macOS 27

[jchuzi]

Software Update indicated that macOS 27 is now available. As always, I do not want to install the first iteration of any OS. Are there any brave souls out there who have tried it? Please post your reactions.

[Xairbusdriver]

Yes, I 'upgraded' late last night. I have no idea why!!! 

I have already posted about a change in how Mail displays the mailbox list. There is the "normal" list in the top half of the Side Bar followed by another, smaller type and color list below that. Picture below.

Link to TidBITS post. No response yet.
[EDIT] Response came right after I posted here. Unfortunately, the suggestions had been tested before I had made my initial post at TBT. 

[jchuzi]

OnyX has been updated for Golden Gate but everyone should be aware of macOS 27 kills Time Capsule backups, but NAS hosts still work

[Xairbusdriver]

Yep, Maintain also has an update for GG. Had to re-install Rosetta for Intel apps. Need that for PS Elements, at least. Who knows if Adobe will ever catch up to Apple's chips. Lots of folks still use PS. Maybe it has been updated for "M" chips. IDKoc!

I finally got some better visibility for the Side Bar in Mail by using BetterDisplay Pro and adjusting the Gamma settings. It has several dozen display settings and a 14-day trial. It comes with a perpetual license when you actually buy it.

[Xairbusdriver]

I've removed BetterDisplay Pro. I was getting stuttering in YT vids in a normal download/stream. I was also getting weird mouse behaviors; a large square showing the actual pixels of the vid followed the cursor when over the vid image. Sound was normal. If I made the vid full screen, everything was normal, no stuttering, normal mouse without any background problems.

That app had so many settings, I probably caused the strange behavior, but I am too lazy to figure out what the exact setting that needed to be reset/edited. No complaints about the app nor the dev. It has more color controls than I knew what was what. And the dev was very quick to answer my question and offer help!

Basically, I surrendered to the less than perfect (to me) interface design.

[jchuzi]

Software Update shows that macOS 27.2 is now available. Before I upgrade, does anyone have comments, positive or negative, about this update?

[Xairbusdriver]

I depend on TidBITS™ for advice on macOS and mobile OS updates info:

"The updates also address a large number of security vulnerabilities." (163 vulnerabilities fixed)

Adam's conclusion: If you are waiting for a "stable" Golden Gate upgrade, wait till 27.3. If you are already using Golden Gate, it's fairly safe. Biggest change, other than all those security fixes, is Siri improvements. I plan on updating tonight.

Highly recommend subscribing to TidBITS and its forum!

[jchuzi]

I upgraded to 27.2 and I dislike the transparent menu bar (it is blue, the same as my desktop color). How can I make it have a white background? I looked in OnyX and TinkerTool, as well as System Settings, and found no way to do this.

Edit: I used Reduce Transparency in System Setting > Accessibility and that solved it.

[Xairbusdriver]

System Settings

I'm waiting for human-usable compendium of that sloppy collection! One for each OS with chapters for device. Would make a popular website!

The "Search" function is practically useless. However, DuckDuckGo™ did provide me with lots of links to complaints about the seeming endless changes to this particular interface element. (Is there a competition in each new OS to find another way to change how the MenuBar looks?! ) One of the most interesting is "Boring Old Menu Bar". It's an enjoyable read of what can be done for free and a $10 option.