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When to Expect Apple to Release macOS 12.1 With SharePlay and More

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Apple released macOS Monterey in late October, but we are still waiting on several promised features such as SharePlay and Universal Control to be made available through subsequent software updates like macOS 12.1, which is currently in beta testing.

macOS-Monterey-on-MBP-Feature.jpg

The first macOS 12.1 beta enabled SharePlay on the Mac, allowing developers to prepare their apps to support the feature. SharePlay, which is already available in iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, and tvOS 15.1, will allow users to watch movies and TV shows with friends and family while on a FaceTime call, and even share their screens.

When Will macOS 12.1 Be Released?

Apple has released several previous macOS updates in early-to-mid December:
  • macOS Big Sur 11.1: December 14, 2020
  • macOS Catalina 10.15.2: December 10, 2019
  • macOS Mojave 10.14.2: December 5, 2018
  • macOS High Sierra 10.13.2: December 6, 2017
  • macOS Sierra 10.12.2: December 13, 2016
  • OS X El Capitan 10.11.2: December 8, 2015
In mid-November, Apple shared a press release stating that SharePlay is coming to the Mac later this fall, and given that SharePlay was enabled in the macOS 12.1 beta, this altogether implies that macOS 12.1 will be released before the end of the year.

From the press release:
SharePlay, a powerful set of features for shared experiences while on a FaceTime call, has introduced new ways for Apple users to stay connected. With SharePlay support in Apple TV+, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness+ — as well as many of the most popular apps like NBA, TikTok, Twitch, Paramount+, and SHOWTIME — users can watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, or complete a workout with friends together on a FaceTime call. SharePlay extends to Apple TV so users can watch on the big screen while using FaceTime on iPhone or iPad. With screen sharing support, users can also browse the web together, look at photos, or show their friends something in a favorite app. SharePlay is available with the release of iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, and tvOS 15.1, and is coming to Mac later this fall.
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It remains unclear if macOS 12.1 will include Universal Control, which will allow for a single mouse, trackpad, and keyboard to be used across multiple Macs and/or iPads side by side. Apple's website continues to list Universal Control as "available later this fall," but the feature has still not been enabled as of the latest macOS 12.1 beta. Universal Control settings can be force enabled with a feature flag, however, so it is clear that Apple is working on the feature behind the scenes and so it could still launch this year.

Other new macOS Monterey features include AirPlay to Mac, Quick Note, Live Text, a Shortcuts app, spatial audio in FaceTime, and more.

Article Link: When to Expect Apple to Release macOS 12.1 With SharePlay and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/12/01/macos-12-1-release-date-expectations/
I’m excited to upgrade to Monterey but my Mac needs to be stable, so that’s why I am skippping .0 releases nowadays (or .0.1 in this case). I installed Big Sur on the day of release because I loved the new look, but that was an exception.
 
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eroyce said:
Not adding anything to the discussion, just wanted to thank you for posting this article- I was just trying to figure out when to expect 12.1 (I'm still sitting at Big Sur waiting for the .1 before upgrading) and poof, there is exactly what I was searching for.
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Almost exactly the same. I had been contemplating 12.0.1 but will continue to wait. It isn't important to me - but had wanted to be ahead of someone who has a MacBook Pro on order (so as to be helpful, if needed).
 
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eroyce said:
Not adding anything to the discussion, just wanted to thank you for posting this article- I was just trying to figure out when to expect 12.1 (I'm still sitting at Big Sur waiting for the .1 before upgrading) and poof, there is exactly what I was searching for.
Click to expand...
The article doesn’t say much. Basically it will be by the end of the year, but we know this already.
 
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I wonder if this version is the right one to jump into Monterey, if I should wait a bit longer until macOS 12.2. What do you think, beta testers? Is 12.1 stable enough compared to macOS 11.6.1?
 
The current stable version has a lot of Notch related issues for the new Macbooks. We've been waiting very patiently for those issue related fixes. Ideally they should fixed them with a minor release.
 
What you shouldn't expect is a fix for the USB issues. Enumeration and mounting is sill 10x slower than big sur (but at least you can erase drives now).
 
jz0309 said:
I don't care about new features, fix the bugs! tap to click is broken and will roll back to Big Sur if it doesn't get fixed
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Exactly, I want an Apple iMac with a fully functional (always) working Magic Mouse 2. Not that I have fiddle with BT settings and the on/off switch of the mouse to get scrolling working again each time it returns from sleep mode.
 
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I’m hoping that macOS 12.1 will get released in January or February they have fixed some bugs but many are still there.
 
Populus said:
I wonder if this version is the right one to jump into Monterey, if I should wait a bit longer until macOS 12.2. What do you think, beta testers? Is 12.1 stable enough compared to macOS 11.6.1?
Click to expand...

I would wait another .1 version. Monterrey is worse than Big Sur at the moment. Don't think it has compelling features to update.
 
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Really surprising to see Apple doing any updates in December. Most companies pause all releases this time of year. No one wants to have bugs around the holidays when people take time off. Most IT departments pause deployment of everything but critical updates too. Don't want to make people work on Christmas Day for something that could have waited a couple days/weeks extra for release.
 
Macintosh TV said:
Really surprising to see Apple doing any updates in December. Most companies pause all releases this time of year. No one wants to have bugs around the holidays when people take time off. Most IT departments pause deployment of everything but critical updates too. Don't want to make people work on Christmas Day for something that could have waited a couple days/weeks extra for release.
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Nah, mid december is the stop
 
Macintosh TV said:
Really surprising to see Apple doing any updates in December. Most companies pause all releases this time of year. No one wants to have bugs around the holidays when people take time off. Most IT departments pause deployment of everything but critical updates too. Don't want to make people work on Christmas Day for something that could have waited a couple days/weeks extra for release.
Click to expand...
A friend of mine and I have worked on New Year’s Day (in a big company). ?‍♂️
 
Where I've tested 12.0.1 the main issue I've discovered is that it seems to struggle with having a lot of US devices plugged in. I've about 20 different devices plugged in and it can't see them all, but if I move missing ones to different socket then they'll come back. It's a bit of an odd thing
 
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