“64-bit software users are reporting a serious problem with Apple’s security update 2005-007. Apparently the update which fixes 43 known issues with Mac OS X also breaks 64-bit applications, like Wolfram’s Mathematica,” Jason D. O’Grady reports for O’Grady’s PowerPage.
According to an email Mathematica sent to users, “Apple is investigating the problem at high priority, and intends to distribute a new Security Update in the very near future.”
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple releases Mac OS X Security Update 2005-007 – August 15, 2005
Somebody dropped the ball in SQA in testing 64-bit apps. Mathematica isn’t exactly an obscure application. Oops!
Ever since installing the Security Update, Safari keeps locking up my iMac G4. No beachball, no kernal panic, just a complete and utterly frozen screen.
Oops for them.
not an obscure app? HOW MANY PEOPLE do you personally KNOW use Mathematica?
does some strange things with VPC7
“not an obscure app? HOW MANY PEOPLE do you personally KNOW use Mathematica?”
Well mathematically speaking, asking one person how many people they know uses Mathematica isn’t a proper sampling of users.
MW ‘average, as in, the average person doesn’t use Mathematica, but that doesn’t mean it’s obscure.
“not an obscure app? HOW MANY PEOPLE do you personally KNOW use Mathematica?”
When Apple has the co-founder of Wolfram Research up on stage demoing their products (Mathematica was among the apps originally demoed for OS X, optimized for the G5 and ported for Intel), it’s pretty evident that Apple is very aware of their products. You should also note that this an application that is not going to be typically used by your average neighbor, but rather high-level institutions.
Not sure why this update was not adequately tested.
i’ve also had safari issues since update 2005-007.
Things just freeze on my iMac G5 for no apparent reason when surfing (very light processing load)…
Either way, Mathematica is still not an app that 99.9% of consumers will ever use, so in that sense it is a bit obscure. However, Apple does need to fix this ASAP for those that are impacted by this.
re: sin verguenza “not an obscure app? HOW MANY PEOPLE do you personally KNOW use Mathematica?”
I personally know about 40 people that use Mathmatica, I was in a Computer Science class with them last semester at Univ. of Illinois (Urbana). The school has huge Engineering/CS departments and the corporate headquarters of Wolfram Research (makers of Mathmatica) is just a few blocks away from the quad.
Also, if Mathmatica was a minor or obscure program, Steve Jobs would not have invited the maker of the software on stage during his speech announcing the transition to Intel chips.
LOL Evolution! You are a riot!
“Either way, Mathematica is still not an app that 99.9% of consumers will ever use, so in that sense it is a bit obscure.”
So until 99.9% of users use an app, it falls in the “bit obscure” category? Wow, I guess Finder is the only non-obscure App I can name then!
MDN: says
I don’t know if it’s really related to this, but my Microtek 4800 scanner stopped working right after this update. The application just crash every time I try to load it.
MW ‘average, as in, the average person doesn’t use Mathematica, but that doesn’t mean it’s obscure.
average as in the IQ of most MDN posters is below average
lol… M/W: thinking
after installing the security update in question. Mail and Safari both froze and i couldn’t even do force quit.
After repairing disk permissions, I have not had the problems again.
re: Mathmatica being obscure. In this context, obscure would mean that it is not important or well-known (not number of users). I can’t say that I know anyone that has used it, but most people in my department know what it is. Also, the importance to Apple and within it’s field of use is clear.
BTW, just to prevent a certain response: no, I don’t think Mathematica is important to Apple’s general mission, but when you trot out the program for demo, it certainly is an important vehicle for promoting 64-bit applications.
What?!?! No MDN take?
Something like,
As usual, Microslop creates another patch that fixes one problem and creates another. Just business as usual over in Redmond for Microcra-… Hunh, What? It’s an Apple patch!? Oh shit!.. Er, uh… nevermind… Uh, uh, APPLE RULES!!! <runs away>
(Apple does rule, by the way… I love my Mac. C’mere Mac… <smooch-smooch-smooch>)
No 64-bit apps on my computer … hoping for 10.4.3 soon….
Gard d zada:
“average as in the IQ of most MDN posters is below average
lol… M/W: thinking”
The fact that you use ‘lol’ undeniably labels you as a LOSER.
Fucking turd, the average MDN reader does not have a below average IQ. Simply reading previous articles proves that.
Gard, I suggest you get back to school as soon as possible.
My stars, I hate people who stereotype. I say again – LOSER.
Mathematica may not be used by a lot of people, but anyone who followed the Intel Macintosh launch would know about it.
I’ve had no problems with this update. And Safari has had performance problems for me since Panther’s first update (10.3.1). If I didn’t have all of the Bookmarks synced by .mac between my three Macs, I wouldn’t use the POS. This security update didn’t make Safari any better or any worse.
As for other problems with each Security Update, I think everyone should follow some basic rules. Check and fix permissions before doing this type of update. Disconnect all Firewire and USB drives. Then Check and fix permission after installation. Most people have few or no problems with these updates.
This update is a pos. An utter pos.
Mathematica is used by many thousands of college students in various engineering, physical sciences, and mathemataics degree programs and industries who depend on such. Obscure, it is not. It isn’t common, either. However, as a 64-bit application for OS X, it is probably the most common one of all and probably the first application somebody in SQA at Apple should have run to check out 64-bit worthiness.
And as some have already pointed out, SJ did make a rather large point in trotting out folks from Wolfram Research.
So, how many people do I know who use Mathematica? That would depend on which industry I’m involved in or associated with. It’s >1.
Hi all,
Can anyone confirm something, I have noticed that c code written and compiled on my iMac 2GHz G5 with the -mpowerpc64 flag is hirrifically slow, much slower than the same code run on my 1.33GHz PowerBook (obviously with the -mpowerpc64 flag). Are these in any way related?
Cheers,
SWITH TO WINDOWS XP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOO
“Apparently the update which fixes 43 known issues…also breaks 64-bit applications”
“This update is a pos. An utter pos.”
What is this? Windows?!?
Steve had better take a stroll around Apple & personally kick some ass for this turkey getting out. Half-baked is one thing, RAW is another.
In spite of this Apple has a pretty good track record, so one can forgive the occasional gaffe. Apple, we’re still fans but don’t let one like this happen again.
Ya think everyone involved got a copy of Mathematica today for use in future updates?
Bet Steve’s pissed.