It’s possible you’ll solely simply be getting your head round all of the bells and whistles of the newest macOS launch, however time waits for no man nor any Mac. In order positive because the solar units and the moon rises, macOS 14 is within the works someplace in Apple’s software program labs in Cupertino.
The subsequent macOS replace, like new variations of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS, won’t formally be launched till this fall. However we’ll hear far more about them earlier, after all, with Apple’s annual WWDC convention in the summertime your finest wager for the primary look of recent macOS goodies.
The subsequent model of macOS, a successor to macOS 13 Ventura, could include a number of new and up to date options — or find yourself being a ho-hum replace, at finest. Regardless, we’ll replace this put up as extra particulars about macOS 14 are found between now and the announcement.
Here is the whole lot we learn about macOS 14 — and some predictions and wishlist objects of our personal.
macOS 14 identify: What’s in a reputation? And the place?
For a few years, macOS (and earlier than it, MacOS X and OS X) variations had been named after cats akin to Tiger, Snow Leopard, and Puma. Starting with macOS Mavericks in 2013, variations began together with names of California places akin to Large Sur, Yosemite, and El Capitan. Apple will doubtless proceed the present naming conventions when macOS 14 is launched later this yr. Names talked about in previous years that have not but been utilized in 2023 embody Mammoth, Sequoia, Sonoma, and Redwood.
If Cupertino strikes in a special route, how about increasing macOS names past the California border? How does macOS Rocky Mountains or macOS Everglades sound? Or go even additional with macOS Milky Approach or macOS Mars?
macOS 14 is coming this yr, and it wants a brand new identify, however is it time for Apple to look past California for inspiration?January 5, 2023
Doable new options and the most recent rumors
The macOS 14 rumor mill remains to be very quiet because the yr begins. Nonetheless, that can absolutely change within the coming weeks. Whereas we wait to listen to information in regards to the replace, a superb start line for anticipation is to take a look at the iPhone and iPad and see whether or not any options on these units would additionally work on macOS.
Let’s begin with widgets. At the moment, these are situated within the Notification Heart on macOS, the place they’re hidden, making them much less beneficial. On iPhone and iPad, you may add widgets anyplace on the House web page; on macOS 14, maybe Apple will enable us so as to add these to the desktop and make them extra helpful.
Stage Supervisor enhancements would even be welcomed. The characteristic, additionally accessible by iPadOS on choose iPad fashions, debuted with macOS 13 Ventura. Although genuinely good, there stays a studying curve related to how finest to make use of Stage Supervisor on Mac. A wonderful place for a reboot could be so as to add some right-click performance to the thumbnails related to the characteristic; that will add readability to window teams or the shifting between apps.
With macOS 14, we’d additionally see extra cell apps soar to Mac. Final yr, Apple introduced the Climate and Clock apps to macOS from iOS. This yr, the Translation app could be an applicable candidate. Different cell apps would even be useful on Mac, however extra on that later…
Launch date
Assuming Apple sticks to its common schedule, macOS 14 will doubtless be launched in October or November. In 2022, for instance, macOS Ventura was launched on October 24. A yr earlier, macOS Monterey arrived on October 25. Through the Covid yr 2020, macOS Large Sur did not launch till November 12. The final time a macOS model launched in September was in 2018, when macOS Mojave was launched on September 24.
Beta testers will first get their arms on the macOS beta launch earlier, nevertheless, after it is (virtually actually) introduced at this yr’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC), which is able to doubtless kick off on Monday, June 5.
Supported units
Every time new variations of macOS are launched, older Macs are left behind by way of compatibility. Usually (however not formally), Macs are likely to assist the most recent model of macOS for not less than seven years from when the mannequin was first launched, together with the finest Macs in the marketplace, together with the five-star-rated MacBook Air (2022).
As we speak, the oldest Macs that assist macOS Ventura had been launched in 2017. This implies each Mac that helps Ventura may even work with macOS 14. However we’ll want official affirmation upon launch to make sure.
What we wish to see
There are numerous methods Apple might enhance macOS in 2023. We have narrowed our wishlist to 5 objects; this record will doubtless develop within the coming weeks.
Well being and Watch app integration ought to launch on Mac if solely so we will evaluation this data on a bigger display. There is a safety component Apple would want to contemplate to get this carried out. However as Apple’s new Superior Knowledge Safety for iCloud service offers, the corporate does have some expertise on this space, no?
Apple has carried out an admirable job of including new options to the native Mail app lately, akin to final yr’s introduction of the undo ship and schedule ship options. Nonetheless, a big Mail app design change is so as this yr. It feels stale in comparison with different apps on Mac, particularly people who jumped from cell lately, akin to Information, Climate, and Shares.
A extra user-friendly password/passcode supervisor would even be useful. Higher nonetheless, transfer this data from System Settings right into a separate app. That means, the new passcode characteristic might particularly discover a greater viewers.
It could even be nice to see the Clock app alarms synced throughout a number of units, or not less than an choice to take action. Whereas this hasn’t but occurred makes zero sense.
Lastly, Apple ought to discover a method to join and work together the Mac with its upcoming actuality/xrOS and Apple VR headset. The shape this may take largely is dependent upon what the corporate’s new AR/VR headset can do, however we will simply foresee having the ability to use Continuity options to work together with Mac functions whereas utilizing an Apple headset. There’s nonetheless heaps shrouded in secrecy round that launch, and there is monumental potential right here.
We’ll replace this put up typically. Till then, hit that bookmark, and test again for extra macOS 14 information and rumors quickly.
