September 16th to 20th, 2024 News & Software Updates Go to Current News Page
Mac Upgrades/Repair | Storage | Video | Audio/Home Theater/TVs | Apple Updates/Tips/Wi-Fi
= Recent Updates/Articles =
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Safari 18.0 Update for macOS Ventura and Sonoma
(Info from Software Update in macOS Ventura 13.7.)
"Safari 18 has even faster performance, improved security, and new features including the following:
- Viewer lets you watch videos without distractions, and automatically moves videos into Picture-in-Picture when you click away from the page.
- Distraction Control helps you hide items on a webpage that you find disruptive to your browsing.
- Relaxed password requirements let you save a password in Settings for apps that you don't know the website for, or items that don't have a website, like a locker combination."
There's also an article on WebKit Features in Safari 18.0
About the security content of Safari 18 lists 3 CVEs fixed.
(Safari updates sometimes break 3rd party extensions. Check with the provider for updates.
Check feedback in Apple's Safari forum, macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma forums.)
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macOS Sequoia released
Press release on macOS Sequoia "bringing iPhone Mirroring, Apple Intelligence, and more to Mac". For more details, see What's new in the updates for macOS Sequoia.
Also see What's new for enterprise in macOS Sequoia.
Article on security content of macOS Sequoia 15 lists 79 CVEs fixed.
(You can check feedback in Apple's macOS Sequoia discussion forum.)
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macOS Sonoma 14.7 Update
Security fixes in macOS Sonoma 14.7 lists 37 CVEs fixed.
Info from what's new in the updates for macOS Sonoma for version 14.7:
"This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users."
(You can check feedback in Apple's macOS Sonoma discussion forum.)
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macOS Ventura 13.7 Update
Security fixes in macOS Ventura 13.7 lists 30 CVEs.
Info from what's new in the updates for macOS Ventura for version 13.7
"This update includes important security fixes and is recommended for all users".
(You can check feedback in Apple's macOS Ventura discussion forum.)
Tip for macOS Ventura 13.7 Brightness Control Bug
Several M1 MacBook Air owners said the Brightness Control no longer worked after the macOS 13.7 update. A reported workaround is closing the MacBook Air display lid and reopen it, then the Brightness Control works.
On a M1 mini running macOS 13.6.9, software update listed macOS 13.7 as 1.16 GB,
but the actual download was 2.75 GB. (M1 mini Firmware updated to 11881.1.1.)
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| iOS 17.7 and iPadOS 17.7 Updates
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| iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 released
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tvOS 18 released
Apple has a press release on tvOS 18 now available.
For more details on tvOS 18, see About Apple TV Updates.
About the security content of tvOS 18 lists 11 CVEs fixed.
(You can check feedback in Apple TV discussion forum.)
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watchOS 11 released
Apple has a press release on watchOS 11.
For more details, see About watchOS 11 Updates.
About the security content of watchOS 11 lists 11 CVEs fixed.
(You can check feedback in Apple's Watch discussion forum.)
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visionOS 2 released
Apple has a press release on visionOS 2 for Apple Vision Pro.
For more details, see about visionOS 2 Updates, and what's new for enterprise in visionOS 2.
The article about the Security fixes in visionOS 2 lists 18 CVEs.
(You can check Apple's Vision Pro discussion forum for user feedback.)
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HomePod Software Update 18
Info from About HomePod Software updates for version 18:
"Software version 18 introduces SharePlay so you can share control of your Apple Music playlist on iPhone or iPad and guests can contribute to what's playing on HomePod. This update also includes bug fixes and stability improvements."
Here's Apple's article on how to update HomePod.
(Our Tips page has a HomePod Apple Guides section.)
You can check for feedback in Apple's HomePod forum.
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Xcode 16 released
App store page for Xcode 16 (requires macOS 14.5 or later).
See linked app store page for a list of new features and changes in Xcode 16.
(Xcode 16 includes Swift 6 and SDKs for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, & macOS Sequoia.)
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Updates to Pages, Numbers & Keynote apps for Mac and iOS/iPadOS
(Mac apps require macOS 14.0 or later. iOS apps require iOS/iPadOS 17.0 or later.)
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AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 Firmware Updates
Info from Firmware updates for AirPods:
- AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C): 7A302
- AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case (Lightning): 7A302
"Bug fixes and other improvements."
- AirPods 4: 7A304
- AirPods 4 with Active Noice Cancellation: 7A304
"Bug fixes and other improvements."
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Apple Support/How-To/Troubleshooting Article Updates [= skip =]
- How to update macOS on Mac
- How to download and install macOS
- How to Create a bootable installer for macOS
- Covers macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, El Capitan.
- Install macOS on an external storage device and use it as a startup disk
- Find out which macOS version your Mac is using
- added macOS Sequoia 15.0, macOS Sonoma 14.7, and macOS Ventura 13.7.
- How to Free up storage space on Mac
- If you forgot your Mac login password
- If you can't reset your Mac login password
- How to use an iPad as a second display for a Mac
- Use your Mac with Apple Vision Pro
How to use Apple Vision Pro as a private, portable 4K display for your Mac with Mac Virtual Display. (See system requirements.)
- If you can't connect to your Mac in Apple Vision Pro
- Learn what to do if Mac Virtual Display on Apple Vision Pro isn't working.
- Let another person use your Apple Vision Pro with Guest User
- Use Apple products on enterprise networks
- How to turn on Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
- How to Set up iCloud Keychain
- How to Manage web access to your iCloud data
- Understand and control the personal information that you store with Apple
- Clear the history, cache, and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Apple Guides, Tips & Troubleshooting for Mac & iPhone/iPad/watch/tvOS/Vision Pro Users..
(Now includes an Apple Vision Pro Tips & Guides section.)
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Little Snitch version 6.1.1
(Sept 18) Little Snitch 6.1.1 update for macOS Sonoma & Sequoia.
The release notes for v6.1.1 list a bug fix in v6.1.
"This version fixes a problem where DNS lookups would leave the computer unencrypted although DNS encryption has been turned on. This bug was new in 6.1, previous versions are not affected."
The Sept 16 release notes for v6.1 lists macOS 15 Sequoia compatibility, customization of Status Icon in the Menu Bar, Improved Internet Access Policy Support, and a list of other improvements & fixes.
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Other News and Software Updates
- (Sept 20) Playstation 5 System Software version 24.06-10.01.00 (Sony link).
- "improved system software performance and stability".
(rumored to fix issues with some games after Sept. 12th update.)
- (Sept18) Micromat MachineProfile version 1.4.26 (use in-app update check):
- Updated for macOS 15 "Sequoia" support.
- Updated location and machine identification strings.
- Other minor fixes and enhancements.
- (Sept 17) Microsoft Office for Mac version 16.89.1 (24091630).
The release notes lists fixes for Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, & Word.
- (Sept 17) Chrome 129 Stable Channel Update for Mac (Google blog)
- includes 9 security fixes.
- (Sept 17) Firefox 130.0.1 release notes lists 2 bug fixes and added an enterprise policy to disable the Firefox Labs section in Settings. (Mac system requirements macOS 10.15 or later.)
- (Sept 16) TechTool Pro version 20.0.3 Update (Micromat)
- see linked page for change notes.
- (Sept 16) SVS Subwoofer Control App version 1.3.83 for iOS/iPadOS 11 or later.
- Three lower control icons now remain visible to reduce OS gesture interference.
- Improves performance and fixes minor bugs.
- "Improves performance and fixes minor bugs."
TIP: To turn Off "Performance Monitoring" (not send any info to SVS), go to the App's "System Settings" and select "About this App" at the bottom of that screen.
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| Apple Press Releases (later first)
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Previous News Archive Summary:
September 9th to 13th, 2024 News Archive
- Safari Technology Preview 203.
- AirPods Pro 2 Firmware Update 7A294.
- Apple Event News and Press Releases.
- VirtualBox 7.1 Major Update.
- Playstation 5 System Software version 24.06-10.00.00.
- includes firmware updates for Controllers & PS5 Slim Disc Drive.
- Playstation 4 System Software version 12.00.
- LG C3 & G3 OLED TVs Firmware Update 13.40.75.
- SVS Subwoofer Control App v1.3.82 (iOS/iPadOS).
- Firefox for iOS/iPadOS version 130.1.
- Chrome 129.0.6668.46 for iOS/iPadOS.
- Chrome 128 Stable Channel Update for Mac.
- Microsoft Office for Mac v16.89 (w/Security update for Excel).
- Deadpool's Head app version 1.3 (iOS/iPadOS).
For links to older news pages, see the Archives.
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Recent Updates, Tips, DIY Upgrades and Repairs:
List of Updates, Tips, DIY Upgrades, Repair Articles, and more you may have missed. (Topics range from OS/software/driver updates & troubleshooting, to hardware upgrades and repairs.)
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