Apple macOS Catalina: No more 32-bit software compatibility

Apple is working on the next update for macOS - named Catalina - and it will bring about big changes; the main one being a move over to exclusively 64-bit processing and the removal of 32-bit compatibility for software.

zdnet.com wrote:There's also a way you can tell if apps you are currently running won't run under macOS Catalina. Click the Apple icon at the top-left of your screen and select About This Mac. Now click on System Report… and once that has loaded click on Applications from the left-hand column. One of the columns will have the heading 64-Bit (Intel) and if you find any that are marked as No then those won't be supported under Catalina.

I'm panicking a little because I have some key software that won't work with the new system software; Microsoft Office 2011 (Word, Excel and Outlook) and Steam (and associated games). I don't have many Mac games - although I'd be annoyed about losing them - but Office is a killer! I just can't upgrade to the new software if that isn't gonna work.

Any other GRcadians using a Mac and worried about this?

Not really, I just won't upgrade. There's a handful of apps my mac won't support but I'd rather that than break half of my gooseberry fool. I'm still on 10.11.6 and due to various bugs honestly I wish I was still on Leopard.

Most of the stuff I rely on is cloud-based or has version history of some kind. Failing that I have a pretty decent (and far more powerful) CAD/CAM machine that is albeit windows based, I don't bash it for that.

Yeah, I'm gonna take your approach, Gecko, and not upgrade. The thing with MS Office is that it's pretty much gone down the "pay monthly" route now (like everything else in the world) and I don't really want to do that unless I have to.

Lets be rebels and hold out .

Jawa, check with your employers IT department or they're part of the Microsoft Home Use Program.
Basically you get to buy a key for the latest full MS Office suite for just over a tenner, and they have both MacOS and Windows versions available.

A gooseberry fool ton of companies have this benefit but few people outside of the IT departments are ever aware of it.

Lagamorph wrote:Jawa, check with your employers IT department or they're part of the Microsoft Home Use Program...

Hey, ta for the heads-up, Laga - yeah, that's how I got Office 2011 for my Mac :-) . Since then I wasn't somewhere where they did that and now I'm out of work. I'm really hoping that I get a job that does offer the perk!

jawafour wrote:Apple is working on the next update for macOS - named Catalina - and it will bring about big changes; the main one being a move over to exclusively 64-bit processing and the removal of 32-bit compatibility for software.

zdnet.com wrote:There's also a way you can tell if apps you are currently running won't run under macOS Catalina. Click the Apple icon at the top-left of your screen and select About This Mac. Now click on System Report… and once that has loaded click on Applications from the left-hand column. One of the columns will have the heading 64-Bit (Intel) and if you find any that are marked as No then those won't be supported under Catalina.

I'm panicking a little because I have some key software that won't work with the new system software; Microsoft Office 2011 (Word, Excel and Outlook) and Steam (and associated games). I don't have many Mac games - although I'd be annoyed about losing them - but Office is a killer! I just can't upgrade to the new software if that isn't gonna work.

Any other GRcadians using a Mac and worried about this?

Steam was updated to a 64-bit app more than a year ago btw.

This is a very onbrand move for apple. Doubt it'll make much difference.

Lex-Man wrote:This is a very onbrand move for apple. Doubt it'll make much difference.

They did the same on iOS and gave developers more than a two year heads up to update their apps if they still wanted them to work.

Mafro wrote:Steam was updated to a 64-bit app more than a year ago btw.

Ah! Thanks, dude. I hadn't loaded it up in over eighteen months . Just updated it.

I've also got GTA III, Vice City and Jedi Knight which the Mac is saying aren't 64-bit compatible. I think I bought them from the App Store rather than Steam.

But, overall, it's just now Office which is the big problem. I use Excel for 90% of my graphics stuff so I won't upgrade until I've got access to a new / compatible version of that.

jawafour wrote:

Mafro wrote:Steam was updated to a 64-bit app more than a year ago btw.

Ah! Thanks, dude. I hadn't loaded it up in over eighteen months . Just updated it.

I've also got GTA III, Vice City and Jedi Knight which the Mac is saying aren't 64-bit compatible. I think I bought them from the App Store rather than Steam.

But, overall, it's just now Office which is the big problem. I use Excel for 90% of my graphics stuff so I won't upgrade until I've got access to a new / compatible version of that.

Excel for graphics?!

Mafro wrote:Excel for graphics?!

Haha, yeah, it's a bit of unusual approach but it works. All my logos and pictures are made in it, alongside a bit of work in the free Paint for Mac. One day I'll switch over to Photoshop / Illustrator .

When chatting on stream a while back about this, someone (Jazzem, IIRC!) shared this...


.

jawafour wrote:

Mafro wrote:Excel for graphics?!

Haha, yeah, it's a bit of unusual approach but it works. All my logos and pictures are made in it, alongside a bit of work in the free Paint for Mac. One day I'll switch over to Photoshop / Illustrator .

When chatting on stream a while back about this, someone (Jazzem, IIRC!) shared this...


.

Never even thought of using it like that. Have you tried out GIMP? It's a pretty decent free Photoshop alternative.

Mafro wrote:...Have you tried out GIMP? It's a pretty decent free Photoshop alternative.

I just downloaded it the other week! I've barely touched it and I don't know what I'm doing with it, though. I hope to put a bit more time and effort into learning how to use it at some point. I *think* Inkscape is also decent art sofware - Matt / TWA uses it - but I haven't looked into that yet.

Do you use GIMP, Mafro?

jawafour wrote:

Mafro wrote:...Have you tried out GIMP? It's a pretty decent free Photoshop alternative.

I just downloaded it the other week! I've barely touched it and I don't know what I'm doing with it, though. I hope to put a bit more time and effort into learning how to use it at some point. I *think* Inkscape is also decent art sofware - Matt / TWA uses it - but I haven't looked into that yet.

Do you use GIMP, Mafro?

I used to use it before I got the student discount for all the Adobe apps. For the sort of stuff you do with the logos it's definitely more than capable.

Also another cheap way of getting office is if you have a work office 365 login then you can install office on up to 5 different devices

Also there’s the free web browser Microsoft office apps although that might not be useful for graphic design work

Wait, jawa are you seriously saying all the logos you've made over the years were made in Excel?

Mafro wrote:

jawafour wrote:

Mafro wrote:...Have you tried out GIMP? It's a pretty decent free Photoshop alternative.

I just downloaded it the other week! I've barely touched it and I don't know what I'm doing with it, though. I hope to put a bit more time and effort into learning how to use it at some point. I *think* Inkscape is also decent art sofware - Matt / TWA uses it - but I haven't looked into that yet.

Do you use GIMP, Mafro?

I used to use it before I got the student discount for all the Adobe apps. For the sort of stuff you do with the logos it's definitely more than capable.

I got the academic discount for Creative Cloud a few years ago now when I submitted some payslips for £0 from a university. For some reason they haven't checked it after I validated the subscription for the second time and so I've had the student/teacher rate for about 4 years

jawafour wrote:Apple is working on the next update for macOS - named Catalina - and it will bring about big changes; the main one being a move over to exclusively 64-bit processing and the removal of 32-bit compatibility for software.

I've been running the public beta on my Mac and it has been mostly reliable. However the last time I checked Audacity was not running on it as it would open but couldn't record from the external mic. MS Word and PowerPoint work for me.

Mafro wrote:Have you tried out GIMP? It's a pretty decent free Photoshop alternative.

I hate it! My photo editing needs are basic, cut and paste images to to make YouTube thumbnails that have layers and adding text. I was using student discount Photoshop but it's just too much. I tried GIMP but it drove me crazy because it can't do layers properly. I've used this online https://pixlr.com/editor/ it can do layers but it's wonky because it doesn't always allow you to copy one image into another! I have been meaning to ask for ages but have been too lazy to go anywhere else on the internet! Does anyone knows of a cheap but legit photo editor that you can buy outright that allows layers and you can cut an image out from the background?

Venom wrote:

jawafour wrote:Apple is working on the next update for macOS - named Catalina - and it will bring about big changes; the main one being a move over to exclusively 64-bit processing and the removal of 32-bit compatibility for software.

I've been running the public beta on my Mac and it has been mostly reliable. However the last time I checked Audacity was not running on it as it would open but couldn't record from the external mic. MS Word and PowerPoint work for me.

Mafro wrote:Have you tried out GIMP? It's a pretty decent free Photoshop alternative.

I hate it! My photo editing needs are basic, cut and paste images to to make YouTube thumbnails that have layers and adding text. I was using student discount Photoshop but it's just too much. I tried GIMP but it drove me crazy because it can't do layers properly. I've used this online https://pixlr.com/editor/ it can do layers but it's wonky because it doesn't always allow you to copy one image into another! I have been meaning to ask for ages but have been too lazy to go anywhere else on the internet! Does anyone knows of a cheap but legit photo editor that you can buy outright that allows layers and you can cut an image out from the background?

Affinity Photo has built a reputation for pro alternative to photoshop for people who would rather buy something than pay a subscription and it's cross platform.

Pixelmator Pro is another popular alternative. It doesn't sound like you need half the features of Photoshop so definitely take a look at those. Affinity Photo is only £50 and I've seen some listings for keys etc below that.

Green Gecko wrote: Affinity Photo has built a reputation for pro alternative to photoshop for people who would rather buy something than pay a subscription and it's cross platform.

Pixelmator Pro is another popular alternative. It doesn't sound like you need half the features of Photoshop so definitely take a look at those. Affinity Photo is only £50 and I've seen some listings for keys etc below that.

I will look into them, cheers!

EDIT: Do you have any thoughts about Corel PaintShop Pro and Photoshop Elements?