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Cool weird stuff: TUAW reader accidentally downloads 10.6.3 pre-release

by Michael Grothaus Mar 19th 2010 at 9:30PM

Just in case you're thinking that Apple employee access was to blame, here are some basic facts: The reader bought the iMac online from the Apple Store and was never in a retail store with it. The reader who sent us these screen shots is not an Apple employee nor does he have access to Apple's RSA Secure ID or VPN. He performed his update at home and not at an Apple retail store.

This kind of update does not normally appear in the wild on Software Update. Prerelease, and specifically "**PRERELEASE**", updates refer to Apple-internal builds distributed to any Apple employee who has access to Apple's VPN. A **PRERELEASE** build is typically seeded to employees 24 to 48 hours before the build goes public via Software Update.

The pre-release weighs in at a whopping 1.19GB. The "About This Mac" screen shots he sent us (see below) note the build as 10D527 – a build that was reportedly released to developers today, only two days after the last build. Builds that come close together typically indicate a public release is imminent. It is not clear why this pre-release showed up on the TUAW reader's iMac.



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Just in case you're thinking that Apple employee access was to blame, here are some basic facts: The reader bought the iMac online from...
 

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hoop

AHA! I've seen this before!

The Software update App is configured with a pre-defined web address in its (hidden)preferences.

There are utilities to change the Address that it contacts for updates.

there is a Utility that comes to mind (im not sure if its 3rd party or apple internal software, so i wont mention it) but it allows you to define the address your software update checks when you run it. - I use it to make sure my machines ONLY check the local update server instead of apple (I screen all updates on a Leopard server before pushing them to local machines) - I define the address as "mdd-server.local" for all my client machines.

What i want to know is .. What address does this guy have in his software update??? and will he please PLEASE use littlesnitch to find out so i can play too?

March 22 2010 at 1:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to hoop's comment
dr3do

The name of this tool is "Software Update Enabler" and you'll find it here "http://bit.ly/bd3j39".

March 23 2010 at 4:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
isidoro.ghezzi@tiscali.it

ok it looks to be a funy bug, but... it is a bug! I hope apple well investigate, how is it possible he received a version he shouldn't receive, to understand and solve the problem.

March 21 2010 at 10:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Anon

As someone who regularly installs Apple betas, I don't believe the screenshot. From the earliest 10.6.3 (and .2 and .1 and .0) betas, the Version field always shows 10.6.3 -- it never shows the build. I know this because I'm always needing to go to Profiler and then scroll to Software and click to see the build number.

I would not believe there'd be two versions of the build.

March 21 2010 at 8:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Anon's comment
Rory Blanks

you do know that you can click on the 10.x.x and it will cycle though the build number and your computer's serial number right?

March 21 2010 at 1:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rob

I had my iphone on my desk and took a pic of the prerelease update. Didn't take the screen shots until I sent the story to TUAW the next day and they asked me to. I had to google how to do a screen shot since I didn't know how!

March 20 2010 at 3:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MRCUR

Michael,

The 10.6.3 update itself isn't 1.19GBs. Look at at the screenshot you posted - he's downloading 15 (FIFTEEN) things, not just the one.

March 20 2010 at 10:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sageimac

It could be that he hit a wormhole into the future. Does the release say who's in the Final Four?

March 20 2010 at 9:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tushaar

Maybe because the About the Mac screens can be taken any time whereas the guy didn't have the presence of mind to get a screen back when it was downloading.

March 20 2010 at 9:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to tushaar's comment
Woody

@tushaar, yet he had the idea to go grab a camera? I dunno, but command-shift-3 seems waaaaaay easier.

March 20 2010 at 10:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lars

Tinfoilhat: how come the download image is a photo but the 'About This Mac' iamges are regular screenshots? Hm? * jabs chest with index finger *

March 20 2010 at 8:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SIP

All I can say is: This person needs to get a faster internet connection.

March 20 2010 at 6:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
momo

You guys are a little crazy ;-)

This is just an incremental update, not like he downloaded 10.7 or anything.

March 20 2010 at 5:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to momo's comment
robogobo

or did he?

March 20 2010 at 5:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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