Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks is now available (download it for free from the Mac App Store), bringing iOS features into the fold along with other additions, including iBooks, Apple Maps, Finder Tabs, and a number of other time-saving enhancements. As a free download from the Mac App Store, Mavericks gives you better security, new features for all the core apps, and tons of handy additions that make it a no-brainer to upgrade.
Apple, on the other hand, is keeping its mobile and desktop OS separate, while bringing over iOS apps and features without significantly changing the way you use your computer.
What results is a Mac OS that remains familiar to its users, gives apps a cleaner look, brings more iOS apps to your desktop, fixes old bugs, and improves core technologies for power efficiency and responsiveness. On top of that, it features new interface elements for Safari, a new tagging system for file management, and much more. So while there are tons of new and useful features here, the Mac OS remains familiar, friendly, and functions mostly the way it always has.
Some changes, but mostly the same
With hardware, there are things you can change to make the experience different (thumbprint scanners and lighter hardware, as examples), but with a software upgrade like Mavericks, it's tough to think of new features at this point that will truly wow users short of tapping directly into your brain. I kid, but how much is there left to add to our operating systems that will change the way we work with computers that really is for the better? I suppose it's a question the big companies are wrangling with now, so we'll have to see what happens as time wears on.
With hardware, there are things you can change to make the experience different (thumbprint scanners and lighter hardware, as examples), but with a software upgrade like Mavericks, it's tough to think of new features at this point that will truly wow users short of tapping directly into your brain. I kid, but how much is there left to add to our operating systems that will change the way we work with computers that really is for the better? I suppose it's a question the big companies are wrangling with now, so we'll have to see what happens as time wears on.
Installation
Installing OS X couldn't be easier, requiring just a quick trip to the Mac App Store and hitting the download button. I should note that my experience was not typical because I had to download several successive developer previews before downloading the final version. But most people will just download and install the new update, which takes about 20 minutes including an automatic restart of the computer.
Installing OS X couldn't be easier, requiring just a quick trip to the Mac App Store and hitting the download button. I should note that my experience was not typical because I had to download several successive developer previews before downloading the final version. But most people will just download and install the new update, which takes about 20 minutes including an automatic restart of the computer.
Finder Tabs
The new Finder Tabs work much in the same way the tabs do in Safari. A plus-sign button on the right lets you open a new tab, and you can drag and drop tabs just like in a Web browser. With Finder tabs, you'll be able to have two folders open side-by-side in one window, and you can simply drag and drop files across rather than copying and pasting like you would need to in earlier versions of the OS.
The new Finder Tabs work much in the same way the tabs do in Safari. A plus-sign button on the right lets you open a new tab, and you can drag and drop tabs just like in a Web browser. With Finder tabs, you'll be able to have two folders open side-by-side in one window, and you can simply drag and drop files across rather than copying and pasting like you would need to in earlier versions of the OS.
Full-screen apps
Full-screen apps were unveiled originally in Lion, but users quickly realized the feature wasn't perfect, especially if you use multiple monitors. Fortunately with Mavericks, the feature now finally works the way it should. You can now put full-screen apps on multiple monitors and switch among them effortlessly.
Full-screen apps were unveiled originally in Lion, but users quickly realized the feature wasn't perfect, especially if you use multiple monitors. Fortunately with Mavericks, the feature now finally works the way it should. You can now put full-screen apps on multiple monitors and switch among them effortlessly.
Apple Maps
Apple Maps got off to a rocky start with iOS, but has improved considerably over time. Testing it out on a MacBook Pro, the app felt great when navigating with a trackpad, with smooth movement and intuitive gesture control. Everything works about the same as it does on iOS, but some extra features will come in handy for getting directions before you leave your computer.
Apple Maps got off to a rocky start with iOS, but has improved considerably over time. Testing it out on a MacBook Pro, the app felt great when navigating with a trackpad, with smooth movement and intuitive gesture control. Everything works about the same as it does on iOS, but some extra features will come in handy for getting directions before you leave your computer.
Now, you can find locations on Maps on your Mac, then sync directions with your other devices, and -- just like the iOS version -- driving times account for traffic. This will be especially useful for planning your trip at home, then quickly syncing with your iPhone for turn-by-turn directions when you hit the road.
Maps is built into the Mail, Contacts, and Calendar apps, too. So any time you see an address, you can quickly find it on a map and switch to Apple Maps for a better view and to get directions.
iBooks
As one of the features brought over from iOS devices, iBooks looks pretty much like its mobile counterpart. Just like on iOS devices you'll be able to read and shop for books on your Mac and sync them with iCloud so you can switch devices and never lose your place. You'll also be able to swipe to turn pages (using your trackpad), pinch to zoom in on pictures, and scroll smoothly from page to page. You can have as many books open as you want simultaneously (great for students), and you can highlight sections and take notes -- all of which is synced on all your iOS devices. While this will be nothing new for iOS users, it's great to finally see these features available for Macs.
As one of the features brought over from iOS devices, iBooks looks pretty much like its mobile counterpart. Just like on iOS devices you'll be able to read and shop for books on your Mac and sync them with iCloud so you can switch devices and never lose your place. You'll also be able to swipe to turn pages (using your trackpad), pinch to zoom in on pictures, and scroll smoothly from page to page. You can have as many books open as you want simultaneously (great for students), and you can highlight sections and take notes -- all of which is synced on all your iOS devices. While this will be nothing new for iOS users, it's great to finally see these features available for Macs.
Safari
According to Apple, Safari now demands less from the GPU, uses less energy, and is faster than ever before. Apple says new Nitro Tiered JIT and Fast Start technologies in Safari mean Web pages feel snappier and the app doesn't waste power on Web pages and plug-ins that might churn continuously in the background. That all sounds great, but we're going to test the latest Safari with the older version side by side on two laptops, to see if we notice a huge difference in performance. Perhaps the performance increases are something that would be more obvious on a slower connection, but we'll have to wait and see if it really makes a difference when we take it down to our labs. Check back here soon to see the results.
According to Apple, Safari now demands less from the GPU, uses less energy, and is faster than ever before. Apple says new Nitro Tiered JIT and Fast Start technologies in Safari mean Web pages feel snappier and the app doesn't waste power on Web pages and plug-ins that might churn continuously in the background. That all sounds great, but we're going to test the latest Safari with the older version side by side on two laptops, to see if we notice a huge difference in performance. Perhaps the performance increases are something that would be more obvious on a slower connection, but we'll have to wait and see if it really makes a difference when we take it down to our labs. Check back here soon to see the results.
One big improvement in Safari is the new sidebar that keeps your bookmarks close at hand, and you can use tabs at the top of the sidebar to get to your Reading List and another new feature called Shared Links. Shared Links are recent links from people you follow on both Twitter and LinkedIn, giving you another option for discovering new Web sites and other interesting content from people who use those social networks. The sidebar is probably my favorite new feature improvement in Safari because I like quickly switching between Web sites.
Calendar
The Calendar app got a fresh look in Mavericks, adding Facebook integration to show Facebook events along with an Event Inspector that lets you get more information about a party, meeting, or location.
The Calendar app got a fresh look in Mavericks, adding Facebook integration to show Facebook events along with an Event Inspector that lets you get more information about a party, meeting, or location.
Now you can mouse over an event to bring up the Inspector, where you'll find handy information like driving time to the event with traffic information supplied by Maps and the current weather at the event location. Clicking on the map portion of the window launches Maps, where you can take advantage of the 3D views, switch map overlays, get directions, and do other useful things, such as send the directions to your iPhone.
The interface has also been tweaked to include smooth, continuous scrolling between days, weeks, and months, and it works very well using the MacBook trackpad.
Notifications
The Notifications system got some tweaks as well. Notifications are more interactive in Mavericks, so if you receive a message, an e-mail, or a FaceTime video call, you can react within the notification window with a reply or launch FaceTime straight away.
The Notifications system got some tweaks as well. Notifications are more interactive in Mavericks, so if you receive a message, an e-mail, or a FaceTime video call, you can react within the notification window with a reply or launch FaceTime straight away.
iCloud Keychain keeps your log-ins safe
There have been a number of great third-party apps over the years to manage usernames and passwords, but iCloud Keychain brings the functionality straight to your Mac for added security (not to mention relieving you of remembering all those passwords). It also makes your saved Web site usernames and passwords available on all your iOS devices. All of this information is protected using 256-bit AES encryption both on your devices and while in transit. Apple says that it only sees the already encrypted data and -- the way it is set up -- does not have the key to decrypt it.
There have been a number of great third-party apps over the years to manage usernames and passwords, but iCloud Keychain brings the functionality straight to your Mac for added security (not to mention relieving you of remembering all those passwords). It also makes your saved Web site usernames and passwords available on all your iOS devices. All of this information is protected using 256-bit AES encryption both on your devices and while in transit. Apple says that it only sees the already encrypted data and -- the way it is set up -- does not have the key to decrypt it.
Like popular third-party password managers, iCloud Keychain will suggest complex passwords, then push them to all your devices. It also autofills log-in fields so you don't need to remember them.
Pricing and availability
Apple Mavericks is available now, and -- after a surprise announcement at the Apple event -- is free to all users, even if you're currently running an OS as old as Snow Leopard (2007). Mountain Lion cost users $19.99 to upgrade, and I expected it would be the same for Mavericks, but it's a great move for Apple to decide to make the new OS free when Windows users are stuck paying quite a lot more to upgrade.
Apple Mavericks is available now, and -- after a surprise announcement at the Apple event -- is free to all users, even if you're currently running an OS as old as Snow Leopard (2007). Mountain Lion cost users $19.99 to upgrade, and I expected it would be the same for Mavericks, but it's a great move for Apple to decide to make the new OS free when Windows users are stuck paying quite a lot more to upgrade.
Conclusion
Mac OS X Mavericks is not a sweeping change, but improves upon a solid foundation, with new features brought over from iOS to give Mac users more to work and play with. For Mac users I think the added features provide definite benefits and, as a free upgrade, why not add new useful features? But is Mavericks ambitious enough to woo Windows users into making the switch? Probably not, but I think there's more to consider than just the feature set of the latest Mac OS.
Mac OS X Mavericks is not a sweeping change, but improves upon a solid foundation, with new features brought over from iOS to give Mac users more to work and play with. For Mac users I think the added features provide definite benefits and, as a free upgrade, why not add new useful features? But is Mavericks ambitious enough to woo Windows users into making the switch? Probably not, but I think there's more to consider than just the feature set of the latest Mac OS.
Though with Windows 8.1 Microsoft has made some concessions to people who didn't like the touch-focused interface (adding a Start button and letting you boot to desktop), it's still off-putting to many mouse-and-keyboard desktop users. To be honest, I happen to think Windows 8.1 is a fine upgrade on many fronts, but I also know people are resistant to change. With Windows 8 you get a completely new experience with the Start menu and metro apps, and not everyone likes the new way of interacting with Windows. So, what we're probably going to see are Windows users making the switch to Mac more in protest of Microsoft's vision rather than for what they think Mac OS X has to offer.
For Mac users, Mavericks is a solid (though not life-changing) upgrade, especially when it is no cost to current OS X users. And for Windows users looking for anything other than "Metro," Mavericks will be an easier transition than ever, with more features that add convenience and speed to a (now) familiar way of computing.
Source : CNET News
Image : Jason Parker/CNET
