MacRumors

One of the biggest new features of iOS 14 is Home Screen widgets, which provide information from apps at a glance. The widgets can be pinned to the Home Screen in various spots and sizes, allowing for many different layouts.

When the iOS 14 beta was first released in June, widgets were limited to Apple's own apps like Calendar and Weather, but several third-party developers have begun to test the feature for their own apps. As shown in our screenshots below, this includes:

• Parcel - Delivery tracking
• Debit & Credit - Track your expenses
• Aviary - Recent tweets
• Schooly - Class schedule
• Spendy - Daily spending
• Streaks - Track habits
• Dark Noise - White noise
• Unwind - Relaxation app

TestFlight slots are limited, so some apps may be full.

Keep in mind that Home Screen widgets are fairly limited in scope. This is because Apple only allows the widgets to present read-only information, with interactive elements such as scrolling elements or switches not allowed, presumably due to battery life considerations. Tapping on a widget opens the corresponding app.

Also be aware that, as of the fourth developer beta of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, Apple says that all widgets must be rebuilt using the latest SDK and will not run on previous beta versions. This has temporarily broken some widgets, such as the Aviary widget, which is currently displaying new tweets on a very delayed basis.

Users interested in trying out these widgets can download Apple's free TestFlight app, tap on the TestFlight links above using an iPhone or iPad, and download a beta version of each app. Not all of the widgets are fully polished yet, so expect some glitches.

For more, read our guide on how to use Home Screen widgets in iOS 14. Also watch our hands-on video of the widgets in action.

Home Screen widgets will be available to all users when iOS 14 is released in the fall.

Apple this week updated its "Jobs at Apple" website with a new Benefits section that's designed to explain to potential employees the perks that Apple offers to its workforce.

The Benefits part of the site is organized into different sections highlighting various perks of working for Apple, such as:

• Flexible medical plans
• Coverage for physical and mental healthcare
• Free counseling
• Family medical plans
• Paid parental leave
• Onsite doctors and nurses for those working on campus
• Fitness centers on campus
• Fitness-related financial help for those not on campus
• Equal pay for men and women
• Eligibility for stock grants and discounts for stock purchases
• 401(k) matching
• Apple University learning opportunities
• Some tuition reimbursement
• One-for-one donation matching
• Deals on Apple products and accessories

Apple says that its benefit programs vary by country and are subject to eligibility requirements. Those who want to learn more about Apple's benefits can check out the Jobs at Apple website.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

macOS users could be targeted with malicious attacks using Microsoft Office files that have macros embedded, according to details on the now-fixed exploit shared today by security researcher Patrick Wardle, who also spoke to Motherboard.

Hackers have long used Office files with macros embedded in them as a way to get access to Windows computers, but the exploit is also possible on macOS. According to Wardle, a Mac user could potentially be infected just by opening a Microsoft Office file that has a bad macro in it.

Wardle shared a blog post on the exploit that he found for manipulating Office files to impact Macs, which he's highlighting during today's online Black Hat security conference.

Apple fixed the exploit that Wardle used in macOS 10.15.3, so that particular vulnerability is no longer available for hackers to use, but it offers an interesting look at an emerging method of attack that we could see more of in the future.

Wardle's hack was complicated and involved multiple steps, so those interested in full details should read his blog, but basically he used an Office file with an old .slk format to run macros on macOS without informing the user.

"Security researchers love these ancient file formats because they were created at a time when no one was thinking about security," Wardle told Motherboard.

After using the antiquated file format to get macOS to run a macro in Microsoft Office without letting the user know, he used another flaw that let a hacker escape the Microsoft Office Sandbox with a file that uses a $ sign. The file was a .zip file, which macOS didn't check against the notarization protections that prevent users from opening files not from known developers.

The exploit required the targeted person to log in to their Mac on two separate occasions as logins trigger different steps in the exploit chain, which makes it less likely to happen, but as Wardle says, only one person needs to fall for it.

Microsoft told Wardle that it has found that "any application, even when sandboxed, is vulnerable to misuse of these APIs," and that it is in contact with Apple to identify and fix issues as they arise. The vulnerabilities that Wardle used to demonstrate how macros can be abused have long since been patched by Apple, but there's always a chance that a similar exploit could pop up later.

Mac users are not invulnerable to viruses and should exercise caution when downloading and opening files from unknown sources, and sometimes, even known sources. It's best to stay away from suspicious Office files and other files that have shady origins, even with the protections that Apple has built into macOS.

Longtime Mac developer Rogue Amoeba today announced the launch of SoundSource 5, the next-generation version of its software utility that gives you much greater control over audio on your Mac.

For those unfamiliar with SoundSource, it lives right in the menu bar and gives you quick access to volume levels and input/output devices, as well as the ability to adjust volume levels and output devices on a per-app basis. Audio effects like equalizers can also be applied on a per-app basis.

SoundSource 5 brings a revamped interface with a streamlined main window that can optionally be made even slimmer with a Compact view, and there's a new menu bar icon that displays a rough gauge of the current volume level of your default output device.

With per-app audio controls, SoundSource 5 now automatically manages the apps displayed in the list, adding them whenever they are producing audio and removing them when they stop. Favorited apps will remain in the list permanently.

The new update also adds support for multiple menu meters, letting you optionally see activity for default input and output devices, as well as active apps. The meters also provide one-click access for quickly muting any of the sources.

Updates for audio effects include an optimized Magic Boost that uses less CPU to provide richer sound, a simplified default view for the pinnable 10-band equalizer, and more.

SoundSource 5 is available as a free full-featured trial, which degrades the quality of its audio adjustments after 20 minutes per launch. A full license is normally priced at $39, but there's a discounted $29 rate available through the end of the month. Owners of SoundSource 4 can upgrade for $19, or a complimentary upgrade if you purchased SoundSource 4 on or after May 1.

For those currently running the macOS Big Sur beta, it's important to note that SoundSource 5 is not yet compatible with the upcoming version of macOS. An update for SoundSource will be available prior to the public launch of Big Sur. SoundSource 5 is fully compatible macOS Catalina, Mojave, and High Sierra.

Samsung today held a virtual Galaxy Unpacked event where it unveiled its next-generation smartphones that will compete with Apple's 2020 iPhone lineup, set to come out in the fall.

Samsung announced the launch of the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the two newest devices in the Note lineup, and, more notably, the Galaxy Z Fold 2, Samsung's latest foldable smartphone.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 features a 7.6-inch screen that uses thin glass instead of plastic to protect the display. When folded, the front display measures in at 6.2 inches. It's equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor, 12GB RAM, and 512GB storage, plus there's a new camera that uses a hole punch design instead of a notch.

Samsung aimed to make the Z Fold 2 a significant improvement over the original Galaxy Fold in terms of durability and functionality. Samsung says the hinge has been improved and the overall structure has been reinforced so it's not as delicate as it was before. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but it's expected to come out in September, which is also when we'll learn more about it.

The Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra are Samsung's new flagship Note smartphones. The $1,000 Note 20 features a 6.7-inch 60Hz AMOLED display with a hole punch camera, a Snapdragon 865+ processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 4,300mAh battery, and a three camera setup with a 12-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 64-megapixel telephoto camera.

Samsung's higher-end Galaxy Ultra also comes with a 6.9-inch AMOLED display, but the high end model supports up to 120Hz refresh rates. There's a Snapdragon 865+ processor, 12GB RAM, 128GB or 512GB storage, microSD slot, and a 4,500mAh battery.

The Ultra version of the Note has an impressive camera setup with a 12-megapixel telephoto lens that supports 5x optical zoom and 50x hybrid zoom, along with a 108-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, plus an autofocus system that works with a laser.

Both Galaxy 20 Note phones are compatible with 5G networks, come with S Pens, and have fingerprint sensors and facial recognition for biometric protection. They support wireless charging and feature IP68 water and dust resistance.

Samsung also unveiled the $170 Galaxy Buds Live with Active Noise Cancellation, which are more affordable than Apple's AirPods Pro with the same noise canceling features. Galaxy Buds come in black, white, and bronze.

There's also a new tablet, the Galaxy Tab S7, and a new Galaxy Watch 3 with sleep tracking, ECG support, and blood pressure readings.

Samsung's event can still be watched on YouTube for those who are interested in a full rundown on all the features in the new devices.

The Galaxy Buds Live, Samsung's new Note devices, and the other Samsung devices with the exception of the Fold 2 will go on sale on August 6. Pre-ordering the Note 20 or the Note 20 Ultra will provide Samsung users with a credit that can be used on the Samsung website or the Shop Samsung app.

Samsung's new devices will directly compete with the ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup, which Apple is expected to unveil in September and release starting in October.

Apple has four smartphones in the works, including 5.4 and 6.1-inch affordable devices and higher-end 6.1 and 6.7-inch devices that will rival the Galaxy Note 20 smartphones, but Apple has no foldable ‌iPhone‌ technology at this time to match the Galaxy Z Fold 2, and it's not clear if or when the Cupertino company will release a foldable ‌iPhone‌.

It's been 10 years since the launch of the Apple Store app, and to celebrate, Apple has a little hidden easter egg that you can find if you search for "10 years" in the ‌Apple Store‌ app.

As noted by Michael Steeber, who found the hidden feature, typing in "10 years" sends two blue balloons soaring up from the bottom of the screen.

The balloons will bounce around for a few moments, and if you tap them, you can pop them. Otherwise, if you leave them alone, they'll simply float away.

You can re-summon the balloons by typing in the phrase again. Make sure to use the ‌Apple Store‌ app, where you make Apple device purchases and view orders, to try the trick.

You can download the ‌Apple Store‌ app from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Users on the iOS 14 beta will find that Apple has listed four new Apple Arcade games as "coming soon" in the App Store, as noted by our sister site TouchArcade.

The new listings are available on the "See All Games" list at the bottom of the ‌Apple Arcade‌ tab in the ‌App Store‌ on iOS 14, but are not currently visible on iOS 13 devices. The four upcoming games include:

• Next Stop Nowhere: A "road trip adventure story set in a colorful, cutthroat vision of outer space," the title will be an ‌Apple Arcade‌ exclusive.

• Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time: A single-player action platformer based on the Adult Swim series, the title is also coming to consoles and PCs. It takes place during the show's season finale and involves an alternate timeline where Jack travels through multiple levels on a new quest to eventually defeat his nemesis Aku.

• The Last Campfire: An adventure story about a lost ember trapped in a puzzling place, the new title from Hello Games, creators of No Man's Sky, is also coming to PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One.

• World's End Club: A 2D side-scroller about a dozen 12-year-old oddball kids headed on a 1,200-kilometer journey after they are involved in a bus accident on a class trip and find that "extraordinary powers begin to awaken within them."

All of the new games will be available to ‌‌Apple Arcade‌‌ subscribers on the ‌App Store‌ for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, as well as in the Mac App Store. ‌‌Apple Arcade‌‌ provides ‌‌iPhone‌‌, ‌‌iPad‌‌, ‌‌Apple TV‌‌, and Mac users with access to over 100 games with no in-app purchases or ads for $4.99 per month after a free one-month trial.

Instagram has today officially launched "Reels," a new short-form video service set to rival TikTok, in over 50 countries, including the U.S., India, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, and the U.K. Reels is part of the Instagram camera of the existing Instagram app.

Instagram says that Reels are "a new way to create and discover short, entertaining videos." The service features the ability to record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with music from the Instagram library, AR effects, and various new creative editing tools. Reels can be shared with followers on "Feed", or for public accounts, made available to all users worldwide via a new space in "Explore." Reels' most significant difference from TikTok is supposedly its tie-ins to the overarching Instagram ecosystem.

Last month, it was reported that Instagram was offering significant cash incentives to TikTok creators to persuade them to move to Reels. Incentive payments for some were claimed to be in the "hundreds of thousands of dollars," with the highest payouts for creators who commit to posting their videos exclusively to Reels. The move was a clear indication that Instagram views Reels as a direct competitor to TikTok. In April, YouTube announced "Shorts," a new service that will also replicate the short video format to compete with TikTok.

"I think TikTok deserves a ton of credit for popularizing formats in this space, and it's just great work,” Instagram's product director, Robby Stein, told The Verge. "But at the end of the day, no two products are exactly alike, and ours are not either."

The company's line on similarity with TikTok is similar to the approach taken with "Stories," launched in 2016 as a competitor to Snapchat. Instagram Stories soon had more active daily users than Snapchat itself.

The launch of Reels comes as TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, faces immense scrutiny in the United States, and Microsoft negotiates a purchase of the service.

Apple today quietly released a new version of its 30W USB-C power adapter with the model number MY1W2AM/A. The outward design of the adapter has not changed, so if any tweaks have been made, they are likely internal. The previous model MR2A2LL/A is no longer available for purchase from Apple.

The power adapter remains compatible with any USB‑C–enabled device, with Apple continuing to recommend that it be paired with the 13-inch MacBook Air with a Retina display. The adapter can also be used to fast charge compatible iPhone and iPad Pro models. The new version remains priced at $49 on Apple's online store and ships within a few days.

Apple made a similar move in June 2018, when it quietly replaced its 29W power adapter with the original 30W version that was sold until this week.

Virginia this week became the first U.S. state to release a COVID-19 exposure notification app using Apple's and Google's jointly developed API, as noted by Kyle Carmitchel on Twitter. The app is available now on the App Store.

The COVIDWISE app allows you to be notified if someone you have been near later tests positive for COVID-19, so long as that other person confirms their positive test in the app. The system relies on the exchange of anonymous Bluetooth tokens between devices, with no location data or personal information collected or shared.

iPhone users must be running iOS 13.5 or later in order for exposure notification apps using the Apple/Google API to function, and the opt-in feature must be enabled first in the Settings app. Users who have upgraded to iOS 14 should note that exposure notification apps are only functional as of the fourth developer beta.

A growing list of countries have released apps based on the Apple/Google API, most recently including Canada's COVID Alert.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Microsoft's upcoming "Project xCloud" game streaming service is set to launch on September 15th, exclusively on Android devices. Despite extensive testing via TestFlight on iOS, xCloud's launch on iOS seems to have been postponed indefinitely.

Project xCloud is Microsoft's "vision for game-streaming technology that will complement our console hardware and give gamers more choices in how and where they play." xCloud will be bundled as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $14.99 per month, with more than 100 games available.

App Store guidelines ban services that rely on streaming games from the cloud. Cloud gaming services, where users stream games live via an internet connection, are growing in popularity.

Although Microsoft has been trialing xCloud on iOS with a closed public preview of 10,000 testers, the company previously stated that testing was limited due to Apple's ‌App Store‌ policies. Unlike the Android version, the app was limited to streaming games from the cloud only, excluding the ability to stream games from an Xbox console.

"To comply with App Store policies, the preview experience on iOS may look and feel different for those who have been testing on Android," Microsoft warned ahead of launching the preview.

Only one title, "Halo: The Master Chief Collection," was available on the TestFlight app. This is because ‌App Store‌ rules state that "games offered in a game subscription must be owned or exclusively licensed by the developer."

"It's our ambition to scale cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass available on all devices, but we have nothing further to share at this time regarding iOS," a Microsoft spokesperson told The Verge.

Apple initially rejected Valve's Steam Link app due to "business conflicts," and it took almost a year to eventually be approved. Steam Link and Sony's PS4 Remote Play was approved only because the ‌App Store‌ allows remote desktop technology, but it is limited to devices on the same network.

Similar game streaming services Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now are still unavailable on iOS. A spokesperson for Nvidia, when asked about the challenge of reaching iOS users with GeForce Now, told Bloomberg, "Ask Apple."

The TestFlight preview of xCloud has ended today and will no longer function. This is due to Apple's automatic expiry date on all TestFlight apps, indicating that it has been 90 days since the preview was updated. The future of xCloud on iOS now seems to be uncertain, and it is unknown whether development will continue.

There are a few Mac notebook sales happening this week at Amazon and B&H Photo. These discounts include $100 off the 2020 MacBook Air, with sale prices starting at $899.00 for the 256GB model. You can also get $300 off the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, starting at $2,099.00 for 512GB.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

MacBook Air

Amazon today is discounting Apple's 2020 MacBook Air (8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 10th gen processor) to $899.00, down from $999.00. This discount represents a match of the lowest price we've ever tracked for this model of the new 13-inch MacBook Air, and it's available in Space Gray.

B&H Photo today is matching this price in the Space Gray and Gold color options for the MacBook Air. The 256GB MacBook Air has typically seen a $50 sale over the past few weeks, so today's $100 markdown is a good opportunity to get the notebook at its current best price.

Additionally, this week both Amazon and B&H Photo are discounting the 512GB 2020 MacBook Air to $1,199.00, from $1,299.00. Across both retailers you can get this version of the notebook in all three colors, and this again represents the lowest price we've ever tracked.

13-Inch MacBook Pro

The newest 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,799.00, down from $1,999.00 on Amazon this week. This is the model with a tenth-generation quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Amazon has it on sale in both Space Gray and Silver.

The same sale can also be found on B&H Photo, and that retailer also has it in both Space Gray and Silver. This model of the MacBook Pro has the new Magic Keyboard, which uses a refined scissor mechanism that is expected to be more reliable than the butterfly keyboard that was prone to failure.

16-Inch MacBook Pro

For the higher-end MacBook Pro models, Amazon has Apple's 512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro (2.6GHz 6-Core, 16GB RAM) for $2,099.00, down from $2,399.00.

This $300 off sale is the current lowest price for this model of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it's available in Silver and Space Gray. You can also find the same sale at B&H Photo, but only in the Space Gray color option.

Likewise, the 1TB model (2.3GHz 8-Core, 16GB RAM) is on sale on Amazon today. You can get this notebook for $2,499.99, down from $2,799.00. Just like the 512GB version, it's available in both Silver and Space Gray, and the same price can be found on B&H Photo.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.

New images shared on Weibo appear to show a circular array of magnets housed inside an "iPhone 12" chassis. The unverified images depict 36 individual magnets in a circular arrangement, suggesting they could be related to mounting or charging.

EverythingApplePro, who shared the Weibo-originating images on Twitter, also posted an image of an alleged iPhone 12 case with a similar array of magnets built in, which he suggests are "likely for perfect alignment with Apple's wireless chargers."

Apple hasn't released any native wireless chargers for ‌iPhone‌. The company canceled its much-anticipated AirPower charging mat last year due to quality concerns. Rumors persist that it continues to work on an AirPower-like charging mat, although faked images have been shared in support of this.

Back in January, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected Apple to release a small wireless charging mat in the first half of the year, but no such product materialized in that timeframe.

For months ahead of their unveiling, last year's ‌iPhone‌ 11 series was rumored to feature a Qi-based device-to-device charging feature, allowing for an Apple Watch, AirPods, and other accessories to charge on the back of the iPhones. The feature was expected to be similar to Wireless PowerShare on Samsung's Galaxy S10.

According to one leaker, the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series includes the necessary hardware for a two-way charging feature that was widely rumored for the devices, but Apple disabled the feature on the software end. According to Kuo, the feature was abandoned because the charging efficiency did not meet Apple's requirements.

We're expecting Apple to launch four iPhones in three display sizes this year, and a recent rumor has suggested Apple could release the devices in two stages.

Apple yesterday announced a new 27-inch iMac with faster 10th-generation Intel Core processor options, next-generation AMD graphics, and up to a whopping 128GB of RAM.

To max out the RAM at checkout, Apple charges an additional $2,600, which is like buying another whole ‌iMac‌. Fortunately, the memory in the 27-inch ‌iMac‌ is user-replaceable thanks to the easily-accessible memory backdoor slot, and there are far more affordable options available from third parties.

OWC offers 128GB of DDR4 PC4-21300 RAM that's compatible with the 27-inch ‌iMac‌. The total cost on Amazon is $599.99, or $2,000 less than Apple charges its customers. These are the OWC memory upgrade kits available, compared to the prices that you'd pay when purchasing an ‌iMac‌ from Apple:

• 128GB (4 x 32GB DIMMs) – $599 at Amazon ($2,600 at Apple checkout).
• 64GB (4 x 16GB DIMMs) - $269 at Amazon ($1,000 at Apple checkout).
• 32GB (2 x 16GB DIMMs) - $135 at Amazon ($400 at Apple checkout).

Apple provides instructions for users wanting to install memory in an ‌iMac‌. Note that the RAM in the 21.5-inch ‌iMac‌ models, which were not updated yesterday other than a change to the base storage configuration, is not user-accessible.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Rumors suggest an updated MacBook Air could be launching sooner rather than later, and we've already seen certifications for a possible ‌MacBook Air‌ battery recently filed in China and Denmark. Now the same battery has appeared on Safety Korea Certification, along with an image of the battery that strongly suggests it's for a new ‌MacBook Air‌ model (via 91mobiles).

The current ‌MacBook Air‌ has a 49.9Wh battery, which is matched in this new model type (A2389) featuring a 4380mAh capacity. The model number A1965 has been used in the last few ‌‌MacBook Air‌‌ generations.

We're still none the wiser about exactly when a new ‌MacBook Air‌ might launch, because regulatory bodies sometimes approve and test new hardware months before a new product comes out. However, several rumors have suggested that the ‌‌MacBook Air‌‌ will be one of the first Macs to get an Apple Silicon chip, and the new Arm-based machine could come before the end of 2020.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the 13-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ will be one of the first Macs to be updated with an ‌Apple Silicon‌ chip, with an update set to come in the fourth quarter of 2020 or the first quarter of 2021. DigiTimes also believes the Arm-based ‌MacBook Air‌ will be released in 2020.

Apple has confirmed that it will be transitioning to its own custom ‌Apple Silicon‌ processors, and said we can expect new Arm-based Macs before the end of the year, but it didn't give away which Mac model would be the first Apple Silicon-powered machine.

Apple already updated the ‌MacBook Air‌ in March 2020 with more internal storage, 10th-generation Intel processors, and a more reliable scissor-switch keyboard, but it's not out of the question that a second update could come this year given the swap to ‌‌Apple Silicon‌‌ chips.

In addition to performance benefits, ‌Apple Silicon‌‌ chips are expected to be much more power efficient than the current Intel chips used in the ‌‌MacBook Air‌‌ lineup. That could see the same 49.9Wh battery improve upon the current ‌MacBook Air‌'s 11 hours of battery life when browsing the web and up to 12 hours when using the Apple TV app for watching movies.

For more on what we're expecting for the next ‌‌MacBook Air‌‌, check out our MacBook Air roundup, and for details on Apple's transition to ‌‌Apple Silicon‌‌ chips, read our in-depth guide.

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of the upcoming macOS Big Sur update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the third beta and over a month after the new update was unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

The macOS Big Sur beta can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, subsequent betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.

macOS Big Sur introduces a refreshed design to the Mac operating system, overhauling the entire look from the curvature of the window corners to the dock icons to the system sounds. Everything feels fresh but familiar, with a lighter and more modern appearance. There's a new customizable Control Center that mirrors the Control Center on iOS devices, putting key system controls right at your fingertips.

The Notification Center has been redesigned with iOS-style widgets that are available in multiple sizes, plus there are more interactive notifications that are now grouped by app to make it easier to see what's going on.

Safari is faster and more battery efficient, plus there's a new start page that can be customized with wallpapers and sections that include Reading List and iCloud Tabs, which makes Safari more tailored to your individual usage needs.

Tabs have been redesigned, there's a built-in language translation feature, and Chrome and Firefox Extensions can be ported to Safari. There's also an option to choose which sites an extension works with for greater privacy. Speaking of privacy, a new Privacy Report feature lets users know the trackers Safari is blocking when you visit websites.

Messages is more similar to the Messages app on iOS with support for pinned conversations, mentions, inline replies, and Memoji creation, plus the built-in search feature has been overhauled to make it easier to find links, photos, and conversations in the app.

Apple redesigned the Maps app to add support for Look Around, indoor maps, and Guides, which are lists of notable attractions, restaurants, and more created by trusted sources. Maps can also be used to generate directions for cycling routes and electric vehicle trips that can be sent to iPhone, and shared ETA updates are now viewable on the Mac.

Photos includes a better Retouch tool, Apple Music's For You section has been replaced with a Listen Now section, HomeKit Secure Video cameras support Face Recognition and Activity zones, and Siri can answer a wider range of questions than before.

As of macOS Big Sur beta 2, Apple Pay support is available for Mac Catalyst apps. Developers will now be able to easily get ‌Apple Pay‌ up and running in Mac Catalyst apps. From the iOS 14 release notes: "‌Apple Pay‌ support is now available to Mac Catalyst apps. Two methods have been added to existing delegate protocols. No changes are required for iPad apps, but one or both of these methods must be implemented when building for Catalyst."

In the future, the macOS Big Sur App Store will help users better understand privacy practices with clear info on the information that an app collects, and after installing macOS Big Sur, you'll see faster updates that begin in the background and then finish more quickly to make it easier to keep your Mac up to date.

Apple in the third beta of macOS Big Sur changed the battery icon for the Battery section in System Preferences, refining the design to make it look more clean and streamlined. There update also brought a new design for the Music app icon (it's red), and some color changes to the buttons and icons inside the music app.

Today's beta adds 4K support for YouTube videos in Safari. For more on everything that's new in macOS Big Sur, make sure to check out our roundup.