MacOS 10.14 Mojave has arrived, and it’s packed full of new goodies for Mac users to enjoy. The major update is named, as you might’ve guessed, after California’s Mojave Desert and promises to help Mac users stay organized and work more efficiently.
Mojave 10.14 is compatible with Mac systems from mid-2012 or later, as well as 2010 and 2012 Mac Pro models that include the recommended Metal-capable graphics cards. If you’re rocking one of those systems, then our pick of the macOS Mojave tips would be of great help. Below are some of the best new features.
Dark Mode
MacOS Mojave has been equipped with a true dark mode. Where High Sierra lets you turn the menu bar and Dock dark, the new OS comes with the option of turning your entire desktop dark, including the wallpaper and apps like Mail, Messages, Maps, Photos, and Calendar. And it’s all done with a simple toggle.
Stacks
A cluttered desktop is a productivity killer — that’s why “Stacks” might well be the most handy of features in new macOS Mojave. You know how a hotel cleaning service has your room looking spotless every day no matter how messy you make it? That’s what Stacks does for your Mac.
The feature takes the messy contents of your desktop and organizes them into tidy stacks (hence the name). Stacks can be organized by file type, date, tags, and more. By clicking on a stack, you’ll see its contents, from there you can double-click on whatever it is you want to open.
Group FaceTime
Group FaceTime lets you chat to up to 32 people on one FaceTime call. I’m not sure how that would work without descending into total chaos but it’s a great option to have. Participants can be added to the conversation at any time and join in via their Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
iOS apps on Mac
Before you get too excited, not all iOS apps are coming to Mac, and there are no plans to merge macOS with iOS. But the apps that are Mac-bound are useful. New macOS Mojave is getting News, Home, Stocks, and Voice Memos. These apps are some of the most popular on iOS and are very welcome additions to the Mac lineup.
Continuity Camera
A completely new macOS Mojave feature is Continuity Camera, which lets you take a photo on your iPhone or iPad and have it appear instantly on your Mac.
If you’re working on a document on your Mac and need to add a photo, Continuity Camera can automatically fire up the camera on your iOS device. Snap the photo and watch in awe as it magically appears in your doc.
This works in a variety of Mac apps such as Mail, Notes, Keynotes, Pages, and Numbers and will save a lot of people a lot of time.
Redesigned Mac App Store
Apple has completely overhauled the Mac App Store for Mojave, introducing features you never knew you needed, like articles about popular apps and auto-playing app videos that give you all the information you need about an app before downloading. There are new tabs too: Discover, Create, Work, and Play — all introduced to help you find new apps and make the most of ones you’ve already installed.
Improved screenshots
macOS 10.14 has borrowed from iOS with the introduction of a new screenshot tool that includes immediate thumbnail previews for faster sharing and annotations. It's easier to record what’s on your screen too, thanks to a new screengrab menu that includes a countdown delay timer. Another nice touch is the ability to show or hide the cursor.
Improved security
MacOS has always been big on security, and Mojave is no different. With the release of the new OS come more frequent pop-ups to alert you to any apps that are trying to access your photos, microphone, or location.
Additionally, there's greater protection against social media “Like” and “Share” buttons and comment widgets that track you without permission. That's all thanks to Safari’s new Intelligent Tracking Prevention — a Mojave feature that also securely stores strong passwords when new online accounts are created and flags reused passwords, so they can be changed.