[June 13, 2013] Apple Provides Developer Preview of OS X Mavericks Tweet Jun 13, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Apple on June 10 released a developer preview of OS X Mavericks, the 10th release of the operating system. According to a release, with more than 200 new features, OS X Mavericks brings Maps and iBooks to the Mac, introduces Finder Tags and Tabs, enhances multi-display support for power users, delivers new core technologies for power efficiency and performance, and includes a new version of Safari. The preview release of OS X Mavericks is available to Mac Developer Program members starting June 10. Mac users will be able to download Mavericks from the Mac App Store this fall. "The Mac has consistently outpaced the PC industry and OS X continues to be the most innovative and easy to use operating system in the world," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "OS X Mavericks is our best version yet and features new Maps and iBooks apps, Finder Tags and Tabs, enhanced multi-display support, performance and energy saving features, and an all new Safari." The company said Maps brings improved mapping technologies from iOS to the Mac, including vector graphics, 3D view and interactive Flyover. With Maps users can plan a trip from their Mac, then send it to their iPhone for voice navigation on the road. Maps integration throughout Mavericks gives users helpful maps from within Mail, Contacts and Calendar, and developers can integrate the same mapping features into their apps through the Map Kit API. With iBooks users have instant access to their existing iBooks library, as well as the more than 1.8 million titles in the iBooks Store, from textbooks and classics to the latest best sellers. iBooks also works across other devices, so users can read a book on a Mac, make notes or highlights, and then pick up exactly where they left off on their iPad. OS X Mavericks introduces new power user features. Tags are a new way to organize and find your files anywhere on your Mac or in iCloud. Users can tag any file in the Finder, in iCloud, or when saving a new document. Tags appear in the Finder Sidebar to enable users to view files by project or category. Finder Tabs reduce the clutter on a desktop by consolidating multiple Finder windows into one window with multiple tabs. You can customize the view for each tab, move files between tabs, and even run the Finder with multiple tabs open in full-screen. The menu bar and dock are available on any display, and users can now run windowed or full-screen apps on whichever display they choose, with no configuration required. With Mavericks users can also use an HDTV as a second display using Apple TV and AirPlay. The company added that new core technologies in OS X Mavericks improve the energy efficiency and responsiveness of your Mac. Timer Coalescing intelligently groups together low-level operations so that the CPU can spend more time in a low-power state, saving energy without affecting performance or responsiveness. App Nap reduces the power consumed by apps that are not in use. When a system's memory begins to fill up, Compressed Memory automatically compresses inactive data. When these items are needed again, Mavericks instantly uncompresses them. Additional features in OS X Mavericks include: -iCloud Keychain, which stores website login information, credit card numbers and Wi-Fi passwords, and pushes them to all devices so users don't need to remember them. Information is protected with AES-256 encryption when it's stored on a Mac and when it's pushed to other devices; -an updated Calendar, which adds integration with Maps, continuous scrolling so users can zip through weeks or months, and a new Inspector to simplify event creation and editing; -interactive Notifications, allowing users to reply to a message, respond to a FaceTime call or even delete an email without leaving the app they're using. Websites can now use notifications to keep users up to date on the latest news, scores and other information. While You Were Away Notifications make sure users see what happened while their Mac was asleep; and -Xcode 5, with new tools for developers that measure every aspect of app performance and energy use, as well as app testing. Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. More information: www.apple.com ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]