Filed under: Software Update, Leopard
The changing life and times of Leopard
By now, most of you have had a chance to install the new Mac OS X 10.5.2 update for Leopard. Apple has added some minor tweaks to the OS, as well as some new features. If you haven't seen some of the features, you might want to take a look -- we've looked high and low in the update and have a list of the new features below. Time Machine status
By default, after installing the update, Leopard sticks a Time Machine backup status button in the menu bar. This drop-down menu will give you the time of the last backup and a "Back Up Now" option. You can also enter the Time Machine interface right from the menu bar, meaning that you can now remove that semi-pesky icon from your dock.
Continue reading for more Leopard changes.
Translucent Menu Bar
People were unhappy to learn that Leopard would only have a Translucent Menu Bar; meaning that you would be able to see your desktop through it. Well, Apple has made things better in the 10.5.2 update -- you can now turn this off. Just visit the "Desktop and Screen Saver" System Preference pane and un-check the "Translucent Menu Bar" check-box in the "Desktop" tab.
With "Translucent Menu Bar" off
People were unhappy to learn that Leopard would only have a Translucent Menu Bar; meaning that you would be able to see your desktop through it. Well, Apple has made things better in the 10.5.2 update -- you can now turn this off. Just visit the "Desktop and Screen Saver" System Preference pane and un-check the "Translucent Menu Bar" check-box in the "Desktop" tab.
With "Translucent Menu Bar" on
With "Translucent Menu Bar" off
Stacks
One of the touted features of Leopard, stacks, also received an update. You can now see your stacks with a "list" or hierarchical view (just like folders looked like in Tiger). All you have to do is right-click on a stack in your dock and select "List" from the "View content as" options. When this is turned on, you can left-click on your stack to see a menu appear with the folders contents (just as it did in Tiger). You can even take this a bit further and select "Folder" from the "Display as" options to get rid of the file icons and show just a standard folder.
One of the touted features of Leopard, stacks, also received an update. You can now see your stacks with a "list" or hierarchical view (just like folders looked like in Tiger). All you have to do is right-click on a stack in your dock and select "List" from the "View content as" options. When this is turned on, you can left-click on your stack to see a menu appear with the folders contents (just as it did in Tiger). You can even take this a bit further and select "Folder" from the "Display as" options to get rid of the file icons and show just a standard folder.
That's most of what we have noticed in the new update. It is nice to see that Apple is listening to it's customers. If you've noticed anything new in the Leopard upgrade, be sure to sound off in the comments.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Jim said 11:07PM on 2-13-2008
They've also greatly reduced the transparency of menus. Before it was quite prominent.
Reply
Lumpy Dog said 11:13PM on 2-13-2008
Do you know if it's possible to alter the transparency effect? I rather liked it.
laurence said 9:09AM on 2-14-2008
I agree: I thought the level of translucency in the menus up thru 10.5.1 -- added to the nice blur effect they added -- was very pleasing. And I never found a situation where the legibility was compromised. And I feel the same about the menu bar, actually. The old one feels kind of "dead" now.
SNeu said 11:13PM on 2-13-2008
Has anyone else suddenly started having problems with their AirPort card dropping the network seemingly at random? I'm running on an Intel iMac and it's driving me up the wall.
Reply
Michael Rose said 11:29PM on 2-13-2008
Funny you should mention that, SNeu:
http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/12/early-10-5-2-reports-some-users-having-wireless-issues/
tyler said 11:36PM on 2-13-2008
i have this problem on my mac mini (hometheater) but not on my macbook...
SNeu said 11:46PM on 2-13-2008
Any ideas on how to fix this or am I just hosed until 5.3? I'm using an older AirPort Express as my router. Unfortunately no TimeMachine backup running to revert. It's obnoxious because I had no problems on 5.1 - ZERO.
blinkcowz182 said 11:47PM on 2-13-2008
I have this problem on my Core Duo MacBook. My AP is running WPA which seems to be a common trend. I had no problems with 10.5.1 when lots of people were having trouble. It started when I upgraded to 10.5.2.
Also, has anyone had trouble with certain applications not being able to install updates since 10.5.2? I had trouble when VisualHub updated today with permission errors but chalked it up to weirdness. Then I started up my Logitech Harmony software and when it tries to install the update, it gives me an error saying there isn't write permission on Applications. I repaired permissions but still no go... Applications has system read and write and my user also has it.
Peter Zich said 12:12AM on 2-14-2008
I have this happening with my macbook.
ed said 4:39AM on 2-14-2008
i started getting this on my mbp about 2 days ago and it's annoying the hell out of me too.
only, i haven't upgraded to .5.2 yet! i'm still running .5.1.
haven't there always been reports of flakey networking on the mbp
Alexandre Strube said 6:55AM on 2-14-2008
I do. I just notice because adium warns me. It didn't happen in 10.5.1
Dan said 4:03PM on 2-14-2008
This was happening to my MacBook until I performed an SMC reset.
Google or search Apple's support site for "smc reset" if you have an Intel Mac or "pmu reset" if you have a PowerPC Mac.
It was a pretty persistent problem immediately after upgrading to 10.5.2 but hasn't happened once since the SMC reset.
Aaron said 11:16PM on 2-13-2008
There is a thread over at Apple's discussion boards about GarageBand (and apparently Logic) files opening at a sluggish speed. My own experiences after installing 10.5.2 have led to load times of up to 3 minutes for a simple 3-track GB file. I'm running a 2.2 MacBook with 4GB RAM and it's just insane. Hopefully a patch will come soon.
Reply
Paul Swytch said 2:57AM on 2-14-2008
I'm having the same issue here. Logic also took forever to refresh the plugins after the update. Patch soon please.
(01) said 11:16PM on 2-13-2008
Good to see...I'm still holding off on upgrading (no real reason, and that money stuff doesn't grow on trees) but it looks like Apple is addressing some of the annoyances from the initial release. When I can have more control over Spaces we'll talk.
Reply
ianlive said 3:30AM on 2-14-2008
Money stuff? Dude, it's free....
Christo said 9:25AM on 2-14-2008
I think he's implying that he has is still holding off on upgrading to Leopard...
I could be wrong. Happened one time back in '94. Man, was I embarrassed!
Rami Mohsen said 11:19PM on 2-13-2008
updated and working really good , no problems for me ,
Reply
Travis L. said 11:20PM on 2-13-2008
I noticed today that when my battery is at 95% before it would say Charging in the menubar and was kind of misleading (I later learned from Apple that this is normal, it prevents wear on the battery.) Now it says Not Charging. Small little change, but nice to know.
Reply
Qin Zhi said 11:25PM on 2-13-2008
Its not it's.
Reply