macOS Sonoma: Apple presents the next generation of the Mac operating system

Apple has unveiled the next generation of its operating system for Macs: macOS Sonoma. One of the most noticeable new features are the improved widgets that users can now place and operate directly on the desktop. They update in real time and can even be synced and controlled from iOS devices. When a desktop app is opened, the widgets are slightly hidden and transparent in the background to minimize distractions.

New video conferencing features

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macOS Sonoma also brings new features for video conferencing. The “Presenter Overlay” brings the person sharing their screen to the forefront. Additionally, there are new responses that can be triggered by gestures if desired. For example, if you show two thumbs up, other participants will see fireworks in your video tile. These features are not only available in FaceTime, but also in other apps like Zoom.

Gaming on the Mac

Apple has also thought about gamers. macOS Sonoma includes a new Gaming Mode that gives games prioritized access to CPU and GPU power. This is said to work with all games available for macOS. Additionally, the game “Death Stranding” has been announced as a director’s cut for Apple computers.

Improvements for Safari

The Safari browser is also getting some new features. With macOS Sonoma, users will be able to choose between multiple profiles, allowing them to log in to the same website with both a professional and private profile and quickly switch between profiles. In addition, the private mode will be more secure: private browser windows will be locked when not in use to prevent unauthorized access. In addition, the browser now supports the creation of web apps, which should provide an “app-like” experience.

Other new features

In addition to the features mentioned above, macOS Sonoma also brings improved autocorrect and new features for passwords. Users can now create groups for passwords that any member of the group can access. These are synchronized via the iCloud keychain. One-time confirmation codes received via email will be automatically applied in Safari in the future. New stickers are also available in the Messages app.

Availability

The update to macOS Sonoma will not be made available to all devices that were also running macOS Ventura. Among others, the MacBook from 2017 and iMacs from 2018 are no longer supported. The finished macOS Sonoma is initially only available as a beta for developers; a publicly available test version will come later. The final operating system is expected to be released as a free update in fall 2023.