In an unprecedented WWDC 2020 online conference, Apple announced the latest version of its operating system. Coming this fall, it will bring a series of changes to the computers of Mac fans, although some stand out more than others. The following are some of the most striking features that MacOS Big Sur will bring us.
A completely new design
MacOS already looked pretty, but MacOS Big Sur is up the ante. According to Apple, it is the biggest visual update in years, touching every element of the operating system in small ways. Icons, windows, fonts, toolbars, and more have been fixed, giving them a more modern look and keeping them in touch with their heritage.
The menu bar at the top is now translucent, and the curvature of the Dock is more iPad-like. Even Finder is getting a facelift. The result is a subtle update, but one that looks absolutely beautiful.
However, it is not just about appearance. Apple has redesigned various MacOS features to make them easier to use. For example, many applications will see their toolbars condensed so that they no longer get in the way and organize efficiently.
Applications like Finder and Mail have received new sidebars that allow you to quickly get where you need to go. The Photos app has taken on the look of its cousin iPadOS, with more focus on your photos.
Easier on-screen controls
The MacBooks Pro Touch Bar has received more than a fair amount of criticism, but one thing it does really well is give you quick access to the controls. If you want to adjust the system volume, for example, you have a simple slider from left to right at your fingertips.
That way of thinking has been integrated into MacOS. On-screen controls, from volume to brightness, now use this horizontal slider. It may seem like a small change, but align the Mac with the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, even the Touch Bar. Your muscle memory will be appreciated.
In the upper right corner of your screen, you can access key controls at a glance. Do you need to dive a little deeper? Just click on a setting to get more options.
Even better, you can drag it out of Control Center to the menu bar, giving you a quick way to adjust your Mac to your liking.
That methodology also applies to the Notification Center. The Mac System Preferences application has always felt a bit disorganized, and it has never been as quick or easy to find settings as we’d like.
The widgets are being updated and their library helps you discover new options and they come in various sizes. You can’t put them on your desktop just yet, like on the iPad, but it’s a big change in how the Notification Center works, even these can now be grouped together.
Updated Safari
Safari plays a key role in the lives of most Mac users, and Apple has significantly updated it with MacOS Big Sur. We’ll soon see faster page load times, stronger privacy controls, better extensions, and more.
If you’re concerned about how a website uses (or abuses) your private data, you can check Safari’s privacy report to see exactly what’s going on. This can show how many crawlers have been blocked on each web page, for example.
There will be a new category in the Mac App Store for extensions. You can choose what data each extension has access to, if you can use it only for a day or on a single website. Apple says it will be easy for extension developers to bring them in from other browsers like Google Chrome.
There are other great features too, including on-page translation, a redesigned home page with custom backgrounds, improved tabs with previews, as well as changes that speed up page load times and battery performance.
Messages with iPhone and iPad features
The Messages app on Mac has always felt a little behind its iPhone and iPad siblings. However, MacOS Big Sur aims to close the gap, bringing many features that have been missing a lot.
Similar to iOS, you can pin conversations at the top of the app window to make it easier to find them. You can create Memojis directly on your Mac and share stickers and message effects as you want on your mobile device.
Also, there’s a more powerful search bar and a redesigned photo picker, bringing some much-needed quality-of-life improvements to an app that’s long been neglected.