Apple has unveiled more details about its latest macOS 'Big Sur' operating system for Mac desktops and laptops. Announced during Apple's 'One More Thing' event, the new operating system will ship with the latest Macs, but will also be available for download on older models. As to be expected, the new macOS version also comes with a slew of new features that will be sure to appeal to Mac users.

First previewed at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in June, macOS Big Sur gets its name from the coastal region in California, and will be the seventeenth release of the Mac operating system. That preview revealed the new OS would have a redesigned look, updated privacy features, and improvements to Maps, Messages and Safari.

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The new macOS Big Sur completely revamps the look and feel of the operating system. The menu is taller and more translucent, apps have new icons, system sounds have been updated, windows are lighter, app sidebars are full-height, and so on. Also, the more-translucent navigation dock has been moved up a bit so it floats above the bottom of the display, which arguably makes it more of navigation raft than dock. The new operating system also includes new control and notification centers to help streamline the experience for the user. It also uses a cryptographically signed system volume, which protects against malicious tampering, and also allows for more efficient software updates.

Messages, Maps & Safari Updates

Messages on macOS Big Sur

Apple's latest OS will come with a major update to Messages, allowing Mac owners to better connect with friends and family. Users will be able to pin up to nine different conversations so they don't lose track of their favorite contacts. These conversations can also be synced across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Apple has also improved the search functionality so finding those old messages becomes even easier. In addition, there are new features for group conversations, direct mentions, inline replies and message effects. Users can also use Memojis or add trending images to their chats. Meanwhile, Maps also includes new features, such as electric vehicle routes, a 360-degree pan feature (a la Google Street View), and a new Guides section that highlights the best places to eat, shop and explore in a given city. Users can also create their own Guides.

With macOS Big Sur, Safari also gets faster. Apple claims its browser is now about 50-percent faster on average than Chrome. This claim is based on testing the U.S. tech company performed last month, using 1.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5-based 13-inch MacBook Pro laptops with 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, and the pre-release version of macOS Big Sur. The Macs loaded snapshot versions of ten popular websites in both the pre-release version of Safari 14.0.1 and Chrome v85.0.4183.121. It also promises more power efficiency.

According to tests using the same models as before, the new Safari provides an extra one and a half hours of streaming video and one hour more of web surfing than Chrome (v86.0.4240.75) or Firefox (v81.0.1). The systems were tested on a WPA2 Wi-Fi network connection with the displays' brightness set at 75-percent. Video was streamed at 1080p on Safari and 720p on Firefox and Chrome. Users can also customize the browser via the App Store, which now has a Safari extensions category. Not to mention, the browser also offers a privacy report to show how websites are tracking the user. Overall, macOS Big Sur promises a cleaner, faster, more streamlined experience, and will be available to download, starting November 12.

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Source: Apple