Having used macOS Sequoia since day one of many Developer Beta, I’ve to say I’m… Lower than amazed, to place it mildly, with its points. Maybe Apple’s Actuality Distortion Subject doesn’t work that properly on me.
It was my first time making an attempt a macOS beta. At the moment, final yr, I used to be nonetheless making an attempt to make my Hackintosh work. Previous to that, I wasn’t that invested within the Apple ecosystem to trouble testing pre-release software program.
Even so, I went in with out many expectations. But, two and a half weeks later, I’m nonetheless to search out one thing spectacular.
1. New Options? The place?
As I put it to my TMO colleagues, to this point Suh-kwoy-uh Suh-coy-uh Seh-coy-ah Sequoia has been Sonoma with extra bugs (extra on that later). Effectively, it has a new wallpaper, for what it’s value.
Aside from that, macOS Sequoia’s new options fall underneath considered one of (typically overlapping) three classes:
- Stuff customers have been asking for years
- Stuff opponents already supply
- Refinements of present stuff
2. Apple Intelligence, Not Intel Intelligence
![](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Apple-Intelligence-1024x538.png)
Essentially the most notable instance of the above is Synthetic Apple Intelligence. Microsoft’s Copilot+ computer systems are pretty latest, however Copilot itself has been out there for months. ChromeOS and Android aren’t riddled with AI options, however Google provides these to their on-line providers wherever attainable. Out of the large three corporations within the Working System (OS) market, Apple was the one one with out an AI implementation.
Effectively, Apple Intelligence is finally here. Really, a part of it’s. The remaining will come next year. That’s, when you have an Apple Silicon Mac. That’s one of many important points with macOS Sequoia: many options merely received’t work on Intel Macs.
To be truthful, it isn’t that lengthy of a stretch for a characteristic to require computer systems introduced 4 years in the past. Microsoft did worse with Windows 11. And I sincerely don’t suppose most Intel Mac fashions would have the firepower to deal with on-device AI duties anyway.
Nonetheless, it’s bizarre to suppose so many Macs help the newest macOS, however aren’t suitable with its most important characteristic. At the very least there are many different revolutionary functionalities to attempt, proper?
![](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/22Right22-Padme-meme-from-Star-Wars-Ep-2.gif)
![](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/22Right22-Padme-meme-from-Star-Wars-Ep-2.gif)
3. iPhone Mirroring Barely Made It
Though a teenager made iPhone Mirroring work, Apple didn’t formally launch it on the primary Developer Beta of Sequoia. I discovered {that a} bit off contemplating it was really the primary macOS characteristic to be displayed on WWDC 24.
The corporate did make up for it on the second Developer Beta release. Nonetheless, it’s legitimate to ask why the “extra essential” options (together with Apple Intelligence) weren’t available.
It could be additionally value mentioning not all Sequoia-compatible Macs are ready to make use of iPhone Mirroring. This time it’s a single mannequin: the 2019 iMac, which doesn’t characteristic the T2 Security Chip. And it’s fairly an comprehensible absence: with out the T2, mirroring an iPhone’s display screen whereas holding it locked is manner tougher.
4. Tiling Arrived Late — And Incomplete
![](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/MacBook-running-macOS-15-Sequoia-tiling-options-under-the-green-window-button.gif)
![](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/MacBook-running-macOS-15-Sequoia-tiling-options-under-the-green-window-button.gif)
There’s one main macOS Sequoia characteristic that made it — and never partially — to the primary Developer Beta: window tiling. Contemplating people asked for this in 2011 (and there could also be older ones), Apple took its candy time.
I’m not saying that the macOS Sequoia tiling characteristic is dangerous. It’s simply manner lower than what the everyday window tiling person wants. And, contemplating the target market for this performance is generally energy customers, it’s comprehensible why I known as it incomplete.
I tried tiling on macOS Sequoia for a number of days and went operating to Rectangle due to its points. The native tiling continues to be gradual, fails typically, and the hotkeys don’t work with my exterior keyboard.
Lastly, the native Sequoia characteristic lacks something aside from half-screen and quarter-of-screen tiling. These choices could seem sufficient at first, however some Macs help 8K screens, which may match 16 1080p home windows. And lots of customers — me included — favor at the least a 3×3 structure, that makes it simpler to centralize foreground home windows.
5. The Bugs
I received’t be unfair right here: bugs are anticipated on any beta software program. Apple’s not at fault for these, and, should you can’t take care of software program instability, don’t use a pre-release OS.
Due to this fact, the next checklist is merely so what to anticipate from the primary Sequoia Developer Beta. A few of them could also be already fastened within the second model, launched earlier this week.
Highlight and idleassetsd
The system-wide search isn’t just inflicting the same old CPU hogs, it’s additionally slowly destroying your SSD. The mds_stores
course of writes and reads a whole lot of GB each day, so it’s higher to disable it.
The wallpaper obtain course of idleassetsd
, launched in macOS Sonoma, additionally has a difficulty of silently downloading a ton of information. This time, nonetheless, blocking its community entry isn’t sufficient, so that you’re additionally suggested to disable it.
Images
Making an attempt to crop a picture shows solely a part of it. My workaround has been switching the crop side ratio and shifting it round, so it will definitely works because it ought to.
Some individuals reported that Mail wasn’t working in any respect. I can’t personally vouch for this, since I exploit one other e-mail consumer, however you may have been warned.
Login Gadgets
Sequoia introduces Extensions, a deeper degree of integration with the OS that apparently comes built-in in some older apps. Due to this, auto-starting apps you may have disabled beforehand could begin opening once more once you log in. Merely disable them once more in System Settings > Normal > Login Gadgets and Extensions, and also you’re good to go.
Hackintoshes’ Wi-Fi
Sequoia launched modifications to how macOS offers with Wi-Fi, creating points for non-Apple computer systems. So, Hackintosh customers, be suggested: change AirportItlwm
to the common itlwm
and obtain Heliport earlier than updating. In any other case, you received’t have working Wi-Fi.
It’s additionally essential to do not forget that Hackintoshes running beta macOS versions get no help from the builders. You might get assistance on boards, however, for probably the most half, count on to be by yourself. When you nonetheless need to give it a shot, replace all of the Kexts you’ll be able to allow -lilubetaall
on the boot arguments.
Apps Not Working
![macOS Sequoia ClickUp crash dialog](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/macOS-Sequoia-ClickUp-crash-dialog-1024x576.png)
![macOS Sequoia ClickUp crash dialog](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/macOS-Sequoia-ClickUp-crash-dialog-1024x576.png)
Because it’s to be anticipated, some apps don’t work but with macOS Sequoia. The one one I haven’t been capable of work round to this point is ClickUp. Open ClickUp on Safari and use Add to Dock to run it as if it were a native app.
It’s additionally essential to say that you need to by no means use beta OSes on a manufacturing machine, i.e., your major laptop. To attempt macOS Sequoia having just one Mac, set up it on a new APFS volume created with Disk Utility.
You don’t have to format your Mac to try this, simply to have sufficient free area. To place issues into perspective, the 2018 Mac Mini, which is suitable with Sequoia, had a 128 GB model. And also you don’t want to fret about file storage: you’ll nonetheless be capable to entry your major quantity.
Permissions Points
Two of the apps I use the most on my Mac are AltTab and DisplayLink Supervisor. Each rely closely on display screen recording. And macOS Sequoia has a difficulty that requires me to grant this permission at any time when I shut and reopen both (or reboot). Each. Single. Time.
What I Preferred
![macOS Sequoia Settings app](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Settings-app-in-macOS-15-Sequoia-1024x576.png)
![macOS Sequoia Settings app](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Settings-app-in-macOS-15-Sequoia-1024x576.png)
It’s not all points: there are a number of good issues about macOS Sequoia, really. Even with the not-so-long checklist of novelties, some issues are worthy of reward.
To begin with, the System Settings app. It was lastly reorganized with extra regularly used panels shifting up high. The completely nonsense conduct of opening by default on the Look menu has additionally modified: it now shows Normal.
I additionally appreciated that Apple didn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel. As a consequence, most fashions that help macOS Sonoma will be compatible with Sequoia as properly. One other optimistic factor about that is that the replace didn’t break any core OS options. This was additionally nice for the Hackintosh neighborhood since we have been capable of get most stuff (considerably) working from day one.
And… Effectively, there’s the wallpaper. No, critically, it’s good that it went again to softer colours after the overly vivid Ventura and Sonoma background pictures.
Apple nonetheless has a methods to go earlier than releasing the ultimate macOS Sequoia model. Which means some options absent from the primary Developer Beta might be included, others refined, and bugs fastened.
Some issues, although, like Intel Macs being denied any AI capabilities, aren’t sure to vary. I do hope the corporate improves tiling earlier than September, though I wouldn’t maintain my breath if I have been you.