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Apple’s latest update to macOS is here! From now on when you buy a snazzy new Mac, it will come pre-installed with High Sierra, packed full of great new features and updates.
High Sierra is feature-rich and provides loads of great enhancements. From added GPU capabilities like machine learning, virtual reality, and external GPU support, to a more expressive Siri, the new macOS is the best yet.
New features
Apple File System (APFS)
One of High Sierra’s great new features is that it comes with Apple’s new, modern file system, APFS (Apple File System). Optimised for all?flash internal storage and with an advanced architecture, it brings a new level of security and responsiveness to managing your data.
High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)
Up to 40% better compression than before, the new industry-standard for 4K video is now available on your Mac. Your videos will stream better and take up less space on your Mac, but you maintain the same great visual quality.
Metal 2 graphics
Metal 2 is a technology built into macOS that lets you access the full power of your Mac’s GPU. For High Sierra, Metal 2 not only takes the visual experience to the next level, but also adds capabilities like machine learning, virtual reality, and external GPU support for entertainment and professional creative apps.
Photos
High Sierra makes your growing library more organised and accessible, with intuitive editing tools to help you perfect your images. Filter your photo collections by your favourite criteria, find what you’re looking for quickly and easily with the always-on sidebar, and fine tune your photos with powerful tools like Curves for contrast and colour adjustments, and Selective Colour to make colours more saturated.
Intelligent tracking prevention
Safari now uses machine learning to identify advertisers and others who track your online behavior, and removes tracking data they leave behind – so you can browse in peace without seeing that same ad pop up again and again.
Siri
Siri gets a more expressive makeover with a more natural voice, and more changes in expression, intonation, and emphasis based on what it’s saying. It can also learn your music preferences to make suggestions, or play you something to suit your mood.
Upgrading to High Sierra
High Sierra’s powerful new features may make you want to dive right in, but let’s back up a moment. Before you rush into upgrading your business to the new macOS, there are a few things to consider.
You may already be aware of some of the challenges your business might face in upgrading to a new OS – needing to control who upgrades when, and ensuring as little downtime as possible. With High Sierra, you’ll also need to consider the impact of the APFS on a mixed Mac estate. While you’d still be able to share files between new and old Macs switching to SMB, AFP won’t be able to share files with the new APFS. This could cause issues if you have different team members using different OS.
You’ll also need to consider imaging, as you may find yourself needing to move DEP workflows or purchase mobile device management (MDM) software to push out images across multiple machines. Finally, before you upgrade your entire estate to High Sierra, you’ll need to ensure that your current infrastructure is supported. If you try to use a monolithic system image, required firmware updates will be missing from the installation. This causes the Mac to operate in an unsupported and unstable state.
To help you get your head around this, Apple have published a Preparing for macOS High Sierradocument, which you can downloadhere.
We can also support you in your transition to Apple’s new macOS. If you’d like an audit on your existing estate, we can help you work out how best to transition seamlessly with minimal downtime. Plus, we’ll train your IT staff at the same time on how best to utilise all the new features!
Get in touch with the team on 03332 409 306 or by emailing solutions@Jigsaw24.com to speak to one of our consultants. You can stay up to date with all the latest from Apple by following us on Twitter @WeAreJigsaw24 or by liking us on Facebook.