Mac OS X 10.3.2 build 7D15

[MacRumors]

Apple has released a new Mac OS X 10.3.2 build to developers.

Changes include File sharing, directory services, font management, FileVault, USB, Graphics drivers, networking, AFP Server, WebDAV, PostScript printing and International text.

[alirio]

Will it simplify the Network Browser so that shares you "Connect" to appear as disks on the Desktop and Sidebar?

I find that the present implementation lacks consistency compared to the "Go ... Connect to Server" method.

[stingerman]

10.3.2 seems to be a pretty major point release as Apple has gone from 7D10 to 7D15 with it so far.

[magi.sys]

hrmmm... I hope that 'filesharing' means we finally have support for sftp

[bb0ys]

Originally posted by alirio
Will it simplify the Network Browser so that shares you "Connect" to appear as disks on the Desktop and Sidebar?

I find that the present implementation lacks consistency compared to the "Go ... Connect to Server" method.

Panthers implementation of Network Browsing kind of sucks. It looks nicer and seems more full featured than Jaguars, but it just doesn't work like jaguars did.

[jj2003]

Originally posted by magi.sys
hrmmm... I hope that 'filesharing' means we finally have support for sftp

What kind of support are you looking for? If I'm not mistaken there is support for sftp in Panther.
Of course the Finder does not support it, but who cares, the command line rules, right ;)

[Nicky G]

I like the Network Browser in the Finder... except for the fact that it only shows my other machine's boot volume, and not its SCSI drive! Hmmm....

[From Win to Mac]

keep them builds comin !

[WM.]

Hmm, PostScript printing improvements.

I noticed yesterday that 12-point Times printed from TextEdit on a Personal Laserwriter 320 (which is a Level 2 PostScript printer) really looked like ass. Looking back through other recent printouts on the 320 reveals this: Printing from ClarisWorks 4.0 under 9.1 looks the way I'm used to. TextEdit under 10.2.6 (on a different computer) looks a little bit different--letter spacing is maybe a little tighter in some places--but it's still basically acceptable. But TextEdit under 10.3.1 is totally different, with different character shapes! Zeros are quite a bit wider but their strokes (?) are thinner, and the baseline looks very uneven somehow.

Remember that this is all on the same printer, using the same font, and the default kerning etc. in every case. It's understandable that TextEdit under OS X looks different than ClarisWorks under OS 9, but not that Panther TextEdit is so much different than Jaguar TextEdit!!

So hopefully this is what will be fixed in 10.3.2. And hopefully there will be a new Apple word processor and/or successor to AppleWorks that will be able to print more consistently (as well as having more features than the built-in Cocoa text handling that TextEdit uses).

FWIW
WM

[Billicus]

Originally posted by alirio
Will it simplify the Network Browser so that shares you "Connect" to appear as disks on the Desktop and Sidebar?

I find that the present implementation lacks consistency compared to the "Go ... Connect to Server" method.

Ditto...who's big idea was this crappy interface for browsing servers?

[rauf]

Originally posted by jj2003
What kind of support are you looking for? If I'm not mistaken there is support for sftp in Panther.
Of course the Finder does not support it, but who cares, the command line rules, right ;)

COMMAND LINE RULES???? WHAT IS THIS - AN ***ing DOS CONVENTION.

I use a mac in preference to a PC or a bare bones unix workstation precisely because there is a decent GUI. If I wanted to manually type every command I wouldn't have bought a mac. I want easy GUI access to all connected networks/servers - whatever - without any thought, just like I want to switch on a light without building the bulb first. I thought that was the whole design philosophy of the mac, "IT JUST WORKS" - REMEMBER?

[Icekey]

If you want gui sftp then go use fugu. Works just fine mate.

The network browsing can work a bit better so an update is very welcomed

[frogmella]

Sadly, this build doesn't yet fix the problem with Apple GeForce4MX vards in a Sawtooth with more than 256MB RAM, despite updated GeForce drivers.

[LinuxGigolo]

Originally posted by rauf
COMMAND LINE RULES???? WHAT IS THIS - AN ***ing DOS CONVENTION.


Nope. Not a DOS convention. But do you REALLY expect Apple to replicate everything that can be done at the CLI in the GUI? I think that'd be pretty dang impossible, if you ask me. Apple has to focus on what the masses need and getting bugs out of the GUI more than it needs to focus on the inclusion of GUI access to sftp.. or... dd.. or... even df. There are 3rd party applications that can give you a graphical SFTP if you want it (Transmit does this just fine.. although it is share(cripple)ware.) Or, of course, you have the option to do it at the command line. But I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Apple to fix this. There are other options.

[magi.sys]

What kind of support are you looking for? If I'm not mistaken there is support for sftp in Panther.
Of course the Finder does not support it, but who cares, the command line rules, right

Well, sure I can use commandline. But for the clients that I manage the servers for it would be nice if the finder had support for sftp.

[rauf]

Originally posted by LinuxGigolo
... do you REALLY expect Apple to replicate everything that can be done at the CLI in the GUI? I think that'd be pretty dang impossible...

Yes I do pretty much I'm afraid. That's why I but a mac, for the sheer convenience of not having to remenber the latest version of some obcure command line terminology and how it applies to this particular version of BSD/Darwin/Mach etc...

Now I'm not simple, I realise apple has to remain profitable, but it also has to differentiate itself from the masses of free unix / linux versions out there. There's more than enough to compete on stability and sure as hell on price!... so osX only has user interface going for it.

Reading through the open source community sites, they view osX as unix for the masses, and not a serious threat to established versions. If osX goes all command line for anything useful, then people would just get free BSD or red hat or whatever did what they needed, rather than osX. Surely apple has to incorporate as much of unix into the GUI to maintain it's customer base, especially in the pro community?

[pgwalsh]

Originally posted by rauf
Yes I do pretty much I'm afraid. That's why I but a mac, for the sheer convenience of not having to remenber the latest version of some obcure command line terminology and how it applies to this particular version of BSD/Darwin/Mach etc...

Now I'm not simple, I realise apple has to remain profitable, but it also has to differentiate itself from the masses of free unix / linux versions out there. There's more than enough to compete on stability and sure as hell on price!... so osX only has user interface going for it.

Reading through the open source community sites, they view osX as unix for the masses, and not a serious threat to established versions. If osX goes all command line for anything useful, then people would just get free BSD or red hat or whatever did what they needed, rather than osX. Surely apple has to incorporate as much of unix into the GUI to maintain it's customer base, especially in the pro community? I'm with you on this one. Keep it simple and elgant and dont' force us to use the command line.

[7on]

The thing I hope that's fixed is supporting samba network shares with longer share names. Some Windows users like naming their shares with long names, who knew?

I don't mind the browsing method, it' more like windows this way. Though Windows disconnects automatically when you leave the computer being browsed. Or maybe insert a contextual command for "Mount this Share" or something similar.

[Sublime]

Fix my Samba. thx.

[hamishb]

Fix the Java - http://www.westpac.com.au works fine in Jaguar / does not work in Panther.

Also Microsoft RDC broken in Panter.

Fix it please!

[mcsjgs]

For what it's worth:

7D12 About Box

The new version will include updates to USB, Graphics drivers, networking, AFP Server, WebDAV and International text, Apple reportedly told testers in the release notes accompanying the build. More specifically, the update patches Panthers Font Book, Terminal, Apple File Server, Help Viewer, Language Chooser, and System UI Server applications.

Version 10.3.2 also includes significant changes to Panther's audio, display, and graphics components -- including updates to several ATI Radeon, ATI Rage and nVidia GeForce graphics drivers. In addition, the release will patch a number of system frameworks, developers tell AppleInsider, including Admin, AppKit, Application Services, Carbon, CoreServices, Bluetooth, DiskImages, Java Virtual Machine, MediaKit, vecLib and WebKit.

(from AppleInsider)

From Thinksecret.com:

Apple seeds new 10.3.2, Xcode 1.1 builds

By Nick dePlume, Publisher and Editor in Chief
November 24, 2003

Apple on Friday seeded a new build of Mac OS X 10.3.2 to developers, as well as a new version of Xcode 1.1.

The company provided testers with build 7D15 of 10.3.2, less than a week after releasing the update's first seed, build 7D12. The download was 34.1MB in size.

According to Apple, "areas of change" in the 10.3.2 update include International text, font management, FileVault, networking, graphics drivers, file sharing, directory services, USB, AFP Server, PostScript printing, and WebDAV. No known issues were specified.

"Please report any issues you may encounter in a timely manner," Apple told testers in a seed note, suggesting that the 10.3.2 update is nearing public release. "Within a week of this seed would be very much appreciated."

Apple also seeded build 7K109 of Xcode 1.1, a 14.6MB update to Panther's developer tools. We firstdetailed the updates in Xcode 1.1 on November 13, after Apple seeded build 7K104.

As for build 7K109, Xcode 1.1 project files are "fully compatible" with Xcode 1.0.x projects, Apple said in a seed note. Build 7K109 installs Xcode IDE 292.0, Xcode Core 292.0, and ToolSupport 292.0, according to the build's about box.

Apple also described a number of changes since build 7K105, including improvements to build system, debugger, file editing, find, SCM, and other tweaks. "No issues surfaced in seed release testing," Apple said.

Sources also said that Apple has seeded build 7D14 of Mac OS X Server 10.3.2.

[mcsjgs]

From microsoftwatch.com:

Monday, November 24, 2003

Mac OS X 'Panther' Server Due for Update
By_Nick Ciarelli

Sources report that Apple Computer is handing out Version 10.3.2 of its server OS to developers.

Apple Computer Inc. is readying a minor update to Mac OS X Server that will deliver a grab bag of system enhancements and bug fixes, sources said.

The Mac maker last week provided developers with a pre-release seed of Version 10.3.2, an update to the server counterpart of Apple's "Panther" OS.

Labeled "build 7D14" of Panther Server, the download comprised more than 45MB, sources told Microsoft Watch.

Apple reportedly specified some of the update's enhancements in a seed note provided to testers. Sources said the server update will improve the Server Admin and Workgroup Manager applications as well as the QTSS Publisher and Network Image Utility. 10.3.2 will also bolster Kerberos support for AFP services and strengthen Active Directory integration.

Sources said 10.3.2 will update MySQL to Version 4.0.16—the database's most recent version—and speed up importing of user records. The update will also tune up PostScript printing.

The company identified bug fixes to a wide range of system components, including Password Server, Single Sign On, LDAP and AFP Services.

Apple is also priming an update to Panther client, also Version 10.3.2. That update will reportedly include refinements to networking, graphics drivers, USB, WebDAV, international text and AFP Server, sources said.

Both updates will come on the heels of Version 10.3.1, which tweaked some system components but also addressed data-loss issues concerning FireWire 800 drives and the FileVault security feature.

Apple shipped Mac OS X Server 10.3 "Panther" on Oct. 24 with a price tag of $499 for a 10-client version and $999 for an unlimited-client license. The upgrade to the UNIX-based OS includes a new Server Admin management tool, Open Directory 2, Samba 3, and a JBoss application server, among other enhancements.

Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple was not immediately available for comment.

[killmoms]

I want functional network share browsing. With Jaguar, I used to get hundreds of results, all properly sorted into their groups. Now, I get six. And no groups. And nothing besides myself under the "Servers" link. And the ONE server I need to be able to connect to DOESN'T WORK.

Congrats, Apple.

--Cless

[mashinhead]

I just called font agent about whether or not they supported panther yet (i have had a lot of font issues and had to swith back to Jag as a result) They told me that they did support it and all that i had to do was download the latest patch from apple.

But to my knowledge 10.3.2 has not come out yet, has it?

And if it has, has anybody with font problems noticed a difference?

[encro]

Originally posted by hamishb
Fix the Java - http://www.westpac.com.au works fine in Jaguar / does not work in Panther.

Also Microsoft RDC broken in Panter.

Fix it please!

hamishb:

I'm not sure I understand.

Westpac's site and RDC both work well AFAICT on 10.3.1

[iEric]

Hopes this fixes the Firewire problem for me. The firewire does not transfer information but still has power to them...I know this because my scanner and iPod will not work; however, the iPod still gets charged.

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by frogmella
Sadly, this build doesn't yet fix the problem with Apple GeForce4MX vards in a Sawtooth with more than 256MB RAM, despite updated GeForce drivers.

why are Apple ignoring this??? It's all GeForce cards.

:mad:

[mcsjgs]

I'll probably be flamed to death for saying this, but:

If Itunes was to sell Ipods then perhaps Panther is to sell new computers.

Sure there are dazzling new features, but a fundamental look at Apple's business model would show that they make the vast majority of their money on new hardware, not software.

It is reminiscent of (not the same as) the huge upgrade of hardware following Windows 95 release which orphaned an amazing number of DOS boxes.

I can easily forsee that 10.4 will have problems on G4s. It's the natural progression/evolution in the computer business.

[killmoms]

If 10.3 was supposed to exclusively sell new hardware, why would Apple work so hard to improve performance across the line, even on G3 hardware? If you don't believe it, look at any of the XBench scores comparing Jaguar and Panther on G3s and G4s. There's an increase on both, not just G4s. It helps to have QE, but even without it there's performance gains.

However, what you said is true, to a point; there are things that you just can't do on older hardware and there's no reason to hold an entire platform back for backwards compatibility.

--Cless

[mcsjgs]

I salute Apple for making those compatibility decisions. Gradual evolution is better than sudden in the computer world.

But some columnists have taken Apple to task for not supporting any video cards with a rom date of less than March 2001. I never saw an announcement about that from Apple, and perhaps they will address this in 10.3.2.

My main point is that:

Apple is a hardware company that also happens to make amazingly good software with an enticement factor to buy their new hardware. Maybe 80-85% of revenues drived from hardware as a guesstimate.

Nothing wrong with this, and a sound business model. Steve Jobs has made some remarkably good business decisions in the last 5 years, and the world is a better place for it.

Microsoft OTOH is a software company that probably derives 95% of its revenues from software licenses. For the $6.9 billion it spends on R&D each year, a pitiful (compared to Apple) resulting output IMO.

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by mcsjgs
I'll probably be flamed to death for saying this, but:

If Itunes was to sell Ipods then perhaps Panther is to sell new computers.

Oh absolutely, but breaking a users current system doesn't encourage upgrades, it puts people off.

The geforce issue isn't iffy graphics or no QE, it kils the G4 dead requiring a fresh install of Jaguar to fix it.

I suggest G4 Sawtooth users ask Apple for a refund on Panther.

[mcsjgs]

I don't know if it is true or not, but several people with access to the 10.3.2 update have said, unfortunately, that it does not fix the sawtooth/geforce problem. Some ATI and Radeon problems may be addressed (older cards?).

[bousozoku]

Originally posted by hamishb
Fix the Java - http://www.westpac.com.au works fine in Jaguar / does not work in Panther.

Also Microsoft RDC broken in Panter.

Fix it please!

I tried the website with Mozilla Firebird and had problems with the main menu, but after checking the page source, I didn't notice that there was any Java involved--only JavaScript.

If you're using Mozilla, Camino, or Firebird, this may be a Gecko display problem. There are many since Panther, and the Mozilla people have acknowledged that there is a problem.

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by mcsjgs
I don't know if it is true or not, but several people with access to the 10.3.2 update have said, unfortunately, that it does not fix the sawtooth/geforce problem. Some ATI and Radeon problems may be addressed (older cards?).

I think we can only hope that it is fixed in the final version. It doesn't seem fair that it breaks so many cards, especially when some of them were official Apple products.

Interestingly, on the Apple store it now says you can't use those cards in a system that doesn't have 4x AGP. I don't think it's said that before.

[PeteyKohut]

I purchased a OEM GeForce 4 Ti 4600 card for my Quicksilver 867Mhz (1.12 GB RAM) tower with OS 10.3.1, and popped it in, and I am getting similar problems to what the NVidia GeForce4 MX people are complaining about. I guess I am going to ship the card back to the stupid company that I purchased it from. MegaMacs.com. What poor customer service. Terrible return policy. My question is, is this problem common with the GeForce 4 Ti cards as well? Something that will be fixed with 10.3.2? How closely related are the GeForce 4 MX and Ti? Same chip set, no?

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by PeteyKohut
I purchased a OEM GeForce 4 Ti 4600 card for my Quicksilver 867Mhz (1.12 GB RAM) tower with OS 10.3.1, and popped it in, and I am getting similar problems to what the NVidia GeForce4 MX people are complaining about. I guess I am going to ship the card back to the stupid company that I purchased it from. MegaMacs.com. What poor customer service. Terrible return policy. My question is, is this problem common with the GeForce 4 Ti cards as well? Something that will be fixed with 10.3.2? How closely related are the GeForce 4 MX and Ti? Same chip set, no?

Now thats interesting and very helpful.

Apple has stated that Sawtooth G4s never came with Nvidia cards therefore it is unsupported and there will be no fix (gits!).

You have a Quicksilver which DID have Nvidia and is AGP 4x! There is no way Apple can say you're running unsupported hardware.

AIUI all Geforce cards (2, 3, 4, MX, TI) are very closely related but specced differently. A fix for 1 will fix them all unless it is made not to.

Please go and post to the Apple Support Forum!

[mcsjgs]

Meanwhile, Apple is polishing its Mac OS X 10.3.2 update for release before the new year. In a note to developers last week, the company asked that they provide timely feedback on builds 7D14 and 7D15 of Mac OS X 10.3.2 Server and Client, respectively. With a substantial list of known issues to squash, the development team wants to ensure a safe release, sources said.

From AppleInsider:

Link (http://www.appleinsider.com/news.php?id=253)

Bummer, I thought it would be out this week. Guess it's better they are taking their time and getting it right.

[frogmella]

Originally posted by mcsjgs
Guess it's better they are taking their time and getting it right.

Yeah! They're putting in the geforce code so we don't have to chuck our brand new video cards in the trash! Go Apple!

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by frogmella
Yeah! They're putting in the geforce code so we don't have to chuck our brand new video cards in the trash! Go Apple!

I think you mean putting back the geforce code so we don't have to chuck our brand new video cards - it was fine in 10.2!

[frogmella]

For those who are suffering the GeForce/Sawtooth/memory problem, I can confirm that later builds of 10.3.2 do fix this!