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Apple releases first OS X 10.9.4 beta to developers

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,

OS X Mavericks 10.9.4

Apple just released the first OS X Mavericks 10.9.4 beta to developers just two weeks after the public release of OS X 10.9.3. No word yet on what changes are found in the new beta, but we're hoping that some of the Mac Pro (2013) niggles are fixed, as many who own the new, sleek Mac are complaining of issues with multi-monitor support since installing the last update.

Of course, Apple is also set to release the OS X 10.10 beta on Monday at WWDC 2014, so there'll be two OS X betas rocking at once.


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OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 released, includes Retina mode for external 4K displays

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,

OS X Mavericks 10.9.3

This morning Apple released OS X Mavericks 10.9.3, a big update that brings a couple of major new features to the desktop operating system. First, improved 4K display support, which allows easy Retina scaling on external ultra high definition displays. We've been using this functionality for a couple of months since it was included in the beta, and it works as expected. Rather than creating a ridiculously gigantic desktop where you could barely read text, instead you can choose to scale to a Retina mode that just makes everything nice and sharp.

Others will be happy to know that OS X 10.9.3 also features the return of the ability to sync contacts and calendars between a Mac and iOS devices over USB. Hit the Mac App Store to grab the update, and take a look at the full changelog after the jump.

Click to continue reading OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 released, includes Retina mode for external 4K displays


Unboxing Live 129: Apple MacBok Pro (late 2013)

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, Laptop, Videocasts,

I open up the brand new Apple MacBook Pro (late 2013) in this episode! This is a 13-inch model, which now sports the Retina display in all configurations. The new MacBook Pro ships with OS X Mavericks and a 2.4 GHz Intel Haswell processor. This specific model sports a 256GB PCIe SSD and 8GB RAM. We go through everything in this video. Check out my full MacBook Pro (late 2013) review as well.

You can pick up the MacBook Pro from Apple.

Don't forget to subscribe to Gear Live on YouTube!

 

Click to continue reading Unboxing Live 129: Apple MacBok Pro (late 2013)


The history of Mac OS X pricing: How we got to free

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, PC / Laptop, Software,

OS X Mavericks

OS X Logo history

We had a few readers email in yesterday after it was announced that OS X Mavericks would be free, a first for a major desktop operating system release. It seems a few of you are curious about how Apple got here, and what the history is as it relates to the pricing of OS X. So, here's a quick history lesson. 

  • 10.0 Cheetah: Released March 24, 2001 for $129
  • 10.1 Puma: Released September 25, 2001 for $0
  • 10.2 Jaguar: Released August 23, 2002 for $129
  • 10.3 Panther: Released October 24, 2003 for $129
  • 10.4 Tiger: Released April 29, 2005 for $129
  • 10.5 Leopard: Released October 26, 2007 for $129
  • 10.6 Snow Leopard: Released August 28, 2009 for $29
  • 10.7 Lion: Released July 20, 2011 for $29
  • 10.8 Mountain Lion: Released July 25, 2012 for $19
  • 10.9 Mavericks: Released October 22, 2013 for $0

So, as you can see, both OS X 10.1 Puma and 10.9 Mavericks were released as free updates, however, Puma was released just six months after 10.0 Cheetah, so that would have been ridiculous if Apple has chosen to charge for it. Other than that anomaly, OS X updates remained at $129 each until Snow Leopard in 2009, which sold for $29. The last $129 version of OS X was Leopard, which saw massive delays due to Apple pulling engineers from it to work on iPhone OS 1.0 (now known as iOS.) Lion was also sold for $29, and was the first version of OS X to be available as a digital download from the Mac App Store. The following year, Mountain Lion debuted at just $19--the best bargain in OS X release history until yesterday, when Mavericks launched for free. The trend has always been that OS X updates would cost the same as the previous year, or less--never more (discounting the Puma issue, which was a huge bugfix patch.) As this point, it appears that OS X has gone the way of iOS, where all updates from here on out will be available for free, on an annual basis.

You can download OS X Mavericks, for free, right now.


OS X Mavericks will launch today, completely free

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,

OS X Mavericks launch date

Update: You can download OS X Mavericks now!

At this morning's Apple iPad event, the company announced that its next major desktop operating system, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, will launch today. It will be available exclusively in the Mac App Store, and in a huge shift for the company, it will be completely free. Mavericks brings a few cool features and optimizations to OS X--things like Apple Maps, iBooks, greatly-improved multi-monitor support, native tabbed Finder, tagging support in Finder, iCloud Keychain, and much more.

Mavericks is compatible with a wide range of Macs:

  • iMac (Mid-2007 or later)
  • MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008), (13-inch, Early 2009 or later)
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later), (15-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later), (17-inch, Late 2007 or later)
  • MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later)
  • Mac Mini (Early 2009 or later)
  • Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later)
  • Xserve (Early 2009)

There you have it! Who's planning on grabbing that upgrade when it hits the App Store?

Read More | OS X Mavericks

What we expect from tomorrow’s Apple iPad event

Apple Oct 22 event

Apple is set to go out with a bang this year with its big October 22 event. The obvious product announcement that everyone is expecting belongs to the iPad line, with the iPad 5 and iPad mini both seeing significant upgrades. What else can we expect from what will likely be the final Apple event of 2013? Join us after the break for our analysis and expectations.

Click to continue reading What we expect from tomorrow’s Apple iPad event


Apple to announce redesigned iPad 5, iPad mini with Retina display on October 22

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, PC / Laptop,

iPad mini Retina

Apple is set to announce its brand new iPad 5 and iPad mini with Retina display on October 22, according to AllThingsD sources familiar with the matter. After announcing the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in September, Apple will be following a similar pattern to last year, with the October announcement focusing on its tablets.

So what can we expect from the event? For starters, the fifth-generation iPad will see a redesign, bringing in cues from the iPad mini, like the thinner side bezels and a more sleek rear design. The iPad mini will be picking up a Retina display, the one glaring omission from the original model that launched almost a year ago. No word yet on if the Touch ID fingerprint technology will make it to either tablet, but we have heard reports that we may see both a space gray color, and the champagne gold that's been popular on the iPhone 5s (see our iPhone 5s review.) IGZO display technology from Sharp may be featured here, and AllThingsD says that both models will sport the new 64-bit A7 processor as well.

Of course, there are other products we're waiting for Apple to update us on as well, so there's a good chance we will also get pricing and release information for the new Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (especially since the Mavericks Golden Master is available to developers,) and a spec bump for the MacBook Pro to include Haswell processors, and possibly an Apple TV update. Of course, we'll be here to bring you all the news as it unfolds.

Read More | AllThingsD

iPhoto 9.4.7 is ready for Mavericks: Here’s what’s new

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Software,

iPhoto 9.4.7

As we'd mentioned earlier, Apple has pushed out the OS X 10.9 Mavericks Golden Master seed to developers. Along with the update, an update to iPhoto is also available. Here are some of the changes Apple is promoting for iPhoto 9.4.7:

  • iCloud Photo Sharing: iPhoto sports improved Photo Stream sharing, allowing you to both share photos and videos with friends and family, and subscribe to streams that have been shared with you, right in iCloud. This includes the ability to add new content to streams, comment, and more.
  • Apple Maps integration: For images with location metadata, iPhoto now uses Apple Maps to show high quality imagery of the places where your photos were taken.
  • Improved local printing: Printing off hard copies of your images has been improved with a focus on improving ease of use.
  • Photo projects: The ability to choose photos that can be used to create books, greeting cards, calendars, and more has been improved.
  • Mavericks compatibility: iPhoto is ready to take advantage of OS X Mavericks technologies and APIs.

You can grab the new version of iPhoto by updating in the Mac App Store.


OS X 10.9 Mavericks Golden Master now available to developers

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,

OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 5 13a538g

Late last night Apple released the OS X Mavericks Golden Master (GM) seed, build 13A598, to developers. When software is released as GM, that means that work has been completed, and that this is the build that will be released to consumers later this month when Mavericks launches on the Mac App Store. Alongside the Mavericks GM, Apple has also released GM seeds of Xcode 5.1, OS X Server, Remote Desktop 5.7, and iPhoto. Developers who'd like to install the new GM seed will need to visit the Developer Portal and grab a Mac App Store code. The download is roughly 5.3GB, so be sure you're on a solid broadband connection, as opposed to sipping a latte in Starbucks. As for the rest of the world, OS X Mavericks is set to launch later this month, bringing features like iBooks, Maps, Finder Tags, enhanced multi-monitor support, tabbed Finder, and more to Apple's desktop operating system.

We're also assuming that Apple will be launching its updated MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro with Retina display, and the all-new Mac Pro alongside the release of Mavericks.


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