Tag: macOS Sequoia

  • Apple iMac with 8-Core and 10-Core M4 Variants Available Now

    Apple iMac with 8-Core and 10-Core M4 Variants Available Now

    Apple has introduced its latest iMac featuring the new Apple Silicon. The device sports a 24-inch 4.5K "Nano-Texture Display," designed to minimize glare. The standout upgrade is the new Apple M4 chip, although it seems to be a lower-tier variant with 8 CPU and GPU cores each. There is also an option for a 10-core CPU/GPU combination, available for an additional cost.

    Performance Enhancements

    According to Apple, the M4 chip is said to be up to 1.7x quicker than the Apple M1. In a positive turn, the new iMac offers at least 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Users can upgrade the RAM to a maximum of 32 GB and the storage to 2 TB. This increase in memory is crucial for the functioning of Apple’s Intelligence, which comes pre-installed with macOS Sequoia.

    Additional Features

    Among other features, the iMac is equipped with a 12 MP front camera, four Thunderbolt 4.0 ports that can support two 6K external displays, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. While the absence of Wi-Fi 7 may be seen as a letdown, it doesn’t come as a surprise. The new iMac is available in seven vibrant colors: green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver. Pre-orders start now at a price of $1,299, while the 10-core model costs $1,499. Official sales are set to begin on November 8.

    Tags: , ,
  • Steam Deck Transforms into Handheld Hackintosh with macOS Sequoia

    Steam Deck Transforms into Handheld Hackintosh with macOS Sequoia

    Valve delivers the Steam Deck equipped with SteamOS, a Linux distribution based on Debian. This gaming handheld functions much like any standard PC, allowing it to support common operating systems. While Windows operates smoothly on the device, user @whatdahopper has made history by demonstrating macOS Sequoia running on the Steam Deck.

    A Collaborative Effort

    According to @whatdahopper, a team worked together to enable the Steam Deck to run Apple’s newest desktop OS. However, right now, installing macOS Sequoia on the device is not particularly useful. There’s currently no GPU acceleration available, but the team is optimistic that this will change once the iGPU kext (kernel extension) for AMD Van Gogh is released.

    Future Possibilities

    This release might come sooner than expected, as macOS already supports RDNA 2. Once that happens, the Steam Deck could transform into a legitimate portable Hackintosh. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that using Sequoia on the Steam Deck for gaming isn‘t advisable, given that the gaming library on macOS isn’t as robust as what you’ll find on Windows or Linux.

    In the end, with the right iGPU support on the Steam Deck, it might become a mobile substitute for a MacBook (the base 2023 MacBook Pro is currently priced at $1,299 on Amazon). However, @whatdahopper has pointed out that getting macOS Sequoia to run on this device is more challenging than simply installing Windows, which is something to keep in mind if you’re considering the Mac operating system for your gaming handheld.

    Tags: , ,
  • New Apple Intelligence ‘Image Playground’

    New Apple Intelligence ‘Image Playground’

    Apple’s latest beta software update hints at exciting features coming soon. The iOS 18 Beta 3 simulator reveals an Apple Intelligence settings menu (currently inactive), suggesting integration of a powerful AI suite. macOS 15 Beta 3 introduces “Image Playground,” a tool that lets users generate images based on descriptions with selectable themes, clothing, and locations. Users can choose between animation, illustration, or sketch styles.

    New features, like the upgraded Siri and ChatGPT, won’t be available until 2025

    Apple announced Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024. This AI suite will offer on-device and cloud-based language models. A public beta for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia is planned for this fall, but full features and wider device support will arrive next year. While free, Apple Intelligence requires an A17 Pro chip or M-series chip, limiting access to iPhone 15 Pro models and the upcoming iPhone 16 series – devices with the latest processing power for AI tasks.

    Some features, like the upgraded Siri assistant and ChatGPT integration, won’t be available until next year. The good news is that the initial version of Apple Intelligence will still offer functionalities like notification prioritization, webpage summarization, writing tools, image generation, and Genmoji – features that many users will be eager to try.

    New Apple Intelligence 'Image Playground'
    Tags: , ,