Know-how is at all times transferring ahead, which regularly means previous expertise will get left behind. For instance, NekoMichiUBC on X has found that the macOS Tahoe beta lacks assist for FireWire. That implies that legacy units, such because the authentic and 2nd-generation iPod, storage units. cameras, and extra gained’t work with Macs operating Tahoe.
It’s really spectacular that Apple has supported FireWire for thus lengthy, since Apple tends to drop previous tech in a number of years. Identified by the usual identify of IEEE 1394 (FireWire is Apple’s branding), Apple led its improvement within the late Nineteen Eighties as an answer for units that wanted high-speed connectivity. Within the 2000s, USB turned common and FireWire ports on Macs had been finally dropped, however assist had been saved in macOS till Tahoe.
What to do you probably have a FireWire gadget you need to use? Effectively, you don’t should improve to Tahoe; your Mac is simply high quality operating that older model of macOS. It means, although, which you could’t use Tahoe’s options. It additionally implies that any options that function between iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and Tahoe gained’t be out there to you, equivalent to Name Screening. When you have a spare Mac, you may resolve not set up Tahoe on it and use it when you might want to use FireWire units, like an iPod.
When you depend upon these previous FireWire units each day, it’s a good suggestion to improve, particularly if it’s a storage gadget. That FireWire onerous drive has loads of miles on it, so its possibilities of failure are comparatively excessive and rising day-after-day. You may in all probability get a quicker drive with much more storage for a lower cost than what you paid for that FireWire drive (storage was far more costly again then). Get our picks for the finest exterior onerous drives and SSDs. If it’s a digicam, your iPhone 15 in all probability produces higher high quality pictures, although utilizing previous cameras for stylistic functions is a factor. We get it.
There’s at all times an opportunity Apple may reinstate FireWire assist in Tahoe–it’s in beta and modifications at all times occur throughout the cycle. There doesn’t appear to be any technical consequence to it, however Apple likes to drop previous tech as a part of its correct housekeeping observe. Chances are high, it’s gone, so take the time to arrange your self earlier than Tahoe is formally launched within the fall. Be taught extra about macOS Tahoe.
