacBook Air.
- RealTek NIC Update + DHCP Fix - This is an update for the Realtek NICs used in the Open Computers. It fixes DHCP issues with AirPort Extreme routers as well as DHCP issues after wakeup. This update is recommended and should be performed by all users.
- Time Machine Fix - This fixes any issues with Time Machine that Open Computer users must have. This fix must be run after the Time Machine update. Realtek DHCP update included in this fix. Thanks to sneosx86 for releasing the fix for the UUID issue to the public.
- Time Machine and AirPort Updates v1.0 - This update increases the functionality of Time Machine and Time Capsules.
- Security Update 2008-002 v1.1 (Leopard) - This is a cumulative Security update for Leopard that closes several security loopholes in OS X Leopard.
- iLife Support 8.2 - This update contains several system libraries that are designed to enhance stability of iLife applications.
- Plugin Manager 1.7.3 - This update fixes some issues that users of Apple applciations such as Final Cut Pro, Shake, Logic, and Aperture may have with plug-ins.
- iTunes 7.6.2 - This update provides support for the latest devices and helps improve stability.
- QuickTime 7.4.5 for Leopard - This update addresses some security issues within the Quicktime application and enhances compatibility with third-party apps.
- Front Row 2.1.3 - This Front Row fixes issue with iTunes 7.6.2
- Common Criteria Tools for 10.5 - This update implements an international standard of security for network devices (see Wikipedia).
- Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 1 - This update adds Java 1.6.0_05 to allow users to develop applications with this version of Java and run applications that require this version of Java.
Jason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.
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