Apple introduced macOS High Sierra at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2017 and made it
available for download on September 25. macOS High Sierra is the newest version of macOS available for download, introducing Metal 2, APFS, HEVC video, VR support, and Safari and Siri updates. As the name suggests, it is a follow-up to macOS Sierra and is largely designed to improve macOS Sierra through major updates with an aim to provide a platform for future innovation.
Apple has focused on the fundamentals yet again: data, video, and graphics while also introducing new technologies to make the Mac systems more reliable, capable, and responsive. It is important to note that High Sierra’s improvements are mostly subtle and sans all the jazz but you will notice upgrades that should make your experience with macOS neat and more secure.
Credit: Apple
The ‘New’ in High Sierra
- APFS or Apple File System is the new default in macOS High Sierra, with features like native encryption, safe document saves, stable snapshots, and crash protection. APFS is safe, secure, and crafted for modern storage systems like solid state drives. AFPS comes with better data protection during system crashes or power outages, faster boot times, and space-saving features like Trim and sparse file support, which wipes segments of unused data, giving more storage. Copying files is quick and APFS’ built-in encryption support lets you encrypt individual files, folders, or your whole disk, and allows for both single-key and multi-key encryption for increased data security.
- HEVC or High-Efficiency Video Encoding aka H.265 is a step ahead of H.264- with better detail and color and highly evolved compression compared to H.264. HEVC uses up to 40 percent less space without sacrificing quality. HEVC software encoding is available for all Macs in High Sierra, but newer models include HEVC hardware acceleration.
- Metal 2 is Apple's next-generation Metal graphics API that makes window animations like Mission Control uber cool. It is armed with improvements like driver optimizations, indirect argument buffers, sampler arrays, resource heaps, and more. It also allows you to build state-of-the-art apps with features that accelerate common machine learning functions.
The ‘Better’ in High Sierra
In addition to the innovations, Apple has refined its apps for a super cool user experience. For instance, Safari has "Intelligent Tracking Prevention" to protect your privacy; Mail storage has been optimized to take up 35 percent less space; editing Live Photo is a new fun feature introduced and memory expanded.
Photos
Source: macrumors.com
The Photos app supports the new HEIF and HEVC formats for images and videos, respectively and improvements make it easier to manage and modify your images. Now it is possible to share the photos in the JPEG format and make short videos from your Live Photos using new Loop and Bounce effects. It also allows you to do the following
- Organize your content with the new sidebar.
- Find all of your editing tools in the redesigned Edit View.
- Edit photos with new Curves and Selective Color tools.
- Access third-party apps directly from Photos and save the edited images to the Photos library.
- Do a lot more with your images from your library with new Memories themes including pets, weddings, outdoor activities, and more.
- Use a new third-party project extensions to get more creative with our images.
Safari
Safari’s updates make it possible to configure sites always to open in the simplified Reader View if you require a simplified interface that lets you read the content without distraction. It allows you to browse freely without being tracked by sites looking to send targeted advertisements. It also stops the auto-playing video. Users can customize their browsing experience with new per-site settings for Reader, page zoom, content blockers, and more.
Source: Apple
Mail
Now, it is possible to instantly find the messages most relevant to your search using Top Hits. The update allows you to use split view when composing a new email in full screen and being lightweight, it saves space with compressed messages.
Some more useful updates include
- Spotlight search tells you the status of a flight by typing the airline and flight number in the field.
- Organize your information using configurable tables in Notes.
- FaceTime with any supported Mac, iPhone, or iPad and you can click Live Photo during a video call.
- Siri makes your music experience more pleasurable than ever by making personalized music recommendations when you listen to Apple Music.
- Universal Clipboard allows copy and paste files between Macs using standard copy and paste commands.
- Single iCloud storage plan for the whole family
- Share and work on any file in iCloud Drive with your group.
Apple also claims that "The users may, however, note that some features may not be available in all regions or all languages and/or some features require an iCloud storage plan. Also, some features have hardware requirements. Apple File System requires all-flash internal storage."
Well, Apple never misses a chance to leave the world with its mouth open. In Mac OS High Sierra also, there are many "Wow" features to rock the users.