The operating system for the MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini is called Apple’s macOS. It is macOS 14 Sonoma, the most recent version.
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macOS 14 Sonoma
Date of release: 26 September 2023
MacOS 14 Sonoma is the 20th major edition of the Mac operating system, named after the wine-producing area in northern California. Compared to Ventura, it offers several advantages.
The ability to add and manage desktop widgets is the first significant improvement. You may even send widgets from your iPhone to your Mac when it’s close by.
When you have a game open, Game Mode is a processing mode that minimizes all other processes. Giving your software as many resources as possible is the goal of this choice. To reduce latency, Sonoma also offers enhancements for using AirPods and game controllers.
Safari gathers profiles to assist you in keeping business and personal life apart. Private browsing allows you to block more trackers, and you may safely share passwords over iCloud.
macOS 13 Ventura
Date of release: October 24, 2022
The 19th major edition of the Mac operating system, MacOS 13 Ventura, is named for the California coastal city popular for its beaches, windsurfers, and surfers. To raise the bar for the Mac experience, the operating system incorporates powerful productivity tools and novel continuity features.
A new tool called Stage Manager dynamically arranges open files and applications on the desktop to help users focus more on the main window they are working in rather than the numerous open windows that are vying for their attention. Stage Manager arranges open files and applications into small icons on the left side of the screen, while the main window occupies the center of the screen.
Ventura sees a major makeover for Mac Mail. Senders can now plan their emails and revoke delivery. Furthermore, Users can also choose to reread a message at a later time, and if they don’t receive a response, they will be encouraged to send another email.
One of the main features of macOS is continuity, which expands your possibilities for using multiple Apple devices at once when it’s convenient. Answered a call with an iPhone? You receive a notification to switch to the larger screen as soon as you approach your Mac. Furthermore, transferring a FaceTime call from an iPhone to an iPad or Mac is simple with the new Handoff function. Additionally, users may use the phone as a webcam for their Macs thanks to the Continuity Camera function.
Other recent additions include:
- iMessage allows for message editing and deletion.
- shared tab groups
- Safari passkeys that take the role of passwords
- iCloud shared picture collection
- Updated Weather and Clock Apps
- Improved Notes smart folders
- Highlight advancements
- enhanced gameplay
macOS 12 Monterey
Date of release: October 25, 2021
Named for the wild central coast of California city of Monterey, macOS Monterey is the 18th major release of the Mac operating system. It’s full of upgrades and expands upon Big Sur’s solid basis.
The much-needed ability to operate Macs and iPads side by side with a single mouse, trackpad, and keyboard is now possible thanks to Universal Control.
Many improvements have been made to the fundamental Mac programs. Messages now have a convenient Save button for photographs, and Apple Books now has Want to Read, Reading Goals, and Reading Now features. Safari has had a significant overhaul, adding iCloud Private Relay, tab groups, and a more efficient tab bar. This service ensures that no data leaves your Mac and is intercepted and exploited by employing encryption.
A significant improvement was made to FaceTime’s audio and visuals. You and the other participants can watch TV shows and films together or enjoy music during group FaceTime calls. You can pause, fast-forward, or switch to a different screen during controlled playback, and the changes are immediately visible on each caller’s screen.
Some new features won’t work without a Mac with Apple’s M1 processor. These consist of an interactive globe, new city experiences for the Maps app, spatial audio, on-device dictation for any duration without a time out, and portrait mode on FaceTime.
Other recent additions include:
- Leaving a digital legacy to ensure that dependable friends or family members receive data, including pictures and videos, after your passing
- An iPhone-style “Erase all content and settings” tool for the Mac
- Including indications for the camera and microphone
- Finder’s new iCloud Shared folder
- Bluetooth devices in Low Power Mode
- The Mac’s System Preferences Shortcuts program now has a separate password manager.
macOS 11 Big Sur
Date of release: November 12, 2020
The 17th major edition of the Mac operating system, macOS 11 Big Sur, gets its name from the mountainous region located in central California. The stunning new macOS Big Sur look, which resembles iOS, was presented at WWDC20.
Unlike Mojave, which Catalina made a few minor improvements to, macOS Big Sur is the largest update to the Apple operating system in a long time. The ability to run iPad and iPhone apps directly on the Mac is one obvious distinction between the latest M1-chip Macs.
Other modifications you’ll notice are as follows:
- Big Sur marks the Mac debut of the iOS Control Centre.
- The Mail, Calendar, Photos, and Messages apps have all undergone much-needed redesigns.
- Using its Intelligent Tracking function, Safari generates a privacy report for every page you visit and keeps an eye on your passwords to guard against data breaches.
- Look Around, Maps’ response to Google Street View, and Guides from reliable sources are among its new features.
Among the key new features are:
- Chrome is 50% slower than Safari.
- The Central Command
- Adaptable widgets within the alerts menu
- supports M-1 chip Macs running iOS apps
- Support for spatial audio in the AirPods Pro Maps app Look Around feature
- Messages have improved group messaging.
macOS 10.15 Catalina
Date Of Released: October 7, 2019
The 16th major update of the computer operating system, macOS 10.15 Catalina (named after the island off the coast of California), was unveiled at WWDC in June 2019. In September 2019, this version of macOS—the first to allow 64-bit applications exclusively—became available as a free update for all Mac users.
It has a brand-new Catalyst development system that enables programmers to create apps that run on both iPadOS and macOS Catalina. Apple’s effort to provide speech control for your Mac is being carried out with voice control.
Apple also made the following adjustments to Catalina:
- With Sidecar, you may utilize AirDisplay or AirParrot to use an iPad as a second screen.
- It divided iTunes into three new applications: Apple TV, Podcasts, and Music.
- The Finder is used to manage iOS devices that are connected to your Mac.
- Find My Mac and Find My Friends were combined to produce a new program called Find My.
- Reminders manage attachments, and Siri is more intelligent about when to notify you.
- The widget app Dashboard was removed.
The main new features are as follows:
- 64-bit software alone
- Applications that catalyze
- iPad secondary screen in the sidecar
- iTunes split
- Locate My App
macOS 10.14 Mojave
Released: September 24, 2018
Mojave, also known as macOS 10.14, was first shown at WWDC in June 2018 and made available on September 24 of the same year. MacOS 10.14, which bears the name of the Mojave Desert in California, introduced Voice Memos, Apple News, and Home, three iOS apps, to the desktop. It was the final version of macOS to support 32-bit apps (you’ll get a notification when trying to use them), and it also came with an improved dark mode.
The Finder now has a new way to explore file metadata and browse files visually with the Gallery Explore. Similar to iOS, when you take a screenshot, the image temporarily shows in the corner of the screen. The snapshot tool in macOS Mojave now has video capabilities as well.
Group FaceTime is a feature in Mojave that allows you to have continuous video and audio chats with up to 32 people from your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
Apple’s online browser, Safari, reduced the amount of information websites received about your system and introduced tracking safeguards. For new internet accounts, it can generate secure passwords, store them, and fill out forms automatically.
To better align with the iOS App Store, the Mac App Store had a redesign that included new editorial content and an updated UI. For simpler app discovery, there’s a new Discover tab in addition to the Create, Work, Play, and Develop sections. The News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home (for HomeKit automation) iOS apps were moved over with this upgrade.
Important new features consist of:
- Four applications for iOS
- enhanced dark mode
- View in gallery
- FaceTime in groups
- Enhancements to the Mac App Store
macOS 10.13 High Sierra
Released: September 25, 2017
The High Sierra mountain range in California inspired the name of the fourteenth version of the operating system, macOS 10.13. Rather than a full redesign, this OS upgrade included performance and technical improvements over the previous version, Sierra (10.12).
The Apple File System, which enabled 64-bit inode numbers and flash memory to speed up routine file-related processes like duplicating, discovering, and backing up data, replaced the HFS Plus file system.
Here are a few more noteworthy adjustments:
- The fundamental graphics API Along with support for external graphics cards, Metal 2 brought additional features for virtual reality and machine learning.
- iOS 11 brought new editing tools, an improved sidebar, and the ability to sync photos with tagged individuals.
- Mail received a 35% increase in storage capacity along with a new Spotlight search called Top Hits.
- Safari now has the option to disable autoplay video and block third-party trackers using machine learning. It is possible to permanently turn on reader mode.
- Users can now pin notes to the top of their list and the Notes app now supports tables.
- Machine learning has improved Siri’s artificial intelligence, giving it a more human-sounding voice.
Important new features consist of:
- Graphics on the Apple File System Metal 2
- Features for New Photos
- Improved mail table storage in notes
- With greater expressiveness and intelligence Siri
macOS 10.12 Sierra
Released: September 20, 2016
MacOS 10.12 Sierra, which gets its name from the Sierra Nevada region of California, was the first Mac operating system to be called macOS. This one replaced OS X El Capitan, which was likewise named after a well-known Californian region. September saw the free release of MacOS Sierra, which was first unveiled in June 2016, as an update for El Capitan.
- The initial desktop version of Siri iCloud Drive, featuring enhanced storage capacity
- Automatic opening on the Mac
- Interfaces with tabs for every supporting program
- You can watch videos in picture-in-picture mode while working on other tasks.
- the initial support for Apple File System Night Shift, a feature that lowers screen blue light throughout the evening
New features added to apps include:
- Photos fuel the Memories photo groups with enhanced face recognition and additional object and scene identification.
- With the release of new developer tools for Safari, extensions linking to third-party apps became supported.
- With the addition of web-based buttons to Safari, Apple Pay enables you to finish purchases using your iPhone or Apple Watch.
- Messages now have larger emojis, play YouTube videos, preview site links, and tap-back functionality.
- You may view the iOS 10 features added to iMessage and turn on and off read receipts for each chat using the Mac Messages app.
- iTunes now has a lyrics function for its MiniPlayer in addition to a new For You tab.
- You can exchange and work together on individual Notes with Notes.
- Important new features consist of:
Important new features consist of:
- On the desktop, Siri
- iCloud Drive
- Mode of picture-in-picture
- Shift at Night
- Online Apple Pay
- Integrations for iMessage
Additional Information About macOS
Mac OS X, originally released in 2001 and commonly referred to as OS X (pronounced oh-ess-ten), is the predecessor of macOS. It is based on Unix and has several internal features in common with both Unix and Linux, including support for multiple users, preemptive multitasking, and Terminal access to the system.
In 2016, OS X was renamed macOS 10.12 Sierra to be consistent with Apple’s other operating systems, including iOS, watchOS, and tvOS operating systems.
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