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The All-New macOS 12 Monterey

The new macOS is here! If you own a Mac, you probably have received an alert informing you of the new software update.

paul-bush
written by paul bush posted on December 23, 2021

Everything About the All-New macOS 12 Monterey

Wow! The new macOS is here! If you own a Mac, you probably have received an alert informing you of the new software update.

How to Install macOS 12 Monterey

Before you download the new macOS, you should confirm Mac’s compatibility.

The following Mac models are compatible with the macOS 12 Monterey:

  • MacBook Air; Early 2015 models and later
  • MacBook; Early 2016 models and later
  • MacBook Pro: Early 2015 models and later
  • Mac Mini; Late 2014 models and later
  • Mac Pro; Late 2013 models and later
  • iMac Pro; 2017 model
  • iMac; Late 2015 models and later

If you want to upgrade from macOS Sierra or later OS, you must have at least 26 GB of storage to download and install the new Monterey. If you’re upgrading from an earlier version, you will require a minimum free space of 44 GB of storage. But first things first….

Features of the macOS 12 Monterey

The new macOS 12 Monterey comes with the following new feature upgrades for Mac enthusiasts:

  • FaceTime upgrades
  • Spatial audio
  • Universal Control
  • Safari revamp
  • Shortcuts app
  • Live Text
  • Quick Notes
  • Visual Lookup
  • Focus Mode
  • Privacy enhancements

Facetime Upgrades

With the new upgrade, you can now invite your friends to join a call to see whether they are using windows or android devices by sending a link to them, but they need to have Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.

New visual features are also included in the upgrade; you can now do portrait mode and apply background effects to your calls.

Universal Control

You can now control your Apple devices from a single Mac control. For example, you can control your iPad using your Mac’s trackpad, mouse, and keyboard. It requires no setup, and devices automatically work in sync when placed next to each other. It also works as a drag and drop feature for sharing content from one device to another.

Universal control is currently unavailable but will be released later this year.

Safari Revamp

For those attached to their tabs, this feature works best for them. You can customize your tabs to create group tags and give them names based on their categories, like work, school, or books. The tabs are then synced across all your Apple devices running iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey.

In macOS 12 Monterey, Intelligent Tracking Prevention on Safari gets a revamp to prevent profiling from your IP address brought about by trackers.

Spatial Audio

Spatial audio is now compatible with AirPods, AirPod Max, and AirPods Pro. In addition, it comes with dynamic head tracking to create a surround sound, enhancing your listening experience. With this feature, the sound automatically adjusts according to how close or far you are from the device.

Shortcut App

The shortcut app was available on iPadOS 13 and iOS, but now it’s available on Mac. You can create new shortcuts or access shortcuts made on your iPad and iPhones from your Mac via the desktop editor. For example, you can access the “turn on TV” shortcut for your Apple TV from your Mac.

Live Text

Using a viewfinder, you can now highlight and copy text with the rear camera. You can grab texts from your images and paste them on iMessage and Notes apps. The new upgrade will recognize phone numbers from your pictures and websites, giving you an option to call them.

Visual Lookup

A visual lookup feature will identify different objects, landmarks, people, plants, cat breeds. Visual lookup works on the web, photo apps, and many other apps. BY selecting a photo of interest, right-click and go to the lookup option. Your photo will be identified in an instance. Visual lookup is achieved via machine learning and AI.

Focus Mode

The focus mode feature lets you stay focused on the tasks you’re performing without distractions. You have the freedom to limit the alerts and notifications that you receive on your Mac. There are different modes to choose from, but you can also create your own mode.

When activated, it lets people who want to message you know that you’re in focus mode, and this will synch across all your devices. Read more about focus mode here.

Quick Notes

You can now access the quick note app a lot faster and easier. You open the quick notes App by pressing Globe + Q or moving your cursor to the bottom right corner. This feature is compatible with iPadOS 15 and iOS, and you can share and control your notes with your friends, just like in Google Docs.

Privacy Enhancements

Apple is continuously updating its privacy policies with each new update, and this also applies to the Monterey update. Below are the new standard updates for iCloud and Mail apps in macOS 12 Monterey:

Mail Privacy Protection

Mail privacy features hide your IP address from email senders; by this, people cannot track your online activities and use them to determine your current location. Mail tracker apps are also disabled to prevent the tracking of mail and to protect your private data.

Recording Indicator

Apps with access to your microphone are displayed on the control center, and any time they are using the microphone, an indicator lights up on the screen to inform you.

Private Relay for iCloud+

Apple has introduced a new name for its paid iCloud services. The plan starts at $0.99 and offers advanced privacy features in addition to iCloud Private Relay.

Hide My Email

iCloud comes with a hide my Email feature that enables you to create random and unique Email addresses. When filling in web forms and newsletters, it enables you to hide your actual email.

Low Power Mode

Low power mode extends the lifespan of your battery life by cutting down the processing power and limiting power-intensive applications.

Find My Widget

There is a stand-alone widget for finding my App to see your friends and family locations in real-time. It can also be added to the notification center.

macOS 12 Monterey Release Date

The all-new macOS 12 Monterey was released to users on 25TH October 2021 and is only available to users with compatible Apple devices.

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Thanks to Kenny Riley with Velocity IT in Dallas for his help with this article.

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