Yosemite is the name of Apple’s eleventh version of OS X, released on October 16, 2014. It follows Mavericks (OS X 10.9) and is also called OS X 10.10.
While it is normal for each new version of OS X to include slight modifications to the user interface, Yosemite presented the most drastic change in several years. The interface includes many translucent elements, in which objects are semi-transparent. It includes a more “flat” design than earlier versions of OS X with new icons and window styles that do not have a glossy finish. While the design is not as flat is iOS 8, Yosemite’s updated style makes OS X and iOS more similar in appearance.
Besides altering the OS X interface to be more like iOS, Apple designed Yosemite to be more integrated with iOS as well. For example, the updated AirDrop feature allows you to share files directly with nearby iOS devices. Handoff allows you to work on something on your Mac and then resume work on your iOS device, and vice versa. The improved Messages app allows you to send and receive both iMessages and SMS messages using your Mac instead of your smartphone. You can even send an receive calls with your Mac by relaying them through your iPhone.
Yosemite also includes significant updates to OS X’s traditional bundled apps, such as Safari and Mail. For example, Safari includes a built-in Share menu for sharing links on social media and provides its own search suggestions when typing keywords in the address bar. Mail allows you to mark up attachments before sending them, and includes Mail Drop, a service that allows you to send attachments email attachments up to 5 GB in size. In Yosemite, iCloud Drive is built into the Finder, which allows you to manage your iCloud documents the same way as your local files.
Like Mavericks, OS X Yosemite is available as a free upgrade from the Mac App Store. It supports most Mac models released in mid-2007 or later.
OS X Yosemite (version 10.10) is the eleventh major release of Apple’s OS X operating system for Mac computers, introduced in October 2014. Yosemite brought significant changes to the Mac operating system, both in terms of design and functionality, aligning it more closely with iOS, Apple’s mobile operating system.
Key Features and Enhancements in OS X Yosemite:
- Redesigned User Interface:
- Flat Design: Yosemite introduced a flatter, more modern design with translucent elements, brighter colors, and cleaner iconography, similar to the design language of iOS 7 and later versions.
- Dark Mode: A new Dark Mode was introduced, allowing users to switch to a darker color scheme, which was easier on the eyes in low-light environments.
- Continuity:
- Handoff: Yosemite introduced Handoff, which allows users to start tasks on one Apple device and continue them on another. For example, you could start writing an email on your iPhone and finish it on your Mac.
- Instant Hotspot: Automatically enables your Mac to connect to your iPhone’s hotspot without needing to enter a password.
- Phone Calls and SMS: Yosemite allowed users to make and receive phone calls and send SMS messages from their Mac, using their iPhone as a relay.
- iCloud Drive:
- An enhancement to iCloud that made it easier to store, organize, and access files across all your Apple devices. It provided a more user-friendly interface for managing files stored in iCloud.
- Improved Spotlight:
- Enhanced Search: Spotlight received a significant update with a more powerful and versatile search function. It could search for files, emails, contacts, and also provide web results, Wikipedia entries, and map locations directly from the search bar.
- New Interface: Spotlight’s interface was redesigned, making it more prominent on the screen and providing a preview of the results.
- Mail and Safari Enhancements:
- Mail Drop: Allows users to send large email attachments (up to 5GB) by storing the files in iCloud and providing a download link to the recipient.
- Markup: A new feature in the Mail app that allowed users to annotate images and PDFs directly within the app.
- Safari: The Safari browser was optimized for performance, with a cleaner interface, improved power efficiency, and new features like a built-in sharing button and enhanced privacy controls.
- Notification Center:
- Today View: Yosemite added a “Today” view in the Notification Center, similar to the one in iOS, providing an overview of calendar events, reminders, weather, and third-party widgets.
- Enhanced Security:
- iCloud Keychain: Improved integration with iCloud Keychain for managing passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive data.
- FileVault: Yosemite continued to offer FileVault, an encryption tool to protect data on your Mac, with further improvements for performance and reliability.
- Performance and Battery Life:
- Yosemite was designed to improve the performance of Mac computers, particularly in terms of battery life, making the OS more efficient in its use of resources.
In Summary:
OS X Yosemite (10.10) is the eleventh version of Apple’s OS X operating system, known for its modern, flat design, improved integration with iOS devices through Continuity features, and enhancements in usability, security, and performance. Yosemite represented a significant step towards a more unified experience across Apple’s ecosystem, bridging the gap between Mac and iOS devices.