Introduction
macOS 12 Monterey, which was unveiled at Apple’s June event, the WWDC 2021, is an upcoming version of the beloved macOS that’s set to be released in the fall. Compared to the latest macOS Big Sur, macOS is a small update but it is still set to come with a blast, featuring new customizations and an experience overhaul.
What’s new in macOS?
Universal Control is set to be the biggest update with macOS Monterey, which will allow users to use a single mouse, trackpad or keyboard across multiple Mac devices (Mac Mini, iMac, or the Macbook) and also the new iPad. This universal control will allow users to move content across devices seamlessly using the same accessories. There’s also a new AirPlay to Mac option which can be used to move games, movies, photos and other types of media from the iPhone to the Mac. With these features, the Mac can also be used as a speaker for multi-room audio.
Safari, Apple’s very own browser, has updated itself to include an updated tab bar that will blend better into the background while you’re surfing through web pages. Tab Groups, a feature that has been seen on Google’s Chrome previously, is also coming to Safari to make it easy to multitask in the same Safari window. Tab Groups also sync across all your devices and can be shared.
FaceTime will support spatial audio now so that voices coming out of the computer will sound like they’re coming from where the person is positioned on the screen. Voice Isolation is another feature that cuts out all background noise and enhances the quality of the speaker’s voice over a FaceTime call. Wide Spectrum supports the same features when you’re video conferencing with multiple people in the same room.
With the new Shortcuts app in MacOS that’s coming to Mac, you can extend your iPhone’s shortcuts to your computer for easy access during work. Apple has also designed a gallery of pre-built shortcut options and the Shortcuts app has been integrated across the Apple Ecosystem for running functions like Finder, Spotlight, Siri, and more.
The new macOS is also coming with a Focus mode, which is specially designed to help professionals stay on task with modes for Work, Personal Life and more. These modes are highly customizable for individual preferences. Focus filters out notifications unrelated to your current mode and lets other people know you’re unavailable. Focus, when set on one device, syncs across all others.
Live Text has been introduced on Macs now, which will let them scan on-device pictures and retrieve text from them. This text can be copied and pasted to the clipboard and to any other app from there. New features like Visual Lookup use machine learning to provide users with details on animals, art, plants, landmarks and more.
Apple has also upgraded iCloud+ which will let paid users hide their browsing habits and IP addresses from third parties. This feature also includes a Hide My Email feature for keeping personal email addresses private, and expanded HomeKit Secure Video support. Other privacy features like Mail Privacy Protection prevent emails from tracking pixels, and the Mac Recording Indicator lets users know if a Mac app is using the microphone.
Conclusion
macOS Monterey has been rolled out to beta testers and developers as of now. The new OS is set to roll out to all users by the fall of 2021. With most new features of macOS Monterey coming only to the M1 Macs, other users might not see a huge difference in their usage apart from a few changes here and there.
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