It’s a blockbuster day for anyone with a MacBook, Mac Studio or iMac on their desk with Apple finally releasing its macOS Sonoma operating system. This new software was actually unveiled all the way back in June at Apple’s WWDC Developers Conference but is only being released now to give the US firm time to test things and make sure it’s free of bugs before it’s pushed put to millions of Macs across the globe.
MacOS Sonoma comes packed with neat upgrades including improved FaceTime calls, a bunch of extra wallpapers, the ability to add useful Widgets to the desktop and enhanced security.
So when will this update become available?
Apple never reveals an exact time for any of its main upgrades but we do know that it will be pushed to PCs later today, September 26.
Express.co.uk has looked back at previous years and it seems pretty likely that 6pm BST will be when Apple hits the “go live” button from its HQ in Cupertino. So, if you have a Mac and want all the new features first then make sure you are hooked up to Wi-Fi and have a fully charged MacBook around tea time.
This will be a big download so unless you want to chew through all of your mobile data we wouldn’t recommend trying to install macOS Sonoma via your phone.
Will you Mac get this update?
Sadly, not all devices are compatible with macOS Sonoma so your Mac might not be eligible to install it.
Here’s the full list of machines that can get macOS Sonoma today
• iMac 2019 and later
• Mac Pro 2019 and later
• iMac Pro 2017
• Mac Studio 2022 and later
• MacBook Air 2018 and later
• Mac mini 2018 and later
• MacBook Pro 2018 and later
What’s new in macOS Sonoma
There are plenty of treats inside this release and here are some of the highlights.
New screen savers: New slow-motion screen savers of locations from around the world come as part of this update. When you log in, they seamlessly become your desktop wallpaper.
Add widgets to your desktop: You can now place widgets on your desktop from the new widget gallery plus you can even now play a podcast, turn off the lights and more — directly from a widget. When you open an app or window or use Stage Manager, widgets fade into the background so you can concentrate on the task at hand.
Video calls:
There are plenty of bonus extras coming to FaceTime including a new Presenter Overlay that keeps you part of the conversation when sharing your screen. You cab also use the small overlay to appear in a moveable bubble over your shared screen, so it’s easy to be seen while showcasing your work. Finally there’s the ability to add a reaction that fills the camera frame with fun 3D augmented reality effects like hearts, confetti, fireworks and more.
Safari: Keep your browsing separate for topics like Work and Personal with different profiles in Safari. Profiles help you separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, cookies and favourites. You can quickly switch between profiles as you browse. Private Browsing now locks your private browsing windows when you’re not using them, completely blocks known trackers from loading on pages and removes tracking added to URLs as you browse.
