MacRumors' Mac Blog: Mac Apps, News and Rumors

Apple today released Thunderbolt Display Firmware Update 1.2, designed for the Thunderbolt Display that was released in 2011. According to the release notes, the update improves reliability when connecting devices to the Apple Thunderbolt Display and addresses a rare issue that may cause the display to go black. Thunderbolt Display owners can download the update from the Mac App Store....

Apple has released a new Safari 8.0.1 beta for developers running OS X Yosemite, along with a Safari 7.1.1 beta for Mavericks and a Safari 6.2.1 beta for older versions of OS X. The new Safari builds can be downloaded through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store. Safari 8.0.1 for OS X Yosemite requires OS X 10.10 or 10.10.1, while Safari 7.1.1 for OS X Mavericks requires OS X...

The MacRumors Folding@home team has contributed over two billion points to the distributed computing medical research project, reaching this milestone on November 12. It took 11.5 years for the MacRumors team to accumulate its first billion points, but the team completed its second billion points in only 12.5 months, thanks in large part to today's faster GPUs, as well as Quick Return Bonus Points...

Microsoft today announced that it is furthering its commitment to cross-platform development with an expanded open source program for its .NET platform and additional support for operating systems outside of Microsoft Windows. "With billions of devices in the market today, developers need tools that target many different form factors and platforms," said S. Somasegar, corporate vice president,...

Apple today seeded build 14B23 of OS X 10.10.1 to developers, one week after seeding the first OS X 10.10.1 beta, build 14B17, and nearly a month after first releasing OS X Yosemite to the public. The new beta is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store and through the Mac Dev Center. While it is unclear what improvements the first update to OS X Yosemite will...

Apple has updated its Support website, adding the option for users to schedule Genius Bar appointments at their local Apple retail stores within the Support site. Previously, users had to navigate to their local Apple Store's page to make appointments. The new option, first spotted by 9to5Mac, is presented after a user defines what kind of problem they're having with a particular product....

As the holidays approach, deals on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple accessories will be picking up, culminating in a slew of deals around Black Friday. Some retailers have already begun offering discounts on Apple products, and this week, there are discounts on the Retina iMac, a range of older iPads, and various Apple accessories including Western Digital hard drives and Beats earphones. Retin...

Spotify on Friday added a new feature that allows subscribers to use an iPhone or iPad as a remote control for playback on their Mac. The new feature is available for free as part of Spotify's $9.99 monthly premium subscription.We've just released a great new Premium feature, which lets you play Spotify through your computer, using your phone or tablet as a remote. Use the Spotify app to control...

Other World Computing today announced the launch of new 1 TB (960 GB) solid state drive options for 2010-2012 models of the MacBook Air. Priced at $549 for the drive alone or $579 for a package including tools and an Envoy enclosure to repurpose the original drive for external storage, the new 1 TB option complements existing 120, 240, and 480 GB options for the various MacBook Air...

Popular Mac Photoshop alternative Pixelmator was today updated to version 3.3 "Limestone," introducing a redesigned interface, a repair tool extension, and support for several OS X Yosemite features including iCloud Drive and Handoff. The update also brings support for the new iMac with Retina 5K display. Pixelmator's subtle redesign was inspired by OS X Yosemite, bringing a flatter look and...

Apple today announced on its website (via ifoAppleStore) that it will be opening its store in Lille, France on Saturday, November 15. The store will be located on 1 Rue Faidherbe, which also hosts a number of other luxury retailers and outlets. The store itself will contain two levels and span 1400 square meters (15000 square feet) and wrap around the city block, offering a wide amount of space...

Microsoft today announced that it's opening signups for an early preview of Skype Translator, a real-time language translation feature that it first showed off earlier this year at Re/code's Code Conference. While the initial trial program will be limited to customers who own a Windows 8.1 computer or tablet, Microsoft is open to bringing Skype Translator to other platforms in the future. The ...

On December 11th, a fully functional original Apple-1 Personal Computer will go up for auction, reports Reuters. The rare machine, which Steve Jobs sold out of his parents' garage in 1976 for $600, is expected to sell for over half a million dollars. This particular Apple-1 is the only documented machine to have been sold directly by Jobs himself. Back in 1999, the computer was purchased by...

In celebration of the Halloween holiday, Apple, app developers, and retailers are all offering significant discounts on a range of movies, apps, and Apple accessories. We've rounded up some of the best of the holiday deals, which can be found below. Movies Apple has discounted a slew of scary movies to celebrate Halloween, offering both horror titles and more family-oriented Halloween-themed...

Whenever Apple talks about the Mac mini—like at the October event in Cupertino—the company always mentions how the Mac mini is a favorite with first-time Mac users. While that may be true, the Mac mini isn't just a computer for newbies. Its combination of affordability, compactness, and performance makes the Mac mini an ideal computer for new and experienced users alike. Apple offers three ...

Apple today unveiled its traditional black barriers around its forthcoming store in Lille, France, indicating that is construction is winding down as a grand opening is imminent, reports MacGeneration (Google Translate). The store will contain two levels and span 1400 square meters (roughly 15000 square feet). MacGeneration notes that the store will likely be opened by the end of November,...

Apple today added several new models of the current 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro to its online store for refurbished products, marking their first availability at a lower cost since their July 2014 launch date. There are six different models available, which are currently mistakenly listed under the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro section, an error that should be corrected soon. While one machine...

Twelve South today announced a new horizontal stand designed specifically for the new model of Mac Pro. Unlike most of Twelve South's product line, the BookArc for Mac Pro is made of a shinier chrome plate that offsets the deep black colors of the Mac Pro itself. The specially designed stand allows Mac Pros to be placed horizontally, saving vertical space in cabinets and on shelves. Earlier in...