By Slash Lane

Published: 10:00 AM EST

The stability and performance of Time Machine, Apple's easy-to-use backup software included with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, remains one of the final focus areas for testers evaluating the company's impending 10.5.2 operating system update.

Following up on build Mac OS X 10.5.2 build 9C27, which was released privately to developers last Thursday, Apple on Monday evening issued yet another build labeled 9C30.

Like the two builds that preceded it, build 9C30 is said to contain no known issues. According to those familiar with the distribution, it also tacks on three more fixes to an already exhaustive list stretching some 135 items long.

Of the three new fixes, two target Time Machine -- one implementing a fix for restoring data from backup images and a second involving tweaks to the software's underlying BackupCore framework. When combined with earlier code revisions in previous builds, that brings the total number of Time Machine-related fixes in Mac OS X 10.5.2 Update to 10.

Additionally, Mac OS 10.5.2 build 93C0 is reported to have seen its list of core focus areas reduced from 13 to 9. Chief among those areas remaining as focal points are Time Machine, audio input, Back To My Mac, Bluetooth, Safari, and graphics drivers.

Mac OS X 10.5.2, which includes support for Apple's soon-to-be-released Time Capsule backup appliance, would need to see a release sometime this month in order for the company to make good on its self-imposed ship deadline for that product.

Other features expected as part of the Leopard update include support for a new array of multi-touch trackpad-endabled MacBook Pros, support for Remote Disc optical drive sharing on existing Macs, and a new list view in Stacks.