Did you know that Mac’s latest OS update, Big Sur, is over 35GB in size? That means that, if you want to update to Big Sur, you’re going to need to make sure you have enough space on your hard drive to do so.
With that being said, one of the biggest MacBook tips and tricks has to do with keeping up with available updates. It’ll make your computer safer, and make it run more smoothly, which of course is a good thing.
In this article, we’ll tell you all about 5 new features that you’ll have access to after downloading Big Sur. That way you can familiarize yourself with the update before you install it, so you can get the most out of Big Sur going forward.
Upgraded Safari
If you own a Mac computer, and you use a web browser that isn’t Safari, it’s probably because you’re not a huge fan of Safari. We’ll be honest, up until this latest Mac OS update, Safari left a lot to be desired.
Simply put, other internet browsers, like Google Chrome, offered Mac users a better web browsing experience. This is especially true if you wanted to create a customized experience that better suited your web browsing needs.
The good news? Apple has taken note of this issue, and perhaps the biggest upgrade to come from Mac OS Big Sur is a new and improved Safari.
Within this new version of Safari, you’ll be able to easily translate languages, preview tabs before opening them and safely browse the web. There are tons of other new features available, too, making Safari worth exploring again post-update.
Apple Maps Cycling Directions
Are you someone who likes to bike everywhere you go? If so, you’ve most likely found it hard to get solid cycling directions using popular GPS applications.
Even Google Maps, which many people prefer over Apple Maps, wasn’t designed with cyclists in mind. That meant that, if you needed turn-by-turn directions for your bike ride, you had to go with the walking option, which often left you with poor directions.
Thankfully, with the latest Mac OS update, you can get cycling directions right on your computer. That’s right, Apple Maps now has a cycling directions option that you can access via the Big Sur update.
Of course, you can’t take your computer with you while you bike. And you probably don’t want to have to print off your directions or remember them while you’re out on the road.
That’s why it’s so awesome that you can send your cyclist directions to your phone, allowing you to access them on the go.
Pinned Messages
If you’re like most Mac computer users, you have other Apple devices that you have paired up with your computer via the cloud. That allows you to access tons of helpful features from all of your devices, helping you stay organized in the process.
Most iPhone users enjoy sending text messages from their Mac computers. The ability to at least read your messages on your computer is a huge plus, as it can make multitasking at work that much easier.
In this latest Mac OS update, you now have the ability to pin messages with certain contacts to the top of your messenger app. This will make it easier to keep track of your most frequent conversations, making the messenger app on your computer that much cooler.
If you’ve never used the messenger app on your computer before, give it a try after downloading Big Sur. You may discover that it’s your favorite way to text with your contacts, making it something that you use on a daily basis from now on.
Menu Bar Customization
One of the most important areas on your Mac computer’s screen is the menu bar, located in the top right corner. There you’ll see tons of useful information, such as the time of the day, your battery’s life, and even how loud your computer’s volume currently is.
While it’s been possible to customize your menu bar for a while now, thanks to the Big Sur update, you have more options to choose from than ever before.
So, how can you make changes to your menu bar? All you need to do is go to System Preferences and then Dock & Menu Bar. From there, you’ll be given all of your options for your menu bar’s setup.
Simply check the options that you want, uncheck the ones that you don’t, and then close out the window. Pretty simple, right?
Notification Center Widgets
While there are tons of Mac OS Big Sur features to talk about, the last one that we’ll mention on this list has to do with your notification center widgets. While you still don’t have as many widgets to choose from as we’d like, you can customize them more in Big Sur, which is a nice addition.
Changing the size of your widgets is now possible, which can allow you to customize the look of your notification center more. That can be helpful if you use widgets a lot, and thus, want to be able to see them all on your screen at once.
Looking for More MacBook Tips and Tricks?
There’s a lot to like about Mac’s newest OS, Big Sur. The biggest update comes in the form of a completely revamped Safari. So, if you aren’t using Safari yet, give it a shot after downloading Big Sur and see what you think.
Looking for more MacBook Tips and Tricks? Check back with our blog often for tons of useful ideas on how to get the most out of your Mac computer.
