Hands-on with macos Mojave
macos Mojave will not be catching many headlines, but it will certainly catch your heart when you start using it and realise the power that it holds…
We showcase all of the cool new features to get excited about!
Apple’s macos Mojave has been built to offer a faster, more reliable and even more useful experience than ever before. With minor tweaks to so many areas that come together to offer better security within a more efficient environment, it is obvious that Apple is concentrating on what is really important in an OS that you will likely be using for long periods throughout each day. The ability to leverage the hardware and software in tandem has until recently been unique to Apple, but even with strong competition from Microsoft there is little doubt that Apple will not be moving from its core philosophy any time soon.
There are no obvious clues to macos and IOS becoming more intertwined in the Mojave changes, even if the inclusion of Apple News, Stocks and other apps may suggest so, and there is not one new feature that could be considered superfluous in any way. Apple is concentrating on getting the core user experience right and reliability and efficiency are key factors. This is good news for Mac users as it means they will potentially be able to use their device for much longer, and of course the update will be free for all users. Compatibility with all that has come before is more wideranging than ever and almost all third-party apps will perform exactly as they should in Mojave. You should thus have little to worry about by the time the public release becomes available. Our early tests show that the classic ‘It just works’ line is truer in Mojave than previously and while some may see this as unambitious, it takes courage to make changes that are not obvious rather than adding features that catch the eye.
This is why Apple is Apple.
A more complete Finder
Finder is a staple of macos and in Mojave strides have been made to make it even more useful. The new Gallery View stands out, but there are other tweaks that come together in a fashion that maintains all of the familiarity you are used to. The new sidebar is cleaner and more logical and the amount of metadata on show is greatly enhanced which will help you find specific
“It takes courage to make changes that are not obvious rather than adding features that catch the eye. This is why Apple is Apple”
objects for projects. You can now keep folders on the desktop and your recently used apps will be displayed in the Dock for accessing at any time. When you combine these with quick actions and the ability to make changes to files without leaving the app, it is likely that Finder will receive even more use than it does already.
New preferences
There are new preferences in Mojave that may be overlooked unless you are pointed to them. For example, you can now select to use a random screensaver in System Preferences to add a little variety to your downtime. In the General settings the accent colour can be changed which works well with Dark Mode to give a personal environment to work within. Software updates have been added to System Preferences and when a new update is available it is a lot more obvious now. Bearing in mind that the updates often include crucial security features, this is a small, but sensible development. Aligned to this there are now more updating options which are a little more flexible than previously. Some options have, however, been removed such as Facebook and Twitter logins, but these are made up for by improvements to the international keyboard, remote platform switching and a new typing tab in Accessibility.
Facetime grows up
Facetime has received a much needed boost with an updated user interface and the ability to enjoy calls with up to 32 people at a time. Audio and video calls can be grouped together in the same conversation and all of the main Apple devices are supported such as ipads, iphones, Macs and Apple Watches. If you have not used Facetime much in the past, you may find that these changes go a long way to making it part of your daily Mac usage from now on.
iosification?
The consistency between IOS and macos has increased in Mojave to offer almost all
of the apps and features that you need no matter what Apple device you are using at the time. New Mac apps include Home, Apple News, Stocks and Voice Memos plus there is support for Homekit and Xcode 10 has been redesigned to make for an improved programming experience.
Being able to control your smart devices from your Mac is a boon for those of you who work on your Mac often at home and it finally means that you will not need to have your iphone next to you at all times. It sounds strange to talk about making a Mac autonomous, but it is also true that many of the technological advances over recent times have gone to IOS and it is great to see some of these changes transferred back to the Mac. Perhaps the greatest achievement is how the apps feel almost identical whether used on an iphone, ipad, Macbook or imac. Apple has nailed the interface on all of these apps to the point that they can be used without thinking thanks to the careful way they have been designed.
More secure
Focus has been given to security which makes a lot of sense with user privacy and the fear of hacking paramount in the minds of many, but Apple has made changes in ways that add little load to the effort you need to put in. Building on a reputation and feature-set that is way ahead of the competition in how your data is handled, some of the small security tweaks in Mojave will pay big dividends.
Apps now need your approval before they can access the microphone or camera
which may save you from putting tape over your Macbook lens. Enhanced tracking prevention should stop websites following you from page to page as you browse the web. Passwords are now automatically made stronger when suggested and Mojave will flag up new passwords that have been used on other sites. Even if you are very careful with your online usage it is true that the majority of us are not computer experts and these little nudges will not only enlighten, but give every Mac user a more secure environment to work and play within.
Safari gets a boost
Safari has been boosted in a variety of areas and is now more powerful and usable than ever. Besides the favicons in tabs option, passwords can now be shared via Airdrop and it is easier to change a password in preferences. Some tweaks have been made to the preferences panes including the removal of both the option to block pop-up windows and the plug-in section. Autofill ability has been added for one-time security codes and there are other small changes such as being able to view password information and see reused passwords in preferences. Fundamentally Safari will look and feel identical to the
browser you already know and love with some subtle tweaks around the edges to improve security and to make use just a little more convenient. For many Mac users the thought of using another browser will feel alien and this is justified because Safari is becoming more stable and enjoyable to use with each new macos release.
Apple Books
ibooks has been replaced by Apple Books and is essentially the same service as before, but it has a completely redesigned interface and feels more competitive with the likes of Kindle now. It may not seem as though reading a book on a Mac is logical, but with the Macbook now being so portable the enjoyment you can get from the bigger screen is actually compelling. When you open full-screen mode and sit back there is never a sense that you are reading a traditional paper book, but there are advantages to having your device resting on your lap and taking in the words and images this way.
It is not all about the interface though because the improved books experience in Mojave means that you are more likely to purchase new titles and then read them
on whatever device you have handy at the time. Whether it be your iphone while waiting for a train, your ipad when relaxing at home or if you need a break while working on your
Mac, Apple Books now offers more than enough content and reading chops to keep you informed and entertained in any given situation.
There’s more
There are some other significant changes in Mojave that are not directly related to users, but which can offer benefits over time as developers take advantage of them to create more advanced apps that fit within the macos environment. They can offer a wealth of entertainment and productivity and generally offer an improved experience no matter what you do with your Mac.
Metal 2 and Core ML 2 are significant advancements that bring a new level of capability to app developers and the improved CSS colour support will make apps and games pop no matter how complex and animated they are. You will notice the redesigned lock screen which is a little more refined than before and the new save and open panels. You may also notice the Touch Bar automator shortcuts and
“Metal 2 and Core ML 2 are significant advancements that bring a new level of capability to app developers”
everyone will benefit from the faster waking up when in sleep mode.
Of all the under the hood changes APFS support for older fusion and hard drives will bring faster and more reliable performance no matter what you are doing on a day to day basis and this will be especially advantageous on older Macs. This again shows Apple’s commitment to supporting its customers over the longer term even if it means less short-term gain in terms of product purchases. The longer view here appears to be to build brand loyalty by offering exceptional performance over many years and this can only be a good thing for the company, its users and the computer industry as a whole.
And the rest
It would fill a full magazine to cover all of the changes in Mojave, but there are many other tweaks that are
worth covering so that you know what is available now that was not previously.
Levels and curves swap spots in Photos will likely make you more willing to edit your snaps so that they are as perfect as
they possibly can be. In Mail, folders will be suggested for moving individual emails to just as you see in IOS. The DVD player app has received many tweaks including 64-bit support, Touch Bar support, a new icon and a brand new user interface plus there are a host of advancements in Siri. Homekit requests can be handled by Siri on a Mac and he/she can also locate saved passwords for you.
There is more flexibility included as well with Siri now having an understanding of motorsports, celebrities and food which may come in useful on occasion. The other changes are indeed worthy and
you will discover them over time, but it is safe to say that Mojave is a competent, fast and impressive update that ticks all of the sensible boxes we would like to see ticked.
It is worth noting how Dark Mode actually works because it would be a huge understatement to say that it is just a dark covering where there was light before. The sheer effort that has been put in to creating the new environment is astonishing and everything from the accents and casts to the glyphs are perfect examples of design that truly works. It is often said that good design has to be about much more than the visuals and that it has to work well to succeed and in Dark Mode this is true in every way.
Interestingly, when you switch between Dark and Light Mode there is no sudden visual change that makes you sit back and have to adjust to the changes. The consistency between the two is perfect the whole way through and you will notice nothing but the subtle colour changes when the switch is made. Again it highlights the
“It is safe to say that Mojave is a competent, fast and impressive update that ticks all the boxes we’d like ticked”
Apple approach which makes Macs feel less like computers than personal tools designed to work with you.
Mojave supports a wide range of Macs all the way back to models from 2010 which is somewhat remarkable when you consider the longevity Apple products can offer. The mid 2010 Mac Pro is supported as is the mid 2012 Macbook Air and the late 2012 imac. For any company to be
able to offer its latest operating system for free with support for products dating back more than eight years is perfect evidence that the higher price you pay for a Mac initially is in fact excellent value for money when the level of long-term support, the ability to work at full pace over many years and the sheer quality of the materials are considered. Mojave builds on all of this perfectly and will add to your Mac
experience and offer reassurance that you will be able to use the same Mac for many years to come. It is also quite possible that the next version of macos will work on exactly the same Macs that Mojave does now and with just a few new features and more security and power than ever before. Mojave is an excellent update and will feel familiar right from the start so you can start enjoying it today.