O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: WebEx

  • Apple distributes macOS Tahoe 26.2 Release Candidate build to public beta and developer communities

    Apple distributes macOS Tahoe 26.2 Release Candidate build to public beta and developer communities

    Amidst its bevy of Release Candidate announcements, Apple on Wednesday published the Release Candidate beta of its macOS Tahoe 26.2 operating system to both developers and public beta testers alike. The RC represents the final version of macOS Tahoe 26.2 that will be provided to the public as long as no bugs are found in the software.

    Testers interested in downloading the macOS Tahoe 26.2 update can do so by opening the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled.

    The macOS Tahoe 26.2 RC build currently includes the following fixes and changes:

    Edge Light: A new feature for video calls. Edge Light adds a border of soft light around the edges of the Mac’s display to illuminate your face in darkened rooms. Edge Light is meant to mimic the look of a physical ring light. The feature uses the Neural Engine for positioning, thus optimally placing your face in the video frame. Light color can be adjusted from warm to cool, and intensity varies based on ambient lighting. Edge Light is available in video conferencing apps like FaceTime and Webex alongside other options like backgrounds, Portrait mode, and Voice Isolation. It works on Macs that support Apple silicon.

    Reminders: The Reminders app will be receiving an option to have an alarm activate when a reminder is due.

    News: The News app will receive some design updates.

    Podcasts: The Podcasts app will be receiving new features, such as auto-generated chapters, along with the ability to more easily follow mentioned podcasts or follow up on links mentioned in a podcast episode.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via MacRumors

  • Zoom quietly rolls out app for Apple TV 4K

    Zoom quietly rolls out app for Apple TV 4K

    If you’re looking to use Zoom on your rather large flat-screen TV, you might like this.

    The Zoom conferencing app has quietly arrived for the Apple TV 4K, allowing users to conduct meetings via their television and an iPhone or iPad.

    When Apple debuted its tvOS 17 operating system in June, it noted that FaceTime calls were arriving for the Apple TV 4K platform and that the Zoom and Webex apps would be offering similar features later in the year. As of the start of December, the updated Zoom app has apparently begun to roll out and the App Store listing now exists.

    The app claims it requires a second-generation Apple TV 4K or later to function, and that it relies on the Continuity Camera of the iPhone and iPad.

    As with the other versions of the app, Zoom users can start or join meetings complete with video and audio, view in-meeting chat, and invite friends and colleagues to conversations. It also has a calendar integration, and users can even be assigned to a breakout room.

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

    Via AppleInsider and @SigmundJudge

  • That Which is Nifty: mmhmm

    That Which is Nifty: mmhmm

    This is nifty.

    Where most of us have spent far too much time since March of 2020 cooped up inside and lashed to Zoom meetings and conference calls, along with the restrictions attached to them, mmhmm, developed by All Turtles, functions as the ultimate add-on to improve the videoconferencing experience.

    The program ties into the major videoconferencing software packages, including Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, and allows you to tie in assorted video options, footage from your photo library, footage from an AirPlay device, and other sources.

    The demo video, which is from July of 2020, when the software was still in beta, perhaps explains it best:

    mmhmm Free is available for free, while the commercial version of mmhmm is available for $8.33 a month with a 1-year subscription.

    mmhmm for Mac requires macOS 10.15 Catalina or later to install and run while mmhmm for Windows requires Windows 10 or later to install and run.

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

    Via mmhmm.app

  • Apple Camp at Home registration opens, Activity Book now available as free download

    Apple Camp is about to begin (albeit virtual for 2020), its registration has opened, and participants can now apply via Apple’s website as well as download a free Activity Book.

    Apple Camp sessions are geared towards kids and normally take place in Apple’s retail store locations, and have gone virtual this year given the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Apple has released a 38-page Home Activity Book, complete with three creative projects for the family. Apple has said each project will take about an hour to complete, and Campers can work at their own pace.

    The activities include a project as to how to Spark Positive Change with the Clips app, Design a Space For Happiness with Pages and an Apple Pencil, and Learn to Code a Helpful Robot using Swift Playgrounds. The Activity Book is free to download and includes coloring pages as well as completion certificates to sign.

    Campers can also sign up for extra guidance via 30 and 60-minute live virtual Webex sessions offered between July 11th through the 31st. By signing up for a slot, kids will learn about each project during an Orientation session and find creative guidance with Q&A sessions. New time slots will be added each week if spaces fill up. Each session is hosted by an Apple Creative Pro.

    Apple has also offered its Learning with Apple Quick Guides, which offer tips as to how to get the most out of iPads and Macs.

    Check the links below and stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac, Apple Camp at Home, the Activity Book, Extra Help Sessions, and Learning with Apple Quick Guides