While maintaining the familiar aesthetic of its predecessors, macOS Sequoia introduces a host of new features, enhancements, and refinements. Let’s take a look at what Sequoia has to offer.

Apple Intelligence

macOS Sequoia integrates Apple Intelligence across system and user applications to streamline managing text and images. This AI-driven toolset can handle tasks like text extraction from images, text formatting assistance, and real-time grammar checks. Text recognition is embedded in utilities like Preview and Quick Look, enabling users to copy text directly from images or scanned documents without extra steps. Apple Intelligence also offers suggestions for organizing and categorizing images, supporting more efficient library management.

Writing Tools, Proofread, Rewrite and Summarize

Apple’s Writing Tools suite is integrated across core applications like Notes, Mail, and Pages, providing real-time assistance in drafting, editing, and enhancing text. These tools are tailored to elevate the quality of written communication, addressing both style and clarity with precision.

Let’s take a look at some of the tools included.

• Proofread provides grammar and punctuation corrections. It requires users to select text and then choose Proofread from a popup menu, enabling granular control.
• Rewrite and Summarize can rephrase selected text or generate summaries, transforming verbose or complex content into digestible information.
• Formatting Options at the bottom of the Writing Tools menu, there are additional formatting tools, including options like Summary, Key Points, List, and Table, useful for organizing thoughts or preparing structured documents.

These tools are part of an effort to make macOS more supportive of creative and administrative writing tasks without requiring third-party plugins or apps.

Image Playground for AI-Generated Visuals

Image Playground is a versatile toolset for generating, editing, and enhancing images directly within Apple apps. It allows you to create visuals based on text descriptions, making it possible to conceptualize and bring ideas to life without needing advanced graphic design skills.

iPhone Mirroring App

The iPhone Mirroring app in macOS Sequoia enables users to mirror their iPhone screen to their Mac. This allows for better integration of mobile workflows with desktop environments. However, certain expected interactions, such as drag-and-drop functionality, are currently unavailable. Despite this limitation, the app still provides a convenient way to access mobile apps and content without switching devices.

Improved Window Management

Sequoia includes new and improved window management tools, allowing users to tile and resize windows more intuitively. Users can now view multiple windows side by side, similar to tiling options available on iPadOS, making it easier to multitask without losing track of active applications. This feature allows users to snap windows to specific screen areas and customize layouts more flexibly.

Presenter Preview and Background Replacement for Video Calls

macOS Sequoia has refined its video call capabilities with the addition of Presenter Preview and Background Replacement. Presenter Preview allows users to see how they appear to others on the call, while Background Replacement enables swapping out backgrounds for added privacy or professionalism. These features work in FaceTime and third-party video conferencing tools.

New Passwords App

macOS Sequoia consolidates password management into a standalone Passwords app. This application centralizes the management and storage of login credentials, including passwords and passkeys. Unlike previous iterations where passwords were accessed through the Settings app or Safari, the new Passwords app provides a dedicated space for generating, storing, and managing secure credentials. It also integrates autofill functionality for Safari and alerts users about compromised or weak passwords.

Highlights in Safari

Highlights in Safari is a feature that helps users save and organize web content in a streamlined way. Available on specific websites, it allows users to capture summaries or key points from pages, such as articles or product details, and view them in a concise format. This functionality enables users to access essential information at a glance, reducing the need for extensive scrolling and making it easier to process content quickly.

Smart Reply in Messages and Mail

Sequoia brings Smart Reply options to Messages and Mail, making it easier to respond to communications efficiently. By analyzing the context of received messages, the system suggests quick responses that users can select with a single click or tap. Smart Reply is particularly useful for short, conversational exchanges or email acknowledgments, streamlining communication without requiring extensive typing.

Enhanced Siri Capabilities

Sequoia’s Siri features have been advertised with advanced functionalities, such as contextual understanding and app-specific commands. However, not all of these features work as expected. For example, Siri’s ability to control warmth in photos and execute app-specific actions lacks full functionality in Sequoia, indicating that further updates may be necessary. Nonetheless, Siri remains capable of basic commands, contributing to hands-free operation in supported applications.

System Maintenance and Security Features

Sequoia also includes some enhancements to maintenance tools, including:

Firewall and Storage Management: Users have greater control over their firewall settings, ensuring secure access to network resources. New storage management options also make it easier to identify and remove large or unnecessary files.

Bootable USB Drive Creation: Sequoia supports creating bootable USB drives, allowing for easier macOS installation or recovery.

External Drive Encryption: Enhanced security settings allow for straightforward encryption of external drives, providing a safer environment for storing sensitive data.

Further Reading

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