Apple has unveiled the latest iteration of its desktop operating system, macOS Sonoma, which introduces a range of user interface enhancements. One notable addition is the introduction of interactive widgets, building upon those introduced in iOS 16. With the Continuity feature, iPhone users can transfer their existing iOS widgets to their Mac, as long as both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
The Neural Engine in Apple silicon chips powers a new feature called Presenter Overlay, designed for video conferencing applications. This feature allows users to share desktop documents while maintaining their camera feed. Furthermore, it includes augmented reality effects, video reactions, and is compatible with any video conferencing app.
To improve gaming performance on Macs equipped with Apple silicon chips, macOS Sonoma introduces Game Mode, which prioritises CPU and GPU resources for games. Additionally, the update significantly reduces audio latency when using AirPods and enhances the input latency of Bluetooth controllers, such as Xbox and PlayStation joysticks, by doubling the Bluetooth sampling rate.
In gaming news, Hideo Kojima, the developer of Death Stranding, announced that the game's Director's Cut will be officially available for macOS later this year. Apple's Metal game porting kit aims to streamline the process of bringing games to macOS, allowing developers to bring their titles to the platform more efficiently.
Safari, Apple's Web browser, receives various updates in macOS Sonoma, including the addition of family passwords and web browsing profiles based on topics. Web apps will now function like regular macOS apps, with support for notifications and the ability to be pinned to the dock. Other features include improved autocorrect, intelligent grocery lists in reminders, enhanced PDF form filling, and document scanning in the Notes app.
When will macOS be available for all?
Developers can access the macOS Sonoma developer beta starting today, while a public beta will be released next month. The official release of macOS Sonoma is scheduled for this fall.