With the release of macOS Golden Gate, Apple made significant changes, retiring several legacy features and services, while also ending support for older devices and accessories. This strategy reflects Apple's continued effort to focus on new technologies and improve the performance and security of its devices, leaving behind features that relied on older architectures, such as Intel processors.
What items are removed from macOS Golden Gate?
One of the most significant steps Apple took with macOS Golden Gate is the end of support for Intel Macs. This version of macOS runs exclusively on Macs with Apple silicon processors, marking the end of an era for Intel Mac users. Users of these devices will have to stick with macOS Tahoe, with Apple committing to providing security updates until the fall of 2028.
This decision could significantly impact users who are not ready to upgrade to new hardware, as they will lose access to new features and improvements offered by macOS Golden Gate.
The retirement of Boot Camp Assistant is another significant change. Boot Camp was a tool that allowed users to install and run Windows on Macs with Intel. With the transition to Apple silicon, users who want to use Windows will have to turn to virtualization solutions like Parallels or VMware Fusion. This change may be disappointing for those who relied on Boot Camp for professional or personal reasons, as virtualization may not offer the same performance in all cases.
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Another feature that is affected is Rosetta 2.Although macOS Golden Gate removes Rosetta, users who have installed applications that require it can reinstall it. However, this is the last version of macOS that will fully support Rosetta. Apple has already announced that in macOS 28, which is expected in the fall of 2027, support for Rosetta 2 will be retired.
Most apps based on it will no longer open, except for some old games that are no longer supported. This means that developers will have to update their apps to run natively on Apple silicon, which can require a significant investment of time and resources.
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The retirement of the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) is another change that affects file management and network connections. AFP was retired in macOS Sequoia 15.5, and there is no longer an AFP client in macOS Golden Gate. This means that users who relied on this protocol for file management over networks will have to turn to alternatives, such as SMBv2 or SMBv3, which are now used for Time Machine backups.
The lack of support for Time Capsule is another consequence of the AFP removal. Time Capsule requires AFP or SMBv1 to work, but with macOS Golden Gate, Time Machine backups use the SMBv2 or SMBv3 protocols. This means that users who use Time Capsule for backups will have to look for alternatives or upgrade their equipment to ensure compatibility with the new protocols.
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Finally, the absence of AirPort Utility from macOS Golden Gate means that users who want to manage AirPort base stations, such as AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express, will have to rely on older versions of the software or consider alternative network management solutions. While the app may work if it was already installed before the upgrade, Apple does not guarantee its functionality in the future.
Overall, macOS Golden Gate represents a significant shift for Apple, as it focuses on enhancing the performance and security of its devices by removing legacy features and supporting older architectures. Users and organizations will need to adapt to these changes, looking at new solutions and technologies to maintain the functionality and efficiency of their systems .
