If you’re a fan of the Safari web browser on your Mac, Apple just gave YouTube video playback a major upgrade in its latest macOS beta release. Now available for download, developers on the macOS Big Sur beta 4 can finally playback YouTube videos in 4K UHD resolution using Apple’s Safari browser.
Apple published details about the feature change in its Big Sur beta 4 documentation, noting that the software brings “support for 4K HDR playback of YouTube videos” in Safari and Webkit.
Prior to today’s release, YouTube video was capped at just 1080p FHD resolution when using Safari. This meant that if you wanted to play YouTube videos at resolutions greater than FHD, you had to choose an alternate browser, like Google’s Chrome. If all goes well during Apple’s beta testing period, Big Sur is expected to be released this fall for all consumers.
This change is especially notable given Apple’s push for higher resolution displays in recent years with Retina Displays appearing on smartphones, tablets, and the Mac. This means that if you own Apple’s iMac with Retina 4K Display, iMac with Retina 5K Display, iMac Pro with Retina 5K Display, or Apple’s studio-grade Pro Display XDR panel with a Retina 6K Display, you can edit and playback YouTube videos in resolutions up to 4K.
Initially announced earlier this summer at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference event, macOS Big Sur introduced a number of new features, including new icons, an updated menu bar, redesigned sheets, and a refreshed Notification Center — changes that will helps to unify Apple’s desktop macOS operating system with its mobile iOS and iPad OS platforms. In fact, Apple views the changes introduced with Big Sur significant enough to warrant a numerical jump to its macOS platform, moving from macOS 10 for desktops — which was initially introduced in 2001 — to macOS 11.
Big Sur is also the first operating system that kicks off Apple’s support for its own custom in-house silicon as Apple moves away from Intel. As Apple transitions to ARM-based processors for its Mac, we can likely expect to see Apple port over more features from its mobile platforms.
If you want to give Big Sur a spin ahead of its commercial release, you can begin by enrolling your Mac in Apple’s software preview program. However, before you do that, be sure to read Apple’s documentation for the latest beta release to see what problems or issues you may encounter during testing. Although Apple announced that Big Sur will be coming to supported Macs this fall, the company did not give a specific launch date.
When Apple launched the M5 Max and M5 Ultra Mac Studio in August, it quietly mentioned that one configuration would arrive later. Apple listed 512GB of RAM as an option, but you couldn’t actually buy it. That changes today, as Apple has opened pre-orders for the fully loaded M5 Ultra Mac Studio, which might just be the most powerful Mac ever made.
How much does the maxed-out Mac Studio cost?
Reading about complicated subjects can get a little dry, especially when diagrams and textbook explanations leave you scratching your head. Google wants to make that experience more fun and engaging with Immersive Explorations, a new Gemini feature that turns complex topics into interactive visual experiences. You can explore everything from ancient trade routes to jet engines, uncovering details layer by layer.
https://twitter.com/GeminiApp/status/2115507092660289631
OpenAI is bringing its Dot agent into your regular messaging app, so you can assign tasks without opening ChatGPT. The texting feature is rolling out in beta to ChatGPT Pro users in the US, with support for Apple's iMessage and Android's RCS. You can send your Dot text, photos, and voice messages, and also receive proactive texts when it has relevant updates.
https://twitter.com/ChatGPT/status/2115496387613786374?s=19