Apple will introduce the following main model of macOS at WWDC25 on June 9. The brand new model at all times contains new options, and this yr, a main person interface overhaul would be the spotlight of the modifications to what’s anticipated to now be named macOS 26.
No matter new options Apple introduces, they’re positive to be useful. Nonetheless, there are just a few options that we’d like to see on the announcement listing. A few of these have been on the want listing for a number of macOS releases, whereas others are comparatively new. In any case, in the event that they present up at WWDC25, then macOS 26 shall be an improve value ready for.
Dynamic Island
Dynamic Island made its debut with iOS 16 and the iPhone 14 Professional, and it’s one in every of my favourite options. The iPhone’s notch as an interface aspect works rather well, and since all MacBooks have notches too, I’d prefer to see it come to the Mac.
Dynamic Island is such interface aspect, it appears a disgrace to isolate it to the iPhone.
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Apple may supply Dynamic Island settings that customers can alter to allow them to see what they need to see. Apple reveals stacks of Notifications whenever you click on on the date and time within the menu bar; these can keep there as a option to see your notification historical past. Apple may even do Mac-specific issues with it, comparable to providing an app switcher.
What about Macs with a notchless show? Dynamic Island can nonetheless present up in that house. Just a few third-party builders supply Dynamic Island-like utilities, together with DynamicLake, NotchNook, and TheBoringNotch, with out dropping display screen house. Apple may do the identical.
It’s not a loopy notion: Apple is anticipated to launch a brand new design throughout all of its OSes to deliver a common look, really feel, and navigation, so it is smart to share main UI components throughout gadgets too.
iCloud Time Machine Backup
This has been on my macOS want listing for what seems like endlessly. Macworld contributor Dan Moren wrote eight years in the past about how the Mac may use an Apple-provided Mac backup system, both with Time Machine or one thing like iCloud Backup for the iPhone. Make it occur, Apple!
You’ll be able to already set your Mac to sync your Desktop and Paperwork folders to iCloud; that manner, for those who use a number of Macs, these folders are accessible on each. Equally, you may set Messages, Mail, and different options to retailer in iCloud and sync throughout completely different Macs. However this isn’t the identical as a backup, as a result of whenever you delete a file and empty the Trash, it’s gone with no option to retrieve it. Time Machine helps you to go right into a saved archive and retrieve information.
Your desktop and Paperwork folders might be saved to iCloud, however they don’t serve the aim of appearing as backups.
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Mac backups take up a number of cupboard space, so this may find yourself being a function the place customers must pay for iCloud storage. If that had been the case, then why not join one of many good cloud backup providers as an alternative of ready for Apple? As a result of I’m signed up for too many providers on the whole. Many Mac customers are already Apple One subscribers, which incorporates iCloud, and I’d moderately have a Mac Backup tied to that subscription than join one more one.
In macOS Sonoma, Apple added the flexibility to add widgets to the Desktop. It’s a incredible function, but it surely does have a sure “ported straight over from iOS” really feel to it. Apple must make widgets really feel like they had been designed for the Mac.
Desktop widgets on the Mac shouldn’t be restricted in dimension.
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For instance, widgets can be found in one in every of three fastened sizes, the identical ones designed for the iPhone. Mac customers ought to be capable to alter the widget’s dimension to no matter they need, and the parts of the widget ought to dynamically alter to accommodate the dimensions.
As somebody who typically takes screenshots, I’d additionally like the flexibility to cover a widget quickly. Proper-click a widget, and a brand new Conceal Widget possibility may let me do that. Set it in order that it hides for, say, 30 seconds, after which it reappears, or present a menu bar icon to deliver it again.
Icon tinting
Permitting for icon tint modifications in macOS would let customers deliver private aptitude to their Macs.
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With iOS 18, you may change the colours of the icons on the House display screen. It’s an effective way to personalize your gadget. Whereas the Mac has a number of alternative ways to personalize icons, you’ve by no means been capable of rapidly change the default colours of icons. It’s time for that to vary. Apple may even use a UI just like that utilized in iOS 18.
Clipboard supervisor
The flexibility to chop/copy and paste is an important a part of the computing expertise, but it surely seems like an neglected one by Apple. It may be extra sturdy, serving to customers be extra productive. For instance, the flexibility to see a report of clips can be useful. Additionally, the flexibility to routinely clear the clipboard after pasting can be nice and improve safety.
A number of glorious clipboard managers by third-party builders exist, comparable to Copy ‘Em, Maacy, Paste, and Pastebot. Since this can be a function Apple has lengthy had a possibility to introduce, it appears seemingly that the corporate is content material with leaving it as much as third events. Nevertheless it positive can be good to have it in-built and never fear about putting in software program. In any case, Apple has by no means been shy about Sherlocking corporations earlier than.
Journal on Mac
I didn’t suppose I’d use the Journal app when Apple launched it in iOS 17.2, however then a yr later, I went on a protracted trip, and Journal turned an essential device on my journey for documenting the sights I noticed, the individuals I met, and the experiences I had. Now I take advantage of it each time I do one thing I need to look again upon.
Journal has turn into an important app and breaks to interrupt free from the iPhone.
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The issue is that Journal is remoted to the iPhone. I spend a number of time on my Mac, and I’d like to have the ability to entry Journal on it. I’d even accept an internet app model of Journal on the iCloud portal, which, surprisingly, isn’t accessible–if Apple could make an Invitations internet app accessible, it will possibly do Journal.
