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Today in Apple history: Yosemite brings a visual overhaul to OS X

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Screen_Shot_2014-06-02_at_18-2
Yosemite more strongly visually resembled iOS than previous versions of OS X.
Photo: Apple

Jun2 June 2, 2014: Apple shows off OS X 10.10 Yosemite for the first time at its Worldwide Developers Conference. Following the Jony Ive-redesigned iOS 7, Yosemite boasts an aesthetic change that brings Apple’s desktop computers closer than ever to the look of the company’s mobile software.

Named after Yosemite National Park, the update follows the previous year’s Mavericks as the second Mac operating system named after a famous California landmark.

Dark mode might get even darker in macOS Sierra

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You'll need to be a registered developer to get them today.
Apple is working on a better dark mode for macOS Sierra.
Photo: Apple

iOS 10 might not be not be the only Apple operating system set to get a darker coat of paint later this year.

After scouring through Apple’s first two betas of macOS Sierra, an OS X developer has discovered that Apple has hidden the ability to activate Dark Mode in a broader way on the Mac — and it’s making it easier for third-party developers to take advantage of the new feature.

Apple Watch whiz kid puts OS X on his wrist

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Apple Watch hack os x yosemite
That's great and all, but does it come in 38 or 42mm?
Photo: Billy Ellis (via YouTube)

An intrepid Apple Watch developer has managed to make a simulation of OS X Yosemite that runs on his wearable device.

15-year-old developer Billy Ellis revealed a quick preview of his latest project on his YouTube page. The program launches from his Apple Watch’s home screen and includes icons for the Finder, Launchpad, Settings, the App Store and Trash. You can see the demo in its entirety below.

Only hours left to save big on this popular writing assistant app–Scrivener 2 [Deals]

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Scrivener 2  consolidates and streamlines all the clutter of the digital writing process.
Scrivener 2 consolidates and streamlines all the clutter of the digital writing process.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Anyone who writes on a computer knows the mental juggling routine involved in keeping track of research, notes, drafts and edits. Scrivener 2 offers a way to consolidate the whole process in one place, making for a much more efficient and less time consuming writing process. The award-winning app has also been a hit with Cult of Mac readers, who now have an extra few hours to get a copy of Scrivener 2 for $19.50.

Apple will patch serious security flaws in OS X ‘as soon as possible’

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Tim Cook addresses the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection. Photo: White House
Tim Cook talks cybersecurity earlier this year.
Photo: White House

Apple plans to issue an update fixing two severe OS X Yosemite security flaws “as soon as possible,” according to a new report.

One bug is the recently discovered Thunderstrike 2, which allows attackers to overwrite a computer’s firmware in a way that is impossible to reverse unless users have the wherewithal to open up their Mac and manually reflash the chip.

The other is a “privilege escalation” bug known as DYLD that allows a program to run as though it has administrator access without prompting users to enter their passwords.

Finally, a way to make Macs and PCs play nice

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NTFS for Mac breaks down the barriers between Windows and OS X -- and you could win a copy!
Photo: Paragon Software Group

This post is brought to you by Paragon Software Group, maker of NTFS for Mac.

It’s an unfortunate truth that Macs and PCs generally don’t get along. Snickering ads aside, the discord between the platforms is a real inconvenience for anyone trying to make the jump from one to the other, or for people who work with both at the same time.

Luckily, software can help — and you can enter to win a three-in-one bundle that helps bridge the Mac-PC divide.

Easy way to make a bootable OS X Yosemite drive

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Turn any USB Drive into a Yosemite installer!
Turn any USB Drive into a Yosemite installer!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac Turn any USB Drive into a Yosemite installer!

There are plenty of reasons why you might need to make an OS X bootable drive. Maybe you’re updating numerous Macs in your house and don’t want to download the installer every time. Perhaps you’ve replaced the hard drive in your iMac and need to install a fresh copy of OS X.

In the video below, I’ll show you how easy it is to create a bootable OS X Yosemite drive using software you can download for free.

Apple delays Photos for Mac release until spring

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The new photo viewer in Photos for Mac. Now coming this spring. Photo: Apple
The new photo viewer in Photos for Mac. Now coming this spring. Photo: Apple

When Apple killed development of iPhoto and Aperture last summer, it promised a replacement that would blend the best of the two apps into one solution: Photos for Mac.

Originally promised to arrive in “early 2015,” Photos for Mac is available for the first time in a new developer-only beta of OS X Yosemite. Unfortunately, everyone else will have to wait a little longer to get their hands on it.

Apple releases OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 with Wi-Fi and Spotlight fixes

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A new OS X Yosemite beta is here
Photo: Apple
Photo: Apple

Along with this morning’s iOS 8.1.3 update, Apple also has some new goodies for Mac users with the release of OS X Yosemite 10.10.2.

The update fixes a problem that caused Wi-Fi to disconnect. The latest version also includes a number of bug fixes for Spotlight, Bluetooth headphones, iCloud Drive and VoiceOver, while also improving stability and security in Safari.

The update is available now in the Mac App Store. Here’s a full list of the changes: