Apple has released macOS Monterey today, with the latest version of its Mac software arriving just in time to coincide with the new MacBook Pro models. Officially announced back at WWDC 2021, Monterey builds out FaceTime features, and makes connecting different Apple devices more straightforward with Continuity upgrades, though some of the initially-promised features won't be available on day one.
Can you imagine what the reviews would look like if Apple made a MacBook Pro with all the ports users wanted, but none of the processing power or software to back it up? Lucky for the masses, that's not what happened - or at least that's what the first reviews suggest. Still, the starting price and a display with a notch might be enough to suggest that mistakes were made - let's take a peek!
Your Apple computer will soon get a significant update to the latest version of macOS, the company's desktop operating system. This latest version is macOS Monterey, and it'll be available for almost every Apple desktop computer all the way back to late 2013. You'll find the new MacBook Pro 14 and 16-inch machines running this software right out of the box next week.
The next generation of MacBook Pro was revealed today by Apple with prices and release date info. The MacBook Pro works with Apple's own M1 chips, at last, with an industrial design that's similar to what we've seen in the past with a few KEY improvements and/or differences. The MacBook Pro revealed today has several ports on either side and a notch in the forehead of its display.
Next week's Apple Event is rumored to contain new AirPods, Mac Mini, and MacBook Pro with M1X chips inside. Display industry insider Ross Young suggested this week that there's a "100% confirmed" chance we'll see MiniLEDs in the display panels for the MacBook Pro units that'll appear at this event, with a few nearly-as-likely updates.
Apple just announced a new Apple Event that'll go live on October 18, 2021. This event's official invite features an Apple logo exploding into stars - almost like we're about to head into hyperspace. It is quite likely that we'll see the reveal of several new MacOS computers, MacBook Pro devices in 14 and 16-inch sizes, a new Mac mini Pro, AirPods 3, and some more information on macOS Monterey.
This week the folks at Yubico released the YubiKey Bio to the general public for the first time. This is the USB-docked fingerprint scanning security key system that was first previewed to the world back at Microsoft Ignite 2019. Now this key system is available in two iterations, one with USB-A, the other with USB-C, both with fingerprint readers.
The most updated version of macOS Monterey beta has code suggesting Apple will bring a special "High Power" mode to MacBook devices. It might be time for Apple to unleash the performance beast, referencing some rumors that've been in the MacOS mix for over a year. While this might not be the Apple Does Gaming situation we've been patiently awaiting for a decade, it does seem like Apple may be willing to drop some of the power conservation restrictions put on computing devices - if the user wishes to flip a few switches.
Apple has released iOS 14.8, along with iPadOS 14.8, watchOS 7.6.2, and macOS Big Sur 11.6, patching some security issues that the Cupertino firm says it believes have been actively exploited. The new software - released for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac today - is recommended for all users, Apple says.
Parallels has released its latest Desktop 17 for Mac, bringing Windows 11 optimization for Apple Silicon and paving the way for macOS Monterey's full release later in the year. The software makes it easy to run Windows 10 and 11 in a macOS window, but also supports a macOS Monterey virtual machine running an M1-powered Macs.
The launch of the Apple M1 Macs and the announcement of Windows 11 took a subset of Mac users for quite a ride. These are the users that, for one reason or another, need access to Windows applications or the full Windows operating system itself. There have been some concerns about whether the M1 Mac experience would allow for the same workflow, but Parallels has been quick to dispel those uncertainties. With Apple M1 support in its bag, it's ready to face the future with Parallels Desktop 17, optimized not just for macOS Monterey but also for Windows 11.
Apple naturally wants its fans and customers to buy Macs running on its own M1 Silicon, but it also knows it can't really push them to do so. "Planned obsolescence" is already a dirty word in the consumer electronics market, and it has been thrown at Apple a number of times already. It is, however, unavoidable that some software features might be exclusive to its M1 Macs because of this or that hardware requirement, so it's reassuring to hear that it won't be the case for at least one of those.