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macOS Big Sur Brings Back Startup Chime
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It’s very easy to have custom sounds when you turn on your Mac. You can even make it say ‘Hello Dave’.
You only need to vocalise these sounds after you press the power button. Easy, no need for new options or terminal commands.
You only need to vocalise these sounds after you press the power button. Easy, no need for new options or terminal commands.
Anytime Apple decides to KEEP a feature and simply give users an option is going to have me stand up and clapping!
The startup sound never really left; it was still there in firmware but disabled. I have it on my 2018 mini because I find it amusing in a sort of retro way. There's a simple terminal command (from MacRumors, actually) if you desperately need it now and can't wait for Big Sur:
Startup chime
Startup chime
The Mac startup chime also served a diagnostic purpose. Hopefully they are including this diagnostic functionality rather than just playing the sound for the sake of playing it.
But, the way it was done on Apple devices, it hurt your screen accuracy as you could see a backwards Apple altering the brightness near the middle of your screen. Less of a problem if you only worked in dark areas, but definitely affected your screen in brighter areas.
So the secret's out. With all of Apple's Catalina problems, the quickest fix was to revert everyone back to El Capitan and call it Big Sur...
Coming from a 2014 13" pro to my 16" pro I didn't like the chime missing, especially as this machine takes forever to boot due to the T2 lol
Nice.
Now bring back: round screen corners, breathing sleep indicator, glowing logo, and battery charge indicator lights.
I can live without magsafe, which deteriorated to the point of becoming useless on my 2010 MBP.
Now bring back: round screen corners, breathing sleep indicator, glowing logo, and battery charge indicator lights.
I can live without magsafe, which deteriorated to the point of becoming useless on my 2010 MBP.
It's currently optional via the terminal, so I'm guessing at minimum you'll still be able to use the terminal to turn it off if you want.
My late 2014 still plays it, but my MacBook Pro doesn't.
If they bring it back.... PLEASE give us a way to set the default volume or at least play that sound lower.
As it stands now, whenever you start your Mac, it always plays that sound... through the speakers... at whatever volume level you were at when you shut down. This is a big problem for me because I often have the volume up high when I use my headphones as I edit audio and video.
Then when I turn it back on, it plays that damn sound at full blast. I did a video about it a few years ago.
If they bring it back.... PLEASE give us a way to set the default volume or at least play that sound lower.
As it stands now, whenever you start your Mac, it always plays that sound... through the speakers... at whatever volume level you were at when you shut down. This is a big problem for me because I often have the volume up high when I use my headphones as I edit audio and video.
Then when I turn it back on, it plays that damn sound at full blast. I did a video about it a few years ago.
Get really nostalgic: In 1984, the workaround for the bong chime was to plug in an 1/8" plug into the headphone jack. Just snip off the headphones and wire and you're good to go.
What we couldn't do in 1984 was buy a set of 4 plugs for $6.99 from Amazon.
What we couldn't do in 1984 was buy a set of 4 plugs for $6.99 from Amazon.
Ancable Replacement 4-Pack TRS Male Plug 3 Pole 1/8" 3.5mm Solder Type DIY Audio Cable Connector for Repair Headphones Headset
Ancable Replacement 4-Pack TRS Male Plug 3 Pole 1/8" 3.5mm Solder Type DIY Audio Cable Connector for Repair Headphones Headset
www.amazon.com
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You know, I think that could work... except just plugging in a regular old headset.Get really nostalgic: In 1984, the workaround for the bong chime was to plug in an 1/8" plug into the headphone jack. Just snip off the headphones and wire and you're good to go.
What we couldn't do in 1984 was buy a set of 4 plugs for $6.99 from Amazon.
Ancable Replacement 4-Pack TRS Male Plug 3 Pole 1/8" 3.5mm Solder Type DIY Audio Cable Connector for Repair Headphones Headset
Ancable Replacement 4-Pack TRS Male Plug 3 Pole 1/8" 3.5mm Solder Type DIY Audio Cable Connector for Repair Headphones Headsetwww.amazon.com
The crazy thing for me is that for video and audio work I use my headset 90% of the time, and the audio is routed via USB. The trouble is the chime starts immediately after powering up (before the USB device is detected). Since there's no headset plugged directly in, it blasts that chime through the main iMac speakers. Maybe a dummy headset on the back will do the trick.
That said, what they should do is simply have that sound cap out at a reasonable level...
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Yes!!!! There was a time when Macs truly felt like some of the most organic and human machines, despite being machined to perfection. Using Macs today, I no longer feel the joy I felt when using Leopard era devices. And that includes the iPod. Luckily, Big Sur seems to be a great step towards organic interfaces again, using translucency and shadows in a beautiful way.