Skip to main content

MacOS Catalina to launch in October despite absence at Apple keynote

Photo of MacOS Catalina Photos screen
Apple Newsroom/Apple, Inc.

Apple didn’t mention MacOS Catalina at all during its September Special Event keynote, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a newsworthy update regarding the upcoming operating system. Apple has apparently chosen to release the stable version of its latest MacOS in October 2019 — according to an updated version of its MacOS Catalina webpage. Note that the webpage update for MacOS Catalina only says the operating system will be available by the month of October. An actual, full release date has not yet been specified.

While Apple opted to not divulge any new details about MacOS Catalina during its September 10 Special Event keynote, a few new developments that involved Macs were mentioned. First, a new subscription gaming service known as Apple Arcade will be available for Macs in addition to other Apple devices. Apple Arcade will be available beginning on September 19 in 150 countries worldwide. The subscription cost will be $4.99 per month, per family and a 1 month free trial will be offered at launch.

Second, the Apple TV+ subscription service will also be available for Macs. The Special Event keynote said that the first few movies would be available on the service starting on November 1. This subscription will also be $4.99 per month, per family. Notably, those who purchase a new Mac or other qualifying Apple device will also get a year-long Apple TV+ subscription for free included with that purchase. This deal starts on September 10.

MacOS Catalina Hands-on | Macbook Pro
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

At WWDC 2019, Apple announced Catalina and introduced us to a number of new features and revealed the demise of a beloved app, iTunes. During this announcement, the technology company unveiled a trio of new media apps that will act as the joint successor to iTunes. These apps are Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts.

In addition, Catalina offers second screen support, a Mac version of Screen Time, and an updated Photos app. The second screen support feature in Catalina is known as Sidecar and this feature essentially allows Mac users to use iPads as a second screen (read: external monitor and drawing tablet) for their Macs.  The Screen Time app on Catalina lets Mac users control and set App Limits for across all Apple devices a given user has.  And finally, Catalina version of the Photos app, comes with a few new updates including a machine learning-driven feature that highlights important life events (and their photos and videos).

Once MacOS Catalina is officially released in October, you should be able to download the update for free via the Mac App Store.

Editors' Recommendations

Anita George
Anita has been a technology reporter since 2013 and currently writes for the Computing section at Digital Trends. She began…
This devious scam app proves that Macs aren’t bulletproof
A close-up of a MacBook illuminated under neon lights.

Pirated software can cause all kinds of headaches, but Mac users might have thought themselves largely immune thanks to Apple’s reputation for solid security. Yet, that complacency could prove quite problematic, as a new strain of nearly undetectable malware has shown.

According to research from security firm Jamf Threat Labs, pirated versions of Apple’s Final Cut Pro moviemaking app have been modified to contain cryptojacking payloads. When installed, the app starts using your Mac to mine the Monero cryptocurrency behind your back, potentially slowing down your machine as system resources are illegitimately gobbled up.

Read more
This major Apple bug could let hackers steal your photos and wipe your device
A physical lock placed on a keyboard to represent a locked keyboard.

Apple’s macOS and iOS are often considered to be more secure than their rivals, but that doesn’t make them invulnerable. One security team recently proved that by showing how hackers could exploit Apple’s systems to access your messages, location data, and photos -- and even wipe your device entirely.

The discoveries were published on the blog of security research firm Trellix, and will be of major concern to iOS and macOS users alike, since the vulnerabilities can be exploited on both operating systems. Trellix explains that Apple patched the exploits in macOS 13.2 and iOS 16.3, which were released in January 2023, so you should update your devices as soon as you can.

Read more
Ranking the best (and worst) versions of macOS from the last 20 years
An Apple iMac from 2019 placed on a desk. The macOS Mojave operating system is on its display.

Apple’s macOS operating system is known for its stability and features, but it wasn’t always this way. Throughout the history of macOS (and OS X before it), there have been some real stinkers that Apple would probably rather we all forgot about. Yet there have also been some classic versions that still live fondly in the memories of Mac users new and old.

In this article, we’ve picked five of the best versions of Apple’s Mac operating system, as well as five of its worst, presented in chronological order. We’ve started with the launch of OS X 10.0 in 2001 and continued right up to the present, past the operating system’s rebranding as macOS in 2016. If Windows is your speed, we've also ranked the best Windows versions of all time. Let’s explore Apple’s greatest hits -- and some of its worst howlers.
Worst: OS X 10.0 Cheetah (2001)

Read more