Apple debuts macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 with Business Chat and eGPU support
Apple today updated macOS to version 10.13.4, bringing new features like Business Chat in Messages and support for external GPU (eGPU) enclosures to Mac users.
The public release follows multiple betas seeded alongside previews of iOS 11.3, watchOS 4.3, and tvOS 11.3, final versions of which went live earlier today.
Apple's latest macOS can be downloaded through High Sierra's built-in update mechanisms or through the Mac App Store.
Business Chat lets people communicate directly with companies via Messages and even make purchases. The feature was announced at WWDC and was initially slated to ship with iOS 11 and macOS 10.13 last year.
eGPU support can add extra speed for graphics-heavy tasks, such as VR, gaming, and CAD. This does, however, require a separate Thunderbolt 3 enclosure, as well as a dedicated video card, which together can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update improves the stability, performance, and security of your Mac, and it is recommended for all users. This update:
In addition to major feature introductions, the update fixes a number of issues including graphics corruption problems impacting certain apps on iMac Pro and a bug that prevented web link previews from appearing in Messages. A series of Safari enhancements are also incorporated, with users now able to jump to the right-most tab with a Command+9 key combination and sort bookmarks by name or URL using the "Sort by..." option. New Safari privacy and security features also come with the update.
Additional enhancements include the ability to sort Safari bookmarks, and more clarity on privacy and personal information.
The public release follows multiple betas seeded alongside previews of iOS 11.3, watchOS 4.3, and tvOS 11.3, final versions of which went live earlier today.
Apple's latest macOS can be downloaded through High Sierra's built-in update mechanisms or through the Mac App Store.
Business Chat lets people communicate directly with companies via Messages and even make purchases. The feature was announced at WWDC and was initially slated to ship with iOS 11 and macOS 10.13 last year.
eGPU support can add extra speed for graphics-heavy tasks, such as VR, gaming, and CAD. This does, however, require a separate Thunderbolt 3 enclosure, as well as a dedicated video card, which together can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update improves the stability, performance, and security of your Mac, and it is recommended for all users. This update:
In addition to major feature introductions, the update fixes a number of issues including graphics corruption problems impacting certain apps on iMac Pro and a bug that prevented web link previews from appearing in Messages. A series of Safari enhancements are also incorporated, with users now able to jump to the right-most tab with a Command+9 key combination and sort bookmarks by name or URL using the "Sort by..." option. New Safari privacy and security features also come with the update.
Additional enhancements include the ability to sort Safari bookmarks, and more clarity on privacy and personal information.
Comments
Issue started as soon as I started trying to backup my iPhone X to the new iTunes 17.7.4.76 that updated first before the new High Sierra update that my iTunes started hanging. I then had to force quit it twice. Reported the issues, when asked because of force quit, then when restarting again got some thing about reloading library.xml something (longer name) then after a bit it said my library was corrupt? what the heck?
After a bit it is now in mode of gathering info about my iCloud music library and making it available. My iPhone, iPad and another Mac are ok but this is main Mac and now all my playlists and albums of downloaded Apple Music are missing while it makes the library available again. What the heck is going on?
And to add more detail to this, before iTunes started locking (while I was trying to backup my iPhone X via WIFI) all the Apple Music albums and playlists were populated. They were even playing on my homepod which was also updated to 11.3. It was only after this problem trying to back up my iPhone wirelessly that got iTunes in a fit and gave me the dreaded spinning beachball leading to failure to respond and I got tired of it twice and did that force quit.
Final note now after half hour and researching this and writing this post the info about my Apple Music Library is 80 percent "gathered" so I assume/hope my apple music downloads will reappear on my Mac? And the answer is yes but dang 45 minutes of my iCloud Apple Music library on my Mac vanishing -- at least it was fine on my iOS devices. I have not tried to backup my iPhone X yet letting the final work Finnish -- now uploading to iCloud music library, but my Apple Music playlists and albums I downloaded are all magically back hmmmm
maybe a tethered update, download, pause, update. But on the fly over the air? The first day traffic crashes seem too risky.
So, uh… why’d they do this to Safari? Why can’t I say “allow first party cookies only”? Look, I know that it never worked. IT NEVER WORKED. I ALWAYS got third party cookies. But this was a conscious decision they made, to change this feature. They took time to go into Safari and actually do something. AND THEY DIDN’T BOTHER TO ADD A COOKIE WHITELIST. Do they care anymore?
Also, is “prevent cross-site tracking” Apple’s way of saying, “We’re wiping the HTTP REFERER when you click on a link,” or is it something else entirely? Because I’d like to wipe my HTTP REFERERs but there’s no Safari extension to do that.