Late yesterday, Apple released an update to its flagship operating system OS X 10.6, also known as Snow Leopard. We’ve been expecting Mac OS X 10.6.2 to ship soon since developers have had it for some time. Well, it has finally arrived.

Some the things fixed and/or updated with this new version of OS X include the following:

• An issue that might cause your system to logout unexpectedly
• A graphics distortion in Safari Top Sites
• Spotlight search results not showing Exchange contacts
• A problem that prevented authenticating as an administrative user
• Issues when using NTFS and WebDAV file servers
• The reliability of menu extras
• An issue with the 4-finger swipe gesture
• An issue that causes Mail to quit unexpectedly when setting up an Exchange server
• Address Book becoming unresponsive when editing
• A problem adding images to contacts in Address Book
• An issue that prevented opening files downloaded from the Internet
• Safari plug-in reliability
• General reliability improvements for iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, MobileMe, and iDisk
• An issue that caused data to be deleted when using a guest account

For detailed information on this update, head over to Apple’s website. To download, go here for the Combo Update and here for the non-combo.

Late yesterday Apple released an update for the software on its flagship iPhone products. This update, dubbed OS 3.1.2, contains several fixes and enhancements to prevent things such as wake from sleep issues, cellular network problems and video streaming crashes. All in all, its probably a good idea to fire up iTunes, connect your iPhone and do the update.

This update is available for the original iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, and the iPod touch. In addition to this update, there’s also a carrier settings update, which doesn’t seem to do anything special. There’s also an update to the iPhone SDK on the iPhone Dev Center, for all you iPhone developers out there.

After only a short time of release in the wild, Apple has today issued an update to its brand new version of OS X — code named Snow Leopard. This update, which should now be live in Software Update and at Apple’s website, provides several bug fixes and security enhancements which in typical Apple-speak could mean almost anything.

Here’s a list of at least some of the items this update addresses:

• Printer compatibility fixes for printers that do not properly appear in the “Add Printer” browser.
• Fix for DVD playback (when playback stops abruptly)
• Fix for the Dock (bug prevents removal of icons from the Dock)
• Fix for account set up and sending mail via SMTP servers in Mail
• Fix for Sierra Wireless 3G modems
• Adobe Flash Player update (new plug-in version 10.0.32.18)

Apparently, the Flash update is of particular importance because the version shipping with Snow Leopard has a number of security vulnerabilities fixed by this update. For the scoop on that, head on over to Adobe’s website. As with any OS update, we suggest you download and install the Combo Update instead of doing an update via Apple’s software update. Sadly, as of now, the Combo update doesn’t seem to be live at Apple’s download page yet so you may consider waiting until tomorrow to do the update.

Mac OS X 10.5.8 update is now available through Software Update. Among the listed improvements are a resolution for compatibility issues when joining AirPort networks, disappearing monitor resolutions in System Preferences, Bluetooth reliability and the ubiquitous operating system fixes that enhance your systems stability, compatibility and security. And really, who doesn’t want that?

The update will also upgrade Safari to version 4.0.2. There are a number of other reliability and compatibility tweaks listed here. Security features are available here. The combo update is also available here. Enjoy.

Today, Microsoft released Service Pack 2 for Office 2008. This update brings several improvements and fixes to the office suite, including improved speed and stability to Word and Excel, new features in PowerPoint and improvements when connecting to SharePoint servers.

According to Microsoft: “There’s never been a better time to try Office 2008 for Mac — with SP2 we are not only delivering on top customer requests midcycle, but also taking a first step in bringing Microsoft software plus services to Mac users,” said Mike Tedesco, senior product manager for MacBU at Microsoft. “This connection unlocks the door for Mac users to Microsoft services for easier collaboration and file sharing with colleagues, customers and classmates.”

Here’s a brief summary of the highlights:

• PowerPoint 2008: Custom Path Animation, which adds the ability to author motion-path animations and Default Theme, which lets users define their default theme, including fonts, color scheme and slide layouts.

• Word 2008, Excel 2008: Increased speed (particularly when launching and scrolling).

• Expanded Mac browser support in Microsoft Office Live Workspace to include Safari 4.

• Microsoft Document Connection. Document Connection is a new application that improves the SharePoint experience for Mac users, allowing for easier collaboration within a SharePoint environment by simplifying how users can browse, access and manage files online and offline.

For a complete lists of changes, go here. To get the update, run Microsoft AutoUpdate on your Mac or go to the Microsoft Mac Downloads page. It’s there now so go get it!

Over at the iPhone Blog they’re showing what’s supposed to be be in the next update to the iPhone OS. This update will push the version to 3.1 and is reportedly almost ready to be released.

Here’s what the iPhone blog guys say is going to be in the update:

* Voice Control now works over Bluetooth
* Updated AT&T profile to 4.2 — MMS is now enabled or at least has a button
* Improvements to OpenGL and Quartz.
* iPhone vibrates when moving icons
* Non-destructive video editing. Trimming a clip no longer saves over the original. “Save as. . . ” option now available.
* APIs to allow third party apps to access videos and edit them.
* Updated modem firmware to 5.08.01

No way to really know if this is actually what will appear in the update (Unless you happen to be a developer). Truth be told, some of us here at The Flickcast are developers, but we can’t say one way or the other unless we want Apple to get angry — and nobody wants that.

But if is true, this will surly be a great improvement for iPhone users. I’m especially encouraged by the inclusion of MMS in this new update. But having a button isn’t the end of the story. AT&T still needs to enable the feature on their network. Knowing them, it will probably take way longer than it should.

Today, Apple released the latest version of the operating system for its flagship iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Dubbed “OS 3.0″, this update brings a host of new features to the iPhone in particular. Many of these features are ones users had been clamoring for and, in some cases, thought should have been included in the device from day one.

Some other features, in spite of being announced today, won’t be available to iPhone users until later this Summer, in the case of MMS messaging. Or, in the case of Internet Tethering, perhaps not at all in the U.S.

Still, even with its perceived shortcomings (at least by some users), this update represents a significant step in the evolution of the iPhone and its OS. It’s combination of features, enhancements and improvements helps make the iPhone even more the dominant “Smart” phone not only the U.S, but the entire world.

Some of the many features provided in this update include the following:

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