Privacy-preserving URL protection and beefed-up password protection are coming to Google Safe Browsing for the popular Chrome browser for macOS and iOS, Google said Thursday. The Chrome security update comes to Macs, iPhones and iPads first. Android devices will see them later in March.
Here are the new features to try in macOS Sonoma 14.4
The wait is over for macOS Sonoma 14.4, with the new version going out a bit sooner than expected. It brings in new emoji plus auto-generated transcripts in the Apple Podcasts app.
watchOS 10.4 also went to all users on Thursday, as did tvOS 17.4 and visionOS 1.1.
Apple updates iOS, iPadOS, macOS and watchOS with single bug fix
Apple made an unexpected software update available Thursday with a bug fix across devices, releasing macOS Sonoma 14.3.1, iOS 17.3.1, iPadOS 17.3.1 and watchOS 10.3.1 for users to install.
The fix relates to text that automatically duplicates or overlaps in various apps, like Safari, Mail and Messages.
Evolution of the Mac: 40 years of innovation
The 40-year history of Macintosh computers is a roller coaster of ages golden and dark.
Anything that lasts so long in the forefront of technology has to change to stay relevant. This once-plucky computer that began as an antithesis to the IBM PC, which dominated the world in 1984, is now itself a dominating force, ever pushing the needle in the world of technology.
How did this all happen? Let’s walk through 40 years of Macintosh.
How to set up your new Mac like a pro
It’s a great season to get a new Mac. Every Mac today is a great buy. If you’re one of the lucky people to get one this year, here’s how to set it up like a pro.
So rip open that box, tear off that plastic and get to the good stuff.
If this is your first Mac with Apple’s powerful new chips inside, you’re in for a real treat. It’s pretty easy to set up whether you have an old Mac to transfer data from or you’re starting from scratch. There are a few choices to make along the way, though, and some essential tricks and apps you’ll want to consider, so we’re here to take you through the process.
Here is Cult of Mac’s guide to setting up your new Mac the right way.
A Time Machine widget for your Mac desktop [Awesome Apps]
Backup Status is a simple app that puts a Time Machine widget on your Mac desktop (or stows it away in your Notification Center). If you don’t want the Time Machine icon cluttering up your menu bar, this is a straightforward alternative.
Time Machine, of course, is Apple’s software that makes continuous backups of your files to a separate part of your disk, an external hard drive or network-attached storage. Everyone should use Time Machine.
And, after you set it up, you should try Backup Status, the fun little app that lets you easily monitor your Time Machine backups.
Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch get new features in OS upgrades
If you own an Apple computer of any shape or size, odds are it just got an operating system upgrade. Monday brought the public launch of macOS Sonoma 14.2, iPadOS 17.2, iOS 17.2, watchOS 10.2 and tvOS 17.2.
And these aren’t simple bug fixes. There’s new features.
Important iOS and macOS patches close security vulnerabilities
Apple released iOS 17.1.2 and macOS Sonoma 14.1.2 on Thursday. These are security patches for bugs that have been actively exploited by hackers. As such, they come strongly recommended.
iPadOS 17.1.2 was also released to take care of the same issues.
Fresh iOS, watchOS and macOS patches launch to squash bugs
Apple just introduced iOS 17.1.1 to patch a nasty glitch with BMW cars. And there’s watchOS 10.1.1, a promised fix for a battery bug affecting many Apple Watch users.
Plus Mac users can now install macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 with its own bug patches. And don’t overlook iPadOS 17.1.1.
Today in Apple history: OS X Panther claws its way onto Macs
October 25, 2003: Mac OS X Panther arrives on Macintosh computers, bringing several useful new features and making Safari Apple’s default web browser for the first time.
The new Exposé feature in OS X Panther lets Mac users instantly view all open windows at once. And the new iChat AV allows people to talk with audio and video as well as text.
macOS Sonoma 14.1 release delivers some handy tweaks
Apple introduced macOS Sonoma 14.1 on Wednesday, so it’s out of beta testing and ready for Macs going back about five years. The update includes a few modest enhancements and bug fixes.
Here’s what’s new.
iOS 17.1 and macOS 14.1 take their last step before release
Apple gave developers access to the release candidates of iOS 17.1 and macOS 14.1 on Tuesday. This is the last round of testing before introducing them to the public.
Release candidates for iPadOS 17.1, watchOS 10.1 and tvOS 17.1 also went out.
New ‘Meet with Apple Experts’ opens labs and more to developers
The new Meet with Apple Experts program helps Apple developers easily find and join workshops, labs and one-on-one consultations to help them build great apps, Apple said Tuesday.
The new dedicated resource builds on other programs for developers, incorporating their programming.
The 36 best macOS Sonoma features you should try after you update
macOS Sonoma may not have the same buzz as iOS, but there are loads of new features this year to try out on your Mac. You can get beautiful Apple TV-style aerial screensavers, widgets on your desktop, powerful enhancements to Safari and more.
macOS Sonoma will be released at about 10 AM Pacific on Tuesday, September 26. Here are the 36 best features you can look for after you update.
Install these updates ASAP to protect your iPhone and Mac from hackers
Apple released iOS 16.6.1, macOS 13.5.2, iPadOS 16.6.1 and watchOS 9.6.2 on Thursday to address a potentially serious security vulnerability. All the updates fix security flaws, including one that may already have been exploited by hackers to deliver the infamous Pegasus spyware.
So don’t delay — update your devices with these patches soon.
Long iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 beta-testing process nears end
The launch of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 is drawing close, as the many steps of beta testing for these operating systems are almost finished. The same holds true for tvOS 17, and watchOS 10 is nearly as close. Apple likely will release them all in September.
macOS Sonoma, however, isn’t expected to debut until later.
ChatGPT digs up major threat to Macs on dark web
A security company recently asked OpenAI’s ChatGPT about Mac threats online and used the results to uncover some scary malware for sale from Russia on the dark web.
At a price of $60,000, it can give an attacker total control of someone’s Mac. A more damaging version is available for $80,000.
In any case, if the malware gets on your Mac, you won’t know it’s there, it’s very hard to get rid of, and it can steal a lot of your information. Luckily, you can probably avoid it.
iOS 16.6 and macOS 13.5 arrive to squash some bugs
iPhone and Mac users can now install iOS 16.6 and macOS Ventura 13.5. These are mostly bug-fix updates with only a few tweaks, but are still worth installing.
Apple also launched iPadOS 16.6, watchOS 9.6 and tvOS 16.6.
iOS 16.6 and macOS 13.5 are less than a week away
The release candidates for iOS 16.6 and macOS Ventura 13.5 were seeded to developers on Tuesday. These are the final betas of minor bug updates without significant new features, but nevertheless they will be worth installing when the final versions are released, almost certainly within a week.
The same is true for iPadOS 16.6 RC, watchOS 9.6 RC and tvOS 16.6 RC.
Debugged iOS and macOS Rapid Security Response patches are ready for installation
Apple’s on again/off again Rapid Security Response patches for iOS 16.5.1, macOS Ventura 13.4.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1 are once again available. These have been cleared of the bugs that caused Apple to withdraw them after the initial release.
The updated RSR patches are critical because they close a security hole that has been exploited by hackers.
How to install the new iOS and macOS Rapid Security Response [Update]
Apple launched in mid July a trio of Rapid Security Responses to fix urgent security problems in iOS 16.5.1, macOS Ventura 13.4.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1. It was then forced to withdraw them, but they have since been debugged and re-released.
These are the latest entries in a relatively new system created to quickly fix security holes without requiring a full OS update.
Apple withdraws latest iOS and macOS Rapid Security Response patches
The Rapid Security Response patches released Monday for iOS 16.5.1, macOS Ventura 13.4.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1 have been pulled back by Apple. They made changes to WebKit, and reportedly were causing problems with some websites.
This isn’t ideal, as they were introduced to close a security hole that has been exploited by hackers.
New updates for iPhone, Mac and Apple Watch squash bugs
Apple just introduced a slew of operating system updates. That includes iOS 16.5.1, macOS 13.4.1, watchOS 9.5.2 and iPadOS 16.5.1, which fix bugs in the most recent versions.
But it also released bug-fix updates for older versions of the operating systems going back as far as 2020.
What hasn’t yet arrived on Wednesday are the much-anticipated second round of betas for iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma.
How to file Apple bug reports (and why you should do it ASAP)
June is the best time of the year to give feedback to Apple. After releasing the initial betas of the new software releases, this is when engineers have the most time to address bugs and make changes. It won’t be long before their task lists fill up through the fall, when the software will be released. After that, teams are rearranged to make the sprint toward the next year’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
How do you file a bug report or send in feedback on iPhone or Mac? Apple made a tool called Feedback Assistant that will guide you through the process. It’s available if you’re running a developer beta or (soon-to-be-released) public beta of iOS, macOS or iPadOS.
So if you have any input, you’d best make yourself heard now.
10 awesome new features Apple didn’t talk about at WWDC23
Despite dumping massive engineering resources into its brand-new visionOS platform for the Vision Pro headset, Apple is bringing loads of new features to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and even tvOS this year. Headlining features include NameDrop, StandBy, Journal, Live Stickers, pet tagging in Photos and blurring unsolicited nude pictures.
However, Apple didn’t have time during its jam-packed WWDC23 keynote this week to cover all the new features. Now that iOS 17 is out, here are some of the hidden gems people have discovered in Apple’s latest operating systems.