macOS 10.12 Sierra is an operating system that was designed and developed by Apple from 2016 to 2017 alongside Apple’s personal computers. The system has been released on September 20, 2016, and was available for Free from Mac App Store, or was preinstalled on currently sold computers. This software gets the last update (10.12.6) on July 19, 2017, and later has been replaced by a newer version macOS 10.13 High Sierra.
Sierra is the first version of macOS since OS X Mountain Lion, released in 2012, that does not run on all computers that the previous version supported. From now Siri is integrated into the system. Users can access it via the Dock, the menu bar, or a keyboard shortcut, and results are shown with an interface in the upper-right corner.
Siri can send messages, search the web, find files, and adjust settings. Results are interactive and can be dropped into other applications or pinned to Notification Center. For instance, pictures from search results can be dragged into a document.
The Photos app now has improved face recognition. It also features object and scene recognition. It groups similar pictures together using faces, locations, and object recognition to create “memories”. Memories contain picture slideshows with transitions and music selected by the algorithm, which can be modified to the user’s liking. The People album organizes photos by the people in them, and Places shows all photos on a world map. Apple Pay allows vendors to embed an Apple Pay button in their online stores.
In Safari, users can click the Apple Pay button to checkout, then securely complete purchases using an iPhone or Apple Watch. iCloud Drive has been more tightly integrated into the OS. Users can access all files from iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows PC and on iCloud.com.
Optimized Storage can free up storage space. When storage space is low, it automatically uploads old files, photos, movies, and email attachments to iCloud and makes them available on demand. Files that are recently created and recent photos stay on the Mac to allow quick access.
Optimized Storage also allows finding and removing files or apps. Apps that support multiple windows will support multiple tabs within a single window, allowing the user to keep windows organized similarly to Safari. When users approach their Mac while wearing an Apple Watch, they will automatically be logged in to their desktop account.
The clipboard can be shared across nearby macOS Sierra and iOS 10 devices for cutting, copying, and pasting.
Today macOS 10.12 Sierra is 7 years old!
macOS 10.12 Sierra General Information
| Released | September 20, 2016 |
| Original Price | Free from Mac App store |
| System Requirements | iMac Late 2009 or newer MacBook Late 2009 or newer MacBook Pro Mid 2010 or newer MacBook Air Late 2010 or newer Mac mini Mid 2010 or newer Mac Pro Mid 2010 or newer 2 GB of memory 8.8 GB of available disk space OS X 10.7.5 or later |
| Distribution | Mac App Store |
Versions
| Versions | Build | Release Date |
| macOS 10.12 | 16A323 | September 20, 2016 |
| macOS 10.12.1 | 16B2555 16B2657 | October 24, 2016 |
| macOS 10.12.2 | 16C67 | December 13, 2016 |
| macOS 10.12.3 | 16D32 | January 23, 2017 |
| macOS 10.12.4 | 16E195 | March 27, 2017 |
| macOS 10.12.5 | 16F73 | May 17, 2017 |
| macOS 10.12.6 | 16G29 | July 19, 2017 |
