NEWS  Apple  December 13, 2023  Reading time: 3 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

In June of this year, Apple took the tech world by storm with the announcement of macOS Sonoma. This latest operating system for Macs promised a host of improvements and features designed to enhance the user experience. Following a period of anticipation, Apple has rolled out the latest update, macOS Sonoma 14.2, which is now available for download on all compatible Macs. In this article, we delve into the key enhancements and features that users can expect with this new release.

PDF Handling Gets Smarter

One notable improvement in macOS Sonoma 14.2 is the enhanced AutoFill feature for PDFs. This feature streamlines the process of filling out PDF forms by identifying fields and auto-populating them with information from your contacts, such as names and addresses. While this may seem like a subtle enhancement, it is bound to significantly increase efficiency for users who frequently engage with PDFs, offering a quicker and more streamlined experience.

Revamping the Messages App

The Messages app sees a boost in functionality with the introduction of Contact Key Verification. This security feature provides automatic alerts and Contact Verification Codes to ensure that users are messaging only with intended recipients, particularly useful for those facing digital threats. Additionally, users can now directly add stickers to chat bubbles, injecting a bit of fun and personalization into their conversations. The inclusion of a "catch-up arrow" simplifies navigating through conversations, allowing users to jump directly to their first unread message.

Weather App Upgrades

Apple has not overlooked the Weather app, introducing three significant additions in macOS Sonoma 14.2. Users can now view precipitation amounts for the next ten days, providing a more comprehensive outlook. New widgets display valuable information such as next-hour precipitation, daily forecasts, sunrise and sunset times, as well as current conditions like Air Quality, Feels Like, and wind speed. The wind map snapshot further aids users in quickly grasping wind patterns, with an option to access an animated wind map overlay for the next 24 hours.

Clock App Enhancements

The Clock app receives a makeover with support for multiple timers, allowing users to assign names to each timer for better organization. Timer presets provide quick-start options with a range of preset choices, while recently used timers are conveniently displayed for easy restarts. These additions make the Clock app more versatile and user-friendly, catering to a variety of timing needs.

Additional Tweaks and Security Updates

Beyond the highlighted improvements, macOS Sonoma 14.2 introduces new keyboard layouts for seven additional Sámi languages, expanding accessibility. Users wearing AirPods can now use Shazam for music recognition, and the update allows the option to disable Apple Music listening history based on the active Focus mode. Apple has also included a new Favorite Songs Playlist in Apple Music, enhancing the music discovery experience.

Apple emphasizes the importance of security in this release, incorporating numerous security updates across various aspects of the software, including accounts and accessibility. Even if the new features may not immediately grab your attention, it's advisable to install macOS Sonoma 14.2 for the invaluable security patches it brings.