As an experienced IT professional, I’m excited to dive into the latest advancements in Apple’s macOS Monterey operating system. Released in 2021, Monterey builds upon the strong foundation of macOS Big Sur, introducing a host of new features and enhancements that empower users to be more productive, secure, and connected than ever before.
Operating System
Version History
macOS Monterey is the 18th major release of Apple’s desktop operating system, following the release of macOS Big Sur in 2020. Since its initial launch, Apple has issued several incremental updates to Monterey, with the latest version being 12.7.6 as of my knowledge cutoff. These updates have included important security fixes, bug patches, and minor feature improvements to ensure a stable and reliable user experience.
System Requirements
To run macOS Monterey, your Mac must meet the following minimum system requirements:
- Mac computer with an Intel processor or Apple silicon chip
- At least 4GB of RAM
- 128GB or more of available storage
- macOS Big Sur 11.0 or later installed
It’s worth noting that certain advanced features, such as Universal Control and Spatial Audio, may require more powerful Mac models equipped with Apple’s latest M1 or M2 chips.
User Interface
Design Updates
One of the first things you’ll notice when using macOS Monterey is the refined and streamlined user interface. Apple has made subtle yet impactful changes to the overall look and feel, building upon the design language introduced in macOS Big Sur. The menu bar, Dock, and system windows have been polished, with a greater emphasis on clean lines, soft shadows, and a more consistent application of the system’s colour palette.
Accessibility Features
Monterey also brings notable improvements to accessibility, catering to users with diverse needs. The system now offers enhanced support for VoiceOver, providing more detailed descriptions of on-screen elements and improved navigation. Additionally, the new Markup capabilities allow users to add custom image descriptions that are accessible through VoiceOver, ensuring that shared content remains inclusive.
Customization Options
To help users make their Mac truly their own, macOS Monterey introduces expanded customization options. The Memoji feature, previously exclusive to iOS and iPadOS, has made its way to the Mac, allowing you to create and customize expressive avatars that can be used as login pictures or shared as stickers. Furthermore, the system’s appearance can be personalized with a selection of new desktop wallpapers and screensavers, including the iconic “hello” animation that pays homage to the original Macintosh.
Productivity Tools
Safari Enhancements
One of the standout productivity features in macOS Monterey is the enhancements made to the Safari web browser. The introduction of Tab Groups allows you to organize your browsing sessions by topic or task, making it easier to switch between different sets of tabs. Additionally, the new Shared with You functionality seamlessly integrates relevant web content shared through the Messages app, ensuring that important information is easily accessible.
Shortcuts Application
macOS Monterey also sees the introduction of the Shortcuts app, which brings the power of automation to the Mac. Building upon the foundations of the Automator tool, Shortcuts enables users to create custom workflows and automations, ranging from simple tasks like resizing images to more complex operations involving multiple applications. The app’s intuitive interface and expanded compatibility with system-level actions make it a valuable tool for boosting productivity.
Universal Control
One of the most exciting features in macOS Monterey is Universal Control, which allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard across multiple Apple devices, including your Mac, iPad, and even other Macs. This seamless integration enables a fluid workflow, allowing you to move your cursor between devices and even drag and drop content between them, as if they were all part of a single, unified workspace.
Security and Privacy
Privacy Report
Maintaining user privacy has always been a top priority for Apple, and macOS Monterey continues this commitment. The system now offers a comprehensive Privacy Report, which provides users with detailed insights into how applications are accessing and using their data. This transparency empowers individuals to make informed decisions about the permissions they grant to various apps, ensuring that their personal information remains secure.
iCloud Keychain
Monterey also enhances the security of user credentials with improvements to the iCloud Keychain feature. This password manager now supports the generation of stronger, more complex passwords, and allows users to access and manage their saved passwords from Windows devices through the iCloud Passwords app and the iCloud Passwords extension for Microsoft Edge.
Find My Improvements
The Find My feature, which helps users locate lost or stolen devices, has also been enhanced in macOS Monterey. Users can now leverage the power of the Find My network to locate misplaced AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, making it easier to recover these valuable accessories. Additionally, the new Find My widget provides quick access to the location of your friends, family, and personal items, keeping you connected and informed at a glance.
Networking and Connectivity
AirPlay to Mac
One of the standout networking features in macOS Monterey is the ability to use AirPlay to stream content from your iPhone, iPad, or even another Mac directly to your computer. This functionality allows you to enjoy videos, photos, and presentations on the larger screen of your Mac, seamlessly integrating your Apple devices for a more immersive experience.
SharePlay
Monterey also introduces SharePlay, a revolutionary FaceTime feature that enables you to share synchronised experiences with your friends and family. During a FaceTime call, you can watch movies, listen to music, or even collaborate on projects, with everyone’s playback remaining in perfect sync. This feature fosters a more engaging and interactive remote connection, making it easier to enjoy shared moments even when physically apart.
Ethernet and Wi-Fi
While not the most glamorous of features, Monterey’s continued support for wired and wireless networking technologies is essential for IT professionals and power users. The operating system maintains robust compatibility with a wide range of Ethernet adapters and Wi-Fi standards, ensuring that you can establish reliable and high-performance network connections, whether you’re at the office, working remotely, or setting up a complex home network.
Developer Tools
Swift Playgrounds
For developers and aspiring coders, macOS Monterey introduces notable enhancements to the Swift Playgrounds app. This powerful tool now allows users to create and deploy apps directly to the App Store, bridging the gap between learning to code and publishing real-world applications. The updated Swift Playgrounds also features improved integration with Xcode, Apple’s primary development environment, streamlining the transition from prototyping to full-fledged app development.
Xcode Updates
Speaking of Xcode, the latest version of Apple’s Integrated Development Environment (IDE) has also received several updates in Monterey. These include improvements to the user interface, enhanced debugging tools, and support for the latest Apple silicon chips, ensuring that developers can leverage the full power of the Mac hardware to create cutting-edge applications.
App Notarization
To ensure the security and reliability of software distributed on macOS, Monterey introduces a mandatory app notarization process. This requirement ensures that all apps, including those from third-party developers, have been scanned and approved by Apple before they can be installed on user devices. This added layer of vetting helps to protect against malicious software and provides users with greater peace of mind when downloading and running applications.
System Management
Software Updates
Maintaining the health and security of your Mac is a crucial aspect of IT management, and macOS Monterey makes this process more streamlined than ever. The operating system’s built-in software update mechanism automatically checks for and installs the latest system updates, ensuring that your Mac is always running the most secure and feature-rich version of the OS. IT professionals can also leverage enterprise-level tools to manage and deploy updates across an entire fleet of Mac devices.
Energy Efficiency
In an era of increasing environmental awareness, macOS Monterey also focuses on improving the energy efficiency of Mac hardware. The operating system includes intelligent power management features that dynamically adjust system clock speeds and display brightness to extend battery life, particularly on portable Mac models. These enhancements help to reduce energy consumption and contribute to a more sustainable computing experience.
Device Compatibility
One of the strengths of the macOS ecosystem is its long-term support for a wide range of hardware. macOS Monterey maintains compatibility with a diverse range of Mac models, from the latest Apple silicon-powered devices to several older Intel-based machines. This breadth of compatibility ensures that users can continue to utilize their existing hardware investments, rather than being forced to upgrade prematurely due to software obsolescence.
Third-Party Integration
Microsoft 365 Support
For professionals and organizations that rely on Microsoft’s productivity suite, macOS Monterey offers seamless integration with Microsoft 365. Users can effortlessly access their Outlook email, OneDrive cloud storage, and other Microsoft applications directly from their Mac, ensuring a consistent and familiar workflow across platforms.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Similarly, macOS Monterey provides robust support for Adobe’s Creative Cloud applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. These industry-leading creative tools leverage the power of the Mac hardware to deliver a responsive and efficient user experience, empowering designers, artists, and media professionals to bring their visions to life.
Enterprise Deployment
IT administrators tasked with managing fleets of Mac devices will appreciate the enterprise-level deployment and management tools available in macOS Monterey. The operating system integrates with leading mobile device management (MDM) solutions, allowing IT teams to streamline the deployment, configuration, and security of Mac computers across their organization.
As an experienced IT professional, I’m confident that the enhancements and new features introduced in macOS Monterey will continue to make the Mac a powerful and versatile platform for a wide range of users, from casual consumers to power users and enterprise-level deployments. Whether you’re looking to boost your productivity, enhance your security, or simply enjoy a more seamless and integrated Apple ecosystem, Monterey is a must-have update that’s well worth exploring. To learn more about the IT Fix blog and our range of IT support services, please visit https://itfix.org.uk/.
