Overview macOS Sierra: Siri, a single clipboard and greater integration with iCloud

So the release of the new operating system for Apple computers. The first notable innovation lies already in the title. To replace the OS X it's a more logical name MacOS. It is dictated by the names of other software companies: iOS, watchOS and tvOS.

If OS X 10.11 called El Capitan, the Sierra macOS received the name in honor of the mountain range Sierra Nevada, continuing the tradition of names in honor of the famous Californian natural objects. the new version of the operating system serial number - 10.12.

Supported devices

Operating system macOS Sierra is still supported by the majority of Mac computers, issued at the end of 2009:

• MacBook (late 2009 or newer);
• MacBook Pro (mid 2010 or later);
• MacBook Air (late 2010 or newer);
• Mac mini (mid-2010 or later);
• iMac (late 2009 or newer);
• Mac Pro (mid 2010 or newer).

If your Mac meets one of these requirements, you can easily upgrade by going to the Mac App Store for installation macOS Sierra.

It should be noted, that will be available on older computers, not all functions of the operating system. You can read more info on the possible restrictions

Apple website.

innovations

Siri

After a few years of presence on the Apple mobile platform Siri voice assistant finally got to the MacOS. Activate Assistant you will be prompted at the stage of installation of the operating system. Subsequently, Siri can be started directly from the dock or menu bar, as well as using the preset key combination. Call the voice assistant on the Mac can not.

Opportunities Siri largely duplicate assistant for iOS, but contain some specific commands specific to computers. For example, you can ask Siri to find a specific file or open the folder. Perfectly recognized fairly complicated commands containing different conditions. Use files in its sole discretion can be directly from the search results Siri, such as drag and drop an image found in the new letter.

In the "Notification Center" can be literally in one click to fix the results of references to Siri. This is very useful in their daily work. The rest is all the same Siri (voice assistant can now be masculine as in iOS), which can send messages, show the weather and time in this city include music, working with calendars and reminders, as well as do many other unexpected but useful things.

Single clipboard for all devices

In macOS Sierra interaction between all of your devices, Apple reached a new level. We have become accustomed to easily start working on one device and continue on another, but now there is a really important function - a single clipboard. You simply copy the text on the iPhone and put him out in the "Notes" on the Mac. You copy the image on the computer and insert in your presentation on your iPad.

This feature does not require any shortcuts or additional settings. It just works on all devices within your account, which is very convenient.

Unlocking Mac using Apple Watch

Another new feature unified ecosystem Apple gadgets - an opportunity not to enter a password when the Mac, as just to be at this point in their smart watches Apple Watch. Login will be carried out automatically. However, it should be borne in mind that the activation of this function will require two-factor authentication for your account.

Folder "Desktop" and "Documents" in iCloud Drive

Apple continues to push us to make greater use of cloud storage iCloud Drive. MacOS Sierra at the stage of installation offers to activate cloud desktop and folder "Documents". Both directories from that point will not only be available on your computer, but also sync with iCloud Drive. Consequently, they will appear on your iPhone and iPad.

Thus, you should not worry that you save important documents or any other file on your computer and forget to transfer it to the cloud. Two of the most popular in the folder are now automatically uploaded to your personal online storage. We can only do not forget to monitor the amount of available memory in iCloud Drive, so that at one point not to lose access to other important functions such as backup iOS-devices.

optimized storage

MacOS Sierra provides a much more serious possibility of storage management than previous versions of the operating system. Now if in the window information about the system go to the section "Storage" and click "Manage", then you can get access to an expanded set of tools, which includes detailed statistics on the space occupied by files of different types, different optimization, and even a built-in tool for remote macOS applications.

A photo

In macOS Sierra «Photo" app has received a few changes. Firstly, there was a feature "Memoirs", which, like in iOS 10 groups own pictures on various criteria in online albums. In particular, using the place and the date of shooting. advanced recognition capabilities are also available to individual objects in the photographs, which can be found using Siri.

Secondly, the changed sidebar configuration. Now it provides links to various folders and search your photos and videos in your library. Thus it was simplified navigation and search for individual images.

messages

Application "Messages" did not get the same opportunities that its mobile counterpart in iOS 10. therefore for full communion with all kinds of stickers, applications, search for images, and access to a range of visual effects, you will need to use iMessage on iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. MacOS Sierra is still out of work.

iTunes

All changes related to the iTunes, can be combined in a few words - Apple Music. As in iOS 10 in macOS Sierra completely changed the structure of the music service. Developers shuffled menu logic and interaction with the Apple Music, but at the same time retaining the ability of the player. The remaining elements mediakombayn remained without notable changes.

Notes

"Notes" in macOS Sierra got exactly the same change as in the iOS 10. From now on, you can grant other users access to edit their notes, and work together on them.

Tabs for the majority of system applications

Tabs for convenient operation for a long time found their way outside the Web browser. They moved from Safari in the Finder, where instead of multiple windows open you can create a similar number of tabs in a single window. Now this functionality is extended even further: in the mail, TextEdit and other system applications. From now on, if you do not need a parallel review of two windows of the same program, it is much easier and more convenient to create tabs.

Picture in picture video

Now, video playback in Safari or iTunes player, can be represented in the "Picture in Picture". The image is driven out of the program window and is located on top of other windows. The size of the video window defined by the user. In fact, this is an extremely handy feature for combining video viewing with any other activity on the computer. Unfortunately it does not work with all video sources.

To activate this mode, view the YouTube video-double-click on the active video Right-click or use a similar combination on the trackpad to display the context menu. After this - select "Enable" Picture in Picture "" and adjust the location and size of the window with the video if necessary.

Apple Pay

So far, only Apple is preparing to launch a payment system in Russia, the company's newest operating system already supports the payment of goods and services through it in Safari. In the future, pay through Apple Pay even in the browser will be much easier than using the traditional input information on the bank card.

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MacOS Sierra did not revolution. On the contrary, it is a logical continuation of the ideas that Apple has laid in OS X Yosemite, and then developed in the El Capitan. Cloud operating system capabilities have expanded, there were some comfortable pieces that are useful in everyday work, increased integration of the desktop with iOS 10. In addition, Sierra became more stable. Fail to see the latest operating system from Apple quite easy, because in most cases it works like clockwork.

Should I update? In the majority of situations, the answer is unequivocal: yes, it is worth. In recent years, there is a tendency: the new Apple operating system is getting worse working on hard drives, revealing in all its glory only on SSDs. And macOS Sierra is no exception. However, if your Mac from the HDD successfully coped with Yosemite and El Capitan, then there are no prerequisites for abandoning Sierra you do not. Deterioration of performance, you will not feel.

So feel free to go to the Mac App Store, find macOS Sierra and press "Download" button.