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).

As usual, this WWDC is generating a minor controversy (for Apple newbies, the WWDC is the World Wide Developers Conference where Apple shares some love with developers and the media).

Apple announced that it has opened its kernel source for the OS X Intel build to developers. For those not in the know, the kernel is the core of most operating systems like OS X, Windows, Linux, or Unix; the kernel "sits in the middle" and manages the back-and-forth between hardware (especially the CPU), software, and the system's resources; in short, the kernel is very, very important.

The source that Apple is opening up to developers is not the source of the entire OS X. The source is only for the kernel of Mac OS X 10.4.7, but this is still big news for developers. Why? Because looking at the kernel for the Intel version of the OS X will allow software developers to make more stable programs for the OS X Intel version. The kernel source for the OS X for the PowerPC was made available a while back, but the source for the Intel version wasn't made available (even though Apple started switching to Intel processors after the transition to Intel was announced last June, 2005).

What's the controversy? Well, it's only a minor one. We just notice that this news reopened the debate in various forums between those who like open source and those who fear that this will lead to a whole slew of crappy software that will just end up crashing the OS X. And since the "crash-proof-nessity" of the OS X is a major selling point against Windows, the anti-Windows faction fears that this will make the OS X into "another Windows." In my humble opinion, while this may be a valid concern, history has shown the opposite to be true: everyone ends up happy with the resulting software, software sales increase (or at least remain stable), and people become happier with all the alternatives and software that become available for the OS (of course, that's just my opinion of the general nature of things; please don't hunt me down if you disagree, ha ha, but feel free to flame me, ho ho).

There's more big news: Apple announced the next major OS X release: Leopard, scheduled for 2007. It looks like Apple is looking forward to how opening the open source will boost development. However, there's not much more we can say about the Leopard because Steve Jobs is keeping all the important details secret.

And a bit more open source news: Apple has launched Mac OS Forge, a website that should allow Apple developers to work more closely together. You can find the kernel sources there. In fact, Apple is so behind this idea that they even included the instructions on how to build from the kernel sources. And the really geeky Apple fans will be glad to know that Apple is releasing the sources for iCal Server, Bonjour, and Launchd.

Let's see how it all works out! Check back for us for more details!

Somebody's been poking around Steve Jobs' computer and got a hold of the features of the upcoming Mac OS 10.5 Leopard. The information is not confirmed but that won't stop us from posting it. This is after all the Leak Department. According to the leaked documents (which will put the Mac security system in bad light if proven genuine) the major MacLeopard changelog will be seen in the following:

• Spotlight 2.0
• Dashboard 2.0
• Safari 3.0
• iChat 4.0
• Automator 2.0
• QuickTime 7.2
• Mail 3.0
• iCal 3.0
• Address Book 5.0

See the details of the "supposed" Mac OS changelog after the jump!

As Apple gears up to reveal OS X Leopard (among other things) at next month's Worldwide Developers Conference, some people are beginning to wonder precisely which Mac models are going to 'make the Leopard cut'.

What's left discussions on this topic wide open at this point is the fact that no one knows for sure how Apple's going to do it. Will those that run the G3 or even the G4 processor be excluded from the list? Or are the good folks at Apple to decide based on the speed of the machines' processors?

eWeek's David Morgenstern thinks that if the decision is to be processor-based, it's unlikely that Apple will exclude all the G4 and G5 machines, at least not just yet. Apple still does sell computers that run on PowerPC processors; the company's transition to Intel isn't complete yet, which means that there isn't a large enough base for Intel machines for the company to go by. In addition, the last G4 machine, a 14-inch iBook G4, was discontinued just last May. If Apple does choose to go by processors, it's likely that it's the G3 machines that'll be denied a chance to 'get with the program' due to their age; the last G3 model sold was a variant of the iBook that was axed in 2003 (two OSs back).

But Morgenstern also thinks it's possible for Apple to base its decision on video RAM, or VRAM. Many older Macs lack VRAM, so, if Apple goes by a base level of installed video RAM, most (but not all) G3 models and many of the older G4 models, like the Cube, the older PowerBooks and the first few PowerMac G4s could be left by the wayside.

Any ideas? What do you folks think? Hopefully Apple will clear up this issue next month at the WDC.

"Redmond, start your photocopiers", "Redmond, we have a problem". Just some of the jib-jabs that Apple has thrown at the MS camp over the years, actually to be really specific, these statements were seen on Apple posters during the 2004 annual developer's conference in San Francisco, when its Tiger operating system was unveiled and its fiercest rival, Microsoft, was working on its next-generation Windows operating system, Vista, known then as "Longhorn.''

Now, with the delayed release of the Windows Vista and the unveiling of the Leopard this August at the World Developers Conference, it won't be surprising if Apple is again up to some serious psychological war - in the form of posters, sidecomments, taunting and all that. Which makes me think, what other blows could Apple dish out to the Bill Gates camp?

And if you think MS is ignoring these, no they aren't. According to Greg DeMichillie, senior analyst with Directions on Microsoft, "there will be another round of, 'Why can't Microsoft get Vista out?' which Microsoft would just assume not happen...It's a bit of an embarrassment for the company". It seems that Apple's well-honed and innovative marketing strategy could be the tech version of a slow striptease. With that, let's see what other tricks and wisecracks Apple has for MS.

Sightings of the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard developer release build reports are trickling in and according to those who have seen it, the cool cat carries some very interesting performance numbers. The Leopard is said to be fundamentally superior to previous versions of Mac OS X. Among the features spotted were the MacLeopards user interface which has pushed the Aqua, Quartz and Finder technology further than the Jaguar and the Tiger.

Almost all "brushed metal" theme were reportedtly replaced with a sleeker, better-contrasting theme that bears some similarities to the appearance of the current Mail.app. However, several layers of the theme design and rendering engine changes create a remarkably high-resolution and a rich look. Reportedly, a quick first glance at the MacLeopard is enough to tell the user that "This OS is a big step forward."

Make that one big pounce forward.

It's the Boot Camp Effect - people preferring a Mac over a PC due to the presence of the Boot Camp software. And it seems like the Boot Camp Effect will be Apple's key to equating or superseding Microsoft's success. This is according to a Piper Jaffray research.

The said report reflected that of 42 near-term PC shoppers, 8.3% are considering to get a Mac computer over a PC because of the Boot Camp software. Analyst Gene Muster wrote that this interest in the Boot Camp-capable Macs will see Apple gaining market share over the next 12 months, which can also see Apple completing its transition to Windows-capable Mac computers fitted with Intel microprocessors.

The release of the new Windows-functional Mac OS, 10.5 Leopard, may lead to a 2007 gain in momentum for the Boot Camp Effect.

With so many fake screenshots of the upcoming Mac OS 10.5 Leopard leaving their tracks all over the Net, one guy with a lot of time on his hands (and a few stuff he wants to get rid of) woke up one day and said to himself, "Why not make a contest out of it?"  And that's how The Fake Leopard Screenshot Contest was born!

Phil Ryu isn't joking he assures all wanna-bes out there. He even has a tagline to go with the contest: A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a fake one is worth nearly a thousand bucks of software! Not exactly the kind of money Taylor Hicks brought home from AI but it IS something.

First the rules:

• All entries must be ourageously awesome fake screenshots of the MacLeopard.
• Entries can include multiple screenshots (limited to 5), with one entry per person.
• The contest deadline is Saturday, July 22nd, 12 PM EST.
• The winners will be announced on Monday, July 24th.

Entries will be determined by a panel of judges on believability, creativity, and the Â?insanely greatÂ? factor, made-up features and applications. "In other words, just make it really cool."

Now the prizes:

• iPulse ($12.95), IconBuilder ($79), Xscope ($16.95) and a free StockIcon set of your choice ($349) by The Iconfactory
• Delicious Library ($40) by Delicious Monster
• ShapeShifter ($20) & WindowShadeX ($10) by Unsanity
• NewsFire ($17.99) by Dave Watanabe
• AppZapper ($12.95) by Austin Sarner & Brian Ball
• NotePad ($7.95), VoiceNotes ($5.95) & FTP Drop ($4.95) by Widget Machine
• Menuet with bundled Art Collector ($12.95) by Specere
• iClip ($19.95 /w free upgrade to v.4) by Inventive
• Interarchy ($39) by Stairways Software
• Podcast Maker ($29.95) & Voice Candy ($12.95) by Potion Factory
• Soulver ($12.95) & World of Where ($11.95) by World of Worlds
• Picture Framer ($5) and To Do Tracker ($5) by Monkey Business Labs
• MacUpdate 1 Year Membership ($20) by MacUpdate
• Catalog ($20) & PHP Studio ($25) by Neometric Software
• DomainTracker ($24.95) by Icecold Software
• Tag ($19.95) & Site Soap ($12.95) by Talacia
• CSSEdit ($24.99) & DeskShade ($12.99) by MacRabbit
• Awaken ($8.95) by Embraceware

Phil says if you tally up the cost of the prizes it comes to just under $900. But add the trophies (below) for the three winning faux screens and you can make that an even grand. So far, Phil has received 10 entries.

Firstly, watch the video below. To me this is one of the most convincing fakes I've seen for a while, and I say that only because it has a video to show it off. Someone wants us to believe that they have ported Mac OSX Leopard to the Video iPod, and not only this, they have also got themselves or made a touch screen for the iPod. There are two main reasons to why I think this is a fake, but the final decision is up to you. Firstly the screen resolution seems way too high for the iPod, and the general appearance just seems like a straight video. Secondly the stylus sync is too un-smooth and mis-timed.

Have a look at the video and let us know what you think...

There are a lot of speculations on what the highly-anticipated and much publicized Operating System from Apple, Leopard, will have as its spots, I mean, features. Some possible candidates that are being thrown around are Boot Camp, Bit Torrent, Maps...

Yes, you read it right, Maps. I bet you never saw that one coming huh? What good purpose will maps on your Macs serve, you ask? Apparently, Leopard will come bundled with something simply called Maps, which works pretty much the same way as Google Maps and Microsoft's Virtual Earth does. Maps, insiders say, will use GPS to track down stolen Apple goods. How Steve Jobs and the people a Apple are going to do that before its release in August, I absolutely have no clue. We simply know they can.