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Apple's 'Presto' Wireless Update Tech May Soon Reach the Mac

Apple is able to wirelessly update iPhones that are still in the box using a proprietary system called "Presto," and now 9to5Mac claims that the technology is going to be expanded to the Mac.

M4 MacBook Air 13 and 15 inch Feature Pink and Yellow
With Presto, Apple Store employees can place a sealed iPhone box on the Presto shelf. The iPhone then turns on, and the software the iPhone is running is updated to the latest available version. The process takes between 15 and 30 minutes, and it allows iPhones be updated to Apple's newest software before being sold to a customer.

There are hints of a similar Presto option for the Mac in the third beta of macOS Tahoe. As with the iPhone, Macs could be updated to the newest software ahead of when they're sold, which would prevent customers from having to do day-one updates after purchasing a product.

It's not clear how a Presto for Mac feature would work, given that the iPhone version relies on NFC and Macs don't have an NFC chip inside, nor is it known when the functionality could roll out to Apple's retail stores.

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Top Rated Comments

insomniac86 Avatar
16 months ago

OS is still signed by Apple. It’s not open to any OS
Until there's a bug to exploit.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sharky II Avatar
16 months ago
Off no longer means off. Privacy is truly dead, huh?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ijordano Avatar
16 months ago

Off no longer means off. Privacy is truly dead, huh?
Off has never meant off with a device that has a digital power button
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
insomniac86 Avatar
16 months ago

Off no longer means off. Privacy is truly dead, huh?
Yeah I was thinking how this could be exploited. Could be a really nice backdoor.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
racerhomie Avatar
16 months ago

Yeah I was thinking how this could be exploited. Could be a really nice backdoor.
OS is still signed by Apple. It’s not open to any OS
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wood1208 Avatar
16 months ago
What happens if sealed iPhone in box is out of juice while being updated? Hope, Presto shelf is also able to charge iPhone while updating software.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)