With High Sierra, version 10.13 of Apple's macOS operating system, the company added subtle updates to improve the privacy of web browsing in Safari, rolled out its new file system as standard, and introduced updates that would allow for the creation of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) content. While the updates may seem simple, they help set the stage for Apple's approach to computing in the future.
To help tech leaders and IT pros better understand macOS High Sierra, we've put together the most important details and resources in this cheat sheet. This is a 'living' article that will be updated and refreshed as new, relevant information becomes public.
Editing PDF files on Mac also is easy– rotate, highlight, add comments, text, text box, sticky notes, and annotate PDF. And it also can merge, split, compress and extract text or images from PDF files, even quickly fill and add signature to PDF on Mac.
How to Edit a PDF on Mac Below are a few simple steps to help you edit PDF documents in macOS X Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan and Yosemite. Hi, I use adobe acrobat reader DC and I was hoping there was some way to edit a webpage to make it printer friendly before saving it as a PDF. I am running macOS high sierra on MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015), and I am using Safari Version 11.0.1.
SEE: All of TechRepublic's cheat sheets and smart person's guides
Executive summary
- What is macOS High Sierra? macOS High Sierra is version 10.13 of Apple's desktop operating system (OS) series, macOS. It builds on its predecessor, macOS Sierra, and includes updates to Safari, Mail, Photos, its file system, and more.
- Why does macOS High Sierra matter? As a version of macOS, High Sierra will define the user experience for Apple computer users across laptops and desktops in terms of featureset and UI.
- Who does macOS High Sierra affect? The launch of macOS High Sierra affects Mac users and admins who have a compatible system and are planning on upgrading to the OS, or non-Mac users who are planning to purchase an Apple computer in the future.
- When is macOS High Sierra available? The first macOS High Sierra public beta came out in June 2017, but the public release of High Sierra was made generally available on September 25, 2017.
- How do I take advantage of macOS High Sierra? High Sierra is available for download through the Mac App Store.
SEE: Apple's first employee: The remarkable odyssey of Bill Fernandez (PDF download) (TechRepublic)
What is macOS High Sierra?
Apple's macOS 10.13 High Sierra is the latest Mac operating system, designed for use on iMac desktops and MacBook laptops. It was announced at the 2017 WWDC event in San Jose by Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi.
One of the biggest updates unveiled with the High Sierra macOS version is that the Apple web browser, Safari, will now block AutoPlay videos, so users won't encounter videos automatically playing when they open a web page. While the feature will improve the browsing experience for many users, it will make it more difficult for Apple to compete with advertising giants Google and Facebook.
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High Sierra brings Intelligent Tracking Prevention for Safari, a new feature that blocks trackers of user data. 'Now your privacy, your browsing history is your own,' Federighi said at WWDC.
Mail search on Mac is also improved with High Sierra, while Photos received a new design and layout. Apple is known for its photo features, such as live photos in iOS and content management options in iCloud Drive, and High Sierra offers better facial recognition support for improved organization and more.
High-efficiency video coding (HEVC) H.265 will be supported by macOS High Sierra. H.265 is a next-generation video compression standard that basically allows video files of the same quality to be compressed to a smaller size. The standard is also supported on mobile starting with iOS 11, meaning the videos a user takes on their iPhone or iPad will remain high quality without taking up as much space.
With the announcement of macOS High Sierra, Federighi said that the Apple File System (APFS) would be the default for all Macs moving forward. APFS allows macOS users to more easily manage space between multiple volumes, in that they can easily add and delete volumes on solid-state drives (SSDs) within the Disk Utility.
'APFS-formatted volumes automatically grow and shrink—you never have to repartition an SSD drive again,' an Apple support page said. 'To see the format of a volume, select it in the Disk Utility sidebar—its format is displayed underneath the volume name in the middle of the window.'
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Metal 2, which makes it easier to leverage GPU computing on a Mac, and will support more VR and AR content, was also announced as part of macOS High Sierra. Metal 2 offers external GPU support as well.
Additional resources:
- Apple macOS High Sierra kills AutoPlay in Safari, uses machine learning to improve privacy (TechRepublic)
- macOS High Sierra Preview (Apple)
- 7 best features of MacOS High Sierra (CNET)
Why does macOS High Sierra matter?
With an ever-increasing amount of work being done online, the refinements to Safari in High Sierra could help position Macs as a more viable business machine for certain industries. Additionally, Apple boosted the browser's speed. 'Safari is the world's fastest desktop browser with High Sierra,' Federighi said at WWDC.
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The additional privacy measures will help Safari—and, thus, High Sierra—win over some other users as well. New Safari Reader features will improve the readability of some web pages and articles by eliminating ads and unrelated content.
In the Notes app, tables can now be added to make quick graphical representations of something a user is working on. Business travelers can track flights in the Spotlight search window in High Sierra, making for a more efficient and productive process.
In keeping with its reputation as a powerhouse for creatives, Apple added some new features for its Photos app. Improved facial recognition shows that Apple is investing in the underlying technologies—like machine learning—that power artificial intelligence (AI), which is an area it has been lagging behind in relative to competitors like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. In High Sierra, Photos will integrate with other editing tools like Photoshop and Pixelmator, which could help draw more creatives deeper into Apple's proprietary ecosystem.
High Sierra is Apple's first major foray into AR and VR technologies. Metal 2 will make it easier for users to utilize GPU compute, but it will also support VR content creation—a first for Macs. Unity, Epic, and SteamVR integrations, along with Final Cut Pro X support for 360 video will help attract the next generation of creatives to Apple machines.
Additional resources:
- Mac users, meet APFS: macOS's new file system (ZDNet)
- MacOS High Sierra has some really cool new features (CNET)
- macOS High Sierra delivers advanced technologies for storage, video and graphics (Apple)
- Research: Virtual and augmented reality in the enterprise (Tech Pro Research)
Who does macOS High Sierra affect?
On a high level, the debut of macOS High Sierra matters to current Mac users and anyone considering a Mac for their next machine. However, it has more specific impacts for certain subsets of users.
Creative professionals can use the H.265 support to stream 4K video, and mobile users can leverage it to save space on their iOS devices, while the new Photos app could help boost efficient editing. Creatives looking to develop VR content could leverage the new OS features to build out their portfolio, too.
Developers will be affected by the the software update, as they can use Metal 2 to improve application development.
Security-conscious users will likely be interested in the new privacy features in Safari, such as AutoPlay blocking and Intelligent Tracking Prevention. And professional users might see slight productivity improvements with the updates to Mail and Notes.
Additional resources:
- WWDC 2017: Apple positions Mac updates, macOS High Sierra for VR developers (ZDNet)
- Apple developers: The 6 biggest takeaways from WWDC 2017 (TechRepublic)
- 5 hidden MacOS High Sierra features you need to know (CNET)
When is macOS High Sierra available?
On June 5, 2017, Apple unveiled macOS High Sierra for the first time at WWDC. It is only the second instance of Apple's use of the macOS moniker, which replaced the previous OS X title in 2016 when macOS Sierra was introduced.
At the WWDC event, macOS High Sierra was made available in beta. Apple released macOS High Sierra for general download on September 25, 2017. Various updates and patches have been released since then to address security issues and add feature improvements.
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It should be noted that a late 2017 security flaw in macOS High Sierra reportedly gave attackers root user access, unless the user set a root password to protect the machine. A later 2018 bug in the Disk Utility revealed APFS-encrypted drive passwords in plain text, but this was patched in macOS High Sierra version 10.13.4. Apple has since released version 10.13.5 with additional bug fixes and patches. Information on how to upgrade to version 10.13.5 can be found on our sister site ZDNet.
Additional resources:
- macOS High Sierra comes with a flaw that leaves your passwords vulnerable (TechRepublic)
- WWDC 2017: Apple reveals macOS refresh, High Sierra (ZDNet)
- Welcome to Apple's new MacOS: High Sierra (CNET)
- Video: Apple introduces new MacOS High Sierra (CNET News)
- macOS High Sierra bug will show hackers what your password is (TechRepublic)
How do I take advantage of macOS High Sierra?
Currently, macOS High Sierra is available in the Mac App Store, but it will only run on certain Mac computers. Interested users with a compatible machine can download the OS today.
Determining compatibility for the macOS update starts with the model computer a user currently has. According to Apple's website, the following machines are eligible to run macOS High Sierra:
- iMac models from late 2009 or later
- MacBook models from late 2009 or later
- MacBook Pro models from mid 2010 or later
- MacBook Air models from late 2010 or later
- Mac mini models from mid 2010 or later
- Mac Pro models from mid 2010 or later
- iMac Pro
If a user has one of the compatible models, they also need to be running one of the following versions of Apple's operating system software:
- macOS Sierra
- OS X El Capitan
- OS X Yosemite
- OS X Mavericks
- OS X Mountain Lion
To install the update, a user will need 2GB of free memory and 14.3GB of storage available on their hard drive space. Overall, macOS High Sierra requires roughly 1.5GB more storage space than macOS Sierra 10.12.6, Apple's website said. All of the information on a Mac's model, memory, storage, and OS version can be found under the About This Mac section in the Apple menu.
Additional resources:
- How to download macOS High Sierra and which Macs are compatible (TechRepublic)
- Mac Mini 2018: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)
- 7 things to know before upgrading to MacOS High Sierra 10.13 (CNET)
- Apple Beta Software Program (Apple)
- Will your Mac run macOS High Sierra? (ZDNet)
- iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra second public betas now available (ZDNet)
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Using a Mac has always inspired great work. Now macOS Mojave brings new features inspired by its most powerful users, but designed for everyone. Stay better focused on your work in Dark Mode. Automatically organize files using Stacks. Take more kinds of screenshots with less effort. Try three handy new built-in apps, and discover great new ones in the redesigned Mac App Store. Now you can get more out of every click.
Dark Mode
Put your best work forward.
Dark Mode is a dramatic new look that helps you focus on your work. The subtle colors and fine points of your content take center screen as toolbars and menus recede into the background. Switch it on in the General pane in System Preferences to create a beautiful, distraction-free working environment that’s easy on the eyes — in every way. Dark Mode works with built-in apps that come with your Mac, and third-party apps can adopt it, too.
Choose what works best for you — the familiar light appearance or the new Dark Mode.
Dynamic Desktop
A desktop whose time has come.
Introducing two new time-shifting desktops that match the hour of the day wherever you are.
Slide to see how the Dynamic Desktop changes throughout the day.
Stacks
A really neat way to manage files.
Stacks keeps your desktop free of clutter by automatically organizing your files into related groups. Arrange by kind to see images, documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, and more sort themselves. You can also group your work by date. And if you tag files with project-specific metadata, like client names, sorting by stacks becomes a powerful way to manage multiple jobs. To scrub through a stack, use two fingers on a trackpad or one finger on a Multi-Touch mouse. To access a file, click to expand the stack, then open what you need.
Finder
New ways to view.
More ways to do.
With macOS Mojave, the Finder becomes even more of a doer. Now you can quickly locate a file by how it looks. Instantly see all of a file’s metadata. And perform Quick Actions on files without ever opening an app.
Gallery View
With Gallery View, you can scroll through big previews of your files to visually identify the one you’re looking for. So finding that image of the smiling girl by the Ferris wheel or the PDF with a colorful pie chart has never been faster.
Quick Actions
With Quick Actions in the Preview pane, you can work on files right from the Finder. Rotate images, create PDFs, trim video, and more — without having to open an app or rename and save your file. You can even apply them to multiple files at once, or create a custom Quick Action based on an Automator workflow.
Quick Look
Work on a file without even opening it.
Now a tap of your space bar provides more than just a quick look at a file. It gives you the power to perform actions specific to the kind of file you’re viewing — without ever launching an app. So you can mark up a PDF, rotate and crop an image, even trim audio and video. And when you’re ready, you can share right from Quick Look, too.
With the Home app, you can control your HomeKit-enabled accessories from the comfort of your Mac. Turn your lights on at home while putting the final touches on a presentation at work. Or check your baby monitor while editing a video.
Voice Memos for Mac makes it easier than ever to capture personal reminders, class lectures, even interviews or song ideas. And with iCloud, you can access the voice memos you record with your iPhone right on your Mac.
Mac App Store
Powerful ways to discover are now in store.
The reimagined Mac App Store arrives with a new look and exciting new editorial content. Delve into insightful stories, browse curated collections, even watch videos — each designed to help you fine-tune your search for the perfect app. And it’s all organized around the specific things you love to do on your Mac.
Here you’ll find the best new and updated apps, hand-selected each week by our expert editors. Check out in-depth stories and videos about the apps, inspirational perspectives from the creators who use them, top charts, themed collections, and much more.
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In addition to the redesigned Categories tab, the Mac App Store now features four themed tabs: Create, Work, Play, and Develop. Each theme is supported by editor-curated content, from expert recommendations and lists to tutorials that even seasoned users will love.
Experience inspirational stories about how apps impact our lives, using images, videos, and the words of the developers and artists who bring these apps to life.
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App preview videos give you a firsthand peek into the features, functionality, and user interface of an app. So you can see how an app works or check out gameplay before downloading it.
Privacy and Security
Committed to keeping your information yours.
We’re always working to protect your privacy and security. macOS Mojave goes further than ever with robust enhancements designed to keep control of your data and keep trackers off your trail.
Better Control of Your Data
Your information, your image, your voice — they’re yours and yours alone to share with apps. macOS Mojave requires apps to get your approval before accessing the camera or microphone on your Mac. The same goes for data like your Messages history and Mail database.
Automatic Strong Passwords
macOS Mojave works harder than ever to ensure that your passwords are robust and unique. Safari automatically creates, stores, and autofills strong passwords for you. And it flags existing passwords that have been reused in Safari preferences, so you can easily update them. Security has never been so user friendly.
Enhanced Tracking Prevention
When you browse the web, the characteristics of your device can be used by advertisers to create a “fingerprint” to track you. Safari now thwarts this by only sharing a simplified system profile. And now improved Intelligent Tracking Prevention keeps embedded content such as social media Like buttons, Share buttons, and comment widgets from tracking you without your permission. We know you’ll like that.
View website icons in Safari tabs
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Identify all your open sites with just a glance by enabling website icons in Safari preferences.
Easily add emoji in Mail
Compose more expressive email with a click of the new Emoji button. And when you select a message in your inbox, Mail can suggest the right mailbox to file it in.
Mac is more fluent than ever
macOS Mojave adds UK English, Australian English, Canadian French, and Traditional Chinese for Hong Kong language options; improved maps for China mainland; and romanized English input for Japanese keyboard.