• Introducing the next generation of Mac (pr)
  - New MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, & Mac mini powered by Apple's M1 Chip.
  
  
• Apple unleashes M1 (pr)
  - "M1 is Apple's first chip designed specifically for the Mac.
  M1 is optimized for Macs in which small size & power efficiency are critically important."

• macOS Big Sur is here (press release)
  - "fresh new design, enhancements to Safari, Messages, Maps, & privacy,
  and engineered for the M1 chip".
  
  
• About the security content of macOS Big Sur 11.0.1
  
  
• macOS Big Sur home page (now goes to latest macOS version)
  
  
• Apple Xcode 12.2 (for macOS 10.15.4 or later)
  - Swift 5.3 & SDKs for iOS 14.2, iPadOS 14.2, tvOS 14.2, watchOS 7.1, & Big Sur.
  - See linked page for more details.

Security Update 2020-006 Downloads
(D/L pages dated Nov. 12/Nov. 11, but not posted until the 18th/17th.)
• Download Security Update 2020-006 (Mojave) (1.23 GB)
• Download Security Update 2020-006 (High Sierra) (1.25 GB)

NOTE: Apple's High Sierra forum has several threads on problems running App Store Apps (CODESIGNING error) after the update for High Sierra. Not sure if the download updaters will help. (3 links to Apple forum threads removed after posts no longer online.)
A reader (Bill S.) said he's had no problems with App Store apps after applying the High Sierra Security Update 2020-006:

"I have very few apps from the app store, but those still work okay after the 2020-006 Security update. If you can tell me one example of a particular app that has been reported not to work, I will download it and give it a try.
- Bill "

FYI: If you use Nvidia's web graphics drivers for 10.13.6, the Security Update's new build number requires a driver update. See Nov. 17th, 2020 update on our Mac Nvidia Drivers page.

• Introduce support for Apple Silicon Macs.
  Geekbench 5.3 is a Universal binary and can now measure the native performance of Apple Silicon Macs and Intel Macs. Geekbench 5.3 can also measure the Rosetta 2 performance of Apple Silicon Macs.
  
  
• Introduce support for VAES256 instructions.
  Geekbench 5.3 includes a VAES256 implementation of the AES-XTS workload, which will improve performance on processors that support VAES256 instructions but not VAES512 instructions (e.g., the AMD Zen 3 processors). Processors that support both VAES256 and VAES512 instructions (e.g., the Intel Ice Lake and Tiger Lake processors) will use the existing VAES512 implementation of the AES-XTS workload.
  
  
• Geekbench 5.3 CPU Benchmark scores are compatible with Geekbench 5.1 and Geekbench 5.2 scores (except when run on Apple Silicon Macs or AMD Zen 3 processors, in which case 5.3 scores will be higher than 5.2 scores). Geekbench 5.3 Compute Benchmark scores are compatible with Geekbench 5.2.

• Pages for Mac version 10.3.5
  - See what's new in Pages for Mac.
  
  
• Numbers for Mac version 10.3.5
  - See what's new in Numbers for Mac.
  
  
• Keynote for Mac version 10.3.8
  (10.3.8 has bug fixes/improvements - What's new article below has v10.3.5 changes.)
  - See what's new in Keynote for Mac.
  
  
• iOS Pages version 10.3.5
  (10.3.5 has bug fixes/improvements - What's new article below has v10.2 changes.)
  - See what's new in Pages for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
  
  
• iOS Numbers version 10.3.5
  (10.3.5 has bug fixes/improvements - What's new article below has v10.2 changes.)
  - See what's new in Numbers for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
  
  
• iOS Keynote version 10.3.5
  (10.3.5 has bug fixes/improvements - What's new article below has v10.2 changes.)
  - See what's new in Keynote for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

• I've added Nov. 11th dated downloads of the macOS 10.15.7 Supplemental Update and a macOS 10.15.7 Combo Update to the Nov. 5th page on the Supplemental update.
  
  
• macOS GarageBand version 10.4.1 for macOS Big Sur. (Requires macOS 11.0 or later)
  - Refined new design on macOS Big Sur.
  - Improved performance & efficiency on Macs with Apple silicon.
  - Allows customization of region colours in your tracks.
  - Adds over 190 instrument patches and 50 vintage and modern drum kits.
  - Adds 1,800 Apple Loops in a variety of genres.
  - More details in the GarageBand for macOS release notes.
  
  
• Carbon Copy Cloner article on Bootable Big Sur backups updated with this note:

  "Apple addressed some of the APFS replication issues in the Big Sur 11.0.1 update, and CCC 5.1.23-b1 includes support for making bootable backups on Big Sur. This build is also a Universal Binary, so it will run natively on M1 Macs. Obviously we won't know if it will make a bootable backup of an M1 Mac yet, but we'll be sorting that out over the next few weeks during the CCC 5.1.23 beta cycle. To access the beta, go to CCC's Preferences > Software Update and check the box to be informed of beta releases, then click the button to check for updates. Please note that this does not change our advice on waiting for the upgrade, we think it's best practice to wait for some OS updates to come along before applying a major OS upgrade to a production Mac."

  
  
• CNAME Cloaking and Bounce Tracking Defense (apple webkit blog)
  - "Covers several enhancements to Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) in Safari 14 on macOS Big Sur, Catalina, and Mojave, iOS 14, and iPadOS 14 to address our latest discoveries in the industry around tracking."
  
  
• iPhone and iPad apps are coming to Mac (apple developer news)
  
  
• Apple TestFlight iOS App v3.0.0 (app store)
  - Support for automatic updates, ensuring you're testing the latest beta build.
  - Stability improvements and bug fixes.
  
  
• Microsoft Office for Mac (365/2019) version 16.43 (20110804)
  - See Nov. 10, 2020 release notes. (with security update for Excel.)
  
  
• Yamaha ProVisionaire Touch iOS App v3.7.0 (Free, for iOS 11 or later)
  (Customizable wireless iPad control for Yamaha PA systems)
  - Added the "External Events" function.
  - Modified (fixed?) the small bugs.
  - Yamaha Announces ProVisionaire Version 3.8 Update (pr)
  - ProVisionaire Touch for iPad product page with details, supported devices, etc.
  (Down the page is a ProVisionaire Touch Setup Guide (PDF) download.)

• How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur
  
  
• How to create a bootable installer for macOS
  - added Big Sur info.
  
  
• Find out which macOS your Mac is using
  
  
• How to update the software on your Mac
  
  
• (How to) Play HDR video on Mac
  - Mac models that support HDR video on HDR10-compatible displays.
  
  
• Graphics card compatibility for Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, and Compressor 4
  
  
• How to Back up Logic Pro
• If Logic Pro isn't working
• Avoid system overloads in Logic Pro
• Manage Logic Pro input monitoring latency
• Optimize Alchemy for improved performance
  
  
• About Apple ProRes RAW
  
  
• How to rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac
  
  
• How to Use True Tone on your Mac (with Retina Displays or Pro Display XDR)
  
  
• How to use Dark Mode on your Mac
  - Includes tips on making the backgrounds in apps not use dark mode.
  (I like Dark Mode but didn't want the pages in apps to be dark with white text.)
  
  
• Combine multiple audio interfaces by creating an Aggregate Device
  
  
• How to take a screenshot on your Mac
  
  
• How to use Night Shift on your Mac (see system requirements)
  
  
• How to use two Mac apps side by side in Split View
  
  
• How to use your iPad as a second display for your Mac with Sidecar
  - See list of requirements and compatible Macs and iPads.
  
  
• Find movies with 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, or Dolby Atmos in the Apple TV app
  
  
• 32-bit app compatibility with macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and later
  
  
• About the security content of Safari 14.0.1
  
  
• About the security content of Security Update 2020-006 for High Sierra and Mojave
  
  
• About the security content of macOS Big Sur 11.0.1
  
  
• If You Forgot the Passcode for your iPhone, or Your iPhone is Disabled

• Firefox 82.0.3 and Firefox ESR 78.4.1 include security fixes.
  (The above were posted Nov. 9th, 2020, but both pages are dated Nov. 10.)
  
  
• Sony Android TVs Firmware version 6.7140 (info and download)
  - See list of changes (including Android™ 9.0).
  
  
• Microsoft November 2020 Patch Tuesday (isc.sans)
  
  
• 05.00.30 Update for 2019 LG C9/E9/W9 OLED TVs
  - NOTE: Update download page originally dated 10/30/2020, now dated 11/14/2020.
  
  
• 05.00.02 Update for 2019 LG B9 OLED TVs
  (The Applicable Models list also includes many LCD TVs.)
  - NOTE: Update download page originally dated 10/29/2020, now dated 11/14/2020.
  
  
• Xbox Series X Review: Ushering In The Next Generation of Consoles (anandtech)