macOS Monterey is Now Available

The Impact of Remote Work on macOS Development

The past year and a half has served as a significant learning experience for numerous industries. With a large shift of white-collar professionals from traditional office environments to remote work, the inadequacy of many home office setups for extended video conferencing has become strikingly apparent.

Despite a substantial surge in sales of PCs and tablets in 2020, consumer electronics manufacturers were not particularly quick to respond – a predictable outcome, given the lengthy product development and release timelines, with many new products still in the pipeline.

Introducing macOS 12 Monterey

Released today as a complimentary update for compatible systems, macOS 12 Monterey introduces several key features designed with the evolving landscape of remote work – and life – in mind. It’s likely no coincidence that this new operating system coincides with long-awaited hardware upgrades for Apple products, such as the MacBook Pro and M1-powered iMac, including improvements to their camera and microphone capabilities.

For Apple, this primarily impacts FaceTime. The company occupies a unique position in the teleconferencing space, as it doesn’t offer a dedicated business-focused platform like Microsoft or Google. Last year, Apple increased the participant limit for FaceTime calls to 32, expanding its capabilities, but a “FaceTime for Business” solution remains unavailable. Currently, it’s intended for personal use with friends and family.

Key FaceTime Enhancements

Apple’s video calling application receives several notable upgrades. The most anticipated addition is SharePlay, although its desktop release has been delayed and is now scheduled for later this fall. It is also expected to launch alongside iOS 15.1. This feature essentially provides a built-in experience similar to the “watch together” functionalities that gained popularity during the pandemic for streaming services.

SharePlay is specifically designed to support Apple’s own services, including TV+ and Apple Music, and will also be compatible with a selection of launch partners, such as Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, the NBA app, Twitch, TikTok, MasterClass, Zillow, Paramount+, and ESPN+. This represents a diverse range of services, though some prominent names like Netflix, Amazon, and Spotify are notably absent.

The feature synchronizes video and audio content, enabling users within the group to react to shared experiences in real-time. Volume levels adjust automatically based on the speaker’s audio, and playback is synchronized when a user plays, pauses, fast-forwards, or rewinds. Users can also extend the experience to a larger screen using an Apple TV.

A new screen sharing feature, comparable to those found in services like Zoom, allows users to present specific windows to other participants during a call. Spatial Audio is also integrated into FaceTime, utilizing the position of a speaker’s window to place their audio in a corresponding location. While currently a novelty, it offers an engaging experience.

Expanding FaceTime Beyond the Apple Ecosystem

A particularly interesting addition is the ability to join a FaceTime call from outside the Apple ecosystem. While functionality is currently limited, users can generate a link that others can use to join on Android or Windows devices through the Chrome or Edge browser. Joining a call does not require an Apple account, but a host must approve each participant after they click the link.

Advanced Features with M1 Chips

Portrait Mode is also new, mirroring the background blur functionality available in leading teleconferencing applications. Apple states that this feature leverages the Neural Engine found in the M1 chip. Both Portrait Mode and Spatial Audio are exclusively available on systems equipped with the M1 chip, highlighting the increasing integration of iOS features into macOS.

Safari Updates and Tab Management

Safari receives significant updates, including a substantial redesign. The most prominent change is the move away from the universal search bar.

The new “compact tab bar” conserves screen space by reducing tabs to smaller, discrete windows. Recognizing that such a change can be disruptive, Apple allows users to enable or disable this feature in settings.

Tab Groups allow users to organize and share collections of tabs, facilitating a more streamlined workflow. This feature can be beneficial for those who manage numerous tabs simultaneously.

Focus and Productivity Tools

Focus, initially introduced with iOS 15, enables users to minimize distractions based on activities or times of day. Users can limit notifications during specific tasks, such as meditating, reading, or working. These settings are automatically synchronized across all Apple devices, and silenced notifications are indicated within messaging apps.

AirPlay to Mac, a long-awaited feature, allows users to wirelessly stream content from their devices to a Mac using AirPlay 2. This is particularly useful for users with an iMac and its integrated screen and speakers.

Universal Control and Shortcuts

Universal Control, also slated for release later this fall, further blurs the lines between iPadOS and macOS. This feature enables users to seamlessly drag and drop items between devices and control both with a single keyboard, trackpad, or mouse.

Shortcuts, the latest feature ported from iOS, is replacing Automator, which will eventually be discontinued. While Shortcuts is simpler to use, it may lack some of Automator’s advanced capabilities. Apple is mitigating this by allowing users to convert Automator sequences into Shortcuts and will continue to support Automator while gathering user feedback.

Compatibility

macOS Monterey is compatible with iMacs from 2015 and older, iMac Pro 2017 and later, MacBook Air/Pro early-2015 and later, Mac Pro 2013 and later, Mac mini 2014 and later, and MacBook early-2016 and later.