AppleInsider Staff
Apple on Thursday seeded the latest betas of OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 and iTunes 11.1.6 to developers for testing, with the new software marking a return of contacts and calendar data syncing in iTunes.
The latest OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 build 13D21 comes one week after the last beta was seeded, and Apple once again asks developers to focus on graphics drivers and audio enhancements.
New to both OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 and iTunes 11.1.6 betas is the restoration of iTunes syncing for contacts and calendar data over USB and Wi-Fi, a feature deprecated from the current version of iTunes in favor of Apple's iCloud solution. Combined with the latest iTunes 11.1.6 beta, developers can now sync contact and calendar data on an iPhone, iPad or iPod with a host Mac.
In addition to the iTunes changes, Apple requests developers continue to work on audio and graphics improvements, as well as Safari.
An earlier seed of OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 revealed Apple is planning to enable a so-called "Retina" output mode for users connecting their late-2013 MacBook Pro with Retina display to external 4K monitors. The added feature can be described as a pixel-doubling scaling option that is capable of displaying a desktop at native "Retina" levels over HDMI.
Currently, Retina MacBook Pro owners running OS X 10.9.2 are limited to a maximum scaled resolution of 4,096 pixels-by-2,160 pixels at 24Hz. The refresh rate is also capped at 30Hz for lower resolutions, making animations choppy. With the upcoming maintenance update, output to a 4K display is expected to achieve 60Hz while pixel-doubling.
Developers can download the new beta builds from Apple's Developer Portal or Software Update.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
Andrew Orr
24 Comments
Does this mean synch services is back?
Aww, for a minute there I thought Apple had returned the Contacts sync to iCloud that they took away with the transition from MobileMe. Ever since then my wife and my contact list has been slowly diverging, sigh.
It's a pity that older Macs can't sync calendars and contacts via the cloud.
Yeah, I guess I could go buy everyone in my family a brand new iMac for $$$$.
Or I could just use Google Calendars and contacts.
Still, it's a pity.
[quote name="512ke" url="/t/167073/apple-restores-itunes-contacts-calendars-syncing-in-new-os-x-mavericks-10-9-3-itunes-11-1-6-betas#post_2493552"]It's a pity that older Macs can't sync calendars and contacts via the cloud. Yeah, I guess I could go buy everyone in my family a brand new iMac for $$$$. Or I could just use Google Calendars and contacts. Still, it's a pity.[/quote] The solution is simple. All you need to do is buy a new 12-core Mac Pro (make sure you max out the RAM) to use a contacts and calendar server. Then use it to sync with iCloud but also install Dropbox on it which you also use on your other Macs. Then create a AppleScript for the non-Mavericks Macs that save as a Folder Action that will look for changes to files in your calendar and contacts that will then copy them to Dropbox which will then by synced by your new Mac Pro which you also then create an AppleScript with a Folder Action that will then replace the ones in that system that will then sync to iCloud. It couldn't be easier¡
[quote name="SolipsismX" url="/t/167073/apple-restores-itunes-contacts-calendars-syncing-in-new-os-x-mavericks-10-9-3-itunes-11-1-6-betas/0_100#post_2493560"] The solution is simple. ...buy a new 12-core Mac Pro (make sure you max out the RAM) to use a contacts and calendar server. Then use it to sync with iCloud but also install Dropbox on it...etc...etc...etc...[/quote] Actually, buy TWO Mac Pro's. You're going to need a backup in case the first one goes down. Simple as pie.