Operating system updates can be an exciting time for users. There’s the potential to be more productive with new apps, interface enhancements that make your computer easier to use, and flashy new features that remind you how much of an impact technology can have on your life. If you want to get caught up in the excitement of an OS update, you should read Jason Snell’s. IOS 11 is where all the action is right now. But waitagoshdarnminute, this is the macOS High Sierra review.

You want to know all about Apple’s upgrade for the Mac. Well, you’ve come to the right place, but if you are expecting fireworks, you won’t find them here—though you might find them in High Sierra eventually.

Apple’s new desktop operating system, High Sierra, is officially available for your downloading pleasure. Compared to Apple’s iOS 11 update, which added a host of new features like augmented.

(I’ll explain later.) With macOS High Sierra (version 10.13, if you’re keeping track), life on the Mac doesn’t change dramatically. It doesn’t have a lot of new features that will widen your eyes in excitement. Eclipse for c mac. But a lot of the changes are in the background and under the hood, and they lay a foundation for better things to come. With that in mind, let’s address the main question right now: Should you upgrade to macOS High Sierra?

Despite what I just said about better things to come, there are several new features you can take advantage of now, mostly in Apple Photos. (I’ll provide an overview of the new Photos, but there’s.) Apple’s Notes and Mail apps get a few helpful tweaks, too. So there is something in High Sierra to get your virtual hands on. But these are things you don’t need to get to right away. If you want to put off upgrading to High Sierra, that would be fine, you won’t miss much—though the main reason to upgrade now is because High Sierra includes security fixes. Other than that, these are changes in High Sierra that you’ll want to have sooner or later. Then you’ll finally get to see though fireworks—perhaps in virtual reality.

MacOS High Sierra: Apple File System APFS (Apple File System) is the key under-the-hood feature of macOS High Sierra. Computers needs a file system in order to manage your data, and until now, that file system was HFS+ (Hierarchical File System). IDG APFS is available when you format a drive in Disk Utility, but it’s currently only for SSDs.

APFS was created because HFS+ was outdated—it was created in 1985. Storage devices are much bigger now, and we create more files than ever (just take a look at your photo collection if you need proof). Developers have been aching for a new file system for a while, and Apple has finally answered their prayers. There’s a catch, though. APFS, right now, is only available if you’re using flash storage or a SSD (solid-state drive) on your Mac. During the beta run, APFS could be installed on a hard drive or Fusion drive, but that support was pulled when High Sierra reached golden master status. Apple said that hard drive and Fusion drive support will be available in a future macOS update.

The features of APFS include: • Built-in encryption and support for full disk encryption; • Snapshots, which used to record the state of your storage device based on points in time, helpful for backups; • Space sharing, which makes it easier to resize and mange different partitions; • Faster performance; • The ability to better manage very large storage capacities and files. When you upgrade to High Sierra, the installer automatically coverts to APFS if you’re using a Mac with a SSD. I didn’t experience any problems that I could attribute to APFS while I used the High Sierra beta, but that doesn’t mean they won’t happen. With APFS released to the general public, it’s possible new problems could arise. This possibility would be the main reason why you might want to wait to upgrade until the first major High Sierra update is released. MacOS High Sierra: Virtual reality and Metal 2 Virtual reality has made a lot of noise in the PC market, but you haven’t heard much about it for the Mac.

Apple hopes that changes with High Sierra, which now has support for VR headsets like the. Apple also has VR partnerships with Valve, Unity, and Epic, and plans for 360-degree video in Final Cut Pro X and Motion. IDG / Hayden Dingman macOS High Sierra has built-in support for VR headgear like the HTC Vive.

High Sierra also includes support for Metal 2, Apple’s graphics API. In addition to support for VR and better performance, Metal 2 has support for external GPU hardware, which could mean you can boost your MacBook’s graphics performance by using Thunderbolt to hook up an external box with a top-end graphics card. You may not be able to take advantage of VR and Metal 2 support right away, though.

Developers need to create Mac-compatible VR software, and software needs to be developed for Metal 2. Down the line, we could see some really cool stuff.