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Apple updates Mountain Lion to 10.8.4 with fix for Messages, Exchange, and FaceTime bugs

OS X Mountain Lion
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Though the sun is quickly setting on Mountain Lion, Apple released an update for its current operating system today. This is likely to be the last major update to Mountain Lion as Apple’s new OS is slated to be unveiled at WWDC next week. The update bears the less-than-sexy moniker 10.8.4 and fixes various bugs while adding several improvements. It’s available for download today through the Mac App Store Software Update.

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The squashed bugs include issues with FaceTime calls to non-U.S. numbers and enterprise Wi-Fi connections. The update also includes improvements with Microsoft Exchange compatibility in Calendar and improvements with VoiceOver in PDF documents. Lastly, the update bumps Safari up to version 6.0.5, which, according to Apple, “improves stability for some websites with chat features and games.”

One of the biggest fixes included in this update stops iMessages from appearing out of time order, a massive pet peeve for anyone trying to follow a conversation within Messages.

The full release notes for OS X 10.8.4 state the following changes:

  • Compatibility improvements when connecting to certain enterprise Wi-Fi networks
  • Microsoft Exchange compatibility improvements in Calendar
  • A fix for an issue that prevented FaceTime calls to non-U.S. phone numbers
  • A fix for an issue that may prevent scheduled sleep after using Boot Camp
  • Improves VoiceOver compatibility with text in PDF documents
  • Includes Safari 6.0.5, which improves stability for some websites with chat features and games
  • A fix for an issue that may cause iMessages to display out of order in Messages
  • Resolves an issue in which Calendars Birthdays may appear incorrectly in certain time zones
  • A fix for an issue that may prevent the desktop background picture from being preserved after restart
  • A fix for an issue that may prevent documents from being saved to a server using SMB
  • Addresses an issue that may prevent certain files from opening after copied to a volume named “Home”
  • A fix for an issue that may prevent changes to files made over NFS from displaying
  • Resolves an issue saving files to an Xsan volume from certain applications
  • Improves Active Directory log-in performance, especially for cached accounts or when using a .local domain
  • Improves OpenDirectory data replication
  • Improves 802.1X compatibility with ActiveDirectory networks
  • Improves compatibility when using mobile accounts

What are you waiting for? Go update your machine now before your OS becomes obsolete next week.

Meghan McDonough
Former Contributor
Meghan J. McDonough is a Chicago-based purveyor of consumer technology and music. She previously wrote for LAPTOP Magazine…
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