Apple announces new OS X version ‘Yosemite’ with different look

Apple announced its new version of the OS X operating system on Monday. The version, Yosemite, comes with a modified appearance and new features that emphasize collaboration. Yosemite will be available to consumers for free in the fall.

OS X 10.10 comes with a radically different look. Unlike previous versions, the icons are much flatter, a line Apple pioneered with iOS 7. Gradients and textures are missing, and the panels are now translucent. In addition, the taskbar at the top can also be set in a dark color, which Apple says it wants to meet power users.

Apple has also overhauled the Notification Center in Yosemite. With the new notification center, users can set what can be shown. For example, the calendar and the weather can be displayed directly and it is also possible to add widgets of applications from the App Store in any order. Spotlight is also undergoing an update and the tool can now be used to search the web.

With Yosemite, Apple mainly emphasizes working between different devices. One of the biggest changes is the new cloud service iCloud Drive. In addition, iCloud files are now also directly accessible via Finder and can also be managed from that program. The files in iCloud Drive can be synchronized via Mac and Windows computers, something that is already possible with the OneDrive client from competitor Microsoft.

Apple also offers the possibility to share files between Macs and iOS devices with AirDrop. Previously, that feature to share files over an ad-hoc Wi-Fi connection was only available on iOS devices. It took a while for Apple to roll out this functionality, because last year there were already rumors about AirDrop integration on Mac.

Apple also announced Handoff, which allows multiple devices to work on a file. For example, someone who makes a presentation on a Mac and then walks away with his iPad will see a notification on the tablet. When he then wipes it away, he can continue working on the file that was on his Mac. Handoff only works if the devices are close to each other in the beginning.

With Yosemite, Apple also makes it possible to make calls via an iPhone with a Mac. For example, phone calls appear on the Mac screen and can also be answered from there. From now on you can also make calls from the Mac.

In Yosemite, Safari has also undergone a major change. Apple has now omitted the bookmarks bar and combined it with the address bar. In addition, the manufacturer also adapted the tabs interface; Safari now displays tabs in a thumbnail overview, with tabs related to one site displayed in a separate stack. Furthermore, the browser now supports WebGL, Spdy and HTML5 premium video, with which, for example, Netflix can be watched without a plugin. According to Apple, this benefits the battery life. Finally, images can be edited in the browser itself.

Mail has also been modified, software engineer Craig Federighi showed during the Keynote. Apple now lets users send 5GB attachments via email with MailDrop, with the attachments sent to iCloud and stored there encrypted. The recipient will see the file immediately in Mail, provided they are a Mac user. Users of other mail clients receive a link to iCloud, after which they can download the file. With Mail it is now also possible to add handwritten information to emails, a technique that Apple calls MarkUp.

Furthermore, Apple is working on a new interface of the photo application, which is similar to the app that Apple announced for iOS 8. A search function has been added, which can be used to search by location, time and album. The Photos app will be available for Mac at a later date. Finally, Yosemite comes with the option to display text messages received with an iPhone in Mac OS X’s Messages application as well.

Yosemite is available immediately to developers. Apple will also make the operating system available in a public beta program this summer, after which the manufacturer will roll out Yosemite as a free download to the general public next fall.