Blocs for Mac 6.3 Beta Build 2 đŸ§Ș

Blocs Beta
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Hey everyone,

Lets start the week with the second beta of Blocs for Mac 6.3 :rocket:

Under the hood this beta has some major re-writes to the layer tree engine, which hopefully should be more reliable (helping to avoid those pesky missing Blocs).

So look out for layer tree issues as there is a lot of new code being used in this department. :face_with_monocle:

This exciting new version is packed with 34 new features to explore and test, some of them shown off here.

Happy testing :clinking_beer_mugs:

Download Blocs for Mac 6.3 Beta Build 2

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Norm’s work has no end and all to make Blocs the best web designer app for developer ever. Having read through the list of fixes, improvements and additions shows that.

For me personally, probably my lack of knowledge and experience, I don’t know what many of these new features are. Time for some documentation/help. :slight_smile:

It also looks like if you don’t have a proprietary Apple MAC with the newest chip you’re not going to get use the following:

  • Generate Image with Image Playground in Asset Manager - (Requires Apple Silicone / MacOS 15 Minimum).
  • Adapt Image with Image Playground in Asset Manager - (Requires Apple Silicone / MacOS 15 Minimum).
  • Added AI Image Tagging to Asset Manager.
  • Added AI image alt description generator - (Requires Apple Silicone / MacOS 26).
  • Added AI page meta description generator to Page Settings - (Requires Apple Silicone / MacOS 26).
  • Added AI social card description generator to Page Settings - (Requires Apple Silicone / MacOS 26).

Please allow me to let off some steam. I purchased the most enhance MBP for around $3,500 and now I can’t use many of the new features, unless I buy the newest one. :angry: I know I am not the only one either. Maybe there is a work around. :smiley:

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I can appreciate your dilemma KB.

I too had an Intel Mac until about 4 months ago when I purchased an M4 Mac mini.

But I think these additions to Blocs are more about utilizing the latest power of the computing platform, which I think many applications/developers are all about.

Legacy systems, older Macs, this is a perennial problem in the computing world. The users having to “catch up” with the latest and greatest.

In the end, I hate this contest because it gets costly, but on the other hand, I know that I will have to live within my means and make a decision to pay for the ability to use all of these new “powers” or not.

The Mac OS ends up leaving systems behind over time. I don’t think Blocs, or any other applications, are any different.

Rich the Weather Guy

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Whilst AI lures and intrigues, it isn’t the Holy Grail of web design. Not having it on your machine doesn’t mean Blocs is useless.

I had (still have) a whizz-bang Intel machine. It has always been a fantastic room heater, with PC levels of battery usability. I’m fortunate in that 5 years later I have been able to get an M4 machine. I don’t care about AI, but I am so impressed that this upgrade is one of the best I have ever had, and I started with an LC in 1991. (Previous corporate Mac Plus user from a bit further back)

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:upside_down_face:

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Hey @KBConcepts,

Out of the 34 new features there are 5 that require Apple Silicon. So there are only a few features Intel users wont have access to.

The image tagging feature actually uses the Vision framework which works on Intel, so this feature will work on your Mac. Testing it here on the x3 intel Macs we have in the office, it works but it’s just a little slower than using it on Apple Silicon.

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Stated it previously that certain features should maybe be appropriately noted on the main “Blocs for Mac” site that they only work with Apple Silicon macs and/or newer macOS versions. It really seems beneficial and fitting for potential or current users to understand this aspect clearly.

Given the current system requirements do not match regarding using the core Blocs app itself verse having access to certain newer features within Blocs.

Of course this is obvious to some users but may not be so obvious to others, which potentially leads to general disappointment or confusion by users. Really during this final transitional period it should be made clearly understandable on the Blocs for Mac site, within the documentation, and even within the app itself. At least until the Blocs system requirements move exclusively to Apple Silicon and it becomes a non-issue regarding potential user confusion or disappointment.

In the end it’s just the plight of all technology. Especially with Apple’s historical forced obsolete upgrade tactics. Meaning Intel and AMD with discrete GPU run AI just fine, and OCLP proves modern macOS runs fine also on Intel :—).

Blocs really cant slow down implementing modern features, modern CSS, improving existing features, or adding further AI benefits as the web industry rapidly advances forward.

Full speed ahead on all fronts. :rocket: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

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Thanks, Norm for clarifying. :smiley:

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Thanks @Norm for the new Wordpress features like the secondary menu, reordering the custom data manager and the new shortcuts.

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