Details of macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 with official eGPU support prematurely hit French App...
The French app store let the High Sierra release notes slip a little early, suggesting that the most recent beta is extremely close to release and will include official support for external GPU technology.
First spotted by French site MacGeneration, the notes summarize what's already been spotted in the beta, for the most part. The biggest addition is the launch of official eGPU support which saw a dramatic cut-back in beta 5, by disallowing older Thunderbolt 2 machines from using the technology.
The new High Sierra 10.13.4 now incorporates Messages in iCloud, a feature that synchronizes a user's Messages "stack" between multiple devices logged in to the same iCloud account. High Sierra 10.13.4 is also the first one to warn users that they are running 32-bit apps. Apple has previously stated that High Sierra is the last Mac operating system that will run the older apps "without compromise."
Beta 2 also changes the name of the iBooks app to "Books." It appears to be mirroring the rebranding, and potential re-design, of the app on iOS, but a timetable for changes beyond just the name aren't clear.
Other additions noted in the release notes include the launch of Business Chat in Messages in the United States and Canada, resolution of a graphical corruption issue with the iMac Pro, and a fix for Messages being listed out of order.
The English language release notes remain essentially non-existent.
First spotted by French site MacGeneration, the notes summarize what's already been spotted in the beta, for the most part. The biggest addition is the launch of official eGPU support which saw a dramatic cut-back in beta 5, by disallowing older Thunderbolt 2 machines from using the technology.
The new High Sierra 10.13.4 now incorporates Messages in iCloud, a feature that synchronizes a user's Messages "stack" between multiple devices logged in to the same iCloud account. High Sierra 10.13.4 is also the first one to warn users that they are running 32-bit apps. Apple has previously stated that High Sierra is the last Mac operating system that will run the older apps "without compromise."
Beta 2 also changes the name of the iBooks app to "Books." It appears to be mirroring the rebranding, and potential re-design, of the app on iOS, but a timetable for changes beyond just the name aren't clear.
Other additions noted in the release notes include the launch of Business Chat in Messages in the United States and Canada, resolution of a graphical corruption issue with the iMac Pro, and a fix for Messages being listed out of order.
The English language release notes remain essentially non-existent.
Comments
Edit: or maybe the eGPU technology is not for monitors at all, but for a TB3 connected VR headset that needs a little on-board GPU to work properly (90 frames per second)
Just amazing what a trillion dollar company with its endless resources of engineers can achieve...
I'd rather just use a true eGPU enclosure and Apple should start supporting more 3rd party video cards (boot menu support, etc). Or, use the onboard graphics for the boot menu and then switch over to the eGPU.
The monitor idea seems interesting but I suspect (as Macxpress said) most hard-core users will want an upgradable GPU
It's also pretty clear that Apple doesn't really "like" including discrete GPUs on Macbook Pros. Back in the PowerPC and early Intel days it was possible to get Pros that didn't have discrete chips at all, and the built-to-order models (like my 2016) are frequently rusty out of the gate.
Eh? It'd just be a next-generation Thunderbolt display built off modern iMac designs and coolers. A GPU similar to the one in an iMac Pro wouldn't be cheap, but worth every penny to graphic professionals.
And maybe the reason they didn't update the Mac desktop to use touch is that they intend the next Mac desktop to be VR? But that seems a bit far fetched! A bit too "university lab" than commercial product. I think it will just be individual apps they update.