The Apple Event delivered new iPhones 16, AirPods 4 (with and without noise cancellation), Apple Watch Series 10, new features coming to AirPods Pro 2, some underwhelming, minor updates for AirPods Max and Apple Watch Ultra, as well as some glimpses of iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence.
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macOS 15.0 and iOS 18.0 available September 16
We did not get new Macs, which is not surprising. If the rumors for M4 Macs are correct, Apple will want to dedicate its own event to those and probably use that to show off more Apple Intelligence features closer to their release with macOS 15.1 and iOS 18.1.
But we did get a shipping date for platform upgrades: Monday, September 16. For all Apple platforms, including macOS Sequoia 15.0. This is at least two weeks earlier than most expectations for the macOS release. Are you ready?
📸 Focus
The Moral Implications of Being a Moderately Successful Computer Scientist and a Woman
Being a woman in tech is insane. We do not work in the same moral system model as most of the people that we interact with daily and we can’t talk about it, because when we do, we are the ones portrayed as crazy or hysterical. In situations where we assume that people will behave in rational ways (e.g., when codes of conduct are not needed because we “trust” everyone), the default is simply to reinforce the patriarchy.
📰 News and Opinion
Apple Intelligence Promises Better AI Privacy. Here’s How It Actually Works
With Private Cloud Compute, Apple has developed an array of innovative cloud security technologies. But the service is also significant for pushing the limits of what is an acceptable business proposition for a cloud service, seemingly prioritizing secure architecture over what would be most technically efficient or economical.
⚙️ Apple Updates
Apple Will Make Alternative App Marketplaces and Browser Engines Available in the EU Starting Monday
Apple is opening up the iPad to alternative app marketplaces and browser engines in the EU according
System Extension Changes in macOS Sequoia
There are a number of system extensions — such as endpoint security extensions like Jamf Protect — that need to remain on devices for them to be managed and secured successfully
Goshdarn Apple Version Numbers
(There's another domain leading to this page, but I'd rather avoid triggering email filters. You'll figure it out...)
I wish Apple would unify the version numbers of all platforms. It is so tedious to remember which iOS version matches up with which version of macOS, or iPhone or processor generation.
Easiest would be to use the year, but someone pointed out to me that Samsung uses the year, so Apple is never going to adopt that. Instead, I suggest to just use the macOS code name for everything, e.g. "Apple Intelligence was introduced with iOS Sequoia", "the camera control button was added with iPhone Sequoia", "Apple Pencil Pro works with iPad Pro Sonoma and iPad Air Sonoma"
🔐 Security and Privacy
New macOS malware HZ RAT gives attackers backdoor access to Macs
There’s a new family of Mac malware, and—surprise!—it isn’t primarily a stealer this time. HZ RAT is macOS malware that gives remote attackers complete control of an infected Mac.
From Amos to Poseidon: A SOC Team’s Guide to Detecting macOS Atomic Stealers 2024
It started out (apparently) as a ChatGPT project in April 2023 but has gone on to become arguably the most successful Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) offering to date that specifically targets Mac users.
GAZEploit
By remotely capturing and analyzing the virtual avatar video, an attacker can reconstruct the typed keys.
🔨 Support and Tutorials
From quarantine to provenance: how xattrs are copied
documenting how macOS decides what to do with them when a file containing xattrs is copied.
🤖 Scripting and Automation
Terraforming SimpleMDM to automate processes at FREENOW | SimpleMDM
longtime SimpleMDM customer David Kraushuber came to MacDevOpsYVR from Hamburg, Germany, to share his latest project — Terraforming SimpleMDM.
🎧 Listen
Apple's Privacy Paradox & iPhone Lost At Sea
Joe Saponare discusses their experience with a CarPlay after-market device
Just Us on 2024 Fall Releases
With major Apple platform releases and a live event around the corner, Tom, Marcus, and Emily round up for a look back at Sonoma and iOS 17, an anxiety check on Sequoia and iOS 18, and ponder some of the questions admins are eager to have answered this Septober.
🎈Just for Fun
What's New In Unicode 16.0
Today the latest emoji list will be released by the Unicode Consortium, with additions including a harp, a shovel, a splatter symbol, and a face with bags under its eyes.
Mac OS 9 Keynote Template
Adam Anklewicz: People liked my keynote theme for my Okta Workflows for Mac Admins presentation I did. So I cleaned it up and made a theme.