Where is Universal Access?
With the release of the fifth beta to developers and public testers earlier this week, Apple is probably about halfway through the macOS Monterey testing cycle. Our resident Mac expert Roman Loyola describes it as stable, with many of the features operating just as they should.
Except for the best one that is. Of all the features unveiled during the WWDC demo, the most intriguing was Universal Control, which lets you use your Mac’s keyboard and trackpad to control a nearby iPad. Had there been an audience during Craig Federighi’s demo there would have been oohs, aahs, and multiple applause breaks. It might have even earned a patented Steve Jobs “Boom!”
But after five betas, we still haven’t seen any trace of Universal Control. While it appeared to be seamless and downright magical during in the keynote, the feature apparently isn’t even beta-ready despite being two months into testing. That doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t be included in the first release, but it’s not exactly reassuring.
Universal Control looks like the best Mac feature in years. An extension of the Continuity and Handoff features that connect your iPhone and Mac, Universal Control transforms the relationship between the Mac and the iPad by turning the tablet into not just a second display like Sidecar but one that lets you point, drag, and drop as if it was part of the same screen.
Read more at MacWorld.com