We have a giant-sized issue of TidBITS for you this week, as we wrap up Jeff Porten’s coverage of CES 2018. But there’s lots more to read as well, since Apple has been showering us with news: an official launch date for the HomePod smart speaker, an announcement deprecating many macOS Server features, updates for all four of the company’s operating systems, and a preview of the upcoming iOS 11.3. Notable software releases this week include BusyCal 3.2.8, Bookends 13.0.5, Logic Pro X 10.4, macOS Server 5.5, iTunes 12.7.3, Safari 11.0.3, and Security Update 2018-001 (Sierra and El Capitan).
Apple has announced a shipping date for the HomePod smart speaker, and you can preorder it now. But should you? Josh Centers expresses some doubts.
Another week, another set of Apple operating system updates. Apart from HomePod support in iOS and Siri getting in touch with its inner anchorperson, most of the changes in these updates address security vulnerabilities. You’ll want to install them sooner rather than later.
In a move that has surprised few, Apple has announced via a support note that it will be deprecating nearly all the remaining services in macOS Server. In the future, macOS Server will “focus on management of computers, devices, and storage on your network.” Time to start looking for alternatives for everything else macOS Server does for you.
What do ARKit, animoji, health records, battery information, and a European emergency location service have in common? Apple is promoting all of them as features in the upcoming iOS 11.3, promised “this spring.”
Jeff Porten misses the riding luggage, wears a camera on his face, sees some ridiculously fast SSD drives, and roams the CES main floor.
In wrapping up his CES coverage, Jeff Porten explores the show within a show that CES sets aside for startups, Eureka Park. Follow along as he finds a portable scanner, kid-focused smartwatch, global hotspot, solar-powered car, and monitoring shoes for seniors.
Notable software releases this week include BusyCal 3.2.8, Bookends 13.0.5, Logic Pro X 10.4, macOS Server 5.5, iTunes 12.7.3, Safari 11.0.3, and Security Update 2018-001 (Sierra and El Capitan).
In ExtraBITS this week, iMore’s Serenity Caldwell offers a preview of the HomePod’s sound quality, and Jason Snell of Six Colors shares his Apple report card based on grades from a panel of industry boffins.