macOS Sequoia unveiled: Apple Intelligence, productivity feats, iPhone mirroring!

Apart from iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Apple also revealed the macOS Sequoia last WWDC 2024.

The new macOS Sequoia

macOS Sequoia launched!

To start, the new OS for Macs features Apple Intelligence, the firm's own version of AI which actually shares similar initials. This will work on all Macs with Apple M series CPUs and is deeply integrated with Sequoia, allowing you to create photos, run apps, and draw upon personal context to simplify typical tasks.

The new writing tools with AI

Additionally, AI-based Writing Tools are built into the OS, enabling you to revise, proofread, and summarize content anywhere you write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party applications. Image Playground allows you to make graphics in three styles such as animation, illustration, and sketch, and it is integrated into apps such as Messages in addition to being available as a standalone app. Memories in photographs, like iOS, make a video for you using your finest photographs and videos in response to your request, while the Clean Up tool removes unpleasant individuals or objects from photos.

Moving forward, Apple also updated Siri which the company claims is now more natural, personalized, and more on-point contextually. Similar to iOS 18, you may now type to it and switch between typing and speech if desired. ChatGPT is integrated with Siri and the previously mentioned Writing Tools.

iPhone mirroring

Sequoia makes the Continuity function more useful with iPhone Mirroring. Your iPhone instantly appears on your Mac, complete with personalized wallpaper and icons, and you can swipe between home screens or launch and use any of your iPhone apps. Users can also engage with their iPhone using their Mac's keyboard, trackpad, and mouse, and audio is also supported. Drag and drop works seamlessly between the iPhone and the Mac, and it all happens even when the iPhone is locked. On the iPhone, the StandBy function remains accessible, allowing you to access info at a glance if desired. Of course, you can view and respond to iPhone notifications from your Mac.

Safari features

Safari now includes Highlights, a new method to get information such as directions, overviews, or quick links to learn more about people, music, movies, and television series. A redesigned Reader provides additional options for viewing articles without distractions, including a streamlined view, a summary, and even a table of contents for lengthy articles.

Once the said browser detects a video on the webpage a user is viewing, it will bring it to the forefront and then still enable them to use system playback options, such as Picture in Picture.

Meanwhile, Apple has announced that more game titles would be coming to macOS, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Resident Evil 2, Frostpunk 2, Palwork, Sniper Elite 4, and RoboCop: Rogue City. Further, the company also brought updates to Game Mode which will bring smoother fps, and the advanced power management will bring enhanced performance over the Mac lineup.

Window tiling has also improved. After dragging a window to the border of the screen, the OS will automatically suggest a tiled position on your desktop, and you can then release the window, swiftly arrange tiles side by side, or position tiles in the corners. New keyboard and menu shortcuts will enable even faster tile organization.

For video calls, Apple added a new presenter preview that makes it simpler to present because you can see what you're about to say before you do it. You can also use the built-in backdrops, such as color gradients and system wallpapers, or upload your own images.

The storage for passwords

Finally, the Passwords app, which was revealed initially for iOS 18, then is coming to macOS as well. It will serve as the centralized storage for your passwords, passkeys, and other credentials, employing end-to-end encryption.

The first public beta of macOS Sequoia is going to be accessible next month. Meanwhile, the first developer beta is out now.

Source: Apple