Apple previewed the latest macOS version – the macOs Sonoma at the WWDC 2023 keynote. The latest version brings a rich set of features that elevate the Mac experience, from new screen savers and new powerful widgets to a better gaming experience.
The company also introduced iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10, along with new products like the M2 Ultra, M2-powred MacBook Air, the Mac Studio and Mac Pro powered by Apple silicon, and the Apple Vision Pro spatial computer.
“macOS is the heart of the Mac, and with Sonoma, we’re making it even more delightful and productive to use. We think users are going to love macOS Sonoma and the new ways it enables them to personalize with widgets and stunning new screen savers, see new levels of gaming performance, and gain powerful productivity for video conferencing and browsing with Safari.”
Craig Federighi, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering
macOS Sonoma
Get More Done with Interactive Widgets
Widgets are now more powerful and personal on Mac. You can now place widgets right on the desktop and access the widget gallery to find the one you want.
The widgets blend seamlessly with your wallpaper while your work in apps so you can stay focused on the task at hand.
Thanks to Continuity, you can enjoy the different iPhone widgets on your Mac, making the widgets more interactive.
Smarter Video Conferencing Experiences
macOS Sonoma brings enhanced video conferencing features that allow you to present and share your work more effectively within any video conferencing app.
Presenter Overlay elevates your presence by displaying you on top of the content you’re sharing. Additionally, Reactions allow users to share how they feel by adding balloons, confetti, hearts, and more to their videos.
Major Updates to Safari
Safari also has new features on the macOS version to enhance your browsing experience. The company introduces a significant update to Private Browsing including locking when you’re not using them. Additionally, advanced tracking and fingerprinting protections go even further to help prevent websites from tracking or identifying you.
It also introduces profiles to give you a way to separate browsing between topics, while keeping cookies, history, extensions, TaB Groups, and Favorites separate. This will come in handy for those that want to separate work/school and personal searching.
Safari also now enables the creation of web apps that behave like normal apps.
Games on Mac Get Even Better
With more Macs being powered by Apple silicon, developers continue to take advantage of Metal 3, bringing new titles to Mac. Among these include DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT, Stray, Fort Solis, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, HUMANKIND, Resident Evil Village: Winters’ Expansion, The Medium, ELEX II, Firmament, SnowRunner, Disney Dreamlight Valley, No Man’s Sky, Dragonheir: Silent Gods, and Layers of Fear.
MacOS Sonoma also introduces Game Mode which gives you an edge when performance is measured in milliseconds. It delivers an optimized gaming experience with smoother and more consistent frame rates. Game Mode also makes gaming on Mac even more immersive by dramatically lowering audio latency with AirPods.
Other features of macOS Sonoma include:
- You can connect with those closest to you with an all-new stickers experience, enhancements to features like search, reply, and groups, and syncing with Messages in iCloud
- Enhanced PDF functionality
- All-new autocorrect makes correction more accurate and easier to fix
- New accessibility features
- New screen savers
For more information, click here.
The developer beta of macOS Sonoma is available today via the Apple Developer Program, while the public beta will be available via the Apple Beta Software Program next month.
The release will be available as a free software update this fall.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
