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Apple releases OS X 10.9 Mavericks, offers OS upgrade for free

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You’ve REALLY been waiting for this one.

On Tuesday, Apple released its long-awaited OS X 10.9 Mavericks operating system. The new OS, which stands at roughly a five gigabyte download via OS X’s Software Update utility, offers the following fixes, changes and new features:

iBooks:
– Download and read books from the iBooks Store.

– Pick up right where you left off. iCloud keeps your current page up to date across all your devices.

– Swipe through Multi-Touch books with interactive features, diagrams, photos, videos, and more.

– Keep multiple books open while using other apps — great for writing a paper or doing research.

Maps:
– Send directions from your Mac to your iPhone and use voice navigation when you’re on the go.

– Explore select cities in stunning, photo-realistic 3D with Flyover.

– See detailed directions, real-time traffic, and alternate routes.

– Find restaurants, stores, and other places of interest with local search in Maps.

Calendar:
– Create new events in a snap with the new, streamlined event inspector.

– Enter event locations fast with address autocompletion.

– Add walking or driving travel time to your event so you know when to leave.

– See a map of your event’s location, as well as the weather forecast for that day.

– See holidays and Facebook events in Calendar.

Safari:
– Use Shared Links to discover new, interesting links posted by people you follow on Twitter and LinkedIn.

– Browse longer thanks to new core technologies that boost energy efficiency.

– Easily access your bookmarks, Reading List, and Shared Links in the new Sidebar.

– Protect your online privacy with new tracking-prevention features.

iCloud Keychain:
– Don’t worry about remembering passwords — iCloud Keychain fills them in so you don’t have to.

– Keep your website passwords, credit card numbers, and Wi-Fi passwords up to date across your trusted devices. Robust 256-bit AES encryption helps keep your information safe.

– Sign in once to all of your mail, contacts, calendar, and other internet accounts, and iCloud pushes them to all your Mac computers.

Multiple Displays:
– Just plug in a second display to use it with your Mac — no configuration required.

– Access the Dock and the menu bars on each display.

– Use full-screen apps on any or all of your displays.

– Use your HDTV as a second display with Apple TV.

Notifications:
– Reply to mail or messages right from a notification, without having to leave the app you’re using.

– Receive notifications for incoming FaceTime calls and reply with an iMessage or set a callback reminder.

– Receive notifications from websites, even when Safari isn’t running.

Finder Tabs:
– Declutter your desktop by consolidating multiple Finder windows into one.

– Move files between your tabs by simply dragging and dropping them.

– Select a custom view — icon, list, or column — for each of your tabs.

– Use tabs with full-screen Finder to organize and access all your files and folders.

Tags:
– Organize files with tags no matter where they’re located — in iCloud or on your Mac.

– Give a document as many tags as you want.

– Click a tag in the Finder sidebar to see all the files with that tag.

Advanced Technologies:
– With energy-saving core technologies in OS X Mavericks, you can surf the web longer on a single charge.

– Watching iTunes HD video is now more efficient, so you can watch more video when you’re not plugged in.

– App Nap regulates applications you’re not using so they consume less energy.

OS X 10.9 Mavericks is available for free and requires any one of the following 64-bit Intel-based Macs to install and run:
iMac (Mid-2007 or later), MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008), (13-inch, Early 2009 or later), MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later), (15-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later), (17- inch, Late 2007 or later), MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later), Mac Mini (Early 2009 or later), Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later), Xserve (Early 2009)

If you’ve tried OS X 10.9 Mavericks and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.