Vratislav Holub At the beginning of June, Apple presented us with the new macOS 13 Ventura operating system, which also includes a significantly improved Spotlight search engine. First of all, it will receive a slightly newer user environment and a number of new options that should raise its efficiency to a completely new level. Due to the announced changes, a rather interesting discussion was opened. Will the news be enough to convince more users to use Spotlight?
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Spotlight works in the macOS operating system as a search engine that can easily handle searches for internal files and items, as well as searches on the web. In addition, it has no problem using Siri, thanks to which it can function as a calculator, search the Internet, convert units or currencies, and the like.
News in Spotlight
In terms of news, there is definitely not a lot. As we mentioned above, Spotlight will get a slightly better environment, from which Apple promises easier navigation. All searched items will be displayed in a slightly better order and working with the results should be significantly better. In terms of options, Quick Look comes in for a quick preview of files or the ability to search for photos (across the system from the native Photos application and from the web). To make matters worse, images will also be searchable based on their location, people, scenes or objects, while the Live Text function will also be available, which uses machine learning to read the text inside the photos.
To support productivity, Apple also decided to implement so-called quick actions. Practically with the snap of a finger, Spotlight can be used to set a timer or alarm clock, create a document or launch a predefined shortcut. The last innovation is somewhat related to the first mentioned change - better display of results - as users will have significantly more detailed information available after searching for artists, films, actors, series or entrepreneurs/companies or sports.
Does Spotlight have the potential to convince Alfredo users?
Many apple growers still rely on the competing program Alfred instead of Spotlight. It works exactly the same in practice, and even offers some other options, which are only available in the paid version. Indeed, when Alfred entered the market, his capabilities significantly surpassed earlier versions of Spotlight and convinced many apple users to use it. Fortunately, Apple has matured over time and managed to at least match the capabilities of its solution, while also offering something in which it has an edge over competing software. In this regard, we mean the integration of Siri and her capabilities. Alfred can offer the same options, but only if you are willing to pay for it.
Stage Manager in macOS 13 Ventura
Nowadays, therefore, apple growers are divided into two camps. In the significantly larger one, people rely on the native solution, while in the smaller one they still trust Alfred. It is therefore not surprising that with the introduction of the mentioned changes, some apple growers began to think about returning to the apple Spotlight. But there is also one big but. Most likely, those who have paid for the full version of the Alfred application will not just walk away from it. In the full version, Alfred offers an option called Workflows. In that case, the program can handle almost anything and it really becomes one of the best tools for using macOS. The license costs just £34 (for the current version of Alfred 4 with no upcoming major updates), or £59 for a license with lifetime software updates. Do you rely on Spotlight or do you find Alfred more useful?
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