Apple Silicon Macs will offer a new way to access macOS recovery and security options at startup. The new Macs will also Target Disk Mode with a new Mac Sharing Mode to transfer data between two Macs. Apple discussed the new features during a WWDC session on Wednesday.
Currently, Macs offer a number of macOS Recovery options at boot-up that are accessed using various key combinations. Command-R boots a Mac into recovery mode, while Command-Option-P-R resets the NVRAM.
Apple Silicon Macs will replace these key combinations with an on-screen Startup Manager interface. Users of Apple Silicon-based Macs will hold down their Mac’s power button to access a new startup menu, which features recovery options to reinstall macOS, or to boot as normal, restart, or shutdown.
Target Disk Mode, which is currently used to transfer data between two Macs, will be replaced by a new “Mac Sharing Mode.” The new mode turns the system into an SMB file sharing server, providing another Mac with file-level access to user data. User authentication is required to access the service.
Also new is Startup Disk, which allows users to select different security modes for startup volumes. The default “Full Security” mode provides the same security as provided by Apple’s iOS devices, and allows users to boot from an external disk without risking the system’s security.
A Reduced Security mode will allow users to disable System Integrity Protection and run any version of macOS, even those that are no longer signed by Apple.
Apple Silicon Macs will run separate security policies for each OS installation, compared to Intel-based Macs, which operate on a less flexible system-wide security policy.
For more details, view the full WWDC session on the Apple developer website.
(Via MacRumors)
