Apple releases macOS Sonoma with desktop widgets, Safari profiles, Game Mode, more

Apple has released macOS Sonoma, bringing new widgets, significant updates to Safari, enhanced video conferencing features, screen savers featuring slow-motion videos of various locations worldwide, and all-new Game Mode, and more.

With macOS Sonoma, widgets are now even more powerful and personal on Mac. Users can place widgets right on the desktop. Widgets blend with the wallpaper while users work in apps. Through Continuity, users can use iPhone widgets on their Mac. And widgets are now interactive, allowing users to check off reminders, play or pause media, access home controls, and perform various tasks from their Mac, all directly from the desktop.

macOS Sonoma brings enhanced video conferencing features that enable users to present and share their work more effectively within any video conferencing app. Presenter Overlay, a new video effect, displays a user on top of the content they are sharing. Additionally, Reactions allow users to share how they feel by adding balloons, confetti, hearts, and more into the video, which can also be triggered with a hand gesture.

Additional macOS Sonoma updates include enhanced PDF functionality for quick form-filling with AutoFill, users have the ability to simply say “Siri” to activate Siri, users have all-new stickers experience, enhancements to features like search, reply, groups, and syncing with Messages in iCloud.

Communication Safety expands to AirDrop, the Photos picker, incoming calls, and FaceTime messages, further broadening protections for children. Additionally, Sensitive Content Warning prevents unexpected exposure to sensitive images and videos in AirDrop and Messages, incoming calls, and FaceTime messages, while giving the user the option to block the contact or seek further resources for help.