Apple has withdrawn the latest update to Mac OS X, 10.2.8, after a few hours. The company doesn't say why, but Ethernet and display problems lead a long list of bugs at MacFixIt.

Apple's knowledge base article for the update advises: "This update is temporarily unavailable. Please check back later."

The update is the first for G3 and G4 owners since 10.2.6 in June. It combines the 10.2.7 update which is available only with the new G5-only desktops and the revamped iMacs and PowerBooks. 10.2.8 includes a fix for the clicking hard disk issue that has affected many iBook owners.

Apple received widespread criticism for shrouding its Bluetooth beta program in secrecy, leading to hundreds of complaints within hours of release of the iSync update. The update required the OS to interoperate with twenty new devices, and critics said an open beta program would have resolved many of these.

The next, major Mac OS X update, codenamed Panther, is scheduled for release before the end of the year, but it will arrive probably sooner.®