Michael Grothaus 05/06/2018 - 3:46pm

The Mac is getting a MAJOR upgrade.

Apple showed off a ton of new software at yesterday’s WWDC from iOS 12 to watchOS 5 to new features for Apple TV. But the Cupertino company also devoted a significant portion of the keynote to the next version of macOS, named Mojave. The name comes from the Mojave desert in California. And unlike recent macOS updates, there’s a lot to love about Mojave. Here are the major new features you can expect when it becomes available this fall (before then you can get the public beta come July).

macOS Mojave: Dark Mode

Without a doubt, the biggest new feature of Mojave–and certainly the most noticeable–is Dark Mode. yes, after almost two decades of Mac users requesting it, macOS now offers an official Dark Mode.

And we’re not just talking about a dark Dock and Menu Bar. The operating system has been redesigned from the ground up so all windows, apps, and the entire Finder itself features a dark mode. From the screenshots, Dark Mode on macOS Mojave looks STUNNING. We can’t wait to try it out.

And yes, you still have the option to work in the “light mode” you know and love.

macOS Mojave: Screenshots

You’ve been able to take screenshots in macOS for decades, but with Mojave Apple has majorly updated the screenshot capabilities of the operating system. For starters, Mojave now includes a handy new screenshot toolbar that makes it even easier to take screenshots of the whole screen or just a portion.

But built into that new screenshot toolbar is also the ability to take screen recordings of the entire screen or just a portion. This is HUGE for people who work in the design field. It makes recording your Mac’s screen easier than ever.

Screenshots also gain rich annotation figures narrowed from last year’s iOS 11. Now when you take a screenshot a thumbnail of the shot will hover on your desktop for a few moments. Click it to expand the screenshot and then mark it up with the number of new markup editing tools provided.

macOS Mojave: FaceTime Group Calls

As is iOS 12, macOS Mojave is also gaining support for group FaceTime calls. You can now group FaceTime video chat with up to a staggering 32 people at one time. And Apple has created a gorgeous interface for handling that many people.

Group FaceTime feeds of each person float in their own window in the main Group FaceTime feed. The video feed of the person who is talking will float to the forefront so you can clearly see the speaker.

macOS Mojave: News And Other Apps

Apple is also bringing a number of its iOS apps to macOS Mojave. The one I’m most excited about is the company’s News app, which is one of the best news aggregators on iOS. But it's not just the News app that is coming to macOS, three other apps are too.

Those apps include Voice Memos, Home, and Stocks. Voice Memos is an uber-popular default iOS app that allows users to quickly record audio snippets. Memos recorded on a Mac or iOS device will sync over iCloud so they are available on all devices.

macOS Mojave: Redesigned Mac App Store

The last big feature of macOS Mojave is a completely redesigned Mac App Store. Again here the Mac App Store takes its cues from the redesigned iOS App Store in iOS 11.

Look forward to video previews of apps as well as curated editorial content and tips from Apple’s app experts. The new navigation sidebar also means it's easier than ever to explore the Mac App Store.