Apple has released an update for Snow Leopard to improve stability, compatibility with applications, and security within the Mac and server versions of the operating system.

OS X v10.6.3 for the Mac fixes a number of issues related to the general operating system, iCal, Mail, MobileMe, Time Machine, wireless connections, file and directory services, and more. The update was released Monday.

Within the OS, the update improves the reliability of printing, photo screen servers, certain third-party USB devices, and Quicktime X. A major change is automatic collection and transmission of diagnostic and usage information following system errors, kernel panics, and force-quitting of applications. Such information will be sent to Apple anonymously only after the Mac user's "explicit consent."

The update also fixes general reliability issues related to AirPort, Apple's Wi-Fi router, and iMacs connected to 2.4-GHz wireless networks. Fixes to directory services include an issue that could cause a system to become unstable or unresponsive when bound to an LDAP server using a secure sockets layer.

File services fixes include a flaw that prevented the saving of files from Microsoft Office 2008 to a server message block (SMB) server volume. Corrected iCal problems include one in which new invitations on a Microsoft Exchange Server might not appear in the notification pane.

In Mail, the update improves synchronization of the sent mailbox on an Exchange server and fixes a flaw that caused Mail to delete mailboxes on an Exchange server that is hosted behind an Internet load balancer.

In MobileMe, the update improves the reliability of iDisk Sync and the syncing of calendars.

The update to Snow Leopard server brings numerous security fixes, as well as general operating system fixes. In addition, Mac OS X Server version 10.6.3 corrects a host of problems ranging from capturing and submitting podcasts and upgrading and importing records from older Open Directory servers to preventing brute force password attacks and creating images from System Image Utility.

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