Apple High Sierra is here — 10 things to look out for

Apple is rolling out its new High Sierra operating system today. With this latest version, Apple is concentrating heavily on overall productivity and improving the Mac’s performance.

If you have a MacBook Pro (2010 or later), MacBook (2009 or later), Mac mini (2010 or later), MacBook Air (2010 or later), iMac (Late 2009 or later) or Mac Pro (2010 or later), this is what you can expect from the latest macOS:

1.Apple File System.

High Sierra brings the new APFS or Apple File System. Apple says it will be “faster, efficient and focuses on both security and encryption.”

2. Photo Editor.

This application now boasts improved editing tools and a compare button so users can easily compare the new version with the old one.

3. HEVC video codec.

Called HEVC or H.265, this codec can compress video by as much as 40 per cent without any significant loss of quality, according to Apple.

4. Safari reading mode.

The default browser now features a reading mode which strips a web page of all intrusive elements to leave only text and multimedia.

5. FaceTime Live photos.

Apple has introduced interactivity so you can quickly capture moments and then use the Photos app to convert the images into long exposure shots, bounce clips or loop clips.

6. Auto-playing videos.

It will be possible to stop all auto-playing videos or block them on certain websites while allowing them on others.

7. Improved iMessage.

The iMessage application on your iOS device will now be synced with the High Sierra version on your Mac, so if you delete a message from your iPhone or other iOS device it will also be removed from your Mac.

8. Mail search.

High Sierra’s Mail app uses as much as 35 per cent less space. Its search function now also features a Top Hits panel which prioritises email from frequent contacts. Mail also supports a new split view that lets you check mail on one side while typing a message on the other — perfect for multi-tasking.

9. Siri.

High Sierra’s artificial intelligence app Siri has been vastly improved. You will be able to tell Siri to play music or even a song from a particular genre — provided you have a valid Apple Music subscription of course.

10. Enhanced Universal Clipboard.

While copying and pasting content across macOS and iOS is already possible, Apple now enables High Sierra users to copy things between two Macs, as long as they use the same Apple iCloud account and the same operating system.