Apple Releases macOS Big Sur 11.3 With M1 Optimizations, AirTag Integration, Updated Controller Support, Apple Music Updates and More

[thadoggfather]

I'm using some side loaded apps which I don't understand are not on M1 app store, and I'm sad to see them go:
- Philips hue to control my smart bulbs.
- B&O app to control my speakers and adjust settings which can only be accessed via iOS app.
- Sony app to adjust the settings of their wireless headphones, again an app which should be on app store.
- Tado app to control my termostats and have extra features which the homekit app doesn't include.
- Streaming apps like HBO, Disney app and others which are nice and fast to start for the kids
- Social media apps like Instagram and others.
- Weather & UV Index apps
- Hueparty (a hit with the kids)

And other apps not worth to mention. But I really hope Apple would just let it slide and focus on making it less easy to get the apps sideloaded, not block them completely....

Good use case of controlling your IoT devices... shame its being not allowed on 11.3

I think its because they want you to get an M1 iPad now, even though these apps are perfectly capable of running on pre-M1, A-series iPads too (which I'm sure you are as well)

 

[spot4u]

Updated to 11.3 this morning. After the Reboot my 2012 wired Apple Keyboard stopped working on my 2019 iMac. Once connected over a USB-A -> USB-C Adapter to one of the Thunderbolt Ports it works like a charm but on none of the USB 2 Ports... The Keyboard was brand new out of the box like 3 Months old (despite being an old Modell A1243 - the one with USB Hubs left and right and the 10-digit Keyboard). However the Keyboard was untouched during the Update and refuses to work on the 11.3 Mac. SMC and NVRAM Reset did not help. Keyboard does not respond during Boot or in Recovery Mode. Works only when attached via the USB-C Adapter....

Any hints?

Tried the Keyboard on my elderly MacBookAir where it works perfect....

Anyone having issues with USB Keyboards from Apple with 11.3?

 

[schrodinger_cat]

So the css line above works for safari then? I wasn’t sure from the other commenters reply if it was effective or not.

In theory WebKit has a user agent default stylesheet. But in practice I don’t know if that’s a literal file for the system WebKit or if it’s internalised. I’m waiting for my Mini to install the Catalina security update I’ll see what I can find when it’s done.

Yes, if it's like this, it should work on all websites:

* {
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important;
}

The old Terminal setting also works, but now it only affects apps with a native view (not Safari, Mail, Music, Books, etc.):

defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 0

 

[IceStormNG]

- Streaming apps like HBO, Disney app and others which are nice and fast to start for the kids

That's easy: The content owners don't like that because they fear someone could grab the content from the app. (for real.). And because of licensing ******** in movie and generally in streaming industry.

- Social media apps like Instagram and others.

FaceBook et.al. want you to use the browser (tracking).

- Philips hue to control my smart bulbs.
- B&O app to control my speakers and adjust settings which can only be accessed via iOS app.
- Sony app to adjust the settings of their wireless headphones, again an app which should be on app store.
- Tado app to control my termostats and have extra features which the homekit app doesn't include.
- Weather & UV Index apps
- Hueparty (a hit with the kids)

They either want to prevent support cases because they haven't tested their apps with M1 and don't plan to do it, or it has an actual technical reason.

 

[KSB]

That's easy: The content owners don't like that because they fear someone could grab the content from the app. (for real.). And because of licensing ******** in movie and generally in streaming industry.



FaceBook et.al. want you to use the browser (tracking).



They either want to prevent support cases because they haven't tested their apps with M1 and don't plan to do it, or it has an actual technical reason.

The streaming apps I understand are not available and social apps as well, but the others it doesn't make sense not to expand them to the mac platform as well. I've using the apps since the launch of the M1 series, and haven't encountered any technical issues so far, so maybe they just lack focus on the platform or want to keep it to the iDevices, which is sad, because finally some products can be controlled on something else than an iPhone/iPad.

For example the B&O devices, you couldn't adjust the EQ, without an iDevice. Sony wireless headphones I can't adjust sound settings as well, without being forced onto an idevice/android, which is strange because they sell them for mac/pc usage as well.

Smarthome focused companies it's a given they could just port their apps to the M1, but so far Philips or tado haven't done so, and I really wish they would, since the apps on the idevice bring more settings than the home app provides in it's current state.

But maybe things will change in the coming months, but I don't have high hopes, since again, the M1's aren't "new" anymore.

 

[fivenotrump]

Does anyone know if Rosetta has been removed from M1 Macs, as rumored?
Thank you.

of course not: it will be around for a while yet

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

The first noticeable bug, Safari allows websites to ask for permission to send notifications even when you uncheck websites from asking.

Good luck in enjoy reading extrmetech

 

[CPelletier]

MacOS 11.3 solved the problem I had with second monitor on m1 mac mini, connected via USB-C dongle. With previous version (11.2.3) it was detected only when disconnected and reconnected again.

that's great news! i haven't updated yet but definitely have that same problem currently. it's an annoyance but if the update fixed that it becomes one less annoyance to have to deal with. yay!

 

[Luposian]

Updating from 11.2 -> 11.3 on my M1 Mac Mini. I figure, first point (11.2, 11.3, etc.) releases are a safe place to update. Fewer updates, less wear on the SSD. I'm only a fan of 2nd point releases (11.x.3) if there is a siginificant issue to try and resolve.

 

[tywebb13]

Links to other updates:

Security Update 2021-003 (Mojave):

https://support.apple.com/kb/DL2073?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Security Update 2021-002 (Catalina):

https://support.apple.com/kb/DL2072?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

These security updates were available yesterday via software update preference pane, but only now are available as standalone installers.

Also:

Safari 14.1 for Mojave:

http://swcdn.apple.com/content/down...glord2zkdyy3ho2ebunz/Safari14.1MojaveAuto.pkg

Safari 14.1 for Catalina:

http://swcdn.apple.com/content/down...lmyevte0ezlrg8w8s9/Safari14.1CatalinaAuto.pkg

 

[vmallet]

PSA: Big Sur 11.3 broke my external display connection. MBP 16" 2019, LG 27UK850 4K Display, USB-C Dock HyperDrive GEN2 12-Port, DisplayPort. No matter how many reconnects/disconnects/reboots the display is now all garbled (it had been fine through 11.0, 11.1, 11.2)

 

[JSL1]

My Canon MX 920 Printer disappeared from the Print Dialog box and under System Preferences > Printers & Scanners. I tried reinstalling Big Sur MX 920 Print driver from Canon, but it did not help. Then I connected via USB to the printer and the Canon MX 920 Printer came back. 😊
I am on a MacBook Air M1 and was not connected to the Printer via USB during the upgrade from 11.2.3 to 11.3.
Very happy to have my Canon MX 920 Printer back as I need it to do Print PDF and print on paper.
Sharing this in case someone else lost their printer during the upgrade to Big Sur 11.3

 

[JSL1]

Happy to say that upgrading to 11.3 Big Sur fixed most of the wake sleep problems with a MacBook Air M1 with an external UltraWide display LG34WK95U. It seems to work well except if I start using my MacBook Air M1 before the LG34WK95U external monitor (running in Display Port ver 1.4 mode) wakes up which seems to take 10-20 seconds. Better than it was but not 100%. If I start typing or moving the cursor before the LG34WK95U external monitor has woken up I loose the resolution and Arrangement of the external Display in relationship to the MacBook Air M1 screen, and I have to restart the MacBook and redo the resolution and Arrangement in System Preferences > Displays. Wondering if someone has found a better solution than a restart.

 

[nmeed]

Yes, if it's like this, it should work on all websites:

* {
  -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important;
}

The old Terminal setting also works, but now it only affects apps with a native view (not Safari, Mail, Music, Books, etc.):

defaults -currentHost write -g AppleFontSmoothing -int 0

Could you please upload it as a file? It's not working for me and I'm guessing maybe I'm doing something wrong.

 

[Stephen.R]

I had to add a `.txt` extension for MR to accept it.

 

[nmeed]

I had to add a `.txt` extension for MR to accept it.

It worked! What the heck? Looks exactly like mine. Weird. I don't care though, it works! THANK YOU!

 

[Miguel Cunha]

of course not: it will be around for a while yet

Nice…

 

[Asclepias]

Solution for Safari. Hoping there will be a solution for other webkit apps especially for apple mail.

I used Apple Product Feedback telling them to give us the option to disable Font Smoothing globally in Big Sur as it was possible in Catalina.

Looking mail parallel on iPad and macOS is terrible.

 

[iSaul]

After upgrading, all my safari bookmarks reflect what I had them as over a year ago. No idea how to get my most recent bookmarks back. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Modernape]

After upgrading, all my safari bookmarks reflect what I had them as over a year ago. No idea how to get my most recent bookmarks back. Anyone have any ideas?

Quit Safari. Navigate to the Library folder (hold option as you click Go in Finder), open the Safari folder. You'll see a bookmarks.plist file. Now open Time Machine and select a date just before the update. Select that plist file and restore.

 

[iAssimilated]

@UBS28 & @elfamosisimoJON

You can see this is the About this Mac -> System Report -> Software -> Extensions (or start the System Information app). For example AMDRadeonX6000HWServices has version 4.5.9 with Kext Version: 4.0.5 or
Get Info String: AMDRadeonX6000HWServices 4.5.9 23215

You can check your AMD driver version at the above mentioned spot. Any AMDRadeonX....HWServices entry will list the driver version.

 

[Lgrm12]

Rant incoming: aside from the fact that I practically have to always use the safe boot in order to completely download and install OS updates, I notice today that my MBA M1 won't recognize my built in camera. It worked perfectly fine before the update. I know it's a software issue because the camera works when I boot it on safe mode. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I contacted customer service and they just basically told me to reinstall the software -- which means I have to back up everything. This update is truly giving me a headache. 😑

 

[Soondae]

Thanks. No display issues over any cable that is not HDMI? That has been an issues on Mojave and still is on Catalina... Apple seems to hate the mac mini

I haven't used HDMI on my 2018 Mac Mini, run a USB-C to Display Port cable to connect to my Viewsonic VX2476 monitor. I also have a friend whom is running the same setup but to two Viewsonic monitors over USB-C to Display Port without issues. He travels with his Mini and recently did his work at a condo using HDMI to Mini also without issues.

 

[Larvas]

The newest update re-introduced my bluetooth connection problems, is there a way to revert from macOS Big Sur 11.3.1 back to 11.3 without a backup? I have to start doing time machine backups :/