New features of macOS Sonoma
Taking a cue from tvOS, macOS Sonoma now supports aerial screensavers that can also double down as wallpapers. Another headline feature of the new macOS is the desktop widgets. Previously, widgets were available in Control Center, now Apple has moved them right to your desktop. Importantly, users can also access widgets from their iPhones but both devices are connected to the same WiFi network. To make the user experience distraction free, the widgets will fade away into the background while working. During the demo, Apple showcased that macOS widgets are now interactive. The new interactive widgets feature on desktop is similar to the Dashboard feature that Apple killed some time ago. In a change of events, Apple also boasted of new gaming capabilities of macOS by bringing a new Game Mode to Mac devices. With Game Mode enabled, the games will be able to utilize CPU and GPU cores on Apple Silicon chips to their full extent. Also, Apple has announced that the Game Mode on macOS will bring reduced audio latency while gaming with AirPods along with twice the Bluetooth sampling rate with Xbox and PlayStation controllers. Popular game developer Hideo Kojima appeared on the stage of WWDC and announced that Death Stranding Developer’s Cut will be coming to macOS. macOS Sonoma also brings improvements in the video conferencing area with a new Presenter Overlay feature that puts the video caller in front of the screen. This will work with FaceTime calls, Zoom, and other third-party video conferencing apps. Lastly, macOS Sonoma also bundles improvements in Safari with a new feature that allows users to create different profiles for work and home. Also, users can now share passwords and passkeys stored on iCloud. The first developer beta of macOS Sonoma will be released today, soon after the event and the public beta will be available later this summer, Going by Apple’s trend, macOS Sonoma will be released for the general audience in the fall.
