A major new update will be coming to your Mac later this year, with Apple announcing the release of its brand new operating system, macOS Monterey. This major software upgrade, which will replace Big Sur, was announced earlier this month during the company’s annual WWDC developer conference, and there is much to expect, including big changes to FaceTime, Safari, and the ability to use the new Universal Control over several Navigating screens technology. macOS Monterey will be released on most modern day iMacs, MacBooks, and Mac Minis this fall, and here are 5 of the biggest upgrades coming to your computer soon.
UNIVERSAL CONTROL
Universal Control is perhaps the most exciting new feature in macOS Monterey. This technology basically allows Mac and iPad owners to seamlessly switch between devices with a mouse and keyboard without having to tamper with complicated settings.
Users simply move their cursor to the side of a display and they see it on the screen placed next to it. You can even drag and drop files across multiple screens or sketch a picture on your iPad and swipe onto your Mac.
According to Apple, Universal Control allows users to work with a single mouse and keyboard and switch between Mac and iPad for a seamless experience with no setup required.
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SAFARI
Safari fans will notice some important changes once macOS Monterey is installed on their Mac.
The entire look and feel of this browser has been changed with a streamlined tab bar that takes up less space on the page. When visiting websites, users will also see that the Safari background will match the color of the page being viewed.
There’s also the introduction of Tab Groups, which is a new way to easily store and manage the endless tabs we’ve all opened.
One click opens a number of different tabs depending on what you’re doing.
For example, you can set up a business tab group with email and productivity websites that all open at the same time, or you can set up a holiday tab group with favorite hotels, flights, and activities that start with a single click.
Once created, these groups are automatically synced across all devices.
Finally, there is Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which now also prevents trackers from profiling you using your IP address.
FACE TIME
One of the biggest changes in macOS Monterey will be a massive upgrade to Apple’s FaceTime video call service.
With millions of apps relying on video calling to keep in touch with friends and family during the current health crisis, Apple has doubled FaceTime with a slew of new features.
In macOS Monterey, the American tech company is hoping video calls will feel much more intense thanks to technologies like Spatial Audio, which make it seem like friends’ voices are coming exactly where their face is positioned on your Mac display.
If you are in the middle of a video chat and the neighbor starts mowing the garden, there is also “Noise Isolation” which removes all distracting noises around you so that the interlocutors can only hear your soft tones.
Another nice feature that fans are sure to love is the portrait mode. Just like when you take a selfie in portrait mode, FaceTime now adds some blur behind your face to make you stand out when you call – it also means friends can’t sniff every book title on your bookshelf.
This update also includes the ability to schedule a call for a set time and then remind contacts to join at the right time.
This all sounds great, but perhaps the biggest new feature is SharePlay. This way, anyone can share their music or video with everyone on the call.
Playback is synced across all devices so friends on any iPhone or iPad can add new songs to a queue or skip a bad choice. Disney +, TikTok, and a number of other streaming apps are already committed to implementing the feature when macOS Monterey launches later this year. You can also share what is happening on your screen.
FOCUS MODE
If you don’t want to be disturbed, the new focus mode automatically filters out notifications unrelated to your current on-screen activity, and users can even signal their status to let others know when they’re focused and unavailable.
If you’re constantly distracted by things on your Mac, the new Focus Mode will help. This option is introduced so that users can turn off certain warnings or change the look of the home screen depending on what they are doing during the day.
That means you can hide addicting games during work hours, but when you finish your shift the boss can hide emails automatically. Focus mode lets you set multiple categories for your device – work, home, and more, with each setting changing the apps that appear on your home screen.
Once activated, contacts will be notified that you are in focus mode, so no one will be annoyed that you haven’t answered their text messages.
AIRPLAY ON MAC
The latest Macs have stunning screens and audio, and Apple is making it easier to get the most out of this technology. With a new feature called AirPlay to Mac, users can play, present, and share almost anything on their PC. This means that you can transfer photos and videos straight from your iPhone or iPad to the Mac’s display.
“MacOS Monterey is packed with features to help Mac users get more done, connect with friends and family in amazing new ways, and work more seamlessly than ever with Mac and iPad,” said Craig Federighi, senior vice president President of Software Engineering at Apple. “We believe our customers will love browsing the web with Safari’s new tab design, sharing experiences with SharePlay in FaceTime, and using their Mac and other Apple devices in new ways with Universal Control and AirPlay to Mac to use.”
macOS Monterey will be available as a free software update this fall.
