With macOS Sierra, the latest version of the Mac operating system, Siri is available on Macs for the first time. Siri on the Mac can perform many of the same functions available on iOS, like answering simple queries, looking up information, sending messages, opening apps, and more, plus there are Mac-specific functions.
As can be seen in our hands-on video showing off Siri on the Mac, Siri is able to search through files to help you quickly locate content with commands like "Find me the documents I opened last week" or "Where are the files John sent me on Tuesday?"
Siri is accessed through the menu bar, a dock icon, or a keyboard command, and the Siri results, displayed in individual windows, can be pinned to the Today section of the Notification Center or added to documents and files.
Pinned results are kept updated, so it's a great way to keep tabs on a sports game or a particular Twitter search right in the Notification Center, and it can be used to do things like insert a map into an email invitation or search for an image to add to a document.
macOS Sierra and Siri for Mac are are only available to developers right now, but Apple plans to offer a public beta in July. The operating system will be released for free to all Mac users in the fall.
In case you missed them, make sure to check out our seven minute WWDC 2016 video, which features a quick rundown on all of the new iOS, macOS Sierra, tvOS, and watchOS features Apple introduced this week, our video highlighting iOS 10's overhauled Lock screen, a video on the new features in the Photos app, and our video covering the iOS 10 features coming to Messages.
Make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors, because we've got more in-depth software videos in the works.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)The most "exciting" feature, which is Siri according to Apple, still remains the most useless and boring feature to me. Especially on a Mac.
Let's all just stop development until Your Majesty decides it's okay for us to catch up with your amazing tastes. Thanks so much for guiding the unwashed masses.It's slow, not all that smart, and requires data to work.
Siri might become useful when she reaches the level of the assistant in the movie "Her". But until then, it's nothing but a nuisance and a gimmick.
It's slow, not all that smart, and requires data to work.
Siri might become useful when she reaches the level of the assistant in the movie "Her". But until then, it's nothing but a gimmick.