Apple’s Big Sur Considered Biggest Design Update in Over a Decade
“MacOS Big Sur is a major update that advances the legendary combination of the power of UNIX with the ease of use of the Mac, and delivers our biggest update to design in more than a decade,” Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, said in a press release.
Apple’s new Big Sur version of its MacOS operating system, revealed at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, features a beautiful redesign that places a particular focus on the Safari web browser.
Safari is now packed with an array of new features, including a customizable start page, elegantly designed and more powerful tabs, quick and easy translations and a new Privacy Report.
The updated Messages app enables users to send and receive more personal and expressive messages, and easily keep tabs on and interact within group messages. Maps also received a noticeable boost—now providing an all-new experience with immesive features for exploring while one’s out and about.
“MacOS Big Sur is a major update that advances the legendary combination of the power of UNIX with the ease of use of the Mac, and delivers our biggest update to design in more than a decade,” Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, said in a press release.
“With its modern and clean look, huge improvements to key apps including Safari, Messages and Maps, and new privacy features, we think everyone is going to love the breakthrough experience that MacOS Big Sur offers.”
In the biggest update to Safari since its original launch in 2003, the web browser was refreshed to include a new Privacy Report button to let you see how websites track your data, and a monitor to check if any of your passwords were compromised. Safari will also load frequently visited sites at an average 50% faster than Chrome, according to Apple.
The customizable menu bar boasts an all-new Control Center, offering quick access to controls from the desktop. The updated Notification Center provides more interactive notifications and redesigned widgets that come in different sizes.
The Cupertino, California-based company’s MacOS, which was first released in 2001, powers the tech giant’s computers like MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iMac.
One can currently test-drive MacOS Big Sur or wait until it is released—likely in September or October. According to Apple, here are all the models of Macs that can run MacOS Big Sur: MacBook (2015 and later), MacBook Air (2013 and later), MacBook Pro (2013 and later), Mac mini (2014 and later), iMac (2014 and later), iMac Pro (all models) and Mac Pro (2013 and later).
Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.
