Apple updates as of October 30, 2024
So far this week, Apple has released:
New Macs
- A new, much more powerful set of 24″ iMacs with a new M4 chip, coming with a standard 16 GB of memory (up from the past 8 GB). I recommend that if you get one, you opt for the model with four Thunderbolt 4 ports (instead of the baseline two) and get a minimum of 1 terabyte of storage.
- a new Mac mini with an M4 or an M4 Pro processor and a standard 16 GB of memory (up from the past 8 GB). I would recommend at least one terabyte of storage. The upgraded M4 Pro model also offers Thunderbolt 5 ports (up to 120 GBb/sec) instead of Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gb/sec) ports. The mini comes without a display, keyboard or mouse, but is otherwise currently Apple’s fastest desktop machine.
- a new set of MacBook Pro with an M4, M4 Pro, or M4 Max processor and a standard 16 GB of memory (up from the past 8 GB). I would recommend at least one terabyte of storage. The higher-end models have Thunderbolt 5 ports, and you can add up to 128 GB of memory.
Apple Intelligence
- a software update that allows the AirPods Pro 2 to offer a hearing test, and hearing protection, and function as a clinical-grade hearing aid.
- software updates that bring the first elements of Apple Intelligence to certain models of iPhone, iPad, and Macintosh laptop and desktop machines.
- a new iPad mini (technically introduced last week)
Software updates
- iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1: brings Apple Intelligence to higher-end iPads and iPhones, plus has function bug fixes and security fixes to phones dating back to the iPhone XS.
- iOS 17.7.1 and iPadOS 17.7.1: function bug fixes and security fixes to iPhones dating back to the iPhone XS.
- macOS Sequoia 15.1: brings Apple Intelligence to Apple Silicon-based computers and function bug fixes and security fixes to machines running macOS Sequoia.
- macOS Sonoma 14.7.1: brings function bug fixes and security fixes to machines running macOS Sonoma.
- macOS Ventura 13.7.1: brings function bug fixes and security fixes to machines running macOS Ventura.
- watchOS 11.1: brings function bug fixes and security fixes to Apple Watches running watchOS 11.
- tvOS 18.1: brings function bug fixes and security fixes to Apple TVs running tvOS 18.
- visionOS 2.1: brings Apple Intelligence and function bug fixes and security fixes to Apple Vision Pro.
- HomePod 18.1: brings function bug fixes and security fixes to HomePod. HomePod software is not something you can check in an obvious way; see Apple’s directions on updating.
It is only Wednesday, and there is a possibility Halloween could bring something new, too.