Apple has promised exciting new features with macOS 10.13 High Sierra.

These include improvements to Safari – which now will prevent ad-tracking and auto playing videos – and a more comprehensive Spotlight Search in the Mail App. Plus, when you are writing emails, the app now allows split view for the compose window – and it will use up to 35% less disk space as well.

The Photos app has also been updated in macOS 10.13 High Sierra, with a better sorting tool, alongside a new layout, better facial recognition thanks to neural networks, and better syncing across all your Apple devices.

Editing tools have also been improved, making it easier than ever to improve your photos without knowing too much about the process. You will even get to apply Instagram like filters to your photos in post-process.

One of the biggest changes with macOS High Sierra is with the file system. It is finally ditching the HFS – which Apple has used for around 30 years, and is now going to be using the Apple File System (APFS). Every Mac that is upgraded to macOS High Sierra will make this files system change automatically while new Macs will come pre-formatted.

APFS, to be exact, is a 64-bit file system that supports native encryption as well as faster metadata operation. This may all sound a bit techy, but the bottom line is that this will make your Mac feel a lot faster, while also being more secure and more transparent about the nature of your files and folder contents.

The update will also be bringing HEVC, or H.265, video compression to the Mac. The firm claims that this new standard will be able to compress video files 40% more than the previous generation H.264 standard. The end result will be faster video streams at higher resolutions – ahem, 4K – and smaller video files sizes when stored locally.

VR finally comes to the Mac

One of the biggest bits of news surrounding macOS High Sierra is that it will finally bring support for virtual reality headsets officially. Namely, the HTC Vive and Steam VR will work with Macs running the new OS this autumn.

However, to use such a device, you will need at least a 5K iMac or MacBook Pro – or, any Mac that is able to run the new OS with an external graphics card box attached via Thunderbolt 3. Support for such devices will come part and parcel with macOS High Sierra, but will not be an available function until spring of 2018.

macOS 10.13 High Sierra compatibility

Fortunately, in the act of creating a macOS iteration that only moderately shakes things up, the barrier to entry did not even change at all. As long as you are sporting one of the following Mac models, you will be good to go with macOS High Sierra on day one:

Late 2009 iMac or newer

Late 2009 MacBook or MacBook (Retina) or newer

Mid-2010 MacBook Pro or newer

Late 2010 MacBook Air or newer

Mid-2010 Mac Mini or newer

Mid-2010 Mac Pro or newer

2017 iMac Pro

Keep in mind that if you are wanting to take advantage of the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) benefits posed by macOS High Sierra, you are going to need a Mac containing, at the very least, an Intel sixth-generation Skylake processor.

If you have any questions related to this topic, please do not hesitate to give us a call here at Frankenstein Computers, we are always happy to assist any way we can!

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Plus, when you are writing emails, the app now allows split view for the compose window – and it will use up to 35% less disk space as well.