Apple WWDC introduces the world to macOS Ventura

Sure, let's go with Ventura?
By Cecily Mauran  on 
MacOS Ventura on Apple computers
MacOS Ventura Credit: Apple

At WWDC 2022, Apple unveiled its new macOS, named Ventura.

In the grand tradition of naming its desktop operating systems after landmarks in California, the world was introduced to a city that's perhaps best known as the HQ of Patagonia or part of the title of a classic rock song by America.

But enough about the city of Ventura, here are some of the new features macOS Ventura has to offer.

Apple's macOS Ventura, which was announced by Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering and unanimous event MVP Craig Federighi, offers new tools and updated features that focus on privacy, continuity, and productivity.

The biggest announcement comes in the form of privacy on Safari. Apple introduced a new feature called passkeys, which is a passwordless system that Apple describes as "unique digital keys that stay on device and are never stored on a web server, so hackers can’t leak them or trick users into sharing them." It uses biometric features Face ID or Touch ID to verify your identity and syncs to your devices with end-to-end encryption.

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passkeys
Credit: Apple

Another Safari feature in the new macOS is Tab Groups which are, yep, groups of tabs that can be shared for collaboration with others.

tab groups
Credit: Apple

Designed to make multitasking easier, Stage Manager is a new desktop tool that organizes open apps and windows into groups displayed on the side of the screen.

With Continuity Camera, your Mac can recognize your iPhone and use it as a webcam. But not just any webcam, this feature enables your Mac to access iPhone camera features like Center Stage, Portrait mode, the Ultra Wide lens, and a new feature called Studio Light.

Using the iPhone camera with Facetime.
Credit: Apple

Another camera feature is Handoff, which transfers an ongoing FaceTime conversation to your Mac, iPad, or iPhone.

Other features that were announced ubiquitously with iOS 16 include the ability to edit or undo Messages, improved Spotlight search, and a shared photo library on iCloud.

MacOS will be available as a software update in fall 2022.

Topics Apple MacBook WWDC

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Cecily Mauran

Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on Twitter at @cecily_mauran.


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