OS X Mavericks Tidbits: System Requirements, Redesigned Activity Monitor, App Battery Monitoring, and More

At yesterday's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple unveiled its next generation operating system, OS X Mavericks. While Mavericks incorporates a number of significant changes like a redesigned Finder, a Safari overhaul, and new Compressed Memory settings, there are also a number of other, smaller changes that MacRumors forum readers and other sources have unearthed.

AppNap Settings - AppNap, which is designed to conserve battery by sending apps into a hibernation mode, can be disabled on a per app basis by developers.

New Activity Monitor - The Activity Monitor has been redesigned, offering new charts and graphs that show bytes/packets sent/received. It also includes a new energy tab that shows the energy impact of apps and includes a built-in system diagnostics tool.

activitymonitor2
Design Updates - Along with some app redesigns, Apple has removed much of the linen look that was introduced with Mountain Lion. Both Dashboard and the log-in screen have a new background. Launchpad folders also have a new translucent background, and Mavericks users will notice new fade in and fade out behaviors. Finally, Finder selections have new rounded corners and the dock has a new look.

Notification Center - The standard gray linen background has been removed from Notification Center, in favor of a plain, dark background. Notification Center also includes a new Messages sharing option, allowing users to send messages without opening the app. It functions similarly to current Facebook and Twitter integration.

Battery Status - The Battery dropdown menu has received a new category in Mavericks, displaying apps that are using a significant amount of power.

batterypower

Offline Dictation - Mavericks introduces a new “Enhanced Dictation” feature that allows users to use dictation without an internet connection. It also includes live feedback, which displays input before the enter key is pressed. The setting includes a 785MB download to enable the feature.

Automatic App Updates - Automatic app updates are a new iOS 7 feature that has also been introduced to OS X with Mavericks. With this setting enabled, Mac App Store updates will be automatically installed in the background.

LinkedIn Integration - OS X Mavericks includes native LinkedIn support.

Do Not Disturb - While the Mac Notification Center already has a Do Not Disturb setting, Mavericks adds a new timer option that lets users schedule set times for the feature to be activated, similar to how the setting functions in iOS.

Open GL 4 - Apple has updated OpenGL support in Mavericks and the OS will be available with the Open GL 4.1 Core Profile for Macs that support the feature.

Text Shortcuts - Text shortcuts that were previously only available on iOS have been added with Mavericks. For example, "omw" is replaced with "On my way!" as in iOS.

Skeuomorphism - While the Notes and Calendar apps have been redesigned with a new interface that removes some of the previous skeuomorphic design elements, Messages, Reminders, and Game Center have not been updated with a new design.

notesredesign

The redesigned Notes app

iCloud Folder - Finder has a new iCloud folder, which displays documents that are stored in the cloud.

iBooks Store - On its website, Apple has begun referring to the iBookstore as the "iBooks Store", which may be indicative of an upcoming branding change.

System Requirements - According to AppleInsider, Mavericks will run on most machines that are capable of running Mountain Lion, including some systems dating back to 2007. Notably, all MacBook Airs after late 2008 can run the software, as well as mid/late 2007 15-inch MacBook Pros, mid–2009 or later 13-inch Pros, and late 2007 or later 17-inch Pros.

These are just a small fraction of the numerous changes that will likely be introduced with OS X Mavericks. Additional updates to the beta software will undoubtedly include even more new features, which are being noted in a thread on the MacRumors forums.

Apple made OS X Mavericks available for developers yesterday. While there is no current expected public release date, the final version of OS X Mavericks is expected in the fall.

Related Forum: OS X Mavericks

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Top Rated Comments

ECUPeeDee14 Avatar
156 months ago
Support for machines from 2007 is pretty impressive.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ventilatedbrain Avatar
156 months ago
You could sense in the keynote and even see it in Tims face.. Apple is definitely going full force and I couldnt help but smile for for most part..

A little confession
I even clapped when I saw the iOS 7 vid even though I was home alone
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Slix Avatar
156 months ago
Why is the OS name plural anyway? OS X releases have always had singular names... Tiger, Panther, Lion, Leopard, etc... now... Mavericks?

OS X Maverick would have sounded nicer.

Also, moving from felines to livestock? Kind of a downgrade I think...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavericks_(location)
Apple said the new naming scheme will be places that inspire them from California.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
napabar Avatar
156 months ago
The new Dock looks pathetic. But following the hideous iOS 7, it is no surprise that the MacOS will be destroyed as well...

Dock looks the same. iOS 7 isn't hideous. Got anything else?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macs4nw Avatar
156 months ago
Why is the OS name plural anyway? OS X releases have always had singular names... Tiger, Panther, Lion, Leopard, etc... now... Mavericks? OS X Maverick would have sounded nicer.
Also, moving from felines to livestock? Kind of a downgrade I think...

I don't think that was their intention. California locations is what they had in mind. Some suggestions:

La Brea (runs like molasses)
San Andreas (catastrophically unstable)
Tahoe (freezes regularly)
Lombard (pretty but slow)
Sacramento (dysfunctional)
Telegraph (keeps begging you for money)
Alcatraz (the most locked-down OS yet)
Pasadena (shuts down every night at 8:30)
Atherton (open only to the wealthiest customers)
San Fernando (optimized for porn)
Donner (cannibalizes other Apple products)
Zabriskie (spontaneously combusts)
Cupertino (assumes you don't know what you want until it shows it to you)
source: http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/06/10/apple_os_x_mavericks_for_what_california_location_should_apple_name_its.html

I suggest, with tongue firmly in cheek: Big Sur.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
156 months ago


There's a truck next to Dropbox. Has Apple finally given us a new version of Font/DA Mover?

:D

That truck is put there by an app, Transmit.

It's a rather excellent (IMHO) FTP/SFTP client.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)