Not too long after Apple released iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 into the wild, Apple is back at it again with the next big update for its desktop operating system. And as we've seen ever since this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, it means a lot of features from Apple's mobile ecosystem are making the leap to the desktop.
Along with the unveiling of the redesigned 14-inch MacBook Pro, Apple also revealed the all-new 16-inch MacBook Pro at its "Unleashed" event on Monday, October 18, 2021. While many of the specifications for the slightly larger laptop are similar to its smaller brethren, there are some noteworthy differences. And, as usual, it all comes down to just how much power you need. And how much you're willing to spend to get it.
On Monday, October 28, 2021, Apple hosted a pretty quick event, unleashing a brand new, redesigned 14-inch MacBook Pro and a few other things, too. Plenty of the rumors regarding the new hardware were spot on, save for a few missed spots. Like the fact the new laptops are only available in Space Gray and silver again, so new color options. Other than that, though, Apple upgraded just about everything else in these laptops, offering up a truly pro-level experience for those in the market for this type of hardware.
Earlier this year, when Apple unveiled macOS Monterey 12 to the world, one of the major bullet points in the features column was "Universal Control." It quickly became one of the more anticipated elements of the desktop operating system, which will let users use a single keyboard and mouse/trackpad across multiple devices. But Apple's making sure to set expectations (at least a little) ahead of the public launch.
Back in August, with about as little fanfare as possible, Apple announced a trio of new features coming to iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS 12 Monterey, and watchOS 8. There are three in total, each of which fall under the company's new, concerted efforts to help protect against child abuse and sexual exploitation. And while the features were seen as a positive move in general, when it came to the specifics of one of the new features, there was a lot of pushback. And apparently it worked.
The march towards a public release of macOS 12 Monterey continues. And, of course, the wide release of the other major software updates. And to get there, we must stay on the beta seed train.
Today, Apple has seeded the sixth beta of macOS 12 Monterey to developers. While this is obviously late in the beta process, it's still worth saying that downloading and installing the prerelease software still shouldn't be done on your primary computer. It's possible the software is still a little rough around the edges as Apple continues to tweak the formula ahead of a public launch later this year. What's more, this is the developer beta, so it's meant for registered developers.
One of the many features that Apple revealed earlier this year as part of the unveiling of iOS 15 is called iCloud Private Relay. It's part of the suite of new features bundled with an iCloud+ subscription. And while Apple stills plans to launch it later this year, it won't be as a ready-to-launch feature, but a beta to start.
When Apple unveiled iOS 15 and the other major software updates coming to its popular platforms, one of the many new features coupled with the new software is called SharePlay. With this feature, users will be able to quickly and easily share their screens while using apps like FaceTime. It's a handy feature, and the expectation was that it would be available at launch. However, that won't be the case after all.
Earlier this month, Apple revealed new features baked into most of its major operating systems. Each of them, of which there are three, are designed to help protect children against sexual abuse and exploitation. And while these are hailed as good things, on a grand scale, it's the finer details in regards to one of the features in particular that has many people concerned.
Sometime in the near future, Apple is going to launch the next major update to its desktop operating system. With macOS 12 Monterey, the company is welcoming plenty of changes to the software. Including some tweaks to the user interface and overall aesthetic. And that will apparently be the case for the iWork app icons as well.
It should come as no surprise that Apple has had to go out of its way a bit to offer more context related to some of the newest features coming soon to its major platforms. With it being centered around child protections, but using some invasive efforts to get there, people are concerned the company might be overstepping. In an effort to assuage fears and concerns, Apple's tried to shine as much light on the new features as possible.
Apple can make waves with all sorts of types of announcements. Take for example its recent unveiling of new Expanded Protections for Children. This is a suite of features, three in total, that are aimed at helping protect children from abuse and exploitation. It's also meant to give even more information and resources to those who might be at risk.