I have not learned to expect much from the MacOS updates – not through the utterly blasphemous religion, but from the clear fact that Apple focuses far more on iOS and iPados than in its desktop platform. I got Macos is a matter of past, while smartphones and tablets are Apple’s profitable situation and future. But still, I think that Mac users only deserve the ability to photograph their iPhones (not only real, but also how important the iPhones are nowadays for Apple and its users). Now, with McCons 26, Apple is finally showing a little more love with its laptop and desktops.
After testing the 26 developer son for a few weeks, it certainly feels like refreshing more than the last few versions. The only and only McDe Hards is likely to be a spotlight that makes your fingers easier to find apps without need to leave the keyboard and perform all kinds of work. In addition to the design of Apple’s liquid glass design as well as the impulse of the iPhone, add to a beautiful visual refresh, and you have an operating system that feels like a real step for Mac faithful.
(ED. Note: Apple just released the Public Beta for iOS 26, iPados 26, Macos 26 and Wachos 26. This means that you can run a preview for yourself, if you are likely to risk taking a risk of small or unstable software that may not work for some of your apps. As always, we recommend taking all your history backup before running any beta, and you can follow us Guide about how to install Apple’s Public Beta To do it.)
The spotlight exceeds the search engine
I’ve never been a heavy spotlight user, in addition to these few times, I need to find an app or file quickly. But in Macos Tahao 26, suddenly it is very useful. Now the spotlight can also help you find specific files. Find cloud file services and websites. Run Apple Shortcut and Automation. And even run the basic orders, such as finding your recent screenshots when you type the “/screenshot”. Spotlight has become much more than just a search engine for your Mac, it is practically a superpower command line. (And in particular, it has no real equivalent on Windows. So once again, MacPower users will talk about MacOS supremacy.)
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During my testing, tapping command and space bar to mobilize the spotlight became practically the second nature. I bring it to Bring, as usual, but I noticed that I was looking for more than ever. Spotlight also changed the usual typing exercise in search wires at the Safari or Chrome address bar. It only takes a few seconds to bring the spotlight, typing “YouTube”, remove the tab to mobilize the search box and type in the video that I am looking for. This intelligent site also works for Amazon and IMDB.
If you are often buried in your web browser by tons of tabs, the spotlight can also find them quickly. This helped me avoid engaging in social media and slow conversations. I could just be in the flow of my productive capacity, because I didn’t have to snatch through several apps through Windows and Tabs. The ability to mobilize operations from the spotlight was similarly useful – it is a catch to pop up, start typing “send message” and describe my wife’s quick text. Spotlight also learns your most common orders over time, so now I just have to type “SE” to send a message to send a popup.
I am sure that for a particular kind of Mac Power user, the spotlight will give them very few reasons for ever touching their mouse or trackpad.
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More better user interface with liquid glasses
Although the Spot Light Micros Tahao is the most powerful upgrade in 26, you will first see the Asphyeer liquid glass interface. Like iOS 26, it is mainly equivalent to more and more transparenies and visual pins that spread throughout the OS. The menu bar in the upper part of the screen is now completely transparent instead of fading as before. This is not high, but it makes your Mac screen know slightly bigger (or maybe it has been extra attention on the tight 13 -inch MacBook air I am examining).
Similarly, the widget and control center dropdowns have more visual elements like glasses that make them a bit more modern. There is no real practical benefit, but to describe the classic margin Simpson extract, I think it’s clean. Apple is more than enough graphics power to save hardware equipped with silicon, so these visual upgrades do not hinder performance. I did not feel slow during my test, and according to the activity monitor, it does not seem that there is no great success in using CPU or GPU.
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Better iPhone Integration
Although you have just been able to make phone calls on Max for a while, it has been taken by MacAs Tahao 26 to launch a dedicated phone app. The app itself is nothing special – it takes a sharp look at your contacts and recent calls, all of this is in a compact liquid glass window – but at least it’s more logical space for phone calls.
Even better than the Standstone app, though, the direct activities of the iPhone displayed in the Macos Taha 26 menu bar. This makes it easier to keep your phone’s track, without whiping your phone. And if you need to tap in a particular activity, Macos will automatically launch your phone from the iPhone via mirror. This is a useful feature that you will expect from Apple, and especially it is not easily copied to Windows. (And of course, you can see it as a way to prevent iPhone users from wandering towards the dark.)
Other useful upgrades
The more I dug in Micros Tahao 26, the more interesting. Some other updates capable of highlighting these are:
The shortcuting app is now very powerful, especially with customs automation and Apple intelligence -driven operations. You may have automation trigger written tools or image playgrounds, and also has a new “use model” command that can tap on a device AI model and chat GPT. According to Apple, I’m still trying to wrap my head around making a complex automation, but it can allow you to do something like comparing audio transcripts to the text note.
Safari has received a re -design of a liquid glass that looks beautiful polished. This safari is not as a change like iOS upgrade, making it easier to read the website on a small phone screen, but at least it looks good.
The notice app now has an Apple intelligence -powered reminder whenever you share content on it. This can help you detect some important tasks from a large email.
The photo app has also received liquid glass treatment, and you can eventually use a pund collection on Mac to keep your favorite photo groups easy.
The Apple Music app can now use automix to combine songs together, like DJ. I am using this feature on iOS 26, and it’s honestly delightful – unless you are the total gaps playback porrost.
