O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: Reader

  • WWDC: Apple announces macOS Sequoia operating system

    WWDC: Apple announces macOS Sequoia operating system

    It wouldn’t be a WWDC keynote speech without mention of Apple’s forthcoming desktop operating system, and over in Cupertino, Tim Cook and company announced macOS Sequoia, the next version of the Mac operating system. Version 15 of macOS has AI features, many of which are also in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.

    Sequoia is expected to contain the following features:

    iPhone Mirroring: This allows Mac users to directly access their iPhones via their Mac desktop. The devices connect wirelessly, allowing the Mac to see the iPhone’s Home screen. Users can use the iPhone apps, app notifications can be activated, and the appropriate iPhone app launches. Users can also drag and drop data such as photos and videos from the iPhone to the Mac. The iPhone’s audio will come through the Mac’s sound output.

    Tiled UI for Organizing Windows: This allows macOS Sequoia users to drag a window to the edge of a screen and the operating system will suggest a tiled position for the open window. Tiles can be arranged side by side or in a corner arrangement. New keyboard shortcuts can be used to manage the tiles.

    New Password app: The new version of the Passwords application will store encrypted data via iCloud. Windows users will also be able to sync their devices using the iCloud for Windows app.

    Highlights: This will allow Safari to scan for relevant information within a website. The Reader feature now offers a summary and table of contents to quickly access the webpage’s content. The new Viewer kicks in when a video is detected on a webpage and includes a full set of controls and the ability to set the video in Picture-in-Picture.

    Videoconferencing Improvements: This allows for improved features within FaceTime, and presenters can see previews of their slides before presenting them as well as customize their background with a macOS wallpaper or a personal photo.

    Apple Intelligence:

    “Writing tools: In apps such as Mail, Pages, Notes, and others, written content will have several features available, including suggestions for revisions, proofreading and copy editing, and more. Mail will offer email summarizations and smart replies.
    Image Playground: apps will be able to create images in one of three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. In Messages, Image Playground can be used to create personalized images; in Notes, Image Playground can be used to transform sketches into polished pictures.”Writing tools: In apps such as Mail, Pages, Notes, and others, written content will have several features available, including suggestions for revisions, proofreading and copy editing, and more. Mail will offer email summarizations and smart replies.
    Image Playground: apps will be able to create images in one of three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. In Messages, Image Playground can be used to create personalized images; in Notes, Image Playground can be used to transform sketches into polished pictures.

    Photos: New tools in the Photos app allow users to find photos based on a set of characteristics–show me pictures with a basketball,” for example. A new Clean Up tool can be used to remove items from a picture.

    Siri: Many Apple Intelligence features are implemented through Siri, which will have a better understanding of contextual commands, and will be able to perform functions based on the context of its use.”

    While the macOS Sequoia beta can be downloaded from the link below, the operating system is compatible with the following Macs:

    • MacBook Air: 2020 or later
    • MacBook Pro: 2018 or later
    • iMac: 2019 or later
    • iMac Pro: 2017 or later
    • Mac Mini: 2018 or later
    • Mac Studio: 2022 or later
    • Mac Pro: 2019 or later

    If there’s one major caveat so far, it’s that in order to use the Apple Intelligence feature set, the Mac requires an M1 chip or later, and these features will not work on Intel Macs.

    In order to access the beta, sign in to an Apple ID that is registered as a developer, and then, on your Mac, open System Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose the macOS Sequoia Developer beta.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via Macworld

  • Satechi announces USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD, brings expanded port functionality to M1-based iPads

    Satechi announces USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD, brings expanded port functionality to M1-based iPads

    If you’ve recently snagged an M1 iPad Pro or M1 iPad Air, you’re going to like this.

    Accessory maker Satechi on Tuesday announced the launch of its USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD, which has been developed for the M1 iPad Pro and M1 iPad Air tablets.

    The hub includes a 60W USB-C port that can be used for charging an iPad or to charge USB-C devices that are connected to the ‌iPad‌. It also features an HDMI port that supports up to a 4K 60Hz display, a USB A port, micro SD and SD card readers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

    Satechi has stated that the SD and micro SD card slots are new to the hub, as is an extension cable that allows for a more secure connection from the hub to the ‌iPad‌ as well as compatibility with ‌iPad‌ cases.

    The unit retails for $70 and Satechi is offering a 20 percent discount through September 5 with the promo code SD20. 

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Satechi.net

  • Apple announces “Tap to Pay on iPhone” feature due later this year

    Apple announces “Tap to Pay on iPhone” feature due later this year

    Apple on Tuesday announced plans to incorporate a new “Tap to Pay on iPhone” feature that will allow compatible iPhones to accept payments via Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets, with no additional hardware required.

    At present, merchants which accept contactless payments via the iPhone must rely on accessories such as the Square Reader, which can work wirelessly or connect to an iPhone’s Lightning connector or headphone jack. The feature will be compatible on iPhone models XS or later and payments will be secured via NFC technology.

    Stripe will be the first payment platform to offer “Tap to Pay on iPhone” to their business customers, including the Shopify Point of Sale app this spring, and additional payment platforms and apps will follow later this year, according to Apple. Apple Stores in the U.S. will also roll out the feature later this year. It appears that the feature will be exclusive to the U.S. at launch, with no other countries mentioned.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Apple

  • Some users report issues with built-in SD card readers on 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro notebooks

    Some users report issues with built-in SD card readers on 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro notebooks

    As nifty as the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro notebooks might be, there might be some bugs with the SD card readers.

    In a long complaint thread, MacRumors readers have detailed the issues that they’re having with some SD cards, and there seems to be little consistency between reports and affected SD cards. Some SD cards crash and can’t be accessed, while some have unusually slow transfer speeds. 

    Per reader “Wildct“:

    Same issues with 14″ M1 Pro. Just seems to be super flakey and inconsistent. Half the time it’ll recognize the card successfully (though it takes anywhere from 30s to 1m) and half the time it’ll throw an error. These are all Sandisk Ultra cards, both XC and HC, that were formatted in my camera. I tried reformatting them w/ the MBP and that didn’t seem to make a difference. All my cards work as expected in my 3 other USB card readers.

    In some situations, there’s an error message when attempting to use the SD card. In other cases, the Finder will crash or the SD card will take several minutes to become accessible.

    Given the thread, the card’s formatting doesn’t appear to be the central issue, though it could be a factor. Other readers have reported that using a USB-C SD card reader can work when the built-in SD card reader fails:

    I tried many cards, and could find no pattern of brand, size, type, format, age. Seems to be completely random. The only thing that is consistent is that if a card works, it always works, and if a card does not work properly it never works properly. Reformatting, even to all other possible formats, makes no difference. Sandisk, Sony, Samsung, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, UHS-I, UHS-II, micro-SD, FAT32, exFAT, makes no difference. 100% of my cards work perfectly via a dongle.

    Some readers who reached out to Apple for help were informed that the company is aware of the issue, and that a fix is en route via a future software update, although it’s unknown if this is due to a hardware or software issue. Other readers stated that Apple replaced their MacBook Pro notebooks and did not continue to have issues with the new machines.

    Many of the reports are about older SD cards and there may be a particular issue with some 128GB cards, but for the most part, complaints are all over the place in terms of SD card brand, speed, and capacity.

    One user reported that the current macOS Monterey 12.1 beta resolved the issue, while another user reported that the issue remained under the beta.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Reddit

  • 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, third-gen AirPods, and updated HomePod mini now available in retail stores

    2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, third-gen AirPods, and updated HomePod mini now available in retail stores

    Apple’s newest MacBook Pro notebooks as well as the third-generation AirPods became available online and in Apple retail stores on Tuesday, alongside the HomePod mini, which is available in new colors.

    The 2021 MacBook Pro comes in 14-inch and 16-inch models and sport the new M1 Max and M1 Pro processors. The notebooks start at $1,999 and $2,499 respectively. As well as the new chips, there are a variety of new features including a Liquid Retina XDR display, a 1080p FaceTime camera, an upgraded audio system, and a return to ports such as HDMI, an SD card reader, and MagSafe.

    The AirPods 3 retail for $179 and sport an updated design and new features such as Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio, and IPX4 sweat and water-resistant rating. The $99 HomePod mini is now available in blue, yellow, and red colors.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer