Over the next few months, we will be sharing concepts from every major Apple platform. Last month we shared our concept for watchOS 8, and today we share the following, in this case for macOS. It includes all new apps, enhanced privacy controls, clearer notifications and more. But before I design this macOS concept, I wanted to find out what Apple might call this year’s release.
It’s very clear that after every major release of MacOS, Apple decides to improve some specific areas. This is usually reflected in the brand of the release. For the past few years, for example, we’ve seen releases like ‘Yosemite’, then ‘El Capitan’ or ‘Sierra’ after ‘High Sierra’. It made me think about what places in or around Big Sur might appeal to these types of macOS brands.
What should it be called?
Initially, I considered names like ‘Santa Lucia’, which is a mountain range near Big Sur. Big Sur’s backgrounds show many mountains and hills, so it seemed natural. But I decided to go back and look at Apple brands previously reported for MacOS names. One of them stands out in particular. ‘Monterey’ is a name that Apple’s brands have already had, and it happens to be the country where Big Sur exists. It is noteworthy that ‘Big Sur’ was one of the brands discovered at the same time as ‘Monterey’ in 2014.
Several other names included in the submission of the trademark have been used over the years, so a name like “Monterey” is a good chance. Some of the names used are: “Yosemite”, “Sierra” and “El Cap.” Other names such as ‘Redwood’, ‘Pacific’, ‘Diablo’, ‘Farallon’ and ‘Grizzly’ were included in the documentation along with several other future names.
The sheer size of Big Sur’s system recovery and Apple Silicon compatibility suggests that this year’s release will be smaller, likely to focus more on individual applications and small system improvements rather than structural changes. A name like “Monterey” suggests.
Manage cards and tickets
I’m sure there are people who will wonder why this app is even part of this concept, but in the long run it makes a lot of sense to have the Wallet app on macOS. Apple Card users should currently see status information within System Preferences or use the Apple Card website.
With a full-fledged Wallet app on macOS, you can easily track your transactions and pay off your balance. You can also organize your cards and enter them into different categories. In addition, we tend to collect a lot of passes over time that end up being used only once. These passes can be archived on your Mac so you do not have to worry about them on your iPhone.
Time to Kill Photo Booth
Photo Booth has been part of macOS for over a decade and has hardly changed. Over the age of 16, the app has been sitting in people’s application folders collecting dust. Memoji and Animoji are the future of fun on Apple platforms. This is the version of this generation of speed camera effects.
An app like ‘Memoji Studio’ can launch a standalone version of the Memoji iMessage app on iOS. You’re probably wondering how it would work on the Mac, without a true depth camera. Memoji Studio needs a new generation Mac with a real depth camera, but older Macs can still use the old school stickers, the Memoji builder and the Photo School effects.
Fitness + classes on the Mac
Apple is currently letting Fitness + subscribers follow their lessons on an iPad or Apple TV if they want to use a larger screen than the one on their iPhone. It’s a natural extension for Apple to take the Fitness + app on iPadOS and bring it to the Mac.
Your Apple Watch can connect to your Mac in the same way it currently does on your iPad or Apple TV. Just like your other devices, you can also use your wireless headphones to watch classes. Notebooks can also download different classes in case you are using your Mac somewhere that has no internet access or weaker connections.
OTA ingenious appointments
Due to the pandemic, it was difficult for users to have their devices repaired without endangering their health. Apple stores take even more precautions than most other retailers, but there are many issues that users have that they do not need to go to a store in person.
With the new Apple Support, app users can schedule an appointment with an Apple Genius using Facetime protocols. This is similar to using iMessage Business Chat, and you can currently talk to an Apple Support Specialist. With the new version for macOS, you can give Genius access to your Mac so they can show you how to do things or even fix your Mac remotely. They only have access for the duration of the call, and you will see all the things they do in real time.
Better for developers and testers
For the first time, Mac developers can test their applications via TestFlight. Users of the app can sign up to test beta versions of their favorite apps, send feedback and more. It works just as you would expect if you are an avid user on iOS or iPadOS.
iOS and iPadOS applications running on MacOS machines running Apple Silicon also appear directly in TestFlight on your Mac. They work just like on other platforms.
Two-factor made simple
With Apple Authenticator, you can connect your favorite web service accounts to the Keychain app on your Mac if you use Touch ID for authentication. When you sign in to a service that uses two-factor authentication, your Mac automatically generates a code with a touch of your fingerprint. No one other than the service you are logging in to will see your two-factor code, and because your fingerprint is required to generate a code, no one but you will be able to log in to your accounts. If you need to generate a code for use on another device, just open Keychain Access and generate a code with your fingerprint.
Apple Authenticator is more private than any other similar tool. This prevents others using your devices from seeing and entering your two-factor verification codes. It is much more secure than programs like Google Authenticator or Authy. And because it works just like traditional keychain entries, you already know how to use it.
Automator for the rest of us
Shortcuts are very popular on iOS and iPadOS, so it will only be natural that the app will be coming to macOS soon. Automator is incredibly old, albeit powerful. The new Mac application Shortcuts Mac will sync with all your other devices, and due to a catalyst many of them will be out of order on MacOS.
Automator users can still use the app’s feature via the automation menu in the sidebar. With a new folder you can see all your shortcuts that you use the most. There may also be a new web resource menu that makes it easier to install third-party shortcuts.
Take a lot of temperatures
One of the exceptional iOS apps that has not yet come to the Mac is Weather. We’ve seen the new weather widgets come to MacOS in Big Sur’s Notification Center, but a standalone app can be a great boon for users. Currently you need to use a website or download a third-party weather app to see a lot of data.
The best part of this particular version of the Weather app is the larger canvas. This allows Apple to display many places at a glance with a design similar to that of the new widgets.
Inadmissible, more action notifications
Big Sur really messed up the Mac notification system. Action buttons are not easily visible and often require extra clicks. With Monterey you could see all the buttons at a glance and these notifications could fall in the middle of the screen. You may be wondering why this makes sense, no? Well, Apple has removed the notification icon from the top right corner. It does not make sense to click on the clock to see your notifications.
With Monterey, you can have a new notification icon in the middle of the menu bar. Notification Center can appear in the center of the screen so that users do not miss important alerts. Not only will this make it harder to miss notifications, but it will be similar to iOS and iPadOS. Their notifications appear from top to bottom. Apple can dedicate the side menu that appears by clicking the clock on widgets.
More to love
This year, Apple can also improve systems they introduced in Big Sur. iOS and iPadOS have got some amazing new privacy indicators that let you know when your microphone or camera is on the right side of the status bar. Since the Mac has a green light that lights up when your camera is on, a camera indicator is not required. However, a microphone indicator is very important. An orange dot appears right in the menu bar as on iOS. Plus user interface elements are cleaner and more flexible.
What do you think of our MacOS Monterey concept? Do you still have ideas for names that Apple can choose? Are there any features missing that you think Apple could add this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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