Apple Releases macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 With AirPlay 2 Multi-Room Audio Support for iTunes

[Westside guy]

macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 may be one of the final updates to the macOS High Sierra operating system, as Apple in June introduced macOS Mojave, an update that will be launching to the public this fall.

Given that updates to OS X / macOS have not been particularly compelling the last several years, and also given that High Sierra is finally in relatively decent shape... it's likely all the Macs I am responsible for will be riding along with High Sierra for the next three years.

I'd kept stuff on El Capitan until recently - but that likely won't be getting any more security updates once Mohave is released.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

Updating now, Thank you.

 

[zorinlynx]

I wonder if Apple will ever do a major upgrade of iTunes.

You do realize that they'd probably ruin it right? iTunes is still great for people who have their own large music library. Any iTunes redesign will probably focus on Apple Music and leave us collectors in the dirt.

 

[Neepman]

iTunes as we know it is going away, not getting redesigned.

Wait for 2019 or 2020. Specifically the launch of the streaming video service.

When they drop CD ripping, iPod hosting and playist support for your own audio files its gonna be EPIC!

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Fix DisplayLink yet?

 

[jonblatho]

Any iTunes redesign will probably focus on Apple Music and leave us collectors in the dirt.

When they drop CD ripping, iPod hosting and playist support for your own audio files its gonna be EPIC!

Exactly!

 

[tywebb13]

Is the combo update a full installer that I can make a USB installer from?

The MAS updated as usual, but there is NO ability to select download for a copy of the full installer.

Well, I just checked it. Obviously at 2.40GB it's not a full installer.

I hope I can find a link to one.

No. The combo is not a full installer.

There is a full installer here for High Sierra: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12 however it has not been updated to 10.13.6 yet. It is still 10.13.5. Give it time. Eventually it will be 10.13.6 too.

 

[MacBird]

Unlike as in the betas, the equalizer in iTunes is enabled for stereo HomePods again. The weird thing is that all the presets don't have different levels, they are all flat at 0 dB, looks like a bug to me.

 

[bluecoast]

I wonder if Apple will ever do a major upgrade of iTunes.

I suspect that next year, we’ll see it turn into Apple Music ‘marzipan’ with the ability to play existing libaries.

iTunes will still stick around for a while, I bet, but as a download on the Mac App Store, for those that don’t already have it installed.

 

[archvile]

And there's a new version of iTunes too
12.8
I'm wondering what about iTunes 13 and if we gonna see and new UI in September

Here’s hoping with the advent of some iOS apps being brought to the Mac, that they eventually scrap iTunes and just bring over dedicated Music, Podcasts, and TV apps.
[doublepost=1531173111][/doublepost]

Unlike as in the betas, the equalizer in iTunes is enabled for stereo HomePods again. The weird thing is that all the presets don't have different levels, they are all flat at 0 dB, looks like a bug to me.

You’re saying iTunes supposedly lets you control the EQ on Homepods? Maybe it is zeroed out because they don’t want us to have EQ control over it.

 

[zorinlynx]

When they drop CD ripping, iPod hosting and playist support for your own audio files its gonna be EPIC!

Yup. I really want to tell all these "They should update iTunes!!!!11111!!1!1oneone" people to be careful what you wish for. iTunes is still one of, if not THE best music library media players in existence. I really can't see anything they could possibly do to improve it, and if they turn it into a clone of the Music app in iOS I will likely be in tears.

Leave iTunes alone. It is stable, works well and does its job near perfectly.

 

[MacBird]

Here’s hoping with the advent of some iOS apps being brought to the Mac, that they eventually scrap iTunes and just bring over dedicated Music, Podcasts, and TV apps.
[doublepost=1531173111][/doublepost]

You’re saying iTunes supposedly lets you control the EQ on Homepods? Maybe it is zeroed out because they don’t want us to have EQ control over it.

The equalizer in iTunes already worked in 10.13.5 but was disabled in the .6 betas and now you can change the values but the presets are useless as they are all flat.

 

[Babygotfont]

Well....unless there's going to be a 10.13.7, this will be the version I upgrade my Sierra Mac to just before Mohave is released. I hope it's solid, since I'll be running it for the next year.

Com’on man ... upgrade to the latest and join the rest of us dumbasses

 

[btownguy]

Fix DisplayLink yet?

Are you referring to the clamshell/external display/wake from sleep issue?

 

[mpainesyd]

It will be a few days before I am able to download it. I hope it is able to “see” stereo Homepods. I have been using an iPad as an interim measure while waiting for macOS to get this functionality. I tried Airfoil on the Mac but could not get it to work.

 

[MVallee]

I've been using AirPlay 2 on my HomePod and Apple TV 4K for a few weeks now and I've been very happy with it. It's so perfectly in sync that when I stand between the two devices I can't tell which speaker I'm hearing audio from.

Just updated my MacBook Pro, iTunes, HomePod and Apple TV and tried out AirPlay from iTunes but it's not the same. There is a very very slight delay that makes it sound like an echo. Went back and forth sending audio from my iPhone and from my MacBook, and its still in sync with the iPhone, but out of sync with the Mac.

Anybody else experiencing this?

 

[Internet Enzyme]

so i assume this also going to be in a future Mojave beta or update?

 

[xgman]

Given that updates to OS X / macOS have not been particularly compelling the last several years,

wow that's an understatement. But lots of folks go for that placebo effect.

 

[Mascots]

Can a Mac be an Airplay target now? Never understood why that is not possible..

Airplay 2 is more like an adhoc network while the previous Airplay implementation is more like the Mac hosting the other audio devices as an intermediary.

While there is still only one device streaming on an AirPlay 2 setup, any other device can connect to the group and control that feed or take over the stream without actually affecting the connected devices. They can also freely pair one another off, changing the grouping from any other device connected within since they're not dependent on one another.

 

[ghostface147]

Build 17G65.

 

[dan9700]

so i assume this also going to be in a future Mojave beta or update?

Its alresdy in macos beta just wish it would wok over normal vol out so can use youtube with homepods in stereo

 

[Eduardo75890]

Why can't airplay 2 work on normal output so watching youtube vids

It’s only for iTunes for now

 

[chrisgeleven]

iTunes as we know it is going away, not getting redesigned.

Wait for 2019 or 2020. Specifically the launch of the streaming video service.

My theory is we're getting an iTunes replacement based on the Music app (iPad version).

 

[jonblatho]

My theory is we're getting an iTunes replacement based on the Music app (iPad version).

Yep. With UIKit coming to macOS, I fully expect to see the Music, TV, and Podcasts apps (at minimum) come to macOS and Windows from iOS next year or maybe the year after next. This makes a lot of sense with the video service supposedly launching next year and rumblings of a UI overhaul, too.

A lot of things are lining up for the death of iTunes.

 

[martyjmclean]

I'm assuming this is the last update to High Sierra, right... last Mac update til 2019.