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Linus Torvalds: 'free' OS X Mavericks is no threat to Linux
After yesterday's surprise announcement of the free upgrade to OS X Mavericks, some Twitter wags and industry pundits assumed that the free OS would be a danger to the continued existence of Linux. Speaking at LinuxCon Europe today in Edinburgh, Scotland, Linux creator Linus Torvalds was quick to point out that there's no threat to the open-source operating system. As Torvalds noted, while Mavericks is free, it's far from open source. While OS X Mavericks is pretty well tied to Apple hardware for the best possible compatibility (although one can create a hackintosh quite easily), Linux has been ported to just about every possible combination of hardware by an active and dedicated developer community. Whether running on server hardware or a single-board Raspberry Pi, Linux is a scalable and robust operating system. Several commenters on the original PCWorld post brought up the fact that OS X really isn't free, being included only in the cost of the somewhat expensive hardware that it runs on. In addition, OS X Mavericks won't run on older Mac hardware, while a Linux distribution can be found to run on just about any PC hardware in existence. Torvalds said it most succintly when he exclaimed that, "The fact that Apple gives the OS away is highly irrelevant. I don't think that it impacts Linux at all."
OS X Mavericks video tip: Using Automator and Speakable Items to control your Mac by voice
Earlier today, I highlighted some of the changes to Automator and AppleScript in OS X Mavericks. One of those feature changes involves the ability for Automator workflows and applications to be saved as Speakable Items. Speakable Items are items that can be launched by voice through the use of speech recognition that's built into OS X. In this example video, I show how to use Automator and Speakable Items to launch three apps simply by saying "Good morning" to my iMac. Sure, it's not exactly a super-useful example, but can you imagine how powerful this can be to someone who doesn't have good motor skills or has other accessibility issues? Use your imagination and Automator to see how you can use the power of your voice to control your Mac. As with all of our video tips, this one can be easily expanded to full-screen for easier viewing.
Lifehacker video describes OS X Mavericks secret features
It's always fun to find out what all the new hidden features that an operating system upgrade provides, and OS X Mavericks is chock-full of goodies. The folks over at Lifehacker put together a quick video that shows off a number of features that you may not have known about. If you've come up with any interesting shortcuts or features that aren't widely known, let us know in the comments.
Mavericks' dock-on-every-monitor feature doesn't work for me
One of the features I was most looking forward to with the release of Mavericks was the promise that I could have access to the menu bar and Dock on every monitor. It might seem like a minor tweak, but it's always annoyed me that I had to pick one of my screens to be "in charge" of things, when I'd prefer to be able to launch and manage my applications from either screen, depending on which one I'm working with at the time. The promised top menu bar multiplication has arrived as described, but unfortunately the "Dock for every screen" bullet point comes with a big, fat asterisk. You see, I'm one of those weird people who doesn't let his Dock sit at the bottom of the screen -- I like my Dock to sit vertically on the side. The way the multi-screen Dock works in Mavericks requires you to place your mouse cursor along the bottom of the screen on whichever monitor you'd like the Dock to magically appear, and this simply doesn't work if you have your Dock located anywhere but at the very bottom of the display. I know, I know, I'm a small minority, but the vertical Dock configuration is just what has worked best for me over the years, and it seems Apple hasn't come up with a solution that lets me, for example, have my Dock appear on both the far left and far right sides of my multiple-display setup. It seems like this type of change wouldn't be very hard to implement, but the moment it's just not an option. Bummer.
AppleScript and Automator gain new features in OS X Mavericks
Mac power users love to play with scripting and automation. If there's something that's repetitive that needs to be done, it's a lot easier just to either use Automator to automate the process or write an AppleScript to dive in a little deeper. With OS X Mavericks, it appears that Apple has added some features that will help "self-developers" who want to add their own capabilities to their Macs and commercial apps. On the other hand, there are fewer scriptable items available in many of the new Apple apps... iCloud Sync To begin with, there's a surprise for anyone who launches either Automator or AppleScript Editor. The first thing you'll find is that both apps were updated with iCloud compatibility. AppleScripts that you've created or Automator workflows can now be moved into the cloud and synced to all of your Macs that are running OS X Mavericks. Sure, that's a little thing, but it's useful if you're creating and updating scripts or workflows that need to be deployed to a handful of Macs automatically. Notifications Want to annoy yourself? AppleScript and Automator now includes a Display Notification command that you can use to send yourself notifications from your own scripts. That's actually quite useful if you want to write a script or run an Automator action that's going to ping you when it's done through Notification Center. There's got to be a way to use this to annoy coworkers... Libraries Now this is cool. Let's say that you have code that can be used in a number of scripts. Now you can create an AppleScript Library, which is a script that contains a frequently used routine. Store that in ~\Library\Script Libraries\, and now any other script can use that code by simply calling it with a new use clause. Write once, use many times. Blogger Don Southard over at MacStories has a good example of how to use libraries in his writeup of scripting and automation improvements in Mavericks. Code Signing This may not sound like a big thing, but it's huge. Apple developers can now generate signed copies of applets and droplets as part of the export process in both AppleScript and Automator. Signing these applets means that users launching them will not get the usual Gatekeeper security warning, and adds an incentive for developers to include easy automation tools in their solutions. Speakable-Workflows Now here's a wonderful addition for those who are creating accessible solutions. If Speakable Items is activated in the Accessibility system preferences, Automator adds a new option to the save dialog to save applets as Speakable Items. With that one click, those items are saved to the Speakable Items architecture and can be executed by speaking the name of the applet. Now, about those new apps... On the bad side, some of the new apps appear to be missing a lot of commands in their dictionaries. For example, opening the dictionary of Pages '09 displayed the following: Compare that to the new dictionary for the current iteration of Pages: What's missing? Well, a lot. The Pages Application Suite used to let you do things like script the addition of a chart or table to a document; the Graphics Suite made it easy to script changes to things like the alpha threshold of an image; and the Text Suite even allowed scripting of things like inserting a table of content to a Pages document or fine-tuning the look of character styles. Can't do that with the new Pages... Hopefully Apple will add these capabilities back in an update to Pages and the other iWork apps. (Thanks to reader Peter P. for noting this omission from Pages.) This is just what I've been able to find -- or not find -- in a cursory look at Maverick's automation tools. As more capabilities and deletions become apparent, this post will be updated. I'd also recommend taking a look at MacOSXAutomation.com, which is always helpful and useful when you're considering the use of the built-in OS X automation tools.
Getting TextExpander to work with Mavericks (Updated)
If you've installed Apple's Mavericks on your Mac, you may have noticed that TextExpander won't work right away. That's because you've got to tell the OS that TextExpander has permission to control your Mac. However, the process isn't clear. Fortunately for you, I've figured it out. Here's how to get TextExpander working with Mavericks. When you first launch TextExpander after installing Mavericks (or click its icon if you've set it to launch automatically after a reboot), you'll see a dialog box like this (and yes, I have a snippet that spells "Dalrymple" for me): The box notes that you must open the "Universal Access" system preference pane and check "Enable access for assistive devices." Clicking the blue button opens the Accessibility preference pane. Unfortunately, that won't help. For years, there was a checkbox in the lower-left-hand corner of the Accessibility preference pane labeled "Enable access for assistive devices," but it's gone now. So, to get TextExpander working, do this: Open the Security & Privacy preference pane Click Privacy Click Accessibility Unlock if necessary Check TextExpander under "Allow the apps below to control your computer." You're back in business. I had to work without TextExpander for a while this morning until I got this figured out and it was a nightmare. Here's hoping it helps you out, too. Oh, TextExpander. You complete me. Update: The latest version of TextExpander, version 4.1.1, is available now and pushes you to the right link in System Preferences. Again, TextExpander was prepped for Mavericks before its release and now will help you flip the proper switch in OS X. Go get it!
Alternatives to AirDrop between iPhone and Mac
Like a lot of you, one of the first things I did when I had both OS X Mavericks and iOS 7 (in beta form) on my devices was to try AirDrop. I mean, it's been in OS X for a while and it was added to iOS 7, so of course you're going to be able to zap files back and forth between your iPhone and Mac, right? <crickets> Yeah, that was a major disappointment, and something we'll probably have to wait for Apple to add to the next versions of OS X and iOS. In the meantime, there are several third-party solutions you can use to give you the ability to "AirDrop" your files from a mobile device to your desktop. DeskConnect (free) Not only does it have a great price -- free -- but it also works very well. You'll need to create a free account with DeskConnect, so apparently they're using some sort of online caching of information being sent between your devices. On the iOS device, DeskConnect displays an easily understandable interface that has four buttons: send photo, send clipboard, send websites and send documents. Documents are stored for 30 days, so you'll always have recourse if you sent something between devices and then accidentally deleted it. The share clipboard feature must be turned on (it's not a default setting), but works great. Instashare (US$2.99 for OS X, free iOS app with ads or $0.99 without ads) This is a solution that both Shawn "Doc Rock" Boyd and I use, since he turned me onto this pair of apps a while back. Installing Instashare on your Mac adds an AirDrop-like icon to your menu bar. Click on that icon to bring up a blank window upon which you can drop files and folders, and they're immediately sent to your "Trusted Devices." However, the app was supposed to allow sending of clipped text between devices, and I could never get that to work... and the online help files are less than helpful. Pastebot ($3.99 for iOS, free Mac companion app) Pastebot's been out for a while, more as a "clipboard manager" for iOS than anything else. However, developer Tapbots created an OS X companion app called Pastebot Sync that runs in the background on your Mac and lets you send text and images back and forth between devices. Neither of the Pastebot apps has been updated lately, but they both still work with no issues. Do you have any other suggestions for cross-platform AirDrop alternatives? If so, let us know in the comments.
How Mavericks ruined Apple Mail for Gmail users
Sorry, Mail. My fledging relationship with you was just killed thanks to OS X Mavericks. TidBITS confirmed what I suspected the first time I launched Apple Mail after upgrading to Mavericks on Tuesday -- Gmail and Apple Mail are no longer friends. It was always a tenuous relationship to begin with. As writer Joe Kissell pointed out, you had to do a bit of a runaround to bring Gmail onto your Mac without hogging your entire hard drive. But now Apple Mail is trying to act like Gmail, and in the process is running into numerous syncing issues, ballooning the size of your mailbox and forcing you to activate Gmail's "All Mail" on Apple Mail, lest you want to see your messages constantly reappear in your inbox. While I managed to escape Kissell's issue of having all three of my Gmail accounts download everything again, my smart mailboxes proceeded to break. It kept telling me I had numerous unread messages, but nothing was showing in the mailbox. In the screencap above, you can see the smart mailbox selected but nothing in the mailbox itself. When I checked the rules for that smart mailbox, it had a lot of blank rules that weren't there before. I deleted them, but the smart mailbox still didn't work. Your best solution for now? If you're a huge Gmail user on the Mac, it's worth checking into a third-party client, such as Sparrow, Postbox or Mailplane. I've gone back to the standard web client for Gmail for now, until I can try the beta of Mail Pilot. Sorry, Mail, our brief fling is over. Are you guys seeing issues with Apple Mail in Mavericks? Let us know in the comments.
John Siracusa posts his mammoth OS X Mavericks review
With OS X Mavericks now available for download via the Mac App Store -- for free mind you -- it's high time for John Siracusa's typically exhaustive review of Apple's latest OS X update. In case you're unfamiliar, Siracusa, of Ars Technica, writes absolutely epic OS X reviews that leave no stone unturned. His reviews are sprinkled with deep technical knowledge along with astute analysis as to the implications and wisdom behind many of the the changes and enhancements that often accompany a new iteration of OS X. With OS X Mavericks, Siracusa is up to his old tricks once again, offering us up a whopping 24-page review that covers absolutely everything under the sun. Equally as important as Siracusa's thoroughness is that his writing is fluid, informative and fun to read. You can check out his OS X Mavericks review on Ars Technica over here. If you're the least bit curious in the latest major OS X update, it's worth a look.
OS X Mavericks is available for download now
Barely 30 minutes after the end of Apple's October event, OS X Mavericks is available as a free download. Click the link to grab it now, or you can get it by running a search for the software on the App Store.
iWork redesigned from the ground up, available today for free
iWork has been overhauled from the ground up, and here's a look at some of the features Apple introduced today. The new Keynote was used in Apple's presentation. You can glimpse other features in the screenshot above: Full file compatibility New UI Collaboration added to iWork for iCloud Pages The new UI is responsive to what the user is doing Styles for every kind of object Numbers Free object-based designs that are interactive Keynote Object-based animation Transitions updated with more realistic physics, with new ones added Like with other announced software, iWork is available for free with the purchase of a new Mac or iOS device, and it's available today.
OS X Mavericks is available today for free
The pricing and release date for OS X Mavericks has been announced at Apple's special event today. Mavericks, Apple's new, cutting-edge OS is... free. Yes, free. Even better, Mavericks will be available for all users today. When we say all users, we do mean all users, including ones who are using hardware from 2007. You can see the list of older models supported in the image above. Your 6-year-old computer may be getting a new lease on life. The update will be available in the App Store. Still kicking around on Snow Leopard? Well, welcome to the future, no money down. This is a major shot across the bow of Windows.
TUAW TV Live: Talking OS X Mavericks
Today on TUAW TV Live we'll be talking about the newest version of the Mac's operating system -- OS X Mavericks. It's getting closer to release, with Apple asking developers to submit their apps with new Mavericks-enhanced capabilities for inclusion in the Mac App Store. So what's the big deal about Mavericks, and is it a necessary update? Shawn "Doc Rock" Boyd and I will be discussing the new features of Mavericks today, and debating the merits (and timing) of updating. To join in to watch the live feed and participate in the chat, just click here. You'll join us on the AOL On Network. If you can't watch the entire show today, come back to this page within 24 hours to see the latest video below. Past shows are also available on the TUAW YouTube channel.
Apple asking devs to submit OS X Mavericks apps
Apple has asked developers to begin submitting OS X Mavericks-optimized apps. On Apple's official News and Announcements page for developers, the company said: Submit your OS X Mavericks apps today. Make sure your app takes advantage of the great new features in OS X Mavericks when the world's most advanced desktop operating system becomes available to millions of customers later this fall. Download OS X Mavericks GM seed and Xcode 5.0.1 GM seed, now available on the Mac Dev Center. Build your apps with these latest seeds, then test and submit them to the Mac App Store. The timing of the request correlates to Apple's announcement today that it is holding another product launch event on October 22. Though the latest Mac Pro and MacBook Pros are expected to be announced (along with new iPads), it's unlikely that OS X Mavericks will ship that day. However, the fact that Apple is requesting devs get their Mavericks apps ready suggests the new OS could launch in the days following the event.
Apple releases OS X Mavericks gold master to developers
Apple's latest flavor of OS X, Mavericks, is just weeks away from landing on customers' Macs, as the gold master has now been unleashed to the developer hordes. Though not a dramatic remake like iOS 7, it'll bring a bring a facelift to such apps as Safari and Calendar, along with better energy management, easier networking, iOS notifications, improved multi-monitor support and more. Developers on AppleSeed also got new versions of iPhoto and Xcode, along with various SDKs to support the new OS. According to 9to5Mac, end users will get the same version by the end of this month, so you might soon be able to stretch your Haswell MacBook Air's 12-hour battery life even further.
Bartender for Mac updated with support for OS X Mavericks, dynamic menu items
Bartender is a wonderful tool for organizing your Mac's menu bar. When a new app is installed, it regularly adds yet another icon to your menu bar, creating clutter that makes it harder to find the app you really want. With Bartender, you can set which app icons appear in your menu bar and in what order they're shown in. Now Bartender has released version 1.2, and they're holding a special sale on the program to celebrate. Until September 30, 2013, you can buy the app for just US$10, down from the regular price of $15. Here's what you can expect from version 1.2: Full Mavericks support, including multi-monitor with separate spaces / menu bars. Show for Updates for System Items. This allows you to set the battery menu to appear when you connect the power cord, or only show Time Machine when a backup is in progress. Show for Updates for all apps now uses image recognition to determine if the Menu Bar Item has updated. Ever wished you could simply drag something to an app hidden by Bartender? Dragging anything to the Bartender Menu Bar Icon will now perform the default click action. For most users this is to display the Bartender Bar; this is to allow dragging to apps such as CloudApp, etc. Reduced Bartenders power usage optimized for Mavericks. Increased app compatibility. There are many advances and bug fixes included in this release. You can view them here in the release notes.
Chitika's look at Apple OS adoption on the eve of a product launch
It's very likely that along with the announcement of some new products tomorrow, we'll get a better idea of when Apple's newest operating systems -- iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks -- will actually ship. iOS 7 is widely expected to ship with the new iPhone(s) that should be announced tomorrow, while OS X Mavericks may be slated for an October release. Online advertising firm Chitika looks at millions of ad impressions generated by their network to scout out trends, and its most recent numbers (from August 15 to August 21, 2013) show that a whopping 92 percent of all iPhone users and 82 percent of iPad users are currently running iOS 6. Why are fewer iPad users on the most recent version of iOS? Chitika noted analyst Chetan Sharma as pointing out that 90 percent of tablet users use WiFi only (even if they are WiFi + cellular devices). iOS 6 has some mobile-focused features like turn-by-turn GPS and FaceTime over mobile networks that made the upgrade to iOS 6 more attractive to iPhone users than those who own iPads. Chitika believes that "based on past adoption rates of new iOS versions, it's likely that users of both device categories will adopt iOS 7 at high rates." So what about Apple's desktop / laptop operating system, OS X? Chitika's numbers show that 34 percent of all Mac owners in North America currently use OS X Mountain Lion (10.8), while 23 percent are still using Lion (10.7). What's quite surprising is the number of users who are somewhat stuck in the past with OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) and Leopard (10.5), a surprising 32 and 10 percent, respectively. For those who are running newer hardware capable meeting the requirements for the upcoming release of OS X Mavericks (10.9), the upgrade to the new version should be a no-brainer. Older Macs, however, will most likely continue to run the older operating systems until such time as the hardware is beyond repair.
Apple seeds OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 7
Apple is moving steadily forward on OS X Mavericks, releasing the Preview 7 version to developers today. The release includes a few extra wallpapers and a link to a new OS X Mavericks page that is not fully live, yet. There are also a handful of bug fixes that are detailed in the release notes posted by 9to5 Mac. The latest Mavericks preview can be downloaded from the Mac App Store as a software update. Registered OS X developers can also download the preview from Apple's Developer Center.
Parallels Desktop 9 supports OS X Mavericks and cloud services, provides mighty performance boost
Parallels usually does a pretty great job at heavily improving its Mac / Windows fusion software, and we'd say this newly minted version doesn't fall remotely short of that. Parallels Desktop 9 brings an array of improvements and enhancements to the table: integration with popular cloud services (iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive and more), support for Power Nap on compatible laptops, the ability to have a keyboard customized for Windows and, perhaps most importantly, being friendly with OS X Mavericks. This new iteration is on sale now to new customers for $79.99 or $39.99 for the Student Edition, while Desktop 7 and Desktop 8 users will only have to shell out $49.99 to upgrade. The full list of novel features can be perused in the PR after the break, and there's also a video in case moving visual images are something you prefer.
Daily Update for July 30, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
