- FaceTime Portrait Mode
- Maps options together with the 3D interactive globe and detailed maps
- Spatial Audio with AirPods (third-generation), AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max
- On-Device Dictation with offline processing
- Siri Text-to-Speech in extra languages
Now, let’s dive into all the brand new options in MacOS Monterey.
FaceTime Upgrade
MacOS Monterey spruces up video calls with new visible and audio options in FaceTime (most of which might be accessed by means of the Control Center in the higher right-hand nook of the menu bar). For instance, you’ll be able to apply Portrait mode to your calls—including a blur impact to the background to cover messy rooms. A brand new grid view additionally makes it simpler to see everybody on the decision directly. More importantly, you’ll be able to invite buddies utilizing Android or Windows units to affix in a name by sending them a hyperlink. They’ll have to be utilizing Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
As for audio, you’ll be able to change between Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes. Voice Isolation works greatest if you’re in noisier environments, as a result of it tries to dam a lot of it out. Wide Spectrum, then again, picks up all of the noise in your setting. That could be useful if the entire household is wishing a cheerful birthday to Grandma.
If you will have an M1-powered MacE book and any of the current-gen AirPods, you’ll be able to make the most of Apple’s new spatial audio too. During group FaceTime calls, you will hear folks’s voices based mostly on their place on the grid on the display screen; it is Apple’s try and make the decision sound extra pure, as if individuals are in the room with you.
Live Text
If you will have iOS 15 or iPadOS 15, you would possibly already be accustomed to Live Text. Using the rear digital camera on these units, you’ll be able to spotlight and duplicate textual content by means of the viewfinder. Is there textual content in a photograph? Just choose it along with your finger. You can then paste this textual content to apps like Notes and iMessage. Whenever it acknowledges a telephone quantity or tackle, it’s going to provide the choice to name the quantity or enter the tackle in Maps. This is now out there in MacOS. It would not work with the front-facing digital camera in your Mac, however you’ll be able to nonetheless use it to repeat textual content in images and paste it elsewhere. It’ll additionally acknowledge telephone numbers and web sites.
Focus Mode
Do you get distracted simply? Apple’s new Focus mode enables you to create profiles that restrict particular notifications and alerts in your Mac. You have the choice to select from the preset choices—Do Not Disturb, Commuting, Driving, Personal, Sleep, and Work—or add a completely new profile for hobbies like studying or gaming. There’s additionally a setting that routinely lets folks know in iMessage when you will have a Focus mode on (to dissuade them from messaging you). Once you activate a Focus, it’s going to set off in your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch too (although you’ll be able to flip this off in order for you). You can learn extra about how to use it here.
Shortcuts
Originally out there in iOS and iPadOS 13, the Shortcuts app is now out there on Mac. You can both use preinstalled shortcuts like “Take a Break” or “Shazam Shortcut” or entry ones you already made in your iPhone and iPad. For instance, I can now entry my “Turn off TV” shortcut for the Apple TV in my room and my “Heat the kettle to 100 degrees Celsius” shortcut for my smart kettle directly on my MacBook. You can also create new ones for your Mac workflow via the desktop editor.
iCloud+
If you have a subscription to iCloud, then you’ve already been upgraded to iCloud+ at no extra charge. The service gives you access to Hide My Email (which creates burner email addresses to limit spam in your inbox) and expanded HomeKit Secure Video support. It also includes iCloud Private Relay (it’s currently in beta with a final version coming soon)—a feature that encrypts your browsing history in Safari to keep your data secure, similar to a virtual private network.
Shared With You
If your friends and family have a tendency to send you tons of links and photos throughout the week, this feature helps keep it all organized. When you open apps like Messages, Photos, Safari, Apple Music, and Apple News, you’ll see a designated spot called Shared With You. It’s where all the content that’s sent to you will live, complete with the contact name of who sent it to you. That way, you can read that long article Dad sent after work, or peruse through the photos of your grandkids on the weekend.
Quick Note
With the handy-dandy Quick Note feature, accessing the Notes app is a lot easier. Just move your cursor to the bottom right corner or hold down the Globe + Q keys to open up a Quick Note. You can drop in links, photos, and more. It’s great for quickly jotting something down. MacOS Monterey is also compatible with the new collaborative notes feature introduced in iOS and iPadOS 15. Similar to Google Docs, you can add people to a specific note where they can edit and make changes (which you can see in real time).
Safari Tab Groups
Do you have an emotional attachment to your tabs? Well, here’s a feature for you. You can create Tab Groups that’ll not only organize all those open tabs but will also make your Safari window look neater. Using the Tab Group button, you can name each group based on categories like “Shopping” or “Work,” after which add tabs to every one. The characteristic syncs throughout all of your Apple units, so you will at all times have your Tab Groups at your disposal.
