WebProNews

Tag: macOS

  • Apple’s Mac App Store Rejected ‘Untitled Goose Game’

    Apple’s Mac App Store Rejected ‘Untitled Goose Game’

    ‘Untitled Goose Game,’ the popular macOS game by Panic, was rejected by Apple’s Mac App Store reviewers — twice.

    Panic is well-known in the Mac community for making incredibly high-quality apps, some of which have even won Apple Design Awards. Unfortunately, when the company tried to submit its ‘Untitled Goose Game,’ App Store reviewers rejected it twice, according to co-founder Cabel Sasser.

    A short story. We once submitted Untitled Goose Game to the Mac App Store. It was rejected by the reviewer because they thought you couldn’t skip the credits. (?!?) We explained that you could skip the credits by holding space. It was then rejected for something else and at that point we just gave up and never bothered to resubmit. Fin

    Cabel Sasser, @cabel@panic.com, March 6, 2023

    Panic went on to release the game via Steam and the Epic Game Store.

    Unfortunately, this example is just the latest that illustrates Apple’s overall lack of commitment to the Mac gaming market. For example, former App Store Editor Neil Long recently made the case that Apple doesn’t care about the gaming market and views game developers much as a “contemptuous landlord” would.

    The woefully understaffed team of app reviewers couldn’t handle the volume of games coming through – and seemingly still can’t today. Ask any staffer at a mobile game studio and they’re guaranteed to have an app review horror story involving their game being repeatedly rejected for an arbitrary reason, or removed from sale entirely. Developers are being treated with contempt.

    Given the success of Panic’s software in the market, and how much they have supported and contributed to the success of the Mac platform, Sasser would probably agree with Long’s sentiment.

  • Apple Releases macOS Big Sur Security Update

    Apple Releases macOS Big Sur Security Update

    Apple has released a security update to its Big Sur version of macOS, bringing it to version 11.7.4.

    Big Sur was originally released in November 2020, and has since been superseded by macOS Monterey and macOS Ventura. Nonetheless, Apple has a solid track record of providing fixes for older versions of macOS.

    According to the company’s support page, “this update has no published CVE entries,” but users should still apply it as soon as possible to be safe.

  • macOS Ventura Bug Breaks Some SMB Connections

    macOS Ventura Bug Breaks Some SMB Connections

    Some macOS users are experiencing a major bug, one that breaks SMB network connections.

    According to AppleInsider, users are reporting issues with SMB connectivity in macOS Ventura, although there doesn’t appear to be a consistent set of parameters that trigger the issues. Some users report issues connecting an iPhone to a MacBook Pro, while others have trouble connecting Macs and Windows PCs.

    The issue seems to affect a range of users, from individuals to some enterprise users. Others, however, are completely unaffected.

    While Apple has yet to comment on a possible cause, one solution that seems to universally work is downgrading to macOS Monterey.

  • Stack Overflow: Linux Surpasses macOS Among Developers

    Stack Overflow: Linux Surpasses macOS Among Developers

    Linux has reached a major milestone, surpassing macOS among developers for both personal and professional use.

    Linux has long been the third most popular operating system (OS), after Windows and macOS. Stack Overflow has released its 2022 Developer Survey, and it’s good news for Linux fans.

    According to the Developer Survey, Linux use has passed macOS by a significant margin. Linux is used by 40.23% of developers as their primary OS for personal use, while 39.89% use it as their primary OS for professional use. In contrast, macOS is used as a primary OS for personal use 31.07% of developers and for professional use by 32.97%.

    Technically, Linux surpassed macOS in Stack Overflow’s 2021 Developer Survey, but only by 0.13%. The latest survey shows a major uptick in usage, one Stack Overflow attributes to the appeal of open source software.

    Windows is the most popular operating system for developers, across both personal and professional use. A Linux-based OS is more popular than macOS – speaking to the appeal of using open source software.

  • Google Is Launching One VPN on macOS and Windows

    Google Is Launching One VPN on macOS and Windows

    Google is launching its One VPN service on macOS and Windows, expanding beyond the initial iOS and Android offering.

    VPN services are a popular way to protect privacy online, access geo-restricted content, and circumvent censorship. Google’s One VPN service is already available for iOS and Android, but the company is now bringing the service to macOS and Windows. The VPN is available for free on Google One accounts with a 2TB or higher account.

    Of course, a major concern that some people may have is the company running this particular VPN. A VPN service works by routing all of a user’s traffic through a trusted server, thereby masking that traffic from outsiders. In order to be effective, however, the company running the VPN servers must be trusted implicitly, since it’s the one entity privy to ALL the user’s internet traffic.

    At its core, Google is a company that makes money off of user data. Even now, the company is facing a lawsuit tracking users when Chrome’s Incognito Mode was active, despite leading users to believe their browsing activity was private.

    So the real question is: Should users trust a company that profits from data, not to mention a company with a history of privacy abuses, with ALL of their most sensitive internet traffic?

    Our answer is no. Users would be far better off using Mullvad, or another reputable service.

  • Preview App in macOS Ventura Loses PostScript Support

    Preview App in macOS Ventura Loses PostScript Support

    The latest version of macOS’ Preview app is losing a major feature, especially for Apple’s target audience.

    Preview is the macOS image and PDF viewer. According to a support document, the Preview app is losing support for PostScript files.

    The Preview app included with your Mac supports PostScript (.ps) and Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files in macOS Monterey or earlier. Starting with macOS Ventura, Preview no longer supports these files. Other apps that can view or convert .ps and .eps files are available from the App Store and elsewhere.

    According to Apple, users can still print .ps and .eps files by dragging them to the printer queue.

    Given that Apple’s target audience includes graphics professionals, the feature removal is an odd choice for the company.

  • Leaker: Apple May Bring macOS to the iPad Pro

    Leaker: Apple May Bring macOS to the iPad Pro

    Apple is rumored to be taking a step fans have clamored for — bringing a version of macOS to the iPad Pro.

    The iPad Pro is an incredibly powerful piece of hardware, one that outperforms all but the most powerful computers on the market. The device’s Achilles heel, however, has always been the software.

    According to a leaker, Apple is currently testing a trimmed-down version of macOS on the M2 iPad Pro.

    According with my source Apple would be testing a smaller version of macOS exclusively for the new iPad Pro M2! “Mendocino” should be the codename for macOS 14. A simplified version should be planned for the M2.

    — Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial), October 20, 2022

    It should be noted that Majin Bu doesn’t have the same track record as some of the more well-known Apple leakers. Nonetheless, the rumor is sure to raise the hopes of iPad fans.

  • PSA: Update Your Apple Devices Immediately

    PSA: Update Your Apple Devices Immediately

    Apple has released patches to fix a major zero-day exploit impacting iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, an exploit that may already be in use.

    The updates to Apple’s operating systems (OS) address issues with the kernel and the WebKit rendering engine that powers Safari. In the case of the kernel, Apple says “an application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.” This would apply to all three platforms.

    In regard to the WebKit issue, Apple says “processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.” Again, this impacts all three platforms.

    In both cases, Apple says it is aware of reports that these bugs have been exploited in the wild, making it even more important to update as soon as possible.

    Once the update is complete, the patched version of your OS should iOS 15.6.1, iPadOS 15.6.1, and macOS Monterey 12.5.1.

    Here’s the full release notes for iOS and iPadOS, as well as for macOS.

  • PSA: macOS Users Should Update Zoom Immediately

    PSA: macOS Users Should Update Zoom Immediately

    Zoom has released an update to its macOS client that fixes a severe vulnerability, one that could give a user root access.

    Apple’s macOS is based on BSD Unix, inheriting a root user that has ultimate permissions. According to Zoom, a bug in the app could allow a non-root user to gain root access, representing a major threat to the computer’s security.

    The company has released an update that addresses the issue and all users are advised to update immediately.

    The Zoom Client for Meetings for macOS (Standard and for IT Admin) starting with version 5.7.3 and before 5.11.5 contains a vulnerability in the auto update process. A local low-privileged user could exploit this vulnerability to escalate their privileges to root.

    Users can help keep themselves secure by applying current updates or downloading the latest Zoom software with all current security updates from https://zoom.us/download.

  • Linux Distro Reviews: Intro

    Linux Distro Reviews: Intro

    This series of articles will review some of the most popular Linux distributions (distros) with an eye to everyday desktop use.

    Linux has been growing in popularity as an alternative to Windows and macOS, especially for users that want privacy, security, and control over how their data is used. Linux is also unencumbered by Microsoft’s TPM requirements, making it a good option for hardware left behind by Windows 10 or Windows 11. The fact that Linux, and most of the software running on it, is entirely free is yet another bonus.

    In my case, I’ve been transitioning to Linux after more than 20 years on macOS. During those two decades, I used macOS exclusively and even developed commercial software for it. My main drivers for the switch were:

    • Wanting to have more control over my data rather than being at the mercy of Apple’s decisions.
    • The ability to upgrade my hardware and extend its usable lifespan for a fraction of the cost of new Apple gear.
    • A desire to use more open-source software rather than relying on closed-source options.

    For the uninitiated, Linux differs from Windows and macOS in the sheer volume of choices it offers. Companies, organizations, and groups take the Linux kernel – or core of the OS – bundle it with a user interface and various applications, and release it as a distro. While it’s hard to say how many distros there are, with the number somewhere in the hundreds, popular website DistroWatch.com lists 100 of the most popular.

    While it can (and sometimes is) confusing having so many different distros available, it’s important to remember that at their core, these various distros share similar functionality. The differences often come down to the package manager they use to install software, the user interface (desktop environments), their release cycle, and the suite of tools and packages installed that gives a distro a specific focus (think daily use, gaming, servers, security testing, etc.)

    I began my migration to Linux at the beginning of 2022 and have distro-hopped across some of the most popular options on the market in an effort to find the one that provides ease of use, stability, reliability, and the software I need to do my job.

    This series will explore my findings, dispel some popular myths (such as Linux being too hard for the average user), and may shed some light on what distro is right for you.

  • Asahi Linux Shows the M1’s Greatest Limitation May Be macOS

    Asahi Linux Shows the M1’s Greatest Limitation May Be macOS

    An alpha of Asahi Linux has been released for Apple’s M1, and the reviews are showing the potential it has, and the problems Apple has with macOS.

    The Asahi Linux Project has been working to port Linux to the M1 chip. Asahi is based off of the Arm version of Arch Linux. The team has been working without any assistance from Apple, adding to both the challenge and reward of releasing a working Alpha.

    Most impressive of all, however, is that Asahi is already proving to be much faster than macOS on the same hardware, in some cases as much as twice as fast, according to Lifewire.

    “My initial impression of Asahi Linux with its Arch Linux Arm desktop version was that it works better than anticipated, at least on a Mac mini,” Michael Larabel, founder of computer hardware website, Phoronix, told Lifewire. “There [are] still areas where the performance is lacking, but [it’s] already much faster than, say, a Raspberry Pi 4 or other low-end Arm single-board computers running Linux.”

    Other users have experienced similarly impressive performance.

    Hugo on Asahi Linux composites all 275 pages of my website in less than half of the time (210ms) it takes the same build of Hugo within macOS on the same machine (557ms)

    Jason W. Eckert (@the_unix_guru), March 20, 2022

    In spite of the impressive performance, Asahi still has some major limitations. Unlike traditional Linux installers, Asahi’s installer must be run from macOS. There is also no GPU acceleration, although the M1’s raw performance makes up for it in everyday tasks.

    Nonetheless, Asahi is clearly showing its potential, while raising some serious questions about why macOS is so much slower on hardware its ideally optimized for.

  • Hot Mic: Zoom Fixes Mac Bug That Left Mic On

    Hot Mic: Zoom Fixes Mac Bug That Left Mic On

    Zoom has released an update that fixes a potentially embarrassing bug, one that leaves the computer’s mic on.

    macOS Monterey includes additional privacy features, including one that turns on an orange light to indicate the microphone is active. According to 9to5Mac, users have been complaining since December that the light would stay on even after a user’s Zoom meeting was over.

    Zoom has finally released an update that addresses the issue.

    We experienced a bug relating to the Zoom client for macOS, which could show the orange indicator light continue to appear after having left a meeting, call, or webinar. This bug was addressed in the Zoom client for macOS version 5.9.3 and we recommend you update to version 5.9.3 to apply the fix.

    All Mac users are encouraged to update as soon as possible.

  • Apple Users Should Update Their Devices Immediately

    Apple Users Should Update Their Devices Immediately

    Apple has released updates to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS that fix a major vulnerability in Safari.

    A vulnerability was discovered in Safari earlier this month by FingerPrintJS, one that let “any website track your internet activity and even reveal your identity.” The issue revolved around Apple’s implementation of IndexedDB, a common API that most browsers use to store data. Unfortunately, Apple’s implementation leaked user data.

    While Apple doesn’t go into detail on the specifics of security fixes when it releases an update, to prevent the issue from being further exploited, the most recent OS updates specifically list CVE-2022-22594, the ID used to identify the flaw. The release notes also credit FingerPrintJS for discovering the bug.

    Impact: A website may be able to track sensitive user information

    Description: A cross-origin issue in the IndexDB API was addressed with improved input validation.

    CVE-2022-22594: Martin Bajanik of FingerprintJS

    Needless to say, all Apple users should update their various devices immediately. This is especially important on iOS, since all iOS web browsers use Safari’s rendering engine.

  • T-Mobile Blocking iOS Private Relay

    T-Mobile Blocking iOS Private Relay

    T-Mobile may bill itself the “Un-carrier” that puts customers’ needs first, but its latest move is a little more “Big Brother” as it begins blocking iOS Private Relay.

    Apple included Private Relay (still in beta) in iOS 15 and macOS Monterey. The feature is similar to a VPN in that it “hides your IP address and browsing activity in Safari and protects your unencrypted internet traffic.”

    Given that it bills itself as putting customers first, and given it has suffered a number of high-profile hacks, one could be forgiven for thinking T-Mobile would welcome a feature that better protects its users’ privacy. Unfortunately, one would be mistaken.

    First noticed by Mac user Jon Guidry, it appears T-Mobile is taking a page from European carriers and is starting to block Private Relay in the US.

    ”@TMobileHelp What the hey? Why are you keeping us from using @Apple’s #icloud private relay?”

    — Jon Guidry (@guidryjd), January 10, 2022

    9to5Mac has confirmed that T-Mobile is indeed moving to block the feature, although it hasn’t completed its efforts, meaning Private Relay may still work for some US users.

    In March 2021, we wrote about T-Mobile opting customers into a targeted advertising program that would use their data to deliver personalized ads. The carrier also said it would sell that data to third-party companies as well.

    It seems clear, based on its attempt to block Private Relay, that T-Mobile doesn’t want anything interfering with its data mining operation. Evidently, it’s not enough to actually charge for a service, and deliver one record quarter after another. The company evidently believes it has the right to mine data from its paying customers, and will stop at nothing to block attempts to prevent it from doing just that.

    John Legere used to famously refer to Verizon and AT&T as “dumb and dumber.” Perhaps T-Mobile should start lumping itself into that category too.

  • TestFlight for macOS Now Available

    TestFlight for macOS Now Available

    Apple has released TestFlight for macOS, making the utility available on the Mac for the first time.

    TestFlight is a utility that makes it easy for developers to invite users to beta test their products on iOS. Given the closed nature of the iOS App Store, without TestFlight, there is no effective way for users to load and test beta software.

    Apple first announced plans to bring TestFlight to the macOS App Store, which has the same restrictions as the iOS App Store, at the WWDC conference in June. The utility is now out of beta and available on the App Store to all users.

  • Microsoft Warns of SIP-Bypassing ‘Shrootless’ macOS Vulnerability

    Microsoft Warns of SIP-Bypassing ‘Shrootless’ macOS Vulnerability

    Microsoft is warning of a vulnerability impacting macOS that could bypass System Integrity Protection (SIP).

    SIP prevents unauthorized code from executing on macOS, and is one of the layers Apple employs to keep the OS secure. In particular, SIP is designed to keep an account with root access from doing something that could compromise the system.

    According to Microsoft, the vulnerability, dubbed Shrootless, “could allow an attacker to bypass System Integrity Protection (SIP) in macOS and perform arbitrary operations on a device. We also found a similar technique that could allow an attacker to elevate their privileges to root an affected device.”

    Microsoft has shared its findings with Apple, so hopefully there will be a fix shortly.

  • Dropbox Botches Response to M1 Macs, Says Native Version Coming

    Dropbox Botches Response to M1 Macs, Says Native Version Coming

    Dropbox stirred up a controversy of its own making, indicating it had no intention of supporting Apple’s M1 chips before finally clarifying that it did.

    Dropbox is a popular app on the Mac platform, just as it is on Windows. Despite Apple announcing its M1 line of processors over a year ago, and despite Dropbox using Apple machines internally, the company still doesn’t have an M1-native client.

    In response to users inquiring on the company’s forums, the official response was:

    This idea is going to need a bit more support before we share your suggestion with our team.

    Needless to say, this did not go over well with Mac users, many of whom complained of high memory usage and poor battery life when running the Intel version of Dropbox through Rosetta.

    Mitchell Hashimoto, founder of HashiCorp, helped the situation go viral by tweeting about it.

    After the story gained traction Drew Houston, Dropbox founder and CEO, responded and clarified that the company is planning on releasing an M1 version in 2022.

    Despite Houston’s attempt at damage control, many users were still unmoved. Some pointed out that the company’s support staff needed to do a better job of communicating with users, while others maintained that there is no excuse for a company of Dropbox’s stature taking so long to support the new architecture.

    Either way, Dropbox has its work cut out to regain the goodwill it lost.

  • Linux Users Make Better Software Testers

    Linux Users Make Better Software Testers

    An indie developer is reporting that his Linux users generate a disproportionate number of bug reports, and the reports are higher quality.

    User-submitted bug reports are one of the main ways many developers — especially smaller ones — identify bugs and improve their apps. Despite Linux having a much smaller desktop market share than either Windows or macOS, at least one developer is crediting Linux users with being far more productive as bug reporters.

    Koderski, at Kodera Software, posted his findings in a thread on Reddit.

    “As of today, I sold a little over 12,000 units of ΔV in total,” writes Koderski. “700 of these units were bought by Linux players. That’s 5.8%. I got 1040 bug reports in total, out of which roughly 400 are made by Linux players. That’s one report per 11.5 users on average, and one report per 1.75 Linux players. That’s right, an average Linux player will get you 650% more bug reports.”

    Koderski also addresses the misconception that making his game available for Linux led to a large number of additional bugs, making the case that a Linux version didn’t create any more work — only better reporting.

    “Do you know how many of these 400 bug reports were actually platform-specific? 3. Literally only 3 things were problems that came out just on Linux. The rest of them were affecting everyone – the thing is, the Linux community is exceptionally well trained in reporting bugs. That is just the open-source way. This 5.8% of players found 38% of all the bugs that affected everyone. Just like having your own 700-person strong QA team. That was not 38% extra work for me, that was just free QA!”

    Koderski’s findings should be of interest to any company that develops software, and shows that developing for Linux carries benefits beyond just an immediate financial reward.

  • Apple Delays CSAM Scanning Amid Backlash

    Apple Delays CSAM Scanning Amid Backlash

    Apple has announced it is delaying its plans to implement CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) scanning amid backlash from all sides.

    Apple previously announced plans to implement CSAM scanning in the next versions of iOS, iPadOS and macOS. While many companies, including Microsoft, Google, Dropbox and Facebook, all scan their servers for CSAM, Apple’s solution was unique in that part of the process would take place on-device.

    The backlash was immediate and severe, leading Apple to try to explain how the system worked. Ultimately, it has not been successful assuaging people’s concerns and is now delaying the feature, according to a statement on its website.

    Update as of September 3, 2021: Previously we announced plans for features intended to help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them and to help limit the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Based on feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers, and others, we have decided to take additional time over the coming months to collect input and make improvements before releasing these critically important child safety features.

    Unfortunately, Apple’s statement is small comfort, as many have pointed out that any attempt to continue with the original goal is extremely dangerous. In our upcoming multi-part breakdown of Apple’s plans, we’ll explain why.

  • Windows 11 Will Ship With Light Mode on by Default, Not Dark Mode

    Windows 11 Will Ship With Light Mode on by Default, Not Dark Mode

    Despite an announcement to the contrary, Windows 11 will ship with the more traditional light mode activated by default.

    At a recent event, a Microsoft employee had announced the company would ship Windows 11 with dark mode on by default. Dark mode is a popular choice across platforms, supported by macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Linux.

    Users who were excited about such a visibly obvious refresh are in for a disappointment, as Microsoft has backtracked in a statement to BetaNews.

    We are aware that inaccurate information about Windows 11 shipping in dark mode on by default to all commercial SKUs was recently shared and apologize for the confusion. To clarify, Microsoft will ship Windows 11 SKUs in light mode on by default. However, OEMs can choose to ship their devices in dark mode and customers will have the choice to easily customize their experience in Settings to dark mode or light mode. As with all of our products, we will continue listening to customer feedback to ensure Windows 11 meets customers’ needs, wherever they are in their computing journey.

    At least dark mode will still be available on Microsoft 11, but it will require manual activation, unless a specific OEM choose to ship their computers with it on by default.

  • Microsoft Releases Windows 365 Cloud PC

    Microsoft Releases Windows 365 Cloud PC

    Microsoft may have upended the virtualization market with its latest product, designed to let anyone with a web browser run Windows.

    Users of other operating systems, such as Linux or Apple’s macOS, rely on virtualization to run Windows and its applications. Such a solution can be costly and resource-intensive. Microsoft is looking to make virtualization much easier, with users able to run a version of Windows in their browser.

    “With Windows 365, we’re creating a new category: the Cloud PC,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “Just like applications were brought to the cloud with SaaS, we are now bringing the operating system to the cloud, providing organizations with greater flexibility and a secure way to empower their workforce to be more productive and connected, regardless of location.”

    The solution should be a boon to remote workers and hybrid workforces.

    “Hybrid work has fundamentally changed the role of technology in organizations today,” said Jared Spataro, corporate vice president, Microsoft 365. “With workforces more disparate than ever before, organizations need a new way to deliver a great productivity experience with increased versatility, simplicity and security. Cloud PC is an exciting new category of hybrid personal computing that turns any device into a personalized, productive and secure digital workspace. Today’s announcement of Windows 365 is just the beginning of what will be possible as we blur the lines between the device and the cloud.”

    Apple users, in particular, have had their workflows disrupted with the move to Apple’s M1 processor. Apple previously included Boot Camp with Intel-based Macs, a way to install a full copy of Windows and boot from it. The new Macs don’t include Boot Camp, forcing Apple users to rely on Parallels. Using a third-party solution can sometimes lag behind, as developers work to support the latest versions of Windows.

    Windows 365 should be available to all businesses on August 2.