10.9

Parallels Desktop update adds support for OS X 10.9 Mavericks

OS X 10.9 Mavericks is still in development, with Apple only weeks into having released its first preview of the new operating system to its developer and testing communities.

For people who want to install and manage Mavericks in virtual machine environments, Parallels has a new update available that will support the installation of Mavericks in a virtual machine, allowing for testing of code and the new operating system's features without potentially compromising the main operating system installation.

The update is about 325MB in size and can be installed by choosing "Check for Updates" in the … Read more

Will OS X 10.9 Mavericks' multiple display features work for you?

One of the new features touted by Apple in its upcoming OS X 10.9 Mavericks operating system is the multiple display management features that allow better integration with full-screen applications. However the new features come with other changes that, for some people, and especially those with more than two displays, may be a bit of a hindrance.

Recently an individual by the name "MrThaiBox123" posted on YouTube a small look at the new desktop management features in the current developer preview of OS X 10.9, which outlines the benefits as well as the drawbacks of these … Read more

Safari for iOS to go full-screen

While Apple's updates to Safari for OS X Mavericks are more about keeping up with the Joneses, Safari for iOS 7 looks to forge new ground by making the browser look and feel more like the operating system.

Safari for iOS 7 features a nearly chrome-less interface ("chrome" refers to the visible interface portions of software), a new tab view, fewer restrictions on tabs, and iCloud Keychain integration, Apple announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday.

By default, the iOS 7 Safari is set to what looks like full-screen mode. With the browser's chrome mostly … Read more

With Safari updates, Apple aims to keep pace

SAN FRANCISCO -- Once again, Apple's changes to its Safari browser on OS X represent keeping up with the competition instead of forging new ground.

At the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on Monday, the company unveiled the next version of Safari, which Apple says will have significantly faster page rendering, better security, and will make it easier to read multiple articles on the same site.

The Safari 7 update introduces to the browser stronger connections to OS X's password-management tool called Keychain. Leveraging the iCloud browser syncing that debuted in last year's Safari, … Read more

Catch the next wave for Mac OS (hands-on)

Editors' note: This First Take was updated June 28, 2013, with more hands-on information throughout.

Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks is coming this fall, bringing iOS features into the fold along with other additions, including iBooks, Apple Maps, Finder Tabs, and a number of other time-saving enhancements.

With the Windows 8.1 preview hitting a couple days ago, Apple's Mavericks provides a stark contrast to the vision of Microsoft's operating system. Microsoft's stated intent was to break into the mobile space by creating a touch-centric OS that worked on both desktops and mobile devices. Apple, on … Read more

OS X 10.9 to add more 'power user' features -- report

Apple's next desktop operating system launch, which is slated for later this year, will come with few visual enhancements, but a host of improvements for so-called power users, according to a new report.

The folks over at 9to5Mac on Monday said that they have sources with knowledge of Apple's plans who claim that the core design and functions of the new operating system, OS X 10.9 and code-named Cabernet, will remain the same. One of the biggest improvements, however, will be how the Finder application works. That application, which allows users to access files across the operating … Read more

New petition calls for OpenGL 4.3 and ZFS in OS X

Ars Technica reports that a new online petition has been created to request that Apple bring the ZFS file system to OS X, along with support for the more advanced OpenGL 4.3 libraries.

ZFS is a relatively new file system format, which Apple hinted at supporting in developer builds of OS X 10.5, and was expected to debut in Snow Leopard; however, the company ended up dropping support for the format following disagreements with Sun Microsystems. The support for ZFS has since fallen to several third-party efforts such as the open-source MacZFS project.

Though Apple's native HFS+ … Read more

Remove unwanted files and speed up your system with CleanMyMac

CleanMyMac is designed to remove old and unnecessary files from your hard drive, as well as optimize system performance. A trial version of the program is available for download, and the full version is available with either a six-month license for $7.47 or a lifetime license for $14.97.

CleanMyMac performs two different tasks that help your Mac computer run better. The first task it tackles is getting rid of orphan and unnecessary files, including cache files. CleanMyMac searches your hard drive and makes recommendations of files that can be deleted, including files for multiple Mac architectures and localization … Read more

Apple may name its next version of OS X 'Lynx'

Mac OS X 10.9 could be dubbed "Lynx," says blog site AppleScoop.

The rumor sounds plausible. It would continue Apple's trend of naming its OS after ferocious felines. Over the past few years, OS X has leaped from Leopard to Snow Leopard to Lion and then to Mountain Lion.

However, the intel is decidedly second-hand.

The information comes from a "reliable source" who claims to have talked to someone inside Apple. The person reportedly saw some internal papers that indicated Apple was finalizing the name of OS X 10.9. But the source couldn'… Read more

Apple's OS X 10.9 may feature Siri and homegrown maps

Apple's next major release of its desktop and notebook operating system is once again expected to gain additional features from iOS devices, according to Apple blog 9to5mac.

Citing trusted sources, the blog today says Apple plans to add full-on integration with Siri, the voice assistant that can be found on Apple's iPhones, iPods and iPads.

Apple already took the first step in that direction earlier this year by adding dictation to OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, which was released in July. The dictation feature lets users talk into their microphone and transcribe into text, but it does … Read more