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Apple added another item to its busy day with the release of version 10.6.4 updates for both Mac OS X and Mac OS X server.

Combine the OS update with the release of the new Mac mini, the beginning of iPhone 4 preorders, and the availability of the Apple Store iPhone app, and Cupertino is celebrating the 167th birthday of Norweigian composer Edvard Hagerup Grieg in high style.

The 10.6.4 update not only updates Mac OS X and Mac OS X server, it also includes the problematic-for-some Safari 5 and some updates to Apple's pro-photographer app, Aperture 3.

If you found yourself attracted to today's news of the new Mac minis, you'll be interested to know that the 10.6.4 update provides some improvements specific for both server and non-server usage scenarios for that mighty mite — namely graphics performance and compatibility, and large-format SDXC memory-card compatibility.

The 10.6.4 update covers a range of issues, from better Braille display compatibility to DVD Player problems to issues when copying, renaming, or deleting files on SMB file servers.

A security update is also built in, which fixes, among other things, a number of CUPS and Kerberos vulnerabilites, plus problems with the Help Viewer, iChat, Ruby WEBrick, and even Steve Jobs' personal bête noire, Adobe Flash.

As is always the case, Apple recommends that you install the 10.6.4 on all your compatible Macs, but that you first back up before installation. Remember, though, that Apple updates — like all updates — have a way of breaking things, so you might think about waiting for a day or two to see what problems crop up on the Apple Discussion forums or MacInTouch. De-installing an Apple update is a painful process. ®

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