{"id":72770,"date":"2021-04-07T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=72770"},"modified":"2021-04-06T17:03:37","modified_gmt":"2021-04-06T22:03:37","slug":"5-biggest-changes-in-macos-big-sur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/72770-5-biggest-changes-in-macos-big-sur\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Biggest Changes in macOS Big Sur You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Big Sur marked Apple\u2019s move to macOS 11 from the venerable macOS 10 (or OS X as it was known for many years). It\u2019s a huge move, a big redesign, and a paradigm shift that is accompanied by Apple using their own silicon<\/a>. What are some of the biggest changes that will affect your work? We\u2019re going to look at the top 5 changes in the latest version of Apple\u2019s desktop operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Mac Catalyst<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Mac Catalyst<\/a> allows developers to create Mac versions of their iPad apps. There are now big improvements to the ways iPad apps run on your Mac. The Mac versions designed for Big Sur, recompiled with Mac Catalyst, can now feature unique controls and run at native resolutions. This is a big improvement over the implementation in Catalina. This opens up big possibilities in the world of cross-platform apps. Honestly, the first round of Catalyst apps for Catalina left much to be desired. Developers really need to design<\/em> for the Mac experience. But now we\u2019re seeing some nice implementation of Mac Catalyst with apps like Jira<\/a>, so the future is looking brighter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Streamlined Mac Apps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The most visible change to Apple\u2019s operating system is the redesigned user interface. Apps now feature a more streamlined appearance. Apple has worked hard to remove as much unnecessary \u201cchrome\u201d as possible. The end result really shines in dark mode. Everything is much more refined and it feels superior in many ways to the \u201cnormal\u201d mode. The content of apps is allowed to come to the forefront, instead of the controls. In many ways, professional apps, like Final Cut Pro and Motion, set this as the standard, and the rest of the operating system is following suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Notification Center<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Apple got serious about improving the notification center. And boy did it need it. You\u2019ll now find controls just like on your iPhone. Individual segments of the notification center can be dragged into the menu bar, and it is much easier to interact with options on notifications. And the improvements to \u201cDo Not Disturb\u201d are awesome. All in all, this might be the most important upgrade to the moment-by-moment experience of using macOS. Anything that reduces annoyances while maintaining functionality is a big win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Improvements in the Messages App<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A lot of effort was put into improving the Messages app, and it shows. The ability to \u201cpin\u201d individuals and groups is a fantastic improvement. The Inline Conversations<\/em> feature feels overdue. And the ability to directly message someone by typing their name in a group chat makes it feel cutting edge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. App Store Privacy Reports<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Apple doubled down on user privacy for their App stores. Apps now feature Privacy \u201cnutrition labels<\/a>\u201d so that users can become aware of the trade-offs when they use an app. You can see how your info is used, what info is accessed, and how you are tracked. Now you can know if an app is using your data to track you across websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Well, that\u2019s the top 5 biggest improvements to macOS. It’s a big release during an important moment in Apple\u2019s story. I think it is worth checking out. I always recommend creating a Time Machine backup of your current setup before making the big upgrade. If you\u2019ve got Big Sur running now, let us know in the comments your favorite features!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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