Wilson - MacOS Fundamentals: Big Sur Edition: The Step-by-step Guide to Using your Mac (Computer Fundamentals Book 2)

MacOS Fundamentals

Big Sur Edition

Kevin Wilson

MacOS Fundamentals: Big Sur Edition

Copyright 2020 Elluminet Press

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publishers location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from the Publisher. Permissions for use may be obtained through Rights Link at the Copyright Clearance Centre. Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law.

Trademarked names, logos, and images may appear in this book. Rather than use a trademark symbol with every occurrence of a trademarked name, logo, or image we use the names, logos, and images only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark.

The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights.

While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein.

iStock.com/golibo, PeopleImages, ymgerman. Photo 130859010 Kaspars Grinvalds - Dreamstime.com. Photo 103557713 Konstantin Kolosov - Dreamstime.com. Yuri Arcurs via Getty Images

Publisher: Elluminet Press

Director: Kevin Wilson

Lead Editor: Steven Ashmore

Technical Reviewer: Mike Taylor, Robert Ashcroft

Copy Editors: Joanne Taylor, James Marsh

Proof Reader: Steven Ashmore

Indexer: James Marsh

Cover Designer: Kevin Wilson

eBook versions and licenses are also available for most titles. Any source code or other supplementary materials referenced by the author in this text is available to readers at

www.elluminetpress.com/resources

For detailed information about how to locate your books resources, go to

www.elluminetpress.com/resources

Table of Contents

With over years experience in the computer industry, Kevin Wilson has made a career out of technology and showing others how to use it. After earning a masters degree in computer science, software engineering, and multimedia systems, Kevin has held various positions in the IT industry including graphic & web design, building & managing corporate networks, training, and IT support.

He currently serves as Elluminet Press LTDs senior writer and director, he periodically teaches computer science at college in South Africa and serves as an IT trainer in England. His books have become a valuable resource among the students in England, South Africa and our partners in the United States.

Kevins motto is clear: If you cant explain something simply, then you havent understood it well enough. To that end, he has created the Computer Fundamentals Series, in which he breaks down complex technological subjects into smaller, easy-to-follow steps that students and ordinary computer users can put into practice.

About the Author

Thanks to all the staff at Luminescent Media & Elluminet Press for their passion, dedication and hard work in the preparation and production of this book.

To all my friends and family for their continued support and encouragement in all my writing projects.

To all my colleagues, students and testers who took the time to test procedures and offer feedback on the book

Finally thanks to you the reader for choosing this book. I hope it helps you to use your mac with greater understanding.

Have fun!

Acknowledgements

Named after the rugged region of the Central Coast of California, MacOS Big Sur moves to version 11.0, and is the seventeenth major release of Apples desktop operating system for Macintosh computers.

According to Apple, the following Macs will be able to run MacOS Big Sur:

MacBook (2015 and later)

MacBook Air (2013 and later)

MacBook Pro (Late 2013 and later)

Mac mini (2014 and later)

iMac (2014 and later)

iMac Pro (2017 and later)

Mac Pro (2013 and later)

Keep this in mind if youre upgrading from a previous version of MacOS.

MacOS Big Sur

Whats New?

Version introduces a revamped user interface. Windows now have a curved design around the edges with a lighter, more spacious look.

The dock has been moved off the bottom of the screen and the icons have a more uniform curved shape, similar to that found on an iPhone or iPad.

Control Center has been redesigned to incorporate menu bar items into a single place giving you instant access to commonly used controls such as wi-fi, bluetooth devices, display brightness and volume.

Notification Center puts all your notifications and widgets into a single place.

There are also new widgets for Calendar, Stocks, Weather, Reminders, Notes, and Podcasts.

The menu bar along the top of the screen is translucent, and menus are a bit larger with more space separating the commands making them easier to read.

Safari has had a few improvements. There is a new start page you can customise, launch your favourite sites, see frequently visited websites and check your reading list.

A new dedicated category in the App Store makes it easy to find and install extensions in Safari.

With the redesigned Maps App you can create guides, discover new places, find indoor maps, and share them with friends and family.

You can also explore certain cities in 3D with the look around feature.

System sounds have been updated with new system alerts that sound familiar. Software updates now download in the background and complete faster than before.

Also various other minor changes. Youll find a full list on Apples website.

www.apple.com/macos/big-sur/features/