macOS is one of the most advanced desktop operating systems out there. Apple has been busy improving macOS for years in an attempt to fix bugs and errors as well as add new features to the operating system. macOS has been through a lot of software updates since the launch day, and it is now smarter and better than before. At this year’s WWDC event, the Cupertino firm officially unveiled macOS Mojave, the next version of macOS operating system. In reality, rumors regarding macOS Mojave had been out there for months, giving us a preview of what’s coming in the final build of the new OS.
Basically, macOS Mojave is not a significant upgrade as it comes with small refinements. However, the new update is promising a huge improvement through a reworked user interface and performance boost. While macOS Mojave is set to launch to the public on September 24, the beta test is your chance to get access to its features and changes. Ahead of the release, we have wrapped up the best macOS tips and tricks you should know about.
Before proceeding, make sure that you now have a modern version of macOS. Keep in mind that a new software update usually comes with fixes for bugs and errors, so it’s a good idea to stay up-to-date.
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Dark mode in macOS Mojave
Dark mode is something we have been expecting to see from Apple for years. Last year, the Cupertino firm secretly added Smart Inverts to iOS 11, a handy feature that inverts the user interface. Basically, Smart Inverts may satisfy some users’ dark mode needs until an official feature releases. In macOS Mojave, Apple finally brings an official dark mode to its macOS operating system. From now on, you can turn your entire operating system into a dark mode, ranging from the dock and menu bar to your favorite apps.
In reality, dark mode is not new to macOS as we have been able to turn the menu bar and Dock into a dark mode since the days of El Capitan, meaning that app icons or images are preserved in their original form. The new Dark mode now works across the entire macOS operating system. The result is a sort of user interface with the menu bar, the dock, and app icons now featuring darker colors and themes. To enable dark mode in macOS Mojave, click on the Apple logo on the menu bar, then select System Preferences from the drop-down menu and hit General. After that, select the General section and click the Dark option.
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Dynamic Desktop in Mojave and
One of the best highlights of macOS Mojave lies in Dynamic Desktop. As the name suggests, the feature will change the lighting of your desktop wallpaper to match with the time of the day. This is definitely something we have been expecting to see in macOS for years as it eliminates the need for a third-party app.
macOS Mojave includes a desert-themed wallpaper that changes throughout the day. To enable the feature, you simply need to right-click on the desktop when your macOS starts, then click on the desktop tab and choose the Dynamic image from the folder.
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Markup tools in Quick Look and screenshots
In macOS Mojave, Apple adds Markup tools to Quick Look, making it much easier to quickly annotate photos or edit a document. For some background, Quick Look has been part of macOS since the days of Mac OS X Leopard. As the name suggests, the feature allows you to quickly identify files in macOS. To access Markup tools in Quick Look, you first need to locate the file you wish to edit in the Finder and then hit the Spacebar key to trigger the Quick Look view. At the top, you should see a wide range of editing options like drawing, adding texts, rotating and cropping.
In macOS Mojave, you now can open your screenshots in Quick Look for editing purposes. Specifically, when you take a screenshot, you will see a pop-up menu that allows you to quickly activate Quick Look. Now, you simply need to click on the thumbnail image to open your screenshot in Quick Look. To take a screenshot of the entire screen, you simply need to press Shift-Command (⌘)-3. Once you are done, your screenshot will be available as a .png file on your desktop. If you want to take a screenshot of a portion of your screen, press Shift-Command-4 and then select the portion of the screen you wish to a screenshot of.
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