OT: Mac OS X 10.3.6 is out!

[terryj]

The 10.3.6 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther" and is recommended for all users.

Key enhancements include:
improved file sharing for Mac (AFP), UNIX (NFS) and PC (SMB/CIFS) networks
more reliable network automounts and launch of network applications
improved OpenGL technology and updated ATI and NVIDIA graphic drivers
additional FireWire audio and USB device compatibility
updated Calculator, DVD Player, Image Capture, and Safari applications
improved compatibility for third party applications
previous standalone security updates


For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n300080
For detailed information on Security Updates, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798

[820am]

Hmm.

They don't list what the changes are to DVD player ( I live in constant fear they'll take away the play VIDEO_TS function)

[Frobozz]

The DVD Player application is still 4.0 after the update and the option to play VIDEO_TS is present. By the way, the only change I see is that the file modified date in new. Maybe it now accepts more kinds of media.

[galactica]

why do you think they would take that away?

[willrob]

The change seems to be in the DVFamily. bundle in System>Extensions. I'm not sure exactly what the change is. My DVPlayter is also still at 4.0. Other than Safari, the other apps upgraded didn't change version numbers either, which suggests modifications (improvements) in the underlying System that enables those apps. Too many big words first thing in the morning, not enough coffee...

[AntnyMD]

The one change they havent made to DVD Player that is sorely needed is a de-interlacing filter.

[WiseWeasel]

Agreed, deinterlacing would be great. Until then, VLC does that nicely...

[Faustus]

I dunno, the lack of features in the DVD player has always annoyed me. So I welcome any changes. Admittedly I'd still take the one we have over the OS9 player.

[WiseWeasel]

One thing that would be nice would be playback of DTS audio through the stereo audio outputs, downmixed, of course...

[thoughton]

why do you think they would take that away?

I think a better question is "why would they leave it?". The most likely reason people want to be able to play a video_ts is because they've ripped it fcrom a dvd. Obviously this isn't legal in a lot of places

[TugBoat]

The most likely reason people want to be able to play a video_ts is because they've ripped it fcrom a dvd.

Err... I guess you're forgetting about those of us that use FCP and DVDSP to master their own DVDs and want to check them before burning or sending to the Reproduction house? There would be a very loud out cry from those people who buy expensive Apple programs if they had to jump through hoops to test their finished product :P

And it seems that the bug I have with DVD player and DVDSP 2.05 is still present. Sometimes, after building the DVD, when I use DVD Player to check the Video_TS Folder, without quitting DVDSP, DVD Player will lockup my machine. Total lockup, no mouse movement, no nothing. Power button time. No logs about what happened. Nothing. It only happens every so often, and I've learned to quit DVDSP first. But, it happened again last night when I got cocky

It would be nice if they fixed that....along with the A.Pack Dual Processor thing...

[snuffy51]

Apple has been known to to some strange stuff. The latest version or iTunes 4.7 exists so that the 3rd party software to rip tunes from the iPod back to the computer no longer works. I haven't used this but would like to option as backup.

[terryj]

Tug,
why not just test the DVD build in the
Simulator? The simulator in DVDSP3
holds pretty true with results from DVD Player;
if it won't act right in simulator, it won't play
correctly in DVD player.

just curious....

[the future]

Apple has been known to to some strange stuff. The latest version or iTunes 4.7 exists so that the 3rd party software to rip tunes from the iPod back to the computer no longer works. I haven't used this but would like to option as backup.

1. Apple obviously does this to please the record industry (which they need to work with because of the iTMS), not because they want to.

2. Apple doesn't make it very hard for those 3rd party developers to fix what has been broken.

[DanSlagle]

There has also been reports of problems when folks leave their firewire devices plugged in and running. It may be in your "best interest" to shutdown all FW devices before upgrading.

[TugBoat]

Tug,
why not just test the DVD build in the
Simulator? The simulator in DVDSP3
holds pretty true with results from DVD Player;
if it won't act right in simulator, it won't play
correctly in DVD player.

just curious....

I do both. The simulator is nice, but, it's just that...a simulation. Nothing beats testing the VIDEO_TS folder, except burning a disc. Testing the folder is much faster and cheaper than burning a Disc though. And if you check Apple's DVDSP board, I'm not the only one who doesn't trust the Simulator 8)

Does fast forward work in the DVDSP 3.0x Simulator? It doesn't work in 2.05, and no, I'm not going to upgrade anytime soon. I'll probably wait until 4.0 is ready to ship, then try to get 3&4 for the same price 8)

[willrob]

After I upgraded DVDPlayer was still at 4.0. But I've seen references to 4.01 on some sites. has anyone found their version number has changed after upgrading to 10.3.6?

[Faustus]

After the Firewire 2.0 HDD bug we usually suggest to customer to unplug all devices when performing an OS upgrade. Also ask them to do a permissions repair first. Seems to cut down alot on problems.

A co workers powerbook has been reduced to command line only performance since he tried the update.... everyone else up here's update has gone perfectly. I've not even bothered to play a DVD yet to find out what if anything changed.

[thoughton]

The most likely reason people want to be able to play a video_ts is because they've ripped it fcrom a dvd.

Err... I guess you're forgetting about those of us that use FCP and DVDSP to master their own DVDs and want to check them before burning or sending to the Reproduction house? There would be a very loud out cry from those people who buy expensive Apple programs if they had to jump through hoops to test their finished product :P

Sorry, missed this somehow

You've got a fair point, but it would seem likely that the number of people playing ripped video_ts folders is vastly greater than the number of people playing dvdsp created video_ts folders.

I'm sure there were a few people who used iTunes 4.0.0's net streaming feature legitimately too, but that didn't stop Apple from removing it. Bastards.

[WiseWeasel]

This is a useless argument. There's no way in hell they will ever remove DVD Player's ability to play VIDEO_TS folders. Once they shipped DVDSP, they added that feature in MacOS 9, and it's been present ever since. DVD creators depend on that feature, and since they pay a lot of money for DVDSP, Apple isn't about to make their lives harder by removing that functionality.

[thoughton]

Just a difference of opinion

You might remember Apple's MoviePlayer 2.5.1 ... that was the last version of MoviePlayer (which came free with System 7) which could edit movies (cut and paste, mainly). The next version of MoviePlayer no longer had any editing functions. Shortly after that Apple introduced "QuickTime Pro".

In my opinion Apple's history is littered with decisions like this, so all I'm saying is that it wouldn't surprise me to see the regular free DVD Player lose the ability to play video_ts folders (they could appease the DVD authoring guys by including a "DVD Player Pro" with DVDSP).

[willrob]

You have an evil mind. But then so does Steve Jobs.

[adamthole]

DVD Simulator isn't 100% accurate. Earlier today I was finishing a DVD and the menus played perfectly in simulator, however when I compiled it and played it with DVD player via VIDEO_TS folder, when my buttons go to the highlight mode instead of being semi-transparent they were completely white.

So ha.

[terryj]

fix your opacity levels.
Most tvs will take opacity level 7 white
(50% opacity) to 15 level( 0 opacity).

I keep my highlights at 3 level ( 90% opacity)
and WISINDVDSPIWIGONTV.