It wouldn’t be a WWDC keynote speech without mention of Apple’s forthcoming desktop operating system, and over in Cupertino, Tim Cook and company announced macOS Sequoia, the next version of the Mac operating system. Version 15 of macOS has AI features, many of which are also in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.
Sequoia is expected to contain the following features:
iPhone Mirroring: This allows Mac users to directly access their iPhones via their Mac desktop. The devices connect wirelessly, allowing the Mac to see the iPhone’s Home screen. Users can use the iPhone apps, app notifications can be activated, and the appropriate iPhone app launches. Users can also drag and drop data such as photos and videos from the iPhone to the Mac. The iPhone’s audio will come through the Mac’s sound output.
Tiled UI for Organizing Windows: This allows macOS Sequoia users to drag a window to the edge of a screen and the operating system will suggest a tiled position for the open window. Tiles can be arranged side by side or in a corner arrangement. New keyboard shortcuts can be used to manage the tiles.
New Password app: The new version of the Passwords application will store encrypted data via iCloud. Windows users will also be able to sync their devices using the iCloud for Windows app.
Highlights: This will allow Safari to scan for relevant information within a website. The Reader feature now offers a summary and table of contents to quickly access the webpage’s content. The new Viewer kicks in when a video is detected on a webpage and includes a full set of controls and the ability to set the video in Picture-in-Picture.
Videoconferencing Improvements: This allows for improved features within FaceTime, and presenters can see previews of their slides before presenting them as well as customize their background with a macOS wallpaper or a personal photo.
Apple Intelligence:
“Writing tools: In apps such as Mail, Pages, Notes, and others, written content will have several features available, including suggestions for revisions, proofreading and copy editing, and more. Mail will offer email summarizations and smart replies.
Image Playground: apps will be able to create images in one of three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. In Messages, Image Playground can be used to create personalized images; in Notes, Image Playground can be used to transform sketches into polished pictures.”Writing tools: In apps such as Mail, Pages, Notes, and others, written content will have several features available, including suggestions for revisions, proofreading and copy editing, and more. Mail will offer email summarizations and smart replies.
Image Playground: apps will be able to create images in one of three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. In Messages, Image Playground can be used to create personalized images; in Notes, Image Playground can be used to transform sketches into polished pictures.Photos: New tools in the Photos app allow users to find photos based on a set of characteristics–show me pictures with a basketball,” for example. A new Clean Up tool can be used to remove items from a picture.
Siri: Many Apple Intelligence features are implemented through Siri, which will have a better understanding of contextual commands, and will be able to perform functions based on the context of its use.”
While the macOS Sequoia beta can be downloaded from the link below, the operating system is compatible with the following Macs:
- MacBook Air: 2020 or later
- MacBook Pro: 2018 or later
- iMac: 2019 or later
- iMac Pro: 2017 or later
- Mac Mini: 2018 or later
- Mac Studio: 2022 or later
- Mac Pro: 2019 or later
If there’s one major caveat so far, it’s that in order to use the Apple Intelligence feature set, the Mac requires an M1 chip or later, and these features will not work on Intel Macs.
In order to access the beta, sign in to an Apple ID that is registered as a developer, and then, on your Mac, open System Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose the macOS Sequoia Developer beta.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via Macworld