macOS Sonoma Hands-On: New Look, New Features & Widgets Galore!

[@BlackWidowYT_FPS]

Web apps, desktop widgets and animated lock screen are my favourite additions to the software

[@RivandaBakhtiar]

Ive been using web apps in mac for like forever with ms edge browser

[@aslprobro]

AS a sign language interpreter, this presenter mode is going to be FIRE! I can't wait to use it.

[@Davi_L]

I just got my 15 inch MacBook Air and I am still learning macOS so I appreciate these videos

[@eUploads]

Love the improvements to Safari, iPhone widgets on Mac and fun new webcam features. And the Apple screensavers finally on Mac is something I've wanted since I bought my first Apple TV.

[@winkipinky]

Thanks Brian. As for mac Sonoma, it looks just like Windows VISTA! 😅

[@60beats44]

Thanks a lot Brian. Also for leaving out background music tracks whilst you are presenting.

[@Applecore365]

Best Apple update this year! iOS/ iPadOS 17 aren't that interesting to me but MacOS Sonoma is fire!!!

[@Cobra-Kai-Commander]

Would be interested to see how the Safari App Creation compares to things we already have like Web Catalog. Web Catalog has a lot of customization.

[@michaellatta]

BG3 is not out for Mac yet in the full release, just PC. BUT, it played better on Mac. It takes a 4090 to do 4k60, but does ultra 4k60 on an m1max.

[@FoxxFire]

With being able to swipe through virtual desktops so easily on a Mac, and the ability to open these actual apps on a page and resize them to fit several on a larger screen such as a screen on a Mac, while the idea of widgets is cool and I'm glad we CAN get them, they're just not as useful as on the iPhone. For example, having that large Podcasts widget is not as good as just having the app always open in one of your desktops and resized to whatever size you like (i have mine always open, along with messages, settings, calender, mail, calculator, activity monitor, the app store, two instances of Safari side by side and one full screen instance of Safari -- all always open and spread throughout five virtual desktops). You obviously get so much more functionality having the actual app open and resized instead of being limited to whatever functionality is built into the widget. And at the same time you get the same effect of being able to quickly glance at whatever info you need to look at, all updated in real time. Anyway, i'm not going to complain about having more features. It is cool, and I'm glad we can get them if we want them. I just don't personally understand why someone would choose the widget over having the app open and resizing it (unless you want a real small widget, which again would be an odd choice considering the infinite space you have on the larger screen and being able to very quickly three finger swipe through the desktops).

[@jeffhale1189]

Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your day!

[@briantong]

Thanks Jeff! 🙏

[@ewenbruce5851]

Its a mark of how insignificant OS updates have become that 'wallpaper' is a highlight

[@BobbieGWhiz]

Back in the day, new operating system seemed revolutionary. Now it’s just so sad. Just my thoughts. Hope you find it more exciting for you.

[@slob5041]

Agree but I think they’re focusing on stability nowadays rather than feature creep

[@PieterJacob]

I think it’s the result of decades of refinement. With the current vision and technology products like operating system seemed to have reach a certain level of stability, user interface and experience. We have to wait until a new technique or revolution comes along the way… like the Vision Pro…

[@cathompson58]

Agree .. I feel like an American Indian in the west being offered shiny beads for my land and buffalo.. this is just shiny crap .. nothing to see here .. these reviewers seem to think we all make a living making videos and in our off time play games .. Back to real life .. we need Steve Jobs back

[@angeltorres7048]

@@cathompson58 Quit the BS. Stop pretending that when Steve Jobs was around, every new macOS version was chock-full of features. IT WAS NOT.

[@kohakkanuva3224]

@@slob5041somethim Microsoft could really learn from

[@TJWasiuk]

Remember Windows Vista had widgets? I used them for maybe a week or two. I don’t see the use.

[@heyfrancis3332]

What’s going on Brian! Happy Tuesday

[@timsmotorcyclediary]

Reminds me of Windows XP’s Bliss wallpaper.

[@Ryan-jn2os]

How are Safari profiles not tied to Focus Modes already?!

[@briantong]

GREAT idea

[@RockChampEnglish]

your video has some distortion problem? or is it just me????? I am using MacBook Air m2 15

[@EnronnSierra]

I haven't upgraded to Ventura on my M1 MBP yet, but I might skip it and just upgrade directly to Sonoma instead. I likely waiting a while before upgrading to a new macOS release until the bugs are worked out; usually close to the next release. Case in point, there is a location bug in Ventura that was discovered in the 13.5 update. I'm sure Sonoma will have its share too.

[@dribblesbibbles]

Life is too short for that! Why not just update and enjoy the new OS when it releases? Are a couple minuscule, low-impact bugs really that bothersome to you?

[@FarisAbkory]

What was the game that was on demo??

[@Thebibleauthority]

I don’t understand why in presenter mode you can move yourself around the screen but only in small, not when large video is selected, I hope apple fixes that issue, because if you are presenting something behind you, and you are stuck in the middle, viewers can’t see what you are presenting.

[@MaiKai_Makena_Property_Advisor]

When does it come out?

[@BrutusMaximusAurelius]

BG won’t come out on Xbox till next year by the way. Cause they need to get co-op working on the S before they’re allowed to launch the game from Microsoft. Anyway, not super impressed by the new features. The FaceTime features look fun, but I rarely use it and I can’t think of any situation where I’ll be giving a presentation with it.

[@RoqueSantosJunior]

I’m baffled that Apple Clock Widget does not have a digital version.

[@JimKanaris]

My battery widget on my desktop (Sonoma) doesn't display my iPhone and Apple Watch battery status, only the laptop. Yes, it's on medium display. Am I supposed to add them or something?

[@illhaveawtrplz]

The Watch missing might be a glitch, but in my experience the battery widget on one platform will not show the other platform, i.e. an iPad won’t show an iPhone in the battery widget, only connected accessories (AirPods, Apple Pencil, Beats, etc.), which is sad. I wish I could see my iPhone’s battery at a glance when using my iPad and vice-versa.

[@MyurrDurr]

Does it sandbox the WebApps?

[@illhaveawtrplz]

Okay cool, how is the stability so far?

[@briantong]

So far, it's decent, there was one time time where the OS hung on me, but never actually crashed or reset

[@illhaveawtrplz]

@@briantong Thanks for the response! Good to know for sure.

[@SSpecttree]

Putting anything on the desktop should be illegal 😂 what is this madness? 4:45

[@pilotdrift05]

Anyone know all the cityscapes available?

[@CatalinTomescu]

As a software architect I find all these new features useless for being productive on the job.

[@jazzy4011]

How did you add the Reddit widget?

[@fatbowe]

The only grand is my Grand Kids😂

[@Rundismutti2001]

That macbook is bigger than Brian 😂😂😂😂

[@briantong]

👀😂😂😂

[@SpaceLifeMo]

I would like a WhatsApp widget or iMessage widget and Telegram widget etc

[@JeromeVIP]

The lovely sponsor block extension for chrome and safari removed 2 minutes of useless sponsor messages in this video

[@bibasik7]

Those are some rather odd reminders, skunk boi!

[@blockwallstreet9036]

stain on your shirt spilled your lunch a bit lol

[@briantong]

That's a logo...

[@richardhysell1878]

I was enjoying it until my M1 Macbook Pro stopped charging and then failed to boot up, took it to the Apple Store and @Apple says it’s a faulty logic board and will cost $700 to repair. They absolutely refuse to replace this Mac with it only being a year and a half old. Got online and started searching faulty logic boards in M1 products and there so many out there with the same issues. So mad at Apple right now.

[@kienhwengtai8113]

Firefox and Chrome killed off their native Web Apps, so not sure Web Apps will last.

[@TheGiftof7PRESENTS]

Dap👊🏽🎶 ®

[@genxtechguy]

Can we just go back to the old System Settings? … it’s so terrible now.

[@mavfan1]

After a month on Sonoma I’ve removed all of my widgets.

[@briantong]

Podcast widget is a no brainer for me

[@chocskiambu]

Iphone widgets don't work. Always asks you to open the on iphone.

[@dominickray5103]

Ever since ARC dropped…other web browsers are dead to me.

[@michaelw6104]

Barely have widgets on the phone Brian 😂 Cmon apple

[@briantong]

Podcast one gonna be in my bottom left corner Day 1

[@x3rs3s]

MacOS Sonoma is draining my battery faster than Ventura on M1 Max! 😑

[@hectorgonzales837]

For the love of god I need a calculator widget

[@Plexipal]

Porn on the dock. Game changing!🤯

[@KeirReese-o1y]

I’m Waiting MacBook Pro 2026 with Touchscreen Coming Soon.

[@tinkarobert]

macOSSonomacellent

[@mootsym]

it's so nice watching these on an external monitor.. without a stupid asinine marketing branding nonsense notch slapped over the image. As great as these Macs are, the notch is an abomination. Completely unnecessary for a webcam with thin bezels. And I'd trade the someday Face ID for no notch every single day of my life.

[@SpaceLifeMo]

Apple needs to purchase a games industry company and put them into the fold at the board of Apple, that way the games company can give fresh prospective on the way Apple should be designing there graphics including building standalone MacGaming Rig with optional water cooling, Apple needs to make things easier for the industry as well stay true to the core brand, and frankly Apple can revive Atari and make a deal with EpicGames or Nintendo other major brands and ditch this feud over 30% rebate. Imagine Apple rebrands the company to Epic Apple.

[@angeltorres7048]

@@arnabsaha4877 what? they absolutely do. Apple could buy ea if they wanted to.

[@hraqhraq]

Past 3 releases, you can get depressed from poor improvements Apple is putting into MacOS

[@BrutusMaximusAurelius]

100% agree. And often they’re presenting things that have been possible on other platforms for a long time like it’s new. I mean, I like the widgets, but it’s not really groundbreaking. I know not everything has to be, but most things are just lackluster.

[@daboundy]

so the highlight of a new OS is .... a screensaver ... is that the best you can do Brian? You've lost me .. 'cos I DON'T CARE

[@briantong]

I'm just showing off the new features! Don't hate the messenger. 😂

[@popeefrog4358]

"Lip injection"

[@Anarcath]

Wait. Lip injection!

[@cathompson58]

Sorry .. but this is all boring crap .. totally unimpressive.. we need Steve Jobs or someone similar back at Apple

[@ah244895]

Has apple run out of good ideas? That is depressing….

[@bobwood63]

Lip injections?

[@bibasik7]

You're not concerned about the olive oil/pigs blood bath?

[@icdeadpixels2]

lip injections? wtf?

[@briantong]

It's a joke...I guess you didn't get it.

[@CZpersi]

Screensavers, wallpapers and emojis are not features. Why are KZbinrs still buying this marketing BS?

[@briantong]

You mad bro? 😎

[@v3par]

what a bunch of useless features. they still think its 2000 and they lead the way. have they fixed BT issues for Minis?

[@dalecorne-new-mtv]

I made my Windows 11 look like MacOS and I can do all those things with even BETTER widgets, but unlike apple products, I didn't have to pay some crazy high amount of money to get it.

[@RameshKumar-ng3nf]

Too lengthy and boring video. Wish timestamps was provided to see the topic we interested in .

[@D37fit]

These features all seem useless.

[@Bobbylopezcreative]

What a trash update.

[@chriseves6778]

No time stamp? Dislike :)

[@briantong]

Fixed that! I thought they saved. But I just have had it in a different window when I created it.

[@edwarddejong8025]

animated lock screens just burn CPU for nothing. I am old enough to remember the flying toasters from Berkeley System's After Dark from over 20 years ago. Widgets are stupid, unscalable items. basically a modal window that you can't seem to get rid of easily. Apple is out of touch, and disconnected from its users. they are inventing nonsense features of near zero consequence.

[@TheAutobotPower]

The widget thing windows 7 was already doing it.

[@briantong]

Are we really doing this? Because Apple had widgets long BEFORE that...

[@TheAutobotPower]

@@briantong But windows 7 had the option to move them freely on the desk.

[@ArthropodSpidey]

desktop icons on the left 🤮🤮

[@winkipinky]

Oh WOW,,, Windows Vista style widgets and Android & PC style video wallpapers... WOW, only like 10 years behind everyone else.. again. LOL

[@makasete30]

These are apple screensavers that apple have made themselves on Apple TV for about a decade. Personally I’ve always used the Ariel app for years which is free. Still, nice to have it natively. Did Microsoft and Android manufacturers make their own drone scenery videos? No. Personally, I’m glad it’s a small update that will avoid most huge bugs. It’s always seemed ridiculous to have an OS upgrade each year when a 2 year one makes more sense. I suppose you made the same complaints about windows 10 and 11 which many said copied the look of Mac OS in certain ways. The only thing I think MacOS needs is the window snapping, but there are free apps for that feature. I still love the ecosystem with continuity and handoff features which Microsoft has been catching up with for a good while to create a native version for android apps. Lastly, don’t be a fanboy. Both OS have great features and sometimes there is a year with minor updates. Let people enjoy their products.

[@Aloha_XERO]

Meh 🫤

[@Aloha_XERO]

To the MacOS update and this 20 min boring video …