OSX
Latest
Apple reportedly releasing OS X Yosemite in October alongside 4K desktop and 12-inch Retina MacBook
Well, this is a timely rumor: Today is the day Apple opens up OS X Yosemite for public beta-testing, and now we're hearing the final version of the OS will come out in late October. The report comes from Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac, who has a strong track record when it comes to Apple rumors, and he claims that in addition to OS X, Apple will release a 12-inch Retina display MacBook, and either an iMac or a standalone monitor with a 4K screen. Obviously, Apple could do a 180 and release the same old computers with minor spec bumps, but if you ask us, everything Gurman is reporting seems plausible. First of all, Apple already promised it would release a final version of OS X sometime in the fall, and surely it plans to do that before the holiday shopping season starts up in November.
Apple's public beta for OS X Yosemite begins tomorrow
The Apple we know is run by a bunch of perfectionists. The company only shows off final devices at its launch events, and developers are strictly forbidden from sharing screenshots of upcoming iOS releases. This is a company that doesn't usually bother with sneak peeks. Or do they? Apple announced a few months ago that it would carry out a public beta-testing program for OS X Yosemite, its next-gen Mac operating system, allowing regular people to give feedback before it eventually gets a wide release. Now, the testing period is finally about to begin: Apple says that beta users will be able to download an early version of the OS starting tomorrow at around 1PM Eastern. If you've already signed up to join the beta program, you don't need to do anything; you'll get a notification tomorrow when the OS is ready to download. If you haven't gotten around to it yet, though, we suggest you get on that ASAP: Only one million people are allowed to participate in this early-stage testing, which means slowpokes might not get a chance. Update: Our preview of OS X Yosemite is already up, even before the public beta period begins. Read it here!
OS X Yosemite preview: the Mac gets a major makeover
The last time Apple released a new version of OS X, we came away feeling a little... underwhelmed. Don't get us wrong: We'll never say no to a free software upgrade. But despite a handful of new apps and features, last year's Mavericks release still felt like the same old OS X. You can't say that about Yosemite, though. The company's next-gen operating system ushers in the Mac's biggest makeover in years, with a flat, streamlined look inspired by iOS 7. Yosemite works more like iOS too, particularly the part where you can route phone calls to your desktop. You'll also enjoy improved Spotlight search, with results that include news, local restaurant listings, Wikipedia pages, movie times and quick unit conversions. Safari works much the same way, and includes some enhanced privacy settings, too. Right now, Yosemite isn't quite finished -- it won't arrive until sometime this fall -- but you can sign up for the public beta, which will open tomorrow for the first million people who enlist. In the meantime, I've been using an early build for a week now. Here's a quick preview for those of you who can't wait till tomorrow.
Sunrise's social calendar app reaches the Mac
Sunrise has quickly become the calendar app of choice for some people, and for good reason. Besides its straightforward interface and support for all your social networks, it's one of the few truly multi-platform schedulers you can find -- as of this May, it can run on Android, iOS and the web. It hasn't had a native desktop app, however, and the company is rectifying that by launching Sunrise for Mac. Not surprisingly, it's more than just the iPad app writ large. In addition to all the advantages that come with more screen real estate, you get both a mouse-friendly interface and native OS X notifications; there's also a complete offline mode if you need to review your itinerary on a flight without WiFi.
Apple's Swift is a new programming language with a focus on speed and ease of use
Apple's used Objective-C as its programming language of choice for right around 20 years now, but it's brought something new to its yearly developer conference: Swift, a new tongue of its own making. Apple describes its new lingua franca as "Objective-C without the C," but it keeps (and improves on) the speed of its progenitors. Even if you don't know what those terms mean, it's easy to pick up that apps iOS and OS X developers build with Swift should run even smoother and faster than counterparts made with the Objective-C language they've been using. According to the folks from Cupertino, Swift can be used to craft anything from social networking apps to 3D games.
Apple improves iOS OS X integration with iMessage, Hotspot, and sharing upgrades
It just got a lot harder to say you missed a phone call thanks to Apple. At the WWDC 2014 keynote, Craig Federighi announced a few major changes to the way iOS integrates with OS X. First off you can now use your iOS device remotely from your OS X device. This includes SMS messaging and phone calls. You will be able to see every incoming text, iMessage or not. Your phone calls can be sent to your iPhone and your Mac at the same time. If your phone is charging across the house, that doesn't matter, you'll still see the notification and be able to answer the call from your computer. If you see a phone number in Safari, you can initiate the call on your Mac and send it to your iPhone. You no longer have to use Skype to make phone calls from your computer. Mobile Hotspots are also being made easier. Your Mac can be set to auto-enable hotspot Internet connections to your iOS device. Finally, Macs are getting iOS-to-Mac handoff features that allow users to jump from working on a document on one device to another seamlessly. Say you're writing an email in iOS and you switch to your Mac. Now you'll be able to click on an icon within your Mac mail and continue writing right where you left off. Be sure to visit these other WWDC 2014 keynote posts: WWDC 2014 keynote liveblog Apple announces OS X 10.10 Yosemite Apple announces iCloud Drive Safari in OS X Yosemite gets new sharing and browsing options, saves even more battery life Apple announces iOS 8 HealthKit unveiled as major part of iOS 8 Siri's upcoming update means she's always listening HomeKit brings smart home services under one app What to know before downloading the iOS 8 beta Apple's awesome iOS Camera feature they didn't mention on stage WWDC '14 keynote in 90 seconds (video) Apple expands Touch ID functionality in iOS 8 Apple posts WWDC 2014 keynote online The Swift Programming Language manual available on iBookstore SwiftKey confirms iOS 8 version
OS X Yosemite will be available for free this fall
Apple just announced that its latest desktop operating system, OS X Yosemite, will be available as a free upgrade to Mac users later this fall. Developers, meanwhile, will have access to it starting today. In addition to this, Apple revealed that, through its public beta program, some non-developer folks can start playing with the new version of OS X in the summer. Yosemite brings a completely redesigned user interface and deep integration with iOS, to highlight a couple of things. We'll likely hear more about Apple's OS X Yosemite in the days to come; for now, stay tuned to our WWDC liveblog to get more Apple-related coverage.
Apple revamps Safari with new UI, power-saving features
Apple's not forgetting about Safari with all the changes to OS X Yosemite. The browser has been completely overhauled with power-saving tweaks, new tabs and a privacy mode, among other new features. By far the biggest change, though, is in the UI -- it's got a new flat look that matches the new OS. On top of eliminating the favorites bar (which now pops up when you type in the address field), you get a bird's-eye view of tabs, and can scroll from side to side to select them. There's also a new Spotlight search that gives additional suggestions, as well as those from search engines like Google. Apple also says its latest Safari is standards-compliant and no longer requires video plugins for premium services like Netflix's HTML5 player -- which could net you up to two more hours of battery life when playing video.
OS X Yosemite: Apple's latest desktop OS works even better with your iPhone
Apple's just unveiled the latest update to its desktop operating system for Macs and it's called Yosemite. While last year's Mavericks brought the inevitable reality of iOS/OS X integration even further with the introduction of familiar apps, like Maps and iBooks, this time around, Apple's Tim Cook promises both systems are now "engineered to work seamlessly together." Craig Federighi, SVP of software engineering at Apple, explained that Apple's focus for OS X Yosemite was on clarity, continuity and clear font type throughout the operating system. Finder window menus are now translucent, matching up with the image backgrounds on your desktop to dynamically shift for personality and color temperature. This effect has been translated to the refreshed dock, which itself has also gotten a slight makeover with newer, flatter-looking icons and even a new trashcan; something Federighi referred to as "fundamentally still Mac." There's even a new "dark mode," giving users the option to eschew translucency for dark gray toolbars.
Apple's WWDC 2014 in numbers: 40 million on Mavericks, 800 million iOS devices and billions of apps
Charts, graphs and stats: These are the things Apple keynotes are made of, and today's WWDC 2014 kickoff was no different. CEO Tim Cook took to the stage this morning at the Moscone Center in San Francisco armed with enough numerical ammunition to put your best boardroom PowerPoint Keynote to shame. Cook kicked things off boasting that over 40 million copies of OS X Mavericks have been installed and more than 50 percent of the install base is working on its latest OS. He went on to point out that while PC sales continued to slip (down 5 percent, according to Cook), Apple's computer sales are growing.
Apple's WWDC 2014 keynote will be streamed live on Safari and Apple TV
A liveblog of an Apple keynote is great, but sometimes you just want to see the real thing for yourself (while reading our commentary at the same time, of course). We totally understand. And apparently, so does Apple, since the company is once again streaming the WWDC keynote live. The usual caveats apply: You'll need to use an Apple product or service to view the event -- specifically, Safari browser on OS X (version 4+ on Snow Leopard or later), Safari on iOS 4.2+ or a second-gen Apple TV or newer. Don't have any of those but still curious about what groundbreaking products will be announced? No worries, our liveblog will come with all of the news, quotes, specs and photos as they come out, so be sure to go here and bookmark it. Livestream of Apple's WWDC 2014 keynote June 2, 2014 1:00:00 PM EDT
What's on tap for Apple at WWDC 2014
It's that time again, folks -- geeks from around the globe (us included) are getting ready to descend on San Francisco's Moscone Center for WWDC 2014. Once those doors open and the keynote starts, we'll get to peek at the future of computing the folks in Cupertino have cooked up... though what exactly we'll see remains veiled in secrecy. You can bet the show will be heavy on the software (like new versions of iOS and OS X), but if we're lucky, a few hardware announcements should keep us all on our toes. Here's a quick look at what we think Apple will (and might!) show off during its June 2nd address.
Apple's iWork for iCloud now lets you collaborate on projects with 100 friends
If you're using Apple's iWork for iCloud to get stuff done, now you can collaborate on projects with even more people. Before if you wanted to get your co-workers input on your big plans for the company retreat (Laser Tag definitely promotes synergy) you could only have 50 contributors. Now 100 people can work on the same Keynote, Numbers or Pages file at once, and those projects can also be a lot larger. Previously you were limited to 200MB per file, with a 5MB cap for included images. Now there's 1GB of space to fill with details about your group-cooking class plans, complete with images of up to 10MB each -- that's a lot more fancy dessert photos
Mac 101: quickly transform selected text into a new Stickies note
The Stickies app on the Mac goes back to System 7.5, believe it or not. And though it remains a part of OS X, I can't imagine it gets much use. Nonetheless, if you happen to be one of the few and the proud who still use Stickies regularly, you'll likely find this tip rather helpful. I'll even go out on a limb and say that this tip is so helpful that it may even create new Stickies users. If you'd like to transform any piece of selected text into a Stickies note, you can do it all without having to resort to good ole' fashioned copy and paste. Just select any piece of text and press Command + Shift + Y. A new Stickies note containing the text in question will appear right before your eyes, even if the Stickies app isn't yet open. It's worth trying out as this is a nifty little tip to help you write down, with minimal effort, any thing you want to save for later viewing. Note that this tip works on any selectable text on your Mac. If you really want to get into a Stickies state of mind, you can turn any Stickies note in the foreground translucent by pressing Command + Option + T. Also remember that Stickies houses more functionality than you might initially think. Not only can you drag photos and videos to a Stickies note, but you can ensure that particularly important Stickies notes always stay in the foreground by pressing Command + Option + F.
Apple patches missing /Users folder bug spawned by iTunes update
That was fast. After updating their Macs to OS X 10.9.3, many users noticed that their /Users folder was gone. Actually, it was there, but somehow the OS update rendered the folder invisible. There were some 3rd party patches to fix it, but late yesterday Apple updated iTunes to version 11.2.1 and although Apple's description of the update doesn't mention the issue, details of the update on Apple's support pages makes it clear that iTunes was the culprit. If your /Users folder was invisible (or even if it wasn't) apply the iTunes update and your folder will return. The bug occurred on my MacBook Air, but didn't show up on my Mac Pro. Applying the update fixed it on my laptop, and no reboot was required. The update is recommended for all Macs. You can find it on the Mac App Store or under Software Update in your Apple Menu.
Here's what Apple does when US law enforcement wants your data
Apple insists that the US government doesn't have backdoor access to its data (despite signs to the contrary). So what happens when law enforcement comes knocking at the company's door, then? We have a fairly good idea as of this week. The company has published guidelines showing just what data it can provide to the authorities and the legal steps needed to get that information. As a rule, Apple can hand over anything from iCloud and its stores as long as there's a proper court order, subpoena or warrant. It can also pull call records, contacts, text messages and media from locked iOS devices sent to its headquarters in Cupertino, although calendars, email and third-party apps are off-limits.
OneNote updates let you start notebooks on iPhone, print on Mac
After lavishing much of its recent attention on Excel, PowerPoint and Word, Microsoft is ready to show OneNote some more love. The company has unveiled a big redesign of its iPhone app that brings simpler navigation and, at long last, the ability to create new notebooks and sections on OneDrive; you no longer have to start jotting down ideas on another device. Upgrading also brings Office Lens (already on the iPad) for digitizing real-world documents, and it's easier to start a quick note if you're in a hurry.
Firefox gets a big redesign that's all about customization
Firefox has had a tough time standing out among browsers -- Chrome gives you Google's ecosystem, while both Internet Explorer and Safari have the luxury of being system defaults. Why would you choose Mozilla's software over the others? As of today, customization may be the answer. The organization has just released the finished version of Firefox 29, a major overhaul that makes personalization easy on the desktop. Its new customization mode lets you put any feature or service in the toolbar or menu bar; if you just have to keep a Pinterest add-on available at all times, you can make it happen. It's quicker to customize your bookmarks, too.
Apple's OS X beta testing is now open to the public
Apple has released public beta tests of individual Mac apps in recent years, but OS X itself has largely been off-limits unless you've registered as a developer. That changes now that Apple has launched the OS X Beta Seed Program. Starting with OS X 10.9.3, you can try pre-release operating system updates by signing in with a garden variety Apple ID; oddly enough, you still have to sign a developer-style agreement promising to keep some details a secret. We wouldn't sign up solely because of the upcoming Mavericks update, but the program represents an all-too-rare opportunity to both preview features and provide direct feedback as an everyday user. If you're willing to live with a few bugs, you can start with your first beta at the source link.
One of the iPhone's original interface designers is leaving Apple
Greg Christie may have played a key role in developing the first iPhone, but he won't be hanging around Apple for much longer. The company has partly confirmed a 9to5 Mac report that the high-profile interface designer is leaving the company later this year after nearly two decades of working at 1 Infinite Loop. Just why he's hanging up his badge isn't certain. The 9to5 story contends that Christie and senior design VP Jony Ive had a "falling out" over iOS 7's design direction, prompting Christie to head for the exit. An Apple spokesperson, however, says that the executive has been "planning to retire" and notes that he "worked closely with Jony for many years." If there are any sour grapes involved, it's not apparent from Cupertino's official position.
