Apple will today release macOS 10.15 Catalina, the latest major update to the company’s Mac operating system. Catalina arrives on the heels of iOS 13, which saw several back-to-back updates after an initially rough launch.
The new release also introduces support for iPad apps on macOS through what Apple calls Project Catalyst, which could kick off a wave of software coming over from Apple’s tablets to its desktop and laptop computers.
Catalina also includes a new Sidecar feature, which allows iPads to be used as secondary displays for your Mac both wirelessly and when plugged in. Sidecar supports the Apple Pencil, letting you work in the Mac versions of apps like Photoshop while using the stylus. You can also annotate screenshots or PDFs with the Pencil.
Other new additions include the debut of Screen Time on macOS and stricter privacy protections: apps must now ask for permission to access your desktop, documents, iCloud Drive, and external storage. One of my favorite small things in Catalina is Activation Lock. Now, any Macs that have a T2 security chip cannot be erased and reactivated without your Apple ID password.
The macOS 10.15 Catalina update is a free download, and it can be installed by clicking on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen, choosing system preferences, and then selecting software update.
