Key Takeaways
- iPhone Mirroring worked well after an initial hiccup during setup, but the beta build lacks the drag-and-drop functionality.
- Improved window tiling in macOS Sequoia allows you to organize multiple app windows efficiently, but some apps have trouble conforming to tiled positions.
- Several Apple Intelligence features are missing in the beta, but you can try out Writing Tools and Siri’s new interface.
With the recent release of the macOS Sequoia 15.1 developer beta, I had the opportunity to dive into the new features and enhancements Apple announced at WWDC 2024. Here’s my take on the key features I’ve been using after updating my Mac.
iPhone Mirroring Works, but Has Room to Improve
One of the standout features of macOS Sequoia is iPhone Mirroring. Initially, I had difficulty enabling iPhone Mirroring to work on my devices, as it kept getting timed out. Once it was running, it was a very fluid and snappy experience. Aside from the cameras, I could fully control my iPhone directly from my MacBook with no noticeable lag or stutter.
It’s worth noting the drag-and-drop feature currently doesn’t work in the beta. However, with Universal Clipboard and AirDrop, I can still seamlessly copy and transfer files and photos between my devices through the mirrored display.
Accessing iPhone notifications directly on my Mac is a game-changer; clicking them will open the designated app through the iPhone Mirroring app on your Mac.
As convenient as it is to use my iPhone on my Mac, it can feel finicky to operate a touch-first interface with a keyboard and trackpad.
Window Tiling Can Be Better
Window management has always been a crucial aspect of productivity on a Mac, and I’ve always found it a bit lacking compared to Windows PCs. Thankfully, Apple has improved window tiling in macOS Sequoia, and now it finally feels much more useful.
When dragging a window to the edge of the screen, macOS now suggests a tiled position, allowing for quick organization of multiple apps. The new keyboard and menu shortcuts also enhance the experience, making window management more responsive.
That said, certain apps like Apple Music and Discord don’t fully conform to certain tiled positions. I hope Apple irons out these issues by the time it rolls out the final stable build of macOS 15.
Apple Intelligence Is Incomplete, but Shows Promise
The most exciting development in macOS Sequoia is Apple Intelligence. This cross-platform suite of AI features leverages the power of Apple silicon to deliver on-device intelligence while ensuring privacy. The developer beta build lets you try Writing Tools and Siri’s revamped interface with “Type to Siri” support.
With Writing Tools, Apple Intelligence introduces system-wide access to features that assist with rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text. These tools are integrated across macOS and are accessible in most third-party apps, though some apps like Notion don’t support it yet.
In my experience, the rewriting, proofreading, and summarization options were very helpful; they were quick in turnaround time. Apple Intelligence does an excellent job of keeping the core content and intent of the original text while summarizing. And with proofreading, you can compare and see where it made the edits.
Siri features a new design, though not as dramatically different as you’ll find on iOS. Currently, Siri supports more resilient request handling and the ability to switch seamlessly between text and voice with Type to Siri.
That said, the core experience of Siri in this beta remains mostly unchanged; personal context and third-party app integrations are not available yet.
Several Apple Intelligence features announced at WWDC 2024 are still missing, though. These include Image Playground, Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, object removal from photos, on-screen awareness and in-app actions for Siri, and more.
Overall, I think this preview of macOS Sequoia and Apple Intelligence sets the stage for a more connected and seamless user experience down the line. I can’t wait to see how these tools will further advance as the main features of Apple Intelligence become available to everyone in fall 2024.
