The Current Status of Apple’s Mac OS X/MacOS Operating System

Apple continues to develop and release updates for its Mac operating systems, keeping its users updated with the latest features and improvements. This article will provide an overview of the current status of macOS, highlighting the latest versions and their features.

Latest macOS Versions

The latest versions of macOS are as follows:

macOS Big Sur - 11.1 macOS Catalina - 10.15.7 macOS Mojave - 10.14.6

Depending on your Mac, you may have access to different versions of macOS. For instance, I am currently using macOS Mojave 10.14.6 on my mid-2012 MacBook Pro. Despite macOS Catalina being compatible, I have not yet upgraded due to the limitation of only having one Mac at the moment. However, I plan to replace it with an M1 MacBook Air in March 2021.

Recent Updates and Version Highlights

Following the release of macOS Mojave, Apple introduced a host of new features and improvements. Some of the key features include:

macOS Mojave (10.14)

Release Date: September 24, 2018
Main Features:

Dark Mode: A new Dark Mode option allows users to enable dark mode on a schedule, automatically turning it on and off with the Night Owl app. Accent Colors: Users can now choose an accent color for their desktop, which is used for selected text, buttons, and highlighted menu options. Desktop Stacks: The Desktop Stacks feature automatically organizes your desktop, allowing you to stack files by type, date, or tags.

For those interested in the most recent version, you can always check Apple’s official website for the current version under the macOS section.

macOS Big Sur

macOS Big Sur, the next major version, introduces further enhancements and a clean, modern design. Some of the notable features include:

Full-Screen Apps: This allows users to fill the entire screen with applications for a more immersive experience. Speak Selection: A dictation feature that lets users speak to the device to add text to notes, emails, and documents, as well as switch to different languages. Metal 3.0: An enhanced version of Apple’s Metal API for graphics and compute processing, offering better performance on modern hardware.

macOS Catalina

macOS Catalina also includes several features, such as:

New Privacy Features: Enhanced privacy controls and improved transparency into how apps use user data. Safari’s New Privacy Features: Enhanced ad blockers, improved data tracking protections, and stronger cookie and site data controls. Integrated Privacy Dashboard: Allows users to easily manage the privacy settings of their apps and services.

Conclusion

Apple's Mac operating systems have come a long way, evolving from their predecessors with numerous new features and enhancements. Whether you're currently using macOS Mojave, Catalina, or Big Sur, it's clear that Apple continues to invest in improving the user experience on its Macs.