Questions. Just bought a new iMac

[TohMac]

I have been out of the loop for some time, having used my Dec 2014 iMac perfectly until recently when it slowed down.
Have a macbook air (Nov 2019) rarely used. Someone suggested I hook it up to a large monitor and use it. Might do so.

But my questions concern the new iMac. Couldn't wait for the new model so ordered this (below) and upgraded it a bit.


1). Why are they only 4.5 retina today, rather than 5?

2) Why only a 24" screen as opposed to the earlier 27? Is there really a noticeable difference?

3) I never upgraded my iMac past 10.14.6 Mojave. Partly because I used iTunes and had home videos in it. So my library showed up on the TV and they could be watched there. I seem to recall after Mojave, iTunes changed? Different set up? I want to know if I will still be able to have such a library-over to the TV. I didn't like to mirror because then I was unable to use my iMac while someone else was watching the TV so I needed the library as mentioned, rather than mirroring the screen.

4) I am a basic home user. No photoshop or complicated video editing, etc. I use 1Password, an antivirus app of some sort and a couple other apps for recipes, Handbrake for basic video conversions. Basic things. For the most part the apple built in apps meet my needs.



Besides the above questions, is there anything NEW, changes to iTunes or other apps I will need to know


Also purchased a new LaCie 1TB SSD Pro External Drive with Thunderbolt 3. Just for simple backups. I have an earlier. LaCie but its a bit out of date now.

24-inch Silver iMac with 4.5K Retina display

Hardware:​

• 1TB SSD storage
• Magic Mouse
• Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID - US English
• Two USB 3 ports
• Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
• 16GB unified memory
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Accessory Kit

 

[Fishrrman]

Re using iTunes...

As you may know, iTunes no longer comes with new Macs, Apple having replaced it with the new "Music.app".

But... some folks like Music less than iTunes.

However...
You can STILL RUN iTunes on Apple Silicon Macs, by using the free utility called "Retroactive", which can be found here:

GitHub - cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive: Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve.

Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve. - ...

github.com

To download it, go to the right where it says "Releases" and click "latest".

It's easy to use, just follow the instructions.

I wanted to keep using iTunes because Apple stripped out the free internet streaming radio tuner. With Retroactive, I can do that.

 

[ignatius345]

1). Why are they only 4.5 retina today, rather than 5?

2) Why only a 24" screen as opposed to the earlier 27? Is there really a noticeable difference?

Hard to say why Apple did it this way. It's a great display with the same quality, but a bit smaller. I had the 5K before this, and loved it -- but the 24" is workable for sure.

 

[TohMac]

Re using iTunes...

As you may know, iTunes no longer comes with new Macs, Apple having replaced it with the new "Music.app".

But... some folks like Music less than iTunes.

However...
You can STILL RUN iTunes on Apple Silicon Macs, by using the free utility called "Retroactive", which can be found here:

GitHub - cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive: Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve.

Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve. - ...

github.com

To download it, go to the right where it says "Releases" and click "latest".

It's easy to use, just follow the instructions.

I wanted to keep using iTunes because Apple stripped out the free internet streaming radio tuner. With Retroactive, I can do that.

EDIT: Further to that, Retroactive, I see on that page mention you can run something called "Apple Configurator 2" in order to download iOS apps on your computer.
I use an app on my iPhone or iPad (too old now) to run an app called Bell Fibre. It's the app for my TV stations on the tv. Generally that app can only be used on those 2, rather than a laptop or desktop.
Although I rarely use the TV app outside of the actual TV I would have loved to have had the use of it on the computer. Otherwise you have to log into the Bell Fibre webpage and watch it from there.
I can do that but its complicated for one other person here.
Have you ever used that Configurator and can confirm it will indeed allow iOS such apps on the iMac?


Ok I will go grab that in anticipation of my new iMac arriving soon.

Do you happen to know whether one can still add in their home videos to the music.app and then stream it to your TV like iTunes, or not?
If I could do it simply that way, I would prefer it as I am not listening to free internet streaming radio tuner. Although if I am unable to do what I want through music.app and am forced to use Retroactive I might listen then. But my primary concern is still being able to use videos on my iMac to stream to the large TV.

 

[TohMac]

Hard to say why Apple did it this way. It's a great display with the same quality, but a bit smaller. I had the 5K before this, and loved it -- but the 24" is workable for sure.

Good to know that it's the same quality. I can live with it a bit smaller but will have to dig around when I have a moment to see what their reasons were for minimizing the screen size.

 

[ignatius345]

Good to know that it's the same quality. I can live with it a bit smaller but will have to dig around when I have a moment to see what their reasons were for minimizing the screen size.

Apple is not transparent about stuff like that. My hunch is that this was considered the updated version of the 4K 21" Intel iMac, but they bumped up the screen size a bit while keeping the same pixel density.

Plenty of people (on these forums, anyway) seem interested in a 5K Apple Silicon iMac, so the hope is they'll finally manage to make one at some point -- maybe as "pro" tier machine.

 

[TohMac]

Ok, for myself as a basic user only, it wont be a problem. I would not have been able to wait. For someone using it for serious video or photo applications I can understand it might be an issue.

Sorry, excuse my ignorance but what is a "silicon" mac? I believe my 2015 5K was an intel mac.
I have seen mention of a M3 mac...no time to read further though but it seems as if I should have waited some time for the new ones but I was unable.

EDIT: Sorry, looked that up so assume my new one is a "silicon" mac.

Mac computers with Apple silicon - Apple Support (CA)

Starting with certain models introduced in late 2020, Apple began the transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon in Mac computers.

support.apple.com

 

[phillytim]

Ok, for myself as a basic user only, it wont be a problem. I would not have been able to wait. For someone using it for serious video or photo applications I can understand it might be an issue.

Sorry, excuse my ignorance but what is a "silicon" mac? I believe my 2015 5K was an intel mac.
I have seen mention of a M3 mac...no time to read further though but it seems as if I should have waited some time for the new ones but I was unable.

EDIT: Sorry, looked that up so assume my new one is a "silicon" mac.

Mac computers with Apple silicon - Apple Support (CA)

Starting with certain models introduced in late 2020, Apple began the transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon in Mac computers.

support.apple.com

There really is no reason to wait, especially as you are a self-described "basic user".

Lots of talk about the upcoming M3, but we really have no idea when it actually will be released - it could be announced this October and released in November, OR some believe it may not be announced until WWDC 2024 (May).

Everything about M3 right now is nothing more than pure speculation, except that it most likely will be based on some 3nm process.

I just bought a MacBook Air M2, because I *needed* a computer, and could not hold out up until next June for an Air M3.

 

[ignatius345]

Sorry, excuse my ignorance but what is a "silicon" mac?

A few years ago Apple started using processors of their own design in Macs, instead of processors made by Intel. One shorthand term for these processors is "Apple Silicon". They're much more power efficient than their Intel predecessors, so Macs using them are getting far better battery life and generating much less heat. The processors started with M1 and have moved to M2 and there's a rumored M3 on the horizon. Each of these has "pro" and "max" variants which bump up the number of cores for more power.

I believe my 2015 5K was an intel mac.

It was. Apple didn't start using their own processors in Macs until 2020.

 

[TohMac]

Good to know. I really am out of the loop. See I have quite a bit to catch up on. Thank you!

 

[4087258]

1 - For 24 inches, 4.5k is the right resolution for the retina pixel density.
2 - Apple released only one iMac after transitioning to ARM, and 24 was the middle size between 21 and 27.
3 - Your iTunes library is now on the Music app, Apple TV app and Files app (Finder on Mac). Your TV has a version of the Apple TV app which is also available on iOS, iPadOS and MacOS.

 

[zapmymac]

Congrats 🥳 almost any new 2023 Mac will serve you well…that’s what people keep telling me here, at least for general purpose computing

 

[JamesMay82]

for your home videos etc. I keep mine in the apple photos app which then syncs to the cloud and I then watch these on the photos app on my Apple TV. I find that works better than sharing the library from my Mac to the tv.

 

[chrfr]

EDIT: Further to that, Retroactive, I see on that page mention you can run something called "Apple Configurator 2" in order to download iOS apps on your computer.

You can run some iPhone and iPad apps on your new Mac but many developers opt out of making this an option and not all of them work well. Apple Configurator is not required for this, nor even useful. Just look for the apps you want to use in the Mac App Store.

 

[thefourthpope]

I wanted to keep using iTunes because Apple stripped out the free internet streaming radio tuner. With Retroactive, I can do that.

Too late to be useful to me (we now use Sonos to play KEXP direct through the speakers, or I use the app on my phone) but this is great to know about. The lost radio streaming infuriated me as much as any single software decision I can remember.

 

[Shortpay]

Be aware that a iMac M3 may come out between today & Valentines Day 2024.

 

[TohMac]

for your home videos etc. I keep mine in the apple photos app which then syncs to the cloud and I then watch these on the photos app on my Apple TV. I find that works better than sharing the library from my Mac to the tv.

Thank you. Keeping note of this as well. Shame as it works perfectly on my older iMac that uses iTunes.

 

[throAU]

2) Why only a 24" screen as opposed to the earlier 27? Is there really a noticeable difference?

difference between 24" and 27" is decent.

27" is sometimes (depending on your desk) too big. If 24" is too small just buy a mini and the display(s) of your choice. The iMac is an all in one for people with very generic requirements; if you're outside of those specifics just buy whatever display you like for a Mini.

 

[TohMac]

I have already purchased it. As I added to it I am just waiting for it to be put together in China for delivery. Otherwise I would have just gone to my nearby Apple store for the stock version. That all said, I am fine with the imac regardless and can live with 24" as opposed to 27". I did find the 27" a bit too large when I bought the last one in Dec 2014 but am used to it now. But might consider that next time. Thanks. Edit: I should also add that it was a gift to me so one strikes when the iron is hot! 😁

 

[TohMac]

Re using iTunes...

As you may know, iTunes no longer comes with new Macs, Apple having replaced it with the new "Music.app".

But... some folks like Music less than iTunes.

However...
You can STILL RUN iTunes on Apple Silicon Macs, by using the free utility called "Retroactive", which can be found here:

GitHub - cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive: Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve.

Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve. - ...

github.com

To download it, go to the right where it says "Releases" and click "latest".

It's easy to use, just follow the instructions.

I wanted to keep using iTunes because Apple stripped out the free internet streaming radio tuner. With Retroactive, I can do that.

I am using Sonoma 14.0. Am I right in suggesting that this utility, Retroactive is not yet compatible with Sonoma. I see the recent d/l, Sept 2, 2023 is for Monteray and Ventura?

I see I havent any choice as my videos (.mp4) wont run through the music.app which is a huge problem for me so I assume I must wait for an update to this app you mentioned?!

Someone else mentioned sharing my videos to the apple photos app then sync to the iCloud but I have far too many files for the iCloud.