Fall has arrived, and for Apple, it’s the time of year to turn the announcements made during the summer into reality. The Worldwide Developers Conference is now four months behind us, and the interim beta versions have given us the opportunity to explore macOS Monterey and iOS and iPadOS 15. While the major updates for iPhone and iPad are already publicly available, we won’t have to wait much longer for the ones coming to the Mac. Let us take you through what’s new in macOS Monterey.
FaceTime: Enhancements for Remote Work
Remote work is here to stay, and Apple is addressing this with macOS Monterey. Innovations in FaceTime, for example, make the app more suitable for business use. In addition to a more professional-looking interface, it is now possible to join a meeting from Windows or Android devices, and an Apple ID is no longer a must-have requirement.
Adding Mac Computers to Apple Business Manager
Automatic device enrollment with Apple Business Manager allows users to get started right away while the company maintains an inventory overview. Have Mac computers that are not yet listed in Apple Business Manager? There’s good news! With macOS Monterey, you can add modern Mac models yourself. This includes Intel computers with the Apple T2 Security Chip and all computers with Apple’s own chip.
‘It Works Like Magic,’ as Apple Would Say
Instead of a magic wand, all you need is an iPhone with the new Apple Configurator 2 app, logged in with your Apple Business Manager account that has at least the Device Administrator role. By holding the iPhone close to a Mac running macOS Monterey, which displays the configuration assistant, scanning the visual code on the screen will register the Mac. It’s just a matter of assigning the Mac to the desired MDM and restarting.
Erase All Content and Settings
Mac computers may change users from time to time, often requiring a reinstallation of macOS. macOS Monterey makes this process easier. With the new “Erase All Content and Settings” feature, you can quickly restore a Mac to factory settings, allowing someone else to use it. This feature can also be applied remotely via MDM and, of course, can be blocked if its use is unwanted. This feature is also coming to Mac computers with the T2 chip and Apple Silicon. By including the computers in Apple Business Manager, you can ensure that they will be reconnected to the MDM after using this feature.
Managing System Extensions and Kernel Extensions
Since 2019, System Extensions have been the modern form of Kernel Extensions, allowing for the addition of functionalities to the macOS operating system. They are used, for example, to install elements for web filtering or real-time security. The new form does not require access to macOS kernel, making it safer to use.
The new “RemovableSystemExtension” feature allows an app to clean up its own System Extensions when the app is removed. This is particularly useful for computers without an administrator.
In macOS Monterey, the new MDM command “KextPaths” can activate a Kernel Extension that was not yet detected by the operating system. This eliminates the need for the user to open the related app before restarting the Mac to allow the Kernel Extension to function.
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