macOS is named after Monterey in central California this year. In addition to a number of cross-platform features taken from iOS and iPadOS, including FaceTime spatial audio and portrait mode, SharePlay, share with you, centralized mode and quick memo, there are also some features that allow Mac computers work more closely with other Apple devices.
General control
This feature allows users to use only one keyboard and mouse to control cross-devices under wireless connection. For example, using a Mac mouse to directly grab pictures and text drawn on the iPad from the nearby iPad, and then grab This machine is used.
No special settings are required when using it, just move the mouse horizontally to outside the boundary, and the mouse will move to the iPad. It is worth noting that unlike the Sidecar extension screen before iPadOS, the iPad under general control is still in the screen of the iPadOS program, but you can use the mouse and keyboard of the Mac to control the iPad program to close files, return home screen, switch pages, Use Spotlight for iPad, etc.
The general control can control more devices. The user can also use the general control to control another iMac, or after moving the mouse to another Mac, use the mouse and keyboard of that Mac to take over the control.
AirPlay to Mac
For a long time, everyone can project videos on mobile phones to Apple TV through AirPlay. But in fact, everyone’s Mac has a Retina screen with high image quality and wide color gamut. Why not use it? macOS Monterey added the AirPlay to Mac function, allowing everyone to cast iPhone movies on the Mac screen to enjoy, or project the screen to a big TV to facilitate meetings and collaboration.
“Shortcut” porting macOS
There are already many tools on macOS that allow users to write simple automation programs, such as Automator and Script Editor, but more people may be more accustomed to using shortcuts on the iPhone to create automation programs, so Apple decided to port “Shortcut” to macOS.
Apple provides a series of pre-built shortcuts for macOS to choose from. It also stated that this migration is just the beginning and it will take several years to eventually make “Shortcuts” an automation solution for macOS in the future.
Safari cross-device tag group
macOS Monterey redesigned Safari. In addition to making the address bar and toolbar more compressed and streamlined, it also added a tab group function for pagination. Users can create groups of tags for different themes for easy viewing. Safari also provides a quick way to switch tab groups.
Tab groups can not only be used across devices, especially on the small screen of the iPhone, Apple provides a set of UI that can switch pages as long as one hand dials the animation surface. The user can also send the links in the group to friends in the form of a list via email.
In terms of style, Safari will automatically change the color according to the style of the opened page, so that the web page and the browser are integrated.
In addition, the Safari extension plug-in on macOS Monterey can also be used on Safari on iPadOS and iOS, greatly expanding the functionality of mobile device browsers.
macOS Monterey, like iOS and iPadOS, launched a developer beta today, and launched a public beta in July and officially launched in the fall.