Category: Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence and new Macs, iPads, etc.

by straitmacvp

On November 19, 2024, the Strait Macintosh User Group looked at the first pieces of Apple Intelligence and new capabilities of a wave of software and hardware introductions in September and October.

After a lengthy list of product introductions in September and October, Apple now has new versions of operating systems on all their devices (Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, HomePods, VIsionPro, Apple Watch, AirPods) plus new versions of a whole bunch of devices (iMacs, MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch). While the initial operating systems just hinted at new capabilities, late October brought the first bit of Apple Intelligence to Messages, Mail, Safari, Siri, Photos, and other applications. Plus: Apple released an update to the AirPod Pro 2 that allows it to a) conduct a hearing test and b) serve as a clinical-grade hearing aid.

Video recording of the meeting

Click on the YouTube logo for a full-screen version

Someone, won’t name who, forgot to turn on closed captioning, and as a result there is no transcript of the meeting.

Apple Intelligence

Very busy October for Apple

by straitmacvp

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.