OS X Mavericks Release Date and What to Expect from OS X 10.9

The OS X Mavericks release date is just around the corner as Apple sets the stage for an October 22nd event and calls for developers to share new Mavericks ready apps with the company.

An OS X 10.9 update is not free like the iOS 7 updates, but it should arrive as an affordable upgrade that brings a collection of great new Mac features to the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini, iMac and the new Mac Pro.

Apple showed off OS X Mavericks at WWDC 2013 in June, and developers spent the last several months testing an early version of the software that is now in a final version, waiting for a push out the door from Apple.

OS X Mavericks, or OS X 10.9 as it is also known, does not bring a completely new look for Mac users, like iOS 7 did for the iPad and iPhone, but it does deliver a series of much needed enhancements to what you can do on a Mac and it could help improve battery life for older MacBook Air and MacBook Pro owners.

Users should plan for a lengthy upgrade process, but one that is straightforward. While Apple doesn’t offer an easy method for performing a clean install we’ll share a guide when the OS X Mavericks release arrives later this month.

Here is what we expect from an OS X Mavericks release date and the OS X Mavericks features users will use when Apple delivers this update to the general public.

OS X Mavericks Release Date

The OS X Mavericks release date is not set in stone, but it is quite clear that it is almost here. Apple is allegedly planning new MacBook Pro models and a new Mac Pro for the October 22nd event, which Apple will likely launch with the latest operating system installed on it.

With a final version of OS X Mavericks in the hands of developers and partners and a call for OS X Mavericks apps, the OS X 10.9 update is clearly ready for users.

Apple will likely announce the final details about OS X Mavericks on Tuesday October 22nd, and we could see a OS X Mavericks release date on October 23rd. The last two OS X updates arrived on Wednesdays and this would allow Apple to roll the new operating system out with, or just ahead of, new MacBook Pro models which one report indicates will come on the 24th or 25th.

On additional OS X Mavericks release date possibility is October 29th, the day after Apple’s Q4 2013 earnings call. Apple often delivers these updates near earnings calls. If this is the case, expect Apple to offer a free OS X Mavericks update to iMac and recent Mac buyers.

@Josh_Smith I would bet a good chunk of money on a 10/29 release date. They almost invariably release OSes the day after their earnings call

— Matthew Olson (@MCOlson11) October 17, 2013

Expect the final details on Tuesday, but it’s safe to assume this release will come fast.

OS X Mavericks Price and Availability

When Apple announces the OS X Mavericks price we expect to hear that the update is an affordable price, likely around $19.99 for the user to install on the Mac computers they own, not just one device.

Starting with the OS X 10.7 update that arrived in the Mac App Store, Apple started allowing users to purchase once and install on all of their personal authorized Macs. This is great news for families who can now update all of their Macs for a single price. We think it is likely that Apple will continue this tradition. Upgrading from an older version of Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 will run users over $100 for a single use license.

While OS X updates are not typically free Apple priced the last two updates affordably at $29.99 and $19.99. An Apple Store employee told a curious customer the update could cost up to $50 or $80 while we were waiting for service at the Genius Bar in August, but we expect something more in line with previous updates.

Look for the OS X Mavericks price to arrive at $19.99 in the Mac App Store. The Windows 8.1 update just arrived as a free update for Windows users, but it seems unlikely that it will push Apple to offer OS X Mavericks as a free upgrade.

10 Exciting OS X Mavericks Features

Apple did not yet announce all the changes under the hood, but OS X Mavericks does offer a collection of new features that appeal to early users and should make power users and average users happy.

Better Battery Life

OS X Mavericks comes with a collection of new technologies that should bring better power management and performance to the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, which will likely translate into better battery life.

App Nap will essentially put apps to sleep when they are completely hidden behind another window. Apple describes this as, “App Nap conserves valuable battery life by slowing the app down. But as soon as you start to use it again, the app instantly shifts back to full speed.”

Safari comes with power saving which essentially stops flash elements until you tell them to play and Apple promises that watching HD video in iTunes uses 35% less CPU energy.

Real Multiple Display Support

OS X Mountain Lion delivered a broken Full Screen mode for users who run multiple displays, showing a grayed out option when making an app full screen on one monitor. With OS X Mavericks users can make an app full screen on one display and use the other at the same time. This is great for productivity.

The new Multiple Display option also includes a Menu bar on each display for fast access to spotlight and other app settings and an option to put the dock on either display. Apps cannot live on two displays, and switching between spaces only affects a single display at a time, but for most users this update is a good thing.

Apple Maps for OS X

Apple Maps is now a standard feature for OS X Mavericks bringing many of the iOS 7 features to the OS X desktop. This is clearly a bid to convince users to use Apple Maps over Google Maps.

Maps on OS X includes 3D maps for areas where Apple offers the service on iPhone and also includes an option to see Traffic data overlaid on the map. The Maps service can link into other apps to offer location information and traffic details.

Users can get directions in Apple Maps for driving or walking and can send the directions to an iPhone or iPad with one click. Tapping on the iPhone notification will open the Maps app with the route already available.

iBooks for Mac

iBooks is now available on Mac, after what was a very long absence. Now users who buy eBooks on the iPhone or iPad can also read them on a Mac. This may not be the best way to tear through the latest thriller, but it is perfect for textbooks.

The iBooks app syncs books purchased through the iBooks store, which is now a part of the app, as well as handles PDFs and other eBooks that users add to the app.

Smarter Battery Options

OS X Mavericks now makes it easier to see what apps are using the most battery, so that you can quickly cut them down and last longer when you really need the added power.

Click on the battery icon in OS X Mavericks and it will show what apps are using the most battery power so that you don’t need to guess.

Tags for Files

The new Finder in OS X Mavericks lets users tag files for faster access later on. This is a handy way to group files that are not in the same folder.

So far this is handy for grouping photos for a specific website, but not part of the same project. This lets us search for all files that are a related, even though it doesn’t make sense to store them together.

iCloud Keychain

Apple pulled the iCloud Keychain feature from iOS 7 last month ahead of release, but it looks like the new feature is going to make the cut with OS X Mavericks. This new feature lets users sync passwords and credit cards between Macs and soon between Mac and iPhone or iPad.

When using Safari users can login easier and shop faster thanks to saved data. If this with OS X Mavericks, we could see iCloud Keychain for iOS 7 come with an iOS 7.0.3 update very soon.

Finder Tabs

The Finder in OS X now supports tabs, just like most browsers. With these tabs, users can switch between multiple folders faster and don’t need 5 finder windows open.

Right click on a folder to open in a new tab, close tabs you don’t need and drag to re-arrange, for more efficient access to your files.

Smarter Calendar

Apple updated a number of the stock apps in OS X Mavericks and the calendar is one of the best updates. With the new update users can add location information to events and get maps and traffic info right inside Calendar on the Mac and also on iPhone.

Users can also add events with natural language, typing “Coffee with Josh at 1 PM tomorrow” to schedule an event.

Improved Notifications

The OS X Notifications gain several upgrades with OS X Mavericks. Users can now respond to a missed FaceTime call or an iMessage right from the notification.

OS X Mavericks will also show a preview of missed notifications when the system is locked and it can also show updates from websites when you use Safari.