Mac Pro is designed for pros who need the ultimate in CPU performance. From production rendering to playing hundreds of virtual instruments to simulating an iOS app on multiple devices at once, it’s exceedingly capable. At the heart of the system is an Intel Xeon processor with up to 28 cores — the most ever in a Mac. The Mac Pro is a series of workstations and servers for professionals designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Inc. The Mac Pro, in most configurations and in terms of speed and performance, is the most powerful computer that Apple offers. It is one of four desktop computers in the current Macintosh lineup, sitting above the consumer range Mac Mini and iMac, and alongside the all. Jan 13, 2019 File transfer apps for Mac in 2019: The good, the bad, and the ugly In a crowded market for FTP clients, we've winnowed out your best options. Nathan Alderman. A note to App Store users: The version of Yummy FTP Pro available here is older than the one on Yummy Software's site, and sells for $15. $30 - Download now. Apr 15, 2020 The app is basically the best unarchiving app you can get for your Mac, free or otherwise. The Unarchiver cannot only unarchive common formats such as Zip, RAR (including v5), 7-zip, Tar, Gzip, and Bzip2, but it can also open formats such as StuffIt, DiskDoubler, LZH, ARJ, ARC, ISO and BIN disc images, Windows.EXE installers and more. Jun 04, 2019 2019 Mac Pro Review - 7 Reasons it Sold Out! - Duration: 14:37. Max Tech 70,605 views. THIS Replaced Every PC in my House! - Duration: 29:57. Linus Tech Tips 3,179,868 views.
While the majority of Apple users are used to expect regular hardware updates every spring and fall, hardcore professionals — Apple’s original target audience — often feel left out. Indeed, the latest product designed for them, Mac Pro desktop, was released way back in 2013 and hasn’t been updated since. Until now.
During WWDC in June, Apple has announced a completely redesigned new Mac Pro 2019. The cylinder shape has been retired in favor of what Jony Ive called “virtually unlimited possibilities for customization.” So what’s so new about Mac Pro 2019? Let’s dive in.
Why The New Mac Pro 2019 Matters
The first thing everyone noticed during the presentation is how different the new Mac Pro is compared to its predecessor. New design, new price, new specs, and new possibilities for expansion. Given that Apple doesn’t update its Mac Pros nearly as often as MacBook Pros, the ability to update the new Mac Pro is crucial, and something that was nearly impossible to do with the previous design. Sounds good so far? Wait till you see how much the new Mac Pro costs!
Brand new Mac Pro design
If you’ve been a Mac Pro user long enough, you’ll notice the similarities between the new model and the one that was in use pre-2013.
On a macro level, the new design is rather traditional. Apple decided to come back to a rectangular prism shape that has been associated with desktop computers for decades. The main reason behind this change is empowering users to customize and update the new Mac Pro as they see fit.
The first thing you notice when looking at the new Mac Pro is the lattice pattern on the front panel. As this desktop beast can house up to 28 processing cores and 1.5 TB of memory, it generates lots of heat that is countered by three large fans and four heat tubes that cool down the whole system, making individual fans for each part obsolete.
The outer case is also completely removable by turning the top handle. Beneath, one can see the stainless steel frame that simultaneously houses all the components and serves as legs and handles for effortless carrying. Overall, the design feels utilitarian and thoughtful, although it does lack the avant-garde presence Apple is renowned for.
Mac Pro specs analysis
Without a doubt, the new Mac Pro 2019 is a highly capable workhorse, ready to take on any computing challenge. In fact, it’s the most powerful Mac Pro ever!
Starting at 8 cores of Intel Xeon W processors, the setup can be expanded to up to 28. There are also 12 DIMM slots for RAM, which can take up to 1.5 TB of DDR4 ECC memory, widening the bandwidth to 140 GB a second.
As for graphics, the new Mac Pro modules can host four GPUs. There’s a choice of graphic cards between AMD Radeon Pro 580X, AMD Radeon Pro Vega II, and AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo. The latter is in fact two connected graphic cards that produce 64 GB of memory and 1 TB of bandwidth.
The default Mac Pro 2019 comes with 256 GB of SSD storage, which can be upgraded to 1, 2, or 4 TB. Taking privacy seriously, Apple has included a T2 chip that encrypts all storage and makes it nearly impossible to hack into the low levels of your software.
Depending on the configuration, you’ll get different ports for output. At minimum, you can rely on two USB-As, two Thunderbolt 3s, and two Ethernets. There are also two additional Thunderbolts on top of the case, and their ultimate quantity is determined by the final graphic cards setup.
Is there a new Mac Pro monitor?
Apple hasn’t updated their Cinema Display for so long that the company itself stopped selling them a few years ago, opting for third-party manufacturers on their own website.
So you can imagine everyone’s surprise when during the keynote Apple revealed Apple Pro Display XDR. The new 32-inch monitor is the first-ever 6K Retina display that fits 20,000,000 pixels and boasts 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The design is pretty much all screen with nearly non-existent bezels (just 9 mm).
Additionally, Apple will release a compatible Pro Stand that is promised to make monitor adjustments seamless. Indeed, the Mac Pro monitor just snaps to the stand with a powerful magnet, can be easily fine-tuned with regards to angle and even turned on its side for vertical arrangement.
What’s the Mac Pro price?
So far, the whole setup sounds quite dreamy, doesn’t it? That is until you know that the basic version of the new Mac Pro 2019 will set you back $6,000. The Mac Pro monitor is sold separately and will add another $5,000 to the bill. And if you’d like the stand too, get ready to part with yet another $1,000.
Ouch. Yes, the new Mac Pro is really expensive. Too expensive for most of us. Naturally you might ask who is it for then?
The new Mac Pro 2019 target audience
With this new release, Apple has reinforced the idea that Mac Pro is an investment. It’s the most capable machine for those who need that kind of capability — video editors, big data researchers, VR developers, etc.
Essentially, if you’re sure that Mac Pro will pay for itself through the work you plan to use it for — buy it. Even with a price tag that high, Mac Pro 2019 is a no-brainer for those who live off it.
What happened to the old Mac Pro?
Just like with the release of new MacBooks, when lots of people are ready to buy the previous year’s models, some of you might be thinking of getting the 2013 version of Mac Pro.
Since the new Mac Pro won’t be available until September 2019, you can still buy the old model, although Apple has made it really tricky to do so on their website. Regardless, there are few reasons to get one, as there are more capable iMacs and iMac Pros now available that can deliver better results (using new processors and graphic cards) for the same amount of money.
Upgrade your existing setup
But what can you do if neither models seem to be affordable enough? Don’t worry. There are still ways to infuse your current Mac with new life.
First, you need CleanMyMac X — Mac’s ultimate optimization software. With just a few clicks, CleanMyMac X will scan your laptop or iMac and dig out all the system junk, caches, malware, duplicates, and leftover files and delete them forever. Repeat the process every now and then and essentially get a brand new Mac at your disposal every time.
Second, arm yourself with Disk Drill. You never want to leave the security of your files up to chance. Disk Drill will ensure you always have appropriate backups of your data at hand and even recover lost files in case they go missing.
Third, monitor your productivity with Timing. Often we think we’re being unproductive due to a slow machine rather than our own procrastination. Timing will supply you with automatic reports based on where and how you spend your days. Review the reports and effortlessly adjust your behavior — and just like that you’ll notice the days getting longer.
Best of all, the apps mentioned above can all be found and tested with a free 7-day trial on Setapp, a subscription platform with over 150 unique apps that help you and your Mac be more productive. You just might realize that the benefits achieved by spending thousands of dollars on the new Mac Pro could be found for next to nothing by leveraging a few good apps.
FTP, or file transfer protocol, is simple: Connect to a far-off computer. Send your stuff to it, or get stuff from it. The end. And though we now live amid a plethora of cloud file storage services – Dropbox, Amazon S3, Google Drive, ad infinitum – the basic idea remains the same.
But finding the right app to make those transfers happen can get tricky. Search for 'FTP' in the App Store, and you're swiftly buried beneath a pile of contenders clamoring for your cash. Keep reading to discover which ones we liked best.
A few ground rules
Every app in this roundup supports good old reliable FTP and its more secure cousin, SFTP, usually with several intermediate flavors of security in between. And unless otherwise noted, every app here works with WebDAV, which does everything FTP can do on an HTTP-centric Web server. When an app supports cloud services beyond those basics, we'll let you know.
Free FTP apps
Free App For Mac
You can find several FTP apps for a cool zero dollars. They don't tend to be as feature-rich as the paid apps we'll discuss later, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're a poor choice.
Mac OS X's built-in FTP capabilities
Let's just say there's a reason people make, sell, and use third-party apps. Technically, you can use the Finder's
Go > Connect to Server…
command to log into FTP or SFTP servers. But in my tests, this ran relatively slowly, and I could download files but not upload them. Unless you're desperate, consider other options.FileZilla (The FileZilla Project, filezilla-project.org)
FileZilla is an open-source, cross-platform app, and that means exactly what you think it does: a boxy, utilitarian, non-Mac-like interface designed by professional programmers, for professional programmers. Getting around FileZilla may be rational, but it isn't pretty.
The program works admirably fast when uploading or downloading your files, but that's about all it has in its favor. It won't remember your server passwords from one session to the next, which can be a real pain with a long, complex password. And its ridiculous update system, which downloads an entirely new copy of the app, then obliges you to copy it manually into the Applications folder every time a new version rolls out, would be less obnoxious if it didn't seem to roll out new updates every five minutes. Skip it.
Cyberduck (iterate GMBH, cyberduck.io)
This veteran contender boasts crazy fast file transfers and an impressive roster of cloud service options: Amazon S3, Google Drive, Google Cloud Storage, Azure, Backblaze, Dropbox, OneDrive, and DRACOON. It also offers the ability to synch up a local and remote directory, a powerful feature more often found in paid apps. But it loses points for a dated, unattractive interface – including when synching – and for its baffling decision to use a single-pane layout.
Rather than use two panes — one showing a folder on your local computer, the other showing the remote directory to which you've connected, so that you can easily drag and drop files between the two – Cyberduck's single pane obliges you to drag files to and from a separate Finder window, a needless bit of extra hassle.
And while the program's technically free, it'll nag you to pay up often, and charges App Store downloaders a lot more ($24) than it does folks who purchase a registration key on its own site (a minimum donation of $10). If you're going to pay for an FTP client, you have better choices than this one.
ViperFTP Lite (Naarak-Studio, viperftp.com)
This isn't one of those better choices I mentioned above. The opening screen for this junior version of a fuller-featured app features a cheesy come-on for both its paid big sibling and a selection of other low-rent apps from the same company. Any bad vibes you get from that welcome quickly multiply once you're in the app itself.
I give ViperFTP Lite credit for incorporating Amazon S3 and, uniquely, YouTube in its list of connection options. But the interface is a dud, transfers feel sluggish, and in my tests, the app once crashed entirely while trying to open a new connection.
ForkLift 2 (BinaryNights, binarynights.com)
ForkLift's creators are giving version 2 away for free on the App Store to promote their newer version 3, which we'll get to later in this roundup. But version 2's nothing to sneeze at. It offers respectable (though not amazing) transfer speeds, and a clean, Mac-like interface I found intuitive and appealing. In addition to the usual FTP and WebDAV options, ForkLift can connect to Amazon S3, AFP, and SMB servers.
You definitely get what you pay for: Neither ForkLift version will remember your server passwords or store them in the Keychain, and in ForkLift 2, Droplets — a mini-app that lets you transfer files to a specific destination just by dragging and dropping files onto it, without opening ForkLift itself – just didn't seem to work. Still, if you need a free app simply to move files to and from an FTP server, you could do a whole lot worse than this.
Paid Apps
If you actually shell out money for a file-transfer app, expect fancier features such as more connection options, droplets, and sophisticated synch abilities. But while on average, paid apps work better than free ones, some are far more worth paying for than others.
Commander One / CloudMounter ($30/$45 each, Eltima Software, mac.eltima.com)
If you imagine a typical file-transfer app as the center point on a spectrum, then Commander One would exist way over on the 'MORE' side of that line, and CloudMounter far in the opposite direction on the 'LESS.' Both let you move files to and from remote servers, but CloudMounter pares down that process to its simplest form, whereas Commander One piles on features for power users. Each is available for $30 on its own, or with a 'lifetime upgrade guarantee' for a total of $45.
You can download Commander One for free as a file manager and replacement for the Finder, with potent searching and sorting powers. Paying up for its 'Pro Pack' adds FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Dropbox, Amazon S3, OneDrive, and Google Drive connections, among other advanced features.
But while it's written entirely in Swift for maximum Mac-friendliness, Commander One suffers from an interface that's more or less intuitive, but too crowded and boxy to appeal to most users. I also found its transfer speeds middling at best. Its file-transfer features aren't worth paying for unless you really love using the app as a file manager as well.
If you want to try before you buy, make up your mind quickly; my promised 15 days of free access to the Pro features somehow elapsed in less than five.
I mostly praised CloudMounter when I previously reviewed it, and an unobtrusive app that easily mounts remote drives directly in the Finder remains a great idea. But the more I used CloudMounter after my initial tests, the more its connection problems shifted from 'occasional' to 'frequent,' especially when I tried to access an SFTP server.
When I revisited it for this roundup, it bogged down and hung on a simple SFTP transfer that every other app handled with aplomb, and its connections tended to crawl under the best circumstances. It also lacks any of the sophisticated search or synch features other paid apps, including Commander One, offer.
And if you get it from the App Store instead of Eltima's site, you're stuck with in-app purchase options that turn it into a subscription product, charging $29.99 a year or $9.99 for three months. Despite its broad range of connection capabilities – Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon S3, OneDrive, OpenStack Swift, Backblaze, and Box – I can no longer recommend it in its current form.
Yummy FTP Pro ($30, Yummy Software, yummysoftware.com)
Yummy FTP Pro offers a well-built but way-too-basic FTP client. Files transfer speedily, the app performs reliably, and the interface looks clean, if a tad crowded. Its synch features offer plenty of power and options, but they're not particularly intuitive. And Yummy FTP Pro can only connect to FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV.
If it were free, I'd embrace Yummy FTP Pro in a heartbeat. But even its Lite version costs $10, and at $30 for Pro, you have better options for your money.
A note to App Store users: The version of Yummy FTP Pro available here is older than the one on Yummy Software's site, and sells for $15.
ForkLift 3 ($30, BinaryNights, binarynights.com)
ForkLift 2's big sibling soared over my initial low expectations, with features and overall quality that seriously contend for first place in this roundup. I liked the crisp, logical, Finder-like interface, which tries to keep options and icons to a minimum.
Its respectable suite of file systems include Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Dropbox (through the Finder, if you've already installed the Dropbox app), Google Drive, Rackspace CloudFiles, and – unlike most other apps here – SMB, AFP, and NFS. If you install the free, open-source Mac FUSE software, you can even mount any of these remote drives in the Finder.
A nifty little menubar icon enables remote mounting, along with a cool 'synclet' feature that lets you drag files directly into a pop-up window to upload them without opening the app – no Droplet icon or other shenanigans necessary.
ForkLift also quietly doubles as a file manager – one that looks and feels a lot friendlier to average users than Commander One does. Unique among the apps discussed here, ForkLift 3 can preview and play video files and edit text and HTML files directly within the app. It can even compare the contents of two files or images (though depending on which method you use, you may need to install Apple's Xcode developer tools to enable that).
ForkLift 3 may fall just short of my top choice here, but it's an excellent app nonetheless, and a terrific value for the money.
Transmit ($45, Panic Software, panic.com)
The big kahuna of Mac file transfer apps does nearly everything you've read about above, with a level of polish and user-friendliness that justify a price tag half again as high as any other app on this list.
I liked its clean, simple interface – though I'll confess that it took me longer than expected to figure out how everything worked. Connecting to a server caused me no trouble, but I struggled to determine just where and how I could add a connection to my Favorites, or turn it into a Droplet.
Good App For Mac Pro 2019 Release Date
But that minor headache was the only one Transmit gave me. Every other facet of this app has been honed until it gleams. Transmit boasts tons of features yet never seems overwhelming, in part thanks to Panic's excellent, searchable, plain-English text files.
The app brims with clever features such as DockSend; specify a folder in the Finder and a remote server directory, and when you drag any file from that Finder folder to Transmit's icon in the Dock, it'll automatically get whisked to the right remote destination. Those transfers happen at hellacious speeds, too. And its list of compatible cloud services can't be beat: Amazon S3, Amazon Drive, Backblaze, Box, DreamObjects, Dropbox, Google Drive, Azure, OneDrive/For Business, OpenStack Swift, and Rackspace Cloud Files.
The designers seem to have thought long and hard about how actual humans would use Transmit. For example, the app doesn't just tell you that you'll need to install FUSE to enable desktop mounting of remote disks; it links you to a crystal-clear set of instructions on Panic's site that will walk you through the whole process.
And I absolutely loved Transmit's super-intuitive synch interface, which doesn't just offer abundant options, but also summarizes your choices in plain English sentences before you commit to them – a courtesy that saved me from making at least one thunderously dumb mistake in my testing.
In short, Transmit earns its sterling reputation, and then some.
Note to App Store users: Transmit 5 is available here as a free download with a $25 annual subscription price. Visit Panic's site for a one-time $45 purchase.
The winner's circle
Among paid apps, Transmit stands head and shoulders above the rest. If you're in a cash crunch, though, ForkLift 3 offers most of Transmit's finer points at two-thirds of its cost. And if you just need a free, simple way to move files from point A to point B, ForkLift 2 beats all contenders in its class.
Got a file-transfer favorite we overlooked here? Connect with us and upload your thoughts in the comments below.
The Mac lineup
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