Officially released last year, the macOS Catalina is Apple’s latest update to the operating system on all their branded computers. Named after an island off the southern coast of California, it claims to have a combination of new features as well as improvements on previous ones.
Some examples include a screensaver image of the titular island where the sky changes depending on what time it is in real time and a redesigned Photos app that is easier to use. But there are some hidden features macOS Catalina has that most users probably aren’t aware of that are just as amazing.
Movies And TV Shows Are Offered In 4K HDR
One of the major changes that macOS Catalina did was remove the iTunes app and replace it with three different ones: Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and Apple TV+. Of these, Apple TV+ has arguably gotten the most attention as it’s basically Apple’s answer to Netflix.
Aside from the original shows and movies Apple TV+ has to offer, a lot of the popular movies and shows that are available in general can be watched in 4K HDR. For those unfamiliar with these terms, 4K refers to roughly 4,000 pixels in the resolution of an image. Meanwhile, HDR means ‘High Dynamic Range’ or a higher visibility of color.
Quicker Access To The Picture-In-Picture Feature
Because many of us like to do more than one thing on our electronic devices, many of them come with a Picture-In-Picture feature or PIP for short. Basically, it allows two or more windows showing different things to be open simultaneously onscreen. What macOS Catalina brings to the table is an easier way to use the PIP feature.
For instance, Macworld magazine claims if a video is playing in a Safari browser just “Click and hold” on the search bar’s audio icon. There, one has the option to put the video in the PIP format. Additionally, QuickTime Player has an automatic PIP button.
Offers Support To A Second Screen Via Sidecar
In its traditional use, the term ‘Sidecar’ refers to a vehicle that is attached to a motorcycle so a passenger could ride in it as opposed to the motorcycle itself. So essentially, it’s two things that are joined together, which is the basic idea behind macOS Catalina’s new Sidecar feature.
What this means is that an iPad can now be used as a second screen to the Apple MacBook. Thus, it’s possible to transfer the assets on one device to the other either wirelessly or through a wire. For artists, Digital Trends claims Sidecar could prove especially useful for drawing as well as annotating an image.
Can Sync To iPhone Automatically To Stay Online
Ever had those days where the Wi-Fi stops working on one’s computer and refreshing the browser numerous times doesn’t seem to help? Well, macOS Catalina offers an alternative way to deal with this problem thanks to being able to automatically synchronize an iPhone with an Apple MacBook.
How it works according to Computerworld is one’s iPhone first must be set up “As a Personal Hotspot” since its cellular data can be used in place of a Wi-Fi network. Next, one has to make sure the iPhone is connected to the MacBook as an Auto Hotspot via the Network button on the System Preferences app.
Manages Time On Apps Across Multiple Apple Devices Using Screen Time
For families that have multiple devices that they either share or individually have, it’s important to keep track of how long each family member uses the devices let alone stays online. After all, one’s data plan may be affected by the length of a device’s usage.
On top of that, being online for too long may get in the way of important things like homework and other family activities. So macOS Catalina has a Screen Time feature, which limits how long apps can be used on Apple devices and communications. Now the latter element may seem unfair, but it’s arguably for the kids’ protection.
Biometric Authentication Is Possible By Connecting To An Apple Watch
Among the newer technologies that’s currently on the rise is biometric authentication, which means using parts of one’s body such as fingerprints instead of passwords for security purposes. This method is considered to be more convenient and safer despite its flaws.
Even Apple has implemented this onto their MacBooks with the Touch ID feature. With that said, the macOS Catalina offers extension of this feature for those who have an Apple Watch. So all one has to do is set up the Apple Watch to unlock apps on the MacBook’s System Preferences app, then double-tap the Apple Watch’s side button when authentication is required.
Allows Documents To Be Signed On iPhone/iPad
With the advent of touchscreens, it was only natural for electronic signatures to become popular. After all, it’s much easier to sign a document online using a stylus or even one’s finger rather than the cursor on a computer.
Recognizing this convenance, the macOS Catalina update allows one to sign online documents using either an iPhone or iPad. In other words, it’s possible to create the actual signature on an iPhone/iPad and then transfer it to a MacBook using a wire or wirelessly. Though much like biometric authentication, this method has also been debated in terms of its overall safety.
Screens Are Easier To Read Using Hover Text
As screens are getting bigger on mobile and electronic devices in general, it’s becoming increasingly easier to read things on the screen. But for those with poor vision, the size of the screen may not be enough. Fortunately, there is additional aid with features such as macOS Catalina’s Hover Text.
This can be enabled through System Preferences by clicking on the Accessibility button and then the Zoom tab. Afterward, move the cursor over something that’s hard to read onscreen and then press ‘Command’ on the keyboard. What happens is the thing onscreen will now be zoomed in and appear in higher resolution than before.
Uses Snapshot To Restore Mac After A Bad Upgrade
Though software upgrades may seem arbitrary, they are necessary to keep a system running while fixing any issues that may be present. But sometimes, a software upgrade may cause problems especially when programs that were being used aren’t compatible with the new system.
So macOS Catalina offers a solution to this problem with two features: Snapshot and macOS Recovery. In other words, an automatic ‘snapshot’ of the system is taken before an upgrade happens. Then if something goes wrong, it can be accessed through macOS Recovery by restarting the MacBook and holding the Command and R keys. By doing this, the MacBook will be restored to its previous state.
Locates Missing Devices With The ‘Find My’ App
In this day and age, it’s a common fear to lose an electronic device, whether it be a phone or a laptop. This is not just because they were expensive to buy, but also we greatly depend on them for various functions in our daily lives.
So how can a missing device be found? Fortunately, macOS Catalina includes the Find My app, which can track any Apple device even if it’s not connected to a Wi-Fi network. This is primarily done using Bluetooth technology, which acts as a sort of beacon on Catalina-updated MacBooks. Additionally, the Find My app can also locate friends.
