SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has announced the latest version of its OS X operating system, code named Yosemite, which according to the company features a fresh, modern look, powerful new apps and new continuity features that make working across Mac and iOS devices more fluid than ever.
Apple notes that Yosemite’s controls are clearer, smarter and easier to understand, with streamlined toolbars that focus on content without compromising functionality, while translucent elements reveal additional content. The new icons have a cleaner design that combines with the updated system font to improve appearance and readability.
According to Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, Yosemite is the future of OS X with its new design and apps, all engineered to work beautifully with iOS.
“We engineer our platforms, services and devices together, so we are able to create a seamless experience for our users across all our products that is unparalleled in the industry,” Federighi stated. “It’s something only Apple can deliver.”
Major enhancements to OS X include a Today view in Notification Center that offers a comprehensive look at everything a user needs to know, all in one place, with Calendar, Weather, Stocks, Reminders, World Clock and social network widgets, and more available for download from the Mac App Store. Spotlight also received an upgrade that puts it squarely on the desktop and delivers new categories of search results — including data from multiple sources, such as Wikipedia and Bing, which could provide opportunities for adult marketers to reach this lucrative audience.
Bringing flexible file storage to the cloud, iCloud Drive is built into the Finder and stores files of any type, working like any other Mac folder by allowing users to drag documents into it, organize them in folders and by Tags, search for them using Spotlight, and access them via Mac, iPhone, iPad or a Windows PC. Perhaps an ideal technology for storing, curating and accessing adult content across multiple platforms, iCloud Drive is just one tool that will help reshape how consumers work with data and downloads.
The Instant Hotspot feature in OS X makes iPhone hotspots as simple as connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and it is now possible to receive iPhone calls using a Mac as a speakerphone, adding another dimension to the expanded communications features that Yosemite offers.
The updated Mail system eases working with online forms and attachments, with Mail Drop allowing the sending of files up to 5GB in size including large videos or images to any email address. Soundbites lets users create, send and listen to audio clips within the Messages module — all of which holds potential for adult content marketers.
One of the most interesting features of the updated OS X operating system is Handoff, which seamlessly unites Mac and iOS devices, so that when an iPhone or iPad is near a Mac, Handoff allows users to start an activity on one device and then hand it off to the other. Consider the multi-screen possibilities where traditional friction dissolves between surfing on a mobile device but wishing to enjoy the big-screen viewing that a Mac provides, or surfing on a Mac and finding content that needs more privacy to enjoy — the perfect dual platform for viewing porn.
Another boost to viewer privacy comes from the latest version of Safari, which offers a streamlined interface with a new Favorites view for quick access to favorite websites, along with a powerful new Tabs view that displays thumbnails of open web pages in one window. Safari also provides separate Private Browsing windows and support for DuckDuckGo, a search engine that does not track its users.
Beyond its enhanced privacy features, Safari supports the latest web standards, including WebGL and SPDY, supports HTML5 Premium Video Extensions, and is powered by the Nitro JavaScript engine, which according to Apple makes Safari more than six times faster than Firefox and more than five times faster than Chrome when executing JavaScript found in typical websites.
Yosemite also offers features for developers such as SpriteKit, which makes it easier to offer realistic motion, physics and lighting in games, and integrates with SceneKit to facilitate casual 3D casual gaming. AppKit storyboards make it easier to navigate between multiple data views, while a new API integrates Handoff into apps while creating Today view widgets.
A developer preview of Yosemite is available now to Mac Developer Program members, while Apple is also promoting a new OS X Beta Program that provides users with early access to Yosemite in exchange for their feedback.
More information is available at www.apple.com/osx/preview.