Apple's macOS 27 Golden Gate introduces a much-needed adjustment to the user interface with the introduction of a Liquid Glass slider, allowing users to customize the level of transparency. This marks a significant shift from the overly transparent design of Liquid Glass, which was initially introduced on iOS. The author expresses relief at this change, as the new slider provides a more balanced and less distracting experience, especially when compared to the harsh gray and black backgrounds introduced by the Reduce Transparency option in Accessibility settings.
The design improvements extend beyond Liquid Glass, with the return of edge-to-edge sidebars and colorful icons, a move that the author welcomes as a step back to a more intuitive and space-efficient design. However, the author also highlights some minor drawbacks, such as the less legible battery icon and the lack of refinement in window snapping features, which still falls short of the capabilities offered by Windows 11.
The article also touches on the performance improvements promised by Apple, particularly in terms of faster search indexing and improved memory and CPU usage. While early testing on the MacBook Neo suggests some improvements, the author remains skeptical about the impact of Siri AI integration into Spotlight, which they believe may not be as revolutionary as Apple suggests.
Overall, the author concludes by expressing a positive outlook on the overall improvements in macOS 27, particularly the UI adjustments and performance enhancements. However, they also emphasize the need for Apple to deliver on the new AI features, indicating a cautious optimism as they await further beta releases and the final release of the operating system.
