Apple has released Mac OS X 10.6.2 vis Software Update.

The 10.6.2 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes for:

• an issue that might cause your system to logout unexpectedly

• a graphics distortion in Safari Top Sites

• Spotlight search results not showing Exchange contacts

• a problem that prevented authenticating as an administrative user

• issues when using NTFS and WebDAV file servers

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As it does in every major upgrade to Mac OS X, Apple has renovated System Preferences in Snow Leopard, reorganizing individual panes and changing the layout of settings within panes. You’ll also find new settings and wonder where some old ones went. Here are some of the most notable changes.

Accounts This pane now provides the option of joining a Network Account Server.

Appearance You can no longer specify a font smoothing style (Leopard let you choose from Automatic, Standard, Light, Medium, and Strong); you can choose only whether or not to use the feature and the font size at which it automatically turns on or off.

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We have received multiple independent tips — some even from trusted sources — that Apple plans to release Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard on Friday, August 28, 2009.

Please note that Apple’s official release date has not been announced and the company’s website states, “Mac OS X Snow Leopard is scheduled to be released in September 2009.”

UPDATE: 9:17am EDT: John Gruber over at Daring Fireball is hearing the same date, too.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Judge Bork" for the Daring Fireball heads up.]