The holidays are near, the year is approaching its end. But for MacAdmins, this remained a busy week. The first update for macOS Ventura was released alongside iOS and iPadOS 16.2 many other updates.
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This is the first macOS update after the “special measures” to avoid a bug in the macOS software update system present in 12.3 though 12.6 that would consider upgrades to 13.x as updates with regard to managed deferrals. Now, Monterey client in that version range will present 13.1 to the end user, even if major updates are managed to be deferred. Apple has updated the support article on this.
The new updates bring some new features, as well. The new Freeform app seems like a nice tool. I have actually used Keynote for similar tasks, but I think Freeform is a bit, well, free-er and creative. We also got the new Advanced Data Security for iCloud, network locations make a return to macOS Ventura, and “Apple Music Sing”…
This is the last news summary for the year 2022. Many thanks to all of you readers!
Happy Holidays and all the best for the new year 2023!
The news summary will return on 13 January 2023. See you then!
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News and Opinion
macOS Ventura 13.1 and iOS 16.2
macOS Ventura 13.1
- macOS Ventura 13.1
- What’s new for enterprise in macOS Ventura
- Manage upgrading to macOS Ventura in your organization (Updated!)
- macOS Ventura 13.1 Developer Release Notes
- Security content of macOS Ventura 13.1
- Security content of macOS Big Sur 11.7.2 – Apple Support
- Security content of macOS Monterey 12.6.2 – Apple Support
iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2
- iOS 16.2
- What’s new for enterprise in iOS 16.2
- iPadOS 16.2
- What’s new for enterprise in iPadOS 16.2
- iOS & iPadOS 16.2 Developer Release Notes
- Security content of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2
- Security content of iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2
Apple Platform Deployment Guide
- December 2022 update
- Document revision history
- About software updates for Apple devices
- Use MDM to deploy software updates to Apple devices
- Background task management example
Other Systems
- watchOS 9.2
- watchOS 9.2 Developer Release Notes
- Security content of watchOS 9.2
- About Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD software updates
- tvOS 16.2 Developer Release Notes
- Security content of tvOS 16.2
- About Software Updates for HomePod (Not updated yet for 16.2)
Applications
- WebKit Features in Safari 16.2
- Safari 16.2 Developer Release Notes
- Security content of Safari 16.2 – Apple Support
- Xcode 14.2 (Mac App Store, Developer Downloads)
- Xcode 14.2 Developer Release Notes
- Apple Remote Desktop 3.9.6 (Mac App Store)
- GarageBand for iOS and iPadOS 2.3.14
- Logic Pro 10.7.6
Apple Support
- Freeform User Guide for Mac
- How to use Freeform – Apple Support, YouTube
- iCloud data security overview
- Set up an account recovery contact
- Use network locations on Mac
- See lyrics and sing in Apple Music on your iPhone or iPad
Community
- macOS Ventura 13.1 (22C65) Update! What’s New? – Mr. Macintosh
- macOS Monterey 12.6.2 (21G320) Update! What’s New? – Mr. Macintosh
- macOS Big Sur 11.7.2 (20G1020) Update! What’s New?– Mr. Macintosh
- What has changed in Ventura 13.1?
- iOS 16.2 Features: Everything New in iOS 16.2 – Juli Clover, MacRumors
- Freeform Leverages the Freedom and Flexibility of a Blank Canvas – John Voorhees, MacStories
- Building and using a macOS 13.1 VM on Apple silicon – Howard Oakley
- Apple announces 3 new security features – Pieter Artnz, Malwarebyte Labs
Social Media
- @mikeymikey@hachyderm.io: “JUST A REMINDER: 13.1 is the first Ventura update past the 30 day hold for OTA major upgrades for MDM managed macOS devices. If you have devices on 12.3-12.6 still and you DO NOT have a minor deferral in addition to a major deferral – on these buggy versions of macOS (12.6.1+ fixes the bug), 13.1 OTA will be seen as a -minor- update, not major and as such will NOT be deferred by only having a major deferral in place.” (Thread)
- @scriptingosx@mastodon.social: “Apple’s new Freeform app seems nice. I can see myself using this. However, there are no Shortcuts actions and no AppleScript dictionary. (I know… what was I expecting…) I can think of several workflows where Freeform would fit in wonderfully. Now imagine you could add buttons with shortcuts or Apple scripts in Freeform!”
Security and Privacy
🔨Support and HowTos
- System Integrity Protection: The misunderstood setting – Mykola Grymalyuk
- Enable Chrome’s Battery and Memory Performance Settings – Happy Mac
- Can’t Accept iCloud Terms after macOS Install. Agree Button Greyed Out! – Mr. Macintosh
- JumpCloud on open source & Mac admin: what projects should you know about? – Adrian Bridgwater, Tom Bridge, TechTarget
- User Maintenance Made Easy – ktrojano, Jamf Tech Thoughts
- Why won’t Ventura let me install that? – Howard Oakley
- macOS removes and reinstalls Rosetta after every update – Jeff Johnson
- Holding Back the OS Upgrades – Robert Hammen
Scripting and Automation
- The Future of Foundation – Swift Blog
- Submit Jamf inventory update on OS changes – Darren Wallace
- Using AutoPkg to build installers for Palo Alto’s GlobalProtect VPN software – Rich Trouton
- SwiftDialog: Make Dialog the Active Window – Trevor Sysock
- Doctor ROPG, or How I learned not to worry and love the password grant flow – Sean Rabbitt, Jamf Tech Thoughts
- Use the Jamf API to Update a Smart Group with App Versions from AutoPkg – Mostly Mac
- Reset User-deferred Jamf Pro Polices – Dan K. Snelson
- Determining eligible macOS versions via script – brunerd
Updates and Releases
- Tor Browser now optimized for Apple Silicon – Chance Miller, 9to5Mac
- jamf/aftermath 1.2.0
- Automaton 2 – Twocanoes Store
- Microsoft Authenticator for Apple Watch to be discontinued – Filipe Espósito, 9to5Mac
- Macjutsu/super v3.0-b4 (Versions of super prior to 3.0b4 may unintentionally upgrade computers with macOS 12.6.1 to macOS 13.1. You should avoid using any version of super prior to version 3.0b4 on macOS 12 or newer.)
- Lost Mode: Track Missing Devices, Protect User Privacy – Kandji Blog
To Listen
- Just Us: Ventura and iOS 16: How are they going and what do we love/hate? – Mac Admins Podcast
- My Curmudgeon Ways – Command-Control-Power
- Tight-lipped on the vision – Apple @ Work Podcast, 9to5Mac
Support
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