Although it’s not quite the overhaul we’re seeing in iOS 7, OS X 10.9 Mavericks is an exciting new update to OS X that crams a lot of new features into the Mac operating system, including Maps, iBooks, iCloud Keychain, a new Safari, a more powerful Finder with tabbed windows and tagging, better Notifications, far improved battery life support, and much, much more.
We’re still delving into Maverick and spotting the best features. Here’s everything new we’ve spotted so far, and we’ll be updating this post with more screenshots of the new shiny in OS X Mavericks.
The new Finder. Notice the tabbed Finder windows at the top, and the tag categories in the sidebar.
You can easily tag files from the right-click menu.
Maps comes to OS X!Here’s Maps looking over where Apple’s new Union Square retail store will be.You can easily send a location or directions to your iPhone or any device running iOS 7.Just like in iOS, Maps allows you to easily find addresses stored in your Contacts.And, of course, Maps has 3D Flyover.Smell you later, Corinthian leather. The Calendar app has had its skeuomorphic textures stripped out, and it’s typography clarified.Notes has also been purged of Scott Forstall’s design quirks, like the Marker font or the lined yellow background.Contacts is again much simplified. Ive didn’t touch OS X too much with Mavericks, but he clearly didn’t feel that stripping out all the textures could wait.Safari’s new view of Top Sites and Bookmarks.The Activity Monitor has been changed since Mountain Lion to give you a lot more information about your running apps, most specifically, how much battery life they are sucking up.You can also see how much processes are asking your disk or network now.
Notification Center has not just dropped the Gray Linen, it now allows you to reply in-line to messages you receive.
Setting up iCloud Keychain for the first time within System Preferences.When you set up your iCloud keychain, you need to enter a security code. Think of it as Two-Step Verification. Even better, Apple requires you to use a hard to guess code: no 1111.Default Two-Step verification on iCloud Keychain. That’s a very good thing, considering how much of your digital life it will store.
You get this alert when your iPhone running iOS 7 tries to access your Keychain for the first time over iCloud.
And then you have to enter your Apple ID password for the iPhone to access it. Apple really doesn’t want strangers hacking your Keychain.And then you have to enter your Apple ID password for the iPhone to access it. Apple really doesn’t want strangers hacking your Keychain.The Battery Status in OS X Mavericks now tells you which app is draining the most battery! Helpful!You now have native support for more third-party accounts, like LinkedIn!Auto background app updating isn’t just for iOS 7 — a brand new pane in System Preferences has been added to take care of App Store update settings.You can also schedule App Updates for later right from Notification Center.
Updating…
Newsletters
Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.
Cult of Mac Today
Our daily roundup of Apple news, reviews and how-tos. Plus the best Apple tweets, fun polls and inspiring Steve Jobs bons mots. Our readers say: "Love what you do" -- Christi Cardenas. "Absolutely love the content!" -- Harshita Arora. "Genuinely one of the highlights of my inbox" -- Lee Barnett.
The Weekender
The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.