Download and update your Mac with MacOS Catalina with new features and apps

All owners of MacBook, iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro (all Mac computers released from 2012 onwards) can download and install the new MacOS operating system update, called MacOS Catalina, version MacOS 10.15 . This is certainly an important update since Apple has decided to replace the historic iTunes app with three separate apps: Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV and has eliminated support for 32-bit programs, thus making them unusable on Macs. it also adds the ability to run iPad apps on a Mac that are available through the Mac App Store and also to use an iPad as a second screen as if it were a monitor.
For those who want to know what are the news, changes and all the things that can now be done on a Mac while not before, we see in this list the most important functions and also those a little more hidden than MacOS 10.15 Catalina .

More important functions added to MacOS Catalina

1) Without iTunes, how to manage music, movies and podcasts

The old iTunes has been (finally) removed from the Mac and in its place there are Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Podcast, with the Finder that takes the backup and restore function of the iPhone and iPad. Taken together, these apps are not very different from the different components of iTunes, but they make operations easier to find and more orderly.
The Apple Music app incorporates both the Apple Music subscription service and the old music library saved in the Mac memory, including the playlists created.
Apple TV is the application to watch videos and movies purchased from iTunes and also streamed from the next Apple TV + subscription.
The Podcast app allows you to manage subscriptions to podcasts, download episodes and episodes of your favorite broadcasts.

2) Use the iPad as a second screen

One of the most interesting new macOS Catalina features for iPad owners is the one that allows you to use an iPad as a secondary display, either by connecting it with a cable or via wifi. The Sidecar function is found in the System Preferences menu. The best thing about this feature is that you can use an Apple Pencil on the iPad screen to draw and write on the Mac . Sidecar is expected to work on Macs sold since 2016.

3) Run iPad apps

MacOS Catalina makes it easier for app developers to make their iPad apps compatible for the Mac as well. Applications will be available on the Mac App Store.

4) Limit the use of the Mac

With the Screen Time option, in the System Preferences, you can set limits on the use of particular apps (or particular categories of apps) and you can control how the computer is used, especially on which apps we use the most and which sites we visit everyday.
Screen Time displays the use of the apps, the incoming notifications, the time of use of the Mac and of the iOS devices. Screen Time on the Mac then shares data between Apple devices, so you can see the combined usage on one screen. Screen Time replaces the old Mac Parental Control making it simpler and more complete.

5) 32-bit apps no longer work

If you are still using an old 32-bit app and there is no updated 64-bit version, then it is better not to upgrade to MacOS Catalina because it won't work. In MacOS Catalina, in fact, 32-bit apps don't work.

Apple applications updated in MacOS Catalina

Find the Mac more easily

The new Find Mine app brings together all the features of Find My Friends and Find My iPhone. From this application it is possible to detect the location of the iPhone, iPad and also of the Mac and the Apple Watch and if your computer was offline for any reason, Apple will ask for help from other people's devices to try to find it ( anonymously, invisibly and safely, of course).

Photos app

The photos have been given a visual update making the app more similar to that of the iPhone, with the library that you can browse by day, by month and by year. Foto is also more intelligent in identifying "moments", such as travel abroad and better photos.

Note app renewed

In the Mac Notes app there is a new gallery view, a more complete search function, the possibility to share entire folders of notes and support to work together with other people.

Reminder app

Reminders has even greater improvements than Notes, both in the interface and in the ability to create reminders from Messages. Reminders are then automatically grouped into smart lists and attachments can be added.

Safari

The Mac Safari browser has received its usual annual updates to improve rendering performance and web standards. There is also a new home page, complete with Siri tips for knowing the relevant shortcuts, iCloud tabs and links with Reading List and Messages.

QuickTime Player

The Quicktime app to view videos is also updated with a brand new Picture-in-Picture mode, a movie inspection panel that shows additional technical information on the video that is played. You can also create a movie from an image folder.

Other features added to MacOS Catalina

Apple account

In the System Preferences you can see the details of the Apple account, with profile picture and account name. By clicking the details link you can see which devices are registered, the payment and shipping details and other account information.

Voice commands

The entire macOS Catalina operating system can be managed with voice commands, very useful for anyone who cannot normally use their computer and also for people who do other things (like cooking) using their Mac. From Apple, go to Preferences System and then in Accessibility to find a new voice control option to be enabled.
Speech recognition and dictation have been improved and it is also possible to select, enlarge or drag files via voice commands.

Apple Arcade

In the Mac App Store in macOS Catalina there is the new Arcade tab on the left that allows you to access the Mac games that can be played in streaming, which are part of Apple Arcade.

How to download and install MacOS Catalina

As with past Mac updates, macOS Catalina is available as a free download in the Mac App Store. Before upgrading, it would be best to back up your computer in case something goes wrong during the installation process. To do this, connect an external hard drive and launch the Time Machine app.
After backing up your computer, open the Mac App Store to find the availability of the macOS Catalina download or type "Catalina" in the search bar of the App Store and search for it. The installation file is saved with the name " Install macOS Catalina " and will be performed to update to the latest version of macOS.
In another article, the guide to install MacOS Catalina from scratch on a Mac from a USB stick