At last week’s Peek Performance event, Apple unveiled spec-bump updates to the iPhone SE and iPad Air before changing the Mac landscape forever. Say goodbye to the 27-inch iMac and hello to the Mac Studio, a standalone box that’s essentially a much more powerful Mac mini thanks to the M1 Max and new M1 Ultra chips. Alongside the Mac Studio, Apple introduced the $1600 27-inch Studio Display, which provides a more affordable monitor option than the $5000 Pro Display XDR. To support all this new hardware, launch Universal Control, and enable Face ID for masked users, Apple pushed out iOS 15.4, iPadOS 15.4, macOS 12.3 Monterey, watchOS 8.5, tvOS 15.4, and HomePod Software 15.4. Notable Mac app releases this week include Audio Hijack 3.8.11, ScreenFlow 10.0.5, Lunar 5.4.3, macOS Big Sur 11.6.5, and Security Update 2022-003 Catalina.
Apple has finally rolled out its Universal Control feature for Macs and iPad, albeit in beta form, and newer iPhones let you use Face ID even if you’re wearing a mask. The company’s latest operating system updates offer a variety of other enhancements, bug fixes, and security fixes.
Despite its dated design, the third-generation iPhone SE remains a bargain, especially if you prefer a smaller iPhone and Touch ID.
At its Peek Performance event, Apple unveiled a fifth-generation iPad Air that swaps out the aging A14 Bionic processor for the M1 chip found in the iPad Pro and lower-cost Macs.
Apple has introduced a new Mac model—the Mac Studio—powered by its most powerful chips yet, the M1 Max and new M1 Ultra. But for Adam Engst, the most exciting announcement of the day is the new 27-inch Studio Display, which pairs well with any of Apple’s M1-based Macs.
Watchlist
Updates Audio Unit effects handling on M1-based Macs. ($49 new, free update, 28.7 MB, macOS 10.14+)
Maintenance update with a smattering of improvements and bug fixes. ($149 new, free update, 84.7 MB, macOS 10.15+)
Maintenance release of the adaptive brightness utility for external monitors. ($23 new, free update, 16.6 MB, macOS 10.15+)
Security patches for Big Sur and Catalina. (Free, various sizes, macOS 11 and 10.15)