Big Sur - Working / Not Working Apps

[SketchyClown]

For anyone who uses PIA (Private Internet Access) VPN, the issue with split-tunnel has been solved in the latest v2.6.2beta1. It no longer requires installing a kernel extension to work. Have been using it for a few days now on 11.1 and the feature functions as expected.

 

[nebojsak]

Could have been the version that I had, but it took 2x control-click for XLD to offer the open button for me. First one just offered to chuck it in the trash as if I had just tried to open normally. Updated to latest version and XLD is also working fine here.

Exactly what happened to me 🤔 for some reason it took one more attempt to work.

 

[Martyimac]

For anyone who uses PIA (Private Internet Access) VPN, the issue with split-tunnel has been solved in the latest v2.6.2beta1. It no longer requires installing a kernel extension to work. Have been using it for a few days now on 11.1 and the feature functions as expected.

Great to hear. Have been using an alpha version of PIA, v2.5.2 alpha.0.bigsurst.0 (build 05742) Working okay but haven't received anything from them about the beta yet.

 

[SketchyClown]

Great to hear. Have been using an alpha version of PIA, v2.5.2 alpha.0.bigsurst.0 (build 05742) Working okay but haven't received anything from them about the beta yet.

I had v2.6.1 installed, clicked Receive Beta Updates under Settings > Help and it gave me v2.6.2beta 1 (build 06014). The 2.5.x version(s) seemed to have a problem with the built in updater not working. I had to manually download 2.6.0 from the website and the updater worked as expected going to 2.6.1 and then to the 2.6.2beta1. Split tunnel was still not functional before this beta on Big Sur.

 

[gilby101]

For anyone who uses PIA (Private Internet Access) VPN, the issue with split-tunnel has been solved in the latest v2.6.2beta1. It no longer requires installing a kernel extension to work. Have been using it for a few days now on 11.1 and the feature functions as expected.

Glad to hear they have finally fixed the split tunnel. Unfortunately for me there is something in the PIA client (fireguard or openvpn) which locks up all apps with open network connections - then needs the power button to restart. I am suspicious that this is a conflict/interaction with VMware networking (but have no evidence for this). I was running PIA 2.6.1, and have changed to Viscosity and openvpn connection to PIA servers. Problem disappears completely - kept my Mac running for over 2 weeks now. I also tried Torguard which worked without issue, but returned to PIA with Viscosity. All of a sudden BS is consistently well behaved.

 

[trues]

Please click EDIT below to add your working or NOT working app. Please try to add it alphabetically. Feel free to also comment in a reply any additional details you would like to share.

Working

• 1Blocker
• 1Password
• 3D Slicer
• 4D
• 4K Video Downloader
• A Better Finder Attributes 6
• A Better Finder Rename 11
• Adguard for Mac
• Adium
• Adobe Creative apps (Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, Indesign, etc)
• Affinity Designer
• Affinity Photo (opening images from the image takes a few tries)
• Affinity Publisher
• Aja System Test Lite
• Alfred
• Alt-Tab
• Amphetamine
• Anki
• Antidote 10
• AppCleaner
• Arduino IDE
• AS Timer
• Atom
• Atom with PlatformIO
• Audio Hijack — (initial compatibility, not yet recommended for production-critical use)
• AutoMounter
• AutoPani Giga
• balenaEtcher
• Bandwidth+
• Bank-Notes
• Banktivity 7
• Bartender 4
• Battery Health
• BackupLoupe 3.2
• BBEdit
• BetterSnapTool
• BetterTouchTool
• Bitwarden
• Blackmagic Disk Speed Test - works on DB5
• Black Out
• Blender 2.83.5
• Boom 2 (working better here after the app's latest update, but still silent occasionally)
• Brackets 1.14
• BTT
• Bumpr
• Busy Cal 3.10.2
• Caffeine 1.1.3
• Calibre
• Camtasia 2019
• Canary Mail
• Canon IJ Scan Utility Lite
• Capto 1.2.22
• Capture One 20 (You may need to delete all caches to get the Open With and Edit With Options to work)
• Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) - 5.1.25-b3 - CCC 5.1.23 can now make bootable backups of a Big Sur startup disk on Intel-based Macs. Support for System volume cloning on Apple Silicon Macs is disabled for now because Apple's APFS replication utility does not currently work on that platform. When Apple fixes that, we'll post an update to CCC that restores support for making bootable backups on Apple Silicon Macs.
• Chrome
• Chronosync
• Cisco Anyconnect 4.8.03036
  • I had to disable SIP and re-install the app. I had to leave SIP disabled even after installation.
• Cisco Webex Meetings 40.4.12.8
• Cisdem Video Converter 5.4.0
• Citrix Workspaces
• CleanMyMac
• CleanShot X
• CloudMounter
• coconutBattery 3.9.3
• Commander One 2.4.2.3218
• Complete Anatomy 2021 6.0
• CrossOver 19.0.2 ( No longer working in Beta 3)
• CrossOver 20 Beta 1
• Currencier
• Custom Menu
• Cyberduck (FTP client) (version as of 12 august, works)
• DaisyDisk (4.11)
• Dash
• Dato (menubar calendar/clock utility)
• DB Browser for SQLite
• DBeaver
• Deepl
• Devonthink
• Dexcom Clarity Uploader 1.10.0
• Diagrams
• Diablo 3 (blizzard game season 22 patch)
• Discord 0.0.259
• DiskMark
• dJay Pro
• DjVu Reader Pro 2.4.1
• Docker (stable channel)
• Dolphin Emulator
• Downie 4
• Drobo Dashboard
• Dropbox latest beta https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-desktop-client-builds/Beta-Build-101-3-422/td-p/432874
• Elgato Video Capture 2.0.3
• Enpass
• EPub Converter 20.6.1 (AniceSoft)
• eqMac
• EtreCheck
• EventScripts
• Evernote
• Expressions (Regex App)
• ExpressVPN
• Facebook Messenger
• Fantastical
• Farrago
• Feedly
• ff-Works 2.1.2
• Filemaker (Pro 18 Advanced)
• FIleZilla (FTP client)
• Final Cut Pro X 10.4.8
• FireFox 84.0.1
• Flotato
• Flux
• FontBase
• Forklift
• FreeYourMusic
• FruitJuice (Battery management)
• Fusion 360 (according to this forum post on beta 4)
• Gamepad-Tool
• Garmin Express 6.16.0.0 (just to add version no.)
• Garmin Virb Edit
• Geekbench 5
• Gemini 2.6.4
• Get Backup Pro 3.5.5
• Ghostery Lite
• Google Drive File Stream (working as of Dev Beta 4 | Drive Version: 41.0.2.0)
• GoPro Quik (working as of Dev Beta 3)
• Git-Tower
• GitFinder
• GitKraken
• Google Backup and Sync (from version 3.51.3307.8076)
• Google Earth Pro 7.3.3
• Grammarly
• GrandPerspective
• Guarda Wallet
• Handbrake
• HyperDock
• Illustrator CC 2020
• Image2Icon
• iMazing
• Indigo 7.4
• Insomnia
• IP scanner 3.99
• iTunes (sometimes slow to register clicks)
• Irvue
• iStat Menus 6.51
• iVolume 3.9.0
• JPEG Mini Pro
• Jump Desktop 8.5.15
• Kakaotalk (works fine for me)
• Keka
• Kindle
• Kodi 18.7
• LastPass
• LaunchControl
• Libre Office 7.0.0.3
• Little Snitch 5 Technology Preview (but Apple apps bypass it)
• Logic and plugins (734 validated) (be careful! 9 of my essential plugins don't show, & 1 developer says they need to rework the AUs, which they'll get to with the official OS release...)
• Logitech (G-Hub) v 2020.12.6465 verified with a G502 Mouse ( MacOS 11.1)
• Loopback — (initial compatibility, not yet recommended for production-critical use)
• LuLu (v. 2.0.0 beta)
• Macports (has a version for Big Sur, needs migration, then all Gnu programs are compiled anew)
• MacTeX
• MacUpdater
• Magnet
• Magoshare Data Recovery (but title bar not readable)
• Mailbutler (New beta just released download from their site)
• Mamp
• Mathematica
• Mathworks matlab
• Memory Clean
• Mendeley
• MenuBar Stats
• Merlin Project
• Meshlab
• Meteorologist
• Microsoft Edge Beta
• Microsoft Remote Desktop
• Microsoft Remote Desktop Beta
• Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft To Do
• Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote) - Insider Fast & App Store Versions
• Mindjet MindManager 13.1.115
• Mindnode
• Moom 3.2.17
• Mos
• MuteKey
• MySQL Workbench
• NeoFinder 7.5.2
• Neptunes
• NetBeans 12.0
• News Explorer
• Nextcloud
• Nextcloud client
• Next meeting
• Nikon ViewNX-i
• Nikon Capture NX-D (fixed in beta 6)
• NomAD (Active Directory/Kerberos client)
• Notability
• Notion
• Nova (b15)
• Numbers
• Numi
• OmniDisk Sweeper
• Omnifocus (version 3 not working if installed fresh)
• OmniGraffle Pro 7.1.6
• OmniOutliner Pro 5.6.1
• OmniPlan Pro 3.14.2
• OneDrive
• OpenEmu
• OpenSCAD
• OpenVPN Connect 3
• OTP Auth
• Pacifist 3.6.2
• PHPStorm
• Palo Alto Global Protect VPN client 5.1.4 and up
• Pages
• Papers.app
• Paprika Recipe Manager 3
• Parallels 16 (Working for some users)
  • Kernel Panic Fix - Issue is related to Parallels hypervisor kext. You can switch to the Apple hypervisor under "Hardware - > CPU & Memory -> Advanced Settings" of your VM's settings, works for now until Parallels can fix it with an update.
  • New update: 16.0.1 seems to resolve the HyperVisor issue.
• Parallels 16.1.0 with Apple Hypervisor
• Parcel
• Paste (Clipboard manager)
• Pastebot
• PathFinder 10
• Pattern (Regex App)
• Photoshop CC 2019 & 2020
• Pixelmator Pro
• Plex (not to be confused with Plex Media Player)
• Plex Media Server 1.19.4
• PopClip
• Popcorn Time
• Postman
• Privado VPN 1.2 (both for IKEv2 and Open VPN protocols)
• Private Internet Access VPN 2.6.0+ (no split tunneling)(v2.6.2b1 no longer uses a kernel extension for Split Tunnel - functioning properly under 11.1).
• ProFinder
• ProWritingAid
• PrusaSlicer
• PureVPN
• Pulse Secure VPN Desktop Client 9.1.7
• PyCharm
• qBittorrent
• Qbserve
• Quickbooks Online Mac App
• Quicken
• Quitter
• Quiver
• Rainbow
• Rectangle
• Rekordbox (reported as working in beta 5)
• Relax Melodies
• Resolutionator
• RetroArch
• Royal TSX beta available => https://support.royalapps.com/support/solutions/articles/17000027755
• RunAway
• ScreenFLow
• Scrivener
• Segger Embedded Studio
• Sensei
• SheepSaver
• Shotcut
• Signal 1.34.2
• Simon
• Sip 1.2
• Silverfast (NOT TESTED, but according to a conversation with the developer)
• Slack
• SlidePad
• Sketch
• Skype for Business
• SnagIt 2020 (some crashing until you download update)
• SnippetsLab
• Soda Player
• SomaFM Radio Player
• SoundSource 5
• Spark Email
• Sparkle 2.8.9
• Spectacle
• Speedtest
• Spotify
• Starry Night Pro Plus 8
• Steam and Steam Games (Updated Beta Client)
• Step Two
• Stickies
• Subler
• Studio 3T
• SurfShark (Version 2.7.1 OK again with Beta 6)
• Synology Drive
• Teamviewer
• Telegram
• Temperature Guage
• Textmate
• TextExpander
• Thunderbird Mail
• Tiles
• Timestamp Photo and Video
• TimeBandit X
• Tinkertool
• Total Finder (download the latest update and re-disable system integrity)
• Tor Browser
• Transmission
• Transmit
• Tweetbot
• Twitter
• TypeFace App
• UctoX 2 (v2.8.2 (built 1393)
• Ultimaker Cura
• Ulysses
• Uncluter
• Uplet
• VeraCrypt with "FUSE for macOS" 3.11.2
• Viscosity OpenVPN Client (v1.8.2)
• Visual Studio Code
• VLC
• VMware Fusion 12.1
• VueScan
• WeatherPro
• Website Watchman
• WhatsApp
• Whatsapp Desktop
• WiFi Signal (Correct colour in Menubar with 4.3)
• Wipr (Safari ad blocker)
• Wireguard
• XMind Zen 9.1.3
• Xquartz
• Zenmap 7.90
• Zoom (5.2.1)

Not Working

• 3Dconnexion/3DxWare 10.6.5 (boot failure after restart, had to uninstall in Safe Mode)
• 4th Dimension (4D) : will not start (version 18 r4 tested). confirmed on 4d.com
• Abstract (crashes)
• AdGuard is stuck on Off without being able to turn it on - "AdGuard for safari" extension is working. Adguard for Mac 2.5.1 working.
• Adobe Bridge 2020. Crashes when you attempt to open image from the app. Bridge 2021 working.
• Adobe Libraries
• Ableton Live (early test crash on open, but could be plugins cause)
• AltDeploy (Mail plugin is incompatible with macOS 11 Mail app version)
• Airmail (Freezes after turning on) EDIT: It looks, that it's working.
• Amazon Music App for Mac
• Arduino ESP32 compiler
• Background Music (crashes as soon one wants to play music)
• BackupLoupe 3 (doesn't see APFS TM - fixed in 3.1 preview)
• Bartender 3 (Menu bar icons will appear to be hidden, but attempting to expand the menu will trigger Siri) - Bartender 4 preview/beta now available for Big Sur
• Bit Defender Antivirus for Mac (System Extensions will not load)
• Blackmagic Disk Speed Test - works on DB5
• Bluebeam Revu PDF Markup Tool
• BlueStack ( Or most if not all other Android Emulator )
• BongioviDPS (no audio)
• Box Drive and Box Sync
• BusyCal 3.10.2 (latest release) - "The application can't be opened -1" Error Message
• Canvas Draw 2.03 (freezes)
• Chronosync 4.9.10 (can't create or open synchronizer documents). 4.9.11 works with beta 8+ [4.9.12 is now out; waiting to test it]
• CrossOver 19.0.2
• CylancePROTECT 2.1.1570
• DaisyDisk (Shows as READ-ONLY) - Confirmed by DaisyDisk staff in email that a future update will correct issue but app does not work correctly as of now. Its Read Only until later update...
• Daz Studio Pro 4.14 (does not launch, no fix until estimate of mid-2021)
• Day-O
• Default Folder X (loads in manu bar but open/save doesn't work)
• Deliveries 3.2.3 (cannot add new packages)
• Deluge 2.0.3
• DigiKam 7.1.0 and 7.2.0 beta (just hangs, nothing happens)
• Docker (edge channel)
• Drobo Dashboard
• EazyDraw (does not launch)
• eqMac (installs and works but then doesn’t run on reboot)
• Epson Printer Utility 4 (window appears with "Epson Printer Utility 4 cannot be launched")
• Everett Kaser Software (all games -- window doesn't draw)
• EyeTV
• Flow Story by EditShare (Client unable to connect to server due to libcurl error.)
• fre:ac (Open but no UI elements)
• Garmin BaseCamp (hangs on beta 3) Under View change to "View 3D map only" otherwise painfully slow
• Garmin Express (causing kernel panics on beta 3)
• GPG Mail 4.1 (part of GPG Suite 2020.1)
• GPG Suite 2020.1 ("This version of GPG Suite can only be installed on macOS 10.12 or newer" error) GPG Suite 2020.2 now available with Big Sur and Apple Silicon support.
• GIMP-2.10 (It said developer requisition access , approve on Apple Watch.)
• GNUcash 4 (crash on normal launch, "permission denied" if attempted from Terminal.)
• HP Envy 5000 printer
• HPPrinterDriver 5.1 (to install drivers for older HP printers)
• iBackup
• InsomniaX (Version 2.1.8) - unable to toggle "Diable Lid Sleep" option.
• iSkysoft Video Converter Ultimate (crashes on app start)
• Java 6 Runtime legacy version - and any apps that need it to work
• KakaoTalk (crash after login)
• Kyocera printer driver p6230cdn
• LetterOpener (Mail.app plugin)
• Lite Icon 4.1
• Little Snitch 4 (kernal programming deprecated by Apple. This is being rebuilt and will release in the Fall.)
• Loopback
• Luminar 4 (crashed after exporting, stopped working afterwards)
• MacUpdate
• MailSuite
• MyCloud from Swisscom
• Netspot
• Network radar 2.9.2
• Nik (DxO) Multimedia Pluigins (Apps work but Installer fails, PS 2021 selective tool doesn't work, brush tool doesn't work) Update - The selective tool is broken in Big Sur
• OBS Studio
• Onyx
• Papyrus Author
• Parallels (stopped working again with Beta 4)Updated to Parallels 16 (still not working for everyone on Big Sur)
  • Issue is related to Parallels hypervisor kext. You can switch to the Apple hypervisor under "Hardware - > CPU & Memory -> Advanced Settings" of your VM's settings, works for now until Parallels can fix it with an update.
• DFPen (Launches but won't display PDF content)
• Plex Media Player 3.0.0.32-d310c89b6
• QuarkXpress 2020 (crashes when opening a file, or creating a new file).
• RightFont
• Samsung Portable SSD
• Sigma Photo Pro (according to: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/news/2020/11/16/3062/)
• Simple Comic
• Splashstop Streamer (SR
• Sony Content Transfer for Mac version 1.5.0.04260 - Same for Beta 5. Well, it's Sony. We'll be lucky of they release.
• StreamerDaemon keeps crashing -- see ReportCrash in Console)
• SoundSource 4 (developer website says they are working on update) Update Available SoundSource 5
• Sophos Home 9.9.6
• Steam and Steam Games
• Streamlabs OBS
• Tactical Sailing
• TechTool Pro 13.1
• TinkerTool
• Tor Browser
• Total Finder
• TripMode
• Ultimaker Cura
• Unison (usenet newsreader)
• Vanilla (now Big Sur compatible, might not self-update, so download from the developer)
• Visual Studio (launches but crashes when trying to open a solution)
• VMware Fusion 12.0
  • Will not work on unsupported CPUs like Xeon Westmere, which generally can be made to support Big Sur
    • Missing Intel EPT MMU support and XSAVE
  • Would need a legacy CPU option in VMX to force Catalina style KEXT and hypervisor
  • Works on supported hardware
• VNC Viewer (Launches but black screen when connecting to a server)
• Vuze
• Waterfox
• Windscribe VPN (can't load kext)
• Winzip
• Wondershare UniConverter 11.6.7.5
• WD My Cloud (software loads but won't mount disk)
• Xbox360 Controller driver (won't install)
• Xtrafinder

Sort of Working

• Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (strange app rendering, imposible to sign documents with certificates)
• Amadeus (sometimes crashes)
• Beyond compare v. 4.3.7 build 25118 (sometimes glitches, but it works and it's pretty usable)
• Dozer (does not keep the menu bar items hidden properly)
• Postbox (works but there are some font display issues and text on dropdown menus doesn’t show properly)
• Indesign CC 2019 & 2020 (GPU preview is very glitchy, CPU preview is only sort of glitchy)
• iVolume 3.8.0. Graphical glitches, lock ups and poor performance. (Update to 3.9.0 for compatibility)
• Parallels
  • (1,2,t,y keys NOT Working) - use Keyboard macro in preferences
  • Beta 3 - not loading due to version check - use shell script or terminal:
    SYSTEM_VERSION_COMPAT=1
    open /Applications/Parallels\ Desktop.app
  • Not working on Beta 4 - looking for driver
  • Updated to Parallels 16
  • Beta 5 - Parallels causes a kernal panic and shuts down system when launched
    • Issue is related to Parallels hypervisor kext. You can switch to the Apple hypervisor under "Hardware - > CPU & Memory -> Advanced Settings" of your VM's settings, works for now until Parallels can fix it with an update.
• Paulstretch-v2.2-3-macOS-catalina-unsigned
  Processes files, but transport buttons and auditioning of settings does not work.
• Pixelmator (Original)
  • Launches, but black canvas on old and new projects

Mostly Working

• BetterZip 5.0.3 (some crashes on repacking a jar file)
• Contexts (window entries have slight colour glitches when Cmd-Tab is used, but works)
• Find Any File (a little quirky, ie tries to search 'hardware' first (change that to the drive you want to search)
• Forecast Bar (issues with the dark menu bar icons and Big Sur's dark menu bar in light mode)
• iStat Menus - Functions OK when in dark mode. In light mode the Big Sur menu bar appears to stay dark which causes the iStats font to be unreadable (dark text on dark background)
• Pathfinder (some pop-up windows wrong size)
• Private Internet Access (issues with the dark menu bar icons and Big Sur's dark menu bar in light mode)
• Resilio Sync (issues with the dark menu bar icons and Big Sur's dark menu bar in light mode)
• Trickster (some misaligned graphic)
• Yoink (except for clipboard history and notification widget)

iCloud Safari tabs not in sync - Apple notified in Nov. of 2020 (it's Jan. 4th 2020 now)

• Started when I updated to iOS 14, iPadOS 14, & macOS Big Sur.
• Affected devices: iPhone XS, iPad Pro, & non-Apple Silicon/mid 2020 MacBook Pro.
• For the past few months, other Apple-product users have been reporting the same issue on here, on reddit subreddits, & on Apple “Discussion/Forums”.
• Another previously-working feature ruined with software updates.
• You would think such a big company would release a software update to fix such an issue within a matter of a week. However, it has been months since others and I made Apple aware of the issue.
• I called today just to be told that they are "still investigating the issue".

 

[lfhring]

Hi Friends:
Viewing the list of Not-Working I found JAVA; in my case, I just installed a ZULU OpenJDK Java Version of Azul.com (https://www.azul.com/downloads/zulu-community/?package=jdk) and I'm running SAP Gui for Java and works without problems. This version is 100% compatible and it's working without problems.

Loui.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

The following apps don't work on my wife's MacBook Air, unless the MacBook is restarted:
Mail, and Safari.

Both of them go offline and stay that way when the MacBook is asleep, and don't come online when the MacBook is awaken. In such a condition, the only way for them to come online (not to hand) is to restart the MacBook. Once restarted, both Mail and Safari work fine.

 

[RickJDHahn]

Has anyone tried if Sharemouse or Synergy works with macOS 11?

Yes, ShareMouse has gone to hell in a hand basket since Big Sur, the key board randomly does not move with the mouse so you are clicking away on you mac with the mouse and when you go to type your keyboard is still on the PC. Sometimes the keyboard will not change to the mac from the PC.

 

[jonahlee]

So the company I am working at uses Premiere Pro, Media Encoder and After Effects 2019. Has anyone tried them on Big Sur? I am thinking no, but guess I will have to stick to Catalina to run those.

EDIT:

So I upgraded to Big Sur and Premiere Pro 2019 does run.

 

[Mr. Luigi]

I work at a school that uses Veracross to deliver almost all its online communications. I checked the WikiPost and Veracross is not mentioned. Has anyone had any experience with Veracross on Big Sur?

 

[gilby101]

I checked the WikiPost and Veracross is not mentioned.

Because Veracross is not a traditional app. Rather it is (according to its web site) 100% web based. So the question you need to ask Veracross is whether it is compatible with Safari 14 which runs on both macOS 10.15 and macOS 11.

 

[amaze1499]

Airplay streaming to TV is broken since the update to 11.1.

 

[gwhizkids]

Anyone else experiencing issues with Mail? Since installing 11.1 (coincidentally or not), I have experienced tremendous slowness in downloading new mail or the contents of an individual message, even if the header info comes through first (sender, subject, etc...).

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

VirtualBox 6.1.18, released 19 Jan, now working.

 

[MrTSolar]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-needs-to-give-us-the-80-max-charge-option-on-the-iphone.2365460/post-31653730

Due to events ^, all I have to say now is:

 

[nebojsak]

Has anybody tested ChronoSync on Big Sur?

 

[gilby101]

Has anybody tested ChronoSync on Big Sur?

All good for me. I use V4.9.12. And it is listed in the first post as 'working'.

 

[nebojsak]

Thanks. It's crucial for my workflow so I have to double check it before I install Big Sur on my main machine.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

The latest 11.2 (Beta? RC? my copy doesn't say either) popped up in my Feedback Assistant. I have downloaded and installed it on my play copy. Seems to be behaving itself so far. I haven't played with Bluetooth or Safari yet, but it does seem to be a bit faster (only took three bounces to load Word).

Interestingly it also has a short-form release build number (20D53) rather than a long-form beta build number (20C5061b).

One of the things that has annoyed me is that since the upgrade to Big Sur, LibreOffice doesn't properly anti-alias fonts, so they all look a bit fuzzy. I just confirmed that the current release version (7.0.4) and the RC version (7.1.0) don't fix the problem, but the latest Nightly Release version 7.2 does now give me nice sharp, crisp fonts.

 

[gilby101]

Interestingly it also has a short-form release build number (20D53) rather than a long-form beta build number (20C5061b).

I think that is because it is an RC. A Release Candidate is supposed to look like the real 11.2 and may well be exactly the same as will be released as 11.2.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Well, that wasn't expected quite so soon.
I was working away on my upgraded 11.2 RC (Build 20D53) and noticed that there another upgrade. No notice in Feedback Assistant, no notes on what has been upgraded.
So, since this was my play copy for testing the beta upgrades, I went ahead.
It has now rebooted, and is running Build 20D62.

 

[gilby101]

Well, that wasn't expected quite so soon.
I was working away on my upgraded 11.2 RC (Build 20D53) and noticed that there another upgrade. No notice in Feedback Assistant, no notes on what has been upgraded.
So, since this was my play copy for testing the beta upgrades, I went ahead.
It has now rebooted, and is running Build 20D62.

A bit of a surprise. So the 'candidate' wasn't up to scratch. Maybe another week before the real release? I am running all the betas, etc. on my 'play' MacBook.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Interestingly, a couple of weeks ago I finally decided to upgrade my copy of Catalina to Big Sur. Being the paranoid bloke that I am, I had a full Time Machine backup as well as a full Carbon Copy Cloner backup. On different drives. Paranoid, I am.

So I did the full upgrade of Catalina to Big Sur. And it seemed to work ok. However, I have been noticing that it seemed a bit slow to load Applications. Like 12~15 seconds to start up Word. Longer for LibreOffice.

Yesterday I was playing with my copy of Big Sur on an SSD that I had upgraded to 11.2 Build 20D53. It loaded all my larger apps in 5 ~ 6 seconds, 2 to 3 times faster. Now an app loading off a Fusion Drive that has sorted all its apps properly should be just as fast as a SSD.

I did some tests, and it seemed to confirm that the problem was with upgrading Catalina to Big Sur, rather than the type of drive (Fusion vs SSD).

So, I have made a new external Fusion Drive, with components that are slower than what is inside my iMac. I then did a clean install of 11.1, upgraded it to 11.2, then 11.2 v2. I have now installed all my larger apps and copied over my data files. And lo and behold, applications now load in the 5~6 second timeframe. Happy, happy, joy, joy...

So when Apple settles down Big Sur 11.2 properly I will be doing a clean install on the Fusion Drive in my iMac.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Ok, I got it wrong.
It wasn't the Fusion Drive, it wasn't the upgrade path that was slowing my computer down. It was the user.

I had been running some virtual machines out of my home folder.
The Fusion system had helpfully put the VM files onto the SSD, moving out other files, like those in my Library folder, to the HDD.
The end result was that when I tried to load an application like Word or LibreOffice, the computer had to load the ancillary files off the HDD, slowing everything down.
I have now moved my VM files to another drive, and after a few hours of re-arranging, everything is back to normal.

Lesson - mostly the Fusion Drive system works well and transparently. Occasionally it gets it wrong.

Oh for the day I can buy a high-speed, high-quality, high-capacity SSD for the same price as a HDD, or cheaper.