Sources: Leopard finalized, 10.4.11 inching closer

[AppleInsider]

Apple Inc. this week is believed to have wrapped up development of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard while simultaneously pushing out yet another pre-release copy of its final maintenance and security update for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger users.

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

A source tells AppleInsider that Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is now "finalized" to the point where Apple has begun to provide Leopard-related support training materials to its support staff.

Among these initial training materials were self-paced training modules on some of the operating system's most popular features and components, such as installation methods, Mail and BootCamp.

The last full pre-release of Leopard arrived on September 21st, when Apple provided its vast developer community with Mac OS X Leopard build 9A559 in what was then assumed to be a release candidate.

A week later the company released a small automatic software update for build 9A559 but did not increase or otherwise change the Leopard build number as it had done in previous cases. Therefore, build 9A559 is the last known candidate that could be declared Gold Master and released to manufacturing.

All signs have pointed to a public release of Leopard during the business week of Oct 22nd, with sources specifically singling out Oct 26 for the official launch.

Update: MacRumors notes that Apple may have yet to declare a build of Leopard Gold Master despite what it may be doing to prep its employees for launch. Internal builds are reportedly "still progressing" with more definitive word on a GM build expected in a few days.

Mac OS X 10.4.11

Meanwhile, AppleInsider has also heard that Apple on Tuesday pumped out two new builds of Mac OS X 10.4.11 -- widely expected to be the final update to the Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger operating system.

The new builds -- 8S161 (for PowerPC Macs) and 8S2161 (for Intel Macs) -- focus primarily on Dashboard, according to some of the people testing the releases. This reportedly includes a fix for the software's underlying Webkit foundation and word of two existing issues with number-oriented widgets.

Mac OS X 10.4.11 is now set to deliver over four dozen minor bug fixes and code corrections to users of Mac OS X Tiger.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[fuyutsuki]

Meeeeeeow!

[ThinkExpensive]

Anybody remember how long it took them last year after Tiger finalized to burn and ship?

I think we should be on schedule for the Oct 29th launch as mentioned. This is exciting! I really hope they got the software update bugs fixed though...that seemed like a major issue with a quick fix.

[shanmugam]

http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0710macbookrev.html

thinksecret reports macbook refresh to go with leopard!

[9secondko]

Well I hope they had time to squeeze in some UI polish and more consistency (either eliminate Aqua or alter it so that it fits with the platinum theme - or better yet, insert a true worthy successor to Aqua instead of the bland iTunes theme) before the software gets mass manufactured on DVD.

[shanmugam]

Safari 3.0 will be finalized? for windows as well?

[studiomusic]

Hopefully those who bought a Mac within 30 days of launch will get a free update... probably not though. So much for my last iphone rebate!

[palegolas]

Originally Posted by shanmugam

http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0710macbookrev.html
thinksecret reports macbook refresh to go with leopard!

Seems likely to update consumer products in times for the holiday shopping season.

[melgross]

Therefore, build 9A559 was the last known candidate to be declared Gold Master and released to manufacturing.

Is this known to be true? That build was "declared" to be Gold Master? Or is this an assumption? Released to manufacturing?

Would Kasper's Automated Slave please comment on this?

[SpamSandwich]

...just mind the profanities!

[Kasper]

Originally Posted by melgross

Is this known to be true? That build was "declared" to be Gold Master? Or is this an assumption? Released to manufacturing?

Would Kasper's Automated Slave please comment on this?

OK -- That totally did not read the way I intended it to. I've changed the wording. No one has explicitly stated "Gold Master" yet. I was simply indicating that if there were a build to be declared Gold Master, it would have been that build. I believe, however, the source was essentially indicating this.

But if it isn't GM yet and Apple still plans on getting Leopard out when they said they would, they really don't have much time left...

Best,

K

[Celemourn]

So, I haven't been keeping track and don't particularly feel like doing a search and wading through 10,000 hits.... were those "Top Secret" features ever found out, or was that just the RDF in action after all?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by Kasper

OK -- That totally did not read the way I intended it to. I've changed the wording. No one has explicitly stated "Gold Master" yet. I was simply indicating that if there were a build to be declared Gold Master, it would have been that build. I believe, however, the source was essentially indicating this.

But if it isn't GM yet and Apple still plans on getting Leopard out when they said they would, they really don't have much time left...

Best,

K

That makes much more sense.

[junkie]

we'll need 10.5.1 pretty fast if 9a559 is gm - not saying anything but, well we will want that very fast, kinda like same day imho.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by Celemourn

So, I haven't been keeping track and don't particularly feel like doing a search and wading through 10,000 hits.... were those "Top Secret" features ever found out, or was that just the RDF in action after all?

Yes. Both!

[junkie]

coverflow in finder, "back to mac", new dock design, new finder window in general - for a few were all new added after first unveiling, but agreed that none have had the splash that was expected from the holding stuff back comment.

[mgkwho]

what happened to the top secret features?

-=|Mgkwho

[Ireland]

Good question. They are still secret?

[danielandrews]

I'd assume the top secret features are coming alongside the .Mac widgets.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by junkie

coverflow in finder, "back to mac", new dock design, new finder window in general - for a few were all new added after first unveiling, but agreed that none have had the splash that was expected from the holding stuff back comment.

Mainly because of a lot of inappropriately raised expectations. Just about the only thing they were likely to withhold from developers would have been UI changes. And yet, people whipped themselves into a frenzy, imagining all sorts of amazing stuff. And when it turned out to be mainly UI changes (stacks, cover flow in the Finder, etc), people were disappointed. And Finder has been updated. That's terrific, I think. It's funny how long people have been crying out for a new Finder. Then, Apple goes and does a new Finder, and nobody gives them credit for it.

Steve's RDF is nothing compared to what happens in these kinds of forums.

[Celemourn]

Originally Posted by junkie

coverflow in finder, "back to mac", new dock design, new finder window in general - for a few were all new added after first unveiling, but agreed that none have had the splash that was expected from the holding stuff back comment.

Well now, let's think about this.... which is more important: Cosmetics, or functionality? You married guys out there (are there any????) need look no further than the shoes in your wife's closet (No, it's NOT your closet too. Quit kidding yourself.)

[Celemourn]

Originally Posted by Celemourn

Well now, let's think about this.... which is more important: Cosmetics, or functionality? You married guys out there (are there any????) need look no further than the shoes in your wife's closet (No, it's NOT your closet too. Quit kidding yourself.)

Oh, btw, do I win the "Most UN PC, Chauvinistic Comment" award for that?

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by Celemourn

Well now, let's think about this.... which is more important: Cosmetics, or functionality? You married guys out there (are there any????) need look no further than the shoes in your wife's closet

I'm not sure I agree with the comparison, though. In fashion, functionality and cosmetics are usually in opposition with one another. One of Apple's great strengths, on the other hand, is that they do such a great job of making functional improvements that are beautiful, too.

[crentist]

Originally Posted by Celemourn

Oh, btw, do I win the "Most UN PC, Chauvinistic Comment" award for that?

No, but you do win today's AppleInsider Spelling Bee for "Chauvinistic!"

[Celemourn]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

I'm not sure I agree with the comparison, though. In fashion, functionality and cosmetics are usually in opposition with one another. One of Apple's great strengths, on the other hand, is that they do such a great job of making functional improvements that are beautiful, too.

They do. If we dispense with the notion that form and function are polar opposites though, we can see, I think, the trend in marketing that form takes precedence. Generally speaking, of course. There is an exception to every rule, after all.

[Celemourn]

Originally Posted by crentist

No, but you do win today's AppleInsider Spelling Bee for "Chauvinistic!"

<quckly hides his dictionarie>

[icfireball]

Originally Posted by mgkwho

what happened to the top secret features?

-=|Mgkwho

Do you pay any attention at all? WWDC2007 is what happened to the "Top Secret" features. And why must you ALWAYS sign your posts as "-=|Mgkwho"?!?!

[junkie]

"secret stuff" aside, there certainly is enough here to qualify as a paid upgrade. The screen sharing itself is worth a lot to me, cutting down on saying to my mother "read to me exactly what you see on the screen from top left to bottom"

basically, we are seeing a lot of stuff get cleaned up and made easier. file-sharing being a big one.

the transparent menu bar, and a few other changes to me, don't feel quite normal yet. they seem linuxy to me, which is not good. I have never understood the appeal of a transparent menu. I mean as a menu it has text I hope to read, so more even contrast is better imho.

[shetline]

Originally Posted by studiomusic

Hopefully those who bought a Mac within 30 days of launch will get a free update... probably not though. So much for my last iphone rebate!

I'd been thinking of picking up a Mac mini this weekend -- I was already on the road and on the way to a local independent Apple reseller in fact -- then I suddenly came to my senses and remembered that the Leopard release in probably just 2-3 weeks away.

My need was not anywhere near pressing or immediate enough to warrant taking the risk of there not being a free update, or purchasing too early to quality for a free update.

[Frank777]

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the many, many Bothans who - along with their beloved Macs - will die all kinds of crazy deaths to bring us 10.5.3.

Which is when, post MWSF, the rest of us will valiantly join the fight.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Celemourn

If we dispense with the notion that form and function are polar opposites.

You can't have function without form.

Originally Posted by shetline

I'd been thinking of picking up a Mac mini this weekend.

Hold off on that. There is still some muttering that the Mini will be discontinued (you will be able to buy a refurbished one if you really want one), but there is also talk of a revamped AppleTV with an optical drive coming (but that is less likely and more of a MWSF08 release candidate).

Overall, the Mac Mini is not the worst power-to-cost machine Apple makes.

[Celemourn]

Originally Posted by solipsism

You can't have function without form.

Eh.... perhaps I've not chosen a properly communicative phrasing for the idea which I was attempting to convey. Allow me to retract the aforementioned locution and instead employ, "If we dispense with the notion that a focus on aesthetics and a focus on utility are polar opposites..."

Thus, through the employment of superfluous verbosity, and the MacOS X Thesaurus, He-Man defeated Skeletor and restored the Sorceress to Castle Greyskull. And there was much rejoicing.

<rolls eyes>

[Ireland]

Macrumors has an update - it's not finished yet.

[shetline]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Hold off on that. There is still some muttering that the Mini will be discontinued (you will be able to buy a refurbished one if you really want one), but there is also talk of a revamped AppleTV with an optical drive coming (but that is less likely and more of a MWSF08 release candidate).

Overall, the Mac Mini is not the worst power-to-cost machine Apple makes.

Can I take it that you meant to say "is the worst" and not "is not the worst"?

At any rate, power isn't a big concern here. Small size is what I'm looking for. I don't even need the optical drive. I actually considered using a hacked Apple TV, but I need to be able to boot Windows via Bootcamp too, and although I've seen hacks to run full OS X on an Apple TV, I don't think anyone has cracked getting Windows running on one yet.

Compared to any similarly sized Windows box, feature-for-feature the Mac mini is a pretty good deal IMO.

[solipsism]

Am I the only who thinks Tuesday, October 30th is better release date than Friday, October 26th?

[crentist]

Yes.

[EagerDragon]

Sorry but I do not believe that 10.4.11 is the final version of tiger. With the iPhone and other up coming devices, a 10.4.12 is likely to occur to support them.

[EagerDragon]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Am I the only who thinks Tuesday, October 30th is better release date than Friday, October 26th?

Yes, friday is better so we can play with it all weekend with little to no sleep.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by EagerDragon

Sorry but I do not believe that 10.4.11 is the final version of tiger. With the iPhone and other up coming devices, a 10.4.12 is likely to occur to support them.

You don't need a 10.4.12 update to add additional iPhone support. First of all, the iPhone is updated seperately via iTunes and iTunes is updated without major system updates.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by Celemourn

They do. If we dispense with the notion that form and function are polar opposites though, we can see, I think, the trend in marketing that form takes precedence. Generally speaking, of course. There is an exception to every rule, after all.

Fair enough.