O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: Intel

  • Apple releases macOS Tahoe 26.4 update

    Apple releases macOS Tahoe 26.4 update

    Amid Monday’s update-o-rama, Apple released the much-anticipated macOS Tahoe 26.4 update.

    The update offers the following fixes, changes, and new features:

    Battery & Power:
    • New Charge Limit setting
    • Set the maximum battery charge between 80 percent – 100 percent to extend battery lifespan
    • Integrated into System Settings (Battery)
    • Can be automated via Shortcuts (e.g., tied to Focus modes)

    Safari:
    • Compact Tab Bar returns
    • Optional UI mode for a more condensed browsing layout

    Platform & Compatibility:
    • Rosetta 2 deprecation warnings
    • Alerts when launching Intel-based apps on Apple Silicon Macs
    • Signals upcoming removal in future macOS releases

    Apps & Features:
    • Freeform enhancements
    • New Creator Studio–related tools and expanded capabilities
    • Podcasts improvements
    • Smoother switching between audio and video podcast formats

    Emoji:
    • 8 new emoji added, including:
    • Orca
    • Trombone
    • Landslide
    • Ballet dancer
    • Treasure chest
    • (and more)

    System & UI Fixes:
    • Fixes and improvements to:
    • Window resizing behavior (corner radius issues)
    • General system stability and performance
    • Ongoing bug fixes across UI and system components

    Developer Updates:
    • API and platform improvements, including:
    • Enhanced StoreKit behavior
    • Network MIDI 2.0 support
    • Asset pack and backend improvements

    Additional Changes:
    • Improved battery health management system-wide
    • Continued transition away from Intel-based Mac support
    • Minor UI tweaks and under-the-hood optimizations

    As usual, the update can be located, downloaded, and installed by navigating to Apple > System Settings > General > Software Update and proceeding from there.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the macOS Tahoe 26.4 update, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via AppleInsider

  • GameSir offers Mac users access to “full Steam library” via GameHub announcement, technical details unknown

    GameSir offers Mac users access to “full Steam library” via GameHub announcement, technical details unknown

    If you’ve been hankering to play your Steam library on your Apple Silicon-based Mac, GameSir might finally have a solution, even if the technical details remain vague.

    GameSir has released its GameHub for Mac promo, which shows AAA Windows titles such as Black Myth: Wukong and God of War Ragnarok — both of which are not Mac native, running on Macs. The headline boldly states that “Your Mac is now a gaming PC.”

    At present, the wording hints at native Windows compatibility on macOS, although the company has yet to disclose technical details as to how this is achieved, especially since Apple Silicon doesn’t support Boot Camp and the current version of macOS can’t run Windows software without some kind of translation, virtualization, or other middleman.

    To date, GameHub has mostly been known as an Android platform linked to Guangzhou Chicken Run Network Technology Co., Ltd., offering emulation, compatibility layers, and streaming tools. There’s currently no macOS download available, no developer documentation, no benchmarks, and no list of supported games or their limitations.

    GameHub is thought to be built on WINE, and to incorporate elements of Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit, virtualization, or a custom translation layer. It’s unknown if support for the “entire Steam library” is marketing talk or a real compatibility claim.

    There are still key technical questions unanswered. DirectX 12 translation, anti-cheat systems needing kernel-level Windows parts, launcher chains, and driver dependencies are big challenges for macOS compatibility solutions. No current method completely overcomes these issues.

    At present, GameHub’s announcement is vague but hopeful, and could offer Mac gamers the breakthrough they’ve been wanting for year.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and @GameSir

  • Rumor: Apple, Intel deal could see Intel begin to manufacture some iPhone chips in the next few years

    Rumor: Apple, Intel deal could see Intel begin to manufacture some iPhone chips in the next few years

    Following up on reports that Intel may start manufacturing chips for some Mac and iPad units over the next few years, a new rumor states that the partnership could extend to manufacturing chips for the iPhone.

    Per MacRumors, a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues “now expect” Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028.

    The non-pro iPhone chips would be manufactured with Intel’s future 14A process, according to Pu.

    While the research note didn’t list specifics as to the potential plan, it did offer a timeframe in which Intel could start supplying Apple with the A22 chip for devices like the “iPhone 20” and “iPhone 20e” around three years from now.

    There’s no further indication of Intel’s role in designing the iPhone chips, and its involvement could be strictly limited to fabrication. Apple, in turn, would continue to design the iPhone chips, and Intel would start to handle a smaller percentage of manufacturing alongside Apple’s primary chipmaker, TSMC.

    Intel supplying Apple-designed, Arm-based chips would differ from the era of Intel-based Macs, which used Intel-designed processors with x86 architecture.

    Such a deal between Intel and Apple would allow Apple to diversify its supply chain with an American manufacturing company.

    Intel previously supplied Apple with cellular modems for some iPhone 7 to iPhone 11 models.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors

  • Rumor: Apple may use Intel to help produce lower-end M7 chips in the United States beginning in 2027

    Rumor: Apple may use Intel to help produce lower-end M7 chips in the United States beginning in 2027

    After years of strife, Intel could see its chip foundries once again making Apple chips as soon as 2027.

    Per AppleInsider and industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the lower-end M7 Apple Silicon chip could be produced in the United States come 2027.

    Until now, all M-series chips used in Macs and iPads have been built by TSMC at its factories in China and elsewhere. Kuo’s post suggests that Apple will have TSMC build its entry-level M-series chips at its U.S.-based factories from 2027. The rest of Apple’s chips will continue to be provided by TSMC. The post also noted that Apple has already been discussing its manufacturing technologies and their suitability for M-series production.

    The report goes on to say that simulation and research projects have so far proven successful. Apple is now reportedly waiting for Intel to get its technological ducks in a row to use its 18AP node around the middle of 2027.

    It’s thought that Intel-built M7 chips could likely be used in iPads and MacBooks in roughly two years. Kuo’s report also notes that the upper end of the line, such as the Pro and Max chips, will stay with TSMC.

    The M7 chips are thought to remain based on the ARM architecture, as all M-series chips have been since their introduction. Intel, in turn, while producing them, will not use its x86 hardware that Apple famously transitioned away from in 2020.

    As for why Apple would want to have Intel manufacture its chips again, Kuo has posited two key reasons:

    The first is a continued effort by Apple to diversify its supply chain. Apple has sought to avoid a heavy reliance on single companies and Chinese factories in particular since the COVID-19 pandemic caused mayhem in its supply chain. By adding Intel as a source of Mac and iPad chips, the company diversifies its production.

    The second reason is political, wherein Apple sees using Intel’s U.S.-based factories as a way to appease United States President Donald Trump. Trump has long sought to push companies to bring manufacturing back to the States, something Apple has struggled to do.

    Appeasing the Trump administration could be seen as a way to earn preferential treatment, especially in the wake of tariffs, which have caused economic uncertainty around global manufacturing.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and @mingchikuo

  • Valve announces that it will end Steam support for macOS Big Sur in October

    Valve announces that it will end Steam support for macOS Big Sur in October

    If you’re a gamer with an older Mac running macOS Big Sur, you’re going to want to update the operating system to macOS Monterey or later prior to October.

    In a Steam Support post, Valve, the developer of Steam, announced on Wednesday that the company is cutting support for macOS Big Sur in October. Steam is a mainstay of PC and Mac gaming, selling hundreds of thousands of games for multiple platforms. While it does operate a macOS storefront, it will be culling support for some users if they refuse to update their operating system.

    Via the post, Valve stated that it will officially stop supporting macOS 11 Big Sur on October 15, 2025. After that date, the Steam client won’t run on that and earlier versions of macOS.

    Valve also stated that the reason for the update is due to Google Chrome, as Steam uses a heavily modified version of the browser, and that it doesn’t work properly with older versions of macOS. The company also stated that Steam will require some macOS features and security updates available only in macOS 12 and later for future releases of the client.

    Back in 2023, Valve advised that a February 2024 update will stop support for macOS 10.13 High Sierra and 10.14 Mojave, after providing basic updates to the client to maintain the ability to play 32-bit games.

    In June, Valve finally released a beta version of the Steam client that included native support for Apple Silicon, thereby helping to bring back compatibility with assorted older games.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and help.steampowered.com