Manual in the test: macOS Ventura - The standard work on Apple's operating system by Anton Ochsenkühn

Post a comment / Mac / From Jen Kleinholz

Chapter in this post:

1 About Anton Ochsenkühn from amac-buch Verlag
2 What is a premium video book?
3 The technical data of the book
4 Design of the book
5 Quick help on the cover pages
6 well-chosen content for beginners and advanced learners
7 My conclusion on the macOS Ventura manual

The premium video book by Anton Ochsenkühn on the new operating system for Macs is also published every year - to match the new macOS from Apple. And again this year I would like to present the new edition to you with a review.

The macOS Ventura manual by Anton Ochsenkühn brings together a good 560 pages. Concentrated knowledge that is not only helpful for beginners (photos: Sir Apfelot).

Sir Apfelot recommendation: Clean up your Mac hard drive with CleanMyMac

About Anton Ochsenkühn from amac-buch Verlag

I've now switched to "du" with Anton, since we've been in contact for a number of years when Apple releases its new operating systems. But the review is still not a friendship service, but a neutral evaluation of the book.

And Anton definitely has more expertise than I could offer, because he has been a certified trainer and expert for Apple hardware and software for many years. Anton has also come into contact with Apple as a developer and has a lot of experience in the IT sector. In short: He is absolutely qualified to publish a textbook macOS is coming to be able to write. He has proven once again with the new edition that he can do it.

The author Anton Ochsenkühn knows Apple devices better than almost anyone else. With this knowledge, he is ideally suited to writing such manuals for macOS (Photo: Anton Ochsenkühn).

What is a premium video book?

If you look closely, you will find the note "Premium video book" on the book. This is a concept that amac-buch Verlag has been pursuing for several years: the book is paired with short screencasts in which the author explains certain functions of macOS Ventura directly on the screen via video.

I find this implementation very successful, as it shows beginners exactly where which buttons and options can be found. In total, you can find more than 5 hours of video material in this way, which is divided into small bites. You can access the individual videos directly with your iPad or iPhone via QR codes in the book. If you prefer to work on the Mac by entering URLs, you will also find them next to the QR code.

QR codes can be found in many places in the book, which can be used to call up video instructions on the respective topic. Perfect for macOS newbies!

The technical data of the book

Title: macOS Ventura - The standard work on Apple's operating system
Book Type: Premium Video Book
Paperback or Kindle available
Author: Anton Ochsenkühn
Publisher: amac-buch Verlag
Printing: completely four-color
Pages: 560
ISBN-10: 3954310929
ISBN-13: ‎978-3954310920
Dimensions: ‎ 21,2 x 2,8 x 22,4 cm
Weight: 1,4 kg
UNSPSC code: ‎ 55101500
Price: 10,99 EUR (Kindle) or EUR 36,50 (paperback)

macOS Ventura - The standard work on Apple's operating system, including 5 hours of tutorial videos; for...

Anton Ochsenkühn (Author)

design of the book

I already know the way the book is presented from the last book about macOS Monterey. The look of the new macOS Ventura manual is also good again. The book is printed entirely in four colors, which is still not the case with all macOS manuals. Especially with screenshots, this is much better than having a grayscale screenshot.

The front section makes it easy to see which chapters are on which pages.

The colored markings on the front section also help for a quick overview. These are different for each chapter and so you can quickly scroll to the chapter you are interested in.

In the rear area you will find an index that allows you to search for specific keywords. What I also really liked are the green boxes that are distributed throughout the book and give the reader short practical tips.

The index provides quick information and explanations for specific terms.

Quick help on the cover pages

For beginners, there is some condensed information on the cover pages about the names of the keys on the keyboard and the ports that can be found on iMacs, Mac Minis and MacBooks.

This is a great addition for Mac newbies, as you can quickly look up which buttons or ports the author is talking about. These terms are also used in instructions on the Internet (like here in the blog).

The table of contents covers all areas that are important for novice and advanced Mac users.

Well-chosen content for beginners and advanced learners

Of course, the book is primarily aimed at Mac users who are new to it, but it is even interesting for people like me who have been using the Mac for years. I've heard the names of many of the new features of macOS Ventura, but I haven't really figured out how to use them.

The video content can be called up quickly and easily via the QR codes in the book.

This book can help you get to know them. But I can only recommend the book for the content. These range from installing macOS Ventura to "Mac Fitness Training" and troubleshooting, which show what to do when the Mac doesn't want to do what you want it to do.

At this point, my reference to our collective contribution: macOS Ventura - Issues and Solutions.

The troubleshooting and fitness training capital alone is worth the money for the book. Here you can get many tips on how to fix and prevent problems on the Mac. — The troubleshooting and fitness training chapter alone is worth the money for the book. Here you can get many tips on how to fix and prevent problems on the Mac.

In the "First Impression" area, total newcomers will find a great tour of the Finder, system settings and working with the user interface. It is also nice that the book deals with the cooperation between macOS with iCloud, iPhone and iPad. This topic is often difficult to understand, especially for beginners.

My conclusion on the macOS Ventura manual

You can probably rhyme with the text above: I think the new macOS Ventura manual by Anton Ochsenkühn is once again particularly successful. The simple, clear layout with colored screenshots and brief information is easy to understand and easy to read.

The screenshots with annotations help you find your way around the Finder and the respective programs.

Although the book is already very informative on its own, the many videos go one better and help to quickly understand the procedure, especially with somewhat more complex topics or functions.

At over 30 euros, the paperback edition is not the cheapest macOS Ventura manual on the market, but it is definitely one of the best. Check it out here via this link at Amazon or go through this product box:

macOS Ventura - The standard work on Apple's operating system, including 5 hours of tutorial videos; for...

Anton Ochsenkühn (Author)

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.

-
Did you like the article and did the instructions on the blog help you? Then I would be happy if you the blog via a Steady Membership or at Patreon would support.

The page contains affiliate links / images: Amazon.de

Post a comment Cancel comment

What is JPEG XL?
The JPEG format has been one of the best-known file formats for images and photos for several decades. The format used since 1992 is usually used with the extensions .jpeg or .jpg. It is known for its various compression rates, which are reflected in decreasing image quality as the file size decreases. Over the years there have always been adjustments and different sub-formats of JPEG for different (specialist) areas. But in recent years, JPEG XL has been developed, which should finally replace the previous format. But what is JPEG XL? What advantages does it bring over the old image and photo format? And what does the name mean?
What is JPEG XL and what are the benefits of the .jxl file format for images and photos? Here is a summary of the possible uses, the development and the programs that have been equipped with the necessary codecs so far.

What does "JPEG XL" stand for?
Because of the "XL" appendix, one could now assume that the new file format is intended for particularly large images - for example for poster designs, panorama photographs, RAW photos or the like. But that would be short-sighted, especially since the name does not even refer to the resolution, pixel density or memory size of the files equipped with it. The name JPEG XL consists of the following components:
- JPEG stands for the Joint Photographic Experts Group
- X stands for the JPEG formats since 2000, among which are XT, XR and XS
- L stands for Long-Term to indicate that the current file format is to be superseded
Properties of JPEG XL as an image file format
The new image and photo file format JPEG XL with the file extension .jxl is intended to address current and future expectations that are placed on corresponding files. Because in addition to reducing the file size with a fairly well-preserved image quality, there are now many other application goals. For example, JPEG XL should be adapted to the requirements of responsive web environments, i.e. the choice of size and resolution with regard to the target device should be better and faster. Encoding and decoding should run quickly and efficiently without additional hardware, even on mobile devices. There is also downward compatibility, so that servers, for example, only have to store a JPEG XL file in order to be able to offer both this and the reduced JPEG file. Existing JPEG files can be converted and converted back without loss, which should simplify the switch to the new format. But that's not all. In addition to using it on the web and on servers, there are other tasks for image files that JPEG XL should be able to do. For professional photography, for example, there is an extended color spectrum, HDR support, greater bit depth and 360° images. It also supports animations (like animated GIF files), preserves alpha channels, includes layers and thumbnails, and offers lossless and progressive encoding.
Brief outline of the development of the file format
The new JPEG XL file format was first discussed in 2018 by the Joint Photographic Experts Group. At that time there weren't any of the specifications or standards that are fixed today; these were initially demanded by the members of the group. This is how the development of the desired JPEG successor began. Then, from seven proposals, two were selected and merged (FUIF by Cloudinary and PIK by Google). The standardization of .jxl started in 2021 and continued in 2022. Version 2022 was released in September 0.7; version 0.8 followed in January 2023.
Current use and integration of JPEG XL
So there is currently no "full" version of the file format or the software and codecs behind it. Nevertheless, there are already some apps that can handle it. I used e.g. B. on Mac and PC the Affinity programs from Serif. And these can be in the version 2 (e.g. Affinity Photo 2) Output images and graphics as JPEG XL. Chalk supports the format from version 5.1. And even lesser known apps have already implemented the format - IrfanView, ImageMagick, MConverter, gThumb, Pale Moon and so on. Other programs and systems do not require an update of the official software version, but the integration of a (third-party) plugin. Under macOS this affects e.g. B. Quick Look. On Windows, for example, the photo display and the explorer can be expanded. For the graphics app GIMP there is also a plugin that is supposed to support JPEG XL from version GIMP 2.1. My disclaimer at this point: I haven't tried any of it, only looked for the export option in Affinity Photo 2.
In Affinity Photo 2 by Serif, the file format JPEG XL can be selected for the export of images. Screenshot of Affinity Photo 2.0.4 on macOS.
For use on the web, of course, you would also need Web browser support the new format. Up to a point they already have. Chromium applications like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge had implemented JPEG-XL support, but it was announced in October 2022 that the feature would be removed. And even with Mozilla's Firefox, there was no long-term support in official versions, but only in the nightly version, a preliminary version for testing new features.
More information and reading
I hope this short summary of the topic has helped you to get an idea (haha) of the new file format. If, in addition to the application examples such as 360° photos, professional photography, animated images and Co., you are also interested in the technical background and further development, then take a look at these pages, which I used as sources for this article:
- Official page on the subject at the Joint Photographic Experts Group: View here
- Goals and specifications of the new format as a PDF document: View here
- Wikipedia article with more information on format and history: View here
iPhone rumor: "Ultra" as a model above the "Pro Max"
Apple has been trying out individual appendages for product names for years, which are intended to assign the corresponding devices - and now also chips - to a category and a target group. Currently, these name extensions include: More, Pro, Max and Incredibly . With regard to the "Apple Silicon" chips, last year was still over Extreme speculated; the corresponding chip should not come onto the market for the time being. He was brought into the conversation by Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg journalist and Apple analyst. In his current newsletter, he says that Apple is planning a Incredibly variant plane, similar to the Apple Watch.
Will Apple continue to diversify its iPhone lineup in the coming year? After the iPhone 16 Pro Max in 2024, will the iPhone 16 Ultra be the most expensive iPhone of the future? Current rumors speak for it.

iPhones in 2024: Standard version, Pro version, Ultra version?
According to Mark Gurman, Apple plans to make a greater distinction between the "Pro" and "Pro Max" models of the iPhone. In addition to the standard and the Pro model, there should be a third division: the Ultra model. The name is already known to potential customers. You know him from M1Ultra and from the apple watch ultra. The question now is whether the "Pro Max" model should go or whether it will remain and the "Ultra" model will simply form a more powerful and more expensive tier. This is said to have been discussed internally at Apple as well. The newsletter mentioned above shows that these discussions are not about the iPhone 15 for 2023, but about the iPhone 16 for 2024. Accordingly, the offer could look like this:
- iPhone 16
- 16 iPhone Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16Ultra
What should make the Ultra model so special?
The iPhone Ultra obviously has to come up with specs, special hardware and/or other things that you can't find on the other models. The core of the purchase incentive could be a faster chip. Either Apple creates further versions of the A chip or, after the iPad, also uses an M chip for the iPhone. Furthermore, the charging connection could be omitted (charging then only via Qi and MagSafe) and the display could be even larger, which makes the iPhone Ultra a phablet – but also a competitor to the iPad mini could form. At least the iPhone Ultra would compete with the in-house tablets if Apple oriented itself to the Ultra smartphones from Samsung. These offer a larger battery for longer runtime, a larger screen, stylus support, and more storage. But maybe Apple is also concentrating on completely different things: even more or even better cameras, Face ID technology under the display, Fixed buttons with haptic feedback on the sides of the device and such things. To be honest, I can't imagine the stylus support - even if Steve Jobs' visions are no longer fully followed.
What about a foldable iPhone?
The iPhone as a folding phone, that too has been a persistent rumor for several years. Apple has itself already in 2016 several patents secured in this regard. It is difficult to say whether and with what publication goal the “iPhone Fold” is being worked on. And it's even harder to say whether the Ultra model that may appear next year will be a folding iPhone. Whatever the case, the rumor mill has a lot of new ingredients and we're sure to have a lot to offer in the months to come.
Sir Apfelot newsreel week 5, 2023
From today you can buy a new HomePod in stores. But that's not the only news to report this Friday. Because during the course of the week, a few more headlines caught my attention. And so there is a Sir Apfelot newsreel again today. This time it's about Apple and tech news from calendar week 5 of 2023. Among other things, these reports are included: almost collision of space debris, Netflix with details against account sharing, Twitter makes interfaces chargeable, dogs can swallow AirTags , foldable Apple devices from 2024 or 2025, and more.
Also included in the Sir Apfelot newsreel for calendar week 5 of 2023: space debris almost causes a catastrophe in orbit, Netflix vs. account sharing, dogs can swallow AirTags, Twitter API will be chargeable, rumors about new Apple devices in 2024 and 2025, and more.

Space junk just barely missed the "worst case" scenario
How is it online this week has pointed out, according to the US company Leo Labs, two pieces of space debris just flew past each other at an altitude of 984 km. The relative speed of the Soviet rocket stage and the Russian satellite, which is no longer used, was 11 km/s and 39.600 km/h, respectively. A collision in this region of Earth orbit would have "catastrophic Folgen’, as the source emphasizes several times. Because not only does the area escape direct influence, there are also around 160 rocket stages and the payloads of the rockets launched with them. So flying debris would hit other objects, trigger a chain reaction and possibly "practically empty the entire level". Recommended reading: Amazon Project Kuiper – development, numbers and criticism
Federal Network Agency has withdrawn more than 2022 million products in 15
More than 15 million products are according to one press release removed from the market by the Federal Network Agency last year. There were various reasons for this: they did not meet the legal requirements, they could cause radio interference or they had significant formal defects. In addition to this individual consideration, the comparison with the previous figures is also impressive. Because in 2021, almost 23 million products were taken off the market. In the linked source there are further details on market surveillance in online and retail trade as well as information on cooperation with customs and tips for consumers.
Over 200 million paying customers on Spotify
Nachdem last week While the news of mass layoffs was still making the rounds at Spotify, a new (financial) milestone made headlines about the music streaming service this week. As several media reports, more than 200 million users are said to have subscribed. "At the end of the past quarter, the Swedish company said it had 205 million paying users", it is summed up in a current one Entry from hot online. The increase in subscriptions says, among other things, that around 20 million were added in three months. For the total number, i.e. everyone with and without a subscription, the milestone of 500 million is forecast for the current quarter.
Netflix is working on the implementation of the blocking for account sharing
The so-called account sharing, i.e. the sharing of paid user accounts, is a thorn in the side of Netflix. Although family use in the same household should remain possible, access outside of the paying household should be a thing of the past as quickly as possible. This has been planned for a long time and also openly communicated by the streaming provider. Seems a bit too open lately. Because corresponding regulations, in which the implementation of WLAN controls were addressed, quickly disappeared from the Netflix website. Here's what iFun is showing this week: Here with information about the new procedure, and here to remove the remarks.
Twitter APIs are subject to a fee: bots and partial accounts are closed
Various Twitter accounts created by programming foxes and geeks that have used the previously free Twitter APIs may have to stop providing information, entertainment, or other useful services in the future. At least if they don't want to pay anything to use the interface. Because if you want to continue using it in the future, you should take out a monthly subscription – starting February 9, 2023 ( ). On some profiles, which are mainly powered by the API connection to Twitter, it is already written that there will be no more new posts soon - such as @iOSReleases.
Be careful when using AirTags on dog collars: they can be swallowed!
Putting an AirTag on your dog's collar or harness so they can be tracked in an emergency isn't a bad idea. At least if you have to reckon with the fact that he runs away. However, trackers from Apple (as well as from all other manufacturers) should not dangle from the collar or be easy to remove. Because this can lead to the AirTags being swallowed by dogs. Several cases have already been documented. If vomiting of the AirTag cannot be induced, then surgery may be necessary. The battery in the tracker or leaking chemicals can also injure the dog. More on this at heise online (German) and MacRumors (English).
Foldable iPad and MacBook models in the years to come
Apple is said to want to bring a breath of fresh air to its own range and to the market for foldable mobile and tablet computers in 2024 and 2025. As several media reported this week, a foldable iPad should appear in the coming year. And in the following year, a foldable laptop with a 20,5-inch display will be launched. The respective information comes from the analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Ross Young. However, Young Kuo seems to disagree when it comes to the tablet. As is also said by Mark Gurman, there is no sign of a foldable iPad in 2024. Apparently, however, for the mobile computer with a complete display instead of a display, keyboard and trackpad. Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4
More Apple rumours: Bigger Apple Watch Ultra and HomePod mini 2
Several rumors were also passed around this week about other devices from the iPhone manufacturer. A future generation of the Apple Watch Ultra should have a 10% larger display than the first version of the professional smartwatch. The device with a 2,1-inch display should be presented in 2024. It is not yet clear whether this will be the second or third generation of the watch. It is not yet known whether an Ultra model will appear this year ( ). And the HomePod mini will also be relaunched in 2024, they say. The coming year seems to be accompanied by many new or renewed products for Apple. Production of the new version of the small smart home speaker is scheduled to start in the second half of the year. This suggests that it will be presented again at an October event. At least when there are major changes - such as new sensors or better audio drivers. Otherwise, the presentation could be boiled down to a press release again. The info is again from Ming-Chi Kuo, and again there is disagreement from Mark Gurman. So there seems to be conflicting information in the analyst scene right now ( ).
Apple shows 30-minute film shot with the iPhone 14 Pro
"Shot on iPhone 14 Pro" is the title of the half-hour short film "Fursat" uploaded by Apple to YouTube. Vishal Bhardwaj's film contains a wide variety of scenes and moods - sometimes brightly lit, sometimes rather dark, sometimes in a calm composition, sometimes with fast movements or objects in motion. All of this should of course show how well the iPhone can now be used to create more or less cinematic films. Which brackets were used for certain camera angles, which audio equipment was used and what the post-production looked like is not shown in detail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1VEks-QQ4Y
POCO X5 5G with 120Hz AMOLED Display (Sponsor)
The new POCO X5 5G is a mid-range smartphone that can stand out in the rather cheap price segment with an AMOLED display made by Samsung with up to 120 Hz. With a price of less than 300 US dollars, it sets a new standard for inexpensive smartphones. In addition to the display, which offers high contrast and a respectable color depth, the Snapdragon 695 as the central processing unit and the good battery life ensure that this device ideal for different media can be used. In addition to films, series and videos from online libraries, this also includes photos and game apps.
What is an AMOLED display?
The first two letters are the abbreviation for "Active Matrix". The associated technology is used in almost all OLED displays with a diagonal of more than 3 inches (7,62 cm). Below this size, "passive matrix" screens are also possible. The POCO X5 5G uses an OLED display, which in turn stands for "Organic Light-Emitting Diode". These emit light themselves and can be controlled individually. In contrast to LCD displays illuminated from the front or from the back, in which individual color dots represent an image together, but the entire screen always has to be illuminated, here only the imaging pixels are illuminated in the amount required to display the image will. Black is really deep black. The contrast is therefore 100.000:1.
The AMOLED display runs at a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which makes movement and scrolling on the display much smoother.

Extremely fast 120 Hz refresh rate
With such a display, not only are bright colors and deep contrasts possible, but also high refresh rates. The POCO X5 5G offers up to 120 Hz in this range, which not only promises a fast reaction to display inputs, but also smooth animations of the system and apps - and last but not least a very good gaming experience. Shooters, racing games and other fast game genres find a home on the new POCO X5 5G. Speaking of response time: Compared to LCD displays, an OLED display of this type is particularly worthwhile in changing temperature conditions. When it gets cold, the coloring elements in an LCD display cannot react as quickly. It comes to jerky animations and the so-called smearing effect. Stripes of the previous image content can still be seen even if this has already given way to another. This is very annoying, especially when changing images quickly.
With a resolution of 108 MP, the POCO X5 Pro 5G sets new standards in terms of the richness of detail in the images. But of course also with regard to the memory requirements of the photos.

Longer battery life and option for RAM expansion
In contrast to other Android smartphones in the same price range, the POCO X5 5G promises other exciting advantages. The use of the OLED display, for example, increases the battery life. Because the display does not have to be completely illuminated when using the device, but only the areas that have to be visible are illuminated, electricity is saved. In order to save even more battery, the refresh rate can also be reduced (60 Hz is still very smooth). Another selling point is the option of expanding the main memory (RAM) by 5 GB in just a few seconds. There is a "Memory Expansion" option in the device's settings for this. In order to get more RAM, space in the SSD memory is reserved for computing processes. The individual models with 6 GB or 8 GB RAM can be increased to 11 GB or 13 GB RAM. Internal memory can be selected in sizes of 128 GB and 256 GB. So enough space to store a lot of media and apps even when using the RAM expansion.
Conclusion on the new POCO X5 5G
If you are looking for a comparatively cheap but technically very well-equipped Android smartphone, you will find it in the POCO X5 5G. The state-of-the-art display made by Samsung, the battery-saving display of image content, the computing power for gaming and the simple RAM expansion are just the beginning. These technical possibilities form the basis for your own individual use. And at a good price. So this device sets new standards for mid-range smart devices.
In stores today: Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Last month Apple introduced the second generation of the Apple HomePod. Very similar in terms of external design, it comes with some technical changes compared to the 2018 model. Details on the features of the new hi-fi speaker from Apple can be found here: Apple HomePod 2023 – Smart Speaker with Apple Silicon. By the way, you can take a look and buy the device for €349 starting today. In addition, the pre-ordered units should be delivered during the day. What else you should know about the topic, I have summarized it for you below.
The new 2nd generation Apple HomePod, launched in January 2023, is now available to view and buy in stores. Details about the device and links to more information can be found here.

This is the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
The new HomePod has a high-excursion woofer specially developed for the device. This bass-giving component is supported by a ring of five tweeters. Room sensors and internal temperature sensors ensure that algorithms can calculate the best settings for convincing sound. This makes 3D audio possible, even with just one speaker. Two of them can be linked to form a stereo pair, for use with the Apple TV, for example. Multiroom audio is also possible. The Apple HomePod (2nd gen), which can also be used as a smart home hub, also has sensors for room temperature and humidity. Last but not least, Siri, an intercom feature and other functions can be used.
Notes on stereo pairing, sensors, and sound detection
Since the presentation of the new second-generation Apple HomePod, more and more details have been gleaned from Apple's websites and documents. So e.g. B. It is important to know that the current device from 2023 cannot be paired with the model from 2018 to form a stereo pair. In addition, there are some restrictions with regard to the functionality of the installed sensors. And the noise detection should initially be able to be used primarily to recognize the alarm of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. This should then trigger a notification on the iPhone. Here are the details in individual blog posts:

What do the suction force values Pa, kPa or AW mean for ... I often write test reports on vacuum robots, cordless vacuum cleaners or normal mains-operated cylinder vacuum cleaners. In this context, I usually also study the technical data ...
macOS 13 Ventura - Issues and Solutions Apple has rolled out the new macOS Ventura operating system for compatible Mac models. But with every upgrade of this kind, not only new functions and better...
[Update] Suspected scam: Is… I am currently being shown an advertisement on YouTube, especially in the smartphone app, which, in addition to a photo of goods on pallets, has this…
Gamer names - the best in this big list Gamer names are very important to create a memorable and unique identity. They should be memorable and related to the game you are playing...
Hay Day names - my 25 nicknames and practical tips One of the most popular mobile games, Hay Day allows players to manage and maintain their own farm. An important part of the game...