Unlike other previous "leaks" that turned out to be hoaxes, this one "looks" legit. But then again, it's strange because Apple just doesn't leak things.

It's called APPLE.MAC.OSX.LEOPARD.V10.5.WWDC.PREVIEW-OSX. The claim, if you believe it, is that it's build 9A241.

It hit FTP and Torrent sites. Unfortunately, getting your hands on one was (and still is) complicated by the bandwidth congestion in the rush to get a copy. And beware the presence of fake links (if you see a macosx.10.5.prerelease.dmg on Torrent, you can bet your bottom dollar it's a fake).

We're not too sure that this build is enough to go nuts about. For one thing, it's nothing new. Sources say the 9A241 was the same one installed at the WWDC. If that's true, it's not like nobody's ever seen this before. If it's not the 9A241, it still won't be the final build.

Who wants this build? Maybe you want to download and "hack" into this build to get some street cred. Personally, what would really impress me is to find out about somebody managing to hack this and get it working on the next-gen consoles; PSP Leopard or Xbox 360 Leopard sounds fun. Also, in my own humble way, I still wonder if this is a hoax. But if it's the real thing, can somebody rip the applications because I don't need the whole OS just yet (ha ha ha).

And while we're on a roll throwing around unwanted opinions, here's a question for you guys:

What do you think of all this talk about how Microsoft is going to hack into this build and "steal all the good ideas?" I mean, OS X versions have already been on the market for a long time, and there hasn't been a Windows OS out that imitated or emulated them. Probably because it's a bad marketing move for Microsoft if they are seen as "following" or "trying to be" Apple. So whenever we see "Windows is going to steal this OS" on the forums, our first reaction would be "this is a bunch of X-Files fans with nothing better to talk about except corporate espionage." But you see, some of us here are X-Files fans, and we fantasize about seeing a game called "Splinter Cell 3: Apple OS Espionage" (ha ha).