Like every year, WWDC is the unmissable event to find out all about the next new features of Apple’s operating systems. Especially since tonight was the opening keynote of the conference. You can read in our columns a presentation of the new features of iOS 16, with some focus on the Carplay system for cars and on Apple Maps. But another system monopolized a lot of time during this presentation: MacOS.
Read also – Apple announces the thin, light and powerful MacBook Air M2
The new version of MacOS was well presented this evening. Her name is Ventura. She succeeds Monterey. And it has been available since October 24, 2022, a few weeks after the new versions of iOS, iPadOS and watchOS. A beta version for developers was put online at the end of the conference in June by Apple and a public beta was deployed in July. It was followed by nine other betas.
Which computers are macOS Ventura compatible?
Like every year, some Macs will not be able to install the Ventura update and will have to stay with Monterey. Here are the compatible models:
- iMac 2017 and newer
- iMac Pro 2017 and newer
- Mac Pro 2019 and newer
- Mac Studio 2022
- Mac Mini 2018 and newer
- MacBook 2017
- MacBook Air 2018 and newer
- MacBook Pro 2017 and newer
And here is the list of computers that will not be able to install it:
- iMac 2016 or older
- Mac Pro 2018 or older
- 12-inch MacBook
- Mac Mini 2017 or older
- MacBook Pro 2016 or older
- MacBook Air 2017 or older
What’s new in macOS Ventura?
Here is a presentation of the most important new features brought by MacOS Ventura.
Stage Manager modernizes the management of multitasking in macOS
The main novelty of MacOS is Stage Manager, a new side menu that considerably improves the management of multitasking in MacOS. Until Monterey, minimized windows are stored in a dock that can quickly become cluttered. Internship Manager introduces a new sidebar gathering visual elements. Each visual element is a preview of an open window.
The idea is to improve the transition from one application to another. And therefore speed up tasks that involve multiple windows. You will therefore have less need to use “option + tab”. Internship Manager also replaces Mission Control which made it possible to create different “offices” to group together different applications associated with the same project. These virtual offices become “workspaces” also managed by Stage Manager. In addition, you will be able to use Stage Manager to pass elements from one application to another: paste a photo to a montage, for example, or transfer files, etc.
The “System Preferences” menu disappears with Ventura and is replaced by ” System settings », largely inspired by the settings menu of iPhones and iPads. Now, the window is divided into two parts: a left part with the different adjustment tabs (like on an iPad) and on the right the window with the settings. iPhone and iPad users will instantly find their marks here.
Continuity turns the iPhone into a webcam for macOS
Continuity is not really new. It’s an interaction system between Mac, iPhone and iPad that has existed for many years and has often been copied by Google, Microsoft, Samsung or Huawei, without ever really reaching the same level of integration. With Ventura, Apple is further tweaking Continuity with several new features.
First, it is now possible to transfer facetime call from an iPhone to a Mac running Ventura and vice versa. Then, the new OS allows to use an iPhone as an external webcam for a Facetime call. By using the main sensor of the iPhone, this greatly improves the visual rendering during an online conference. It obviously works wirelessly, the stream passing through your WiFi network.
In addition, it is possible to use some advanced functions for framing, such as portrait mode (to blur the background), studio lighting (to illuminate the face) and the centered frame (which follows the user when he is moving). Thanks to the use of the iPhone as a webcam, you can access a new function called desk-view. It uses the ultra wide-angle sensor of the iPhone to film what is in front of the computer. The main sensor remains focused on the user.
Spotlight can now search for photos
spotlight, MacOS’ global search engine, is greatly modernized with Ventura. First of all, the appearance of Spotlight changes with more detailed search results, whether local results (files, contacts) or on the Internet (music track, series, famous person, etc.). Preview is now compatible with Spotlight : Click once on a file found by Spotlight and press the spacebar to preview it.
With Ventura, Spotlight no longer simply searches for text or metadata. The motor can also look for pictures in photos in your library, images received by email, files stored on your hard drive and even on the Internet. The engine can also find text in images (a phone number on a business card for example). Finally, some quick actions are compatible with Spotlight, such as setting an alarm for example.
Shareplay is a feature that already exists in MacOS, iPadOS and iOS since 2021. It allows content to be shared live with another user. It can be a video, a piece of music or the screen of the computer, tablet or smartphone. In 2022, Apple extends Shareplay to other uses and other content. From this year, you will be able to invite friends to play a multiplayer game. The list of compatible games has not been communicated.
Messages on MacOS is inspired by the iOS version
MacOS Ventura also adapts some improvements made to iOS 16. This is the case of the application Message. It is now possible to edit and unsend an iMessage from a Mac. Obviously, this only works between a Mac running Ventura, an iPhone running iOS 16, and an iPad running iPadOS 16. The others will get a change notification. And it doesn’t work with SMS either. Additionally, you can now resubmit a read message as “unread”.
The Ventura version of Messages also integrates the Shareplay function. No need to go through Facetime to share the playback of a piece of music with friends. Now you can do it with the Messages app too. The Shareplay message of course integrates shared controls so that each participant can stop and resume playback.
Schedule a message send in Mail
With Ventura, the app Emailthe MacOS email management software, is enriched with several functions, some of which are inspired by Gmail and other email managers: automatic detection of a missing attachment, stop sending a message after clicking “send”, new global search engine, suggested reply to ignored emails, etc.
Sharing photos made easy
Along with Ventura, Apple is also improving the Photos app. And more specifically the functions related to album sharing. You can now share albums using iCloud. Once the album has been shared, you can of course modify its content: delete and add photos, edit photos, etc. Photos also offers an automated sharing function: very quickly share with certain friends the photos taken during an evening spent with them… Automatic sorting acts on people, places and dates.
With Safari, you no longer need passwords for websites
Safari, which recently became the second web browser by number of users, is also improving. Emphasis was placed on safety, with PassKeys (authentication keys in French). This system wants to replace password systems with a biometric ID (using Touch ID or Face ID). It remains to be seen how this materializes with sites that use passwords…
Another improvement: shared tab groups (Tab Groups). This is a system for sharing tabs and bookmarks with other people. In addition, it is possible to send iMessages and make Facetime calls from the web browser to the people you share these tabs with.