Meet the latest version of macOS

Take Control of
Ventura

Joe Kissell

macOS 13 Ventura brings important new usability, security, and convenience features to your Mac. Learn how to upgrade your Mac from an earlier version of macOS, find your way around the new system, and make use of the interesting new capabilities such as Stage Manager, Passkeys, and even a way to use your iPhone as a webcam.

All Take Control books are delivered in two ebook formats—PDF and EPUB—and can be read on nearly any device.

Clear

macOS 13 Ventura may look a lot like its predecessor, macOS 12 Monterey, but it packs a lot of useful new features (along with some potentially confusing user interface choices). Joe Kissell once again provides a complete guide to the upgrade process, as well as an in-depth look at what’s new.

While Stage Manager provides yet another way to manage your windows, apps like Mail and Messages finally offer solutions to longstanding irritations, Continuity Camera learns some fancy new tricks, and macOS offers even more options to manage your privacy and security. Take Control of Ventura walks you through all these changes.

Buy a bundle and save! If you buy this book plus Take Control of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 at the same time, you can save 33% (pay $20.00 versus the combined cover price of $29.98). To buy the bundle, click this link or add both books to your cart and enter coupon code NEJ9CVYT at checkout.

This book teaches you things like:

  • How to tell whether your Mac is compatible with Ventura
  • Steps you should take before upgrading
  • How to perform an in-place upgrade—or do a clean install and migrate your old data from a backup
  • Adapting to the sometimes-confusing new System Settings app, which replaces System Preferences
  • Managing windows and apps with Stage Manager
  • New Mail features—undo sending a message, schedule a message, follow up on messages awaiting replies, and more
  • Editing or unsending messages in the Messages app
  • Using new Safari 16 features, such as shared tab groups and editable suggested passwords
  • Understanding passkeys, which promise to replace passwords in many places—eventually
  • How to share a Photos library with family and friends
  • Using Continuity Camera to turn your iPhone into a webcam
  • Small but interesting changes throughout macOS, such as accessibility improvements, new features in Focus and Dictation, and expanded Live Text capabilities
  • How to use the brand-new Weather app
  • Improvements to bundled apps, including FaceTime, Maps, Notes, Reminders, and more
Joe Kissell

About Joe Kissell

Take Control publisher Joe Kissell has written more than 60 books about technology, including many popular Take Control books. He formerly wrote for publications such as Macworld, Wirecutter, and TidBITS. He lives in Saskatoon with his wife, his two children, and his cat.

What’s New in Version 1.2

Version 1.2 of this book brings it up to date with changes introduced in macOS 13.1, 13.2, and 13.3, while correcting a few minor errors and adding details here and there. The most significant changes are:

  • Added a note about Rapid Security Response updates. See “Handle Software Updates.”
  • Noted that Time Machine in Ventura now lets you set a maximum size for APFS-formatted local volumes. See “General Settings.”
  • In macOS 13.1, Apple expanded searching in Messages to include objects and text in photos. See “Find More in Messages.”
  • Added more information about how SharePlay works with Messages. See “Use SharePlay with Messages.”
  • Updated “How to Create and Use a Passkey” to reflect the new user interface of the demo site.
  • Covered a new option, introduced in macOS 13.1, for encrypting more types of iCloud data. See “Advanced Data Protection.”
  • Described support for physical security keys when logging in to an Apple ID account, added in macOS 13.2. See “Security Key Support.”
  • Added a topic about Freeform, a digital whiteboard app, which was added in macOS 13.1. See “Freeform.”
  • Listed a handful of changes to Apple’s Shortcuts app in Ventura that weren’t covered in earlier versions of this book. See “Shortcuts.”

What Was New in Version 1.1

The changes between the beta versions of Ventura available when version 1.0 of this book was published and the release version of Ventura were comparatively minor, but I made the following changes in version 1.1:

  • Removed the no-longer-relevant mentions of the Ventura beta and some minor bugs that have since disappeared
  • Added a link to download Ventura from the Mac App Store (see “Obtain the Installer”)
  • Updated the description of how to configure which Control Center items appear on the menu bar (see “Manage Menu Items”)
  • Added a note in “Explore System Settings” about the new alphabetical View menu in System Settings
  • Added a brief mention of the Game Controller Settings pane in System Settings, and a corresponding mention in “Buddy Controller”
  • Replaced the image of Stage Manager’s Customize dialog with an updated version (see “Configure Stage Manager Options”)
  • Updated “Compose Messages with Rich Links” to reflect Mail’s current behavior with rich links
  • Added new information about collaboration in Messages (see “Collaborate More Easily”)
  • Included a link to the new Belkin iPhone mount (see “Position Your iPhone”)
  • Updated the discussion of changes to Game Center
  • Added a sidebar lamenting the disappearance of a promised feature; see “Hide My Email for Apps Stays Hidden”
  • Updated “Live Text” to reflect newly added capabilities
  • Explained how to add an item as a favorite in News (see “News”)
  • Read Me First
    • Updates and More
    • What’s New in Version 1.2
    • What Was New in Version 1.1
  • Introduction
  • Ventura Quick Start
  • Take In the Scenic View
    • Find Out What’s New in Ventura
    • Catch Up with macOS Changes
  • Check Your Mac for Compatibility
    • Model Support
    • RAM
    • Free Disk Space
    • Solid-State Storage
  • Upgrade to Ventura
    • Update Your Third-Party Software
    • Back Up Your Disk
    • Decide on an Installation Method
    • Make Final Preparations
    • Upgrade Using Plan A: In‑Place Upgrade
    • Upgrade Using Plan B: Clean Install
    • Perform Post-Installation Tasks
    • Troubleshoot Upgrade Problems
    • How to Downgrade macOS
  • Adapt to Ventura Changes
    • Get Your Visual Bearings
    • Explore System Settings
    • Update Your Backup Strategy
  • Discover Stage Manager
    • Enable and Use Stage Manager
    • Configure Stage Manager Options
    • Do You Really Need Stage Manager?
  • Explore New Mail Features
    • Use Smart Search
    • Undo Sending an Email Message
    • Schedule Sending a Message
    • Follow Up on Messages Awaiting Replies
    • Remind Yourself About Important Messages
    • Get Notifications for Missing Attachments and Recipients
    • Compose Messages with Rich Links
    • Check for Authenticity of Branded Messages
  • Do More with Messages
    • Edit or Unsend a Message
    • Mark a Message as Unread
    • Recover Deleted Messages
    • Collaborate More Easily
    • Find More in Messages
    • Use SharePlay with Messages
  • Meet Safari 16
    • Do More with Tab Groups
    • Sync More Stuff
    • Edit Suggested Passwords
    • Translate Live Text
    • Get System-Wide Push Notifications
  • Improve Your Security with Passkeys
    • How Passkeys Work
    • How to Create and Use a Passkey
  • Take a New Look at Photos
    • Share a Photo Library
    • Enhance Your Memories
    • Try Other New Photos Features
  • Get a Better Webcam with Continuity Camera
    • Position Your iPhone
    • Use Continuity Camera
    • Add Video Effects
    • Use Desk View
  • Discover Other System Improvements
    • Accessibility
    • Advanced Data Protection
    • Apple ID
    • Apple Pay
    • Copy Subject
    • Dictation
    • Focus
    • Game Center
    • International Features
    • Live Text
    • Memoji
    • Sidecar
    • Security Key Support
    • Siri
    • Spotlight
    • Visual Look Up
  • Explore Other App Improvements
    • Clock
    • FaceTime
    • Freeform
    • Home
    • Maps
    • Music
    • News
    • Notes
    • Reminders
    • Shortcuts
    • Stocks
    • Tips
    • Weather
  • About This Book
    • Ebook Extras
    • About the Author and Publisher
  • Also by Joe Kissell
  • Copyright and Fine Print

Joe Kissell Discusses Ventura on MacVoices

Posted by Joe Kissell on September 17, 2022

Joe Kissell joined host Chuck Joiner on MacVoices to talk about Take Control of Ventura.

In part one, Joe talks about why he thinks Ventura is a comparatively minor upgrade and what to be aware of before installing it.

In part two, Joe goes further into some of the features he likes and dislikes in Ventura and talks bout future Take Control updates (and why asking when an update is going to appear actually makes it take longer).

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