Do this now to ace your iPhone 16 preorder
The iPhone 16 series goes up for preorder on Friday, and you need do some prep work to be sure to get Apple's latest and greatest. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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How to download old versions of macOS: Get Sonoma,Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, and more
Macworld There are a few reasons why you might want to download and install an old version of macOS or Mac OS X. Perhaps you’re relying on software you have discovered doesn’t work properly in the latest version. Perhaps your Mac has run slowly ever since you updated. Or maybe you just don’t like the new version of macOS that you have installed. Either way, you have questions and we have answers.  In this article, we will cover how to get old versions of macOS, including Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite, and even old versions of Mac OS X. We explain how to get hold of the relevant installer files so that you can install the software on your Mac. Just note: if you were hoping to run Catalina, Mojave, or a version of macOS older than Big Sur on an M1 or later Mac, that’s not possible. If you are looking for a way to go back to the previous version of macOS, we have an article about reverting a macOS update. You also might want to get the installer for a version of macOS to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs. We have a separate article that explains how to downgrade macOS when you get to that stage of the process. Where to get older versions of macOS Before you can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS X you will need to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to get ahold of these files, as long as you know where to go on the Mac App Store. If you’re unsure of your Mac’s compatibility, check out our list of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac OS X. It is possible to download older versions of macOS from the Mac App Store. Click on the links to download the installers for the following macOS versions: *Note that we have discovered that the links we give below will only work if you are using Safari, so we suggest you switch to Apple’s browser before moving on. You should also close the Mac App Store app if you have that open or the link may not work* macOS Sonoma macOS Ventura macOS Monterey macOS Big Sur macOS Catalina macOS Mojave macOS High Siera Foundry Foundry Foundry Older verisons of macOS aren’t availbale on the Mac App Store, but Apple does provide dmg files of them. You need to download them in Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does you need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image. macOS Sierra OS X El Capitan OS X Yosemite OS X Mountain Lion OS X Lion We discuss this process in more detail below. How to download an older version of macOS for an M-Series Mac Apple began transitioning away from Apple silicon with the release of macOS Big Sur in 2020, so any version of macOS before that won’t run on an M1 Mac or later. If you have a M1 or later Mac you will see a message that your Mac is not compatible with versions of macOS that predate Apple’s move to its own silicon. All versions of macOS prior to Big Sur require an Intel Mac. How to download macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave and High Sierra Foundry Foundry Foundry You can download the installers for many versions of macOS from the Mac App Store. Follow these steps to download the version of macOS that you want from the Mac App Store. Use Safari and close the Mac App Store app if you have that open before you begin. Follow the Mac App Store link above to the software you require. Use Safari and the Mac App Store will open on the page for the macOS version you require. Click on Get. Software Update will open with the words “Finding Update”. Eventually a message “Are you sure you want to download macOS [name]” will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, but you’ll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for macOS. Once the installer has downloaded do not click “Install”. If you do, the installer will automatically be deleted (plus it won’t install if you are already running something newer). You should be able to find the “Install macOS [name]” app in your Applications folder, which you can use to downgrade macOS to an older version (see our separate tutorial). How to download Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mountain Lion and Lion Apple provides dmg files of these older macOS versions, but you need to download them using Safari. A disk image named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does you need to locate the pkg installer inside the disk image. Prior to June 2021, you could purchase OS X 10.7 Lion or Mountain Lion from Apple for $19.99/£19.99 each – Apple would send you a download code. Now Apple has stopped charging for the aging operating system versions. Instead, you can download the operating systems directly from the company along with these other versions. macOS Sierra OS X El Capitan OS X Yosemite OS X Mountain Lion OS X Lion We saw a warning about the connection not being private when trying to download these, this message is appearing because it’s not an https connection, probably because these files predate that standard, but do exercise caution here. The links come from this Apple page so should be secure. What to do if the Mac App Store links above aren’t working We’ve said above that in our experience usually the reason the above links don’t work is if you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if you have already got the Mac App Store open. However, if you are still finding that the link isn’t working you could try the alternative methods below. Another issue is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, but you see an Update not found error message when you try to download it. This is an issue we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven’t. In that case, we suggest you try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac. You may also encounter issues if you are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Usually, when Apple introduces a new Mac it will not be able to run the version of macOS that shipped before the one installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not support certain components in that Mac, for example. Other ways to get older macOS versions If you are running an older version of macOS – or someone you know is – you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and even Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to find will be determined by the version of macOS running on that Mac. Prior to macOS Mojave’s arrival in 2018, the installers for the older macOS versions could be searched for or found via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac OS X update for years). However, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers can no longer be searched for or found in the purchased section of the store. (Although we do have redirect links in the section above to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Store.) If you happen to have access to a Mac that’s running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Store with your password and download the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively, ask a friend to download a copy of the installer from the Mac App Store for you. Once the installer has downloaded don’t install it! If you do the installer will be deleted. You’ll find the installer in your Applications folder from which you can copy it onto your Mac or create a bootable installer. You may also find updates to an older version of macOS on Apple’s website. However these are just point updates, rather than the full version, so it won’t be much help if you are trying to get the full download. The one thing you really mustn’t do is go to a torrent site and download a copy of the macOS you want. Just because Apple gives away its software for free, don’t think it’s fine to just pick up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple software could have been adjusted to allow hackers access to the software and your Mac. How to get OS X Snow Leopard  If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard you won’t have access to the Mac App Store. For a number of years after Snow Leopard arrived all versions of Mac OS X arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snow Leopard, they couldn’t update. Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard for $19.99/£19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost $25/£25). If you purchased Snow Leopard this way you were sent a physical box containing an optical disc – so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably have if the Mac is that old). Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snow Leopard. However, this isn’t a big problem because those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Lion or Mountain Lion update via the links provided above. How to get OS X Leopard or earlier If the old version of the OS you are after predates Snow Leopard and you have a developer account you might be able to get it from developer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the OS X category you should see downloads for all versions of OS X, at least from version 10.3 to 10.6. You may be able to access the Developer section of the website, but you will only be able to access certain software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple Developer Program. It costs $99/£79 a year to join the Apple Developer Program and you have to sign a nondisclosure agreement. You could also try looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating system or perhaps a Mac running one.

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Three reasons to wait for the iPhone 17 Air
Apple just announced the brand new iPhone 16 and 16 Pro lineup. Pre-orders are almost open, which means now is the time to make a buying decision. Should you upgrade, or wait another year? Let me provide three reasons for waiting until next year’s iPhone 17 Air arrives. more…

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Early benchmarks show Apple’s new A18 Pro chip destroys A17 Pro
An early benchmark score for the A18 Pro chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max has been spotted on the Geekbench 6 website… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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“Face with bags under eyes” sets the tone for new Unicode 16.0 emoji update
New designs will roll out to phones, tablets, and PCs over the next few months.

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Apple is updating its iCloud terms and conditions on September 16
Apple has sent out a notification to some Mac users to agree to new iCloud Terms and Conditions, four days before they are supposed to apply. Here's what's new.Apple's early iCloud T's&C's notification in macOSMac users have started to receive notifications that they must accept new Terms and Conditions for iCloud if they wish to continue using it. The notification is fairly typical practice for Apple, but it's apparently arriving earlier than planned.Selecting the notification brings up macOS Settings, with a pop-up containing the new iCloud Terms and Conditions text. Scrolling to the bottom of the legal document reveals that the document was "Last revised: September 16, 2024." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 16 comparison: Go Pro or not?
Should you spend the extra money on the Pro? This Phone 16 vs. iPhone 16 Pro comparison will help you make the right pick. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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9to5Mac Daily: September 12, 2024 – AirPods 4 tidbits, iPhone 16 Pro and 5G
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by iMazing 3: The world’s most trusted tool to manage Apple devices and transfer data from a Mac or PC. Try it now. more…

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The best iPhone 16 Pro accessories to get the most out of your new buy
iPhone 16 Pro pre-orders start tomorrow, and the device will be in users’ hands next week. There are a ton of great accessories already available to help you get the most out of your device. Key buys that unlock faster charging, cases designed for Camera Control, a host of USB-C peripherals, and more. Here are the best iPhone 16 Pro accessories to get ready for your new iPhone. more…

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AirPods acting as hearing aids score FDA approval
Apple got the approval it needs from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to make the latest AirPods Pro into medical-grade hearing aids. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Power through your day with a whopping $350 off this M3 Pro MacBook Pro
Macworld Apple’s entry-level MacBook Pro with an M3 chip and 8GB of RAM is a fine machine, but at $1,699 it’s a little too pricey to recommend. That’s why this deal caught our eye—Amazon is selling the same MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip and 18GB of RAM for $1,649, a savings of $350 and the best price we’ve ever seen for this model. We reviewed the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 Pro chip and gave it a 4.5/5 star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, with our expert praising the great performance of this chip, the plentiful 18GB of unified memory, and just how quiet the laptop is even when running tough jobs. One other impressive thing about this laptop is just how long the battery will last. Our tests indicate you’ll get a full day’s worth of battery no matter what you’re doing on the device, which is exactly what we all need. This MacBook has an absolutely gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR Display with up to 1000 nits of sustained brightness, making it the perfect tool to use when working off your patio, for instance. Not only that, but the laptop will deliver vivid colors and great contrast at all times. The laptop comes with plenty of ports for all your peripherals and then some. The best part is that you can hook up two displays up to 6K at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, or one 6K display over Thunderbolt, and one with 4K at 144Hz over HDMI. Whatever combo you choose, we’re sure you’ll max out your productivity. So go ahead and get yourself one of the best laptops around and save $350 on it right now. Buy it now at Amazon

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FDA approves AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid features
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the AirPods Pro 2 to get the announced clinical-grade hearing aid features in a future software update.AirPods Pro 2During Apple's "Glowtime" special event, a software update for the AirPods Pro 2 was revealed, one which could help millions deal with hearing loss. At the time, the FDA was in the process of approving the software, but by Thursday, it had given it the green light.The FDA's confirmation says the update is its first authorization of an "over-the-counter hearing aid software device" in the form of the AirPods Pro update. The feature is intended to amplify sounds for users aged 18 years or older with "perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment," the FDA adds. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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U.S. FDA authorizes first OTC hearing aid software to be used with Apple’s AirPods Pro 2
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday authorized the first over-the-counter hearing aid software that is intended to be… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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PSA: Siri is currently not working for some users running iOS 18.1 beta
Apple will release iOS 18.0 next week to the public, but the company has also been running tests with iOS 18.1 beta – which will be released in October with the first set of Apple Intelligence tools. However, it seems that Siri has suddenly stopped working on and iPads running the latest beta of iOS 18.1. more…

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Apple Releases AirPods 4, Adds Hearing Aid Mode to AirPods Pro 2
The new AirPods 4 introduce an updated industrial design that Apple says will fit more ears and include a more expensive model with Active Noise Cancellation. However, the more exciting news may be the addition of hearing tests and a Hearing Aid mode for the current AirPods Pro 2.

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Connect tiny new Miniroll Bluetooth speakers for bigger sound
The new Ultimate Ears Miniroll speaker may be ultraportable -- in other words, tiny -- but it has strength in numbers. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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OWC’s new Thunderbolt 5 SSD transfers data at up to 6000 MBps
The OWC Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD is for professionals needing the fastest data transfer rate available. And it's rugged, too. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple just got approval for AirPods Pro 2’s hearing aid feature
Earlier this week, Apple announced a powerful new health feature coming to AirPods Pro 2: hearing aid. But curiously, the company shared that it had not yet received FDA approval for this ‘clinical grade’ hearing aid mode. Assuming that would happen, though, the feature would arrive later this year. As of today, however, the FDA announced it has officially approved Apple’s new feature. more…

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iPhone 16 Pro offers significantly faster 5G speeds vs. iPhone 15 Pro
Apple's new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro contain Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X75 modem which delivers several notable improvements… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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J.D. Vance shouldn't open his mouth about Apple if he doesn't have a clue
Prospective Republican vice president nominee J.D. Vance attacked Apple with accusations of the iPhone maker using Chinese slave labor. Unsurprisingly, he's incredibly wrong, and a five-minute Google search would have made that clear.Republican VP nominee J.D. VanceAs the U.S. election roadshow continues to run until November's polling day, candidates and their parties are continuing to try and gain column-inches any way they can. For J.D. Vance, the Republican vice president nominee running alongside former president Donald Trump, this has now led to him attacking Apple with about the most nonsensical claim possible.On Thursday, Vance used his appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box" to talk about taxes and tariffs. However, as part of his discussions about how companies relying on China for manufacturing should be taxed, he had to have a little dig at Apple. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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