MacOS 26 (Tahoe)

[PAK]

Amongst the things seen so far (which aren't about the GUI )
Tahoe refuses to install on M3 Ultra because of a failed hardware check. Bit concerning that they did zero / minimal QA on Studio machines, even if those users usually wait a few months.

Funniest one: The calculator (of all things) apparently has a memory leak. Someone posted a screenshot of it using 32GB of ram

[jancivil]

VSL said, last year, end of 2025 support for VIPro. So, not having the Dinerii to splash for the Studio eqivalents (even though they're reasonable upgrade fees) after having to buy new monitors (a grand), it's important to know how long that investment will last. I spent a pile on software in the last year, mostly to VSL.
You keep on keeping on, Jan. You're a survivor.

thank you. I am tired, though.

I figured a year ago Apple would go to OS 16 (don't know what's up with the number 26) before end of 2025. I bought almost all of the brass and woodwind at the discounted prices.
Now, the Studio edition of... I just looked, it's gone down. For the things I have in the original it's €12, Bb Trumpet at €9. Cornet I didn't go for, is 65. But since, they came out with a full Synchron version, I like it better. Guy Bacos' demo was so fuckin' beautiful I bought the thing.
My bundle price, OTOH is not optimal because I lack three of them.

My little computer is acting insane. The cursor went wild yesterday, all over the screen doing things on its own. It's a 2020 model and I've had it for two years. I'd prefer not to troubleshoot something this nuts, so I bought the same computer only there's an option for more RAM than this has. a 2025 meaning M4 was $999. I am afraid of OS 26 and I have reason to avoid OS 15 if I can. But this, with twice the RAM is a couple hundred bucks or more cheaper than it was in 2023. After taxes, $625. Refurbished; I hope someone didn't go in there to update the OS.

BTW, Kontakt {6 or 7} was not broken in any way when I upped to Sonoma over a year ago. It is not broken under Sequoia. I have several instances of one or the other working perfectly in the current project. 6 I know for sure isn't on the compatibility list, but that list is not exactly accurate. The omission is designed to make people buy the new shit. "Komplete Effects" probably hasn't made the list for even Sonoma yet either. They work under Sequoia, except Replika XT reports wrong names of parameters to a host, or at least to VE Pro.

[jamcat]

I've always like what Apple has done with each update. Until now.
They've gone full Microsoft. They've removed the Launchpad and everyone hates what they've put in its place. People came up with workarounds to dig the Launchpad back out through terminal commands, so Apple stripped it out completely. There's a tool someone developed to replace the Launchpad (called LaunchBack) and Apple have gone full scorched-earth against it, marking it as malware, blocking any way of installing, unquarantining, codesigning, or running it. This is the Windows 8 Start Menu fiasco all over again. Like Microsoft, Apple has made a horrible design choice that makes it harder to use your computer, and rather than making it better and firing the person who pushed it, they have gone to war against their userbase. SMH

[aMUSEd]

They've removed the Launchpad and everyone hates what they've put in its place.

Wtf? They kept that quiet- how else are you meant to browse apps? I use Launchpad every day and have it organised into app categories to make it easy to find what I want

[jamcat]

The weird part is they've repeated the exact same mistakes that Microsoft made with Vista and Windows 8, despite that glaring history existing and everyone universally agreeing it was the worst thing since New Coke.

Wtf? They kept that quiet- how else are you meant to browse apps? I use Launchpad every day and have it organised into app categories to make it easy to find what I want

I have found this, which actually works with macOS 26, and works reasonable well, but is still pretty clunky compared to Launchpad.
https://bohdank1.gumroad.com/l/apphub

It costs $10

[PAK]

There’s free alternative launchers, though I haven’t tried any as I’m staying on 15.7 for now. EG..
LaunchNow https://github.com/ggkevinnnn/LaunchNow/
And, based on Launch Now, Launch Next https://github.com/RoversX/LaunchNext/

I don’t think Apple are going out of their way to block stuff (unless more launcher apps have certificates revoked!) But it does feel a bit like the whole Windows 8 situation, with Apple trying to force change, and make you go through Spotlight. The ultimate goal being it wants users to use its AI to find and launch apps.

Be careful though. There’s a weird situation with apps right now, where open source apps are increasingly being uploaded as paid apps on the App Store / elsewhere, with goodness knows what added to them, as well as increasing amounts of “vibe coded” AI slop which attempts to copy existing apps, right down to using the same text in the app store description.

[BertKoor]

> it wants users to use its AI to find and launch apps.

Matching me typing "TE" with Terminal.app or REA with Reaper.app is hardly A.I.

[BertKoor]

> it wants users to use its AI to find and launch apps.

Matching me typing "TE" with Terminal.app or REA with Reaper.app is hardly A.I.

[PAK]

Matching me typing "TE" with Terminal.app or REA with Reaper.app is hardly A.I.

Hehe. It certainly isn't. But I don't think devices, which typically have a keyboard attached, are foremost in their thoughts lately?

I mean, they just released an OS, and it couldn't even be installed on their flagship desktop computer product? I'm not sure what that tells you, but it's nothing good..

[jamcat]

The new look is terrible, too. It's like they've taken their design cues from Windows Vista, as if an OS that everyone absolutely hated 20 years ago is going to suddenly look amazing today.

Thankfully, you can "Reduce transparency" in Accessibility > Display, which I guess is meant for the blind. Then it merely looks like Linux.

So that's what the storied design geniuses at Apple have presented us with. Choose your ugliness: Vista or Linux. All with the functionality of Windows 8.

[jancivil]

I've never used Launchpad. The vast majority of things I use are there in the dock. The regular-but-seldom use apps are there in Applications. I actually hate all this "help" from Mac OS.

[Bombadil]

I've used it for a long time. I find it very handy. It puts my applications right in front of me, and organized as I wish.
I've updated my iPad. Not sure what I think of the new look. Welp, I am, as usual, going to take my time with this change.
VSL has confirmed VIPro compatibility. Now I will wait and see how things shake out with RME. From what I've seen, OS26 hasn't broken very much. Which is good news.

[dayjob]

eventide sent this out today

[jamcat]

I have 20 audio software managers. I'm not going to keep them all in the dock. But every time some developer has a new update, I need one of them. In Launchpad, they were all in a folder so I don't have to hunt for them or remember what variant of Manager/Center/Central/Access/Connect each one has in their name.

I ditched AppHub before I had to buy it, and I'm using LaunchNext now (thanks PAK!)
I like that you can import your Lanchpad prefs right into it, and drag&drop works to create new folders.
I don't like that Safari's default name is 浏览器.

[jamcat]

Right now as I plug my MacBook back in to recharge I'm wondering how much CPU/battery Aero Glass Liquid Glass uses.