The release candidate version of the upcoming macOS Monterey 12.1 update was released today by Apple for testing purposes, with the new software coming a week after the fourth and final public preview and a month after the official release of macOS Monterey.
After the appropriate profile is installed, the macOS Monterey 12.1 beta will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
SharePlay is available on Macs for the first time. SharePlay is a new feature that lets you watch TV, listen to music, and play games with friends and family members over the internet.
SharePlay allows all kinds of apps to work with FaceTime, with content sync for all people who are part of the call. You can use Apple Music to listen to music, watch shows and movies together, and even share your screen for things like group trip planning.
Apple designed SharePlay to work with first-party app options like Apple TV, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Music, but there's also anAPI for developers so third-party apps can also use SharePlay FaceTime features for games and other experiences.
The Monterey 12.1 update brings Macs in line with other Apple devices, because SharePlay is already available in the release versions of iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS.
The full release notes for the operating system.
SharePlay is an entirely new way to have shared experiences with family and friends. This update also includes the Apple Music Voice Plan, new safety features for children and parents in Messages, and other features and bug fixes for your Mac.
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SharePlay.
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SharePlay is a new way to share experiences with other people in the same room.
Everyone has the ability to pause, play, or fast forward with shared controls.
When you or your friends speak, smart volume lowers the audio of a movie, TV show or song.
Screen sharing allows everyone on a call to look at photos, browse the web or help each other out.
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The Apple Music Voice Plan is available.
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Apple Music Voice Plan is a new subscription tier that gives you access to all songs, stations, and playlists in Apple Music using your voice.
Just ask and it will suggest music based on your listening history.
You can access a list of your recently played music with Play it Again.
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Photos.
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A new interactive interface, new animation and transition styles, and multiple image collages have been added to Memories.
Additional international holidays, child-focused memories, trends over time, and improved pet memories are some of the new memory types.
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There are messages.
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Parents can enable warnings for children when they receive or send nude photos.
Safety warnings can help children when they receive nudity in photos.
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Search with the help of the virtual assistant, "Siri."
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Children and parents can get help with unsafe situations with the help of the expanded guidance in the Spotlight and Safari Search.
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Apple ID.
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Digital Legacy allows you to designate people as Legacy Contacts so they can access your account in the event of your death.
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The TV App is available for download.
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You can browse, buy, and rent movies and TV shows in one place.
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Enhancements for your Mac are included in this release.
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Hide My Email is available in the Mail app for iCloud+ subscribers.
You can see the currency for a ticker and the year-to-date performance on charts with stocks.
Reminders and Notes now allow you to change tags.
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Bug fixes for your Mac are included in this release.
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After selecting photos from the Photos library, the screen saver may appear blank.
Trackpad could become unresponsive to taps or clicks.
External displays may not charge some MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers.
There is a chance that 2021, MacBook Pro computers will panic because of the high definition video on YouTube.com.
Menu bar extras may be hidden by the camera housing.
When the lid is closed and the system is shut down, MagSafe may stop charging 16-inch MacBook Pro computers.
