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Also new to Safari is the ability to separate the browser using profiles, meaning you can create a profile for work and another for your personal life. It splits your history, extensions, cookies, tab groups, and favorites, and it’s easy to switch between them.
Now you can also create web apps that let you turn your favorite websites into an app-like experience that you can place in the Dock. Instead of opening a browser window, these web apps launch and act like traditional macOS apps when you click on them. You can receive notifications from them and even segment them in tools like Stage Manager.
Additionally, Apple makes it easy to share passwords with shared accounts. When you create a group, everyone can add and edit passwords and share them via iCloud Keychain (with end-to-end encryption).
More with messages
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As with iOS 17, Apple brought some new updates to the Messages app. Starting with inline replies first introduced with iOS 14, you can swipe right to quickly reply to a specific message instead of having to long-press it each time.
Improvements have been made to searching within Messages. Every time you search for something, the results are now divided into categories like people, keywords, photos, and links, making it easier to search. There’s also a one-time password cleanup feature that automatically removes one-time passwords via AutoFill, helping clean up your conversations list. The company is also making a big push into stickers. All the stickers you create with iOS or iPadOS (including Live Stickers created with Live Photos) are now also accessible on your Mac.
Game mode
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Gaming on an M series Mac? You’ll appreciate the new Game Mode feature for graphics-intensive titles. Ensures that Mac gives high priority to the CPU and GPU while gaming, delivering a smoother experience with consistent frame rates. It also reduces audio latency when using AirPods and reduces input latency with compatible PlayStation and Xbox controllers.
Communication security features
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To prevent people from unexpectedly seeing sensitive images in Messages, AirDrop, FaceTime messages, and third-party apps, users now have the option to enable a Sensitive Content Warning. That way, photos and videos containing nudity will be blurred, with the option to choose whether you want to see them and the ability to block the contact who sent them. Expanded communications safety features for children in iOS 15, parents and guardians can also blur sensitive videos (as well as photos) that their children send or receive. The feature also works with the Photos app when it is opened within Messages.
New screen protectors
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If you love the preloaded screen protectors that come with your Mac, you’ll be happy to know there are new options here. There are slow-motion videos from locations around the world, including Arizona, California, and Hong Kong. The login prompt has also been moved to the bottom of the screen, so it no longer interferes with the image on the screen.
An improved writing experience
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It’s no secret that Apple’s AutoCorrect isn’t the most accurate. And regardless of whether you’re on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it can be a very frustrating feature. Using “enhanced on-device language models,” autocorrect fixes typos more accurately. Autocorrected words are now also temporarily underlined, making it easier to keep up with changes as you type. With a new online predictive text capability, you’ll also see single- and multi-word predictions based on what you’re typing to help you finish the message faster.
Accessibility features
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MacOS Sonoma includes a wide range of new accessibility features for visual, cognitive and speech support. Among the list of capabilities are phonetic suggestions that appear when dictating and editing text using Voice Control; animated images (like GIFs) that can be paused in Safari or Messages; Live Speech, where users can type messages to speak out loud during FaceTime and phone calls; the option to customize text size in Mac applications; and the ability to connect Made for iPhone hearing devices to your Mac (available on 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, 2022 Mac Studio, and Mac computers with M2 chip).
Transcripts with Apple Podcasts
Using the Apple Podcasts app, you can now simultaneously listen to a podcast episode and read the transcript in your mac. You can also do this within the transcription of certain lines and keywords. It is currently available for podcasts in English, Spanish, German and French.
Notes app updates
If you’re struggling to keep track of all your notes, you’ll be relieved to know that Apple has added the option to link them together. You will no longer have to scroll through the app to find what you are looking for. You now also have access to new text styles, including Block Quote (which offsets a writing section with a quote bar) and Monostyle Text (with inserted text and a visible background). For more layouts and formatting tools, you can also open a specific note in the Pages app.
New emojis
Photography: Emojipedia
With macOS 14.4, you now have new emojis to choose from, including a phoenix, a broken chain, a shaking head, a brown mushroom and more. You’ll also get four new family emoji, six people emoji now available in both directions (like “Person Walking Looking Right”), and four genderless family emoji.
Additional characteristics:
- Reminders: Prepare a shopping list? Reminders will automatically sort the items you add according to categories. It will also remember your preferences every time you change the way items are grouped. And a new Column View organizes sections into columns across the screen.
- Find me: You can add up to five more people to your Find My or AirTags network accessories. Aggregates will be able to follow the item on the map or play a sound to help identify the location of the item.
- Siri: The days of “Hey Siri” are long gone. All you have to do is say “Siri” to activate the voice assistant. This feature will only be available for Macs running an M-series chip.
- Photos: In addition to recognizing people, the Photo app can (finally) automatically recognize dogs and cats.
- Visual search: With the Search tool, you can learn more about the subject of a photo. For example, if it’s a photo of food, you can use the function to search for recipes for similar dishes. You can also use Visual Lookup on paused video frames.
- Starter app: A new Activity History feature now lets you see who closed or opened the door (and when), as well as recent activity from contact sensors, garage doors, and your security system.
- Apple Music: You can invite friends to join a playlist, giving them the ability to add, delete or reorder songs.
- Improved autocomplete for PDF files: You will be able to complete PDF files in Preview using improved AutoComplete. It will identify fillable fields, such as your name, address, and email, and automatically enter the information for you.
- Catch up arrow: Whether you’re in a group chat or a private conversation, receiving tons of new messages again is overwhelming. A new “catch up” arrow will take you to the first new message with a simple tap, so you no longer have to scroll up to find it yourself.
- AppleCare and warranty: You can now check your coverage for all devices you’re signed in with your Apple ID through Settings.
- Safari Favorites Bar: You can now choose to only show icons from your favorite websites. All you have to do is right click on the specific site and deselect “Show Title”. It will then automatically appear as an icon.
- Updates to Messages for Business: In Messages, you can now opt to receive updates like flight notifications, order status, fraud alerts, and more.