macOS Monterey: Top Features for Enterprises
macOS Monterey, also known as macOS 12.1, is the next version of Apple’s desktop operating system. After months of public beta, the operating system is now available to the public. The macOS Monterey builds on the same powerful foundation as macOS Big Sur while offering enterprise features that help users engage better, connect with others in exciting new ways, and ease the work experience.
Excited about macOS Monterey? Here’s everything you need to know.
Universal Control
Perhaps one of the most significant updates to macOS Monterey is the addition of Universal Control. This feature allows you to control other Mac computers and iPads. You can use the Mac trackpad and keyboard across multiple devices, perform the functions there, and even drag and drop files between devices.
The best part is that doing all these doesn’t require any additional setup – the devices will be automatically synced for this feature by measuring proximity. If you use your devices together all the time and want to use Universal Control without linking the two using the cursor, you can set them up to work with Universal Control continuously in System Preferences.
FaceTime and SharePlay
With macOS Monterey, you’ll be able to make presentations over FaceTime and invite Windows and Android users to group calls. The FaceTime interface also features a grid view that allows all team members to be displayed equally on the screen, unlike the previous speaker-centric interface. FaceTime is also getting a new Portrait Mode that blurs the background of your video.
Another upgrade that elevates the FaceTime experience is SharePlay. You can now keep your FaceTime calls going while simultaneously sharing your whole screen or just a specific app. For smaller teams, the upgrades to FaceTime in macOS Monterey will be an excellent Zoom alternative.
Focus
Focus is intended to allow users to work with fewer interruptions and increase productivity. Focus allows you to set profiles for your notifications depending on what you’re doing. You can choose from the preset options (Commuting, Do Not Disturb, Driving, Personal, Work, and Sleep) or add an entirely new profile for hobbies like reading or gaming. For example, if you want to get work done while in the zone, you could have a Work profile that only allows work emails and messages to come through.
In Focus, if someone messages you, they will be automatically notified that your notifications are silenced, so people will know you aren’t ignoring them. If it’s an emergency, they can choose to send the message anyway. Focus syncs automatically across iCloud to all your devices, and developers can integrate their apps with it too.
Quick Note and Shortcuts
Quick Note is great for quickly jotting something down. Like Google Docs, you can add people to a specific note where they can edit and make changes (which you can see in real-time). You can also add links from an app to your Quick Note to create context. This nifty feature also makes accessing the Notes app a lot easier – just move your cursor to the bottom right corner or keyboard shortcut Globe + Q keys to open up a Quick Note. macOS Monterey is also compatible with the new collaborative notes feature introduced in iOS and iPadOS 15.
The Mac is also finally getting the Shortcuts app that was first introduced on the iPhone and iPad. The app will allow you to create Mac-specific Shortcuts, which you can run from the menu bar, Dock, using Siri or Spotlight. You can use the Shortcuts created on your Mac on an iPhone and vice versa.
macOS Monterey Compatibility
The macOS Monterey update supports a wide array of devices, including:
- MacBook from 2016 or later
- MacBook Air from 2015 or later
- MacBook Pro from 2015 or later
- iMac from 2015 or later
- iMac Pro from 2017
- Mac Pro from 2013 or later
- Mac Mini from late 2014 or later
Besides the new features, Monterey brings a lot of under-the-hood improvements and optimizations, including security updates and optimizations to make the operating system run more efficiently. The new update also gives IT admins the power to enforce system updates, unlike the previous versions where users could defer the system updates pushed onto their devices. With macOS Monterey, admins can now enforce installation after a predefined number of deferrals have been used up.
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