macOS Catalina released: Your Apple MacBook and iMac get these brand-new features today

Apple macOS Catalina release date is here (Image: APPLE)

It’s been a long wait but has finally released its new macOS Catalina upgrade.

This blockbuster update was first announced back in June at the technology firm’s WWDC conference and now it’s ready for fans to install on their devices.

Catalina brings a swathe of new features to the MacBook and iMac including new apps, improved security and something called Sidecar which allows users to link their computers to an iPad as a second screen.

The upgrade became available at 6.10pm BST and here’s all you need to know about downloading Catalina and how it will transform your PC.

macOS Catalina

macOS Catalina is now live on the App Store (Image: APPLE)

HOW TO DOWNLOAD

macOS Catalina is now live.

If you want to download and install simply head to the App Store on your Mac and search for macOS Catalina.

Then follow the onscreen instructions – it is almost 5GB in size so you might need to be patient if you have a slow broadband connection. 

IS MY DEVICE COMPATIBLE?

To make sure you can get macOS Catalina you can check below for which machines are compatible.

You can find out if your

WHAT ARE THE BEST NEW FEATURES?

Here are all the. best new update and features in macOS Catalina

SIDECAR

Sidecar is one of the most anticipated features in macOS Catalina and that’s not surprising.

This clever update allows you to connect up your iPad and use it as second screen meaning you get more space on your main display.

Along with moving content and tools to the iPad’s screen you can also take a project you are working on over to the tablet and continue to edit it using the Apple Pencil stylus.

This is a great bonus for those wanting to sketch or mark up documents more easily and it works with both a wired and wireless connection.

Here’s all the tablets that are compatible with Sidecar

iPad models: • 12.9-inch iPad Pro • 11-inch iPad Pro • 10.5-inch iPad Pro • 9.7-inch iPad Pro

• iPad (6th generation or later) • iPad mini (5th generation) • iPad Air (3rd generation)

macOS Catalina update

macOS Catalina update (Image: APPLE)

THE NEW APPS

Once you download macOS Catalina you’ll find there’s no more iTunes.

Apple has decided to ditch this iconic software in favour of three new applications which include Music, TV and Podcast.

This makes perfect sense and is actually far more easy to navigate and find content than before.

As the names suggest you’ll find all of your favourite audio, songs and playlists in Music.

TV offers a place to find shows, movies and box sets and this will be the place to discover all of Apple’s exclusive Apple TV+ content when it launches next month.

Finally, if you love a Podcast then the new app will simplify things with easy ways to find shows via title, topic, guest, host, and more.

macOS Catalina update

macOS Catalina update brings Apple Arcade to the Mac (Image: APPLE)

APPLE ARCADE

Playing games on your Mac is about to get much more fun.

Apple’s new Arcade service is fully compatible with these machines allowing you to play over 100 titles straight from your desktop.

Apple Arcade titles are exclusive to this service and they can be played advert-free offline as well as when connected to the web.

It’s worth noting that you will need to pay the £4.99 per month fee but the first month is free.

SCREEN TIME

Screen Time has been a hugely popular addition to the iPhone and now it’s arrived on the Mac.

This means you’ll get full reports about how much time you are spending staring at the display.

Along with alerts about your screen health, there’s also options to schedule time away from your Mac and set limits for specific apps and websites.

There’s also a family sharing option which allows parents to configure Screen Time from any device— iPhone, iPad, or Mac—and everything is setup for their kids on all their devices.

SECURITY

The Mac is already a very secure device but things are improved in Catalina.

Security improvements in this update better protect macOS from tampering, help ensure the apps you use are safe, and give you greater control over access to your data.

Apple macOS Catalina

Apple macOS Catalina includes SIdecar (Image: APPLE)

FIND MY FRIENDS AND DEVICES

Finding your lost devices or checking where friends and family are have been made much more simple in this update.

Users can now find everything in one “Find My” app which reveals full details and accurate locations.

And there’s one more thing.

Find My iPhone has always been able to help you locate your missing devices as long as they can connect to Wi-Fi or cellular.

But now the Find My app is taking location one step further by using Bluetooth and the hundreds of millions of Mac and iOS devices in active use around the world.

This means you will now be able to locate a missing device even if it can’t connect to the internet – genius!

Apple macOS Catalina

Apple macOS Catalina (Image: APPLE)

PHOTOS

Just like the iOS 13 update, macOS gets the all-new Photos app.

This update includes improved organisation of your images along with your best shots being picked out automatically.

You can also now view Memory movies on your Mac, and edit the duration, mood, and title.

These movie edits will sync to your other devices if you use iCloud Photos.

And Memory titles have a new look, with additional fonts and an improved layout so you see more of your content in the movie keyframe.

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