macOS Sequoia arrives this September. Here’s a look at my top 10 favorite features.
iPhone Mirroring
Access your iPhone screen from your Mac. Answer calls, read notifications, and launch iPhone Apps. Perfect for those times you’re on your Mac, and your iPhone is out of reach.
AI Writing Tools
Apple Intelligence (AI) promises several improvements across the Mac, iPhone, and iPad. New writing tools will be available anywhere you enter text. These tools include proofreading, rewriting, summarizing, bullet points, and an option to change the tone of the text.
Safari Highlights
Safari Highlights picks up relevant information from a web page and presents it in a summary that you can access by clicking on an icon in the address bar.
In the example above the browser is on a hotel webpage. The Highlights dropdown offers Directions, a Call button, a Tripadvisor rating, states if the business is open, and provides a map of the location.
Passwords App
Apple have finally created a Password App for the Mac. As this is the first iteration it’ll be missing some features found in dedicated password managers like 1Password, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Passwords App will manage passwords, passkeys, verifications, and security alerts and it will sync across devices.
Window Tiling
Clean up your workspace by arranging windows in side-by-side tiles. Now you can show more windows from a single App, or show more Apps on your screen. Window management can be controlled using a mouse, trackpad, or keystrokes.
Notes
Notes will see several improvements:
– Collapsible headers to simplify and hide text.
– Record audio with live transcriptions that are searchable.
– Text highlighting.
– Math expressions solved inline as soon as you type an equals sign.
Smarter Siri
Using machine learning Siri analyzes information on your device to provide a more personal experience.
– All new design that deeply integrates into the iOS system.
– Expansive product knowledge helps you learn how to use more device features.
– Richer language understanding, for easier interaction and more useful responses.
– Onscreen awareness lets Siri understand and take action with things on your screen.
– Works seamlessly across Apps.
Image Playground
Image Playground lets you create original images and Genmoji by:
– Turning a quick sketch into a related image using an Image Wand.
– Make custom memory movies in Photos.
– Create a new image based on a description or suggested concepts.
– Create an image from a person in your Photos library.
– Use different styles like animation, illustration, or sketch.
– Search for images using descriptions.
– Remove objects and people from images.
Drag and Drop Between Devices
Seamlessly drag and drop files, photos, and videos between your iPhone and Mac.
Better Security
.Most Apple Intelligence processing is done on your device as this provides the greatest level of security. When a request needs more data it draws on Private Cloud Compute; large server-based models running on Apple silicon. Here your data is never stored, it is used only for requests, and Apple provides a verifiable privacy promise.
Chat GPT is seamlessly integrated into iOS 18, but you will always be asked for permission before you use this outside tool.
Who Can Upgrade?
The following Macs can upgrade to macOS Sequoia:
- iMac – 2019 and later
- iMac Pro – 2017 and later
- Mac Studio – 2022 and later
- MacBook Air – 2020 and later
- Mac mini – 2018 and later
- MacBook Pro – 2018 and later
- Mac Pro – 2019 and later
Remember that only Macs with Apple Silicon clips will be able to use the new Apple Intelligence features.
If you need help upgrading, please call us at (310) 621-5679.
