MacOS Catalina brings much needed change to OS X

MacOS Catalina is here, and with it comes a whole host of changes to Apple’s venerable OS X operating system. Like its predecessor, Cupertino has chosen to make this an incremental upgrade rather than a revolutionary one. Functionality has now been extended beyond personal computing to include multi-device interaction.

The Apple Arcade, which is a gaming service for the iPhone and iPad is now available on the Mac App Store. This gives users unfettered access to a plethora of games for the Mac, which is playable on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV. This allows users to play their favourite games across multiple devices, which means they can pick up where they left off, on any Apple device.

Games on the Mac can be played with a keyboard, trackpad or mouse. There’s also support for Xbox Wireless Controllers with Bluetooth and the PlayStation DualShock 4 controllers, as well. This will allow for better flexibility when it comes to competitive gaming on Macs – if that is a thing.

Subscribers to Apple Arcade get the full version of every game and its respective updates and expansions. The service is being offered as a 30-day free trial for those who want to try it before buying. A single subscription will allow access for up to 6 family members with Family Sharing. Each will be able to access the service’s full catalog of 100 games which will be made available in the coming weeks.

There also big changes to iTunes, which has now been replaced by three individual and dedicated apps called Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV. If you would like to know more about this, read IT HERE.

A new function called Sidecar, enables Mac users to use their iPads as secondary displays, or for drawing inputs. Not only will you have access to extra screen real estate, but you are now able to sketch or write on your iPad for work on your Mac. The link can be made through a wired connection that allows the laptop to charge the iPad, or wirelessly – which ever you find more convenient.

Added accessibility functions provide better usability to those with disabilities. Through the use of Voice Control, users can control their Macs and iOS devices with their voices. Hover Text displays high-resolution text in a dedicated window, and Zoom Display keeps one monitor tightly zoomed in while another at the standard resolution.

Mac Catalyst is a new technology that helps app developers build MacOS versions of their iPad apps. It aims to bring games that are available for iOS to the Mac, adding significantly to its gaming catalog. Screen Time, allows better parental management of access to websites, apps and activities of linked Apple devices.

Apple has also beefed up security for MacOS Catalina, allowing it to run on a dedicated, read-only system volume, which ensures critical operating system files cannot be overwritten. Gatekeeper, now checks all apps for known security issues and ensures that they get permission before being allowed access to user documents.

Macs with the T2 Security Chip now support Activation Lock. This allows users to erase or reactive their Macs if stolen or misplaced. There’s also the new Find My app, which helps users locate their lost or stolen machines. It will be able to help users locate their machines even when they are offline or in sleep mode.

It sends out Bluetooth signals that can be detected by Apple devices in use nearby, and then relay the detected location of the Mac to iCloud so a user can can locate it in the Find My app. This is a welcomed feature, which should help those who have misplaced their Macs, locate them before they fall into the wrong hands.

MacOS Catalina is now available to download for Macs that were introduced in mid-2012 or later. If you own an older machine, this free update won’t be coming to your device.