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Apple is bringing the iPhone's night mode to the Mac
Ask Mac users which app they install first and they may well point you to F.lux, which adjusts the color temperature of your screen to cut back on eye strain as night sets in. Well, that recommendation may have just gone out the window for most people. Users have discovered that the latest macOS Sierra beta (10.12.4) includes a Night Shift mode that, like its iOS counterpart, can automatically shift toward a warmer tint. You can set a schedule (say, when sunset arrives) and fine-tune the colors in case they're a little too pronounced for your liking.
Apple is dropping its battery life estimate on Macs
You probably don't trust your laptop's battery life estimates, and that's especially true if you happen to own the latest MacBook Pro. It's supposed to last for up to 10 hours, but the estimated time can vary wildly depending on what's running at any given moment. Apple has a very simple solution to that: get rid of the estimate entirely. The company has released macOS Sierra 10.12.2, which ditches the "time remaining" display from the menu bar. That's not so hot if you depend on that figure to determine when you'll need to recharge, but our TechCrunch colleagues understand that this might be necessary given evolving technology.
macOS Sierra review: Mac users get a modest update this year
This is almost like part two of my macOS Sierra review. I had a chance to test Apple's newest desktop operating system at the beginning of the summer, just before it was released in a public beta. The software hasn't changed much since, but a few of the headline features were missing from that earlier build; Apple said they wouldn't be available until the final version shipped in the fall. As it happens, Sierra arrives today as a free upgrade, so I'm picking up right where I left off. What follows is my full review of Sierra, though if you read my earlier preview, or have been using the software yourself, you won't find many big surprises here.
Apple's macOS Sierra is now available for download
If you skipped the beta releases, today's the day you can put Siri to work on a Mac. Apple's latest desktop operating system, macOS Sierra, is now available for download. While the new version debuted back at WWDC and followed with a public beta, this is the first time the finished product will be available to the masses via the App Store on a Mac.
What to expect from Apple's 'See You' iPhone event
It's that time of year again. It's the end of summer, and Apple is once again on the cusp of introducing a new iPhone. Only this year, there's a different buzz. There's been talk of Cupertino playing it relatively safe with a new smartphone for the second year in a row or even taking away the time-honored headphone jack. What's the deal with that? And of course, this is likely just the tip of the iceberg. The Apple Watch is getting long in the tooth, new versions of iOS and macOS are nearly ready... and as many will tell you, large swaths of Apple's iPad and Mac lineups are gathering dust. But just what are you going to see when Tim Cook and company take the stage? We've rounded up some of the more plausible leaks, rumors and educated guesses to help set expectations for Apple's September 7th media extravaganza.
VMware won't charge you to run a new OS in Fusion
Virtual machine software is theoretically a one-and-done purchase, but you know that's not how it works in practice. You typically end up buying an upgrade every year just to get the latest operating system support, whether it's in the virtual environment or your native OS of choice. You might not have to run on that treadmill this year, though. VMware is releasing free upgrades to Fusion (8.5 and 8.5 Pro) and Workstation (12.5 and 12.5 Pro) that support the latest and greatest platforms. The Linux, Mac and Windows versions of those programs can all run Windows 10 Anniversary Update and Windows Server 2016 in a virtual system, including multiple systems on Linux and Windows. On the Mac, Fusion will also take advantage of macOS Sierra features like Siri voice commands and tabbed windows.
Apple releases second public betas for iOS 10 and macOS Sierra
Were you quick to hop on the test versions of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra? It's time to start updating. Apple has released the second public betas of both platforms, and they're not just adding some spit and polish. The new iOS 10 beta introduces a functioning option for using Touch ID to unlock your device the "old-fashioned" iOS 9 way, where resting your finger is enough to get to your home screen. If you lock an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus, you'll get vibration feedback. And if you're a health maven, you can opt to share your activity and workout data to help improve Apple's fitness features.
Apple releases macOS Sierra beta to the public
If you can't wait to see how Siri works on Apple's upcoming desktop platform, head over to beta.apple.com. Cupertino has just released the public beta of macOS Sierra, and you can download it today from the company's website. We took an earlier iteration of the OS for a spin in June, so you probably already have an idea of what to expect. Besides Siri, it also introduces a picture-in-picture mode for iTunes and Safari, a universal clipboard for macOS and iOS, a more feature-rich messaging app and a redesigned iTunes. Apple has made a few changes since then, though, including switching up Siri's keyboard shortcut from Fn-spacebar to command-space hold.
Apple will deactivate Flash by default on Safari 10
You know that Maya Angelou quote that says "Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option?" If Flash were a person following that tenet, then it now has to drop Safari from its dwindling list of priorities. In a post on the WebKit blog, Apple engineer Ricky Mondello has revealed that the company is deactivating Adobe Flash by default on Safari 10. That's the version of the browser shipping with macOS Sierra this fall.
Apple details its latest desktop operating system: macOS Sierra
It wouldn't be WWDC without Apple detailing a new version of OS X. Oh wait, scratch that: Cupertino's desktop operating system is now named macOS, as had been rumored in recent weeks. But the name change isn't the only thing being discussed at the developers conference. For starters, Apple is bringing Siri to the Mac, giving users hands-free access to their computer. There's a new feature called Auto Unlock too, which will allow you to unlock your Mac with via an Apple Watch.
