Take Control of Sequoia

Version 1.1, published September 16, 2024

macOS 15 Sequoia is one of Apple's most ambitious updates in years. Along with the usual range of new features, it introduces Apple Intelligence, which will permeate many parts of the system and fundamentally change the sorts of things you can do with your Mac and how you do them. This book is your complete guide to what's new in Sequoia—and what Apple has planned for future updates, too.

Sequoia is an unusual release in that the first version (15.0) has only a fraction of its promised features. Version 15.1, which appears to be on track to ship not long thereafter, will bring with it the first tranche of Apple Intelligence capabilities, and even more will roll out over the coming months. Joe Kissell tells you everything you need to know, including a thorough walk-through of the upgrade process. You'll learn about new window tiling features, iPhone mirroring, videoconferencing tools, the much-discussed Passwords app, how Siri is becoming more powerful, new ways of formatting messages in the Messages app, additional features in Notes, and much more.

This book teaches you things like:

• How to tell whether your Mac is compatible with Sequoia

• Steps you should take before upgrading

• How to perform an in-place upgrade—or do a clean install and migrate your old data from a backup

• What's new in the System Settings app

• Using new Safari 18 features, such as page highlights, a redesigned Reader view, a tool to remove distracting page elements, and a new video viewer

• What Apple Intelligence can do in macOS 15.1 (including Siri changes, writing tools, and image generation) and what's coming later (for example, ChatGPT features)

• The many ways you can now tile your windows, and how to turn off the annoying bits

• What the new Passwords app can and can't do (and why it probably won't replace your current password manager)

• Using the new iPhone Mirroring app to interact with your iPhone right on your Mac's screen

• How to enhance video calls (using apps like FaceTime, Zoom, or Slack) with background replacement and better screen sharing controls

• Ways to format text and add animations in Messages, plus smart replies, scheduled replies, and emoji or sticker tapbacks

• New ways to use Notes, including new text formatting options, transcription of live audio, collapsible sections, and text highlighting

• How to use Math Notes for calculations without a calculator or spreadsheet (and not just in the Notes app)

• Small but interesting changes throughout macOS, such as accessibility improvements and new capabilities for AirPods

• Improvements to bundled apps, including Calculator, Calendar, Freeform, Home, Mail, Maps, Photos, and Weather

Joe plans to update this book several times in the coming months to reflect the ongoing changes in Sequoia.