Software Downloads Online: Frequently Asked Questions

  • Last Modified: July 14, 2008
  • Article: HT2404
  • Old Article: 26192

Summary

The Apple Software Downloads library is a collection of updaters, utilities, and full software installs to help keep your Apple products running smoothly. You can locate a particular software file by either searching our library, browsing the directories, or viewing a list of the most recent postings.

The Apple Support Webmasters have compiled the following list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) with detailed answers to assist you if you are not familiar with downloading software from the World Wide Web.

Products Affected

Consumer Software

Question 1: Where is best place to find out about free software I need to download for my Apple product?

 


Answer: The best place to find the latest software related information is on the Apple Support Web Site's Software Downloads Homepage. This page features the following:

  • Query Window to Search, Updates by Product, View Recent Downloads, Access Software Download Help
  • Search screen with the option to limit your search by product and date range.
  • Featured Apple software updates
  • Link to Software Licensing Information
  • Link to Older Software Downloads


America Online customers can access Apple's Support Website and Software Downloads in the Apple on AOL (keyword: applecomputer) area.


Question 2: Where can I go for 'official' Apple software updates?

Answer: Most free updates, patches, utilities, and beta software released by Apple, Inc. can be accessed from the Apple Knowledge Base or Software Downloads Homepage.

For the latest version Product specific software go to the Product Web sites:

  • Go to QuickTime Web Site for the most recent versions of QuickTime and QuickTime Product Information
  • Go to Developer Web Site



Question 3: Are there complete software packages or just patches and updaters in the Knowledge Base?

Answer: The Software downloads contains access to several kinds of software.

  • Updaters: These are programs that update an existing piece of software already installed on your system. They require that you already have installed a full copy of the software that you wish to update to the latest version. The Read Me included with the updater will give specific information about what software versions it is capable of updating.
  • Patches: Similar to updaters, these programs will either update a piece of software you already have installed or in some case they will update an installer file you already have.
  • Beta Software: In some situations, Apple may release a "test" or beta version of software currently under development. This software is usually made available with the understanding that we do not offer support on its use and you are assuming responsibility for system difficulties you may encounter as a result of installing beta software. In many cases a method for providing feedback to our developers is available.



Question 4: How is the software posted?

Answer: Since 1997 Apple has been posting files in the New Disk Image Format (NDIF) disk images. These files are most often identified by the .img or .smi suffix appended to the end of the file name. They are then converted to MacBinary (.bin) format and uploaded to a master server. (see the next section for an explanation of software). Each file is then downloaded and checked for data integrity.

Prior to 1997 files were compressed using Stuffit Deluxe into self extracting archive files. These files are usually identified by the .sea suffix appended to the end of the file name. Many of these older .sea files are still in the archive today.

Software for use on DOS and Windows compatible PCs is posted in .ZIP or .EXE formats.


Question 5: What software do I use to download from the Apple Software Downloads library?

Answer: In general, Apple recommends that you obtain the latest version of an application that uses the ftp protocol to transfer files. The following are the most common applications:

  • Netscape Navigator - A Web client from the Netscape Communications Corp.
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer - A Web client from Microsoft Corp.
  • Fetch 4 or 5 - An application developed at Dartmouth College and available from Fetch Softworks; the most popular ftp client for Macintosh users. It automatically downloads and converts the binhexed files to the .sea file format.
  • Anarchie - Anarchie is an ftp and Archie client. It lets you browse ftp sites, download files, or find them using an Archie server. It requires System 7 and MacTCP 1.1 or later. Anarchie lets you view any directory as a folder, making it a very Macintosh-like application.



Question 6: What is an FTP site?

Answer: An ftp site is a server which has an Internet connection and uses the File Transfer Protocol (an agreed upon standard for transferring files using the TCP/IP protocol) to let you log on and download files. Servers can be Macintosh computers, MS-DOS computers, or UNIX based PCs or workstations. Limits, such as the number of users logged on, can be placed on an ftp site. Obviously, the more memory and processor speed a computer running as an ftp site has, the better able it is to handle more users, more file transfers, and so on.


Question 7: How do I choose the fastest/least busy download location?

Answer: The Software Downloads is posted in its entirety to a variety of mirror locations throughout the world. All mirror sites contain the same software. Customers have the option to choose an individual FTP server for their download or they can take advantage of Apple's automated FTP load balancing system. To take advantage of the FTP load balancing system, point your favorite Web browser to Apple's Software Downloads via the World Wide Web system. This allows you to search or browse the software archive and automatically sends you to the FTP mirror server that is the least busy.


Question 8: How frequently are software updates posted?

Answer: Apple does not have a schedule for releasing Software updates. Software updates are immediately released for posting as soon as they become available. You can expect new Apple Software updates to be released at least once or twice per week.


Question 9: What are ".bin" files?

Answer: ".bin" files are in MacBinary format. Your Web browser or ftp client must be configured to download MacBinary. If you are not sure if your client software supports MacBinary, click here to test your browser by downloading a 3K test file.


Question 10: What are the ".smi" files?

Answer: The .smi file suffix refers to a Disk Copy 6 self-mounting image. This image type contains Disk Copy code. Therefore, once you have downloaded the update in this format and its related .part files, double-click on the .smi image and all the required downloaded disks will be loaded into memory and a single install disk will appear on your desktop.


Question 11: What are the ".part" files?

Answer: The .part file suffix refers to a Disk Copy 6 segmented file part. This image type is used in conjunction with a .smi file. Once you have downloaded an update with a .smi file and its related .part files, double-click the .smi image and all the required downloaded disks will be loaded into memory and a single install disk will appear on the desktop.


Question 12: What is this new ".scr" file?

Answer: The .scr file suffix refers to a Disk Copy DiskScript. A DiskScript is a special file containing commands that instruct Disk Copy 6.1.2 to perform an action on a list of disk images, and to optionally open an application with or without a specific document. DiskScripts are not related to, and do not require AppleScript to run.


Question 13: What are the ".img" and ".dmg" files?

Answer: The .img and .dmg file suffixes refer to the Disk Copy disk image format. Once you have downloaded the update in this format, and any related .part files, double-click the .img or .dmg file. All the required downloaded disks will be loaded into memory and a single install disk will appear on the desktop.

For more information on .smi, .img, and .dmg files, and the Disk Copy application, refer to the following articles:

Article 106161: "Mac OS X 10.0: Using Disk Copy Images"
Article 75098: "Help: Downloading Software"


Question 14: What are the ".EXE" files?

Answer: The .EXE file suffix refers to a self-extracting MS DOS executable. Running the .EXE file will decompress the files onto a disk.


Question 15: What are the ".ZIP" files?

Answer: The .ZIP file suffix refers to a data compression format commonly used on DOS, and Microsoft Windows-based computers. Once you have downloaded the file in this format, a decompression program must be used to "UnZIP" the file. Programs such as PKWARE Inc. PKZIP, WinZIP, and others, can be used for this purpose.


Question 16: How do I find different languages in Apple Software Downloads?

Answer: Search the Knowledge Base by entering the name of the software in the query window and view the Results. The Software Downloads allows you to select the language of the software you are looking for from within each software download document. Search the Knowledge Base for a particular software, open the document, determine the language, then select it's associated software icon. The download process will begin.


Question 17: How do I find the latest driver for my Apple printer?

Answer: The article Apple Printers: Printer drivers and Cables lists software type, version, and cable information for your Apple printer.


Quesetion 18: What is the difference between software I get from Apple Support sites and software I bought?

Answer: The Software Downloads includes free updaters, utilities, beta software and in some cases full software packages from Apple. Apple Software that you buy are full shrinkwrapped software packages including manuals and documentation. AppleWorks (previously known as ClarisWorks) and other Apple Software applications are available as a full shrinkwrapped package from the Apple Store.

For a more comprehensive explanation of Claris Software and support for these products please go to article number 26176: Support for Former Claris Software Products

Need more help? Please read Article 44000

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