This new OS (15.0.1) was released recently
There are some useful new apps and improvments
Sidecar allows you to mirror your Mac screen on an iPad which is less than 3 metres from it. Ideal for managing Tidal and provides advanced useage for JRiver (JR remote is getting a bit long in the tooth)
No more iTunes. Its been split into three apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV
The new apps are similar in function to iTunes now, but are split up by feature. You can still manage your devices in Catalina, but it's now done through the Finder rather than through an app. Syncing media can be done using the Apple TV, Podcasts, or Music apps.
In the Music app, there's full access to the music library, just like in iTunes, regardless of whether the songs were purchased or ripped from a CD. The iTunes Music Store is included in the Music app, and you can access Apple Music content, too.
The Apple TV app is similar to the Apple TV app on the Apple TV and iOS devices, offering up access to TV and movie content. For the first time, the new TV app supports 4K HDR content on 2018 and later Macs along with Dolby Atmos.
In the Podcasts app, users can access their Podcasts library, which was previously housed in iTunes. There are features for browsing, viewing top charts, and managing your library, plus new editor-curated categories. Podcasts is a simple app, but useful for those who listen to a lot of podcasts.
It also improves the security in macOS, and Gatekeeper checks all your apps for known security issues. New data protection also requires apps to get permission before accessing your documents.
A new Find My app, also available in iPadOS and iOS 13, brings the Find My Mac and Find My Friends has a feature that lets you track your devices even when they're offline. This option uses Bluetooth and the devices of other people who might be around your lost or stolen device, relaying its location to you.
Screen Time is now in macOS Catalina, so now you can track your device usage across all of your devices, not just iPhone and iPad, for a better picture of how you're spending your time.
There's a new Photos interface that organizes your pictures by day, month, or year, while also intelligently choosing your best photos (while cutting out screenshots, receipts, and other less desirable images) so you can relive all of your favorite memories.
In Safari, there's a new start page that uses Siri Suggestions to display frequently visited sites, bookmarks, iCloud tabs, Reading List selections, and links you've been sent in Messages for a more personalized Safari start page.
Mail in macOS Catalina adds new features for blocking emails from specific senders, muting threads, and unsubscribing from commercial email lists. There's a new Gallery View in Notes, along with new view-only collaboration options and folder sharing.
As on iOS, the Reminders app has been overhauled, introducing a new user interface, smart lists, attachment support, and Messages integration to make it easier to create and and organize your reminders.
Voice Control, an Accessibility option, lets users who can't use a Mac in the traditional way operate their machine using solely voice commands through Siri. This feature also works on iOS 13 and iPadOS.
Note that Catalina has not been fully tested with UAD audio devices. However, a patch is available from https://www.uaudio.com/uad/downloads/
Your 32-bit apps are no longer going to work in macOS Catalina, and you'll get a warning when you install the update. macOS Catalina supports 64-bit apps only, and that means that some of your older apps that haven't been updated for a while won't run at all. The Dashboard feature, which has long been disabled by default, has been officially removed in Catalina.
And its a free download (8.3Gb)
There are some useful new apps and improvments
Sidecar allows you to mirror your Mac screen on an iPad which is less than 3 metres from it. Ideal for managing Tidal and provides advanced useage for JRiver (JR remote is getting a bit long in the tooth)
No more iTunes. Its been split into three apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV
The new apps are similar in function to iTunes now, but are split up by feature. You can still manage your devices in Catalina, but it's now done through the Finder rather than through an app. Syncing media can be done using the Apple TV, Podcasts, or Music apps.
In the Music app, there's full access to the music library, just like in iTunes, regardless of whether the songs were purchased or ripped from a CD. The iTunes Music Store is included in the Music app, and you can access Apple Music content, too.
The Apple TV app is similar to the Apple TV app on the Apple TV and iOS devices, offering up access to TV and movie content. For the first time, the new TV app supports 4K HDR content on 2018 and later Macs along with Dolby Atmos.
In the Podcasts app, users can access their Podcasts library, which was previously housed in iTunes. There are features for browsing, viewing top charts, and managing your library, plus new editor-curated categories. Podcasts is a simple app, but useful for those who listen to a lot of podcasts.
It also improves the security in macOS, and Gatekeeper checks all your apps for known security issues. New data protection also requires apps to get permission before accessing your documents.
A new Find My app, also available in iPadOS and iOS 13, brings the Find My Mac and Find My Friends has a feature that lets you track your devices even when they're offline. This option uses Bluetooth and the devices of other people who might be around your lost or stolen device, relaying its location to you.
Screen Time is now in macOS Catalina, so now you can track your device usage across all of your devices, not just iPhone and iPad, for a better picture of how you're spending your time.
There's a new Photos interface that organizes your pictures by day, month, or year, while also intelligently choosing your best photos (while cutting out screenshots, receipts, and other less desirable images) so you can relive all of your favorite memories.
In Safari, there's a new start page that uses Siri Suggestions to display frequently visited sites, bookmarks, iCloud tabs, Reading List selections, and links you've been sent in Messages for a more personalized Safari start page.
Mail in macOS Catalina adds new features for blocking emails from specific senders, muting threads, and unsubscribing from commercial email lists. There's a new Gallery View in Notes, along with new view-only collaboration options and folder sharing.
As on iOS, the Reminders app has been overhauled, introducing a new user interface, smart lists, attachment support, and Messages integration to make it easier to create and and organize your reminders.
Voice Control, an Accessibility option, lets users who can't use a Mac in the traditional way operate their machine using solely voice commands through Siri. This feature also works on iOS 13 and iPadOS.
Note that Catalina has not been fully tested with UAD audio devices. However, a patch is available from https://www.uaudio.com/uad/downloads/
Your 32-bit apps are no longer going to work in macOS Catalina, and you'll get a warning when you install the update. macOS Catalina supports 64-bit apps only, and that means that some of your older apps that haven't been updated for a while won't run at all. The Dashboard feature, which has long been disabled by default, has been officially removed in Catalina.
And its a free download (8.3Gb)
