In addition to iOS 16, iPadOS 16 and watchOS 9, WWDC 2022 also previewed the next generation of macOS. macOS (13) ventura, named after a city in California, the low-level API comes with Metal 3, which includes DLSS with MetalFX upscaling, and Apple’s answer to FSR 2.0. However, many Macs get nothing.
MetalFX Upscaling – DLSS/FSR 2.0 by Apple
MetalFX upscaling is an upscaling algorithm with a temporal component, introduced by Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR 2.0. This means that the image rendered internally at a lower resolution is scaled up to a higher resolution using past and future frames. Apple didn’t say anything at the WWDC 2022 keynote whether the process could be accelerated by AI, as with Nvidia. The Apple M1 and the new Apple M2, with their 16-core Neural Engine, are basically computing units for AI acceleration like Nvidia Turing and Ampere, but they are only part of the SoC, not specifically part of the GPU.
Fast Resource Loading – Direct Storage from Apple
A second technological innovation in Metal 3 is already known from Windows PCs: fast resource loading. Like Microsoft Direct Storage (Nvidia RTX I/O, AMD Smart Storage), the new API allows GPUs to directly access system memory without burdening the CPU, which is associated with higher-resolution textures and geometry, faster loading times and Could enable larger game worlds.
Stage Manager organizes the desktop
Stage Manager is also new in macOS 13. As in iPadOS 16, the function is also used to group and organize windows in macOS. Organization is automated by the operating system and should enable quick change between different tasks, which may each involve different windows and apps. For the first time the windows can be arranged not only next to each other as before, but also overlapping.
iPhone becomes a webcam
Apple certainly wouldn’t have presented another innovation against the background of the poor webcam quality of the Apple Studio Display. For the first time in macOS 13, users could use their smartphone as a webcam: Under macOS 13, the iPhone could become a webcam on the Mac. Center stage can also be used via wide-angle optics, which keep the user in front of the screen at all times in the image section.
The iPhone, iPad, and Mac are also more closely associated with FaceTime and other video telephony apps now supporting Handoff as well. This means that the user can initiate a video call on one device and continue on another device seamlessly.
The collaboration between apps has in turn optimized Apple’s Spotlight search, which now also finds photos with specific people or places — you can also search for text on photos.
Apple has an online An Overview of All the New Features in macOS 13 Ventura free. Registered developers can install the first beta immediately. A public beta is scheduled for release in July. The final version will appear in the autumn.
These Macs and MacBooks will get updates
After MacOS Monterey debuted a year ago by Apple as a free update for some older systems, macOS Ventura doesn’t include many older computers — like the inglorious Mac Pro in a black cylinder design. But even with the MacBook, the cut is heavy.
- iMac 2017 and later (Monterey: Late 2015 and later)
- Mac Pro 2019 and later (Monterey: Late 2013 and later)
- iMac Pro 2017 and later (Monterey: 2017 and later)
- Mac Mini 2018 and later (Monterey: Late 2014 and later)
- MacBook Air 2018 and later (Monterey: early 2015 and later)
- MacBook 2017 and later (Monterey: early 2016 and later)
- MacBook Pro 2017 and later (Monterey: early 2015 and later)
Freelance twitter maven. Infuriatingly humble coffee aficionado. Amateur gamer. Typical beer fan. Avid music scholar. Alcohol nerd.
