Mac, and custom effects can be added to
chat bubbles. Apple has refined the search
experience on iMessage, helping to make
Messages a genuine alternative to WhatsApp.
Apple has also ported the Apple Maps
experience from iOS over to the Mac,
introducing several new features. Cycling routes
can be planned on the Mac and sent to your
iPhone, and there are new planning routes that
incorporate electric vehicle charging stations.
New Guides are also accessible on the Mac,
allowing trusted brands to offer suggestions
on places to eat, visit, and shop in major cities,
and custom Guides can be created in the Maps
app to be shared with friends and family. Look
Around has been added to the Mac, so users can
explore cities in a detailed, street-level view, and
live updates have been added so when a friend
or family member shares an ETA, you can track
their progress. Apple also confirmed that more,
more detailed maps will roll out in Canada,
Ireland, and the UK in 2020.
A BUNCH OF NEW FEATURES
Though major features have been added with
this year’s macOS update, there are lots of
smaller tweaks that will make everyday use
more fulfilling. One of those is a long-awaited
new feature that allows software updates
to begin in the background and then finish
faster, which will reduce the time it takes to
install new macOS updates. Of course, Big
Sur is a prerequisite for this speedy update
process, but future updates will now be faster
and more convenient. This is powered by a
cryptographically signed system volume,
adding an additional layer of protection