OS X Yosemite Features Previewed in New Video

Apple announced OS X Yosemite at WWDC 2014 in early June, showing off a new look for the software that runs the iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Pro and Mac Mini. The new version of OS X 10.10 looks closer to the iOS 7 release that users see on the iPhone and iPad, but still delivers the features desktop and laptop users need to be productive.

A new OS X Yosemite video shows off a collection of features and the new design of OS X 10.10 in a very short video. This is not the deepest dive into the new OS X Yosemite features, but it is a place to start for many users.

Apple announced a public OS X 10.10 beta that is limited to one million users, and we shared how you can get the OS X Yosemite beta without waiting for Apple. If you want the new looks and the new features you can follow our directions to give it a try.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ7kqwbqeiI

The one-minute video above shows thirty-seconds of design transitions before diving into new features and new looks for the updated software.

First off we get a look at the new Finder and then at an array of new icons for the OS X 10.10 release, which look similar to iOS 7 icons. The new Finder delivers a better sense of space as files roll off into the background when you scroll. Watch in the video as photos slightly appear under a translucent Finder window.

The Messages app is now updated with a flatter look and a microphone icon to quickly send voice messages to iOS 8 users. Apple added support for voice and video messaging right in the iMessage client with the new version of iPhone and iPad software, which carries over to OS X 10.10 as shown in the video.

We also get a look at the new Notification Center in OS X Yosemite which includes better widget support so it is easy to see your calendar, reminders, time, weather, calculator and more. The video zooms out to show OS X Yosemite running on a MacBook Pro Retina, which is one of the devices supported when the official release arrives this fall.

The OS X Yosemite video doesn’t show one of the most exciting new features, which Apple calls handoff. This is a fancy name for how the iPhone, iPad and OS X will work together better this year. Here is a short list of everything you can do with an iPhone and OS X Yosemite on your Mac.

• Instant Hotspot – Your Mac connects easier and faster than before.
• Take Calls on your Mac – Answer a regular phone call on your Mac.
• Text Messages on your Mac – Messages now syncs text messages when the iPhone is near.
• Fast Access to Email & Apps – You can quickly open an app or email that you are using on one device on the other when you are ready to switch from iPhone to computer.

Apple also delivers a redesigned Safari, improvements to Mail, a better, more functional Spotlight and iCloud Drive that makes it easier to access all of your information and data across the iPhone, iPad and Mac. You can also use Airdrop to send a file from your iPhone to your Mac, which is something users have asked for since the feature arrived in iOS 7.

The OS X Yosemite release is scheduled for fall, though no official release date is provided. Like the last update, the OS X Yosemite price is free, which makes it easier for users to upgrade to the latest Mac software and enjoy the connectivity between iPhone, iPad and Mac that comes with iOS 8. Here is a list of Macs that work with OS X Yosemite.