Published Jun 24th, 2024 2:13PM EDT
macOS Sequoia is the upcoming software update for Mac users. With beta 2, Apple continues its testing to release an official version of this system later this fall. These are some of the features users can expect to have once the final build is available.
For Safari, macOS Sequoia beta 2 brings the long-awaited iPhone Mirroring feature, which was unavailable with the first beta. This Continuity function allows users to fully access and engage with their iPhone right from their Mac.
Apple says that a user’s custom wallpaper and icons appear just like on their iPhone, and they can swipe between pages on their Home Screen or launch and browse any of their favorite apps. The keyboard, trackpad, and mouse on Mac also let users interact with their iPhone, and audio even comes through.
In addition, macOS Sequoia beta 2 brings the following:
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- Highlights: That’s an easier way to discover information on the web, such as directions, summaries, or quick links to learn more about people, music, movies, and TV shows;
- Reader: A redesigned Reader includes even more ways to enjoy articles without distractions, featuring a streamlined view of the article a user is reading, a summary, and a table of contents for longer articles;
- Video detection: When Safari detects a video on the page, Viewer helps users put it front and center while still giving them full access to system playback controls, including Picture in Picture.
With a new Passwords app, Apple wants to make it easy for users to access their passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes. In addition, iPhone Mirroring and Apple Intelligence functions will be available at a later date.
With macOS Sequoia beta 2, Apple is also adding the following functions:
- Messages have received major updates to improve users’ expression and stay connected. These include all-new text effects, emoji and sticker Tapbacks, and the ability to schedule messages to be sent later.
- Apple Maps introduces even more ways to explore the world, including curated hikes and custom walking routes. Beginning this fall, users can browse thousands of hikes across all 63 national parks in the United States, filtered by length, elevation, and route type, and save them to use while offline.
- Photos now surface Collections, which automatically organizes a user’s library by helpful themes. The search feature has also been updated so users can get results quickly.
- Note-taking in Notes is getting smarter, making it easier than ever to take detailed and well-written notes. New audio transcription and summarization features with Apple Intelligence enable a device to take notes for the user, letting them stay present in a situation where they need to capture details about what’s happening. And if they need to quickly crunch a number, they can just type in an equation to have it solved automatically in their note body.
- Calendar shows events and tasks from Reminders, making it easy to see, edit, or complete tasks throughout the day. An updated Month View makes it easier to see events and reminders for an entire month at a glance.
Alongside macOS Sequoia beta 2, Apple is also releasing the second testing versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2.
José is a Tech News Reporter at BGR. He has previously covered Apple and iPhone news for 9to5Mac, and was a producer and web editor for Latin America broadcaster TV Globo. He is based out of Brazil.
