Apple has issued its long-awaited OS X 10.9.3 update, after a rather lengthy time in testing. This update improves support for 4K displays, which will allow for Apple’s HiDPI scaling, such as that used for its Retina MacBook Pros, to be used for these displays.
Specifically, the update includes the following enhancements and fixes the following issues:
- Improves 4K display support on Mac Pro and Retina MacBook Pro (both late 2013 models)
- Adds ability to sync contacts and calendars with iOS devices using a USB cable
- Imrpoves the reliability of VPN connections using IPsec
- Includes Safari version 7.0.3
This update is available via Apple’s Software Update service, which is accessible in the Apple menu, and while recommended to install, you might wait a short while before installing it, to ensure there are no bugs that made it through testing.
As always, be sure you fully back up your system before applying this or any other software update.
For what’s it’s worth, I always do system maintenance before applying a major update like this (these): I verify my disk with Disk Utility and then run Pilot routine in Cocktail to repair permissions, run the cron scripts, clean caches and such. And then I update my backup with SuperDuper. This routine reducers the possibility of problems with the update and provides a restore point (to borrow a phrase) in case something does go wrong. I haven’t done this before, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to run a Time Machine backup as well. Though such old bromides are out of fashion these days, I’ll use one anyway: A stitch in time saves nine.
I installed it on 3 machines this morning. No issues, at least that I’ve found. Update went very smoothly.
Got a strange issue, after installing the update my users folder permissions changed from:(system read/write)
(admin read)
(everyone read)
to the following:
(system read/write)
(admin read/write)
(everyone read/write)
No big deal though, I started the disc utility which repaired the permission successfully, well after a reboot, same problem again, means for any reboot I’ve to repair my permissions over and over again.
Is there something I could do/would help me?
Improper disk ejection issue still present.
I found that the “Users” folder is no longer listed on the Macintosh HD after updating. Ran the Disk Utility Repair Permissions, but that made no change. Anyone else having this issue?
On 3 of my 5 macs, the installation had a problem with the signing on iTunes. It asked to reinstall, and it just reinstalled iTunes. Everything fine. Same on all 3 Macs.
After I applied the update, I installed a new app. When I tried to run it, I received the message: “Mac OS X needs to repair your Library to run applications.” Clicking ok and letting it repair the library, I ran Disk Utility, which discovered errors on the boot disc. I needed to boot into recovery mode to repair them. It repaired fine but others may want to verify their boot discs after upgrading.
Apple should release a 24-inch 4K display with Thunderbolt 2 and USB 3 as well as SDXC for flash memory cards.
Anyone having crashing/hard freeze issues? I made the silly mistake of updating to 10.9.3 and updating my SSD firmware at the same time. I think I might have narrowed it down to Trim Enabler but not sure yet. I have an OWC Electra 3G SSD with 541ABBF0 firmware. Both 2008 MacPro and 2009 MacbookPro are crashing. Seems to have stabilized once I disabled Trim Enabler. Also applied the Combo updater just in case. I’m going to leave Trim Enabler off for a day and see what happens and then re-enable.
OWC recommends Trim Enabler to be turned off – this SSD has built-in trim.
It wasn’t Trim Enabler. It was the firmware upgrade that killed the drives.
“Adds ability to sync contacts and calendars with iOS devices using a USB cable”
Adds ability? How about “returns the ability”? These sync features were removed with the Mavericks install / iTunes update last fall, and was a sore point for many users who are reluctant to sync with any cloud.
I noticed that my macbook air 2010 quit playing Netflix and Amazon Prime videos after the 10.9.3 update
My MacBook Pro running OS Mavericks 10.9.3 will not launch any of the Office for Mac applications or any other application that is not Apple made. Extremely frustrating.
My MacBook Pro 13″ upgraded from Snow Leopard to Mavericks will not launch MS Word 2011. It tried to upgrade Word to 14.2.2 but hung up and I force quit the installer. Perhaps I need to get Office 2013 for the Office products to work with Mavericks?