Engadget
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Engadget Review
OS X Yosemite review: a solid upgrade for everyone (especially iPhone users)
Summary
OS X Yosemite is a solid update for Mac users, but in order to make the most out of it, you need to also own an iOS device.
Pros
- Tight integration with iOS devices
- Clean new design
- Much-improved Spotlight search
- Safari has a cleaner design, useful privacy features
Cons
- iCloud Drive doesn't include a standalone iOS app
- Can't add new people to a texting conversation unless you start with at least three people
- Yosemite is a modest upgrade for people who don't own an iOS device
Apple's latest desktop operating system, Yosemite, is available today as a free download for anyone with a reasonably new (or not-so-new) Mac. Here's the thing, though: Many of you are already using it. In an unusual twist, Apple not only gave us a sneak peek of the software, but also allowed a large section of the public to take it for a spin while it was still in development. Though the company has declined to say how many people signed up for the beta program (there were a million available spots), we're sure many of you are running it right now, and don't even need to read a full review.
That said, I wanted to finish what I started. Back when I posted my initial preview, I was able to discuss lots of things -- the iOS-inspired design, the new Safari browser -- but certain stuff wasn't ready for prime time. I'm talking about iCloud Drive, Apple's new cross-platform storage service, as well as "Continuity," a set of features that allow Macs to better integrate with iOS. Think: the ability to receive calls on your Mac, or to start reading an article on your iPad and finish it on your laptop. Now that the software is final -- and now that I've had a chance to test all the features -- I'm ready to weigh in. Suffice to say, it's clear that to make the most out of Yosemite, you need an iDevice to go with it. But even for Mac users who don't also own an iPhone (guilty!), this is still a solid upgrade. Read on to see what I mean.
