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 Apple released macOS 14 Sonoma on September 26th. The new OS is chock full of cool new features and bolstered with security improvements. Sonoma has big updates to video conferencing and Safari, as well as customizable Desktop widgets and stunning new screen savers. The enhanced video conferencing features enable users to present and share their work more effectively within any video conferencing app. And, Presenter Overlay displays users in front of the content they are sharing. And there is much more!As in previous years we have put together a Sonoma Primer to enumerate the new features and the compatible 3rd party software.
Click here to find out read our macOS Sonoma Primer! |
 
 Microsoft has been very busy with AI and had a major launch event on September 21st . Microsoft 365 Copilot will combine the power of large language models (LLMs) with an organization s data all in the flow of work. It works alongside Microsoft 365 Apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more. Microsoft says that Copilot provides real-time intelligent assistance, enabling users to enhance their creativity, productivity, and skills.Microsoft 365 Copilot will be available to Enterprise customers starting November 1st and will cost $30 US / user / month.With AI risks and rewards ever present in the media is it a coincidence that it is arriving the day AFTER Halloween? Click here to find out more Microsoft 365 Copilot!
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 Adobe has introduced Photoshop 2024 ahead of the Adobe MAX conference where it generally introduces new versions of Creative Cloud products. This is also a milestone in AI. Photoshop 2024 utilizes Adobe Firefly-powered=A0Generative Fill=A0and=A0Generative Expand, to add, expand, or remove content from your images non-destructively, using simple text prompts within the app in over 100 languages to achieve realistic results that will surprise, delight, and astound in seconds.=A0
Generative Fill=A0and=A0Generative Expand=A0automatically match perspective, lighting, and style of your image to deliver results that Adobe says are "mind-blowing."And that's a good time for Adobe to be raising prices. Starting November 1, Creative Cloud for Teams pricing will be going up $5 US / user / month.
Click here to find out more about Adobe Photoshop 2024!
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 If it's Fall it must be time for a new Vectorworks. And it is! Vectorworks 2024 offers major upgrades to core technology to help save time. And it boasts a whole new look with updated and modernized user interface to make working in Vectorworks more efficient and easier to customize. There is a new option to save custom viewport settings as styles, which allows for easy transfer between viewports, reduction of errors, and increased efficiency. The company says that "The new version of Vectorworks Architect significantly upgrades your BIM workflows with features and tools that save time while you design and help reduce errors in the modelling and documentation process."Vectorworks 2024 requires at least macOS 12 Monterey.
Click here to go to find out more about Vectorworks 2024!
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 So where is Apple on AI you may be wondering? Actually, Apple is all over it but in the reality distortion zone it is called "Machine Learning" and works off a special segment of the Apple Silicon chip called the "Neuarl Engine". Indeed, macOS iOS, iPadOs and WatchOS are chock-a-block full of Machine Learning with popular examples including Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and iOS 17's predictive autocorrect. But that is not all. CEO Tim Cook told BBC News on September 29th that Apple is looking to hire more staff to work on artificial intelligence in the United Kingdom. Apple is thought to now be spending millions of dollars a day on conversational AI research and is believed to be working on a chatbot tool that may be intended to rival OpenAI's ChatGPT. |
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