A ZDNet article previews some features in the soon-to-be-released Mac OS X Beta:
However, sources cautioned, users won't find a seamless combination of "modern OS" features such as protected memory with the compatibility and user-friendliness of the traditional Mac operating system.
Instead, they said, Mac OS X still retains many of the functions of its progenitor: NeXTstep, the OS Apple purchased in 1996 along with Jobs' NeXT Software Inc.
...is that a bad thing? Anyhow - of note, Java 2, OpenGL 3D and SMP are supported in the new beta.
UPDATE (blakespot): Also of note--no dual monitor support! The text of this preview seems to indicate that it will not even install on a multiple-monitor Mac. Well, if true, this negates OS X beta's utility in my world. It would also be strange, as MacOS X DP4 does support multiple monitors (even DP3 did, but just barely). Hmmm... I'll definitely be keeping my fingers crossed.
Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces.
The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014.
This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019.
Q.ai...
Memory prices have doubled, Macs and iPads have gone up, and iPhones are expected to follow. Ed Zitron – who writes the Where's Your Ed At newsletter, hosts the Better Offline podcast, and has been described by Politico as the AI boom's most "acerbic gadfly" – has spent years arguing the buildout driving those costs will never pay for itself.
We asked him what happens to Apple if he's...
Apple's first foldable iPhone, with a book-style design featuring a ~5.5-inch outer display and a ~7.8-inch inner display with a minimal crease down the middle.