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momacOS is the operating system designed to run on Apple laptops and desktop computers. As Apple has grown and strengthened its ecosystem over the years, so has the version history of the macOS operating system.
In this article, we'll walk you through the evolution of Apple's operating system, from its first public release in 2001 to the latest macOS Monterey, announced on June 7 at WWDC 2021.
Is there a difference between Mac OS X and macOS?
No, they are essentially the same, just different names. In fact, three terms related to Apple's operating system were used at different times: Mac OS X, OS X, and macOS. Mac OS X was the official name until version 10.7 from 2001 to 2011. For the next four years, the OS X names were used. Apple eventually switched to "macOS" with the release of macOS High Sierra in 2016. The latter helped standardize the nomenclature of Apple's operating systems: macOS, iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, etc.
macOS version list
Brief backstory. In 1996, Apple bought NeXT, the company that Steve Jobs built after leaving Apple. That same year, Jobs returned to Apple and helped create the first Mac OS to compete with Windows. It was clear that Apple could become a major player.
The first ancestor of the macOS family was the Mac OS X Public Beta released in 2000, followed by a public release of Mac OS X 10.0 in 2001. We are going to tell the stories of each version of Mac OS X up to the current macOS. .
1. Mac OS X 10.0 (Gepard)
March 24, 2001: Aqua Interface is born with Mac OS X Cheetah. It is a big step forward in the development of graphical user interfaces that support 2D and 3D graphics that offer a completely new visual experience. Cheetah featured a water theme that Steve Jobs said "when you saw it, you wanted to lick it." However, beauty comes at a price. Graphical improvements made Cheetah too slow, prompting Apple to shift focus from visual experience to performance in the next version.
Source: Apple Wiki | fan base
2. Mac OS X 10.1 (Puma)
September 25, 2001: As you may have noticed, the first generation of Apple operating systems were named after animals. The Puma came with a solid performance boost and a few other functional enhancements, such as simplified CD and DVD burning, new Finder features, and broader printer support.
Source: Apple Wiki | fan base
3. Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)
August 23, 2002: The third version of Mac OS X added Search to the Finder (you can imagine the Finder existing without it!). Jaguar also offers MPEG-4 support for QuickTime, a variety of privacy features and, for the first time, an accessibility API called Universal Access. Some of the applications that were developed with this version still exist on the Mac (for example, Address Book, now called Contacts).
Quelle: VTII technology
4. Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther)
October 24, 2003: Meet Safari! Apple's first official browser replaces Internet Explorer on Mac. Safari was actually available on Jaguar, but it's the first version where it became a default browser. Plus, Panther adds over 150 new features, including Font Book, Xcode enhancements, and more.
What: Mac Culto
5. Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
April 29, 2005: Thought the Apple TV is pretty new? Well guess what, it was born in 2005 with the release of Apple's fifth operating system! Tiger was a great improvement. It included Spotlight search, Automator, VoiceOver, and over 200 other enhancements. During this period, Apple also switched to Intel processors, making Tiger the first system to run on Macs with Intel chips.
Source: Wikipedia
6. Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
October 26, 2007: Here comes Leopard, one of the most altered Mac systems. This time, the Mac desktop changes significantly, with the Dock, a new menu bar, and Stacks. Time Machine, Spotlight enhancements, and 64-bit application support are also available. In fact, Leopard contained so much new stuff that Apple had to push back the original release date to get everything ready on time.
Source: Apple Wiki | fan base
7. Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
August 28, 2009: Leopard's successor, Snow Leopard, focused on extending the 64-bit architecture. Most native apps have been rewritten for 64-bit. At the time, experts said it was the first step toward a complete transition that we now know has come to pass. The App Store was also born in the era of the snow leopard.
Source: Wikipedia
8. Mac OS X 10.7 (León)
July 20, 2011: With Lion, Apple brings many useful extensions from iOS to Mac OS. Launchpad, multi-touch gestures and more. Interestingly, many people criticized Mac OS X 10.7 for the so-called "natural scrolling" that moves content up as you scroll down. Back then, it seemed more natural to move the content to the bottom, like Windows did.
Source: iXBT
9. OS X 10.8 (Berglowe)
July 25, 2012: Essential apps like Notes, Reminders, and Messages come from iOS, making Mac a more convenient place to manage your daily routine. The most notable update in Mountain Lion is the Notification Center, with on-screen banners notifying you of updates.
Source: iXBT
10. OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)
October 22, 2013: OS 10 introduces a number of privacy features, primarily focused on encryption and password storage. That's when iCloud Keychain comes along. In addition, OS X 10.9 introduces new maps, iBooks, and labels for the first time, as well as an update to Notification Center, allowing users to respond directly from notifications.
Source: Apple Wiki | fan base
11. OS X 10.10 (Yosemite)
October 16, 2014: Biggest renovation in years. From little things like skinny fonts and new color schemes to the big move to a flat graphic design that better suits iOS design. Additionally, Yosemite features Handoff and Continuity. This once again confirms Apple's intention to create a better cross-device experience in the future.
Those: TechRadar
12. OS X 10.11 (El Capitan)
September 30, 2015: El Capitan is faster, better and stronger than the previous operating system due to a significant increase in performance. For example, it allows applications to open 40% faster than older systems. Also, this is the year that Split View dual window comes out, opening up new ways to manage windows on Mac.
Those: Softpedia
13.macOS 10.12 (Serra)
September 20, 2016: With Sierra, Apple is switching to the "macOS" naming convention. Other iOS advantages are also added here, e.g. B. Unlocking a Mac with Apple Watch. There's also a new Storage Sense feature with a detailed storage overview and tips on how to free up space. And hello Siri!
Those: TechRadar
14. macOS 10.13 (High Sierra)
September 25, 2017- macOS High Sierra adds a new video standard called HEIC and a transition to the Apple File System (APFS), which is an improved alternative to the older HFS+ file system. That said, there are some improvements to Safari, Mail, and Photo, but nothing major.
What: Macworld
15. mac OS 10.14 (Mojave)
September 24, 2018: Then darkens. We mean dark mode! Mac users can now navigate their daily routine thanks to the Dynamic Desktop feature, with the colors on the screen moving with them. There are more and more apps coming from iOS, including Stocks, News, and Home.
Those: apple.com
16.macOS 10.15 (Catalina)
October 7, 2019: macOS Catalina marks the death of iTunes, dividing Apple's main media destination into three dedicated apps: Music, Podcasts, and Movies. Apple continues to align iOS and macOS with Sidecar, a feature that lets you connect an iPad display to your Mac, and the ability for developers to port apps from iOS to macOS.
Quelle: mobile review
17. macOS 11 (Great South)
November 19, 2020: No macOS 10.16 because Big Sur deserves a more epic version name: 11.0. macOS Big Sur brings a major design change and an unforgettable transition to Apple's Mac M1s. This is the first operating system that allows iOS apps to run natively on Mac, so-called universal apps.
Those: apple.com
18. macOS 12 (Monterey)
October 25, 2021: macOS Monterey brings Shortcuts: the ability to set up quick actions with different apps to automate your workflow. Plus, there's Universal Control, a seamless transition between Mac and iOS devices (you can move the cursor between Mac and iPad, for example); Safari redesigned with tabbed groups and lots of great FaceTime improvements. Learn more about macOS 12 Monterreyon here. You can also read our articles onHow to upgrade to macOS MontereymiHow to fix Monterey macOS problems.
19. macOS 13 (coming soon)
herbs 2022: macOS Ventura comes with a big UI change, the feature called Stage Manager. Although optional, many users will set the Stage Manager as the default, as it's a great way to switch between tasks and workspaces. Essentially, Stage Manager automatically organizes active windows into stacks that sit on the left side of the screen. Other Ventura goodies? Continuity camera, undo mailing and much more. If you're just getting started with this version of macOS, be sure to keep theseList of common Ventura problemsaccessible.
Those: apple.com
What is the latest version of macOS?
The new operating systems for Mac not only offer new features, but also better performance, more privacy, and better workflow for those who work on multiple devices. If you're wondering if you should upgrade to the latest version of macOS, we'd say yes, it's worth it.
How to check for the latest version of macOS on your Mac
Before upgrading, you should find out what your current macOS is. Some versions of macOS cannot be "skipped". For example, if you want to upgrade to Lion, you must first install Snow Lion. How to check the operating system version on a Mac (macOS 12 and earlier)
- Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac
- See the name of your current macOS in the Overview section
- To check for pending macOS updates, select Software Update.
While Apple has revamped System Preferences in macOS Ventura, the process for checking your current version of macOS is a bit different. You need to go directly to System Preferences, now called System Preferences, and find the Software Update tab there.
Principal: If you don't want to upgrade but feel you have to because your Mac is slow or behaving strangely, don't be in a hurry. check what is wrongless about the stateapp, a real-time system monitor that can identify any problems with your system. Perhaps some applications are putting a strain on your Mac or you are running out of disk space. In this case, updating macOS does not help.
How to update to the latest version of macOS
For older versions of Mac OS X or newer macOS, the process for upgrading operating systems follows the same logic:
- First, back up your data so it's available on the new macOS
- Second, make sure you have enough space on your Mac to install the new macOS
- Third, download and install the new update.
The first step is essential. Without a secure backup of your hard drive, you may lose access to your photos, documents, and all your important stuff stored on your Mac. We recommend using Backup Pro or ChronoSync Express for backup. The former can back up selected files and the latter does an excellent job of backing up folders. So you don't need to backup your entire hard drive with all the clutter stored on it.
How to create a backup withGet Backup Pro:
- Click the + button under Backups to create a new project
- Choose a destination for your backup
- Click File+ to add files for backup
- Press start.
save pasta comChronoSync Express:
- Select "Create new sync task" on the right.
- name the project
- Select folders to backup
- Choose your backup destination
- Press the arrow key to start the backup.
After backing up your data, wipe your Mac withclean up my mac x. Clean clutter, system files, unused apps and app caches, etc. That way, you free up a lot of disk space and prepare your Mac for a fresh installation of macOS. We recommend starting with a Smart Scan, but if you want to do a deeper clean, go through special modules, they all work like magic.
Good job! Now you can install macOS 13 Ventura or any version of macOS you want to try. For detailed instructions on how to update macOS, seeread this article.