Apple recently announced in June 2019 at WWDC the newest version of the macOS operating system for its line of computers and laptops, the macOS Catalina. This release brings several innovations and improvements, but also several problems, which we covered in our article on the reasons not to download macOS Catalina.
Here we will talk about some of the new features of this operating system and what you miss if your Mac is not new or if you simply do not want to upgrade new version.
1. Sidecar tool
This is a welcome addition to Apple's newest operating systems. It allows users to use their iPad as a second screen for their Mac computer; To use the tool, you need Mac and iPad 2016 or later with macOS Catalina and iPadOS 13, respectively.
To use it quite simply, since all you need to enable the feature Airplayon the Mac that will appear compatible iPads. Instead, you can also simply click the green expand button and move the window to the other device.
It is a tool that works completely wirelessly but may have some delay if used in this way, so it is recommended to use it with your cable connected to your Mac. For wireless mode, the internet connection should be good and the distance limit is 10 meters. .
It works just like any other secondary monitor, allowing you to drag windows between them and interact with both via the Macbook trackpad or any connected USB mouse. It does not support touch gestures, but allows you to use Apple Pencil to control devices or to make the iPad a drafting table.
2. Time of use
It is a tool that has been available for iOS since 2018 and has now been included in macOS Catalina in 2019. It works by monitoring how much time the user spends on his computer and what applications. It also allows you to restrict the use time of specific apps or to ensure that any apps can be used without restrictions.
To activate, just go to“System Preferences”, “Time of Use”, Opes and “Enable”. In the options you can also enable Usage Time sharing with all your devices to better monitor the time spent using them.
3. Search
It is a fairly old tool, but it did not have a specific application for its computers and was finally included in macOS Catalina. It allows the user to find any device whose location is shared with him, ensuring the safety of his friends and family.
To enable this setting on iOS, go to"Settings","Privacy“,“Services of Location ”, "Settings", "Search"and finally,“Share location”.
J in macOS, to activate follow these steps: v in the menuApple,“System Preferences”,"Privacy",“Location Services” and finally check the checkbox “Enable Location Services”. This will allow you to find your Mac.
4. New apps to replace iTunes
Apple decided to shut down iTunes and instead put four apps on macOS Catalina, one for each of its features; They are Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Books.
Apple Music on Mac has an interface and icon that closely resembles those of iTunes, but simplified and improved. He has access to Apple's streaming service that uses the same name and in it you have access to everything you already bought on iTunes. To read more about the streaming service, we compared Spotify vs Apple Music.
The music app doesn't natively show the iTunes Store, but you have a way to enable it: just go to“Music”,Preferencesand enable the iTunes Store on the tab"General".
The podcast app has a very similar interface to the music one. Here you can listen to your favorite podcasts from where you were in iTunes, as the new app has access to everything you had purchased or subscribed to on the old service.
Apple TV, however unclear in name, works to watch any movies and videos you might want. Offers the ability to buy or rent movies and subscribe to TV channels you want.
Finally, on Apple Books you have access to the audiobooks you had, and you can keep up with them, as, like everyone else, everything you bought on iTunes from this type of content will be here.
5. Apple Arcade
It is an Apple subscription tool that gives user access to over 100 games for a subscription of $ 9.90 per month after the first free month. It is only available for iOS 13, iPadOS 13 and macOS Catalina. We even have a list of the best games in Apple Arcade.
By signing up, you can connect up to 6 accounts to play with; The service guarantees that you will not have any additional purchases within the games, so you pay this amount and have access to everything. You can play offline and share your progress across multiple devices.
6. New Photo app
The apple company has made several changes to the photo viewing program for macOS Catalina, including a change in the user interface.
The most notable change is the implementation of machine learning, or machine learning, to highlight the most important moments captured by the camera, such as parties and travel. In addition, it automatically removes low quality duplicate photos and allows organization by day, month and year.
7. Reminders
The new reminders app on Mac, but has been greatly improved to the latest version of the system. Many new tools have been added such as smart lists, taskbar with buttons to select time, date, locations and more, subtasks, different reminder lists, shared lists, more colors, search tool and reminders from within apps.
Smart lists are collections of reminders that are available on the app's main screen; there are four collections:"Today", which lists tasks that have their own end date,“Booked”, which lists all reminders with an end date, whether past or future,"Placarded", which is all the user has marked and "All".
Subtasks are a good way to add more detail to what needs to be done to complete a main task. They are a subsection of the reminders.
8. Voice Control
One of the biggest improvements that macOS Catalina has received is voice control, a tool that already existed in previous versions of the system, but in a much more rudimentary way. In its current iteration, it allows the user complete control of the device, be it Mac, iPhone or iPad, in its latest versions.
It has a fairly high number of voice commands that are already implemented and allows the user to add their own custom commands so that the computer can do exactly what it requests.
To activate quite simply, just tell Siri “Enable Voice Control”. If you prefer, you can also go through the settings: open the menuApple,“System Preferences” and "Accessibility". In the side tab, go to“Voice Control” and select “Enable Voice Control”.
If you do not know the available commands, just go to the voice control preferences and clickCommands. With it enabled, you can write documents, emails and messages just by talking to your computer.
Conclusion
There are a lot of great news that comes with macOS Catalina, which the user will miss if he doesn't have a relatively new Mac. These are very useful tools that help a lot in everyday life and even at work.
Of course, as with everything, it has its downside, but thanks to some of the improvements that this version guarantees access, it's probably quite worth it for you.
So what do you think about the tools you don't have without macOS Catalina?
Tell us what you think about our article and if you think this new version of the operating system will be good for your personal use. And remembering that if you want access to the best that computers have to offer, it's rumored that a new Macbook Pro could be announced next week.
