New features coming from Apple to you this fall
Named Ventura, also known as MacOS 13. Here’s what to expect from Apple’s latest operating system…
Bye, bye Monterey and hello to Ventura. Apple has given a guided tour of their latest operating system, which is expected to be available for download this fall. Ventura is supposed to make the things you do most on Mac even better, with powerful new ways to get more done, share and collaborate in your favourite apps, immerse yourself in next-level games, and take full advantage of your other devices. Here at The Modems we’ve gathered our favourite features you can look forward to seeing on your Mac.
Stage manager
In an effort to help us stay on task, Stage Manager automatically organises your apps and windows in a single view on any Mac, so you can stay focused while easily moving between tasks. Switch between apps and windows seamlessly with a simple click, or click anywhere on your desktop to quickly get back to a file or folder.
You can also create your ideal workspace by making different groups of apps for specific tasks or projects, and arranging, resizing and overlapping them in your ideal layout.
©Apple
Mail features
Apple is doing their best efforts to bring its mail up to par with Gmail and other modern email clients. Ventura users will gain the ability to unsend emails shortly after firing them off, and to schedule emails to be sent at a later time.
Searching your inbox will get more convenient. The search box within Mail will show a list of your recent contacts, documents, photos, and emails before you even start typing.
Forgot about an email? You’ll now receive nudges to follow up on emails sent a few days ago that haven’t yet received a response. And, if your email talks about an attachment or a person who’s been CC’d but you forgot to attach anything or CC anybody, you’ll get an alert.
FaceTime
Yes, the rumours are true. You can now use your iPhone as your webcam. Simply bring iPhone close to your Mac and it automatically switches to iPhone as the camera input. Apple also threw in a couple of additional features that take advantage of the iPhone’s advanced optics. Using the Ultra Wide camera on iPhone, Centre Stage is now available on any Mac. So you can stay centred in the camera frame during video calls or meetings even as you move around. A new lighting effect, Studio Light, artfully illuminates your face and dims the background. Add Portrait mode to blur the background and keep the focus on you.
Handoff comes to FaceTime, easily moving a FaceTime call from one device to another with just a click.
Collaborate virtually using Desk View, which mimics an overhead camera, showing your desk and your face at the same time.
Photos
Instead of air-dropping batches of photos or manually sending them to a group chat, you’ll now be able to share them in a separate iCloud library with up to five other people. You can share all the photos and videos in your library, or customise specific content that you want automatically added based on people in the images or the date they were taken on.
Everyone has equal permissions for adding, editing and deleting photos in the shared library. Favourites, captions and keywords sync too, so if one person organises the collection, everyone benefits.
Passkeys
Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to log in. Instead of typing in a password when you land on a login page, you’ll be prompted on your Mac’s screen to pick up your iPhone or iPad and use either Touch ID or Face ID to verify your identity.
Apple teamed up with the FIDO Alliance (Fast Identity Online) to create a secure passwordless sign-in system called Passkeys that will roll out this year. Passkeys are stored on only your device and never on a web server, so they are virtually immune to phishing attacks. Your Passkeys will sync across all your iCloud-enabled devices. On non-Apple devices, you’ll have to sign in using your iPhone. However, Google and Microsoft are part of the same group working with the FIDO digital identity organization, so similar functionality should be coming to Windows and Android soon enough.
Shared Tab Groups
Share tabs and bookmarks, send messages and start FaceTime straight from Safari. Whether you’re planning a trip with friends or shopping for a sofa with your partner, you can share all the tabs in one place (What can possibly go wrong?). It’s really meant for group planning and research sessions. If they find something great, they can add tabs too.
Messages
We’ve all regretted a message right after we sent it. Ventura enables you to edit a message you’ve just sent or unsend a recent message altogether. You will also be able to recover deleted texts. If you have your read receipts, you can also mark a message as unread—which will hopefully ease the pressure to respond right away.
You’ll also be able to take advantage of SharePlay via Messages. Instead of FaceTime, you can watch a movie or listen to music with friends and family in a group chat. You’ll also have shared playback controls, so everyone’s content is always in sync.
Other features coming your way
Enhanced search
Apple’s search tool, Spotlight, received a rather hefty revamp with MacOS Ventura. Originally introduced in iOS 15 last year, you’ll be able to use Spotlight on your Mac to search for photos, messages, notes, and images from the web. It’ll support Quick Look, too, allowing you to see full-size previews of files. You’ll also be able to create timers, set alarms, and run additional shortcuts.
Games
In short; amazing visuals, accelerated performance and quicker loading. For those who use their M1-powered Mac for gaming will see a redesigned Game Center dashboard, complete with the ability to see what their friends are playing, when they beat your high score, and all their achievements. You’ll also be able to play any multiplayer game in Game Center using SharePlay.
Live Captions
Apple is introducing Live Captions for those who are deaf and hard of hearing to Macs with an M-series chip. The feature, which is in beta, automatically transcribes audio for media, calls, and in-person conversations. When using Live Captions during a call on a Mac, you can also type what you want to say via Type to Speak and have your response spoken out loud for others in real-time. The feature will work in the FaceTime app, too—with the addition of speaker attribution.
FreeForm
FreeForm is a new productivity app from Apple that allows you to collaborate with others in one space simultaneously. You can share files, as well as insert videos, web links, documents, and audio. It’s an ideal tool for those who want to brainstorm with groups in real-time.
System Settings
A new sidebar design in System Settings — instantly familiar to iPhone and iPad users — makes it easier than ever to navigate settings and configure your Mac.
Weather App
Apple is finally bringing the Weather app to Mac. You’ll have access to local forecasts, air quality, precipitation intensity, and more.
Clock App
You’ll also have access to the Clock app—as seen on the iPhone and iPad. You can use it to see local times in various time zones and set alarms.
Reminders
If you rely on the Reminders app, you’ll be able to create, share, and save templates to reuse. With a new Completed Smart List, you’ll also be able to see your completed reminders, and when they were completed, all in one place.
Notes
Rather than creating a new password to lock notes, you can use your Mac password, eliminating the need to remember multiple passcodes. With Smart Folders comes new customizable filters, too, based on checklists, attachments, creation dates, and more.
Dictation
As you speak, Dictation will automatically add punctuation with periods, commas, and question marks. You’ll be able to use your voice to add emojis, too.
Apple News
Sports fans will be able to follow their favourite teams and leagues to stay up-to-date on the latest news from various publications, along with scores and schedules.
Is Your Mac Compatible?
Each version of MacOS is made available as a free update on supported Apple hardware. If you’re wondering whether your current Mac is compatible with Ventura, here’s a list of all the models that will be able to run the new OS:
MacBook: 2017 and later
MacBook Air: 2018 and later
MacBook Pro: 2017 and later
Mac Mini: 2018 and later
iMac: 2017 and later
iMac Pro: 2017 and later
Mac Pro: 2019 and later
Mac Studio: 2022
Not sure which Mac model you have? Simply tap on the Apple icon in the menu bar in the upper left-hand corner of your screen and click on “About This Mac”.
How to Install the MacOS Ventura Public Beta
To download the public beta, go to the Apple Beta Software Program homepage, click Sign In (or Sign Up, if you’re new), and enter your Apple ID information. Then click on MacOS, Enroll Your Devices, and scroll down on Download the macOS Public Beta Access Utility.
From there, click the link to download the utility and run the installer. Once that’s complete, go to System Preferences > Software Update > Upgrade Now. Whenever a new public beta is released, you’ll receive a notification under Software Update. To install it, go to System Settings > General > Update Now.
