Why some Mac software will soon be outdated

[question everything]

From an advice column in my local paper:

Q: My four-year-old MacBook Pro is warning me that eight of my programs "will not work with future versions of MacOS and need to be updated to improve compatibility." Some of these programs are well-known software, such as "Microsoft Office Utilities" and "Amazon Music." I use the Mojave 10.14.4 operating system. What should I do?



A: The warning is misleading. You don't need to "improve compatibility" for those eight programs, because they work perfectly well with your present operating system. But you will need to upgrade to newer versions of the programs in order to use them on Apple's next Mac operating system, due out later this year.

The new Mac operating system doesn't yet have an official name, and is known only as "macOS 10.15." While Apple hasn't specified when it will be released, experts believe it will be announced this summer and available to consumers in the fall (for more about likely operating system features, see tinyurl.com/y4c3gddc).

Why do you need to upgrade the programs that generate the warning? Because they are all 32-bit software, which is now old technology. They process 32 bits of data at once, which limits both their speed and the amount of computer memory they can use (about 4 gigabytes.)

Apple has said the new Mac operating system will be able to use only newer, 64-bit programs that run faster and can use about 30 times as much memory.

Upgrading to 64-bit versions of your eight programs should be relatively easy, because software makers have known for some time that this change was coming. For instance, you can already find 64-bit Mac versions of Microsoft Office 2019 ($150, see tinyurl.com/yaamffvk) and Amazon Music (free, see tinyurl.com/nuchkbp).

http://www.startribune.com/why-some-mac-software-will-soon-be-outdated/509923792/

=====

I admit, I do not exactly understand this. Spouse is using a MacBook and is concerned. I am using iMac and have been ignoring the Mojave Software..

[True Blue American]

1. Advice

From my Grandson who is becoming a Computer Engineer” Ignore them!” He tells me that every time I get a warning on my IPAD. So far, he is right!

[Big Blue Marble]

2. What is it that you do not understand?

Older software (32 bit) will not longer run on the next system update. It is aways
advisable to check for system conflicts prior to upgrading versions.

https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/mac-software/apps-incompatible-mojave-3678735/

If you have legacy software that is no longer supported by developer you will either
switch to an alternative or delay your upgrade as long as possible i.e. until Apple
stops supporting the version with security updates.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

3. This.

I’m still on High Sierra because of compatibility issues with my audio recording software and Mojave. Most of it is compatible (like the new Pro Tools 2019), but enough of it isn’t, and I don’t want to deal with the problems.

[Big Blue Marble]

4. Don't deal with your problem immediately if you need your software.

I always lag at least one system upgrade behind. Currently, happily running Sierria getting ready
to upgrade to High Sierria. I have at least one program that will fall on the next upgrade but
it will several years until I get there.

Until a few years ago, I was running 10.4 on an old computer because of essential accounting
software for a business. Of course, I longer used that computer online.

Are you using Audio Hijack. It my favorite audio recording software.

https://rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/

It is runs on 10.11 and higher.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

6. No, I'm an audio professional, so I run Pro Tools, Logic Pro,

and a whole host of audio plugins from Waves, iZotope, Antares, SoundToys, and others...

Another issue is my hardware A/D converters are VERY outdated, so I had to modify some things in High Sierra to allow the driver to load. The same can be done in Mojave, but with other compatibility issues with the audio software, it’s best not to have too many workarounds.

[question everything]

5. How do I know if my software is "old?"

It is High Sierra 10.13.6

[Dr Hobbitstein]

7. You're fine running High Sierra. It's only one version behind Mojave.

No need to update unless you want to.

ETA: To clarify, if you don’t upgrade your OS, then there is nothing to worry about. Everything will continue to work fine. The article would not apply to you in this situation.

[question everything]

8. Thanks