macOS Big Sur

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"macOS 11" redirects here. For version 10.11 of macOS, released in 2015, see OS X El Capitan.
macOS 11 Big Sur
Version of the macOS operating system
File:MacOS 11.0 Beta - About This Mac.jpg
macOS Big Sur's desktop in "light mode".
DeveloperApple Inc.
OS family
Source modelClosed, with open source components
General
availability		Fall 2020 (projected)
Latest release11.7.10 (20G1427)[1] (September 11, 2023; 8 months ago (2023-09-11)) [±]
Update methodSoftware Update
Platformsx86-64, ARM64
Kernel typeHybrid (XNU)
LicenseAPSL and Apple EULA
Preceded bymacOS 10.15 Catalina
Official websiteapple.com/macos/big-sur-preview
Support status
Developer beta
Part of a series on
macOS
Features
Versions
Applications
Utilities
Related

macOS Big Sur (version 11.0)[2] is the next major release of macOS, Apple Inc.'s operating system for Macintosh computers. It is the successor to macOS Catalina (version 10.15) and was announced at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on June 22, 2020, with public beta release scheduled for July and general release projected for fall.[3][2] It is named after the coastal region of Big Sur in the Central Coast of California. In a symbolic gesture accompanying Apple's transition of the Macintosh to a new CPU architecture,[4] the primary version number of the operating system has been incremented for the first time since the release of the Mac OS X Public Beta in 2000.

macOS Big Sur features a major user interface redesign, support for iOS and iPadOS apps, and is designed to take advantage of Apple-designed ARM processors in future Macs.

Development history

Providing some indication as to how the prerelease operating system was viewed internally at Apple during its development cycle, documentation accompanying the initial beta release of macOS Big Sur referred to its version as "10.16", and when upgrading to the beta release from prior versions of macOS using the Software Update mechanism, the version referred to is "10.16".[5][6]

System requirements

Unlike macOS Catalina, which supported every standard configuration Mac that Mojave supported, Big Sur drops support for various Macs released in 2012 and 2013. Big Sur runs on the following Macs: [7]

Changes

Design

macOS Big Sur introduces a refresh of the design of the user interface, described by Apple as the biggest change since the introduction of Mac OS X.[3] The operating system introduced refinements to the interface such as translucency and a new color palette. All standard apps, as well as the Dock and the Menu Bar, were redesigned and streamlined. The application icons were also redesigned to look more similar to those on iOS and iPadOS.[8] System sounds were redone as well.

The new OS also brings further integration with Apple's SF Symbols, enabling easier use by third-party developers as UI elements for their apps through UIKit, which makes it possible to unify third party apps with the existing Apple-made design language.[9]

Control Center

An interface with quick toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, screen brightness and system volume has been added to the menu bar.[8] This interface is functionally and visually similar to Control Center on iOS and iPadOS.

Notification Center

The Notification Center was redesigned, featuring interactive notifications and a transparent user interface. Notification Center also features a new widget system similar to that in iOS 14, displaying more information with more customization than previously available.[3]

System

Support for Apple-designed processors

macOS Big Sur marks the beginning of the transition of Apple’s Macintosh line of personal computers from Intel x86-64-based processors to Apple's ARM64-based processors, referred to as "Apple Silicon".[10] The chip mentioned in demo videos, and used in the Developer Transition Kit, is the A12Z Bionic, which is the same chip used in the 2020 iPad Pro. This is the first release of macOS to support ARM-based Macs, although Apple stated that it would support Intel Macs "for years to come."[10][11] Most software that has not completed the transition to Apple Silicon can use Rosetta 2, an update of a compatibility mechanism first utilized during the PowerPC to Intel x86 transition.

Support for iOS and iPadOS apps

On Macs based on Apple silicon, macOS Big Sur will run iOS and iPadOS applications natively and without any modifications needed from developers.[10]

Signed system volume

The system volume is cryptographically signed to prevent tampering.[12]

Software updates

Software updates can begin in the background.

Spotlight

Spotlight, the file system indexing and search mechanism first introduced in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, is more optimized for speed, and the interface has been refined.[13]

Other changes

  • Bilingual dictionaries in French-German, Indonesian-English, Japanese-Simplified Chinese, and Polish-English
  • Better predictive input for Chinese and Japanese users
  • New fonts for Indian users
  • Podcasts "Listen Now" feature
  • FaceTime sign language prominence
  • macOS startup sound re-enabled by default, and graphical interface to manually enable/disable it per user preference

App features

The Safari 14 start page with Wikipedia on the reading list.

Safari

Safari in Big Sur now features a new customizable start page and an improved tab design. In addition, enhancements in Safari 14 include:

  • Built-in webpage translation in English, German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Portuguese. The feature is currently in beta.
  • Enhanced privacy features such as "Privacy Report"
  • Password monitoring; Safari will notify the user if their password has been compromised
  • Enhanced performance and power efficiency
  • Extension privacy management
  • WebExtensions API support
  • Page previews
  • Importing of passwords from Chrome

Messages

The Messages app was rewritten to be based upon Apple's Catalyst technology. This enables the app to have feature parity with its iOS counterpart. Alongside a refined design, the messages app brings:

  • Conversation pinning for up to nine conversations that sync across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
  • Message searching
  • Name and photo sharing
  • Group chat photo logos
  • Mentioning individuals
  • Replying inline
  • Memoji stickers and editor
  • A new photo picker
  • Localized message effects for users in India
The Mac App Store showing the Safari Extensions category.

App Store

Refinements and new features of the Mac App Store include:

  • A section dedicated to the privacy information of an app
  • A new Safari extensions category
  • Third party Notification Center widgets
  • Family sharing of app subscriptions

Notes

  • Collapsible pinned section
  • Quick text style and formatting options
  • Scanning enhancements

Photos

  • New editing capabilities
  • Improved Retouch tool
  • New zooming feature in views

Maps

  • "Look Around" interactive street-level 360° panoramas, first implemented in the iOS 13 version of Maps, have been incorporated into the macOS version of Maps.
  • availability of directions for cyclists
  • Electric vehicle routing, based on proximity to charging stations and monitoring of battery levels (on selected car models)

Release history

Previous release Current release Beta
Version Build Date Darwin Release Notes
11.0 beta 1 20A4299v June 22, 2020 20.0.0 macOS Big Sur 11 Beta Release Notes

References

  1. ^ Owen, Malcolm (September 11, 2023). "Apple issues updates for iOS 15.7.9, iPadOS 15.7.9, macOS Monterey 12.6.9, Big Sur 11.7.10". Apple Insider. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Heater, Brian. "Apple unveils macOS 11.0 Big Sur". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Apple introduces macOS Big Sur with a beautiful new design" (Press release). Apple Inc. June 22, 2020. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  4. ^ Gruber, John (June 24, 2020). "The Talk Show Remote from WWDC 2020, With Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak". Daring Fireball. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  5. ^ Rossignol, Joe (June 22, 2020). "macOS Big Sur Listed as 'Version 11.0' in System Preferences". MacRumors. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  6. ^ Gallagher, William (June 22, 2020). "Apple turns macOS up to 11 - or to 10.16". AppleInsider.
  7. ^ "macOS Big Sur Preview". Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Chin, Monica (June 22, 2020). "Apple announces macOS Big Sur with a brand-new design". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  9. ^ Apple Inc. (June 22, 2020). "SF Symbols 2". apple.com. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "Apple announces Mac transition to Apple silicon" (Press release). Apple Inc. June 22, 2020. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  11. ^ Blumenthal, Eli. "Apple still plans to support Intel-based Macs for years to come". Cnet. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  12. ^ "macOS Big Sur Preview - Features". Apple. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "New features coming with macOS Big Sur". Apple Inc. Retrieved June 25, 2020.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MacOS_Big_Sur&oldid=964557861"