MacRumors.com

AppleInsider reports that Apple began seeding Mac OS X 10.6.1, the first maintenance update to Snow Leopard, earlier this week to a select group of developers. MacRumors can confirm that it received similar word earlier this week that Apple had opened a discussion forum through its invitation-only AppleSeed program to allow OS X 10.6.1 testers to provide feedback to Apple engineers and that Apple had begun the seeding distribution.

Those receiving the first builds are part of smaller, more exclusive seeding programs run by the Cupertino-based company. They traditionally operate on an invitation-only basis, unlike the Apple Developer Connection open all developers willing to pay membership fees.

The report notes that builds seeded to this limited audience generally make their way to broader developer distribution through the traditional ADC channels within a week or two.