macOS Ventura and macOS Big Sur are operating system releases from Apple for Mac computers. macOS Ventura (version 13) was announced at WWDC 2022 and released in October 2022 as the latest version of macOS. macOS Big Sur (version 11) was released in November 2020 as a major redesign of the macOS operating system.
macOS Ventura introduced several new features and updates like Continuity Camera, Stage Manager, and improvements to apps like Mail, Safari, and Messages. macOS Big Sur redesigned the user interface to match the aesthetic of iOS and iPadOS, added the Control Center, and improved performance.
Both Ventura and Big Sur aimed to bring greater continuity and integration between Macs, iPhones, and iPads through features like Universal Control. However, Ventura expanded on this idea substantially more than Big Sur. Overall, Ventura focused more on refining and enhancing existing apps and features, while Big Sur represented one of the biggest visual redesigns of macOS.
User Interface Changes
macOS Ventura introduces some notable visual changes to the user interface compared to previous versions like Big Sur. One of the most obvious changes is to the desktop appearance – Ventura adopts a cleaner, more minimalist aesthetic with solid colored backgrounds instead of the translucent effect in Big Sur.
The dock icons have also been redesigned in Ventura with a flat, uniform shape compared to the more 3D, reflective icons in Big Sur. Some system icons like Notes, Reminders and Phone have new looks as well.
The System Preferences app has been replaced by a new Settings app in Ventura. This brings over the more intuitive, customizable interface from iOS to macOS. Categories are better organized and users can add their most used settings to the top level.
Notifications have moved from the top right to the top center in Ventura. They have a new compact design that takes up less space. Users can also choose to have notifications count badges removed for a cleaner look.
Overall, the changes refine Big Sur’s aesthetic while improving discoverability and visual organization throughout the system. Users migrating from Big Sur to Ventura will notice the interface feels more streamlined and unified with other Apple platforms.
Continuity Camera
With Continuity Camera in macOS Ventura, you can use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. This allows you to access features like Center Stage, Portrait mode, and Studio Light when on video calls or recordings from your Mac [1].
Center Stage will automatically keep you framed in the center of the shot as you move around. Portrait mode will artistically blur the background to keep the focus on you. Studio Light will illuminate your face to ensure you are well-lit even in dark environments.
Continuity Camera works either wirelessly over Wi-Fi or wired if you connect your iPhone to your Mac via a cable. This allows you to keep your iPhone charged if you plan on using it for an extended period [2].
Overall, Continuity Camera gives you access to the excellent camera system on the iPhone when using your Mac for video conferencing or recordings. This brings features like Center Stage, Portrait mode, and Studio Light to expand the creative possibilities.
Live Text and Visual Look Up
One of the biggest new features in macOS Ventura is Live Text and Visual Look Up. Live Text allows you to extract text from images or photos and make that text selectable, editable, and translatable using the macOS system capabilities. For example, you can take a photo of a sign, menu, or document and macOS will detect the text and make it selectable so you can copy and paste it just like regular text. This makes it easy to grab information from the real world and use it digitally.
In addition to extracting text, Visual Look Up can identify objects, landmarks, pets, plants, and more in photos and provide information about them. Just right click on an object in an image and select “Look Up” to see relevant details from the web. This allows you to learn more about the things you photograph.
Overall, Live Text and Visual Look Up help bridge the digital and physical worlds by letting you grab text, identify objects, and look up information related to real world images on your Mac running Ventura. This expands the capabilities of Continuity Camera introduced in macOS Monterey by making the information in your photos actionable (1).
Spotlight Search
Spotlight Search in macOS Ventura introduces some useful new features including quick actions, web image search, and live text in results. With quick actions, users can now perform tasks directly within Spotlight without having to open an app. For example, you can start a timer, get definitions, or convert units right in the Spotlight window.
Another handy addition is the ability to search for images from the web. Just type in your query and relevant images will appear alongside the usual web and local file results. This makes it easy to find visual references without leaving Spotlight.
Additionally, live text recognition allows Spotlight to pull out key text elements from images in results. So if you search for a document, you may see text snippets extracted from cover pages or diagrams. This allows you to glance at visual content without opening the full file.
Overall, the upgrades make Spotlight an even more powerful launchpad for getting things done quickly in Ventura. See How to use Spotlight in macOS Ventura – appleinsider.com for more details on using the new Spotlight capabilities.
Safari
Safari in macOS Ventura introduces some useful new features like tab groups, shared tab groups, and passkeys for improved security and privacy.
Tab groups allow users to save and organize tabs into named groups, making it easy to access related pages. The tab groups sync across devices, so you can access them on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Ventura takes tab groups a step further by introducing shared tab groups. This allows you to collaborate with others by sharing tab groups in Messages. Anyone in the shared group can add their own tabs as well.
Passkeys are a new way to sign into websites and apps without a password. Instead, passkeys use Touch ID or Face ID for secure authentication. They are designed to replace regular passwords which can be vulnerable to phishing attacks. According to Apple’s website, “Passkeys are extremely resilient against phishing, easier to use, and offer superior security over passwords and legacy multifactor technologies.” https://support.apple.com/en-us/106337
Overall, the updates to Safari in macOS Ventura focus on improving the browsing experience with useful features for organization, collaboration, and security.
The Mail app in macOS Ventura includes useful new features like Undo Send, Remind Later, and Follow Up suggestions.
Undo Send allows users to cancel sending an email for up to 10 seconds after hitting send. This gives you a chance to quickly undo sending a message if you notice a mistake or want to make a change before the email is delivered. To use Undo Send, click on the message that says “Undo Send” at the bottom of the message window after hitting send.
Remind Later lets users schedule emails to be sent at a later date and time, up to a year in the future. This is helpful for sending messages you want delivered during business hours or as a reminder to follow up on something. To schedule an email for later, click the Send Later button in the toolbar when composing a message.
Follow Up suggestions uses on-device intelligence to suggest you follow up on an email if you haven’t received a response. This can help make sure important emails don’t slip through the cracks. Suggested follow ups will appear at the top of your inbox.
Overall, these new Mail features in macOS Ventura provide useful tools to help you send messages mistake-free and stay on top of your communications. Source
Messages
The Messages app on macOS Ventura has some helpful new features.1 One is the ability to edit sent messages. Up to 15 minutes after sending a message, you can click on it and choose Edit to make changes and resend it. This is useful if you notice a typo or want to rephrase something.
Another feature is the option to undo send, which gives you 10 seconds after sending a message to undo it. This could prevent regret over sending something impulsively.
MacOS Ventura also adds the ability to mark conversations as unread, even if you’ve read them already. This helps you remember to follow up on conversations you don’t want to forget about.
Overall, these new Messages features in macOS Ventura provide more control over your sent messages and conversations.
Gaming
One of the most exciting improvements in macOS Ventura for gaming is the addition of Metal 3, Apple’s graphics API. Metal 3 brings new features like ray tracing acceleration which enables incredibly realistic lighting effects in games [1]. Apple also announced they are bringing Resident Evil Village and No Man’s Sky to the Mac thanks to MetalFX Upscaling which can boost performance.
Other gaming focused improvements include new APIs for better joypad and keyboard support. Game developers can now more easily implement custom button mappings, rumble support and pass through keyboard events for gaming. This should dramatically improve controller and keyboard gaming on Mac [2].
With these new technologies and Apple’s commitment to Mac gaming, macOS Ventura opens up new possibilities for AAA gaming on Macs with Apple silicon.
Conclusion
In summary, macOS Ventura represents a significant upgrade over macOS Big Sur in many ways. Some of the major changes and improvements include:
- A redesigned and customized System Preferences panel for greater ease of use
- Continuity Camera for using iPhone as a Mac webcam with Center Stage, Portrait mode, and more
- Live Text and Visual Look Up to quickly interact with text and objects in photos
- An enhanced Spotlight search with richer results and Quick Look
- Safari upgrades like shared tab groups, website passwords, and tab customization
- An overhauled Mail app with schedule send, remind later, follow up suggestions
- New collaboration features in Messages like editing sent messages and marking conversations as unread
- Gaming upgrades like faster launch times and improved graphics
While Big Sur represented a major visual redesign for Mac, Ventura focuses more on enhancing core apps and system capabilities to improve the overall user experience.