Come fall (or July if you’re the beta type) you’re going to appreciate macOS Ventura at its true worth.
Announced at WWDC 2022, Apple is finally improving multitasking on Macs, bringing your iPhone even closer to your Mac device, and tweaking common apps like Mail. Here are some of the best features coming to your Mac later this year.
Stage Manager: Apple boosts multitasking
Multitasking has always been a problem in macOS, and with Ventura, Apple is making big improvements. The operating system comes with a new feature known as Stage Manager. It sits on the left side of your Mac screen and can organize open windows and apps, so you can focus on what you’re working on.
Pra um software de tests pra desenvolvedores o Stage Manager no iPad Pro tá bem estável #WWDC22 pic.twitter.com/Hz2CmRIwhl
— Victor 橡木 (@chamavito) June 6, 2022
This is a big change from the current system, where if you minimize an app or send it to the background, you may end up losing focus on it. The app is buried behind what you’re working on or stuck in the dock, out of sight.
The new Stage Manager works similar to the Windows 11 Snap Groups feature in the Windows taskbar. You can group your windows in this area when working on projects and pop them up as needed from the left side of your screen. You can also switch between windows with Stage Manager, and send content from your desktop to an application with the latter’s Stage Manager shortcut.
Continuity Camera: Use your iPhone as a webcam
Chances are your Mac doesn’t have the best webcam, unless it’s one of the newer models. Well, with Continuity Camera, Apple wants to improve your video calling experience. That’s why it’s ranked second in our list of best macOS Ventura features.
What do you think of this update? the Continuity Camera to use your #iPhone as a webcam++ for your Mac. #WWDC22 #Apple pic.twitter.com/CTaPa0rsEp
— Numbers (@lesnums) June 6, 2022
With it, your Mac will be able to recognize and use your iPhone’s camera when it’s nearby. The phone can even connect to the Mac wirelessly, without having to wake it up or select it.
The best of all ? The excellent camera features of your iPhone will also work on your Mac. Portrait mode and ultra-wide angle lens will be unlocked by your Mac so you can look better on your calls and even showcase your desktop. You’ll even be able to use the new Studio Light feature, which can light up your face while dimming your background.
Continuity Camera works with iPhone XR or later, according to Apple. Continuity Camera also requires a Mac and an iPhone or iPad with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and both devices must be signed into the same Apple ID with two-factor authentication.
Mail app update
You’ve probably spent more time emailing on your Mac due to the pandemic. Third-party apps like Outlook have long been known to be more comprehensive than Apple’s Mail app, but Apple is finally updating the native macOS Mail experience with several useful new features.
Search has been improved to be faster and smarter, now fixing your typos and spelling mistakes. It will also give you quicker access to recent emails and documents. Also, you will be able to both schedule emails and cancel a message after hitting the send button. Not to mention settings reminders to go back on a message, automatic follow-up suggestions, and smart reminders for missing CCs and attachments.
Other novelties
Stage Manager, Continuity Camera and Mail app are the three main features of macOS Ventura, but there are many more. Apple has also optimized the Weather and Clock apps to match those of iOS and introduced a new System Preferences app to match that of iPhone and iPad.
Additionally, Spotlight has been improved, with cleaner navigation, faster performance, and the ability to transfer FaceTime calls from Mac to iPhone. Not to mention the new digital key password management system and gaming experiences. There’s even a new color calibration feature that ensures your Mac and iPad stay perfectly matched for those whose work depends on this precision.
Last year’s big Mac update, MacOS Monterey, launched on October 25. If Apple sticks to the same schedule, everyone should have all of these macOS Ventura features on their Mac by the same date in 2022.