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macOS, developed by Apple, is the operating system that powers Mac computers. Originally known as Mac OS X when it was first released in 2001, it later evolved into OS X and was eventually renamed to macOS in 2016 to align with Apple's other operating systems such as iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. macOS is known for its sleek design, intuitive user interface, and seamless integration with other Apple devices and services. Below is a comprehensive version history of macOS, detailing key features and changes introduced in each major release.

macOS Sonoma introduced several new features aimed at enhancing productivity, gaming, and customization.

• Interactive desktop widgets. Added support for interactive desktop widgets that can be placed directly on the desktop for quick access to information and functions.
• Game Mode. Introduced Game Mode, which optimizes system performance for gaming by reducing background processes and improving input latency for controllers.
• Presenter Overlay. Added Presenter Overlay for video calls, allowing users to appear in front of shared content during presentations, enhancing engagement during meetings.
• Enhanced Safari profiles. Improved Safari with support for multiple profiles, making it easier to separate work and personal browsing activities.
• Screen savers. Introduced new dynamic, immersive screen savers that feature slow-motion videos of landscapes and landmarks, transitioning seamlessly into the desktop wallpaper.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/macos/sonoma/

macOS Ventura introduced features designed to improve multitasking and collaboration, along with several new tools for security and productivity.

• Stage Manager. Introduced Stage Manager, a new multitasking tool that organizes apps and windows into a single view, allowing users to quickly switch between tasks.
• Continuity Camera. Enabled the use of an iPhone as a webcam for Mac through the Continuity Camera feature, offering higher-quality video for video calls.
• System Settings redesign. Redesigned the System Preferences (now called System Settings) to resemble the layout of iOS and iPadOS, making it more intuitive and consistent across devices.
• Enhanced Spotlight. Improved Spotlight with richer search results and more functionality, such as previewing files and performing tasks like setting timers and reminders.
• Passkeys. Introduced Passkeys, a password-less authentication method integrated into Safari for more secure logins.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/macos/ventura/

macOS Monterey introduced new ways to connect with friends and coworkers and improved integration with Apple's ecosystem.

• Universal Control. Introduced Universal Control, allowing users to control multiple Apple devices (such as Mac, iPad) with a single keyboard and mouse, making cross-device workflows seamless.
• AirPlay to Mac. Added support for AirPlay to Mac, allowing users to mirror or extend their iPhone or iPad screen onto their Mac.
• Shortcuts app. Brought the Shortcuts automation app from iOS to macOS, enabling users to create and run complex workflows to automate tasks.
• Focus mode. Introduced Focus modes, allowing users to filter notifications based on what they are doing, such as work or personal time, across Apple devices.
• FaceTime improvements. Enhanced FaceTime with spatial audio, grid view, and SharePlay, which allows users to share content like movies and music during calls.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/macos/monterey/

macOS Big Sur marked a significant visual redesign and performance improvements, especially with the introduction of Apple's custom silicon chips.

• Visual redesign. Introduced a major visual overhaul with more rounded corners, translucency, and updated icons, making the interface more consistent with iOS and iPadOS.
• Control Center. Added Control Center to the menu bar, offering quick access to settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and brightness controls, similar to iOS.
• Safari improvements. Introduced a faster and more customizable version of Safari with better privacy protections, tab grouping, and enhanced performance.
• Messages improvements. Enhanced Messages with features like inline replies, message pinning, and customizable Memoji stickers, making it more similar to the iOS version.
• Support for Apple silicon. Added support for Apple silicon chips, such as the M1 chip, delivering significant improvements in performance, energy efficiency, and security.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/macos/big-sur/

macOS Catalina introduced several new apps and features, improving security and adding integration with iPad and other Apple devices.

• Split of iTunes. Replaced iTunes with three separate apps: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts, each focused on specific media types.
• Sidecar. Introduced Sidecar, which allows an iPad to be used as a secondary display for a Mac or as a drawing tablet with Apple Pencil.
• Screen Time. Added Screen Time to macOS, allowing users to track their app usage and set limits on their time spent on specific applications.
• Catalyst apps. Enabled developers to port iPad apps to Mac using Catalyst, increasing the number of available apps for macOS.
• Enhanced security. Introduced features like Gatekeeper improvements and data protections, as well as support for activation lock to prevent unauthorized use of a Mac.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/macos/catalina/

macOS Mojave brought a range of new features aimed at improving productivity and user experience, including a new dark mode.

• Dark Mode. Introduced Dark Mode, offering a darker interface that is easier on the eyes, particularly in low-light environments.
• Dynamic Desktop. Added Dynamic Desktop, which automatically changes the desktop wallpaper throughout the day based on the time.
• Stacks. Introduced Desktop Stacks, which automatically organizes files on the desktop into groups by type, date, or tags.
• Continuity Camera. Allowed users to take a photo or scan a document on an iPhone or iPad and have it appear instantly on their Mac.
• App Store redesign. Redesigned the Mac App Store with new editorial content, categories, and improved navigation.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/macos/mojave/

macOS High Sierra focused on performance improvements, particularly in file storage, graphics, and video processing.

• APFS (Apple File System). Introduced the Apple File System (APFS), replacing HFS+ with a more modern file system that is faster and more secure.
• HEVC support. Added support for HEVC (H.265) video encoding, offering better video compression without sacrificing quality.
• Metal 2. Enhanced the Metal graphics framework with Metal 2, bringing better performance and efficiency for gaming, VR, and professional applications.
• Safari improvements. Introduced better tracking prevention and performance improvements in Safari, making it faster and more secure for browsing.
• Virtual reality support. Added native support for virtual reality (VR) content creation, allowing developers to create immersive VR experiences on Mac.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/macos/high-sierra/

macOS Sierra marked the rebranding of OS X to macOS and introduced deeper integration with other Apple services and devices.

• Siri on Mac. Introduced Siri to the Mac for the first time, allowing users to perform searches, manage files, and control settings with voice commands.
• Universal Clipboard. Enabled the Universal Clipboard feature, allowing users to copy and paste between their Mac and other Apple devices like iPhone and iPad.
• iCloud Drive improvements. Improved iCloud Drive with the ability to store and sync the desktop and documents folders across devices.
• Apple Pay on Mac. Introduced support for Apple Pay in Safari, allowing users to make online purchases with their Mac and authenticate them with Touch ID on their iPhone or Apple Watch.
• Optimized Storage. Added Optimized Storage, which automatically stores older files in iCloud to free up local disk space.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/macos/sierra/

OS X El Capitan built on the features of Yosemite with a focus on performance and usability improvements.

• Split View. Introduced Split View, allowing users to run two apps side by side in full screen, making multitasking easier.
• Mission Control enhancements. Simplified the Mission Control interface, making it easier to manage open windows and desktops.
• Metal for Mac. Brought Metal to Mac, a graphics API that improves performance for games and professional applications.
• Improved Spotlight. Enhanced Spotlight with more search options, including weather, sports scores, and web results.
• Better system performance. Focused on improving system performance and stability, especially on older Mac hardware.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/osx/elcapitan/

OS X Yosemite introduced a significant visual redesign and deeper integration with iOS, enhancing the overall ecosystem experience.

• New user interface. Redesigned the interface with flatter icons, translucency, and more consistent use of color, bringing it in line with iOS 7's design language.
• Continuity. Introduced Continuity, allowing seamless transitions between Mac and iOS devices, including the ability to make and receive calls and messages from Mac.
• Handoff. Added Handoff, enabling users to start tasks on one device and pick them up on another, such as drafting an email on iPhone and finishing it on Mac.
• iCloud Drive. Enhanced iCloud Drive, making it easier to store, sync, and access files across all Apple devices.
• Improved Safari and Mail. Enhanced Safari and Mail with better performance, new features like tab previews, and improved navigation.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/osx/yosemite/

OS X Mavericks was the first version to drop the big cat naming convention, introducing new features for power efficiency and better integration with iOS.

• Energy efficiency. Improved power efficiency with features like App Nap and Timer Coalescing, which reduce CPU usage when apps are idle or in the background.
• Finder tabs. Added tabs to the Finder window, allowing users to manage multiple directories in a single window.
• Tags. Introduced Tags for better file organization, allowing users to label and categorize files in the Finder.
• iCloud Keychain. Introduced iCloud Keychain, allowing users to store and sync passwords, credit card information, and Wi-Fi credentials across their Apple devices.
• Maps and iBooks. Added Maps and iBooks apps to Mac, bringing these popular iOS apps to the desktop.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/osx/mavericks/

OS X Mountain Lion continued to bridge the gap between Mac and iOS, introducing several features from iOS to macOS.

• Notification Center. Added the Notification Center to macOS, providing a unified space for alerts, calendar events, and other notifications.
• Messages. Replaced iChat with Messages, allowing users to send iMessages from Mac to other Apple devices.
• AirPlay Mirroring. Introduced AirPlay Mirroring, enabling users to mirror their Mac display to an Apple TV wirelessly.
• Game Center. Added Game Center from iOS, allowing users to track achievements and play games with friends across devices.
• Gatekeeper. Introduced Gatekeeper, a security feature that restricts the installation of software to verified apps from the Mac App Store or identified developers.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/osx/mountain-lion/

OS X Lion brought major changes to the Mac user interface, adding features inspired by iOS.

• Launchpad. Introduced Launchpad, an application launcher that resembles the iOS home screen, making it easier to organize and open apps.
• Mission Control. Combined Exposé, Spaces, and the Dashboard into Mission Control, offering a unified view of all open windows and virtual desktops.
• Full-screen apps. Introduced full-screen app support, allowing users to take apps full screen with a single click for better focus.
• Auto Save and Versions. Added Auto Save and Versions, allowing documents to be automatically saved and for users to revert to previous versions of files.
• Multi-touch gestures. Expanded support for multi-touch gestures, allowing users to navigate the system with swipes, pinches, and taps on the trackpad.

Official documentation: https://www.apple.com/osx/lion/

Since its initial release in 2001 as Mac OS X, macOS has evolved significantly, adopting new features, technologies, and design paradigms to improve both functionality and user experience. Each version of macOS introduced features that made it easier to use, more secure, and better integrated with the Apple ecosystem. With the introduction of macOS Sonoma, macOS continues to push forward, maintaining its place as one of the most powerful and user-friendly operating systems available today.

Snippet from Wikipedia: MacOS version history

The history of macOS, Apple's current Mac operating system formerly named Mac OS X until 2011 and then OS X until 2016, began with the company's project to replace its "classic" Mac OS. That system, up to and including its final release Mac OS 9, was a direct descendant of the operating system Apple had used in its Mac computers since their introduction in 1984. However, the current macOS is a UNIX operating system built on technology that had been developed at NeXT from the 1980s until Apple purchased the company in early 1997.

macOS components derived from BSD include multiuser access, TCP/IP networking, and memory protection.

Although it was originally marketed as simply "version 10" of Mac OS (indicated by the Roman numeral "X"), it has a completely different codebase from Mac OS 9, as well as substantial changes to its user interface. The transition was a technologically and strategically significant one. To ease the transition for users and developers, versions 10.0 through 10.4 were able to run Mac OS 9 and its applications in the Classic Environment, a compatibility layer.

macOS was first released in 1999 as Mac OS X Server 1.0. It was built using the technologies Apple acquired from NeXT, but did not include the signature Aqua user interface (UI). The desktop version aimed at regular users—Mac OS X 10.0—shipped in March 2001. Since then, several more distinct desktop and server editions of macOS have been released. Starting with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, macOS Server is no longer offered as a standalone operating system; instead, server management tools are available for purchase as an add-on. The macOS Server app was discontinued on April 21, 2022, and will stop working on macOS 13 Ventura or later. Starting with the Intel build of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, most releases have been certified as Unix systems conforming to the Single UNIX Specification.

Lion was referred to by Apple as "Mac OS X Lion" and sometimes as "OS X Lion"; Mountain Lion was officially referred to as just "OS X Mountain Lion", with the "Mac" being completely dropped. The operating system was further renamed to "macOS" starting with macOS Sierra.

macOS retained the major version number 10 throughout its development history until the release of macOS 11 Big Sur in 2020.

Mac OS X 10.0 and 10.1 were given names of big cats as internal code names ("Cheetah" and "Puma"). Starting with Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, big-cat names were used as marketing names; starting with OS X 10.9 Mavericks, names of locations in California were used as marketing names instead.

The current major version, macOS 15 Sequoia, was announced on June 10, 2024, at WWDC 2024 and released on September 16 of that year.

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