All MacOS 10.15 Catalina Announcements From Apple’s WWDC 2019 Keynote
Apple’s WWDC closes with an in-depth look at the upcoming macOS update, now officially “Catalina”. Let’s take a look at all the new features announced at WWDC that will be part of macOS 10.15 Catalina when it launches in Fall 2019 .
iTunes is now a standalone application:
By far the biggest news is that Apple is splitting iTunes into several different apps, each of which will handle its own type of content. These apps – Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and Apple TV – already exist in other Apple products, but their macOS Catalina versions will have Mac-specific functionality.
- Apple Music: In macOS Catalina, your Apple Music library will no longer automatically sync when you connect your phone, as it would with iTunes. Instead, users can choose when they want to sync using the Finder tool.
- Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts uses machine learning to transcribe the audio content of each episode. These transcripts are then used as metadata, which allows users to search for episodes using topic keywords.
- Apple TV: While the Apple TV app on Mac provides much of the same experience as on a TV, 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos playback will be supported on macOS Catalina.
There will also be an Apple Books app that will take over the e-book functions from iTunes, although it was not shown on stage.
Despite the panic reaction to news on social media, none of your iTunes media is going anywhere. Any content you previously purchased through iTunes will appear in the respective app after splitting.
There have also been several other announcements about apps, as well as various new apps replacing iTunes, most notably new and redesigned system apps coming to macOS Catalina, including finally bringing the iOS Screen Time app to the Mac.
Stroller
This new feature will allow iPad to connect to Mac computers for use as a secondary screen on a mobile device. Users will be able to send macOS apps to iPad and use them with touch, and the iPad and Apple pencil combination can even be used just like tablet-style input devices like Cintiqs in desktop apps like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. …
New voice control
Apple debuted full hands-free control for Mac and iOS PCs. Voice input uses Siri and works like voice control on Android, where various on-screen elements are labeled with numbers, and Siri will be able to perform all common macOS and iOS functions such as long hold or double tap. All voice recognition features are handled locally by Siri and never sent to Apple or processed on their servers.
New security improvements
Several new security features will also be part of the macOS 10.15 update.
- Activation Lock: On Mac devices with a T2 security chip, you will be able to use an authenticator code or device such as an Apple Watch to unlock the device and keep it secure in the event of theft, as thieves will not be able to unlock the device without properly unlocking it.
- Find My: An updated version of Find My iPhone now allows users to find lost iPhones and Macs even when the device is not currently connected to the network. It does this by combining other nearby devices that scan your missing iPhone, iPad, or Mac – a kind of echolocation. Although this feature depends on the devices used by the people around you, the whole process is encrypted and anonymous.
Project catalyst
Project Catalyst will help third-party developers to easily port their applications between macOS, iOS and other Apple operating systems. While the original goal is to help propel apps across more Apple platforms, Apple has also detailed a multi-year roadmap that will ultimately allow developers to create a single app that can run on all platforms.
New developer tools
In addition to Project Catalina, several other new development tools have been announced as part of macOS Catalina, including:
New and improved AR tools for developers. They were showcased in a Minecraft Earth stage presentation that allows players to create Minecraft worlds in their natural environment using AR features on iOS devices.
The new Swift user interface introduces changes to the Swift programming language, which promises to make it easier to program applications and require less code.
While not necessarily a new feature, it’s also worth noting that Apple is dropping support for 32-bit apps in macOS Catalina, which means some apps might stop working after an update.
New Mac Pro
Finally, not to mention macOS, it’s worth mentioning right off the bat that Apple has announced a new ultra-powerful Mac Pro powerhouse with modular components. The workstation features a 28-core Intel Xenon processor with 300W DWP, 1.5TB of system memory, and a whopping 1.4KW PSU to power 8 PCI expansion slots. Several enterprise-grade GPUs are available, including Apple’s proprietary MPX GPU, which Apple claims is the “most powerful GPU” in the world for video editing and graphics rendering. MPX supports three simultaneous 8K RAW video streams or up to 12 4K RAW video streams, and every new Mac Pro can be equipped with dual MPX GPUs. The Mac Pro will start at $ 6,000 and its new “Pro Display XDR” will be available starting at an additional $ 5,000.