New macOS Update
Your MacBook just got a major upgrade with macOS 15.4 , and it’s packed with new features that could revolutionize your day-to-day digital life. But here’s where things get interesting: the most notable change isn’t what you think. While Apple has made a lot of noise about the AI-powered Memories videos in the Photos app, it’s actually the new Mail app that’s getting the most attention—and not necessarily for the right reasons. Because while this update promises to make your inbox smarter, it may actually make managing email more complex than ever before.
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Apple Intelligence in the Photos app
Let’s start with one of the most eye-catching new features: Apple Intelligence in the Photos app. This feature brings a new dimension to your photo library by automatically creating short highlight videos of important moments, like birthdays or vacations. But the real news is that you can now trigger these memories yourself by issuing specific prompts.
The power of this feature lies in the details. The more specific your prompt, the better the results. You can name people and pets your Photos app already knows about, specify a specific time period or location, and even suggest a style of music. This makes the generated videos feel truly personal, and often brings back photos you may have long forgotten about.
Of course, these auto-generated videos aren’t perfect, but Apple has thought of that too. You can easily customize your videos by changing the music, adding a filter, rearranging the order of photos and videos, or even removing or adding certain frames. This flexibility means you can make the final video your own. And the icing on the cake is that you can export these memories and share them with anyone you want.
Minor updates in macOS 15.4
In addition to this major update to the Photos app, macOS 15.4 also brings a number of smaller, but no less interesting, improvements. In the Passwords app, for example, a new timer has been added next to two-factor authentication codes, so you'll know exactly when they're about to expire. And for emoji lovers, seven new emoticons have been added to the repertoire.
Apple has also not been sitting still in the area of personalization. There is a new wallpaper available, inspired by the Sky Blue MacBook Air. In addition, the Quick Start function, which we already know from iPhone and iPad, is now also available for Mac. This makes setting up a new Mac much easier by automatically transferring all your settings and iCloud account.
Apple Intelligence functionality has been expanded to eight new languages, including French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, German, Korean and Chinese. This makes the feature accessible to a much wider audience. The Image Playground app has also been upgraded with a new 'sketch' style, which combines particularly well with the Notes app.
Revamped Mail app
But the biggest change—and perhaps most controversial—is the all-new Mail app. Apple has used artificial intelligence to automatically sort your inbox into four categories: Primary (for your most important emails), Transactions, Updates (mainly newsletters), and Promotions. In theory, this sounds like a great way to declutter your inbox, but in practice, it doesn’t always work smoothly.
Many users, myself included, find that they now have to check four separate inboxes to make sure they don’t miss important emails. Additionally, the AI isn’t always accurate at categorizing emails, meaning that crucial messages can sometimes end up in the wrong category, potentially leading to missed deadlines or other issues.
Fortunately, Apple does provide options to customize this new feature or even disable it altogether. You can choose to stay in the All Mail tab permanently or turn off categorization entirely via the View menu. If you still want to use the feature but want to improve it, you can “train” the AI by manually moving emails to the correct category. Future emails from the same sender will then automatically end up in that category.
Conclusion
All in all, macOS 15.4 brings a mix of exciting new features and potentially controversial changes. The improvements to the Photos app and a number of smaller updates will undoubtedly be welcomed by many users. The new Mail app, on the other hand, may require a little more patience and adjustment from users. It’s clear that Apple is pushing deeper into AI integration across its operating system, which presents exciting possibilities for the future, but also brings challenges around usability and privacy.
As a Mac user, it’s worth exploring this update and experimenting with the new features. Who knows, you might discover a new way of working that increases your productivity or simplifies your digital life. And for those interested in even more AI capabilities on their Mac, there are apparently 21 other AI features to discover in this update.
Conclusion
macOS 15.4 brings a wave of AI-powered innovation to your Mac, from intelligent photo reminders to an automated inbox. While some features, like the new Mail categorization, may take some getting used to, these updates open up a world of possibilities for using your Mac more efficiently and creatively. Whether you’re an avid photographer eager to experiment with the new Photos app or a pro looking for ways to manage the inbox, there’s something for everyone in this update.
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