Apple Updates Panther To 10.3.3, Including Junk Mail Fix

A pple has just released an update to Mac OS X 10.3. The new update, version 10.3.3 includes an extensive list of enhancements, security updates, and bug fixes, which we have included in full below. One of the most important fixes is a fix to the bug in Mail that causes crashing when marking e-mails as junk. TMO covered this problem in a recent TMO Reports article. From Apple:

Enhancements

These are some of the enhancements that are part of Mac OS X 10.3.3 Update.

Networking and .Mac enhancements

  • Addresses issues, such as a lost network connection, that could occur when connecting to a network device that forces the network speed and/or duplex setting (known as a "locked" device).
  • AppleTalk Browsing is now on by default.
  • Resolves an issue in which name conflicts could occur among Network Service Entities.
  • Available servers can be seen when browsing Windows Workgroups or Domains.
  • Enhancements to /Network browsing include: Servers appear on the desktop and in Finder window Sidebars, AFP Authentication options are available, and you can disconnect a server by dragging its icon on the desktop to the Trash or by clicking the Eject icon in the Sidebar.
  • Improves synchronization between .Mac and your computer.
  • .Mac no longer attempts to automatically sync files over a wireless network (or "hotspot") before the computer is authorized to use the network.
  • Enhances an Open directory plug-in, which is used in network environments: The Active Directory plug-in is no longer sensitive to the case of the domain; the plug-in now works in ".local" domain environments; the plug-in is now less sensitive to DNS records that donit have matching reverse lookup.
  • Improves compatibility with certain third-party wireless networking PC cards, such as the Honda AH-G10. More...
  • Enhances the IrDA menu item when IrDA networking is active.
  • Finder and applications that allow you to browse the file system will now refresh the contents of a remote network volumeis folder or directory when the folderis contents change.

DVD Player enhancements

  • DVD Player will no longer quit if an unsupported PCI video card is installed in your computer. More...
  • DVD Player supports more DVD video discs that are designed to play automatically.
  • Improved DVD playback when "Digital Audio Output" is selected in DVD Player preferences.
  • DVD Player now recognizes and plays DVD+R media.

Application enhancements

  • Images retain their characteristics when you import them in iPhoto. More...
  • Addresses an issue in which Mail could unexpectedly quit when marking some types of unsolicited messages (or "spam") as Junk.
  • Addresses issues that may cause Address Book and other applications to unexpectedly quit if the Classic Mac OS fonts are disabled in Font Book.
  • Text shadow opacity and color are saved in RTF documents and preserved when you copy or paste.
  • Image Capture can now import files whose names begins with an underscore character ("_") .

Finder enhancements

  • Improves security by requiring an administrator to authenticate for each Finder action that needs authentication, such as installing software. In earlier Mac OS X Panther versions, an administrator who authenticated may have unknowingly given elevated priviledges to the non-admin user for 5 minutes. This change also prevents a normal user from performing administrator actions if an administrator user has authenticated during their session.
  • When you use an Open menu command to choose a file in Finder or an application, the flashing button now says "Choose" instead of "Open".
  • Addresses an issue in which Finder unexpectedly quits if the View menu option "Show icon preview" is enabled while dragging a significant number of icons to another location.

Other enhancements

  • Improvements in start up time that some computers experienced under some installations of Mac OS X 10.3.2 Update. More...
  • Improves print operations when a pending print jobs is moved to the queue of a printer that has different capabilities. More...
  • Improves recognition of Hi-Speed USB devices by PowerBook G4 and iBook G4 computers when woken from sleep.
  • A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) panel is available in Energy Saver preferences, as well as a UPS menu bar item, when a UPS power management system is connected to the computer. Overall support for UPS systems is improved.
  • Improves display of text when printing a document that contains two-byte PostScript CID or OpenType fonts.
  • Improves compatibility for USB Overdrive: Addresses an issue in which the Media Eject and volume keys may not work if an early version was installed. More...
  • Improves Fan Control system function for Power Mac G5 computers.
  • Includes Bluetooth 1.5, which supports Bluetooth-enabled headsets with iChat AV, and adds the ability to print to compatible Bluetooth-enabled printers.
  • Adds support for the latest mLAN devices. First-generation mLAN devices require a firmware update for compatibility with v10.3.3. Please visit (http://www.mLANcentral.com) for complete details and access to available firmware updates.

As of the writing Apple has no yet posted the OS X version 10.3.3 update at the Apple Downloads site. You can get the update by either using the Software Update application in OS X. The download weighs in at 58.8 MB.

You can find more information on the update at the Apple Knowledge Base.