Apple macOS Monterey update: 5 awesome features to look forward to

With iOS 15 and watchOS 8 already out, Apple is now left releasing the macOS Monterey update. Since there’s a new Apple event happening on October 18 for the rumoured M1X MacBook Pro models, we believe Apple may release the next version of macOS after that. There aren’t big changes to macOS this year but there are enough newbies to make life easier on the Mac.

macOS Monterey is a mild update in comparison to what Big Sur was. There are no visual changes this year but only new features that will make the user experience more pleasant. It’s unlike Windows 11 where the focus is largely on the design. Hence, there are five features we are looking forward to.

macOS Monterey features to look forward to

With iOS 15 and watchOS 8 already out, Apple is now left releasing the macOS Monterey update. Since there’s a new Apple event happening on October 18 for the rumoured M1X MacBook Pro models, we believe Apple may release the next version of macOS after that. There aren’t big changes to macOS this year but there are enough newbies to make life easier on the Mac.

macOS Monterey is a mild update in comparison to what Big Sur was. There are no visual changes this year but only new features that will make the user experience more pleasant. It’s unlike Windows 11 where the focus is largely on the design. Hence, there are five features we are looking forward to.

macOS Monterey features to look forward to

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Live text

It has made copy pasting phone numbers from photos easier on the iPhones and iPads, and now it’s coming to the Macs. Live Text will allow you to copy text from images and paste it directly to your desired window. Apple says that you can click on an address to open it in Maps, and interact with a phone number for calls, messages, and copying. It can also identify images similar to Google Lens. Note that this feature will only be available in Photos, Messages, and Safari.

Quick Notes

More akin to the Sticky Notes in Windows 10/11, Quick Notes will let you jot down something quickly; like a phone number, or some detail related to your work. You can later access these quick notes under the Notes app. The feature is already present in iPadOS 15 with or without the Apple Pencil.

Focus Mode

The Focus mode in iOS 15 helps with the work-life balance and the same is extended to macOS Monterey. You can have dedicated modes for work, gaming, or just personal stuff, without the distractions from everything else.

Screen mirroring

Microsoft has the MyPhone companion app for Windows 10 and Windows 11, hence Apple decides to bake the same in macOS Monterey. You can now use AirPlay to cast videos and pictures to your Mac or MacBook display. You still cannot mirror the iOS interface but this is a positive step for those who are glued to their Macs all day long.

Universal Control

If you have an iPad lying around, or have a MacBook to carry around your work while a Mac takes care at home, you can now control them all together. Universal Control will let you drag and drop content from one device to another by dragging with the mouse. All you need to do is keep these devices side-by-side and this mode automatically kicks in.