Apple has just unveiled macOS Sonoma, the latest version of its desktop operating system. The main features of the OS are support for widgets on the desktop, a game mode and a new set of screensavers with slow-motion footage of attractions. The update, also known as macOS 14, will be available in developer beta in the coming days and public beta in the coming weeks. Wide availability is expected later this year.
Widgets can be dragged from the Action Center to the desktop or imported from iPhone if the device is on the same Wi-Fi network. Widgets can be interactive (for example, allowing you to check off items on a to-do list or control media playback or connected smart home devices) and disappear into the background when the corresponding window is maximized.
macOS introduces a new Game Mode that gives the game priority access to CPU and GPU resources and reduces lag when connecting AirPods, Xbox and PlayStation controllers to your computer. According to Apple, Game Mode works with any game. To reaffirm its commitment to gaming on the Mac, Apple brought in cult game developer Hideo Kojima, who announced that the Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be coming to macOS.
Some improvements in macOS have come in video conferencing: the Presenter Overlay feature will allow you to show content, such as a slideshow, behind the speaker, while his face will be cut out of the environment and also remain in the camera’s field of view. Along with a set of AR effects that can be activated during a call, these features can be used in any video conferencing application.
Sonoma will also provide updates to the Apple Safari web browser. Web apps will now be able to work like normal macOS apps with notification support and the ability to pin them to the taskbar. Added support for profiles, allowing you to store cookies, browsing history, and tab groups separately depending on whether you are using a work or personal profile. Added private browsing windows for more reliable protection against surveillance. Apple has also made it easy to securely exchange keys and passwords through iCloud Keychain.
In addition, Apple has said that some of the iOS 17 updates will be available on the computer operating system as well. Among them are improved auto-correction, the ability to call Siri without first saying the word “Hey”, faster form filling in PDF files, and improved sticker functionality.
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