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macOS Ventura preview: Stage Manager is the star of the show
Apple's Stage Manager is the star of the show in macOS Ventura.
Apple iMac M1 review: The ideal portable desktop
Apple’s new iMac brings together the snappy performance of its M1 chip with a sharp redesign that makes it at home practically anywhere. With its gorgeous screen and surprisingly capable speakers, it’s pretty much the perfect family computer. And it’s so light, you won’t mind moving it from room to room.
Intel's new PC ads bring back the 'I'm a Mac' guy out of desperation
Justin Long is back in a series of absolutely desperate Intel ads.
Apple might be developing a 'Pro Mode' to speed up Macbooks
Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro was a return to form for the company, especially when it came to portable power. (We did call it the "ultimate MacBook," after all.) Now, Apple might be developing another way to speed up its notebooks: a new "Pro Mode" that users can manually turn on and off. As 9to5Mac reports, the new mode is referenced in the Catalina 10.15.3 beta build, though it doesn't appear as a working feature just yet.
macOS High Sierra preview: It's what you can't see that counts
You can tell by its name: The next version of Apple's macOS, High Sierra, isn't a huge and transformative update. Instead, like Snow Leopard and Mountain Lion, the new OS refines what came before it. It's hard not to feel a bit disappointed, though, since last year's macOS Sierra was also a modest update. It brought Siri to the desktop and Apple Pay to the web but didn't fundamentally change how we used Macs. Now with High Sierra's first public preview, we're getting even more incremental upgrades. While the new OS isn't flashy -- you'll barely even notice you've upgraded -- it's an important stepping stone for Apple. It brings along some important changes under the hood that will modernize macOS and prepare it for the future of desktop computing. But with iOS getting some major updates that make it look and feel more like macOS, especially on iPads, it's also transforming into a legitimately competitive platform to macOS. We can't help but wonder when Apple will deliver something truly new for Macs.
Parallels 11 brings Microsoft's Cortana to Macs before Siri
The latest version of Parallels, the popular Windows virtualization tool for Mac OS X, almost feels like it's trolling Apple. One of Parallels 11's key features, alongside full Windows 10 support, is its ability to put Microsoft's Cortana right on your OS X desktop. That's right -- you could have a Windows-powered virtual assistant on your Mac long before Siri reaches the desktop. Parallels has already made it possible to run Windows apps directly on your Mac desktop for years with its "Coherence mode," but this latest update marks the first time it's brought over a Windows feature on its own.
Albion Online offers a new gameplay trailer
Excited about Albion Online? Ambivalent about Albion Online? Never heard of Albion Online before this very moment whilst being extremely tired of this narrative device? Whichever category describes you, you can click on past the break to get a look at a new trailer for the game, showing just what players can expect once they load up the game. Albion Online boasts a variety of features including a player-driven economy, freeform progression, a lack of levels, and abilities defined by your choice of equipment. You can see some of it in action in the trailer; you can also support the game now to purchase alpha access and watch as the game moves through development. It's a cross-platform game designed for Windows, Macs, Android, Linux, and iOS devices.
Dog Days of Summer: Zandra, hard at iWork
It's summertime, which means that weekend TUAW readers get a respite from Caturday and get to see what the canine Apple community is up to. Our first woofer is Zandra, a hard-working guide dog who hangs out with Alex Jurgensen up in Vancouver, BC. Zandra's all decked out in an iWork jacket, not only referring to Apple's productivity apps but her status as a working dog. She also has an iPhone 4 on her harness, and appears to be setting up this 2006 education model iMac for better accessibility, since she's opened System Preferences. Zandra, who also goes by "Z", was raised by Ann in Tucson, Arizona. Alex and Z work together on a number of projects. Alex just launched an Indiegogo fundraising campaign for Solo-Dx, a project that is asking business owners to promote their businesses as part of a program to create and distribute audio description files for popular movies. The current crop of audio description files can be found on the reader-friendly Solo-Dx website. Z and Alex also work on a volunteer project together at Camp Bowen, a summer camp program for visually impaired Canadians. Read more about Camp Bowen here and be sure to donate to this worthy cause. If you have a Dog Days nominee to share, let us know via our feedback page (and please remember that the photo has to have some sort of connection to Apple and its products -- don't just send us a photo of your canine buddy). For security reasons we can't accept inbound attachments, so you should host the photo (Dropbox, Flickr, iPhoto Journals, etc.) and send us the link. Thank you Alex and Z! Description of photo for the visually impaired (since our ALT tags stop at 90 characters): Zandra is lying on the floor, wearing a black jacket. On the side of the jacket, the word "iWork" is written in white writing. This refers both to the Apple productivity apps and her status as a guide dog. On her harness is a black strap with a white Apple logo on it. The strap is holding an iPhone 4. Between her front paws is an Apple bluetooth keyboard and to the left is a Magic Trackpad. In front of her is an education model 2006 iMac CD with System Preferences open on the screen. She is looking left, towards the camera.
BearExtender Turbo starts shipping today for $80, brings 802.11ac WiFi to older Macs
Yes, it took a little longer than we originally expected. But, starting today, BearExtender is finally making its 802.11ac WiFi adapter available to Apple laptop and desktop owners who are missing out on the novel wireless standard. Much like the company's BearExtender 1200, the Turbo is also designed to add WiFi functionality to Mac computers. However, the BearExtender Turbo differentiates itself by supporting USB 3.0 and dual-band 802.11ac connectivity (2.4 and 5GHz), which is said to allow it to handle up to 867Mbps throughput speeds on the 5Ghz band. Naturally, BearExtender notes that this will depend on your internet service provider and the router being used -- for example, it recommends this year's AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule to achieve maximum performance. At $80, BearExtender's Turbo has potential to be a decent solution, one that could, perhaps, hold you over until you finally decide to upgrade to a new, 802.11ac-equipped machine.
The Daily Grind: Do you prefer games available on multiple platforms?
There's a certain glee in knowing that any time I want, I could buy a copy of Final Fantasy XIV for my PlayStation 3 and just play there instead of on the computer. I doubt I ever will, but I always have the option. And I've met more than a few people whom I enjoy playing alongside and who do play on the console, so it's certainly enriched my overall game experience. Most MMOs launch for the PC and that's it. A small number go on to develop a native Mac client, some are available on consoles or mobile decides, and so forth. You can argue that developing these extra clients takes time and resources away from improving the main game, but you can also argue that these extra clients allow people who would otherwise have never played the game to experience something awesome. So how do you feel? Do you prefer games available on multiple platforms, do you prefer development focused on just one, or do you not really care? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Apple's Q1 2013 earnings reveal Mac and iPod sales down year-over-year
Apple's just released its latest figures for Q1 2013 and buried within the overall positive earnings -- about $54.5 billion in revenues and a profit of $13.1 billion -- is a surprising sales figure. For the company's recently ended quarter, Mac sales totaled 4.1 million -- that's in stark contrast to the 5.2 million sold in the previous year-ago quarter. This startling nugget comes despite the fact that Apple issued a refreshed iMac just before the close of the holiday season -- normally a boon time for sales. But as the company's earnings call revealed, these late 2012 iMacs were apparently subject to manufacturing constraints, thus preventing Apple from shipping units to all markets. As for its lagging iPod performance, that category also saw a steep decline, dropping down by nearly 3 million in year-over-year sales and amassing just 12.7 million units sold on the backs of its latest iPod touch and iPod nano. While this dip in sales is far from a warning bell for Cupertino (hello! record quarterly profit), it certainly doesn't bode well for the halo its products have typically enjoyed.
DisplayLink finally releases USB 3.0 drivers for 2012-era Macs
Though DisplayLink has been Mac-friendly for a number of years now, the company has finally made good on their promise of speedier USB 3.0 drivers for the latest Macs (except for the barely-updated Mac Pro). If you don't recall, DisplayLink technology essentially turns a single USB port into an array of connections with the help of a compatible docking station -- so your new MacBook Air can now connect to a four monitor setup at home without using up all your ports, for example. The new driver is available as a software update and is also completely backward compatible, so those limping along with USB 2.0 should still benefit from the multiplied connections that DisplayLink enables.
Macworld lists six rare Macs
Benj Edwards of Macworld takes a walk down memory lane and lists six obscure Mac computers that saw limited production runs. All the unusual machines were produced in 1990s and include the JLPGA PowerBook 170, the Color Classic II, the Macintosh TV, Power Macintosh G3 All-in-One, Twentieth Anniversary Mac and PowerBook 550c. You can view an image of each model and read more about their history on Macworld's website. It's well worth the read!
Visualized: iOS 2011 sales smoke 28 years of Mac
Love it or hate it, Apple had a pretty stellar 2011. According to crunched numbers from Asymco, between its iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, the Cupertino outfit sold some 156 million iOS devices in 2011, marking a grand total of 316 million in the mobile OS' short history. What's most interesting here, however, is the fact that last year's digits alone have completely blown past the 122 million units daddy Mac has managed in its 28 years of existence. It's no wonder the company borrowed a few tricks from iOS for its latest desktop operating system.
Air Dictate app brings Siri's voice control to Macs, makes you feel just a little more important
Well, this was probably inevitable. Given that we've already seen Siri respond to custom commands, replace your remote and adjust the temperature in your house, it shouldn't come as a surprise that someone, somewhere has figured out how to make her control Macs. That's what's going on with Air Dictate by Avatron, a new app that allows you to dictate memos and other Very Important Business so that it appears in your text editor, without you having to type it yourself. Once you download the $1 app, you'll need to visit Avatron's website, download the Air Dictate Receiver software for your Mac and make sure the two devices are connected to the same WiFi network. So far as we can tell, it should work with any application that accepts text input, though for now it's only compatible with Macs and the iPhone 4S (sorry, jailbreakers).
Forrester does a 180 on Macs in enterprise, finds most productive staffers are Mac users
I'll bet a lot of us have fought the Mac wars in our own companies. I won some, I lost some, so it's especially gratifying to see Forrester Research urging IT to get over itself and enthusiastically support Macs in the enterprise. A new report from the research company, authored by senior analyst David K. Johnson, turns the already-stale conventional wisdom about integrating Mac OS machines into enterprise operations completely on its head. Mac-enabled employees are actually the HEROes of business, says Johnson -- Highly Empowered and Resourceful Operatives. This 17% slice of the enterprise workforce are the ones who work longer, give more effort and actually push innovation forward. The report is pricey if you're not a Forrester subscriber, but it's extensively quoted at Fortune's Apple 2.0 blog. One of the most powerful statements in the report is that Mac users forced to use Windows laptops find the PCs are "slowing them down." "Time is the only thing that these fierce competitors can't make more of. Many of today's corporate PCs are saddled with management, backup, and security agents that can bog down a PC. Employees want their PCs to boot in 10 seconds, not 10 minutes, and they don't want to have to get a cup of coffee while opening a 20 MB spreadsheet in Excel. They're drawn to uncluttered Macs -- especially those with solid-state drives, which are more responsive and boot in seconds." Pretty amazing from the same research group that warned companies in 2008 to stay well clear of the Mac. "Unless your market is a niche business group, Windows is the only desktop you need support." Even now, 41% of the enterprises that Forrester surveyed don't even support Mac clients getting access to web-based corporate email, much less welcome the Mac in as a full-fledged IT citizen. Now the tide has turned, with more and more Mac laptops making inroads into the most productive corners of the enterprise PC landscape. Forrester says, rather emphatically, "Stand in the way (of letting Apple in), and you will eventually get run over." If you want to part with US$499, you can buy a copy of the report and leave it in your boss's inbox.
British broadcaster ITV makes the move to Mac
Another major company has made the switch to the Mac. This time it's British broadcaster ITV, which is currently in the middle of a five-year technology transition. The company will switch out its employees' PCs with Macs and include Google Apps in the deal, installing Google's software on hardware for 7,000 different employees in the system. Not all of the company's employees will get Macs, as apparently different roles may still need PCs for certain types of software (Boot Camp, anyone?). Still, given the choice, I think plenty of the employees will probably elect to go Mac if they can. There's no mention of using iPads or iPhones in the workplace, but that seems a given; we've already seen in the past just how much using these devices at work can help everything from productivity to innovation. Welcome aboard, ITV. We're glad to see another big company making the switch over to the Mac platform at work.
Tim Cook: Macbook Pro and iMac are the best selling notebook and desktop in the US
Tim Cook kicked off today's 'Let's talk iPhone' event by the numbers, mentioning that "the MacBook Pro and iMac are the number one best selling notebook and desktop in the United States." Apparently the Mac platform grew by 23 percent over the last year, versus a four percent growth from the PC sector. Brandishing a chart tracing the trend back five years, Cook says that Apple is now pushing 60 million Mac users worldwide, leaving Cupertino just shy of owning a fourth of the personal computer market. "There are still 77 percent of people who are buying something else," Cook said, "We have an incredibly high ceiling here. We have a long way to go."
Apple Experience Center at Peking University riles students
Apple has constructed a promotional study center at Peking University, dubbed the Apple Experience Center. It's nice, with a glass enclosure and many Macs. Unfortunately for Apple, several university students are not happy about it. The center occupies a third-floor, former study area in the school's main library of about 430 square feet. Students will be able to use a variety of Apple goodies and order some of their own at a discount. It's a combination of academics and consumerism that's familiar to American university students, but has some Chinese students concerned. "It's totally against the spirit and environment of the library," said one student. "Apple should have discounts or give-back activities if they want self-promotion, other than introducing this commercial thing into a sacred place like this." Others fear that the draw of new Apple hardware will further crowd the library, where study space is already scarce. If you're a student at Peking University, let us know what you think of the Apple Experience Center. [Via LA Times]
Apple snags MagSafe patent for iOS devices (update: it's a movable magnetic coupling)
We've all tripped on power cords, sending laptops or other precious items tumbling to the ground. With the introduction of the MagSafe connector, back in 2006, Apple fixed the problem for clumsy MacBook owners, but has since left plugged-in iPad users up a creek. Cupertino was awarded a patent yesterday to integrate the magnetic (trip-safe) cord into future iOS devices like the iPad, potentially solving the dilemma for good. The Haus of Jobs also snagged patents for magnetic assembly and a "securing system," whatever that means. Update: Oops! While the patent does mention the possibility of integrating this technology into a "tablet computer" or "cell phone," what we're looking at isn't actually a MagSafe patent specifically for iOS devices -- it's a movable magnetic coupling.
