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Supplemental OS X 10.8.5 update to address outstanding problems

Pending update from Apple should fix HDMI, Bluetooth, hard-drive sleep, and FaceTime HD camera issues in the latest OS X release.

Topher Kessler MacFixIt Editor
Topher, an avid Mac user for the past 15 years, has been a contributing author to MacFixIt since the spring of 2008. One of his passions is troubleshooting Mac problems and making the best use of Macs and Apple hardware at home and in the workplace.
Topher Kessler
2 min read

Apple is currently preparing a supplemental update for OS X 10.8.5 users, which should address some outstanding bugs that have cropped up in the latest OS X release.

Apple's latest OS X 10.8.5 update, issued on September 12, brought a number of fixes including improved 802.11ac support, among other fixes for screensavers, networking, and authentication. However, along with these fixes the update seemed to break functionality for a number of users, who have posted numerous complaints on the Apple discussion boards.

One widely reported issue is that Bluetooth connectivity drops, if it's even available at all. This has prevented a number of people from connecting to peripheral devices, including keyboards and mice. A second issue is with the handling of hard-drive spindown behavior, where after the system puts drives into low-power modes it will not properly wake them, which results in them disconnecting and the system issuing warnings about improperly ejected media.

If you are experiencing these problems after installing OS X 10.8.5, hopefully Apple's supplemental fix will address the issue. The fix, reported by 9to5Mac, is supposed to tackle the following bugs:

  • Resolves an issue that may prevent certain applications from using the FaceTime HD camera on mid-2013 MacBook Air systems
  • Fixes an issue that may cause external drives to be ejected after the computer goes to sleep
  • Addresses an issue that may prevent HDMI audio from working after waking from sleep
  • Fixes an issue that may prevent certain USB Bluetooth adapters from working

There is no set date on when the supplemental update will be available, but needless to say it should be out soon. When it does, be sure to back up your system fully using Time Machine or another similar full-system backup solution, and then install the update using Apple's Software Update service in the Apple menu.



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