aApple yesterday released its latest update for macOS Big Sur with enhanced Bluetooth reliability and a handful of bug fixes. And today, it is launching the first beta of macOS Big Sur 11.3, which will bring further refinements to Safari, Reminders, Apple Music, Apple News and other applications. This update will also try to improve the experience of running applications for iPhone and iPad on Macs M1, which can still be a little awkward at this early stage (and without a touchscreen).
IPadOS apps will now look bigger than before – if screen size allows – and beta testers will find a new preference panel for iPhone and iPad apps that will allow them to better customize “touch alternative” keyboard commands. Touch alternatives allow “keyboard alternatives for touch, swipe and drag gestures, and allow multiple finger gestures using the option key and a trackpad”.
Big Sur 11.3 will make Safari’s homepage more customizable, allowing you to rearrange the different sections (favorites, reading list, Siri suggestions, etc.) according to your preference. Developers will gain the ability to make extensions that run on the new tab page and can also take advantage of a new web voice API to integrate speech recognition into their web pages.
As for the Reminders app, you can sort your reminders based on their title, due date, priority or creation date. And with this update, Apple will allow you to easily print your reminders if a printout can be useful when rushing to the store or completing other tasks.
Apple Music receives minor adjustments, such as a shortcut to your personalized “Made for you” playlists and mixes. Special live and upcoming events will also be highlighted on the For You tab. The Apple News app is experiencing some design improvements on the Apple News Plus tab to make your magazines and newspapers easier to reach (and download).
And as the next update to iOS 14.5, macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds support for the latest Xbox and PlayStation DualSense controllers; the same compatibility is coming to Apple mobile devices as part of iOS 14.5.