Apple releases macOS High Sierra 10.13.4

21 Comments

Apple has released macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 which improves the stability, performance, and security of your Mac, and it is recommended for all users. This update:

– Adds support for Business Chat conversations in Messages in the US
– Adds support for external graphics processors (eGPUs)
– Fixes graphics corruption issues affecting certain apps on iMac Pro
– Allows jumping to the right-most open tab using Command+9 in Safari
– Enables sorting Safari bookmarks by name or URL by right clicking and choosing “Sort by…”
– Fixes an issue that may prevent web link previews from appearing in Messages
– Helps protect privacy by only AutoFilling usernames and passwords after selecting them in a web form field in Safari
– Displays warnings in the Safari Smart Search Field when interacting with password or credit card forms on non-encrypted web pages
– Displays privacy icons and links to explain how your data will be used and protected when Apple features ask to use your personal information

For more detailed information about this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208533

For more detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222

MacDailyNews Take: Happy updating!

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21 Comments

  1. I suppose support for system upgrades for fusion drives is over. Guess I’d better get with it and fork over some money for a new iMac if I expect to stay current. At least that’s what I suppose Apple wants me to do.

    Reply

      1. Don’t update to 10.13.4 if you use a virtual monitor like DisplayLink, Duet Display, or Air Display. You will kernel panic when you connect. All of those companies have sent out warnings about 10.13.4. Fingers crossed for a fix in 10.13.5.

        RIP Apple quality standards.

        Reply

        1. Duet has been having problems since 10.13.3 & iOS 11.3 betas, I’ve emailed them multiple times and they have no idea what the issue is. On iOS 11.3 release & 10.13.4 release, these seem to be resolved but only on my 15” MBP with dedicated graphics. My wife’s 13” MBP with integrated Intel iris 650 has flickering issues with her iPad, but not my iPad Pro, which is very odd. Also, my old 2012 Mac Pro (that is the home server now) had a very strange update process to 10.13.4, it had to flash the firmware by holding down the power button until rapid clashing & the long low tone, then it restarted and installed normally. Not sure why that is, the iMac Pro was smooth as were both notebooks & the 2013 Mac Pro which is at home now. The machines that ran the betas had real problems with duet, but it seems ok now save for a few glitches. I’m 100% certain it’s on them, they had a similar issue with 10.12.1 because they didn’t update something quickly enough.

  3. This was a difficult and time-consuming update for me. After I applied the update and restarted, I got a stop sign on the screen when I tried to log in. According to Apple, that means that not all the system files are the same release. I rebooted into the recovery partition and reinstalled macOS, which brought me to 10.13.4. That was my experience on both my machines. However, at this point, the iMac’s BT keyboard stopped working, even though the mouse was. I disconnected and reconnected to the keyboard (with the mouse).

    The problem is not with fusion drives (I have one); the problem is that High Sierra doesn’t like to install.

    I recommend skipping the App Store and going directly to the recovery partition to reinstall macOS. That would be easier.

    Reply

  7. Finally got mine done, a 3 hour process.

    For some reason during the process, I began to wonder how a brand new Mac user doing their first upgrade would feel.

    3 or 4 black screens each lasting a minute or two, where I had no idea what was happening; did the computer shut down? wait a minute or two, ok great, it the screen came back, whew thought I was toast there for awhile.

    Then the wonderful “recalculating time”, back and forth between 45 and 46 minutes a dozen times for over a half hour, then another black screen, suddenly it’s 16 minutes to go, wait 15 minutes for it to show “15 minutes” then another wait, suddenly “12 minutes”. 30 seconds later its done.

    Imagine you are a brand new Mac user. This is not the Apple of old, used to be user friendly and transparent, you knew what was happening.

    Does this kind of thing inspire confidence? Does it make you trust Apple more or less. Does it really matter?: YES

    I am totally dependent in my business on 3rd party apps for Mac. Mac user since 1988. Third party apps have never been better, interfaces are well thought out.

    Then there are the Apple apps, most of which I haven’t opened in years except because of curiosity. No real value there.

    Yes I use Safari because of familiarity, but its just as incompatible as always. Mail actually ok, again because I am familiar with it. Calendar ok because of familiarity. TestEdit and Preview what you see is what you get, wonderful.

    I also run Parallels/Windows 10. Clunky looking but transparent, they tell you what is happening, such as the almost daily updates, more user friendly interface once you get used to the odd locations of many things. Who would have ever thought of Microsoft as friendly, but their tech support actually is.

    Could I run my business on Windows, No. My specialized graphic and animation apps are not there. They use specific features of OSX that make them possible, not there on Windows.

    But for someone who does very basic things, I can’t tell someone not to go there. When some one asks me why I use Mac, I tell them about the apps that I use and why they work for me. But at that point when someone asks for a recommendation, I just say you make your choice based upon your own needs.

    Reply

      1. Our beloved 3 finger drag is still there… Just hiding now, in the trackpad options in the Accessibility Pane of System Preferences. Enabling it will disable some other 3 finger gesture options you may have enabled.

        Reply

  8. I just got a Calendar notice reminding me that tomorrow is April Fool’s Day.
    Wow!!!….Neato!!!
    Odd that it didn’t say a Goddam thing about it being Easter.
    Thanks Apple!!

    Reply

  10. Me: I’m looking forward to WWDC so we can begin to put this ‘High’ Sierra mess behind us. I do so hope Apple has been busy bringing macOS back to full usability and sterling quality. I want to forget ‘High’ Sierra ever existed.

    Reply

  11. Kind of nervous about some of these struggles to update to the latest Mac OS. I manage an office with nine iMacs of varying vintages, and I generally advise immediately updating 00.00.x versions of the OS — if only for the security features. But some of the posts here (and elsewhere) have me worried.

    If you’ve updated just fine, please post. I need the reassurance…

    Reply

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