The Top New Features in Apple’s MacOS Monterey
Your Mac has probably alerted you that there is a new software update ready for you to install. That is MacOS Monterey or MacOS 12.
\It is the latest version of Apple’s desktop OS and adds an array of features and upgrades you will find on your iPhone or iPad running on iOS or iPadOS 15. The improvements in the new upgrade affect Focus Mode, FaceTime, and users can now group tabs in Safari.
The update feels smaller than MacOS Big Sur, but its new features bring a new Mac experience. The current MacOS Monterey version is MacOS 12.0.1, released on Monday, October 26. Apple also seeded three beta versions of the MacOS Monterey 12.1 to developers and the other two beta versions to public beta testers. Here are the feature highlights that come with this new upgrade.
Top Features in The New MacOS Monterey
The Apple upgrade has various new features that will affect how you use your devices. These include:
New App Features
These are feature upgrades for your new apps that you find when you upgrade to the latest version. They are:
FaceTime and Share Play
In the new upgrade, Apple overhauls FaceTime across the various operating systems such as iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and MacOS 12 with the introduction of SharePlay. The new features allow you to call family and friends while you watch TV or movies together. You can also listen to music and share screens directly using the FaceTime app.
When you start a movie or any TV show while on FaceTime call, the participants sync playback and controls, the volume automatically adjusts, allowing you to talk and watch simultaneously. Also, you can listen to Apple Music songs and add any extra songs to a shared queue using synced playback controls.
The screen sharing capabilities of this upgrade allow you to share entire screens or just the app. It is ideal when collaborating with coworkers, having a game night with friends, or planning a group trip.
Furthermore, you can FaceTime with other non-iPhone users using the MacOS Monterey. To start the stream, create a link to the FaceTime call and share it with the person using an Android or PC. They can join using Chrome or Edge browser.
The SharePlay experience also supports spatial audio. These features make each voice sound like it comes from the person’s direction on your Mac screen.
A new Voice Isolation microphone mode also minimizes background noises and focuses on your voice only.
Messages – Shared with You
The messages app also has a new “Shared with You” feature. It takes content from messages you receive and puts it into a relevant app. For example, when someone shares an Apple Music song, the piece gets listed on the For You section of the Apple Music. Suppose it is a website link, then it will appear in the “Shared with You” section on the Safari start page.
The to share with you applies for files on Safari, Photos, Apple News, Apple TV app, and Apple Podcasts. You will get quick links to messages that allow you to respond to the sender on all these apps. You can also pin the favorite content to the Messages app to view it later.
There are also some minor design changes in the messages. When you want someone to send multiple photos in a row, they will appear as limited image collages or in stacks that you can easily flip through, rather than getting a bunch of individual images.
These are just a few examples of new app features in the latest version. There are more included in the photos, notes, maps, safari, and shortcuts apps.
Universal Control
This is arguably the most helpful feature in the new MacOS Monterey. With universal control, you can use a single Mac control across various iPads or Macs. That means, if you have a MacBook Pro and another device, say iPad, you will use Mac’s keyboard, mouse, and trackpad to control the iPad.
When you move the cursor from the Mac over the iPad, it transitions from one display to the next. It also allows you to do simple activities such as drag and drop content from two devices. Universal Control is invaluable for anyone using setups that feature various Apple devices and wants to access them.
The feature doesn’t require any setup. It is automatic when the devices are next to each other.
AirPlay
The new feature allows you to AirPlay on the Mac. Therefore, you can AirPlay connect on an iPad or iPhone or use another Mac for Mac-to-Mac transfers. The AirPlay Max allows users to extend or mimic the Apple device display on another Mac. Since it supports two Macs, you can use another one as an external display.
The AirPlay for Mac works wireless and wired using a USB-C cable. The wired connection helps to cut down possible latency that may exist. The AirPlay will also allow you to turn your Mac into a speaker paired with AirPlay 2 speakers to get multi-room audio. So you can AirPlay Apple Fitness + workouts on your other Mac.
Focus
This is a tailored version of the traditional Do Not Disturb option. It lets you focus on the activity you are working on while avoiding unnecessary distractions. For example, setting “Work” focus mode will minimize notifications coming from any non-work-related apps. It allows you to concentrate better on what you are doing.
The Focus modes also have other features, like Sleep and Driving, which allow users to personalize the Focus modes. You can choose apps and people who may contact you at particular times. When you are in Focus mode and receive messages, they get notified that their notifications are silenced. Turning Focus Mode on one device syncs all other devices automatically.
There are many more features with the new MacOS Monterey that will affect how you can use your devices for maximized productivity. If you need any help, call us at Kraft Technology Group. We offer expert answers to any business technology-related questions. Talk to our team when you need IT support to enhance your business.
