WWDC 2020: macOS Big Sur 11.0 With New Design Announced

On Tuesday, Apple announced macOS Big Sur at the WWDC 2020 online event. The new desktop operating system for Apple Mac models now comes with an entirely new design which brings major changes to Safari, Messages, Maps and privacy features.

Safari is updated with features such as a customizable start page, powerful tabs, fast and simple translation, and a new Privacy Report. The revamped Messaging app lets Mac users send and receive more personal and expressive messages, and keep track of group messages and communicate easily.

Maps also provide a whole new platform for discovering and navigating the world with intuitive features. Apple also announced the latest iOS 14 along with watchOS 7 in the event.

1. Design

macOS Big Sur brings a lot of design changes after so many years. Colours, material and controls are modified to make navigation more efficient and easy for users. Dock’s icon has been redesigned to look similar like all other Apple Ecosystem OS. There is an all-new Control Center which allows quick access to many controls like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop from the desktop directly. The control center is now customizable also.

The notification center comes with interactive notifications, grouped notifications and redesigned widgets. All other core apps of macOS are also redesigned.

2. Safari

According to the company, the new Safari browser loads frequently visited sites 50 percent faster than Chrome. The Tabs in Safari browser are now completed changed which now shows favicons by default, more tabs will show onscreen and preview of the webpage by just hovering over the tab.

The start page on the new Safari browser is now customizable with background image, section and iCloud Tabs. Most importantly, the new privacy feature of Safari browser now brings more control to users like password monitoring, privacy report of each website and granting access to extensions for a limited time.

3. Messages

With macOS Big Sur, the messages app is also updated with the option to share expressive messages. It also allows users to pin conversations to messages list. Search option in messages now categories results into photos, links and matched terms.

An option to create and customize Memoji directly from the messages app is added. In group conversations, inline messaging replies option is also added.

4. Maps

macOS Big Sur brings many updates to Maps which includes Guides, 360-degree view, detailed indoor maps, Cyclic and electric vehicle route tracking. Guides come with two options i.e. trusted resources and custom guides to discover places like restaurants and parks.

The 360-degree view with a look around allows exploring indoor maps of airports and shopping malls. The cyclic and electric vehicle route can be tracked and sent directly to the iPhone.

5. Other Updates

Photos app comes with an improved retouch tool with machine learning and more editing options. Other updates include AirPods automatic device switching, Listen Now for Apple Music, Deeper web knowledge for Siri and much more.

macOS Big Sur Supported Mac Models and Availability

The latest macOS Big Sur will be available for below-listed models:

• 2015 MacBook and later
• 2013 MacBook Air and later
• 2013 MacBook Pro and later
• 2014 Mac mini and later
• 2014 iMac and later
• 2017 iMac Pro and later
• 2013 Mac Pro and later

macOS developer beta will be available starting today and the public beta will be available in July. Later this fall, the stable version of macOS Big Sur 11.0 will be available.