Apple has officially released the latest version of macOS – macOS Big Sur. Big Sur is one of the biggest updates to Apple’s laptop and desktop software in years, featuring a new design language including top-to-bottom redesign of the interface, icons, and menu bar, a new control center UI borrowed from iOS, widgets (also borrowed from iOS), and a variety of other improvements
What’s new in macOS Big Sur
Design
- New design for apps makes it easier to focus on your content and take action with space-efficient toolbars and full-height sidebars
- Updated menu bar features wider spacing and new translucent material that becomes more vibrant when you interact with it
- Refreshed system sounds include the boot chime and sounds for transferring files, moving items to the Bin, locking files and more
Control Centre
- Control Centre puts your favorite menus and controls in one handy place in the menu bar so you can quickly adjust settings as you work
- Additional controls appear when you click to expand Control Centre menus
- Support for pinning favorite menus from Control Centre to the menu bar
Notification Centre
- Updated Notification Centre brings notifications and widgets together in one view
- Interactive notifications display additional information and actions when you expand them
- Beautiful new data-rich widgets for Calendar, Clock, Notes, Photos, Podcasts, Reminders, Screen Time, Stocks and Weather
- Edit view lets you add new widgets and customise their size
- Support for widgets from third-party apps
Safari
- World’s fastest desktop browser with industry-leading performance and energy efficiency*
- Customizable new start page lets you set a background image and decide what appears, including Reading List, iCloud Tabs, Privacy Report, and more
- Expanded extensions support and new dedicated category in the App Store for discovering new extensions
- New tab design featuring favicons in tabs, and website previews that appear when you hover over a tab
- Translation (beta) for English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Russian, or Brazilian Portuguese
- Privacy Report gives you visibility into how Safari keeps your browsing your business, with an overview of trackers blocked by Intelligent Tracking Prevention
- Safari password monitoring securely screens saved passwords for any that may have been involved in a data breach
- Safari privacy prompts for extensions let you choose when a website can work with an extension
Messages
- Pinned conversations keep up to nine of your favorite threads at the top of the list
- Mentions let you direct a message to an individual in a group conversation
- Inline replies let you reply to a specific message earlier in the conversation
- Message effects for balloons, confetti, lasers, and more
- images help you find and add trending GIFs to messages
- Memoji makes it simple to create a personalized character and send stickers that match your mood and personality
Maps
- Guides offer recommendations for places to go and things to do, curated by a selection of trusted brands
- Look Around to explore cities in a high-resolution, interactive 3D experience
- Indoor maps for major airports and shopping centers
- Cycling directions help you find bike-friendly routes to your destination
- Electric vehicle routing helps you plan trips for supported vehicles that you add to iPhone
