macOS Sequoia 15.4 Beta 1 - Bug fixes, changes, and more

[Adora]

this is definitely new ... asked in German " Wo befindet sich das? " (Where is that)

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On Screen awareness im Sequoia 15.4

Do you mean the difference between standard Siri an Apple Intelligence Siri?

Something changed even with Apple Itelligence activated. Siri answers more directly now. In the version before I almost always got this:

And then that:

I wanted to find out if Siri is still using Google for everything or uses instead what I have set as standard in Safari. I just wrote "please search the web for (something not very special)" and this is the result:

If I need AI, I use DeepSeek (text only) or a website that combines several AIs. But I don't know if that is legal. It offers also an iOS beta program. But not through the standard TestFlight way.

They want me to confirm the invitation with App Store connect. I never have done this before. I used a "hide my" address. Don't know if anything bad can happen this way.

I used profiles or someone just set me on a list for the next version of his alpha and turn on developer mode, until then it ran, but for that alpha there was also a beta in TestFlight.

 

[Adora]

Seems there's a bug related to M4 Macs and anything to do with virtualization (Docker, UTM, Parallels Desktop, OrbStack). Parallels crashes my M4 Pro Mac mini, but work fine on my M3 MBP.

I also have a M4 Pro mini. Is there a general problem or only with Windows? I have UTM, Virtual Buddy, Virtual Box, Viable and VMware Fusion installed because they are all for free and I wanted to start testing some VMs soon with several ARM Linux but also Windows 11.

 

[Adora]

Not unexpected with beta and OCLP. I wouldn’t recommend running beta with the patcher.

What is OCLP?

 

[LutzRFrank]

What is OCLP?

Open Core Legacy Patcher ... getting Sequoia on older, normally not supported, Macs

 

[Adora]

Not sure if this has anything to do with the VM problems much people seem to have. Thi is a Disk Image with a DeviceSupport.pkg installer.

The link will only work with logging in to the Developer Portal:

https://developer.apple.com/service...iceSupport_CrystalEMobileDeviceSeed1850B4.dmg

 

[fisherking]

A few rough headaches on this beta:

1. locationd is consuming 150% CPU
2. replayd when connected to an external display like SiliconMotion or DisplayLink is running at around 100-150%
3. coreaudiod is running at 170% consistently
4. Custom color backgrounds gone - turns white. Have to use predefined color or a wallpaper image instead.
5. System can be very slow/sluggish with some app hangs and takes a long time to reboot.

safe boot perhaps? not seeing anything like that (1,3,5)...

 

[richpjr]

After installing this beta, I can no longer control the volume on my MOTU Ultralite MK V audio interface with the keyboard or volume sliders. Ugh.

 

[fisherking]

After installing this beta, I can no longer control the volume on my MOTU Ultralite MK V audio interface with the keyboard or volume sliders. Ugh.

have you rebooted? and you could try re-installing any relevant software for your interface...

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Soooo - beware if you use anything that does virtualization like Parallels, Docker Desktop, OrbStack, UTM, etc... They seem to panic 15.4b1 as soon as they start.

Seems there's a bug related to M4 Macs and anything to do with virtualization (Docker, UTM, Parallels Desktop, OrbStack). Parallels crashes my M4 Pro Mac mini, but work fine on my M3 MBP.

Seems to work fine, both Parallels and Docker, on my 16" MBP M1 MAX 64GB 2TB.

 

[HunterH]

Seems to work fine, both Parallels and Docker, on my 16" MBP M1 MAX 64GB 2TB.

Yeah, the issue where anything that uses the Virtualization framework instantly panics seems to be restricted to M4 machines as we learn more about it.

 

[richpjr]

have you rebooted? and you could try re-installing any relevant software for your interface...

I tried both of these with no success.

 

[fisherking]

I tried both of these with no success.

have you run the firmware update for the motu?

update

 

[markbrads]

Soooo - beware if you use anything that does virtualization like Parallels, Docker Desktop, OrbStack, UTM, etc... They seem to panic 15.4b1 as soon as they start.

Completely Breaks Parallels Version 20.2.0 (55871) Technical Preview

 

[ylluminate]

What is using coreaudiod normally? I don't have it in Activity Aonitor. Locationd is also not listed because location services are turned off. Replayd (whatever that is) is using 0.0% CPU.

Nothing is slow or sluggish.

I don't know what the predefined colors are but I know I changed them. Those are there now:

View attachment 2484869

I've turned off tools that should be using coreaudiod (such as SoundSource, etc.), but no joy in reducing CPU demand there. I turned off locationd from the shell by disabling the service altogether, which got that down (even though I had turned it off in the more traditional manner first, which didn't work). replayd is used by/with external monitors such as DisplayLink or Silicon Motion. On the custom colors, if I hit the `+` (as I was using a custom color there), it goes white every time - using a preexisting color in the pallet does, however, work - which is a pain due to some specific issues I have with the existing colors.

 

[richpjr]

have you run the firmware update for the motu?

update

I checked that after the reboot did not work and there was one available. I updated it and it did not make any difference. I saw someone else post in comments for the article about the beta that they were also having issues with an audio interface.

 

[fisherking]

I checked that after the reboot did not work and there was one available. I updated it and it did not make any difference. I saw someone else post in comments for the article about the beta that they were also having issues with an audio interface.

interesting. my focusrite has never worked with the mac controls (keyboard volume buttons, etc), and i thought that was correct; mac controls for the macbook out, the volume knob on the interface when that's running.

anyway, perhaps reach out to motu? good luck w/it 👍

 

[Al Ferguson]

Installed this update on my M4 Pro 16” MBP - got a problem in that it boots to the desktop and about 20 seconds later it freezes and proceeds to restart

Any idea how to resolve?

Reboot into Safe Mode, remove any Virtualization software from auto starting (System Settings --> General --> Login Items & Extensions; both Open at Login and Allow in Background). This is most likely Docker Desktop, OrbStack, or Podman.

 

[Adora]

Completely Breaks Parallels Version 20.2.0 (55871) Technical Preview

The latest version is 20.2.1 (55876). But that's also 11 days old.

KB Parallels: Parallels Desktop 20 updates summary

Parallels Desktop for Mac 20.3.0 (55895) update addresses the overall stability and security issues and includes the following additions and improvements:

kb.parallels.com

Maybe your's is waiting for the next Technical Preview.

Safari Technology Preview also often stops working correctly after a macOS update because it somehow uses parts of the installed Safari that is newer.

 

[Adora]

I just installed the latest version of Parallels on my M4 Pro Mini, activated the 14 days trial and downloaded Windows 11.

When I click on the play button everything froze and there was a strange noise. Maybe the fans on high speed or it was just the stuck sound from the video I was playing on YouTube. Then after a few seconds the Mac restarted by itself.

I sent the report and I'll try to open that VM in other apps, if possible.

 

[Adora]

Same for VMware Fusion. I think that's enough. The sound was maybe only from YouTube.

Maybe I try later what happens with Linux and macOS.

 

[Adora]

Here is a list of some freem other VM players if someone likes to test. I heard UTM is also affected so I leave it out.

GitHub - insidegui/VirtualBuddy: Virtualize macOS 12 and later on Apple Silicon, VirtualBuddy is a virtual machine GUI for macOS M1, M2, M3, M4

Virtualize macOS 12 and later on Apple Silicon, VirtualBuddy is a virtual machine GUI for macOS M1, M2, M3, M4 - insidegui/VirtualBuddy

github.com

Downloads – Oracle VirtualBox

www.virtualbox.org

Virtualisation on Apple silicon

Viable – create and run macOS virtual machines on Apple silicon Macs Takes an IPSW image, available from Apple or downloaded in the app, and creates a virtual machine from it. Runs those virt…

eclecticlight.co

 

[richpjr]

interesting. my focusrite has never worked with the mac controls (keyboard volume buttons, etc), and i thought that was correct; mac controls for the macbook out, the volume knob on the interface when that's running.

anyway, perhaps reach out to motu? good luck w/it 👍

I think I'll have to do that. I have an RME BabyFace pro sitting in a closet - I may pull that out and see if it works. I have a DAC and a headphone amp that I used to use with my Mac Studio and the volume controls did not work on it. When I got the Motu and it did work, I swapped the DAC for it and have been using it for a couple of years. Very convenient.

 

[fisherking]

I think I'll have to do that. I have an RME BabyFace pro sitting in a closet - I may pull that out and see if it works. I have a DAC and a headphone amp that I used to use with my Mac Studio and the volume controls did not work on it. When I got the Motu and it did work, I swapped the DAC for it and have been using it for a couple of years. Very convenient.

huh, am surprised at that; i'd not expect the internal volume controls to work on an external interface. anyway, keep us posted 👍

 

[Kohji Matsubayashi]

Music app 1.5.43 on Sequoia 15.4 beta (24E5206s):

In the “Songs” view, a column browser won't react to key-typing: previously typing a key would select the artist and/or album which starts with the key. It is very interesting that the column browsers shown in my playlists/smart playlists still do react my key-typing as always.

Previous versions, including the Music app 1.5.2 on Sequoia 15.3 (24D70), don't have this issue.

(After I posted this, I noticed that another thread dedicated to Music app... should I have posted there instead?)

 

[ssn637]

Not sure if this has anything to do with the VM problems much people seem to have. Thi is a Disk Image with a DeviceSupport.pkg installer.


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The link will only work with logging in to the Developer Portal:

https://developer.apple.com/service...iceSupport_CrystalEMobileDeviceSeed1850B4.dmg

Thanks for the tip, but unfortunately that device support update didn't solve the issue (MacBook Pro 14" M4 Max). Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion virtual machines (Windows 11 x64 ARM Enterprise) failed to start, resulting in a kernel panic and restart of my system.