Apple is Bringing Major iPhone Features to the Mac

Apple is expected to unveil the next major versions of its operating systems at WWDC this June. Details of what’s to expect in iOS 13 have already been talked about before, but there are some more details about what Apple has planned for macOS 10.15.

According to a new report from 9to5Mac, Cupertino is working to bring some of the iPhone’s popular features to the Mac with macOS 10.15. And one of that includes the new Shortcuts app, which is coming with macOS 10.15. Apple introduced Shortcuts on iOS with iOS 12, letting users set up automated tasks that can easily be triggered by iOS. And now that the company plans to let iOS app developers bring their apps to the Mac, having the same Shortcuts app on the Mac makes a lot of sense. Apple will be using its Marzipan tech to bring the Shortcuts app to the Mac, meaning you will get a similar experience that’s available on the iPhone, though it will be interesting to see if there’s any deeper Mac integration here.

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Another big feature coming to macOS 10.15 is Screen Time, which also came with iOS 12. Screen Time is a Digital Health feature that allows users to track their device usage, and limit their use, especially for addictive things like social media. Much like iOS, parents will be able to set limits for children on their Mac using Screen Time and everything will be configurable through System Preferences.

And last but not least, Apple is bringing iMessage effects to macOS this year, that means effects like confetti, lasers, balloons, spotlight, etc. will be available on the Messages app on the Mac. It will be interesting to see if Apple replaces the existing Messages app on the Mac with a Marzipan version of the app, which would make a lot of sense as the Messages app on macOS is missing a lot of the features that are available on the iPhone.

Apple is expected to release a beta for macOS 10.15 on June 3rd after the WWDC keynote. macOS 10.15 seems like a major milestone for the operating system, and with Apple planning to let iOS developers bring their apps to the Mac, things are going to get very interesting.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 18 comments

  • Stooks

    19 April, 2019 - 3:58 pm

    <p>Is this before or after the Mac Pro?</p>

    • nbplopes

      19 April, 2019 - 6:18 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#422062">In reply to Stooks:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Post Windows Phone</p>

    • MikeGalos

      21 April, 2019 - 1:04 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#422062">In reply to Stooks:</a></em></blockquote><p>Long before the AirPower</p>

      • nbplopes

        21 April, 2019 - 1:00 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#422197">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>That and before Hololens and Surface Hub truly leave beta.</p>

        • dontbe evil

          21 April, 2019 - 1:53 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#422292">In reply to nbplopes:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>butthurt apple fans are funny</p>

          • nbplopes

            21 April, 2019 - 5:01 pm

            <blockquote><em><a href="#422308">In reply to dontbe_evil:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>There are Sets of them</p>

  • dcdevito

    19 April, 2019 - 4:18 pm

    <p>Seems iOS is slowly consuming the Mac, only a matter of time </p><p><br></p>

    • darrellprichard

      19 April, 2019 - 9:23 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#422063">In reply to dcdevito:</a></em></blockquote><p>At some point, Apple is going to have to give in to supporting touch if they're serious about bringing iOS features and apps to the desktop. Gorilla arms be damned.</p>

  • m_p_w_84

    19 April, 2019 - 6:58 pm

    <p>I can’t understand why Apple don’t want to use iMessage to compete with WhatsApp </p>

    • Truffles

      19 April, 2019 - 8:36 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#422085"><em>In reply to m_p_w_84</em></a><em>:</em></blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote>iMessages is a really valuable draw-card for selling Apple hardware, so if they make iMessage platform-neutral they'll be giving up that benefit. Apple would also be competing with Facebook by selling their customers to advertisers and I think that'd be a hard sell inside Apple.</blockquote><p><br></p>

      • nbplopes

        21 April, 2019 - 12:58 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#422087">In reply to Truffles:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Nobody buys a Mac because of iMessages.</p>

    • jgraebner

      Premium Member
      20 April, 2019 - 3:39 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#422085">In reply to m_p_w_84:</a></em></blockquote><p>I think it would also be pretty embarrassing to Apple when they discover that there aren't very many non-Apple users that care about it.</p>

  • skane2600

    20 April, 2019 - 12:22 am

    <p>The criteria for "major" features seemed to have been lowered. </p>

    • MikeGalos

      21 April, 2019 - 1:03 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#422091">In reply to skane2600:</a></em></blockquote><p>Lately it's defined as "it has a dark mode"</p><p><br></p>

    • nbplopes

      21 April, 2019 - 12:56 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#422091">In reply to skane2600:</a></em></blockquote><p>What? No icon changes? Shame on them.</p>

  • dontbe evil

    20 April, 2019 - 3:26 am

    <p>it's not cortana on windows, so nobody will scream… they'll love their beloved apple anything they do</p>

  • nebir

    21 April, 2019 - 6:14 am

    <p><br></p>

  • cooltechankit

    22 April, 2019 - 6:56 am

    <p>There is creating too much hype about <strong>realme 3 pro</strong> and reviewers also said that it is better than <strong>Redmi Note 7 pro.</strong></p><p>Yes,it is better than Redmi note 7 pro but in some cases,not in all cases.</p><p>Realme 3 pro features a better camera on comparing redmi note 7 pro, specially front camera because redmi note 7 pro gives not enough selfi camera and for realme 3 pro beats it.</p><p><br></p><p>Madhav Sheith also said that their workers optimize the smartphone very well ans for that you'll better performance in realme 3 pro by comparing Redmi Note 7 pro.</p><p>Realme 3 pro is better than redmi note 7 pro only in camera, performance but their smartphones are not looking expansive like note 7 pro.</p><p>Realme 3 pro comes with polycarbonate and for that it's looks are not expensive by comparing redmi Note 7 pro.|</p><p>Overall, I would say Redmi Note pro is best under 15,000. But everyone knows that if any smartphone have pros then it have definitely cons, and redmi note 7 pro have also cons.</p><p><strong>SEARCH 'MeAnkitz' IN GOOGLE AND READ MORE ABOUT IT.</strong></p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC