Tag: macOS

News

Apple Seeds Second Public Beta of macOS 14.5

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 17, 2024
No Comments on Apple Seeds Second Public Beta of macOS 14.5

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Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.5 update to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its launch. The public beta comes two weeks after Apple released the first public beta.

macos sonoma 4
Beta testers can opt-in through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Under Beta updates, simply toggle on the Sonoma Public Beta. Note that you must sign up to participate on Apple’s beta testing website.

There have been no new features found in the ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.5 developer betas so far, and Apple listed no additions in its release notes. It is likely that the update focuses on bug fixes and other small under-the-hood improvements.

Apple Seeds Second Beta of macOS Sonoma 14.5 to Developers

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 16, 2024
No Comments on Apple Seeds Second Beta of macOS Sonoma 14.5 to Developers

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Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.5 update to developers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple released the first beta.

sonoma desktop wwdc
Registered developers can opt-in to the beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Note that an Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.

We don’t yet know what might be included in ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.5, and no new features were found in the first developer beta.

I switched over from Windows to Mac, and these are my three favorite macOS features

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date April 8, 2024
No Comments on I switched over from Windows to Mac, and these are my three favorite macOS features

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I’ve been a Windows user for a very long time, since my very first IT class way back in primary school. It’s the system I’ve used the most, so I was excited – though a little intimidated – when I switched over to using a Mac mini as my regular computer a year ago.

It may have taken a while to get used to, but the amazing features packed into macOS have converted me into a superfan – so here are my three favorite features that’ll keep me on macOS forever.

Universal Control

This is perhaps the most useful feature on macOS for people like me who have more than one Apple device. Universal Control allows a single mouse and keyboard to work across your iPhone, iPad, or another Mac, without having to individually set up your peripherals for each device. Alongside the Mac mini I use for work, I often have my iPad set up on my desk to play music or listen to podcasts while I work, and whenever I want to change a song, skip an episode, or just quickly Google something I can just swipe my mouse over to the left side and use my tablet as a second display.

Should I want to do something quickly without having to boot up my entire system and log into all my accounts, I can set the iPad back on my desk and use the keyboard to write quick notes, brainstorm story ideas, or just respond to a particularly lengthy email. I love being able to use all my devices with the same two peripherals.

If you’d like to give it a go, make sure your two devices are linked to the same iCloud account, and then head over to the menu bar on your Mac and click the Control Center option. You should then see an option to ‘Link keyboard and mouse to [device]’. With that enabled, you should be able to move your pointer over to the edge of your Mac screen until it appears on your iPad or MacBook.

Airplay to Mac

A hand holding an iPhone in front of a TV

(Image credit: Future)

Airplay is a feature that allows you to share content from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, or from Mac to Mac if you have say an iMac and a MacBook. Not unlike Universal Control, you can effortlessly extend or mirror your display and use your other screen as an external display.

I love this feature because I could be watching a video or a movie on my iPad or my iPhone and just throw it over to my iMac if I want a bigger screen, which has been super helpful for me as I haven’t had a TV for years. So, if I’m snuggled up in bed and want to throw my comfort show up on the big screen on my bedroom desk, I can do it straight from bed as long as my iMac is on.

You can turn on Airplay by making sure your AirDrop and Handoff setting is enabled, and you’ll be prompted to select which devices to allow Airplay content to stream to. Keep in mind that you’ll again need to be signed into the same iCloud account on your devices.

AirDrop

(Image credit: Apple / Future)

Possibly one of the most helpful features across all Apple devices, Airdrop is a timesaver and incredibly useful in almost every situation. With Airdrop you can wirelessly and painlessly send photos, videos, documents, and more to other nearby devices and Mac computers. So, if I want to send over a file on my phone to my Mac to email to someone I can quickly select the file on my phone and Airdrop it to my Mac with a few taps on the screen.

I’ve used AirDrop almost every day since I got my Mac mini, and I don’t know what I’d do without it. It’s not just helpful for sending myself files, but quickly AirDropping something to a friend from my computer to their phone works the same way with AirDrop, so you’ll be able to use the feature with other people’s Apple devices as well. It’s such a good feature that I’m amazed it took Android so long to receive it.

You can turn on AirDrop on any of your Apple devices straight from the control center, so on your iPhone or iPad you just need to swipe down from the top of your screen and enable AirDrop, and the same with your Mac device. You’ll find the setting on the top right of your Mac screen, and you can decide whether to enable the feature for your contacts only or for anyone.

Apple Seeds First Public Beta of macOS 14.5

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 4, 2024
No Comments on Apple Seeds First Public Beta of macOS 14.5

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Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.5 update to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its launch. The public beta comes a day after Apple released the developer beta.

There were no new features found in the ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.5 developer beta, and Apple listed no additions in its release notes. It is likely that the update focuses on bug fixes and other small under-the-hood improvements.

Apple finally begins beta testing iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 2, 2024
No Comments on Apple finally begins beta testing iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5

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Apple Devices Spring 2024 — There are fresh operating system betas for all types of Apple computers.
*Photo: Apple*

After a wait that stretched out weeks longer than usual, Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 17.5 to developers Tuesday, along with the initial beta of macOS Sonoma 14.5.

And it’s going to be a very busy day for developers because iPadOS 17.5 beta 1, watchOS 10.5 beta 1, tvOS 17.5 beta 1 and visionOS 1.2 beta 1 also all went out.

iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5 are ready for developers to start testing

Work on all Apple’s operating systems is virtually continuous, and the Mac-maker traditionally releases betas of upcoming OS versions the day after the full previous version goes to all users. That’s not what happened this time.

iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 went to the public on March 5, while macOS Sonoma 14.4, watchOS 10.4, etc., debuted March 7. Apple made developers wait almost a month for betas for the follow-up versions. Still, they are out now.

They are likely to bring new features and changes, but they have just been seeded to devs so there’s been no time to determine what the differences are yet.

The build numbers for the just-released betas end in “f” (in a countdown to “a”), giving Apple plenty of space before the final releases.

Just for devs

Currently, the first round of OS betas for iPhone, Mac, iPad and Apple TV are available only for those in Apple’s developer program.

Those in Apple’s free public beta program will gain access, too, but that might take a while. If Apple follows its usual habits, the second round of betas won’t arrive for two weeks.

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Tags Apple, begins, Beta, finally, iOS, macOS, Sonoma, testing

News

Apple Seeds First Beta of macOS Sonoma 14.5 to Developers

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 2, 2024
No Comments on Apple Seeds First Beta of macOS Sonoma 14.5 to Developers

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Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.5 update to developers, with the software coming nearly a month after Apple released macOS Sonoma 14.4.

We don’t yet know what might be included in ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.5, but if new features are found in the beta, we’ll update this post.

What to Expect From macOS 15

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 29, 2024
No Comments on What to Expect From macOS 15

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When WWDC 2024 takes place in June, Apple will unveil the next-generation version of macOS, macOS 15. While most of what we’ve heard about upcoming software has been focused on iOS, macOS and iOS often share many features, so we have some idea of what’s coming to macOS as well.

macOS 15 Feature

AI Features

Apple is working to add a number of AI-centric features to its operating system updates, many of which are likely to be cross-platform.

AI-generated Apple Music playlists.
AI-assisted writing in Pages.
AI-assisted slide deck creation in Keynote.
AI code writing features in Xcode.
Siri improvements and deeper integration with Shortcuts.

‌Siri‌ could benefit the most from AI improvements, and there are rumors suggesting the personal assistant will be better at natural conversation and user personalization, with the new functionality set to be available cross-device.

Apple is specifically working on improved interaction between ‌Siri‌ and the Messages app, so ‌Siri‌ will be able to do things like auto-complete sentences more effectively and follow multi-part, complex commands.

Deeper integration with the Shortcuts app could allow users to automate complex tasks that involve multiple apps.

There is a slim possibility there might be some kind of chatbot based on generative AI, as rumors suggest that Apple is considering partnering with Google or OpenAI to use their large language models, but Apple may also just be planning to use generative AI for system features.

Other New Additions

There are several other features that are rumored to be coming to ‌macOS 15‌.

Accessibility – Apple is working on an Adaptive Voice Shortcuts feature for creating a custom phrase and linking an accessibility setting to it, plus there will be an option for organizing Live Speech into user-created categories.
Freeform – A Scenes feature will let users select specific sections or Scenes within their boards for faster navigation and sharing.
Maps – The Maps app may gain support for creating custom routes, and it may also be upgraded with topographic maps.

Name

Since 2013, Apple has been using California landmark names for the Mac operating system, and there’s no sign that’s going to change. Apple has trademarked several names over the last decade, and some of the possibilities that have yet to be used include Redwood, Grizzly, Sequoia, Mammoth, Pacific, Rincon, Farallon, Miramar, Condor, Diablo, and Shasta.

Apple could go with a non-trademarked name, and it has done so several times in the past.

These are the names that Apple has used since it started naming macOS after California landmarks:

Mavericks
Yosemite
El Capitan
Sierra
High Sierra
Mojave
Catalina
Big Sur
Monterey
Ventura
Sonoma

Release Date

‌macOS 15‌ will be previewed at the ‌WWDC 2024‌ keynote on Monday, June 10. The first beta will be provided to developers that same day, and a public beta will likely follow in the summer.

‌macOS 15‌ will then see a public launch sometime in the fall, either in September or October based on past launch timelines.

For more on what to expect in ‌macOS 15‌, check out our ‌macOS 15‌ roundup, which we will keep up to date both before and after WWDC.

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Tags Expect, macOS

Bisnis Industri

macOS patch fixes vexing bugs with USB hubs and more

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 25, 2024
No Comments on macOS patch fixes vexing bugs with USB hubs and more

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macOS bug fixed — Install macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 to make your Mac less buggy.
*Photo: Apple/Pixabay/Pexels*

Mac users should install macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a patch to remove a bug with USB hubs that made headlines. The update released Monday also takes care of a couple of other problems, too.

Currently, it’s the only OS update coming out of Cupertino on Monday, meaning Apple Watch and tvOS users are still waiting.

macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 is just a bug fix patch

macOS Sonoma 14.4 launched in early March with new emoji and an enhanced Podcasts app. But it also introduced some bugs.

These have now been taken care of by macOS Somoma 14.4.1. The official release notes from Apple for the new version say:

This update provides bug fixes for your Mac, including:

- USB hubs connected to external displays may not be recognized
- Copy protected Audio Unit plug-ins designed for professional music apps may not open or pass validation
- Apps that include Java may quit unexpectedly

The notes make it clear there are no new features in Monday’s release. Still, no Mac user wants bugs.

How to update your Mac to the latest

To download the macOS Sonoma update, go to Apple menu  > About This Mac. Then click Software Update. Alternatively, you can install the new version from the App Store. (Note: At the time of this writing, Apple had not yet updated the version of macOS in the App Store. But it should happen soon.)

iPhone and iPad not overlooked

While Apple typically updates the operating systems on all its devices simultaneously, that’s not what is happened this time. Late last week, Cupertino introduced iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 for iPhone and iPad users, but made Mac users wait until today for a similar patch.

And speaking of waiting, Apple Watch is still on watchOS 10.4 and Apple TV remains on tvOS 17.4. It’s possible they’ll get their own patches soon.

Plus, Apple has yet to seed macOS 14.5, iOS 17.5, etc. to beta testers.

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Tags Bugs, Fixes, Hubs, macOS, patch, USB, vexing

News

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 25, 2024
No Comments on Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug

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Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the ‌macOS Sonoma‌ operating system that launched last September. ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.4.1 comes three weeks after ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.4.

sonoma desktop wwdc
The ‌‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌‌ 14.4‌ update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There’s also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who are still running macOS Ventura.

According to Apple’s release notes, the ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.4.1 update fixes an issue that could cause USB hubs connected to external displays not to be recognized. It also addresses an issue that could cause apps with Java to quit unexpectedly, and it fixes an issue that could cause Audio Unit plug-ins for professional music apps not to open.

macOS Sonoma 14.4 Bug ‘Destroys Saved Versions in iCloud Drive’

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 19, 2024
No Comments on macOS Sonoma 14.4 Bug ‘Destroys Saved Versions in iCloud Drive’

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Apple’s latest macOS Sonoma 14.4 software update appears to be guilty of another bug, this time affecting saved versions in iCloud Drive.

iCloud Bug Feature Green
Versions are normally created automatically when users save files using apps that work with the version system in macOS. (To check if your Mac is using the past versions system, look for a “Revert To” option in the app’s File menu.)

According to The Electric Light Company‘s Howard Oakley, users running macOS 14.4 that have “Optimize Mac Storage” enabled should be aware that they are at risk of losing all previously saved versions of a file if they opt to remove it from iCloud Drive local storage.

In previous versions of macOS, when a file is evicted from local storage in iCloud Drive [using the Remove Download option in the right-click contextual menu], all its saved versions have been preserved. Download that file again from iCloud Drive, and versions saved on that Mac (but not other Macs or devices) have remained fully accessible. Do that in 14.4, and all previous versions are now removed, and lost forever.

Oakley said his own tests confirmed that this behavior does not happen in macOS Sonoma 14.3 or macOS Ventura, so it is exclusive to macOS 14.4. For users who have already updated, he suggests either not saving files to iCloud Drive at all, or turning off Optimize Mac Storage.

To perform the latter in System Settings, click your Apple ID, select iCloud, and then toggle off the switch next to “Optimize Mac Storage.” You may need to perform this action twice – reports suggest it can turn back on by itself. For a more exhaustive account of the problem, see Oakley’s subsequent post.

There are several bugs reported in macOS 14.4, and we have recorded some of the most prominent issues in a dedicated article that we have updated since this story was published. Have you been affected by the latest bug? Let us know in the comments.

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