Catalina Key Features and Impact
Apple’s evolutionary progress of macOS continues. macOS 10.15 Catalina adds a number of features to push the platform into the future and break from the past. Many of these new features will be welcomed but could see some initial integration challenges. Apple continues to do an exceptional job of constantly improving and evolving macOS without a disruptive revolution (think Windows 7 to 8). Yet, even these evolutionary steps can impact workflow and productivity. Here is a brief list of the features that will impact Carbon customers the most.
As always, Carbon recommends restraint and making informed decisions when workflow is at stake. Just because a new operating system is released does not mean it is right for your environment. Careful consideration must be made before jumping into Catalina, especially for customers relying on older software. There is no award given to the first person to install a new operating system. Value stability and consistency over the lure of new features that you likely will not use.
If you are a managed service customer, have no fear. Carbon has you covered. If you are self-managing, please know your environment. Don’t rush into the upgrade without considering your application stack. Ask Carbon for guidance. Don’t be shy.
Carbon’s official recommendation is to hold off installation of Catalina at this time. Carbon will provide future guidance when we deem Catalina deployment ready.
The END of 32bit apps – Really this time. Not kidding! This is serious.
Apple began the transition to 64-bit processing in June 2003 with the release of the PowerMac G5. Operating system support began in 2005 with command-line 64-bit support in OS X 10.4. 64-bit application support was introduced in 2007 with the release of OS X 10.5. OS X 10.6 introduced the 64-bit kernel. And since OS X 10.8 in 2012, Apple has been encouraging all developers to deliver all software as 64-bit. The writing has been on the wall… in REALLY BIG letters. Developers have had 16 years to prepare for this day. And the day is here!
But what does this mean for me?
Installing Catalina will cause all 32-bit applications to STOP working. If you are still using Adobe CS 6, don’t upgrade to Catalina. Still using Office 2011? Don’t upgrade. If you have older products that are vital to your workflow, can’t be upgraded, or have been discontinued, do not upgrade to Catalina. While Adobe Creative Suite and older versions of Office are the most common older applications, be aware that your Quicken 2007 will not work, nor will those old Macromedia titles you keep squirreled away on your Mac. If you have older software, DO NOT UPGRADE to Catalina. Stay on Mojave and enjoy continued security updates until the Fall of 2021.
If you are curious to discover how many 32-bit applications are still on your machine, use Terminal and run this command:
system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType | grep -B 6 -A 2 "(Intel): No" The move to all 64-bit is long overdue. Application developers should have converted products long ago. While many will lambast Apple for this move it is the right move. If you are using older software, stay on your current OS. Just make sure you are on 10.13 or 10.14 (if possible) to continue getting security updates.
Dedicated System Volume
APFS is Apple’s new, unified file system used across all products. From the Apple Watch to the upcoming Mac Pro, one file system runs at the foundation of all products. APFS is the replacement to the HFS+ file system released in 1998 which was an extension to the HFS file system released in 1985!!! The new file system offers Apple many exciting new capabilities.
While the migration to APFS was completed with the release of Mojave, starting with Catalina, Apple taps into the new feature set by extending System Integrity Protection (SIP) to isolate macOS onto its own volume. This will separate the operating system from user data and user installed applications. This is in line with iOS and is a step closer to ensuring malware can’t infect macOS (the OS volume can only be editing by Apple).
This may also open up features like “Reset all Contents and Settings” like on iOS devices. This will be the ultimate feature for supervised Macs, allowing organizations with MDMs to rapidly reset hardware when staff turns over. I am ready for this feature now!
However, Carbon remains cautious. Apple is modifying the file system and that is where your data lives. All systems upgraded to Catalina will experience the creation of the new system volume and the possible relocation of user data. For example, if you store content at the root of your drive, that data will be moved during the upgrade to Catalina. After the upgrade completes, look for the “Relocated Items” alias on the admin’s Desktop. Make sure you have a backup of your important data before upgrading. Apple’s track record for making File System changes has been stellar. But errors can occur. Don’t risk your data. Don’t jeopardize your workflow. Make a backup before upgrading.
Enhanced Security – The parade of authorization windows
Everyone’s initial user experience with Catalina will be periodically interrupted by authorization windows. Yep, it is the mini revenge of Windows Vista. Want to access your contacts? You must allow. Want to download a file? You must allow. Want to backup your data? You must allow. This is all part of the expansion of Apple’s Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) feature. It is intended to make users aware of their actions and the actions being performed by the software they install and run. For example, if you download some software that makes file archives, there is a good chance it should not be requesting access to your contacts. In the past, you would have no idea what one application was doing in the background. This was the root of many privacy and data exploits. The overall purpose is to expose the bad actors and bad software, keeping users data safe and private.
However, my concern with the over abundance of authorization windows is that users will become complacent and conditioned to simply accept without understanding the message. At some point in the future, when something truly malicious appears on your Mac, you may simply approve it because that has been what you’ve done all along and it was fine. The purpose of TCC is honorable, but the implementation will start as obnoxious and likely move to irrelevant.
Beyond the changes to TCC, Apple continues to clean up and lock down macOS. With the release of Catalina we will see notarization of apps delivered from outside the App Store, activation lock in macOS, and the continued restriction of 3rd party kernel extensions. These are all measures to better secure your Mac from malware, theft, and instability. While each of these will be seen as a positive in the long term, app notarization and the deprecation of 3rd party kernel extensions may limit the adoption of Catalina in many environments.
As with the warnings above regarding the move to a pure 64 bit operating system, check compatibility before upgrading! If you are using older software or open source software, delay your adoption of Catalina until the software developer notarizes their apps. If you are using software that requires a kernel extension, reach out to the developer and confirm compatibility.
Sidecar
One of the most interesting new features coming in Catalina is a companion feature that works in conjunction with an iPad running iPadOS. Apple has made it clear that macOS devices and iOS devices have unique use cases and objectives. Apple’s goal is to keep the devices and the operating systems separate. (However, Catalyst allows iOS apps to run on macOS and is an example of a merger between the platforms, so who knows what the future really holds.) Sidecar, is an interesting twist that brings the benefits of iOS to macOS, namely touch and Apple Pencil input, by allowing an iPad to become a touch-capable monitor for macOS.
But just because you have an iPad and upgraded your Mac to Catalina does not mean you can use the new feature. You will need one of the following Macs in order to access the Sidecar:
27-inch iMac (Late 2015 or newer)
iMac Pro
MacBook Pro (2016 or newer)
MacBook Air (2018)
12-inch MacBook (early 2016 or newer)
Mac mini (2018)
Mac Pro (2019)
That is a relatively small list of devices and does not include all Catalina supported Macs. Regardless, Sidecar may become an indispensable extension for graphic designers, photographers, and video editors who are looking to enhance pen input beyond what a Wacom tablet can provide.
Conclusion - Protect Your Workflow
To conclude, Carbon is excited by Catalina and the positive changes it will bring to the Mac platform. However, early adoption is not recommended. Be smart. Stay productive. Catalina will be waiting for you when it matures.