macOS Sierra FAQ: What you need to know about the new Mac operating system
Apple decide to change the name in order to fit with the names of iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. So no more Roman numerals (or that annoying person who insists on calling it “OS eks”).
Some trivia, if you’re interested: macOS isn’t entirely a new name. Before version 10, Apple used to call its Mac operating system Mac OS, with the last version being Mac OS 9. Apple change the name to OS X when version 10 was released in 2001.
Yup. This one is macOS Sierra.
More trivia: Sierra refers to a mountain range in central and eastern California. It’s also called Sierra Nevada, since a small part of the range lies in the state of Nevada. Lake Tahoe, a popular snow-sport location in the winter and a frequently-visited lake in the summer, is located in the Sierra. Yosemite National Park (which is home to El Capitan) is also there. Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, is in the Sierra.
10.12.
The final version will be available in the fall. Apple released OS X 10.11 El Capitan on September 30, 2015, so if you use that as a guideline, the release date will probably be in late September or early October.
Apple makes its operating systems available for free, and macOS Sierra will be no different.
You can by joining the Apple Beta Software Program. The public beta will be released in July, and you have to sign up to get it.
Remember, it’s beta software, so there will be bugs and interface issues. Be sure to back up your data before installing the beta. And use the Feedback Assistant app to report any issues you encounter. You’ll help make a better final version.
Here’s the list of Macs that will run macOS Sierra.
Once you’ve determined that you have compatible hardware, deciding to upgrade is a personal choice. If you absolutely depend on a specific app and would be crippled without it, you should wait to make sure from that app developer that their software will work with macOS Sierra.
If you do decide to upgrade on macOS Sierra’s ship date, make sure you back up your data first. If you end up having a serious problem, you can revert back using your backup.
It’s true. There will be a Siri icon in the dock. Clicking on it activates Siri. You can use it as you would with your iPhone, like say, if you need directions, are trying to find a nearby restaurant, or want information on a topic.
You can also use it to find files on your Mac. For example, you can tell Siri to find all the files with with word “report” in it, and Siri will list those files.
Siri also lets you work with other Apple apps. You can take Siri results for, say, an image, and then drag and drop the image into a Keynote presentation. You can have Siri find a location in Maps, and then drag the location into an email.
Apple has not announced a third-party API for macOS Siri, so Siri may not work with third-party Mac apps.
Yes. When you’re shopping online and you see an Apple Pay button, you can click on it to use Apple Pay to pay for it. You still need your iPhone, however. Apple Pay on the Mac uses the iPhone’s Touch ID to verify your purchase; you can also press your Apple Watch side button twice.
Well, with macOS Sierra, you can. When your Mac has been inactive or you’re powering it up and you get to the login screen, a feature called Auto Unlock will sense your Apple Watch and instantly log you in. No more typing your password.
Here’s a list of the major new features showcased at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. They include iCloud Drive Desktop access, Optimized Storage, Picture in Picture, Tabs, and Universal Clipboard.
Some of the other neat features:
Photos for Mac gets news features, too. A new Memories tab automatically creates slideshows based on events, places, or people. There’s also support for extension for Photos that will allow for editing of Live Photos. When you make an edit, it will apply to the whole Live Photo, not just the one sequence you edited.
Have any other questions we haven’t answered Let us know in the comments below; we’ll be updating this guide as more information is released.