[WWDC 2024] Apple Unveils macOS Sequoia with Groundbreaking Features and Enhanced Productivity

Apple has officially previewed macOS Sequoia, the latest iteration of its advanced desktop operating system, introducing transformative features and intelligence enhancements that elevate productivity on the Mac. This major update brings iPhone Mirroring, a revamped Safari, an all-new Passwords app, and significant gaming improvements, alongside the debut of Apple Intelligence.

Seamless Integration with iPhone Mirroring

macOS Sequoia enhances Continuity with the innovative iPhone Mirroring feature, allowing users to fully access and control their iPhone directly from their Mac. This includes swiping through Home Screen pages, launching apps, and even receiving audio through the Mac. Users can drag and drop content between devices seamlessly while keeping their iPhone locked for added security. Notifications from the iPhone can be reviewed and responded to directly on the Mac, streamlining workflow and connectivity.

Major Updates to Safari

Safari, the world’s fastest browser, now introduces Highlights, a feature designed to simplify web browsing by providing quick access to directions, summaries, and additional information on people, music, movies, and TV shows. The redesigned Reader mode offers a distraction-free reading experience with streamlined article views, summaries, and a table of contents for longer reads. The new Viewer feature detects videos on pages, placing them front and center with full system playback controls, including Picture in Picture.

Enhanced Gaming Experience

macOS Sequoia promises a more immersive gaming experience with a stellar lineup of new titles and features:

• New Titles: Highly anticipated games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Frostpunk 2, and more are coming to Mac. Ubisoft will release Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and Capcom will bring titles from the RESIDENT EVIL series.
• Personalised Spatial Audio: This feature enhances immersion, while reduced audio latency with AirPods Pro (2nd generation) improves responsiveness.
• Game Mode: Improvements unlock smoother frame rates and advanced power management for boosted performance.
• Game Porting Toolkit 2: This update allows developers to bring advanced games to Mac more easily, expanding the gaming library significantly.

Streamlined Window Management

macOS Sequoia simplifies window tiling, allowing users to arrange windows effortlessly. Dragging a window to the screen edge suggests a tiled position, making it easy to organize multiple apps. New keyboard and menu shortcuts further enhance the speed and convenience of managing window layouts.

Enhanced Video Conferencing

New features in macOS Sequoia improve video conferencing, including a presenter preview that works with FaceTime and Zoom. Users can apply built-in backgrounds or upload custom photos, enhancing professionalism and personalization during calls.

All-New Passwords App

The new Passwords app in macOS Sequoia centralizes password management, offering secure access to passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi credentials, and more. Built on Keychain’s foundation, it ensures secure iCloud syncing with end-to-end encryption, seamlessly integrating with Safari and syncing across Apple devices and Windows via iCloud for Windows.

Apple Intelligence: The Next Chapter of AI on Mac

Apple Intelligence, deeply integrated into macOS Sequoia, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18, leverages generative models and personal context to deliver incredibly useful and relevant intelligence. Key features include:

• Writing Tools: Systemwide tools for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text across apps.
• Image Playground: Create playful images with styles like Animation, Illustration, or Sketch.
• Memories in Photos: Generate stories from photos and videos, crafting a narrative with themes and chapters.
• Siri Enhancements: Improved natural language processing and contextually relevant responses, with the ability to switch between text and voice.

Privacy and Security

Apple ensures privacy is fundamental, with data encryption and end-to-end security for all health and fitness data. Private Cloud Compute offers scalable, secure AI processing without storing or accessing user data, maintaining Apple’s commitment to user privacy.

Additional Features in macOS Sequoia

• Messages: New text effects, emoji and sticker Tapbacks, and message scheduling.
• Apple Maps: Enhanced exploration with curated hikes and custom walking routes.
• Photos: Automatically organized Collections and improved search capabilities.
• Notes: Smarter note-taking with audio transcription and summarization features.
• Calculator: Enhanced functionality with history and expression views.
• Calendar: Integration of events and tasks from Reminders for comprehensive day planning.

Source

Pokdepinion: The sheer number of people who will have trouble saying and spelling the name has me chuckling like a child during the keynote.