At the WWDC 2020 event, Apple has announced macOS Big Sur, the latest software version of Mac OS. It brings new UI and new features to key apps. The new OS version is named after the landmark in California, Big Sur. This is a major redesign to the UI after macOS X.
macOS Big Sur features updates to Messages app, Maps and some new privacy features. Apart from the software updates, it also brings new color scheme, rounded corners, transparent effect, full-height sidebar, translucent menu bar, floating dock, new app icons, new sliders, and checkboxes.
That’s not it, the Big Sur also includes all-new Control Center, similar to the one on the iPhone. This feature brings interactive notifications and redesigned widgets making it more comfortable to use. The core application, Safari gets more improved and adds new features. Tabs in Safari have been redesigned and shows more tabs on screen with the favicon. You will be able to customize the start page with custom background images and sections like Reading List and iCloud Tabs. Apple claims that Safari delivers up to 50% faster performance than Chrome on frequently visited websites. The battery life also gets up to 3-hour more for streaming videos and up to 1-hour more for web browsing in comparison to Chrome or Firefox. The new Safari browsers adds a Report button, which shows the trackers being blocked by the browser.
Coming to the Messages app, it has been updated like the one in iOS 14. Now, it has got the ability to pin conversations, pin contacts and a redesigned search feature. It also brings a new photo picker, GIF search, image search and new group messaging feature.
The developer beta of mac OS Big Sur is available at developer.apple.com and the public beta will be available in July. Supported devices are – MacBook (2015 and older), MacBook Air (2013 and later), MacBook Pro (Late 2013 and later), Mac Mini (2014 and later), iMac (2014 and later), iMac Pro and Mac Pro (2013 and Later).