Llama is a powerful large language model (LLM) developed by Meta (yes, the same Meta that is Facebook), that is able to process and generate human-like text. It’s quite similar to ChatGPT, but what is unique about Llama is that you can run it locally, directly on your computer.

With a little effort, you’ll be able to access and use Llama from the Terminal application, or your command line app of choice, directly on your Mac, locally. One of the interesting things about this approach is that since you’re running Llama locally, you can easily integrate it into your workflows or scripts, and since it’s local, you can also use it offline if you’d like to.

Perhaps most interesting of all, is that you can even use different Llama locally with uncensored models like Dolphin or Wizard that don’t have the same biases, absurdities, and guardrails that are programmed into Llama, ChatGPT, Gemini, and other Big Tech creations.

Read along and you’ll have Llama installed on your Mac to run in locally in no time at all.

Read more »

Apple has issued the 5th public beta of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. The 5th public beta build matches the 7th developer beta build, as is typically the case.

There are rumors that iOS 18 dev beta 7 (and therefore iOS 18 public beta 5) is the final beta version of iOS 18.0, so if you’re intrigued by the idea of jumping into the beta testing programs to try out upcoming system software, these are the more stable beta versions to do that, but you’ll still want a high tolerance for weird behavior, bugs, and potential compatibility issues. Nonetheless it’s very simple to install iOS 18 public beta on iPhone, install MacOS Sonoma public beta on Mac, or iPadOS 18 public beta on iPad, and you’ll be able to update directly from the beta versions to the final versions when they are released by Apple this fall.

iOS 18 for iPhone and iPadOS 18 for iPad both include a variety of new features, including Dark Mode theme icons, color tinting of icons and widgets, Passwords app, a Calculator app for iPad, Game Mode for iPhone, Control Center customizations just in case you want tons of screens of toggles and buttons over there for some reason, a perplexing major UI/UX redesign to Photos app, Apple Intelligence AI features for writing text and summarizing documents or webpages and create AI artwork, and myriad other smaller changes and features.

MacOS Sequoia 15 for Mac features iPhone Mirroring to use iPhone from the Mac, a Passwords app, new wallpapers, new screen savers, window tiling improvements, the inclusion of Apple Intelligence AI features throughout the operating system, Distraction Control for Safari, and many other smaller changes for other apps like Notes and Mail, plus more.

Read more »

The 7th beta version of macOS Sequoia 15 has been released for testing to those in the developer beta testing program. The same build is available to public beta testers as public beta 5.

Additionally, iOS 18 beta 7, iPadOS 18 beta 7, watchOS 11 beta 7, tvOS 18 beta 7, and visionOS 2 beta 7, are also available.

Read more »

iOS 18 beta 7 and iPadOS 18 beta 7 are now available to users in the developer beta testing programs for iOS and iPadOS. Matching the 7th developer betas are the 5th public betas, which are available as well.

And iOS 18 beta 7 might be the final beta version, other than features that are tied to new hardware (presumably the iPhone 16 series, which are expected to launch in September), according to the worlds best Apple reporter, Mark Gurman on X/Twitter.

Any user can enroll to participate in the beta testing programs for iPhone and iPad, which then allows them to install iOS 18 beta on iPhone or install iPadOS 18 beta on iPad, if they’re interested in doing so. The same applies to public beta versions.

There are also new beta builds available for macOS Sonoma 15 beta 7, watchOS 11 beta 7, tvOS 18 beta 7, and visionOS 2 beta 7.

Read more »

Apple has re-released iOS 17.6.1 for iPhone and iPadOS 17.6.1 for iPad. The new build number is 21G101 for iOS 17.6.1, while the old build number was 21G93.

It is unclear what is different about the new build, or why Apple didn’t label this update as iOS 17.6.2. Additionally, the new build is not listed on Apple’s security updates page (yet anyway), further adding to the mystery.

Separately, Apple has released watchOS 10.6.1 and tvOS 17.6.1 for Apple Watch and Apple TV.

Read more »

An ex-Apple employee put together a rather incredible way to create 1-bit pixel art on a modern iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil by using a Macintosh emulator, and the results are very impressive!

This super creative approach is the work of Matt Sephton (the same guy who re-made the nifty Stapler app!), who used the Basilisk emulator for iPad to run Macintosh System 7 with classic MacOS apps on an iPad Pro, so that the Apple Pencil could be used for the artwork.

Read more »

Longtime Mac users may recall a handy old shareware application for the Classic Macintosh called Stapler, which essentially helped manage projects by grouping a series of apps and documents into a single document that when opened would then launch all of those documents and their respective programs. Much easier than digging around in your file system and individually launching apps and files. And guess what? Stapler has returned, from a new developer, to modern MacOS!

Stapler for Mac is excellent for managing and organizing files related to a particular project. For example, let’s say you’re working on a redesign project and you’re using multiple files in Photoshop, projects in Canva, files in BBEdit, a few folders in Finder, and a group chat with Slack, with Stapler you can open all of those together in one fell swoop by launching a single Stapler document. Cool right?

Read more »

The fourth public beta version of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and MacOS Sequoia, is now available to beta testers. The 4th public beta builds match the 6th developer beta builds.

Beta system software is intended for advanced users and is generally a buggier experience with less than optimal performance, but anyone can install iOS 18 public beta on iPhone, iPadOS 18 public beta on iPad, or MacOS Sonoma public beta on a Mac if they’re curious about the upcoming operating systems.

Read more »

Apple has released the second beta of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and MacOS Sequoia 15.1, each with support for Apple Intelligence AI features, on supported devices anyway. The release of these new beta updates is unusual in that they’re concurrent with betas for iOS 18.0, iPadOS 18.0, and MacOS Sequoia 15.0, each of which does not contain support for Apple Intelligence AI feature set.

If you’re intrigued by the idea of Apple Intelligence, installing these betas onto eligible devices will then allow you to opt into enabling Apple Intelligence on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Just remember that system requirements are quite strict; only iPhone 15 Pro or better (amazing that Apple sells brand new iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13, and iPhone SE right now to customers and none of those supports Apple Intelligence but hey I’m just a geek), and both iPad or Mac must have an M1 or better chip.

Read more »

Apple has issued the 6th beta version of MacOS Sequoia for users enrolled in the developer beta testing program. Usually a matching public beta build arrives soon after, which in this case dev beta 6 would be versioned as public beta 4.

MacOS Sequoia brings some nice new features to the Mac, including iPhone Mirroring to allow you to control your iPhone from a Mac, improved window tiling capabilities, a Passwords app, a few new wallpapers and screensavers, improvements to Safari and Notes app, Apple Intelligence AI features, and more. Any advanced user who is willing to deal with bugs and a beta operating system can easily install macOS Seqouia developer beta on a compatible Mac right now if they’d like to test it out.

Separately, Apple has also released MacOS Sequoia 15.1 beta 2, iOS 18.1 beta 2, iPadOS 18.1 beta 2 (each of the .1 betas include Apple Intelligence features), iOS 18 beta 6, ipadOS 18 beta 6, watchOS 11 beta 6, tvOS 18 beta 6, and visionOS 2 beta 6.

Read more »

Apple has released iOS 18 beta 6 and iPadOS 18 beta 6 to users involved in the developer beta testing programs. Typically the developer beta arrives first and is soon followed by the same build for public beta testers, suggesting iOS 18 public beta 4 will be available soon too. The 5th betas for iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 were released just a week ago, indicating an accelerated release schedule from Apple as they work to finalize the operating systems.

While beta system software is aimed at professionals and developers, anyone can install iOS 18 beta on iPhone or install iPadOS 18 beta on iPad easily, assuming they’re comfortable with a buggier operating system that does not perform as well as a final version.

Additionally, iOS 18.1 beta 2, iPadOS 18.1 beta 2, macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta 2, macOS Sequoia 15 beta 6, tvOS 18 beta 6, watchOS 11 beta 6, and visionOS 2 beta 6 are also available for beta testers. The .1 releases of betas include Apple Intelligence AI features, but those AI features have strict compatibility requirements, like Apple Silicon Macs and iPhone 15 Pro or better.

Read more »

Among Us is a very popular multiplayer game where you work together with other players to identify imposters among them, before the imposter can sabotage them. You might know Among Us as being for iPhone and iPad, but you can play it on your Mac as well, whether that’s a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini, iMac, Mac Studio, or Mac Pro.

Read more »

Another day, another round of system software updates, such is the life of a modern Apple device user in this particular era of the two thousand and twenty fourth summer on planet Earth, Anno Domini. As the globe rotates to register a new day, you will be excited to learn that iOS 17.6.1 and ipadOS 17.6.1 are available with bug fixes for iPhone and iPad. No new features are included, but some bugs have been fixed, and nobody likes bugs (no offense to our billions of entomologist readers).

Indeed, the release of iOS 17.6.1 & iPad 17.6.1 comes barely a week after iOS 17.6 and ipadOS 17.6 was liberated from the Software Update Industrial Complex, so you’ll get the wonderful opportunity to download and install some garden fresh, organic, free-range, packed with essential vitamins and nutrients, gluten free, dairy free, soy-free, every possible diet friendly, all-inclusive, and very equitable, System. Software. Updates! Again!

Now, I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking, “but Jamie, I have a Mac, I have an older iPhone, I have an older iPad, I want software updates too!” And maybe you’re even getting yourself worked up, in a tizzy over the mere concept of not installing more system software updates on those devices. But don’t be disappointed if you have a Mac or older iPhone or iPad either though, because you better believe there are piping hot software updates for those devices too. Coming in with the beauty of two toots from a tuba, MacOS Sonoma 14.6.1 has arrived, alongside MacOS Ventura 13.6.9. And if you’ve got an older iPhone or iPad, and you’re jonesing for an update, the software update dealers at the good old Cupertino apple orchard are serving you up with the freshest batch of iOS 16.7.10 and iPadOS 16.7.10.

Read more »

If you feel like you have spent a significant amount of your time updating system software on your Apple devices lately, you’re in for a treat; another round of system software updates! This time around, Apple has released MacOS Sonoma 14.6.1 along with MacOS Ventura 13.6.9 for Macs, complete with bug fixes, just one week after releasing MacOS Sonoma 14.6 and Ventura 13.6.8.

But that’s not all. The update adventures are not over, since Apple has also released iOS 17.6.1 for iPhone, iPadOS 17.6.1 for iPad, iOS 16.7.10 for older iPhone, and iPadOS 16.7.10 for older iPad models, so you’ll be busy with yet another round of installing updates on multiple devices.

Read more »

The latest versions of MacOS Sequoia beta include a really nice forest wallpaper and screen saver that is enabled by default, called Sequoia Sunrise. But you don’t have to install the Sequoia beta to have access to the wallpaper, you can grab it right now.

Read more »

Apple has released the third public beta of iOS 18, MacOS Sequoia, and iPadOS 18, for users enrolled in the public beta testing program. These public beta builds match the 5th developer beta builds that were issued the day prior.

There are also new public beta builds for tvOS 18 and watchOS 11 for those beta testing those versions of system software too.

Read more »

MacOS Sequoia beta 5 is now available for users enrolled in the developer beta testing program to download and install onto their Macs. MacOS Sequoia beta 5 carries the build of 24A5309e, and usually a new developer beta build is soon followed by a matching build for public beta testers as well.

MacOS Sequoia is set to bring a variety of new features to the Mac, including iPhone Mirroring, a new window tiling feature, dedicated Passwords app, Apple Intelligence AI, a series of new screensavers and wallpapers, improvements to Safari and other default apps,a nd more.

Separately, Apple has also released iOS 18 beta 5, ipadOS 18 beta 5, watchOS 11 beta 5, tvOS 18 beta 5, and visionOS 2 beta 5.

Read more »

iOS 18 beta 5 and iPadOS 18 beta 5 are now available for testing. The beta 5 updates are currently available to registered developer beta testers. Usually a public beta with the same build will arrive soon after a developer beta is released, which in this case would be versioned as public beta 3.

iOS 18 for iPhone and iPadOS 18 for iPad both include a multitude of new features and capabilities, including a new Passwords app, dark mode icons and widget options, color tinting for icons and widgets, customizations to Control Center, a redesigned Photos app, Apple Intelligence AI features, Calculator app for iPad, and many other smaller features and changes including additions to Notes and Safari, and much more.

The latest beta 5 updates include some changes to the confusingly redesigned Photos app on iPhone and iPad, and also includes a new Distraction Control feature in Safari that lets you hide annoying on-page elements that encumber many modern websites, like mailing list pop-ups and obnoxious stuff that overlays content.

Separately, macOS Sequoia beta 5, tvOS 18 beta 5, watchOS 11 beta 5, and visionOS 2 beta 5 are also available for beta testers.

Read more »