Image: Screenshot past Stephen Shankland/CNET

I'm a big fan of macOS and accept been for over a decade now. While I've been in It and take been tasked with managing Apple devices professionally for far longer than that, it wasn't until 2007 when I decided to actually dive deeply into so Bone X to learn more of the ins and outs of Apple tree's operating arrangement.

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Something that always sticks out with me is merely how like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use and relatively trouble-costless Macs are to keep up compared with other OSes. I resolve computer issues all mean solar day long for a living. The last thing I want to do after-hours is jump on a computer once again, simply if I do, the next to last matter I want to deal with are reckoner problems.

With Big Sur, Apple has upped the ante with simplicity and ease of use in mind. Hopefully, this collection of tips below volition help to make your computing a little smoother and more than enjoyable.

1. Prove battery and percentage on Carte Bar

Apple tree moved this setting from the piece of cake-to-observe, elementary-to-enable icon on the Card Bar, where it had been for ages, to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar > Battery. Under the Battery section, check the boxes for Testify in Carte Bar and Testify Percentage to enable.

two. Pin favorites in Messages app

This 1 is identical to the iOS version. Right-click a bulletin thread and select "Pivot" from the context menu and information technology will movement the icon up to the top and enlarge it to brand it stand out. Perfect for easily accessing your become-to contacts.

Note: The same pinning method applies when using the Notes app.

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three. Safari translates websites in strange languages

With the immeasurable number of websites across the vastness of the internet, there'southward no incertitude that nosotros could be missing out on some great content but because nosotros don't understand the language. Well, Apple tree has baked a translator into Safari that allows translating supported languages all by clicking the translation icon (should it appear) after the site's URL.

4. Maps features detailed indoor maps

I absolutely love this feature update to Maps. Unfortunately, near of us aren't traveling as much as we used to or would like to, but when the time comes for rubber traveling to resume, Apple tree Maps has been extended to include indoor mapping of major airports and shopping malls globally.

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v. Detailed Privacy labels on App Shop applications

Filed under the "adept to know" category, Apple has implemented an App Privacy section for App Shop apps that detail a multifariousness of info about the developer and what kinds of data they collect, how and why the data are nerveless (say by, recording your vocalization or saving your search queries), and whether the data nerveless do or don't personally identify the user.