macOS Big Sur

macOS Big Sur. It is the seventeenth major release of macOS, Apple Inc.'s desktop operating system for its Macintosh computers. Announced at the WWDC 2020 and released in November 2020, it introduced a comprehensive visual redesign, significant architectural changes, and enhanced integration with the Apple ecosystem. This version marked a pivotal step in aligning the Mac experience more closely with iOS and iPadOS.

Overview

The development of this operating system was led by Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. It represented the most extensive visual overhaul to the macOS interface since the introduction of macOS X, drawing inspiration from the aesthetic principles of iOS 7. A central technical achievement was the introduction of support for Apple silicon, specifically the Apple M1 chip, alongside continued support for Intel-based Macs. This transition was facilitated by Rosetta 2, a dynamic binary translator, and enabled native execution of iOS and iPadOS applications on the Mac platform for the first time.

Features

The user interface featured redesigned icons, a new curvature for window corners, and a revamped Dock. System sounds were updated, and a new set of wallpapers was introduced. Control Center, a feature familiar from iOS, was integrated, providing quick access to settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Notifications and widgets were consolidated into a unified sidebar, and Safari (web browser) received a substantial update with a customizable start page and improved Privacy reporting. The Messages app gained features like pinned conversations and Memoji support, while Maps added guides and indoor maps with Look Around.

System requirements

This release required a Mac with a 64-bit Intel processor or, upon its later introduction, an Apple M1 chip. Supported models included the MacBook from 2015 onward, the MacBook Air from 2013 onward, the MacBook Pro from 2013 onward, the Mac Mini from 2014 onward, the iMac from 2014 onward, the iMac Pro (all models), and the Mac Pro from 2013 onward. It required a minimum of 4GB of RAM and up to 35.5GB of available storage for installation, with specific requirements varying by model. The operating system dropped support for many older Macs that were compatible with macOS Catalina.

Release history

The first developer beta was released following the WWDC 2020 keynote in June. Public betas followed in the subsequent months, allowing wider testing. The official, final version was released to the public on November 12, 2020. Subsequent updates, including version 11.0.1, addressed various bugs and security issues. The release timeline was closely coordinated with the launch of the first Apple M1-powered MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini in November 2020, which shipped with this operating system pre-installed.

Reception

The visual redesign received a mixed response, with some critics from The Verge and Ars Technica praising its freshness while others found it overly reminiscent of iOS. Performance improvements, especially on Apple M1 systems, were widely lauded for dramatic gains in speed and battery life. The ability to run iOS apps was noted as a significant, though initially uneven, expansion of the Mac software library. Some early adopters reported compatibility issues with certain Adobe Creative Suite applications and Microsoft Office until updates were released. Overall, it was seen as a foundational and ambitious update that successfully initiated the Apple silicon transition.

Category:macOS Category:2020 software Category:Unix operating systems