macOS Mojave: A look at the new features

About macOS Mojave

While this screen may be familiar to anyone that's been using a Mac for a few years, macOS Mojave has implemented new features that will cause users to double-check their settings to ensure their Mac can make the jump to version 10.14.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Light mode v. Dark mode

The Light and Dark modes present in Settings offer users a nice change to the existing mode in macOS. These modes are aimed primarily at power users who work on their computer for extended periods of time, or users who work in variably lit areas.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Dark mode in action

With a darkend GUI, Dark mode allows users to focus on the task at hand while giving their eyes a rest and allowing them to take a break from the distracting brightness and background details.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Dark mode for native apps

Dark mode is a system-wide implementation within Mojave. Once enabled, the GUI components of the OS will be displayed accordingly--this includes native apps from Apple, such as Messages, Safari, Notes, and Keynote to name a few. Third-party developers may code their applications to support Dark mode as well.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Desktop Stacks...

Cluttered desktops are not uncommon. When desktops are disorganized, it prevents users from finding the files they placed there for ease of access.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

... to the rescue

Apple aims to curb this issue with the introduction of Stacks. With a simple right-click of the mouse, users can select Use Stacks to condense files into groups, based on the file type. This creates neat little groups that help declutter the desktop.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Finder

The Finder is the interface that macOS users use to interact with files stored on the system. A couple of additions to Finder make working with files simpler--for instance, placing commonly accessed information on the screen means saves users an extra step or two.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Screenshots utility

Taking screenshots on a Mac has always involved using the Grab app or using the correct keyboard shortcuts to call up the various screenshot commands. Apple has streamlined the latter and provided a floating toolbar that appears when pressing Shift+Command+5. The new Screenshots floating utility gives users more control over their screenshots, as well as a screen recording option, in one handy, ease to use shortcut.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Continuity Camera

This new feature allows users to take a picture or scan a document on their Mac by using their iPhone's built-in camera, and then wirelessly beam it over to their Mac in one seamless motion. It is only supported by a handful of apps (Pages is one app that supports it), though wider support will be available as developers update their applications. This feature requires requires iOS 12 on mobile devices.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Group FaceTime

Using the familiar FaceTime app and chat/video streaming protocol developed by Apple, Group FaceTime takes it one step further by refining the experience to create and join FaceTime audio and video chats with groups of up to 32 people. The feature supports macOS- and iOS-base streams, though it requires iOS 12 for mobile devices.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

New app: Voice Memos

A favorite iOS app that has made the leap to macOS is Voice Memos. The app allows users to record and save important voice messages on their Mac, and then listen to the messages on their iOS-based devices as they're synced through iCloud.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

New app: Stocks

Similar to its iOS sibling, the Stocks app allows users to follow the stock market's highs and lows. The app has fully customizable features, and it can alert users to any changes in their favorited stocks.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

New app: News

With the News app, you can get the latest news directly to your device, and it's curated based on your interests. The News app provides a centralized hub for all the news and current events so users can stay up to date without having to flip through different apps or websites to get the information.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

New app: Home

Home functions as a hub for all the automation devices used to control your home from your Mac. From lights to AC & heating to security systems and cameras, the devices are centrally managed from here to enable multiple functions and services to run from one simple, easy-to-use dashboard.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Redesigned App Store

The Mac App Store has been redesigned, bringing it more inline with how it appears in iOS, including its curation of apps based on criteria that some users find useful. The aesthetic has also been changed to appear more like its iOS younger sibling, including being the central point for updates.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Privacy: App-specific & Services

Apple's push to strengthen privacy and security continues with application-specific settings, including services, such as Location information. By granularly controlling which apps have access to which services or functions, privacy issues are kept to a minimum, mitigating threats and unintended leaks.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Privacy & Security: Monitoring

Another aspect of privacy is the leaking of system data regarding the use of a system and/or the environment's state when there is a crash. These metrics (often referred to as analytics) can and often do include personally identifiable data (e.g., location-based data, which some users do not feel comfortable disclosing).

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Privacy & Security: Data Protection

In a big push for privacy, Apple is keeping users' data protected from applications and malware that are trying to manipulate it for nefarious reasons. By default, Mojave limits application access to data unless explicitly approved by the user.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Safari: Site-based settings

In an effort to prevent websites from having too much access to users' data, Safari includes settings that may be configured per website, allowing trusted sites to run with a particular set of options, while limiting untrusted websites to a different, more stringent set of options.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Safari: Global v. site-based settings

As you visit websites, the Websites tab in Safari's Preferences will become populated. As you click through the various categories, such as Auto-Play, individual sites may be whitelisted to allow them to run content automatically, while others are blacklisted and prevented from running unchecked.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Safari extensions

Safari extensions give the browser new features that enhance productivity and security. However, if left unchecked, extensions can ruin performance and leave users open to privacy leaks.

Apple has retooled browser security to disable extensions that are not updated or flagged as potentially malicious.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Hardened Password Assistant

Apple's Password Assistant goes back many iterations of macOS (and OS X prior) to provide users with stronger passwords for their accounts. An important update: Its default algorithm will generate stronger passwords based on numbers, upper and lowercase letters, and symbols.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Dynamic Desktop

Leveraging the switch from OpenGL to Metal 2 for powering graphics, the Dynamic Desktop acts as a living background that will automatically lighten or darken depending on your location and the time of day or night.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Mark up files without launching them

Several versions back, Apple introduced QuickLook, which allowed users to quickly view a file just by highlighting it and tapping the space bar; a full-size preview of the file's contents would be displayed onscreen without having to actually launch the file.

Apple has taken this functionality one step further by allowing for marking up the file with edits, comments, and sharing it right from QuickLook.

SEE: Apple macOS Mojave: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Metadata

A new view mode in Finder allows for the direct viewing of metadata embedded in a file just by highlighting it. The additional information will appear on the right-hand side and includes important details such as the time-stamp, location data, and EXIF information tied to photographs.

Also see

• Software usage policy (Tech Pro Research)
• Will your Mac run macOS 10.14 Mojave? (ZDNet)
• Apple's macOS 10.14 Mojave has big security and privacy updates: Here's the list (TechRepublic)
• The 12 best features of macOS Mojave (CNET)
• Apple to bring iOS 12 apps to MacOS Mojave (Download.com)
• How Apple is going to block digital fingerprinting (Download.com)