OS X Yosemite and its new features

by jc / June 5, 2014 1:14 PM EDT

Continuing with the second part of our article, and focusing a little more on the features of this new Apple operating system.

We'd like to mention that a large part of this new release has focused on the user interface's appearance. While most of the platform's traditional elements remain, the most noticeable changes include a translucent background , flatter buttons , and updated icons for the bottom dock , where the various programs are launched.

This brings the necessary improvements that the operating system requires. Improvements that will not only modernize the new version of OS X, but will also make the continuity of work between Mac and iOS devices smoother than ever.

Here's a detailed overview of the new features and characteristics we'll see in the highly anticipated OS X Yosemite:

New Design:

As we've already mentioned, the new OS X Yosemite has been completely redesigned and revamped. It offers us a fresher, more modern operating system with clearly redefined controls for a smarter and easier-to-understand experience. Another notable change to the OS X interface is the addition of the Agile toolbar, where each of its translucent elements reveals additional content through a pop-up window within the application.
It was determined that the main changes in this important part of the operating system are focused entirely on a simpler and clearer design, with fewer textures, an updated system font that improves user readability, and renewed icons.

Notification Center

The new view that “Yosemite” offers us today is a faster and more practical notification center, giving us exactly everything we need to know through widgets for calendar, weather, reminders, world clock, and social networks.
If you wish, you can also download additional widgets from the Mac App Store to customize your Today View.

iCloud Drive

In this part of its operating system, Apple has chosen to improve its iCloud storage services offering.
However, by using iCloud Drive, users will not only get an additional 5 GB to use across their devices, but they can also purchase more storage capacity for a minimal monthly or annual fee, depending on their choice.
Therefore, this new remote drive will be more accessible and will function like any other drive. Thanks to it, it will be much easier to send documents and files of any type to other devices and even to a Windows PC.

safari

Safari will also be updated in this area, offering a new, streamlined design. This will essentially place the browser's most important controls for user access and availability.
This improves integration with new search engines and browser performance when running JavaScript content.

Mail:

For the Mail function, new and interesting features were implemented, such as the ability to edit photos and PDF documents, without the user having to leave the application.
However, in this new part of the operating system, users will now be able to send encrypted attachments via the iCloud platform with up to 5 GB in size.
On the other hand, messages will also have a new look, and more options for communicating with friends and family. You can even create, send, and listen to audio clips alongside your Messages with Soundbites.
Without a doubt, this is an improvement that will make many people more than happy.

Airdrop

Another integrated option is the AirDrop function, which offers a fast service for wireless file transfer.. AirDrop will now also be available between iOS and OS X devices.

Continuity

The Continuity features in Yosemite will undoubtedly improve the integration between iOS devices and Macs. So, when your iPhone or iPad is near your Mac, the Handoff feature will be a key tool, making it easier to work and share between devices.
For example, if you're writing an email on your iPhone and then decide to finish it on your Mac, your computer and device, with this feature enabled, will give you the option to complete the message on whichever device you choose. In this case, you can finish drafting your message from the comfort of your Mac. This technology also works in reverse, whether you decide to transfer your work from your Mac to your iPhone, or from your iPhone to your Mac or iPad.
As if that weren't enough, this new operating system now allows you to send and receive regular text and multimedia messages from your Mac, something previously only possible with your iPhone. And here's the real kicker, so to speak: Apple has also made it possible for users to answer all incoming phone calls directly from their computer.

New Technologies

Yosemite will now offer the necessary platform technologies so that developers can create amazing new Mac applications.
This improvement is thanks to integrated SpriteKit technology, which makes it easier to incorporate realistic movement, physics, and lighting into games. So, by combining all these features with SceneKit technology, developers will not only be innovating their applications but will also have the opportunity to create stunning 3D games. With the arrival of OS X Yosemite, this feature will now be available to any developer.
On the other hand, Storyboards for Yosemite and Xcode 6 are two new technologies that join the new system to take full advantage of the new controller APIs in AppKit. Together, these will make it easier to build applications that navigate through multiple data views.
Let's remember that the new APIs (or Application Programming Interfaces) are the functions and procedures that allow developers to create their new and improved applications.

Availability:

We believe this is the part where many of us will request confirmation within the next few days.
However, as is now customary, the company has decided to release a preview of Yosemite for its developers before its official launch. This preview has been available to all Mac developers since yesterday.
Finally, and as the company has confirmed, this new and highly anticipated operating system will still be available this fall. This version will be completely free and available to all users from the Mac App Store.

Here are more details: OS X Yosemite