Editors' Review
OS X 10.9 Mavericks -- the latest update to Apple's desktop OS -- noticeably improves the overall experience on for both new and older Macs.
Pros:
Free: Mac OS updates are typically a paid upgrade, but Apple has finally embraced the free distribution model, including a bunch of new app updates to boot.
Tabs and Tags: As users are now naturally used to browsing and managing the Web with tabbed interfaces, one is left to wonder why first-party developers never incorporated this into the native OS sooner. You can now browse your directories with similar Safari-like prowess. Mavericks also brings the ability to add tags to each file. Users can now label each file with a tag and color for quick indexed search.
Notifications: You can now create responses directly from notifications. Supported services include Facebook, Twitter, FaceTime, e-mail, instant message, calendar events, and reminders.
Power: Mavericks revamps the way your Macbook allocates its system resources to save power and keep your apps running smoothly by drastically reducing processor consumption for inactive windows.
Cons:
Left Behind: Some apps like Messages, Reminders, and Game Center still look the same: dated or just plain ugly.
Closed: With all the notification updates, it also leaves you wanting more from other third-party apps.
Final Verdict:
In a semi-surprising but understandable move, Apple has released a major update that noticeably improves the overall experience of the OS X line for both new and older machines -- for free. Laptop users will especially appreciate the re-engineered power management system that makes more efficient use of the core processor -- increasing battery time. There are many seemingly small additions and changes that make bottom-line improvements to your overall computing, including a quick way to respond directly from notifications. The best management practices of the Web have now trickled down and integrated themselves into Mavericks, like tabbed browsers and tags. Included with a pack of updated apps, Mavericks 10.9 is a milestone for Mac users, both in value and new features.
| Category | |
|---|---|
| Category | Utilities & Operating Systems |
| Subcategory | Operating Systems & Updates |
Publisher's Description
- iBooks, which gives you instant access to your iBooks library, more than two million titles in the iBooks Store, and works seamlessly across your devices;
- Maps, which brings powerful mapping technology to the desktop and lets you plan a trip from your Mac and send it to your iPhone for voice navigation on the road;
- a streamlined Calendar that estimates travel time between appointments, and provides a map with weather forecast;
- a new version of Safari with Shared Links, which helps you find what's new on the web by consolidating links shared by people you follow on Twitter and LinkedIn;
- iCloud Keychain, which safely stores your website usernames and passwords, credit card numbers and Wi-Fi passwords and pushes them to your trusted devices so you don't need to remember them;
- enhanced multi-display support, which makes using multiple displays easier and more powerful, with no configuration required;
- interactive Notifications, allowing you to reply to a message, respond to a FaceTime call or even delete an email without leaving the app you're using;
- Finder Tabs, which help unclutter your desktop by consolidating multiple Finder windows into a single window with multiple tabs; and
- Finder Tags, a powerful new way to organize and find your files located on your Mac or in iCloud.
Mavericks also includes new core technologies that boost performance and improve the battery life of your Mac. Timer Coalescing and App Nap intelligently save energy and reduce power consumption. Compressed Memory automatically shrinks inactive data to keep your Mac fast and responsive. Mavericks also delivers significant performance enhancements for systems with integrated graphics through optimized OpenCL support and dynamic video memory allocation.
