10.9

OS X 10.9 to add more 'power user' features -- report

Apple's next desktop operating system launch, which is slated for later this year, will come with few visual enhancements, but a host of improvements for so-called power users, according to a new report.

The folks over at 9to5Mac on Monday said that they have sources with knowledge of Apple's plans who claim that the core design and functions of the new operating system, OS X 10.9 and code-named Cabernet, will remain the same. One of the biggest improvements, however, will be how the Finder application works. That application, which allows users to access files across the operating … Read more

New petition calls for OpenGL 4.3 and ZFS in OS X

Ars Technica reports that a new online petition has been created to request that Apple bring the ZFS file system to OS X, along with support for the more advanced OpenGL 4.3 libraries.

ZFS is a relatively new file system format, which Apple hinted at supporting in developer builds of OS X 10.5, and was expected to debut in Snow Leopard; however, the company ended up dropping support for the format following disagreements with Sun Microsystems. The support for ZFS has since fallen to several third-party efforts such as the open-source MacZFS project.

Though Apple's native HFS+ … Read more

Remove unwanted files and speed up your system with CleanMyMac

CleanMyMac is designed to remove old and unnecessary files from your hard drive, as well as optimize system performance. A trial version of the program is available for download, and the full version is available with either a six-month license for $7.47 or a lifetime license for $14.97.

CleanMyMac performs two different tasks that help your Mac computer run better. The first task it tackles is getting rid of orphan and unnecessary files, including cache files. CleanMyMac searches your hard drive and makes recommendations of files that can be deleted, including files for multiple Mac architectures and localization … Read more

Apple may name its next version of OS X 'Lynx'

Mac OS X 10.9 could be dubbed "Lynx," says blog site AppleScoop.

The rumor sounds plausible. It would continue Apple's trend of naming its OS after ferocious felines. Over the past few years, OS X has leaped from Leopard to Snow Leopard to Lion and then to Mountain Lion.

However, the intel is decidedly second-hand.

The information comes from a "reliable source" who claims to have talked to someone inside Apple. The person reportedly saw some internal papers that indicated Apple was finalizing the name of OS X 10.9. But the source couldn'… Read more

Apple's OS X 10.9 may feature Siri and homegrown maps

Apple's next major release of its desktop and notebook operating system is once again expected to gain additional features from iOS devices, according to Apple blog 9to5mac.

Citing trusted sources, the blog today says Apple plans to add full-on integration with Siri, the voice assistant that can be found on Apple's iPhones, iPods and iPads.

Apple already took the first step in that direction earlier this year by adding dictation to OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, which was released in July. The dictation feature lets users talk into their microphone and transcribe into text, but it does … Read more

With Mountain Lion, Apple brings iOS and OS X a big step closer

There's a good reason that people use the word "ecosystem" when discussing Apple products.

Indeed, the company has spent the last couple of years pushing the idea that customers should have the same user experience regardless of which device is in their hands. And now, just as iOS has evolved to unify that experience across the iPad, iPhone, and iPad Touch, the latest version of OS X brings the Mac further into the fold.

Announced today as Mountain Lion (v10.8), the update brings many of the features born in iOS 5 and plants them on the desktop. Some of the additions, like Notes, Reminders, and iMessage, are strictly functional, while others, like AirPlay Mirroring, iCloud, and a deep Game Center integration, spread the content love across your Apple-integrated universe. And don't assume that Mountain Lion just rehashes what you've already seen, for it also delivers a new security feature that keeps Apple at the forefront of malware protection. … Read more

Literal app name

There's a lot to like about this tool that secures folders, but Free Folder Hider turns out to be a name open to interpretation. In the literal sense, it's accurate, since you can hide a single folder for free, but if you want to protect more than one, you'll have to pay up.

Free Folder Hider requires set up of a password for accessing the program, so you're protected from the very beginning. The main user interface offers self-explanatory buttons for adding folders to the private folder list, opening the folders, locking the private folder, and … Read more

Samsung floats new phone designs at 3GSM

Samsung joined Motorola in making a big splash at the 3GSM in Barcelona. The company introduced a selection of high-end phones that feature new designs and improved interfaces.

The F520 has a unique dual-slider design that performs much like the dual-hinged Samsung SCH-u740. The F520 slides vertically to reveal the number keypad and horizontally to show the QWERTY keyboard. The new Flash-based menu interface utilizes a touch screen along with the normal navigation controls. There's a 3-megapixel camera and all the usual high-end refinements, but with support for the 900/800/1900 GSM bands and the 2100 UMTS band … Read more