macOS 11 is just around the corner: After a long beta phase, “Big Sur” is now on Thursday, the 12. November appear, as Apple announced. Part of the free upgrade is a comprehensive redesign of the user interface, which is closer to iPadOS.

Elements known from iOS such as the control center and widgets come at the same time to the Mac – as well as the innovations known from iOS 12 in iMessage and Apple’s app “Messages” and “Maps” and other pre-installed programs from the manufacturer. There are also changes in the substructure, so the system drive is now signed by Apple (“Signed System Volume”).

Big Sur optimized for ARM-Macs Big Sur is suitable for Macs with Intel processors as well as for the new Macs with the ARM-based M1 chip, which Apple announced on Tuesday evening (see also Mac & i-Liveticker) – including new ones MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. The operating system has been optimized for the in-house chip, stressed Apple, and promises faster app launches, an accelerated Safari browser and, for example, an immediate wake-up of the computer from hibernation, as is known from iPhone and iPad. A new power management system should ensure that the Macs work economically and quietly; Apple does not have a fan on the MacBook Air with the M1 chip.

Mac apps optimized for the M1 Apple emphasized that all of its own apps are already designed for M1 Macs – right up to the professional Logic Pro applications and Final Cut Pro. Developers have the option of offering universal apps that are intended for Intel- / x 86 – as well as the new ARM-based Macs . Adobe wants to provide Lightroom as a native app for Macs with an Apple chip in December, Photoshop will follow 2021, according to Apple.

Also other Mac apps like the DTP application Affinity Publisher, the video editing program DaVince Resolve, the 3D rendering package Cinema 4D and the productivity tools of the OmniGroup will soon be available specially adapted for M1 Macs. A more precise schedule is not yet available. Microsoft has already announced an adaptation of its office suite.

iPhone apps are allowed on the Mac Apps that have not yet been adapted for ARM Macs can still be run through the Rosetta 2 translation layer, which is possible in many cases without major performance losses, according to Apple. On the new Macs, it will also be possible for the first time to install iPhone and iPad apps from the App Store – if developers do not explicitly rule this out. At Apple’s event, the game “Among Us”, the painting app Procreate and the streaming service HBO Max were briefly seen in their iOS version on a Mac. It remains to be seen how well the control of the touch-based apps works on the Mac.

Mac & i brings many tips about the new functions in macOS Big Sur in the current issue 5 / 2020, currently on sale.

(lbe)