Apple's next major update to the Mac arrives this fall, and is called 'Mojave' - here are all the new features

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Apple's next major update to the Mac arrives this fall, and is called 'Mojave' - here are all the new features

apple wwdc 2018

apple wwdc 2018

Apple senior VP of software engineering, Craig Federighi, introducing MacOS Mojave at WWDC 2018.

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  • Apple introduced the next major update to the MacOS operating system on Monday: It's called Mojave.
  • The new OS introduces a few major changes, the biggest of which is the ability for some iOS apps to work on MacOS - another blurring of lines between Apple's two main operating systems.
  • Apple senior VP of software engineering Craig Federighi stated explicitly that Apple isn't "merging" MacOS and iOS.
  • Otherwise, new features include a Dark Mode, alongside some new privacy-minded additions to the Safari browser.


Apple's next major update to its main computer operating system, MacOS, is coming this fall. The update is named Mojave, and it will cost nothing to upgrade.

Mojave brings a slew of changes to Apple computers, but the biggest change of all is something more subtle: Some apps from the iPhone/iPad (iOS) will work on MacOS. It's the latest example of Apple blurring the lines between its two main computer ecosystems - iOS and MacOS - and it starts with Voice Memos, Apple News, Stocks, and Home, all new apps coming to the Mac with Mojave.

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Some iOS developers will be able to bring over their apps to MacOS, enabling for easier interoperability between the two versions.

Before introducing this major change, Apple senior VP of software engineer Craig Federighi explicitly pointed out that this shouldn't be misconstrued as the "merging" of iOS and MacOS.

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"Are you merging iOS and MacOS?" he said. "I'd like to take a moment to briefly address this question."

apple wwdc 2018, mac os

Screenshot

"No, of course not. We love the Mac, and we love MacOS, because it's explicitly created for the unique characteristics of Mac hardware," Federighi said.

That said, starting in 2019, some iOS app developers will be able to move over their app to the MacOS platform using new tools created by Apple.

But that's not the only change coming in the next version of MacOS - here's a breakdown of everything Apple showcased, from "Dark Mode" to a major new privacy push:

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1. Four major apps from iOS are coming to Mojave.

1. Four major apps from iOS are coming to Mojave.

It's true: Apple is bringing a quartet of iOS apps to MacOS.

They are as follows:

1. Home
2. Voice Memos
3. Stocks
4. News

The apps act very similarly to how they do on an iPhone or iPad.

Home offers the ability to control various smart devices where you live, Voice Memos enables recording and easy access to recordings from your iOS devices, Stocks shows any stocks you're following, and News is an organized way to access news stories and browse topics from one place

2. Dark Mode.

2. Dark Mode.

MacOS can be a bright operating system, in the literal sense. It can be a bit jarring to use a MacBook at night.

For those of us who'd prefer something a bit easier on the eyes, Apple is introducing "Dark Mode" in MacOS Mojave. As you might expect, it makes the entire MacOS experience darker. It might not be a perfect choice for mid-summer, back porch laptop use, but it's a great option for late night computer use.

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3. Dynamic desktop.

3. Dynamic desktop.

In the morning, you'll get a look at the Mojave Desert with a bright blue sky in the background (seen above, left). In the afternoon, a slightly calmer version of the same Mojave. At night, you'll see the desert cloaked in darkness (seen above, right).

In so many words, dynamic desktop mode is an option in MacOS Mojave to have your desktop evolve with the hours of the day.

4. Desktop stacks.

4. Desktop stacks.

Messy desktop? No more!

As you can see above, the new desktop on MacOS Mojave "stacks" your files of the same type together. When you click on a stack, it expands out so you can select which file you'd like.

The concept of "stacking" files already kind of exist in MacOS, in the dock. Desktop stacks will act similarly, with files expanding out when the stack is clicked, albeit for groups of files on the desktop instead of in the dock. It's not just files of the same type that can be stacked — you can also group by date or by tag.

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5. Finder changes, including Gallery View and more data.

5. Finder changes, including Gallery View and more data.

One of the most commonly used tools on any Mac is the file system, Finder.

In MacOS Mojave, Apple is making a few nice changes. The first change is something called "Gallery View," which enables users to view far more preview information about a given file before opening it.

In the case of the photo above, the EXIF data is available in addition the standard stuff like dimensions and file size. That means you can see where the photo was taken, when it was taken, and what device took the photo.

6. Screenshotting.

6. Screenshotting.

The screenshot tool in MacOS is getting far more robust in MacOS Mojave. More than just screenshotting, it can be used to capture video directly.

By selecting a portion of the screen just like you would for a still image, users can immediately begin recording whatever happens in that area. To stop the recording, there's a little button to click in the top right of the screen. The video then gets spit out as a file, available immediately.

Traditional screenshots can also be pushed directly into editing software, as seen above, rather than users having to move the file manually.

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7. Adding more security protections.

7. Adding more security protections.

Apple spent a lot of time during its keynote addressing privacy — part of the company's ongoing offensive in the wake of the Facebook / Cambridge Analytica data scandal.

Most notably, Apple is taking aim at websites and internet services that track users. To that end, Safari users will see a new warning about websites that are tracking you when you may not be aware that they're tracking you.

Most notably, Facebook tracks the behavior of signed in users even when they're not using Facebook.com. That's because Facebook has plug-ins on many websites that use comments, or have "Share" buttons — those plug-ins are tracking your activity. Safari will now warn users when they're participating in this kind of activity, and enable them to opt out.

Moreover, Apple is making moves to cloak your Mac while you're using web services. In many instances, web services identify users by the type of system they're on (Mac/PC), the web browser they're using, and other non-personal identifiers. Apple is aiming to curb that behavior.

"Your Mac will look like everyone else's Mac." Federighi said.

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