This week brings endings and beginnings: Adam Engst reports that Apple has discontinued the Mac Pro, while OS 26.4 arrives with Apple Music’s AI-powered Playlist Playground, independent Family Sharing purchases, and Rosetta warnings signaling that macOS 27 will be the last to support Intel-based apps. Adam also investigates why Script Editor in macOS 26.4 refuses to open certain legacy AppleScripts, and recounts how an unexpectedly switched keyboard input source can block Mac logins. We briefly link to The Verge’s deep dive into the US government’s confusing new router ban and the publication’s entertaining (if methodologically flawed) effort to rank Apple’s top 50 products. Notable Mac app releases this week include Affinity 3.1, BusyCal 2026.1.3 and BusyContacts 2026.1.3, DEVONagent Pro 3.11.11, Firefox 149, LaunchBar 6.23, Mellel 6.6.5, Modern CSV 2.4, ScreenFloat 2.3.6, Unite Pro 1.1, and Zoom Workplace 7.0.
Apple’s OS 26.4 updates add Apple Intelligence-generated playlists in Apple Music, image creation and editing tools in Freeform, easier marking of Reminders as urgent, and independent payment methods for adult members of Family Sharing groups. Oh, and eight new emoji you didn’t know how you were living without.
After upgrading to macOS 26.4, some users found Script Editor refusing to open certain older AppleScripts—even though most of the scripts still ran fine from apps like BBEdit. Here’s how to fix affected scripts.
Apple has discontinued the Mac Pro with no replacement planned. The move ends a 20-year run for Apple’s most expandable desktop, though the Mac Studio and Thunderbolt 5 have made its PCIe-based expandability largely obsolete.
A switched input source can make a Mac reject the correct login password. Here’s how an accidental keyboard layout change locked a user out—and the simple fix that got her back in.
Watchlist
Brings some long-requested improvements to the creative suite. (Free, 983 MB, macOS 10.15+)
Adds support for AI-powered scheduling via the Claude Desktop Extension to BusyCal. ($49.99 new for each, free update, various sizes, macOS 11.5+)
Maintenance update for the research software. (Free/$4.95/$49.95, free updates, various sizes, macOS 11+)
Adds built-in VPN capabilities to the Web browser. (Free, 150.1 MB, macOS 10.15+)
Brings several overall enhancements and substantial improvements to VoiceOver support. ($35 new, free update, 15.4 MB, macOS 12+)
Introduces a new licensing system to the eponymous word processor. ($69.99 new, free update, 105.3 MB, macOS 10.13+)
Adds a few features and improvements to the CSV manipulation app. (Free/$39/$59 new, free update, 27.3 MB, macOS 11+)
Maintenance update for the screen capture tool with improvements and bug fixes. ($17.99 new, free update, 34 MB, macOS 12.3+)
Brings a plethora of improvements following the site-specific browser's recent reset. ($39.99 new, free update, 34.1 MB, macOS 15+)
Updates the videoconferencing/communication app with a variety of additions and enhancements. (Free, 186.8 MB, macOS 10.15+)
