Apple macOS Catalina preview: What’s new in macOS 10.15?

Apple certainly kept journalists covering the WWDC 2019 keynote busy last night. Alongside updates on tvOS, iOS 13, iPadOS and new hardware in the form of the 2019 Mac Pro and the Pro Display XDR, the company also found time to unveil the latest installment of macOS, nicknamed Catalina.
 
Here are the features you’ll be enjoying when Catalina lands on your Mac this autumn.

Apple macOS Catalina preview: Project Catalyst

By far the biggest change to macOS is iPad app support. This is more aimed at developers than regular consumers, allowing them to build apps in Xcode for release on both Mac and iPad.
 
In the long run this could be huge, potentially giving the Mac the vibrant app scene that the iPad enjoys. So far, we know that the iOS Twitter and Jira apps will be on their way to the Mac via this process. Hopefully others will follow suit.

Apple macOS Catalina preview: Updated apps

On the subject of apps, Apple is retiring iTunes once and for all. In its place, three apps to handle media: ‘Music’, ‘TV’ and ‘Podcasts’. These are pretty much exactly what you’d expect, though the Podcasts app has a nice party trick where you can search for phrases said on the show you’re looking for. We’ll have to see how well that works in practice. The TV app supports 4K HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, too.
 
‘Screen Time’ – the app which shows you just how addicted you are to your iOS device – will also be coming to the Mac, and ‘Find My iPhone’ gets rebranded to just ‘Find My’, which is an acknowledgement that it helps locate all Apple products, rather than just phones. The Photos app is getting a bit more like Google Photos, with a browsing experience that shows pictures and video by day, month and year.

Apple macOS Catalina preview: iPad compatibility

Recognising that many power users own both a Mac and an iPad, Apple is making linking the two a simpler and better experience all round.

First up, macOS Catalina will include the option to use your iPad as a second screen, extending your display across both. Third-party apps have offered this for a while, but this will now be baked into macOS without the need for extras. It doesn’t stop there, either. If you have an iPad Pro or one of the newer iPad with Apple Pencil support, you’ll be able to use your Mac as a drawing tablet on supported apps.

Apple macOS Catalina preview: Accessibility and security

MacOS Catalina has a new accessibility feature where you can control the whole system with your voice. You can see it in action below.
 
 
In terms of security, Apple has added something called Gatekeeper, which will check apps for known security issues. Apps will now also need permission before accessing your documents, so it should be easier to spot and veto suspicious behaviour.

Apple macOS Catalina preview: Compatibility

It’s the end of the road for 32-bit applications. So if you’re still using any, it’s time to upgrade.
 
That could mean a reduction in the number of Macs supporting the upgrade from those that could be upgraded to Sierra, but we won’t know until nearer the time.

Apple macOS Catalina preview: Release date

Apple macOS Catalina will be available to download this autumn. That means it’ll be here by the end of October 2019 – probably September, judging by past releases.

Apple macOS Catalina preview: Early verdict

The macOS Catalina update is a strange one: a mix of neat, extra updates alongside things that could be genuinely transformational. A lot depends on how many developers feel the need to code for both iPad and Mac, but even if they don’t, the increased iPad integration should be a big plus for owners of both.