{"id":86040,"date":"2023-06-27T16:08:30","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T21:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=86040"},"modified":"2023-06-27T16:08:34","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T21:08:34","slug":"first-impressions-macos-sonoma-beta-inspires-optimism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/86040-first-impressions-macos-sonoma-beta-inspires-optimism\/","title":{"rendered":"First Impressions: macOS Sonoma Beta Inspires Optimism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero.png 1280w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-213x120.png 213w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-284x160.png 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-190x107.png 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-750x421.png 750w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-548x308.png 548w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-364x204.png 364w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-230x129.png 230w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-100x56.png 100w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-213x120@2x.png 426w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-284x160@2x.png 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS-sonoma-hero-190x107@2x.png 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NOTE:<\/strong> <em>Betas being what they are (i.e. buggy, unstable, incomplete), should never be installed on any Mac that you are using\u00b5 for production work. Install at your own peril.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s been 24 hours and my first impressions o<a href=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/86010-widgets-are-the-defining-feature-of-the-new-macos-sonoma\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">f macOS Sonoma<\/a> are in. I&#8217;ll summarize by saying: For where it&#8217;s currently at, it&#8217;s surprisingly <em>good<\/em>. While all is not peaches and cream (notably, given its current Developer Beta release status), I&#8217;ve found several new features which have proven useful in my limited time using macOS Sonoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s start with the specifics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I installed the Developer Beta of macOS Sonoma on my 2018 Mac mini, with the following specs (i7, 32GB RAM, 256GB SSD) connected to an eGPU. This is the machine I use for writing, researching, and consuming content. I use this Mac as a secondary machine, with my main workstation being a 14&#8243; MacBook Pro (2021) model. Having a spare, older Mac affords me the small luxury of testing new software without putting my productivity at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apple&#8217;s new macOS weighs in at approximately 13GB in size. Installation, which was directly over top my macOS Ventura install, took roughly 10 minutes, and went smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86042\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px.png 1200w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-213x120.png 213w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-284x160.png 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-190x107.png 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-750x421.png 750w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-548x308.png 548w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-364x204.png 364w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-230x129.png 230w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-100x56.png 100w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-213x120@2x.png 426w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-284x160@2x.png 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_login_1200px-190x107@2x.png 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption>macOS Sonoma&#8217;s lock screen looks a lot like an iPad lock screen. The date and time are prominently displayed on top, while login information is now at the bottom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing I noticed after restarting my Mac is macOS Sonoma&#8217;s new lock screen; login credentials are now located on the bottom of the screen, similar to the lock screen found on both iPhone and iPad. Some will hate this, and others won&#8217;t. Me? I don&#8217;t hate it, but it did throw me off for a split second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2558\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86041\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop.jpg 2558w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-213x120.jpg 213w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-284x160.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-190x107.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-2048x1153.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-1400x787.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-750x421.jpg 750w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-548x308.jpg 548w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-364x204.jpg 364w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-230x129.jpg 230w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-213x120@2x.jpg 426w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-284x160@2x.jpg 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Desktop-190x107@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2558px) 100vw, 2558px\" \/><figcaption>macOS Sonoma&#8217;s desktop, with widgets on the desktop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><i> <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apple&#8217;s new desktop background feels like a more abstract take on Microsoft&#8217;s famous Windows XP wallpaper. (I don&#8217;t like it.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, Apple has many outstanding wallpapers to choose from, including several animated landscapes. When one of these is selected, the landscape animates while your Mac is in locked mode. Unlocking the Mac will have the animation smoothly glide to a stop, as you are taken to your Desktop. On my i7 Mac mini, which drives 3 displays via eGPU, the landscape animation was not without lag. I&#8217;ll chalk this up to optimizations which have yet to take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Widgets can be useful, but up until macOS Sonoma, the few Mac widgets I had in Notification Center were rarely checked on. (Out of sight, out of mind.) With macOS Sonoma, widgets can now be placed on the Desktop &#8211; and I, for one, welcome this long overdue feature. Keeping widgets on my Desktop lets me keep track of certain information in real-time, without taking away my focus. I have Date, Weather, Parcel, and Reminders widgets hanging out on the lower left side of my Desktop, with Fantastical&#8217;s calendar widget on the right. Incidentally, long-time Mac users may remember Panic Software&#8217;s Stattoo program, which offered similar functionality for older versions of Mac OS X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Widgets fade into the background when other windows \/ applications are active. You can specify the size of your widgets (large, medium or small) and place them on your desktop. Widgets can also be optionally displayed in a monochromatic color scheme, which blend better with your macOS desktop wallpaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"712\" height=\"260\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Widgets_monochrome.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86043\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Widgets_monochrome.jpg 712w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Widgets_monochrome-284x104.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Widgets_monochrome-190x69.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Widgets_monochrome-284x104@2x.jpg 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Widgets_monochrome-190x69@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\" \/><figcaption>Choose your widget style.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"237\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/monochrome_widgets.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86044\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/monochrome_widgets.jpg 545w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/monochrome_widgets-276x120.jpg 276w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/monochrome_widgets-284x124.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/monochrome_widgets-190x83.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/monochrome_widgets-190x83@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><figcaption>Monochromatic widgets take on the shade of your desktop wallpaper.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"537\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/widgets_full_color.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86045\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/widgets_full_color.jpg 537w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/widgets_full_color-183x120.jpg 183w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/widgets_full_color-284x187.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/widgets_full_color-190x125.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/widgets_full_color-183x120@2x.jpg 366w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/widgets_full_color-190x125@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 537px) 100vw, 537px\" \/><figcaption>Full color widgets stand out.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you place a widget next to another, they will line up, as if they were placed on an imaginary grid. Best of all, widgets can be interacted with. If you have a To-Do list, you can mark an item complete directly within the widget itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;ve ever wanted to access your Mac&#8217;s Desktop, amidst a busy collection of Finder windows and applications, you can now click on your Mac&#8217;s wallpaper to show Desktop items. When doing so, your open applications and Finder windows disappear. Click on the Mac&#8217;s wallpaper again, and your apps and Finder windows automatically reappear. I found this feature to be useful, but your mileage may vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"722\" height=\"1369\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Settings.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86046\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Settings.jpg 722w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Settings-63x120.jpg 63w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Settings-170x323.jpg 170w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Settings-100x190.jpg 100w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Settings-63x120@2x.jpg 126w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Settings-170x323@2x.jpg 340w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_Settings-100x190@2x.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 722px) 100vw, 722px\" \/><figcaption>macOS Sonoma features no visible improvements in layout over its predecessor. You can now, however, change your multi-display wallpaper with one click (finally).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re expecting a better, more logically arranged System Settings with expandable windows in macOS Sonoma, you will be disappointed. Literally nothing changed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New and improved in macOS Sonoma: on a multi-display setup, you can change all of your screens to the same wallpaper at once. This isn&#8217;t revolutionary; it&#8217;s another long overdue feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"578\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Pointer_Acceleration.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86047\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Pointer_Acceleration.jpg 578w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Pointer_Acceleration-261x120.jpg 261w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Pointer_Acceleration-284x131.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Pointer_Acceleration-190x87.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Pointer_Acceleration-261x120@2x.jpg 522w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Pointer_Acceleration-284x131@2x.jpg 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Pointer_Acceleration-190x87@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px\" \/><figcaption>Pointer acceleration is FINALLY built into macOS. Finally.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re coming from Windows, you might like macOS Sonoma&#8217;s new pointer acceleration option which adjusts the speed of your mouse (faster speed for long movements, and slower speeds for mroe precise movements).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>macOS Sonoma sports improved auto completion when typing within various Apple apps (NotePad, Mail, Reminders etc). I found this to be a useful time saver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"491\" height=\"521\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_text_size.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86048\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_text_size.jpg 491w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_text_size-113x120.jpg 113w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_text_size-284x301.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_text_size-179x190.jpg 179w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_text_size-113x120@2x.jpg 226w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/macOS_Sonoma_text_size-179x190@2x.jpg 358w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px\" \/><figcaption>Granularity in text sizing is nice to have. It&#8217;s not working (yet) in the Developer Beta. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>From an accessibility standpoint, macOS Sonoma will allow for more granular control when it comes to text re-sizing. Theoretically, you can set a preferred reading size for the Finder, Calendar, Mail, Messages and Notes. I say &#8220;theoretically&#8221; because I could not get fonts to re-size in the Developer Beta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"469\" src=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Safari_profiles.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-86049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Safari_profiles.jpg 850w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Safari_profiles-217x120.jpg 217w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Safari_profiles-284x157.jpg 284w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Safari_profiles-190x105.jpg 190w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Safari_profiles-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Safari_profiles-217x120@2x.jpg 434w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Safari_profiles-284x157@2x.jpg 568w, https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Safari_profiles-190x105@2x.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><figcaption>Safari takes a cue from Google Chrome and allows users to set up browser profiles to keep your directed searches separated.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Safari now sports new User Profiles, which allow you to separate your browsing for Work, Personal etc. I really like this feature, which has already been available on Google Chrome. Each Safari profile can be assigned with an icon and color to differentiate between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sadly, AirDrop still looks the same as it did in macOS Ventura. It&#8217;s disappointing that I can&#8217;t add my own naming \/ assignments to the machines on my network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enhanced autofill for PDFs is a welcome addition in macOS Sonoma. In my brief testing, this feature worked surprisingly well, and should be a big time-saver if filling out PDFs is part of your regular workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stage Manager still seems quirky, but the underlying animations for window zooms are much faster. I haven&#8217;t used Stage Manager much in macOS Sonoma, but it seems to work more consistently compared to macOS Ventura. That being said, I still find Stage Manager to be more trouble than its worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are undoubtedly more features lurking in macOS Sonoma that I haven&#8217;t touched yet. My initial impression is that macOS Sonoma seems to behave well and add some genuinely useful features. I was pleasantly surprised that I did not have to re-authenticate Security and Privacy settings for each of my applications when logging into macOS Sonoma&#8217;s Desktop for the first time. The ability to edit PDFs inline is immensely useful, as are interactive widgets on the Desktop. The improved auto-complete went from being annoying in previous versions of macOS to being truly robust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are other small niceties I&#8217;ve run across in macOS Sonoma, which I found helpful for end users. For instance, if you have a PDF from a sender that&#8217;s on your Mac&#8217;s Desktop, you can right-click on the PDF to reply to the sender. This will open an email already addressed to the recipient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s still early days for macOS Sonoma, but if first impressions are anything, for the first time in a <em>long<\/em> time, I feel cautiously optimistic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In our short time with macOS Sonoma, we&#8217;ve already found several useful new features that enhance the Mac experience. Here are our first impressions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":286,"featured_media":86238,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"class_list":["post-86040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-tips"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2 (Yoast SEO v20.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>First Impressions: macOS Sonoma Beta Inspires Optimism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In our short time with macOS Sonoma, we&#039;ve already found several useful new features that enhance the Mac experience. Here are our first impressions.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/86040-first-impressions-macos-sonoma-beta-inspires-optimism\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"First Impressions: macOS Sonoma Beta Inspires Optimism\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In our short time with macOS Sonoma, we&#039;ve already found several useful new features that enhance the Mac experience. 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