Apple has macOS High Sierra locked in for a September release, having now been put though several months of rigorous beta testing by early adopters.
Following the high-profile launch of the iPhone X and iPhone 8, Apple quietly revealed that the next version of its full-fat macOS operating system – the desktop counterpart to the iPhone’s incoming iOS 11 release – will enter the wild on September 25.
Any Mac or MacBook from 2009 onward will get the free macOS update when it rolls out, but it’s worth noting that the changes High Sierra brings with it could break some older software and apps that have yet to be updated to play nicely with Apple’s latest OS.
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Versions of Apple’s Final Cut Pro X older than version 10.3.4 and versions of Logic Pro X that pre-date version 10.3.1 will not be compatible with High Sierra, so if you’re a user of such creative tools, it’s worth ensuring you have up-to-date versions before downloading the new macOS.
Apple gave us an idea of what to expect from High Sierra as far back as its WWDC 2017 keynote in June. A host of features have been added to macOS, including support for external graphics accelerator enclosures via Thunderbolt 3 connection and a new Apple File System which aims to free up space on Macs and speed up certain tasks.
Other tweaks include improvements to native apps like Safari, Photos, Notes, and Mail, while Siri on macOS has been made smarter and can learn your preferences and offer recommendations within Apple Music.
High Sierra will also bring virtual reality (VR) support to macOS thanks to the addition of the Metal 2 framework, meaning Macs and MacBooks with the compute and graphics power needed for VR apps can run SteamVR with the HTC Vive headset. For developers looking to get into making VR software and apps, such support could open a treasure trove of macOS development opportunities.
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What macOS High Sierra features are you most looking forward to? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
