For our review of the new macOS Catalina update, please refer to our blog macOS Catalina May 2020 update.

This is the longest we have gone without updating our OS to the latest release. In our macOS Catalina review, we advised users to hold off on updating your devices to macOS Catalina until Apple releases a more stable version. It has been about a month and a half but many questions are still unanswered. Have the bugs been fixed? Is Catalina going to break your applications? And the most important question - Is it time to update to Catalina? Let’s check the status of the latest release to find out.

What’s the current version of mac OS Catalina?

The current version of Catalina is 10.15.1, which was released on the 29th of October 2019. The 10.15.1 update fixed some bugs and added features to the OS. 

Here’s a list of the new macOS Catalina features and bug fixes in the version 10.15.1:

• New emoji characters

• Support for AirPods Pro

• New privacy controls for Siri that lets you opt-out of sharing recordings with Apple

• Bug fixes for Photos, Messages, Contacts, Music App, among others.

• HomeKit Secure Video Support

• Support for AirPlay 2-enabled speakers

Are there more mac OS Catalina Updates Coming?

On the 13th of November, Apple brought out the second macOS Catalina beta of the upcoming 10.15.2 update. This came a week after the first beta and two weeks after the launch of the macOS Catalina 10.15.1 update. You can download macOS Catalina beta if you have signed up for Apple’s beta program. It appears that Apple is working hard to fix the issues with macOS Catalina.

We still don’t know what improvements the second update brings to macOS Catalina. But we believe it will focus on bug fixes, performance improvements, and security updates that weren’t addressed in the macOS 10.15.1 update.

A software, especially something as complex as an operating system, can never really be free of bugs. Apple did a major overhaul of its OS removing the 32-bit app support and making changes in data protection and security. So it is very likely that there will be more updates coming soon.

So, is it safe to upgrade to mac OS Catalina now?

The macOS 10.15.1 update still has some bugs, specifically in the disk permission issues with various applications. You may get used to the security notifications pop-ups and terminal reminders. But the lack of a 32-Bit subsystem can still be a real problem, especially in areas where you least expect it. For example, printer drivers that can no longer be installed. 

Although it has been pretty stable on our test MacBooks, there are still a lot of apps that aren't compatible. So the verdict on whether to update your device to macOS Catalina or not is still the same. Sit out for now and wait for a more stable version.

Whether your device has the latest OS or not, there are always ways to improve the performance the health and performance of your Macs. Check out these 9 tips and tricks that will help improve the health and performance of your Mac computer.

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