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Apple launched iOS 16And the macOS VenturaAnd the watchOS9 in fall 2022. These annual updates to the company’s operating systems deliver a variety of useful and long-awaited features that further enrich your Apple device, including a customizable iPhone lock screen, a revamped Mac Settings app, and a new set of Apple Watch faces. However, it’s time to move on. WWDC23 may still be months away, but we’re already anticipating and hoping for some additions to the show iOS 17 and the rest of the Apple operating system suite. Here are seven to get you started.
Apple discontinued Dashboard with the release of macOS Catalina, which allowed users to add widgets to files mac desktop computers. This feature makes a lot of sense on a company’s desktop line since people usually have plenty of free space to insert these optional, handy bits of data on their large screens.
with Iphone And the IPADModern operating systems adopt support for home screen widgets, so it makes sense for Apple to finally implement this addition on macOS 14. For now, users have to go to the Notification Center to view the widgets they’ve added. The simplified implementation will allow users to pin the notification center to the right side of the desktop for easy access to timely information.
Notification reflection
iPhone and Macs are Better best friends. Copy on iOS and paste in macOS. Start a Pages document on your Mac, and edit it on the go with your iPhone. Despite this, they still had unresolved issues, mainly in the miscommunication department. When I’m working on my Mac, my iPhone is usually right next to it, and mirroring notifications will simplify my workflow infinitely.
Right now, if someone texts me via a third-party instant messaging (IM) app, I have to pick up my phone to reply. If that same notification can get to my Mac as well, I can type the response through macOS 14. My workflow won’t be interrupted, and I can continue to ignore my phone.
This feature can be exceptionally useful for those who leave their phones charging in a different room. This way, they can interact with their iPhone without having to get up and move around. This feature is already compatible with select PCs and Android phones, so it would be a welcome change if Apple copied it in 2023.
party mood
Apple prides itself that its devices work seamlessly with each other, which we can’t deny. The company has arguably the narrowest ecosystem in the mobile and computer fields. You can unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch, use your iPhone as a webcam, sign Mac documents with your iPad and Apple Pencil, and more. However, one feature I’d like to see on macOS 14 and the respective Apple operating systems is Party Mode.
Simply put, Party Mode will play the same audio through all your devices’ speakers in a synchronized manner. You can blast a playlist with minimal reliance on dedicated speakers—at least in the context of a small house party. You can already pair HomePods and have them play the same music simultaneously, so a possible macOS 14 change would only expand it to Macs (and iPhones and iPads with their 2023 OS updates).
Alarms, but in sync
With macOS Ventura, Apple finally introduced the Clock app to the Mac. Another ecosystem feature I’d like to see on macOS 14 is support for optional simultaneous wake-ups. Currently, you can set different alarms on different iDevices, but you should be able to edit the iPhone alarm through the macOS 14 Clock app (and vice versa) and indicate which device(s) will actually ring. Right now, I can control my HomePod Mini alarms with my iPhone, iPad, or MacBook Air. Apple will just have to expand this feature to make it compatible with the rest of its devices.
advanced search
Find My and its vast network is a powerful tool for Apple users. Locate, scan, ping and do much more for your lost or stolen devices. In fact, users can find their (compatible) iPhones even if they are turned off. This makes it difficult for thieves to hide their tracks or get out of the net. However, Find My – as a service – is far from perfect.
Starting with an AirTag, for unknown reasons, you cannot pair a new AirTag or ping an existing AirTag on macOS at this time. A welcome addition would be adequate support for the company’s trackers. More importantly, macOS 14 should allow us to have better control over our iDevices. Right now, I can lock my iPhone, ping and locate it, among other basic commands. Apple could make Find My more useful by turning it into a control center for these devices. Allow us to toggle settings on/off, such as Wi-Fi or Airplane mode. iPhone can already be used as a remote control for iPad and vice versa. Flattening this feature and making it to the Mac in a richer format would make Find My even more powerful.
Standard version numbers
One small detail about Apple that bothers me is the mismatch of version numbers across their operating systems. At the moment we have three different numbers 16 for iOS / iPadOS, 13 for macOS and 9 for watchOS. In 2023, I hope Apple will deliver greater hikes in macOS and watchOS version numbers to match those of iOS and iPadOS. In this way we get iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and macOS 17.
Apple’s standardization of the user interface across these operating systems will make it easier to tell what year a particular release occurred. The company could also take it a step further and go iOS/iPadOS/watchOS/macOS 23 (instead of 17) to match 2023. While big release bumps don’t usually make sense, this would be a one-off exception for the purposes of simplification.
Translate and watch applications
With macOS Ventura, Apple has finally brought the Clock and Weather apps to the Mac. However, the company’s computers are still missing some apps, such as the Translate app, which recently appeared on iPadOS. The company is yet to offer this useful tool for macOS. We have our fingers crossed for this app to launch Mac for the first time with macOS 14.
Another iOS app I want to see on macOS 14 is Watch, which is the tool you use to pair and customize your Apple Watch. Your Mac is already aware of the clock. This is embodied in features like Unlock Mac with Apple Watch. A welcome addition would be the ability to pair and adjust settings for your Apple Watch on your Mac. In this way, Android users who are based on macOS can take advantage of the company’s advanced wearable.
Unfortunately, macOS 14 is still several months away. At this point, though, Apple has likely decided what key features to include in this version. After all, it takes several weeks of pre-planning and development for new additions to see the light of day. Until then, we can sit back and wait and hope the Cupertino Overlord listens to our feedback.
What features do you want Apple to introduce in macOS 14? Let us know in the comments section below.
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