Just days after the release of macOS Monterey 12.1 with the delayed release of SharePlay, Apple released the first beta of 12.2, which will be released on Mac next year. While Apple has yet to introduce any new features or fixes in the update, a report suggests that Apple is planning a late overhaul of the Music app.
According to marvelous hydra on twitter (via 9to5Mac), Apple is creating “a native Apple Music experience supported by AppKit views instead of web views” in macOS 12.2. Ever since Apple divided iTunes into disparate apps in macOS Catalina, it’s essentially about glorified web apps with less than stellar user experiences.
As 9to5Mac reports, Apple previously switched the TV app to a native Mac app using AppKit in macOS 12.1, which allows for faster scrolling and searching and a smoother overall experience. That some responsiveness should come to the Music app in macOS 12.2.
It’s unclear why Apple has waited so long to rebuild their media apps or if there’s a reason they’re coming as updates and not as part of the original macOS 12 release.
How to install the beta
If you want to test new versions of macOS Monterey before they’re released, you can sign up for Apple’s public beta. Once you’ve signed up or signed in, click the macOS tab, then click the Register your Mac link under Get started. Then follow the prompts to download the macOS Beta Public Access utility that will enroll your Mac in the program. Finally, run Software Update to download and install the latest beta.
Michael Simon has covered Apple since the iPod was iWalk. His obsession with technology dates back to his first PC, the IBM Thinkpad with the pop-up keyboard to replace the reader. He’s still waiting for it to come back in style.
