Much was announced about macOS 12 (formally known as macOS Monterey) at this year's WWDC 2021 This Mac software update is available for download now, and you can get an early look at the new features in our macOS 12 Monterey review

And for those worried about Monterey, it turns out that the major redo of Safari's tabs is not permanent But whenever macOS Monterey finally arrives on your Mac, Apple is using one major theme throughout its new OS: continuity

To this end, Apple introduced several major new features in macOS at Monterey This is because Apple's Mac business launched the critically acclaimed MacBook Pro 2021 (14-inch) and MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch) this year, which are powered by Apple's latest version of the M1 chip

The high sales of the M1-powered MacBooks have brought Apple record revenue And if you've been following our ongoing Mac coverage (including our MacBook Pro with M1 review and MacBook Air with M1 review), you know that macOS 11 Big Sur has contributed in no small way to its current popularity macOS Now that Monterey is coming soon and practically begging to be used with other Apple devices, it seems that Apple is trying to give MacBook owners even more incentive to use Apple hardware

Here's what we know so far about macOS Monterey

macOS Monterey will launch on October 25, and Apple announced the AirPods 3, 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021, and 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 at its October 18 event

Apple previously released a beta version of macOS Monterey to the public on July 1, following the release of a developer beta at the Worldwide Developer Conference

This follows Apple's shipment of the final versions of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 (don't miss our guides on how to download iOS 15 and iPadOS 15)

Since continuity is a big keyword in macOS Monterey, Apple is highlighting several new features of the new OS that make it easier to work and share files between multiple Apple devices

Universal Control: Perhaps the most futuristic feature coming to macOS Monterey, Universal Control will allow multiple Apple devices in close proximity to a macOS PC to effectively share a single keyboard and mouse Unfortunately, this feature is not likely to be available at launch

According to Apple, here's how it works: place the iPad near a macOS 12 Monterey device (eg, the new Apple iMac 2021) and move the mouse to the edge of the screen closest to the external device, a new cursor animation will appear Cursor If you continue to hold the cursor against the edge of the screen, the cursor will move and appear on the iPad screen, allowing you to use the mouse and keyboard on the tablet

Apple also revealed that files can be dragged and dropped between multiple devices using Universal Control, making the process of AirDrop files from an iMac to an iPad or iPhone and vice versa more effectively giving it a skeuomorphic feel

Airplay to Mac: Speaking of AirDropping, it is now also possible to Airplay media directly to an iMac or MacBook running macOS Monterey using an iOS or iPad device This would be a great way to take advantage of the excellent speakers in the new 24-inch iMac 2021, for example

Shortcuts come to macOS: The popular iOS shortcut app is now available for macOS, allowing you to set up custom shortcuts and routines on your iMac/MacBook and run them from Siri, Finder, Dock, and other areas of macOS Monterey Siri, Finder, Dock, and other areas of macOS Monterey

Automator fans can import all their workflows into Shortcuts

Safari: Apple tried to start redesigning Safari at the same time as macOS Monterey, but over time they undid much of their own work While we still have tabs that are organizable "tab groups" (think tab windows that exist across devices, so Safari on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 keep up), we have that "compact" option sticking next to the "standard" view, so we are We are not forced to use the tabbed view, which is minimized

Speaking of new looks, Safari also got a new feature that allows you to adopt the color scheme of whatever website you happen to be looking at and shift in real time when you switch tabs

Deeper integration with iOS: Speaking of iOS 15, also released in 2021, its phone software update includes many small features and improvements that will be reflected in macOS Monterey For example, new spatial audio capabilities in FaceTime calls and the ability to invite others to a FaceTime call using a link that can be shared anywhere

The most notable addition is SharePlay, a new feature that allows users to share media (video, music, screen share) with others on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS For example, one can share an Apple Music album or YouTube clip with a friend via iMessage and chat in real time while playing the media in an inserted window Shareplay has been removed and is not seen in the current beta version

Also new to macOS Monterey will be a "Shared with You" folder that will collect photos, videos, and other media that people have shared with you via iMessage in one place

The full list of MacBooks and iMacs that will be supported when macOS Monterey launches this fall, as provided by Apple, is as follows:

iMac: late 2015 or later

Mac Pro: late 2013 or later

iMac Pro: 2017 or later

Mac mini: Late 2014 or later

MacBook Air: Early 2015 or later

MacBook: Early 2016 or later

MacBook Pro: Early 2015 or later

For more information See also the complete guide to macOS 12 Monterey compatibility

With its renewed focus on continuity, macOS Monterey appears to be a clear ploy by Apple to reinforce the ties that bind Mac users to the walled garden of Apple devices and services [Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing; many of macOS Monterey's new features look very useful, and using Universal Control to drag and drop an image doodled on an iPad or iPhone directly into a document open on a MacBook, It looks truly futuristic

In short, if you already own multiple Apple devices, macOS Monterey should provide interesting new ways to use them in conjunction with your MacBook or iMac If you do not own other Apple devices, Monterey may not be of much use