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Apple has now officially kicked off this year's WWDC 2020 and introduced the next big Mac operating system as part of the digital keynote - macOS 11 Big Sur.
Contrary to expectations, macOS 10.16 is officially becoming macOS 11 Big Sur. As part of the update, the UI has been redesigned, bringing it more closely in style to iOS. The statement reads:
Apple today previewed macOS Big Sur, the latest version of the world's most advanced desktop operating system. macOS Big Sur introduces a beautiful redesign that's completely new yet instantly familiar. Safari is packed with new features, including a customizable start page, elegantly designed and more powerful tabs, fast and easy translation, and a new privacy report. The updated iMessage application lets Mac users send and receive more personal and meaningful messages, as well as easily keep track of group messages and interact within group messages. Maps also offers an entirely new experience with immersive features for exploring and navigating the world.
macOS 11 Big Sur with widgets system and more
There are many small animations that make macOS Big Sur so special. Translucency has been significantly improved and the application icons in the dock now resemble their iOS counterparts. In addition, the Control Center is coming to the desktop for the first time. It offers quick access to brightness and volume, for example. The Notification Center has also been adapted to that of iOS and now has the same skills - such as grouping messages. The widget system introduced in iOS 14 will also be available in macOS 11 Big Sur. Both iMessage and the Maps app have been updated as part of this. Mac Catalyst is getting new features, including native screen scaling and updated controls. This should help Mac Catalyst applications to fit better into the platform.
Safari receives the biggest update in history
Under macOS 11 Big Sur, Safari is getting one of the biggest updates in history - according to Apple. This includes new features in iCloud Keychain, updates to application extensions and improved privacy options. Users can now set a background for the home screen, integrated translation and new tab management features. Similar to iOS 14, users can also use Apple's new translation service.
Compatibility
Finally, you will find a list of all Macs that are compatible with macOS 11 Big Sur.
- 2015 and later – MacBook
- 2013 and later – MacBook Air
- 2013 and later – MacBook Pro
- 2014 and later – Mac mini
- 2014 and later – iMac
- 2017 and later – iMac Pro
- 2013 and later – Mac Pro
The first beta version is available to developers now. The public preview of Big Sur will be released next month. (Image: Apple)
