Apple’s WWDC event this year was full of surprises, and macOS Monterey is now the talk of the town along with parallel announcements of iOS 15. Last year, Apple launched Big Sur, and it was a great move when considering the other Mac devices out there. We have witnessed that Apple was trying to make communication more synchronised between Mac and iOS devices.
We believe that the trend is going to continue with macOS Monterey this year, as well. If Apple follows the classic timeline, you can expect macOS Monterey to be released in late September’21. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t experience macOS Monterey right now.
If you’re lucky enough and your Mac device supports the system requirements, then you can sign up for the macOS Monterey public beta version. With the review of macOS Monterey, the integration among all the Apple devices is going to be stronger than ever.
Here’s everything about macOS Monterey; at least, what we know about the latest Apple sensation.
System Requirements for having macOS Monterey Installed
Generally, Apple doesn’t provide system requirements in detail. As expected, Apple has released a bunch of devices that will receive a macOS Monterey update this year.
According to the professionals at the Apple service center near me, macOS Monterey is going to be the honorary title-owner for supporting such a broad lineup of Apple Mac devices. Apple has even included Intel-based Mac devices to get the macOS Monterey update.
Here’s the entire list of Mac devices that can run on macOS 12 or Monterey:
- Mac Pro from late 2013 and later
- Mac Mini from late 2014 and later
- iMac from late 2015 and later
- MacBook Air from early 2015 & later
- MacBook Pro from early 2015 & later
- Apple MacBook from early 2016 and later
- iMac Pro from 2017 and later
So, if you have one of these devices, you can have macOS Monterey as soon as it launches. And that too without any additional cost, because Apple releases operating system updates for free. The public beta version of macOS Monterey is out for testing purposes.
Jaw-dropping Features of macOS Monterey
Apple has already depicted and demonstrated how macOS Monterey is going to change the perspective of Mac devices. The main motive of macOS Monterey seems to add more flexibility for Apple users, and every device of Apple will receive a similar software update. And, this is not just a concept as Apple has declared that it’s going to release iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 with almost the same features.
However, some special features will be available for the M1-based Apple chip. Here are some of the macOS Monterey features that we find extremely helpful.
FaceTime
Video calls from Apple will be universal and need to be appreciated when coming from a company like Apple. Now, Apple will let users share FaceTime video call links on different online platforms and chatting media. Thus, Apple users can share FaceTime conference links for Android and Windows users ahead of time.
Another ‘sharing is caring’ initiative is the SharePlay feature. Apple users can stream whatever they are watching on their Mac devices and let other participants watch. Apart from sharing videos on FaceTime, you can also share the audio that you’re listening to.
Additionally, audio and video enhancements are there. Wide Spectrum and Voice Isolation are two modes for microphones. The Wide spectrum feature lets you pay attention to the discrete noises, and voice isolation lets you concentrate on the voice only. Spatial Audio mode is there for understanding from which direction the voice is coming.
Moreover, the portrait mode will blur out the surroundings around you. And, participants of the FaceTime call will clearly see you. The credit goes to the Neural engine technology of Apple for realising the portrait effect inspired by the iPhone camera models.
Universal Control
Have you ever felt the necessity for universal control while handling mouse and keyboard and switching between an iPad and Mac? Well, Apple realised your requirements, and macOS Monterey would be launched with universal control for Apple devices. With enabled universal control, Mac users can now easily switch from iPad to Mac and vice versa.
Additionally, file transfers have gone too easy with drag and drop features. The interesting fact about universal control is that you need no additional setup. Just move your cursor as if you’re replacing your folder, and you’re done.
Focus
This productivity tool will come to Mac, too. With macOS Monterey, Focus will be introduced to Mac devices. This particular feature lets you decide on applications from which you’d like to get notifications when you are busy. Therefore, your Mac might notify you only when you receive messages and emails from your workspace. If you’re busy driving, then you can set up a different Focus arrangement for answering calls or replying to emails.
If you have kept your devices silent, then it will reflect in your Focus Status. Others are trying to reach you will notice that you’re busy with your work and won’t bother you. If it’s an emergency, then they will be able to connect you, anyway. Apple is keeping the chances open for developers to integrate with Focus.
Shortcuts
Well, the wait is finally over for Mac users who have been seeking Shortcuts on Mac devices. With macOS Monterey, users can now set Mac-based shortcuts on their devices. One can easily run Shortcuts from the menu bar, Spotlight, dock, or asking Siri. Further, you can also use Shortcuts that you made on iPhone and utilise them on Mac devices, and vice versa is also true.
AirPlay
Use your Mac device as a display with macOS Monterey. You can cast content from iPhone, Mac, or iPad and watch it on another Mac device. If you own an iMac, you can use it for your laptop uses, as well. You can use AirPlay and its sharing feature wired or wirelessly.
Are you Interested in Installing the macOS Monterey Public Beta Version?
If you’re a developer and love to test new software updates, then the macOS Monterey public beta version is for you. However, make sure that potential bugs might annoy you from time to time. If you are fine with dealing with them, then you can definitely get it downloaded. Or else, you can wait for the macOS Monterey to be available for everyone.
Still, we are providing you with the steps required for installing macOS Monterey on your Mac:
- Start with backing up your device with the help of the Time Machine. So that, you won’t miss anything important when things go out of control.
- Next, go to Safari and explore the official apple page of the macOS public beta version. Choose macOS from the beta slider. Click the button that says ‘Download the macOS…Access Utility’.
- After downloading, open up the .DMG installer. It makes sure that your device comes under the beta version. Explore the tab of System Preferences.
- Go to the Software Update option. Once the update is complete, you need to install it. Complete the task by following on-screen instructions carefully.
Moreover….
The announcement regarding the macOS Monterey release was made on June 7, 2021. Though Apple didn’t particularly state the release time of Monterey, we can expect it to come out in late September. Last year, Apple released Big Sur in November’20. Therefore, we might have Monterey by the end of this year, positively.
