macOS Sierra
Update: Apple has pulled the wraps off macOS Sierra at WWDC 2016 complete with Siri, picture-in-picture and Apple Pay integration.
With Microsoft’s Windows 10 heating up the PC market, Apple is bringing a free upgrade of its own with the launch of a new version of OS X for Mac packed with new features and improvements.
OS X 10.12 was officially revealed and renamed macOS Sierra at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). As expected, Sierra does much more than just providing bug fixes and performance updates, as we saw with the move from 10.10 Yosemite to 10.11 El Capitan.
So what’s in store for Mac users? Follow along and we’ll tell you exactly what you can expect from the next version of OS X – we mean macOS.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next version of Apple’s desktop operating system
- When is it out? Fall 2016
- What will it cost? Like the previous several versions, it will be a free update
macOS Sierra release date
Apple has gotten cycle when it comes to releasing new operating system, Typically they’re demoed and debuted during WWDC in June, a beta preview over the summer and having the final OS in our hands by November.
macOS Sierra seems to follow that same formula. Following its reveal in mid-June, Apple plans to release a developer preview in July and the final OS in the following fall.
Siri finally makes an appearance
The biggest new feature slated for macOS Sierra is the inclusion of the Siri virtual personal assistant. Siri was launched on iOS back in 2011, and Macs are surprisingly the last platform Apple decided to bring it to.
Just as with using the virtual assistant on iPhones, users will be able to simply command Siri and ask it questions with their voice. However, being on the Mac opens up a greater swath of options such as searching for files.
At WWDC, SVP of software engineering Craig Federighi demonstrated how Siri can help with sophisticated queries for files like, “Show the files I worked on last week about the off-site.” And from there users can narrow down their search based on tags.
Siri also has full access to other parts of macOS’ including applications such as iTunes, making her your personal DJ. Alternatively, Siri integrates with Safari to act on web searches.
By adding Siri to the Mac platform, Apple hopes to offer the same services for iPhone and iPad owners with a Mac.
What’s more, Apple opened has issued an SDK for developers to make their own applications work with Siri.
Continuity gets even better
Continuity between Mac and iOS is a big deal for those engulfed in Apple’s hardy ecosystem. Ever since its introduction, users have been able to pick up calls and text conversations from their phones and conveniently pull them up on their Mac computers.
With macOS Sierra, not only will you be able to access your computer from other machines including your iPhone, but if you need to copy something from one device to another, you can achieve that using the Universal Clipboard function. By copying something from one device, you can seamlessly paste it over to another. If you thought AirDrop made your life easier, this enhances the Apple ecosystem even further with yet another method of shuffling around files.
And, while TouchID isn’t coming to Mac anytime soon, auto-unlock is. As the name implies, this new feature will let you unlock your Mac by merely being in close proximity to an Apple Watch or iOS device.
What’s more, Apple Pay has expanded beyond the restraints of a 4.7-inch screen and onto PCs by way of macOS. Making an effort to compete with ecommerce services like PayPal, a “Pay with Apple Pay” button will soon be integrated in your browser with TouchID on a nearby iPhone or iPad serving as a means of quick authentication.
Better photo and video functionality
Finally we have the Photos app getting an overhaul in iOS 10, and because of the way Continuity works, the incoming features also apply to Mac. These include a new “Memories” tab for a more magazine-like viewing mode as well as an AI that automatically sorts photos either by people or topics.
Likewise, if you’re a skilled multi-tasker interested in watching videos while you work, you’ll be delighted to know that macOS Sierra’s picture-in-picture mode allows users to take their video windows with them even as they rotate between desktop screens.
Gabe Carey also contributed to this article
Source: techradar.com
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The ability to use larger fonts for the bookmarks bar, menus and tabs, would be a blessing. Overall, OS X is pretty darn good, as is.
Eh, I suppose this is exciting for MacOS users but, yeah, practically every other OS has had these things a while now? I can't understand why Mac users aren't angry at Apple.
Continuity barely works for me. It is still quicker to go get my phone. And the biggest missing link for continuity / handoff is continuing to play the current song from the current position on any device. Esp if you have match / apple radio. iTunes still doesn't save the position of a track and starts from the beginning if you close & open. Basics apple – BASICS!
looks interesting, i hope apple really innovate in this new os, if not then they're most likely recycle ideas or borrow ideas from windows and linux.
Bring back the Character Pallette as it was in 10.5 so we can use Opentype Fonts to their full potential.
Do we really need to fix things that aren't broken? Whats wrong with photos? What is wrong with Time Machine? And last I checked iTunes is a syncing app, no need to make it any simpler. I want iTunes radio back, new file system, a new/revamped interface mostly, not to mention speech recognition across all apps / system-wide would probably be a huge improvement by itself and honestly much better than Siri. I don't want to ask my computer questions… I want it to do things for me while I'm washing dishes… and I know macs have speakable items… but thats not enough. Our Macs should be far more intuitive than they are now… the past 3 major releases have been quite boring and far from impressive, last time I was actually impressed was when OS9 died and OS X came to life, everything since has just been fine tuning and nothing more.
Are Mac users clamoring for a newer version of Time Machine? I'm not. It works. I generally don't need to worry about it. It's there when I need it. So… And as for storing HD movies and TV shows, if you BUY them from any of the major digital stores (iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Vudu, etc.) you can delete and download them as you please. (Right? I'll admit I use mainly iTunes, so I may be wrong about the others.) So you're saying that Apple should expand iCloud for people to store their pirated content… Good luck with that. Maybe if you had made the case for HD/4K home videos captured on iPhones, but you didn't bring that up.
What I want, and can't see why it wouldn't be doable, is a Picture in Picture mode like they just added to iOS. Make it work with iTunes content, as well as web videos, and any other apps that want to use the API, so we can pop videos out of their apps/windows and have them on top of fullscreen apps, split-fullscreen apps, or the desktop, whatever we want! That's a gem of a feature and would benefit everyone from 11" MBA users to 27" iMac users.
Except Youtube (Google) will refuse to cooperate with it, of course.
other operating systems have continuity features? please provide an example of an OS that has the same integration with a mobile device.
As long as the new OS will work in my motorhome I am content.
>With Microsoft's Windows 10 heating up the PC market, Apple is bringing a free upgrade of its own
As if Apple hasn't been offering new OSX releases for free for the past few years already and that MS weren't the imitators with their Windows 10 free upgrade (which is a limited time offer)
I'd like to see IOS apps in the Mac App Store and Split pane view in finder.