Skip to main content

For Mac users who can’t escape Microsoft’s hold, OS X Boot Camp now supports Win 8

Win-7-Boot-Camp-on-iMac
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The newest version of Mountain Lion has arrived, now that OS X 10.8.3 is available for download from the Mac App Store. It comes with a number of new fixes and additions to your system, one of which will make platform agnostics happy – official Boot Camp support for Windows 8. 

Boot Camp is a tool that makes it easy for Mac users to install and use Windows operating systems on their Mac laptops and desktops. You can use it to easily switch between OS X and Windows by pressing the option button while your Apple computer is booting up (although your computer can only boot into one or the other). While a lot of people have already been using Windows 8 on their Mountain Lion computers, this development means there’s now better Windows 8 driver support on OS X and that you can use Windows 8 trackpad gestures on your MacBook. 

In addition, OS X 10.8.3 features Boot Camp support for Macs with drives larger than 3TB, as well as a number of bug fixes, including a fix for the file URL that causes apps to crash. It also comes with the new Safari version 6.0.3, and a new feature that you can use to redeem iTunes gift cards via your computer’s iSight camera, which sounds mighty convenient. 

Head over to the 10.8.3’s official release page to see its full list of improvements. 

Editors' Recommendations

Mariella Moon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mariella loves working on both helpful and awe-inspiring science and technology stories. When she's not at her desk writing…
Windows 10 can run better virtualized on Apple’s M1 Macs than on Surface Pro X
everything apple announced at its one more thing event m1 macbook pro 13

Windows 10 and some ARM-based Windows 10 apps can perform better when virtualized on Apple's new M1 Macs than it can when running natively on a native ARM-device like the Surface Pro X. That's according to a new video posted on YouTube featuring a benchmarking experience.

In the tests, Windows 10 on Apple's new M1 Mac Mini benchmarked with a 1,515 Single-Core score, and a 4,998 Multi-Core score when virtualized. That's well ahead of what's recorded natively with the Surface Pro X, which picks up a 764 single-core score, and a 2,983 multi-core score.

Read more
What Microsoft can learn from Apple’s Mac on ARM transition
Apple MacOS Big Sur design

Microsoft has tried to transition toward ARM chips multiple times in the past 10 years. All of them have been failed attempts.

But at Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, Apple announced its own plans to switch away from using Intel processors to its own custom ARM-based chips, starting later this year. But in Apple's case, it just might work.

Read more
5 reasons the iPad Pro can’t replace the MacBook, even with the Magic Keyboard
why ipad pro magic keyboard cant replace macbook typing 1200x9999

When it comes to the iPad, Apple loves to make a controversial statement or two. Remember when CEO Tim Cook said, “Why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?” Or the commercial with the iPad-toting kid that sparked rage in the PC world with the question “What’s a computer?”

Thanks to the iPad Pro’s new Magic Keyboard, you may find yourself agreeing with Mr. Cook and friends. It has all sorts of advantages over a MacBook, and its floating magnetic design is downright cool.

Read more