Today, Apple is releasing the macOS 12 Monterey update to all compatible Macs running on Intel or Apple Silicon processors. In this article, I’ll be showing you some of the top new features in this new macOS Monterey.
Compatible Macs
The following models of Macs are compatible with the new macOS Monterey update:
MacBook, early 2016 and later
MacBook Air, early 2015 and later
MacBook Pro, early 2015 and later
Mac Pro, late 2013 and later
Mac Mini, late 2014 and later
iMac, late 2015 and later
iMac Pro, 2017 and later
macOS Monterey New Features
SharePlay
One of the new features in macOS Monterey is SharePlay which just got to iPhone and iPad via the iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 updates. With SharePlay, you will be able to listen to songs, watch a movie, complete workouts together, or share your screen with your friends and family while on a FaceTime call.
FaceTime
macOS Monterey also brings some new improvements to FaceTime. There’s now support for spatial audio during FaceTime calls, so the speaker’s voice comes from the place they are located on the screen. Also, there are new microphone modes which include Voice Isolation to eliminate background noise, Wide Spectrum to allow the full range of sound to come in. It now has Portrait Mode which blurs out the background during a call. Group calls now have a new grid view.
Universal Control
This is a new feature just introduced in macOS Monterey, it allows you to use the same mouse and keyboard between a Mac and an iPad. The devices will need to be beside each other and the OS will automatically detect when you move the mouse to the edge of the screen close to the device you want to move to.
Live Text
This was a feature that debuted in iOS 15 and it has made its way to macOS. Live Text detects text in photos, and the text can be searched for, interacted with, or copied and pasted.
Visual Look Up
This is also a feature from iOS 15, and it can detect art, plants, animals, art, landmarks, and more in photos and helps you learn more about them.
Focus
Coming from iOS 15 also, Focus allows you to create custom do not disturb profiles designed for different activities, occasions, or certain time to get personalized notifications.
Safari
Safari has also been updated with a new UI, improved tab management, and increased privacy protections when surfing the web.
AirPlay
Now, AirPlay to Mac lets users with an iPhone or iPad share content to a Mac the way you’d to an Apple TV.
