Introduction

It has been a busy year for Apple, although one could argue it has been more of a busy few months. The yearly updates for most of Apple's products now occur in September and October, and as a result we've seen the release of a number of new products and services in a very short period of time. On the hardware side we have the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the iPad Air 2 and Mini 3, the iMac with Retina 5K display, and a preview of the upcoming Apple Watch. The software side has arguably been even more exciting with the release of iOS 8 and its first major update iOS 8.1, OS X Yosemite, and Apple Pay. 

The theme this year appears to be integration and the power of a software and hardware ecosystem. Apple has always had some level of integration between iOS and OS X. As time went on, both operating systems began to share a core set of applications like Reminders, Calendar, and Notes. The iPad extended this even further by bringing the iWork and iLife suites to mobile. iCloud also played a key role in integrating both systems, by synchronizing documents and photos between all of a user's devices. However, the launch of iOS 7 with its visual and functional enhancements left many of the shared features and applications on OS X feeling left behind.

OS X Yosemite brings with it a massive visual overhaul, on a scale even greater than what we saw with iOS 7. This makes sense, as OS X is an operating system for desktops and laptops which makes it inherently more expansive and complex than iOS. Although OS X is not nearly as popular as iOS in terms of user base, the fact that the redesign changes some visual elements that have existed for over 14 years makes it quite a monumental moment in Apple's history. These changes finally unify the visual styles of both operating systems, which were once united but split with the launch of iOS 7.

The integration of these two operating systems goes far beyond a common type of visual design. OS X Yosemite and iOS 8.1 also include new features that allow them to work together in unprecedented ways. Features like Handoff blur the borders between the iPhone, the Mac, and the iPad by allowing you to continue work you began on one device on another. SMS and call forwarding takes communication abilities that were typically reserved for the iPhone and brings them to every device.

There's a lot to talk about, and it all begins at the aesthetic level with the new design of Yosemite.

A New Design For OS X
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  • retrospooty - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link

    Oh, well good. You have one that isn't slow or crashing, well, sorry others have them that are. And no, not all iPhones are bending, the point is its so thin that it is structurally weak and is susceptible to be bent. http://www.oneofthenine.com/ - You going to defend that?

    Anyhow, you have mentioned that fact that I am in my early 40's like 4-5 times now. You mentioned you have been coming to Anandtech as long as I have, so unless you were here as a toddler , you must be gettting pretty close too... Not that age matters, but you keep mentioning it and keep coming back to reply, so as much of a loser as I must be to post here, you are more of one as you are here at the same site, defending a company AND tracking my age and post count on another related site.
  • KoolAidMan1 - Thursday, October 30, 2014 - link

    It's not about the age, it's about you with over 10000 posts on DT and hundreds on Disqus devoted to almost entirely to defending Android and bashing iOS. I expect that from a teenage console warrior, not a grown man.

    Otherwise, most people have no problems with iOS. Almost nobody has bent iPhones, literally dozens out of tens of millions. Even if it was hundreds it would be statistically insignificant.

    Stretching credibility in the name of fanboy desperation is sad for anyone, especially someone that is supposed to be "mature".
  • KoolAidMan1 - Thursday, October 30, 2014 - link

    And to be clear, yes, 1000 bent iPhones (let's throw out a big number) out of tens of millions is bad.

    That percentage is TINY. Its nothing like actual tech disasters like the RROD or even laptop battery recalls. Get bent out of shape if you want though, your life seems to revolve around phone drama.
  • HKZ - Monday, October 27, 2014 - link

    It's you. Your reading skills aren't very good given the title of this article.
  • KoolAidMan1 - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link

    He's a fanboy with over 10000 posts between DT and Disqus devoted to talking negatively about Apple.

    Reading comprehension isn't a factor with zealots like him, just spin
  • KoolAidMan1 - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link

    And obviously there are negative things to be said for Apple, same as any other company. For example, the Mac Mini and iPad Mini 3 updates are awful.

    The problem is that its hard to take anything he seriously when everything he says is negative, a conspiracy, and self-victimizing. He goes so far as to say Anand is a shill for Apple and that his current employment is proof of that.

    Nothing he says can be taken seriously because it is constant. At least he doesn't seem bigoted, racist, or homophobic like some of his DT friends.
  • retrospooty - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link

    What is funny is the guy that is stalking that guy and hanging off his every word (and yet still gets it so wrong).

    LOL. What a doof.
  • KoolAidMan1 - Thursday, October 30, 2014 - link

    How is it stalking? You are impossible to miss on DT. As for Disqus, it was the first return from Google.

    Two clicks to see that profile is "stalking", good one!
  • retrospooty - Thursday, October 30, 2014 - link

    How is it stalking? You are tracking my post count, your last umpteen posts at DT were all about me. You posted on this article, only to me, and to others about me. You seem to be caught up with my age and occupation. Why dont you go troll someone else? why are you fixated on me? Or is it becasue I keep calling you on your 100% one sided biased ass, and shutting you down like I did again here and you are pissed? http://www.dailytech.com/Article.aspx?newsid=36545...

    Too bad trollboy. But back on topic, my 10000 posts at DT is over the entire history since day 1. FFS, most of it has nothing to do with Apple. Especially any OP's. Often you asshat Apple nutjobs that just cant STAND when anyone doesn't like anything about Apple get all butt hurt and go on and on, so that makes it seem like alot of posts, but its really just a few asshats, yourself included.

    FYI, I also say alot of good things about Apple. They moved the whole industry forward in 2007, I love the hardware on iPad Air and Air 2. I love the hw quality in general until it got so thin its structurally weak... And on that subject, it IS weak. There my be only a few thousand people with the issue, but its a young product. the fact its that it is too weak to take much abuse.... All in the name of form over function.

    Whatever. You are so stuck on stupid with Apple I cant even relate. Its a company, and you defnd it like its your mother being insulted. Get a grip.
  • Osamede - Monday, October 27, 2014 - link

    Author said:
    "..... If you own a Samsung smartphone, you may be more inclined to buy a Samsung tablet due to the similar hardware design and user interface. But apart from any brand loyalty you feel, you don't really have any incentive to buy a Samsung laptop which runs Windows and doesn't integrate with your other device..."

    Reality is:
    http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/convergence/side...

    http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/samsung-galaxy-tab-s-s...

    I am shocked that standards of journalism and market insight are slipping so low, so fast

    How long before this becomes yet another fanboy blog?

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