11 Best macOS Monterey Features And Techniques

Several intriguing announcements for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac were made as WWDC 2021 ended. With the addition of features like FaceTime, Notes, and Universal control this year, the ecosystem becomes a little more coherent. In case you missed the keynote, here is a summary of all the new macOS Monterey features you need be aware of. Now let’s get started.

What Are the macOS Monterey Features?

The public beta of macOS 12 is scheduled to launch in July 2021, one month after the developer beta was made available when this article was written. You may install macOS Monterey (macOS 12) on your Mac by following this approach.

1. FaceTime

FaceTime is now considerably more powerful thanks to macOS Monterey features, and it is already well-interwoven with the Apple ecosystem. Let’s start with FaceTime Links, which let you create video chat links similar to Zoom and Google Meet.

The best aspect is that the video chat may be joined from any platform by anybody having a FaceTime link. It might be a Windows laptop, an Android smartphone, or a Chromebook. The Portrait mode is an additional function that allows you to soften your backdrop when on a Mac FaceTime chat.

FaceTime is also releasing spatial audio and voice isolation settings, which will lessen zoom fatigue and remove background noise, to elevate your Work-From-Home calls.

2. SharePlay

As a result of the pandemic, watch parties were extremely popular, and SharePlay was created to encourage people to interact and engage in more activities indoors. With FaceTime integrated, you may view movies with pals, play music with them, and help your grandparents with their computers.

Additionally, the capability would allow for synchronized playing, so that everyone would see the same content. Watching movies together won’t be like screen sharing; instead, all phones and devices will play the material natively and synchronize over FaceTime. This implies that before FaceTime sync starts, Netflix must be installed on your device.

3. All New Safari

On Mac, I’ve never used Safari since I find Chrome to be too compelling to give up. For those who are concerned about their privacy, Safari now includes a few features that make it an easy choice. First, some visual changes: Safari now features tab groups, integrated search in the URL bar, and redesigned tabs.

Speaking of other technical updates, Safari now has new privacy safeguards that hide your IP address and prohibit monitoring while you browse by utilizing Private Relay. Additionally, Safari would automatically switch webpages to HTTPS.

4. Focus Mode

Because it might be difficult to focus when working from home, Apple has added Focus Mode to the Mac, iPad, and iPhone. You may also design your custom focus mode in focus mode to suit your demands.

You have control over which applications receive notifications, which contacts’ texts you receive, and how long concentrate mode lasts. This is quite helpful for my workflow since it allows me to easily add Focus mode to my Mac while I’m working. Undoubtedly, this would lessen distractions.

Apple’s Focus mode mimics Slack’s notification system by alerting the sender when the recipient activates Focus mode. If the sender feels that the message has to be sent immediately, they might choose to notify “anyway.” When you don’t want to explain why you didn’t respond for six hours, this would be incredibly helpful.

5. Notes

Aside from the much-anticipated addition of hashtags to Notes, macOS Monterey features introduces Quick Notes, which embodies the spirit of note-taking. There is a tiny app included with macOS Monterey that opens a little note window so you may write down thoughts.

Although Quick Notes are stored in a different folder of the same name, you may sync and transfer them to your iCloud account just like ordinary notes. Simply slide inward from the bottom right corner to reveal the Quick Note window, then swipe outward to conceal it again.

6. Universal Control

This is arguably the most astounding feature Apple has added to the ecosystem, at least on paper. You can easily use your MacBook or Mac to control an iPad or another Mac using Universal Control.

The best part is that no setup is necessary. Simply put your iPad next to the Mac, move the pointer to the side of the Mac, and the second device will magically appear. You would also be able to drag and drop files between the two devices with ease.

7. AirPlay to Mac

It’s so simple to use your Mac as an AirPlay receiver that Apple ought to have included it years ago. Before this, you could only cast or stream media from Apple devices to an AirPlay-capable TV or an Apple TV. But with macOS 15, everything is different. With no difficult installations required, you can now cast the screen of your Mac or iPhone to another Mac.

We think this capability would be quite popular in houses where users would cast their iPhone displays to the living room’s iMac.

8. Live Text

With Live Text, which enables you to extract any text from a picture, Apple is fully committed to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI)-based image identification.

Yes, it performs just as advised. If you have a photo on your Mac, you can simply use the cursor to choose the text, number, location, or any other information that is included in the picture. It feels almost magical like it’s recording a real text, and it’s quite easy.

9. Shortcuts for Mac

With its clever integration of Shortcuts, a little automation tool, into the iOS environment, Apple has truly smashed gold. A simple and effective method for building highly functional automated workflows is via shortcuts.

Moreover, you might adapt your current processes in the Shortcuts app if you have been using Automator on a Mac. Making a list of the top Mac shortcuts and trying out the features are quite exciting to me.

10. Recording Indicator

I utilize my MacBook Pro’s small webcam slider to hide the webcam since you never know who could be peering through that opening.

A new indication has been added to macOS Monterey features that will flash immediately whether your webcam is in use or if you unintentionally leave it on.

You could click to turn off the webcam, and the indicator would be located on the menu bar. The microphone would also function in the same manner.

11. Custom Mouse Pointer

Although desktop modifications on macOS have never been a huge deal, there is a secret accessibility function on macOS 12 that lets you alter the cursor’s look. Although you can’t just make whatever changes you like, you can modify the color and size. Depending on your choice, the fill and outline colors might be the same or different.

Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display > Pointer, modify the size, and then change the color of the cursor.

Conclusion

Overall, the consistency and functionality of the Apple ecosystem are improved by the innovations that macOS Monterey delivers. Productivity and connection are increased with updates like as SharePlay, Focus Mode, enhanced Safari, and new features for FaceTime. While Mac Shortcuts and Live Text offer strong new features, AirPlay to Mac, and Universal Control enhance device interoperability. macOS Monterey, which includes extra security protections including a customizable mouse pointer and recording indicator, is billed as a revolutionary upgrade for consumers.