Apple on Monday unveiled macOS Sequoia, the next version of the Mac operating system. macOS version 15 is packed with AI features, many of which are also available in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.
Apple highlighted the following features of macOS 15 during the keynote.
Mirroring iPhone
Mac users are iPhone users, and the two often feel like separate platforms. iPhone Mirroring fills this gap, allowing users to directly access their iPhone on their Mac desktop. The Mac and iPhone connect wirelessly and users see the iPhone home screen on the Mac. Users can click and use iPhone apps, iPhone app notifications can be enabled, and the appropriate iPhone app will launch. Users can also drag and drop photos and videos from iPhone to Mac.
iPhone audio will pass through the Mac audio output and iPhone notifications will integrate into the macOS notifications list.
Tiled UI to organize windows
Mac users work in multiple applications and files at once, which can make organizing windows a chore in itself. In macOS Sequoia, users can now drag a window to the edge of the screen and macOS will provide a tiled view of your open windows. Tiles can be placed side by side or in a corner. New keyboard shortcuts can be used to manage thumbnails.
New password app
Apple is finally offering a better way to access passwords and other information stored in Keychain by introducing a new Passwords app. Data in the app is encrypted and can be synced with other devices via iCloud, and even with Windows via the iCloud app for Windows.
Safari
The new Highlights feature provides a way to get information related to the web page you are visiting. For example, if you book a hotel room, Safari offers a way to quickly get directions on Maps. The Reader functionality now offers a summary and table of contents to quickly access the content of the web page. The new viewer starts when a video is detected on a web page and includes a full set of controls and the ability to set the video to Picture-in-Picture mode.
Video Conferencing Improvements
With macOS Sequoia, Apple is introducing new features that can be used in video conferencing applications such as FaceTime and Zoom. Presenters can now preview their slides to ensure their presentation goes as planned. Participants can now personalize their background with a macOS wallpaper or personal photo.
Apple Intelligence features
Apple has implemented a ton of AI-powered features that work on macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18. Here’s a quick summary of what will be available:
- Writing tools: In apps like Mail, Pages, Notes and others, written content will have several features available, including suggestions for revisions, proofreading and copy editing, and much more. Mail will offer email summaries and smart replies.
- Picture Playground: Applications will be able to create images in one of the following three styles: Animation, Illustration or Sketch. In Messages, Image Playground can be used to create custom images; in Notes, Image Playground can be used to turn sketches into polished images.
- Pictures: New tools in the Photos app allow users to search for photos based on a set of characteristics: “show me photos with a basketball”, for example. A new cleanup tool can be used to remove elements of an image.
- Siri: Many Apple Intelligence features are implemented via Siri, which will have a better understanding of contextual commands, and will be able to perform functions based on the context of its use.
How to install macOS Sequoia
Apple has released the macOS Sequoia beta to developers, with a public beta arriving in July. The official release is scheduled for fall and is free for all users. The new 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
There’s one big caveat to the macOS Sequoia compatibility list: To use Apple Intelligence features, the Mac requires an M1 chip or later. These features will not work on Intel Macs.
To access the beta, sign in to an Apple ID registered as a developer, then on your Mac, open System settings > General > Software update > Beta updates and choose it macOS Sequoia Developer Beta.
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