OS X Mavericks (10.9) release date and new features
OS X Mavericks release date and features - WWDC 2013 saw Apple reveal its brand new desktop operating system, OS X (10.9) Mavericks. Here's where we take a look at OS X Mavericks release date and new features. Visit: Apple's WWDC 2013 keynote as it happened - iOS and OS X updates announced.
So far Apple has only confirmed that OS X Mavericks (10.9) release date will be "coming this fall". For those of you (like us) who were a bit dusty on when precisely fall/autumn starts and finishes in the Northern Hemisphere, we did minimum research on Autumn and can confirm that it means OS X Maverick's release date will be between 22 September and 20 December. See also: New MacBook Air 2013 release date, specs and price in UK.
If we were betting people (which we are) we would expect an OS X Mavericks release date to be announced at around the same time as the new iPhone 5S/6 release date is unveiled, which we are expecting to be in October or November. Take a look at Mac Pro release date, specs and price too.
What are the new features for OS X Mavericks?
Apple hasn't gone completely crazy with its latest to OS X, it's still very familiar looking. That said the Californian computer giant has added a few really handy new features. Here's what you need to know about the new OS X Mavericks.
OS X Mavericks new features: iBooks
iBooks on OS X Mavericks is pretty impressive. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for Apple to just make iBooks a standard PDF reading-type app, but hats off the developers here, it's pretty decent.
With iBooks you have access to Apple's iBook Store, which boasts over 1.8 millions titles. You can also turn pages with a swipe, and also zoom in on images with a pinch.
The really handy feature will come in most useful for students, beacuse if you were writing an essay and you wanted to quote a section from a book, iBooks will let you do this, and not just that, it will also add an automatic citation for you. Cool eh?
Needless to say, iBooks on Macs will sync over iCloud so you can pick up from where you left off on your iPad, iPhone of iPod.
OS X Mavericks new features: Apple Maps
Apple scored a huge own goal when it released Maps on iOS 6 and subsequently canned the much loved Google Maps app. Simply put Apple's Maps weren't very good.
The general consensus is that Apple still hasn't caught up with Google Maps. However, Apple maps is supposed to be one of those works in progress that will get better the more people use it.
Anyway, that's not the point here, the point is that OS X Mavericks comes with Maps preinstalled. The features that Apple Maps offer Mavericks users are; 3D flyover view; information on local points of interest (photos, phone numbers and Yelp reviews); you can also look up Directions on your Maverick computer and then send them to your iPhone/iPad/iPad for on-the-go navigation.
One of the coolest things about Maps on OS X Mavericks is that it is built into Mail, Contacts and Calendar too – so whenever you see an address in one of these apps, you will also see a map of where exactly that is.
OS X Mavericks new features: Calendar
Calendar in Mavericks also sees a minor update too. Apple brag about being able to see the first half or second half of the month in Calendars now (Yippee).
Calendar is also a bit more integrated with the web, so when you create an event and type in its location, Calendars will start suggesting addresses to help you along the way. Perhaps the most interesting new feature here is that once you've entered the time, date and location, Calendar will then automatically display how long it takes to get each location and also what the weather forecast for that day/time and location is.
OS X Mavericks new features: Safari
Safari has undergone a much needed facelift too. New Nitro Tiered JIT and Fast Start technologies are promised to make web browsing "snappier". Apple has also actively tried to make Safari more power-friendly, it's achieved this by allowing you to disable background or plug-in content you don't want to see.
Another new features is the new Shared Links which can be found in Safari's sidebar. Essentially this is a collection of links your connection/friends on Twitter and LinkedIn have posted recently, so you can keep up with the Web's latest viral content – links posted Facebook appearing here has not yet been confirmed.
OS X Mavericks new features: iCloud Keychain
Now this is pretty good. iCloud keychain uses AES 256-bit encryption and stores all of your online usernames and passports and makes them readily available for use on all of you iCloud connected Apple devices. There is also new password generator and iCloud Keychain can also store your credit card information too.
OS X Mavericks new features: Multiple displays
Apple has now made multiple displays a bit more '2013' too. There are no longer primary and secondary displays. You will be able to access the Dock and Menu bar on your Mac/Macbook's ‘normal' screen and also another other screen that is connected to it – even your HDTV, which can now be hooked up to your Mavericks Mac via AirPlay and Apple TV.
OS X Mavericks new features: Finder Tabs
Apple users are stereotyped as being a bunch that like things neat and tidy. So the ability to now tab your Finder will be a lovely new feature for those who fit the stereotype. It's something that leaves you scratching your head as to why they didn't think of it sooner.
OS X Mavericks new features: Tags
Tags is billed as a "powerful" new way to organise your files and documents. To be honest it doesn't seem that powerful, but it has the potential to be useful in separating work and home stuff that is stored on your Mac. It could also be handy if you share you Mac with your family, for example you could easily tag something "Dad's stuff".
Tthe idea is that you assign a tag to a file and it will subsequently be stored in the Finder under that tag.
OS X Mavericks new features: Notifications
Much like a feature you'd expect on a smartphone or tablet these days, OS X Mavericks comes with a notifications menu. In a nutshell, this is a new feature that will tell you when anyone has interacted with you. You can also set up news, sports and auction alerts here too.
OS X Mavericks new features: OS X Server
From Apple "OS X Server includes a number of innovations that will help the people who use your network as well as the people who manage it. The new features in Xcode Server make it easier than ever for a Mac or iOS development team to create robust, reliable software, thanks to continuous integration, testing, and repository hosting services. Caching Server 2 speeds up the download and delivery of software through the App Store, Mac App Store, and iTunes Store, and it can now cache on your server for faster downloading to iOS 7 devices. And Profile Manager has an array of new management features for iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks that simplify software distribution of apps and books."
