{"id":74153,"date":"2021-04-30T08:00:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T13:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=74153"},"modified":"2021-04-28T17:32:19","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T22:32:19","slug":"macos-11-3-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/74153-macos-11-3-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"macOS Big Sur 11.3: What You Need to Know & Why It’s Important"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Along with the release of iOS 14.5<\/a> on April 26, Apple updated most of its operating systems. Here’s what’s new in macOS Big Sur 11.3 and why those changes are important for Mac users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

How to Install macOS Big Sur 11.3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

macOS Big Sur informs users of OS updates through System Preferences > Software Update<\/strong>. Many users won’t know the update is available until they see a small red circle with the number 1 in it appear on the System Preferences icon. That’s the hint to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Launch System Preferences<\/li>
  2. Click the Software Update button<\/li>
  3. Now click More info… to read about the update if you wish<\/li>
  4. Click Update Now to start the update process. To speed things up, shut down all other apps on your Mac prior to clicking that button.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"System
    System Preferences > Software Update, showing macOS Big Sur 11.3<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    It’s good practice to have a recent backup of the Mac available before updating. Why? In rare cases, the update may fail and corrupt the Mac startup disk. A backup can help you recover quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Automatic macOS Updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Want future macOS updates automatically downloaded and installed? Click the Advanced button shown in the screenshot above and check “Install macOS updates.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    A Hack Fixed Before It Became Dangerous!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    One thing you won’t see in the release notes for this update is a patch for a potentially dangerous macOS hack. This hack was reported by security researcher Cedric Owens in mid-March and could have allowed a hacker to access a user’s data by tricking the user into opening a spoofed document. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to security researcher Patrick Wardle, the hack took advantage of a property list (.plist) file in the bundle of files that makes up a Mac app. Removing this file and creating an app bundle with a particular structure could trick macOS into running malicious code without a warning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Bug Fixes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    We don’t often talk about general bug fixes in OS update posts, but there is one that is worth mentioning because it directly impacts an OWC software product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With the release of macOS 11.2, Apple introduced a bug in the kernel which prevented SoftRAID<\/a> from running on M1 Macs. Many users were just as frustrated as OWC’s software team, but now that a fix has been implemented in macOS Big Sur 11.3, SoftRAID users can breathe a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Note:<\/strong> Read more in Tim Standing’s Post: macOS Beta No Longer Required When Using SoftRAID on M1 Macs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    macOS Big Sur 11.3 Features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds many new features also included in the other OS updates. Let’s take a look at them and why they’re important to Mac users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    AirTag and Find My<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    As with iOS 14.5, macOS 11.3 adds support for AirTag<\/a><\/strong>. AirTag is Apple’s latest device, a small battery-powered disc that works with the Find My<\/strong> app to pinpoint the location of lost items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Find My network consists of hundreds of millions of Apple devices passing along location information anonymously to the network. Chances are good that some Apple user passes within Bluetooth range of your AirTagged device and the location info for the lost item then becomes available to you in Find My.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Apple<\/a>
    Apple AirTag Support now in macOS Big Sur 11.3<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Should you lose an AirTagged item, fire up Find My on your Mac. Right-click the listing for the AirTag and select Mark As Lost. When the AirTagged item is found by the Find My network, you’ll be notified. It’s also possible to enter a phone number where you can be contacted. That way, if someone finds the physical device, they are notified to call you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why It’s Important:<\/strong> You may not always have your iPhone around when you realize something has gone missing. Being able to keep track of belongings with AirTag on your Mac is quite useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    iPhone and iPad Apps on M1 Macs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Have an M1 Mac? If so, you might have some iPhone or iPad apps installed on that Mac. You now have the option to change the size of an iPhone or iPad app’s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Those iPhone or iPad apps can now be displayed in their highest resolution version when in full screen on a Mac. That’s perfect for games you may play on your M1 Mac. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    macOS Big Sur 11.3 and iOS \/ iPadOS games are now made for each other on M1 Macs, as the update brings keyboard support to those games that are designed to use device tilt. If an iPhone or iPad game supports game controllers, the keyboard, mouse, or trackpad on an M1 Mac can be used instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why It’s Important:<\/strong> I personally love the fact that I can run some of my favorite iOS and iPadOS apps on an M1 Mac, and the high-resolution support in full-screen mode makes them look great!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    M1 Mac Hibernation Mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    One thing that was missing from M1 Macs prior to this week’s update was a true hibernation mode<\/strong>. What’s hibernation mode? It’s something that was MacBook-only in past years, but it appears that it’s now available on all M1-based Macs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Think of hibernation mode as a special sleep mode. Before a Mac is put to sleep, the startup drive saves data from RAM for safekeeping. In normal sleep mode RAM is still “awake” during sleep mode; in hibernation, RAM is shut down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When the Mac is awoken from hibernation mode again, the startup disk restores necessary data back to RAM. Waking takes slightly longer than to occur than in regular sleep and safe sleep modes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why It’s Important:<\/strong> Hibernation mode saves even more power on Macs than regular sleep modes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Apple Music<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Let’s say you’ve reached the end of a song or a playlist. The new Autoplay<\/strong> keeps music playing without need for user interference by playing a similar song automatically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"City<\/a>
    City Charts in Apple Music highlight the Top 25 tunes in over 100 cities<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    One other change: Apple Music now features “City Charts<\/strong>” that shows what music is popular in over 100 cities from around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why It’s Important:<\/strong> Autoplay keeps the music playing while you’re busy working from home, and City Charts can broaden anyone’s musical horizons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Safari<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Apple’s flagship browser for Mac has changed. For example, the Start Page section order can be customized. To do this, simply click the settings button in the lower right corner of the Start Page and drag the individual sections \u2014 Privacy Report, Frequently Visited, Favorites, Siri Suggestions, iCloud Tabs, and Reading List \u2014 up or down into the order you desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"The<\/a>
    The Safari Start Page section order is now customizable<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Two of the updates to Safari are oriented toward developers. The “Additional WebExtensions API” gives developers the ability to offer extensions that replace the new tab page. The Web Speech API<\/strong> gives developers tools for incorporating speech recognition into web pages for real-time captioning, dictation, and voice navigation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Finally, the WebM<\/strong> and Vorbis<\/strong> formats for audio and video receive support in Safari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why It’s Important:<\/strong> Apple is all about giving users control, and being able to re-order sections on the Safari Start Page is just one more way they’re doing that. The company is also giving developers tools to add functionality to websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    \"Apple<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Gaming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Not much happening here in macOS Big Sur 11.3, except there’s now support for Xbox Series X|S<\/strong> and Sony PS5 DualSense™<\/strong> Wireless Controllers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why It’s Important:<\/strong> Apple Arcade<\/strong> is available on the Mac, and supporting two top wireless controllers may make Mac gaming more popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    About This Mac<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The lowly About This Mac<\/strong> app, found under the \uf8ff menu, even got some love in macOS Big Sur 11.3. In the Service tab, info on warranty status and AppleCare+ is viewable if you’re signed in with your Apple ID. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"All<\/a>
    All of your AppleCare+ info is now in About This Mac, and the service plan can also be purchased in the app.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    It’s also possible to purchase and enroll in AppleCare+ on eligible Macs directly from About This Mac. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why It’s Important:<\/strong> About This Mac now becomes a one-stop shop for warranty and AppleCare+ information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Other Updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Rather than get repetitive about Mac updates that mirror those made in iOS 14.5, I’ll send you to our recent article about that update<\/strong><\/a>. Emoji, Siri, Podcasts, News, and Reminders changes are identical on both platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why It’s Important<\/strong>: It’s good to see that changes are made across platforms to keep functionality similar on different devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n